Pitcher Screening Assembly

Abstract

A pitcher screening assembly for protecting a pitcher includes a plurality of frames. Each frame is hingedly coupled to adjacently positioned frames. Each of a plurality of nets is coupled to and extends inwardly from a respective frame. The frames are selectively positionable in an extended configuration, in which the nets are configured to protect a pitcher from hit balls, and a folded configuration, wherein the frames are stowable in a trunk of a vehicle. A plate is coupled to a bottom and extends perpendicularly from a front of a respective frame. A pair of wheels are coupled to a back of the respective frame. The wheels and the plate are configured to stabilize the plurality of frames perpendicularly to a substantially horizontal surface. The respective frame, the wheels, and the plate define a dolly that is configured to transport an item that is positioned on the plate.

1 . A pitcher screening assembly comprising:
 a plurality frames, each said frame being hingedly coupled to adjacently positioned said frames, said plurality of frames including a top frame, a center frame, and a side frame;   a plurality of nets, each said net being coupled to and extending inwardly from a respective said frame wherein said plurality of frames is selectively positionable in an extended configuration such that said plurality of nets is configured for protecting a pitcher from hit balls and a folded configuration wherein said plurality of frames is configured for stowing in a trunk of a vehicle;   a plate coupled to a bottom of said side frame and extending perpendicularly from a front of said said side frame;   a pair of wheels coupled to a back of said side frame such that said wheels are opposingly positioned to said plate wherein said wheels and said plate are configured for stabilizing said plurality of frames perpendicularly to a substantially horizontal surface, wherein said side frame, said wheels, and said plate define a dolly configured transporting an item positioned on said plate; and   said plurality of frames comprising
 said top frame being hingedly coupled to and extending from an upper member of said center frame such that said top frame and said center frame are substantially coplanar, wherein said top frame is positioned for selectively pivoting for positioning said top frame adjacent to a rear face of said center frame, and 
 said side frame being hingedly coupled to and extending from a respective opposing side member of said center frame such that said side frame and said center frame are substantially coplanar, said plate extending from said side frame, wherein said center frame is positioned for selectively pivoting for positioning said center frame adjacent to a front face of said side frame such that said center frame and said top frame are positioned over said plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including said frames being tubular. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including said frames comprising metal. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including each said frame being substantially rectangularly shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , further including each said frame having corners, said corners being arcuate. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of first hinges coupled to and extending between said center frame and said top frame; and 
 a plurality of second hinges coupled to and extending between said center frame and said side frame. 
 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 said plurality of first hinges comprising two said first hinges; and   said plurality of second hinges comprising three said second hinges.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 said first hinges being lemniscately shaped wherein a lower member of said top frame is positioned in and rotatable within an upper opening of each said first hinge and said upper member of said center frame is positioned in and rotatable within a lower opening of each said first hinge; and   said second hinges being lemniscately shaped wherein said respective said opposing side member of said center frame is positioned in and rotatable within a first opening of each said second hinge and an associated opposing edge member of said side frame is positioned in and rotatable within a second opening of each said second hinge.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of latch rods, each said latch rod being pivotally coupled to and extending from a respective said opposing side member of said center frame; and   a pair of latch hooks, each said latch hook being coupled to a respective opposing side tube of said top frame wherein each said latch hook is positioned for selectively coupling to an associated said latch rod for fixedly positioning said top frame substantially coplanarly with said center frame.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of bars, each said bar being coupled to and extending from a respective opposing edge member of said side frame such that said pair of bars is opposingly positioned to said plate; and   an axle rotationally coupled to and extending between said bars, each said wheel being coupled to said axle such that said wheel is positioned proximate to an associated said opposing edge member of said side frame.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including a roller axially coupled to said center frame wherein said roller is positioned distal from said side frame when said plurality of frames is in the extended configuration such that said roller is configured for facilitating locomotion of said plurality of frames along the substantially horizontal surface. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further including a rod pivotally coupled to said center frame proximate to said roller wherein said rod is positioned for selectively pivoting relative to said center frame such that an endpoint of said rod contacts the substantially horizontal surface for stabilizing said plurality of frames on the substantially horizontal surface. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including a netting coupled to and extending between a respective opposing side tube of said top frame and a top member said side frame wherein said netting is configured for protecting the pitcher from the hit balls. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , further including said netting having a first edge coupled to said respective said opposing side tube of said top frame, said netting having a second edge coupled to said top member of said side frame, said netting having a third edge, said third edge comprising elastic wherein said third edge is configured for stretching upon contacting an arm of the pitcher. 
     
     
         16 . A pitcher screening assembly comprising:
 a plurality frames, each said frame being hingedly coupled to adjacently positioned said frames, said frames being tubular, said frames comprising metal, each said frame being substantially rectangularly shaped, each said frame having corners, said corners being arcuate, said plurality of frames comprising:
 a center frame, 
 a top frame hingedly coupled to and extending from an upper member of said center frame such that said top frame and said center frame are substantially coplanar, wherein said top frame is positioned for selectively pivoting for positioning said top frame adjacent to a rear face of said center frame, and 
 a side frame hingedly coupled to and extending from a respective opposing side member of said center frame such that said side frame and said center frame are substantially coplanar, wherein said center frame is positioned for selectively pivoting for positioning said center frame adjacent to a front face of said side frame such that said center frame and said top frame are positioned over said plate; 
   a plurality of first hinges coupled to and extending between said center frame and said top frame, said plurality of first hinges comprising two said first hinges, said first hinges being lemniscately shaped wherein a lower member of said top frame is positioned in and rotatable within an upper opening of each said first hinge and said upper member of said center frame is positioned in and rotatable within a lower opening of each said first hinge;   a plurality of second hinges coupled to and extending between said center frame and said side frame, said plurality of second hinges comprising three said second hinges, said second hinges being lemniscately shaped wherein said respective said opposing side member of said center frame is positioned in and rotatable within a first opening of each said second hinge and an associated opposing edge member of said side frame is positioned in and rotatable within a second opening of each said second hinge;   a pair of latch rods, each said latch rod being pivotally coupled to and extending from a respective said opposing side member of said center frame;   a pair of latch hooks, each said latch hook being coupled to a respective opposing side tube of said top frame wherein each said latch hook is positioned for selectively coupling to an associated said latch rod for fixedly positioning said top frame substantially coplanarly with said center frame;   a plurality of nets, each said net being coupled to and extending inwardly from a respective said frame wherein said plurality of frames is selectively positionable in an extended configuration such that said plurality of nets is configured for protecting a pitcher from hit balls and a folded configuration wherein said plurality of frames is configured for stowing in a trunk of a vehicle;   a plate coupled to a bottom of a respective said frame and extending perpendicularly from a front of said respective said frame, said plate extending from said side frame;   a pair of wheels coupled to a back of said side frame such that said wheels are opposingly positioned to said plate wherein said wheels and said plate are configured for stabilizing said plurality of frames perpendicularly to a substantially horizontal surface, wherein said side frame, said wheels, and said plate define a dolly configured transporting an item positioned on said plate;   a pair of bars, each said bar being coupled to and extending from a respective said opposing edge member of said side frame such that said pair of bars is opposingly positioned to said plate;   an axle rotationally coupled to and extending between said bars, each said wheel being coupled to said axle such that said wheel is positioned proximate to an associated said opposing edge member of said side frame;   a roller axially coupled to said center frame wherein said roller is positioned distal from said side frame when said plurality of frames is in the extended configuration such that said roller is configured for facilitating locomotion of said plurality of frames along the substantially horizontal surface;   a rod pivotally coupled to said center frame proximate to said roller wherein said rod is positioned for selectively pivoting relative to said center frame such that an endpoint of said rod contacts the substantially horizontal surface for stabilizing said plurality of frames on the substantially horizontal surface; and   a netting coupled to and extending between a respective opposing side tube of said top frame and a top member said side frame wherein said netting is configured for protecting the pitcher from the hit balls, said netting being triangularly shaped, said netting having a first edge coupled to said respective said opposing side tube of said top frame, said netting having a second edge coupled to said top member of said side frame, said netting having a third edge, said third edge comprising elastic wherein said third edge is configured for stretching upon contacting an arm of the pitcher.