Batting practice systems

Abstract

A batting practice system; the system includes a physical apparatus for baseball and softball batting practice, which simulates pitches with a ball attached to the apparatus. The system may include a vertical support post having a base end and a top end, a projecting arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end attached to the top end of the vertical support post, a rod swivel-mounted on the distal end of the projecting arm; the rod configured to hang in a generally vertical position, a ball mounted at a lower end of the rod, a base member configured to support the vertical support post on a ground surface; and a home-plate representation fixed to the base member in a position below the ball.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 
     
         1 . A batting practice system comprising:
 a. a vertical support post having a base end and a top end;   b. a projecting arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end attached to the top end of the vertical support post;   c. a rod swivel-mounted on the distal end of the projecting arm, the rod configured to hang in a generally vertical position;   d. a ball mounted at a lower end of the rod;   e. a base member configured to support the vertical support post on a ground surface; and   f. a home-plate representation fixed to the base member in a position below the ball.   
     
     
         2 . The batting practice system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. at least one wheel configured to assist wheeled transport of the batting practice system;   b. wherein the at least one wheel is mounted to the base end of the vertical support post.   
     
     
         3 . The batting practice system of  claim 1 , wherein the rod is formed from a flexible material. 
     
     
         4 . The batting practice system of  claim 1 , wherein the rod is configured to allow the ball to move from a resting position along a swing path angularly displaced at least about 90 degrees with respect to such resting position. 
     
     
         5 . The batting practice system of  claim 1 , wherein the projecting arm is configured to be pivotally foldable to assist compact storage. 
     
     
         6 . The batting practice system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical support post further comprises a handle configured to assist handling of the batting practice system during transport. 
     
     
         7 . The batting practice system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical support post, the projecting arm, and the base member are formed from metal. 
     
     
         8 . The batting practice system of  claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises multiple legs joined to the base end of the vertical support post. 
     
     
         9 . The batting practice system of  claim 8 , wherein the multiple legs comprise a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg. 
     
     
         10 . The batting practice system of  claim 9 , wherein the first leg and the third leg are arranged in generally parallel orientation. 
     
     
         11 . The batting practice system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a. the second leg and the projecting arm are arranged in generally parallel orientation; and   b. the second leg and the projecting arm are arranged are arranged in an orientation generally perpendicular to the first leg and the third leg.   
     
     
         12 . The batting practice system of  claim 9 , wherein the home-plate representation is mounted on the second leg. 
     
     
         13 . The batting practice system of  claim 9 , wherein the first leg, the second leg, and the third leg are configured to be pivotally foldable to assist compact storage. 
     
     
         14 . The batting practice system of  claim 13 , wherein the first leg, the second leg, and the third leg each comprise a releasable lock configured to lock respective legs in an open position and a pivotally folded position. 
     
     
         15 . The batting practice system of  claim 1 , wherein the projecting arm and the vertical support post comprise a vertical adjuster configured to enable adjustment to a vertical height of the distal end of the projecting arm. 
     
     
         16 . The batting practice system of  claim 15 , wherein the vertical adjuster comprises a first releasable lock configured to lock the distal end of the projecting arm at a user-selected vertical height. 
     
     
         17 . A batting practice system comprising:
 a. a vertical support post having a base end and a top end;   b. a projecting arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end attached to the top end of the vertical support post;   c. a rod swivel-mounted on the distal end of the projecting arm, the rod configured to hang in a generally vertical position;   d. a ball mounted at a lower end of the rod;   e. a base member configured to support the vertical support post on a ground surface;   f. a home-plate representation fixed to the base member in a position below the ball;   g. at least one wheel configured to assist wheeled transport of the batting practice system;   h. wherein
 i. the base member comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, each one joined to the base end of the vertical support post, 
 ii. the first leg and the third leg are arranged in generally parallel orientation, 
 iii. the second leg and the projecting arm are arranged in generally parallel orientation, 
 iv. the second leg and the projecting arm are arranged are arranged in an orientation generally perpendicular to the first leg and the third leg, 
 v. the home-plate representation is mounted on the second leg, 
 vi. the at least one wheel is mounted to the base end of the vertical support post, 
 vii. the projecting arm and the vertical support post comprise a vertical adjuster configured to enable adjustment to a vertical height of the distal end of the projecting arm, 
 viii. the vertical adjuster comprises a first releasable lock configured to lock the distal end of the projecting arm at a user-selected vertical height, 
 ix. the rod is configured to allow the ball to move from a resting position along a swing path angularly displaced at least about 90 degrees with respect to such resting position, 
 x. the first leg, the second leg, and the third leg are configured to be pivotally foldable to assist compact storage and the first leg, the second leg, and the third leg each comprise a releasable lock configured to lock respective legs in an open position and a pivotally folded position, 
 xi. the projecting arm is configured to be pivotally foldable to assist compact storage, and 
 xii. the vertical support post further comprises a handle configured to assist handling of the batting practice system during transport. 
   
     
     
         18 . The batting practice system of  claim 17 , further comprising a set of instructions; and
 wherein the batting practice system is arranged as a kit.   
     
     
         19 . A method of producing a batting practice system comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a vertical support post having a base end and a top end;   b. providing a projecting arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end attached to the top end of the vertical support post;   c. providing a rod swivel-mounted on the distal end of the projecting arm, the rod configured to hang in a generally vertical position;   d. mounting a ball mounted at a lower end of the rod;   e. providing a base member configured to support the vertical support post on a ground surface; and   f. providing a home-plate representation fixed to the base member in a position below the ball.   
     
     
         20 . The method of producing a batting practice system of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of configuring the projecting arm and the base member to be foldable to comprise a compact configuration assisting transport and storage.