Batting Tee

Abstract

A batting tee includes a base, a support attached to the base, and a target mount rotatably attached to the support, the mount having a housing, a number of bearings disposed within the housing and spaced from one another, and a pair of wires engaged at one end with the housing and to a target at the opposite end, wherein the support is inserted through the housing and the number of bearings to allow the target mount to rotate with regard to the support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A batting tee comprising:
 a. a base;   b. a support attached to the base; and   c. a target mount rotatably attached to the support, the mount comprising:
 i. a housing; 
 ii. at least two of bearings disposed within the housing and spaced from one another; and 
 iii. at least one wire engaged with the housing at one end and adapted to be secured to a target at the opposite end, 
   wherein the support is engaged with the at least two bearings to allow the target mount to rotate with regard to the support.   
     
     
         2 . The batting tee of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wire is releasably engaged with a target opposite the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The batting tee of  claim 2 , wherein each of the at least two bearings each comprise:
 a. an outer ring engaged within a seat formed in the housing;   b. an inner ring disposed within and spaced from the outer ring; and   c. a number of ball bearings retained between the outer ring and the inner ring,   wherein the ball bearings rotate with respect to the inner ring and the outer ring to enable the outer ring and the inner ring to move with respect to one another.   
     
     
         4 . The batting tee of  claim 3 , further comprising a rod engaged with and extending outwardly from the support,
 wherein the rod is inserted through and engaged with the inner rings of each of the at least two bearings.   
     
     
         5 . The batting tee of  claim 4 , further comprising a rod adapter at least partially disposed within the support, and wherein the rod is engaged with the rod adapter opposite the target mount. 
     
     
         6 . The batting tee of  claim 5 , wherein the rod adapter comprises:
 a. an exterior cross-section shaped complementary to an interior cross-section of the support; and   b. an interior passage shaped complementary to the cross-section of the rod.   
     
     
         7 . The batting tee of  claim 6 , further comprising a securing pin inserted through the support, the rod adapter and the rod to secure the rod to the support. 
     
     
         8 . The batting tee of  claim 3 , further comprising a knob releasably engaged with the rod and the housing opposite the support to hold the housing on the rod. 
     
     
         9 . The batting tee of  claim 8 , wherein the knob compresses the inner rings of the at least two bearings between the knob and the support to prevent rotation of the inner rings relative to the rod, while allowing the outer rings of the at least two bearings and the housing to rotate relative to the rod. 
     
     
         10 . The batting tee of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one wire is secured to the outer ring of the at least two bearings. 
     
     
         11 . The batting tee of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one wire includes a loop opposite the target, and wherein the loop is secured within the housing around the outer rings of the at least two bearings. 
     
     
         12 . The batting tee of  claim 11 , wherein the loop of the at least one wire is attached to the outer rings of the at least two bearings. 
     
     
         13 . The batting tee of  claim 1 , wherein the support is adjustably secured to the base. 
     
     
         14 . A target mount releasably securable to a batting tee, the target mount comprising:
 a. a housing;   b. at least two bearings disposed within the housing and spaced from one another, wherein each of the at least two bearings comprises:
 i. an outer ring engaged within a seat formed in the housing; 
 ii. an inner ring disposed within and spaced from the outer ring; and 
 iii. a number of ball bearings retained between the outer ring and the inner ring, the ball bearings configured to rotate with respect to the inner ring and the outer ring to enable the outer ring and the inner ring to move with respect to one another; 
   c. at least one wire engaged with the housing at one end and secured to a target at the opposite end; and   d. a target engaged with the at least one wire opposite the housing,   wherein the target mount is adapted to be releasably attached to a support of the batting tee.   
     
     
         15 . The target mount of  claim 14 , further comprising a rod inserted through and engaged with the inner rings of each of the at least two bearings the rod adapted to be secured to the batting tee. 
     
     
         16 . The target mount of  claim 15 , further comprising a rod adapter releasably secured to the rod and adapted to engage the rod with the batting tee, the rod adapter comprising a body with an exterior cross-section shaped complementary to an interior cross-section of a component of a batting tee and an interior passage shaped complementary to the cross-section of the rod. 
     
     
         17 . The target mount of  claim 15 , further comprising a securing pin inserted through the rod and the rod adapter. 
     
     
         18 . The target mount of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one wire is secured to the outer ring of each of the at least two bearings. 
     
     
         19 . The target mount of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one wire includes a loop opposite the target, and wherein the loop is secured around the outer rings of the at least two bearings. 
     
     
         20 . The target mount of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one wire is inserted through a passage in the target and engaged with a grommet disposed on the target opposite the housing.