The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 22, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1994
Wesley F Black, Williston, ND (US);
Charles D Black, Williston, ND (US);
Stringliner Company, Williston, ND (US);
Abstract
A baseball trainer includes a target apparatus set at a predetermined distance from a practicing ballplayer. The target apparatus includes a plurality of panels for indicating a 'strike' or a 'ball' which indication is communicated to a microcomputer in a console adjacent to the practicing player. The target apparatus is associated with an adjacent catching apparatus and ball return apparatus for returning the ball to the player. The player pitches from a pitching rubber which includes a switch for providing a start signal when the player shifts the weight off of his back foot at the instant the ball is pitched toward the target apparatus. The start time, together with a stop time generated by the 'strike' or 'ball' panels, can be used by the microcomputer to generate an elapsed time which together with the known distance is used to calculate the speed of the pitch and which is then audibly reported to the practicing player. Alternatively, the trainer can be used without a pitching rubber in a fielding mode wherein a start signal is generated when the ball return apparatus propels the ball toward the practicing player. The player then catches the ball and throws it back to the target apparatus and a fielding time is calculated.