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:
Mar. 25, 1997
Filed:
Aug. 17, 1995
Craig V McKee, Dearborn, MI (US);
Michael S Steer, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Garrett J Donner, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Janet E Snell-Kelly, East Aurora, NY (US);
Fred B Robjent, Orchard Park, NY (US);
Fisher-Price, Inc., East Aurora, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides for projecting supported objects, such as baseballs, footballs or golf balls. The apparatus includes a movable striker having a first surface (a target surface) for receiving a force, and a second surface (a projecting surface) for projecting the object, with the object being supported by a supporting surface. The supporting surface may be a portion of the second (projecting) surface or another surface on the striker, or alternatively may be a portion of a support member separate from the striker. The target surface receives a force from the user, the force being subsequently transmitted through the striker to the supported object via the projecting surface. The striker may be movably coupled to a base, with the striker being limited to fore-and-aft movement relative to the base, so that the object will be projected forwardly in a predetermined direction even if the target surface is not struck in a squarely forward direction. The striker may also be adapted to be positioned in a second, operative position, in such a way that the apparatus supports the object and allows the user to strike the object directly.