GB2220860A - Baseball bats - Google Patents

Abstract

A baseball bat with an automatic serving function comprises a ball holder for up to four balls, a striking column 3 for serving a ball, an actuating button 4, and a bulbous end member 5. Once the end member 5 is drawn back, a ball is delivered via a guide 11 onto the column 3 which is retracted against a spring 8. When the button 4 is pressed, the column 3 is released and the ball is served into the air through aperture 2, and the user can then hit it with the bat. <IMAGE>

Description

Title : A new baseball bat with automatic serving function This invention relates to a new baseball bat with automatic serving function.

Baseball has been one of the popular sports in the world for a long time. However, baseball requires expensive facilities and vast area and consumes great physical strength and always causes damage. Moreover, it is a hard job to train an excellent player. Needless to say, a baseball serving machine will indeed help a lot in training.

Originated from this idea, this invention is designed to provide an automatic serving function.

One of the commonly available training machine in maret is a serving machine which is placed on ground and user steps on the treadle with one of his feet. Everytime user steps on it, ball will be served upwards and is then struck out by player. Anyway, this training method requires a set of complicated equipments and is not suitable for zoungers. Moreover, since ball is served from gound, it sometimes affects player's judgement. Hence in no way this kind of machine can assist training. If player really wants to exercises what he can do is to throw the ball into air by himself, and prepare to hit in an instant, and then hit; an alternative requires the cooperation of a pitcher. Both this methods waste manpower and are inefficient.This invention is safe, convenient and amusing and possesses generality, thigh efficiency, and suits players of all ages in any environment.

This invention is to provide an automatic serving function, and particularly enables players to hit the ball served into air from bat. RlsoF after ball is hit, the next reserve ball will be pushed automatically to waiting area preparing for net hit.

Fig. 1 is the stereoscopic view of this invention, in which near the head of bat 1 is a channel 2. In channel there is a striking column 3 which serves ball by means of a stand and a spring, and which is controlled bv button 4.

When button 4 is pressed, ball in channel 2 is served into air. Then, from the control of bulgy end 5 reserve ball in bat 1 is delivered to striking column 3 in channel 2, waiting from net serve. By repeating the actions, user can be trailed etfeciently. Moreover, the horizontal bulge can avoid slipping when held.

Fig. 2 is the exploded view ot the internal structure of this invention, in which bat 1 is assembled of upper case la and lower case lb, by means of screws ba, 6b, bc and od. In bat 1, there is a ball room 7 which is for reservation of reserve balls. Ball room 7 can reserve four balls at most. Ball prepared to serve is delivered to the striking column 3 in channel 2. The striking column 3 has an internal spring 8 and a fastener 8a, in which spring 8 is controiled by thread 9. When bulgy end 5 is drawn backward, thread 9 is tightly pulled and striking column 7::. lowers, preparing for serve.At this time, if button 4 is pressed thread 9 will loosen and striking column s will jump up, and hence serves the ball up into air. The launching-pad comprises a movable striking column 7:: and an internal spring 8. round the lower end of striking column z is a protrusion for fastening of guide 11 which is mainly for delivery of bell from ball room 7. The sectional view of the structure of channel 2 and striking column is shown in Fig. .

The bulgy end 5 of bat 1 in Fig. 2 is more detailedly illustrated in Fig. 6 which aims for automatic replacement of ball by transporting reserve ball to striking column 3 of waiting area. Bulgy end 5 is usually at normal state. It is fastened to upper case la through interlocking of its taper 20 and a hollow in upper case la.

When bulgy end 5 is drawn backward taper 20 shifts to groove 21 as shown in Fig. 5. Meanwhile, the backward drawing ot thread 12 pulls connecting rod back and thread 9 is pulled back. also. Subsequently, spring 8 is pulled down by thread 9 through the work of rollers 14 and 15, and here striking column is prepared to strike. At the same time, reserve ball is delivered to channel 2 via guide 11. When button 4 is pressed, trigger 18 is pressed down by control rod 19.

Trigger 18 rotates down about privot 16, and connecting rod 13 is pulled back by spring 17, and hence loosens thread 9.

Therefore striking column jumps as spring 8 resumes to its normal state. Here, serve is accomplished. In the next serve in order to replace ball to channel 2, bulgy end 5 is pulled again. As bulgy end 9 is- drawn back, the cut in connecting rod 13 is locked by flanger of trigger 18. Trigger 18 is also fastened by lug l7,a of connecting rod 1, here bat lS ready or net serve. Fig. 4 shows the sectional view OT button device.

The striking colum is a hollow body, in which there are a spring, a fastener, and a thread controlled by button device. This thread is used to control the up and down motion of striking column. The top of striking column is designed to be small and flat, aiming to enhance safety.

in case dangerous article is placed on striking column accident can be avoided as article cannot steadily anchored on it Rs a wholes this invention provides a sate, ccnvenient and practical baseball bat with automatic serving function. User can exercise by himself and does not need usually available serving machine which is expensive or the help of other people. User only has to put several balls in bat bore exercise, press button and pull the bulgy end to deliver ball to channel. Ball will then be served by a striking column, exercise can be accomplished by repeating the actions. RlsoS user can se1ect the kind of ball, or length or type of bat suitable to him according to playground, his age or requirements. Hence, this invention enables wide applications with no restriction on playground or user's age. it is indeed practical, amusing and assistant to tuition.

The above description is specified with reference to drawing in which: Fig. 1 The stereoscopic view of this invention.

Fig. 2 The sectional view of the internal structure of his invention.

Fig. 3 The cross-sectional view of the sructure of this invention.

Fig. 4 The cross-sectional view of the button device of this invention.

Fig. 5 The sectional view of the internal structure of this invention after bulgy end is pulled back.

Fig. 6 The structural view of bulgy end of the present invention.

Claims (1)

1. Claims:

   1. A new baseball bat with automatic serving function is composed of - a bat body which comprises an upper case and a lower case screwed together, - a channel near the head of upper case,4 which allows the passage of ball, - a striking column which has a spring and a fastener installed in it, - a guide with one end fastenered to flange ot striking column, and another end extending to reserve room for guiding of reserve ball to channel, - a bulgy end which controls the motion of connecting rod of button devIce, - a button device which is composed of a button, a connecting rod, a trigger3 and a spring; the present invention features in that in ball room are severai reserve balls which are delivered in sequence via guide to striking column in channel; as bulgy end is drawn back, thread is pulled back and subsequently spring in striking column is compressed; striking column is thereby lowered, preparing for hitting; when button is pressed, thread loosens and spring in striking column jumps to recover to its normal state; ball on striking column is served as a result, . Rccording to the baseball bat with automatic serving function mentioned in claim 1, at he lower end of striking column is a protrusion which fastened one end ot guide; installed in tricking column are a spring and a fastener in which spring is controlled by connectinq rod of button device by means of a thread.

   According to the baseball bat with automatic serving function In claim 1, attached at the two ends of connecting rod of button device are two threads, in which one i, connected to bulgy end, and another is connected to spring In striking column; when bulgy end is drawn back, the cut in connecting rod is locked by flanger of trigger, and trigger r fastened by lug of connecting rod; meanwhile, striking column is lowered, ready for serving, at this moment, if button is pressed, trigger will be pressed down also, and hence trigger is no longer asrened by connecting rod which under the drawing ot spring returns to its original position, ano at the same times striking column jumps up, ball is served into air.

   4. according to the baseball bat with automatic serving function mentioned in Claim 1, the bulge end is installed at the end of bat, which at normal state is fastened to the upper cape through interlocking of its taper and a hollow on upper case; when bulgy end is drawn, taper shifts to groove, and by means of a thread, connecting rod is drawn back; as a whole, bat is prepared for projection.

   5. A baseball bat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.