US2254986A

US2254986A - Target

Info

Publication number: US2254986A
Application number: US257756A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ziel Max
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-02-21
Filing date: 1939-02-21
Publication date: 1941-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 1958-09-02

Description

M. ZIEL Sept. 2, 1941..

TARGET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1939 I 0? Max Zz'e/ ATTORNEYS WITNESS Sept. 2, 1941. M, IEL 2,254,986

TARGET Filed Feb. 21, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Anya:

# +5 fi/mazz'el ATTOR N EYS Patented Sept. 2, 1941 STATES PATENT oFF c 2,254,986 Ten er M x Ziel, Oswego, N. Y. Application February 21, 1939, Serial No. 257,756 7 Claims. (Cl. 27326) The invention relates to a target and more particularly to a ball pitching target.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a target of this character, wherein a baseball pitcher can acquire, a workout single handed for developing accuracy in the throwing of a baseball and at the same time be subjected to tests in the pitching of curves, either inside curves oroutside curves, balls, high and low,

and strike throws, the balls being readily and h easily retrieved in that the same are back stopped.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a target of this character, wherein a baseball pitcher can develope ball throws when pitching to either right or left hand batters, the target being adjustable for the setup of images representative of a baseball catcher and a batter in batting pose, both being in required positions at a home plate, the target being novel in construction and in this fashion indicative of reality for the development and testing of the throws of a baseball by a Pitcher.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a target of this character, wherein the same is readily and easily erected, adjusted and sustained in a visible position for the practice of ball throwing, thus functioning as a developer and tester for skill and accuracy in ball pitching.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a target of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, strong, durable, readily portable, being collapsible while not in use, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the target constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing in detail the brace connection with the hanger frame of the target.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3 locking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view 'on the line 5--5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is .a sectional viewon the line !'I of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the target constituting the present invention comprises a hanger frame Ill, in this instance made from metal pipe sections, joined together by an L-union il, one arm oftheframe being perpendicularly arranged and rising from a suitable base i 2 while the remaining 'or other arm is horizontally disposed extending laterally from the perpendicular arm of the frame and the base being of any construction to sustain the frame inthe upright position without tilting over and supporting the load hereinafter set forth.

Hung from the horizontalarm of the frame H3 is the target l3 in the form of a flexible sheet, preferably canvas, being hemmed at the top and bottom edges I4 and I5, respectively, for reinforcement and strengthening purposes. Following the top hemmed end I4 inwardly of its hem is a row of eyelets It being properly spaced from each other for receiving a separable suspension or hanger lacing l1 threaded therethroughand trained over the horizontal arm of the frame in for the fastening of the sheet target H3 in a hanging or suspending position, the ends of the lacing being separably fastened in any desirable manner.

At the bottom edge l5 next to opposite lower corners of'the sheet are provided eyelets l8 alternately engageable by a coiled retractile spring l9 loosely connected to the base and this spring exerts a pulling action on the sheet to hold it yieldably taut and in a smooth straightened suspended condition. J

The sheet l3 has thereon the representation of a baseball catcher 20. and a baseball batter 2|, respectively, each posed with respect to a home plate 22, imitative to that of an actual baseball playing field, these representations being indicative of a catcher and batter posed as in the playing of an actual game of baseball, the representations being visible at opposite faces of the sheet l3 so that on reversal of the said sheet the batters position being changed from a right hand batter to a left hand batter or vice versa.

Correlated to the representation 20 are holes or openings 23, these being provided in the sheet Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 55 and have their edges suitably reinforced, their positions being such on the passage of a baseball therethrough to indicate a strike throw or high, low, inside or outside ball throw by a pitcher when throwing the baseball at the target and in this manner a person can readily practice and devlop ball throwing and also a test workout had singled handed.

The perpendicular arm of the frame has adjustably and separably connected thereto a brace 24, which is also connected to the base l2, the said brace being angularly disposed to the perpendicular and serves to sustain the frame ID in an upright position when the base I2 is upona foundation, on level ground or the like. The brace 24 has formed at each end 25 a suitable clearance 26 for a winged nut carrying bolt 21 and in this manner the said brace is detachably secured in place. 7

Attached to the sheet I3 is a back stop section 28 of flexible material, being extended over the openings 23 rearwardly of the sheet when in confronting position with respect to a ball thrower or pitcher and this section carries adjustable fastening straps 29, being engageable in slots or openings 30 provided in the sheet [3. Thus when a ball passes through an opening 23 when thrown at the target, the back stop 28 traps the ball whence it will drop to the foundation or ground to be retrieved.

The sheet I3 is readily reversible and in reversed position is suspended by the lacingengaged as hereinbefore set forth with the frame 10. A ball pitcher can readily practice ball pitching single handed on delivery to a right or left handed batter and also have strike and ball throws, thereby enabling development of ball pitching and also for testing a ball thrower as to accuracy with the result that a thorough ball throwing workout is attained single handed.

The back stop section 28 is shift-able to either side of the sheet according to the setup thereof in the frame for right hand batting or left hand batting practice of a ball pitcher.

What is claimed is:

l. A target of the character described comprising a single vertical support, and a flexible sheet reversibly suspended from the upper end of said support at one side thereof and having Visible images indicative of a baseball catcher in a ball receiving position and batter in a ball striking position, respectively, imitative of those in an actual game of baseball at opposite faces thereof, the images being effective for a reverse stance on a reversal of the sheet, the said sheet being provided with openings in association with the image indicative of the baseball catcher and distributed relative thereto for accommodating a ball when thrown to be indicative of a strike or ball count in an actual game of baseball.

2. A target of the character described comprising a single vertical support, a flexible sheet reversibly suspended from the upper end of said support at one side thereof and having visible images indicative of a baseball catcher in a ball receiving position and batter, in a ball striking position, respectively, imitative of those in an actual game of baseball at opposite faces thereof, the images being effective for a reverse stance on a reversal of the sheet, the said sheet being provided with openings in association with the image indicative of the baseball catcher and distributed relative thereto for accommodating a ball when thrown to be indicative of a strike or ball count in an actual game of baseball, and

means associated with the sheet and with the support for sustaining the said sheet in a smooth taut condition.

3. A target of the character described comprising a single vertical support, a flexible sheet reversibly suspended from the upper end of said support at one side thereof and having visible images indicative of a baseball catcher in a ball receiving position and batter in a ball striking position, respectively, imitative of those in an actual game of baseball at opposite faces thereof, the images being effective for a reverse stance on a reversal of the sheet, the said sheet being provided with openings in association with the image indicative of the baseball catcher and distributed relative thereto for accommodating a ball when thrown to be indicative of a strike or ball count in an actual game of baseball, means associated with the sheet and with the support for sustaining the said sheet in a smooth taut condition, and means associated with the support and the said sheet for reversely fastening the sheet with the support and on reversal altering the batter representations position from a right hand to a left hand batter or vice versa.

4. A target of the character described comprising a single vertical support, a flexible sheet reversibly suspended from the upper end of said support at one side thereof and having visible images indicative of a baseball catcher in a ball receiving position and batter in a ball striking position, respectively, imitative of those in an actual game of baseball at opposite faces thereof, the images being effective for a reverse stance on a reversal of the sheet, means associated with the sheet and with the support for sustaining the said sheet in a smooth taut condition, and means associated with the support and the said sheet for reversely fastening the sheet with the support and on reversal altering the batter representations position from a right hand to a left hand batter or vice versa, the said sheet having openings disposed for receiving a thrown ball and indicative of a strike or ball throw.

5. A target of the character described comprising a single vertical support, a flexible sheet reversibly suspended from the upper end of said support at one side thereof and having visible images indicative of a baseball catcher in a ball receiving position and batter in a ball striking position, respectively, imitative of those in an actual game of baseball at opposite faces thereof, the images being effective for a reverse stance on a reversal of the sheet, means associated with the sheet and with the support for sustaining the said sheet in a smooth taut condition, means associated with the support and the said sheet for reversely fastening the sheet with the support and on reversal altering the batter representations position from a right hand to a left hand batter or vice versa, the said sheet having openings disposed for receiving a thrown ball and indicative of a strike or ball throw, and means correlated to said openings and functioning as a back stop for a ball when passed through the said openings.

6. A target of the character described comprising a single vertical support, a flexible sheet reversibly suspended from the upper end of said support at one side thereof and having visible im'- ages indicative of a baseball catcher in a ball receiving position and batter in a ball striking position, respectively, imitative of those in an actual game of baseball, at opposite faces thereof, the images being effective for a reverse stanceon a reversal of the sheet, means associated with the sheet and with the support for sustaining the said sheet in a smooth taut condition, means associated with the support and the said sheet for reversely fastening the sheet with the support and on reversal altering the batter representations position from a right hand to a left hand batter or vice versa, the said sheet having openings disposed for receiving a thrown ball and indicative of a strike or ball throw, means correlated to said openings and functioning as a back stop for a ball when passed through the said openings, and means for separably fastening the back stop to the sheet at either side thereof.

7. A target of the character described comprising a flexible vertically disposed reversible sheet having a pair of images visible from opposite sides thereof, one of the images being indicative of a baseball catcher in a ball receiving position and the other of said images indicative of a batter in ball striking position, said sheet having openings therein relative to the catchers image thereon and adapted for the reception of a ball when thrown as a strike or ball count, a single post overhead support for the said sheet, and means for reversely suspending the said sheet from the single post overhead support at one side thereof. 7

MAX ZIEL.