US3139282A

US3139282A - Multiple batting tee

Info

Publication number: US3139282A
Application number: US239408A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leon A Lande
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-11-20
Filing date: 1962-11-20
Publication date: 1964-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 1981-06-30

Description

June 30, 1964 1 A, LANDE 3,139,282

MULTIPLE BATTING TEE Filed Nov. 20, 1962 E0/V A. LA/VDE United States Patent Oliice lil Patented' June 30, 1964 3,139,282 MULTIPLE BATTHNG TEE Leon A. Lande, 1654 Riverbank, Lincoln Park, Mich. Filed Nov. Ztl, 1962, Ser. No. 239,408 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-26) This invention relates generally to practice batting tees, and more particularly to a novel and improved batting practice tee provided with a plurality of batting tees for use in supporting a plurality of baseballs for developing, correcting and studying the basic fundamentals of hitting.

My philosophy of hitting is based on a premise made by Babe Ruth that the area which is found by first grasping the bat on the barrel end with one hand and the area which is covered by grasping the bat adjacent the iirst hand by the second hand is the home run hitting area of the bat. It has been found that this area covers approximately four inches and therefore I have called it the four inch wood. This four inch wood is then, if re-stated, that portion of the bat between four inches from the outer or barrel end of the bat and eight inches from the barrel end of the bat. My philosophy further involves using the same stance, stride, swing and wrist action on all pitches as much as possible. The only change made, of any consequence, that is in order so that the four inch wood should make contact on every ball hit, is the hip rotation.

In hitting the ball when placed on the outside area of the plate it is recommended that an outward rotation of the hips be used; an inward rotation on the ball positioned on the inner area of the plate; and other degrees of variations on the balls placed between these two extreme positions. The multiple tee of the present invention can be adjusted in such a manner that the contact position of the bat can be determined by the placement of the ball. This should give the hitter a mental image of the bat-ball relationships over all parts of they base in the strike zone.

The factor of human error as well as insuiiicient power makes it relatively diiiicult to hit a home run every time the four inch wood portion of the bat is applied to the ball. However, if the ball is squarely hit in this area or portion thereof, it is possible for all players to get more power and hence greater distance. Accordingly, it is a primary objectof the present invention to provide a novel and improved multiple batting tee apparatus which is adapted to aid in teaching a player the proper stance, swing, timing and wrist action for applying said four inch wood area to a ball during a hitting or batting operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a multiple batting tee apparatus which is adapted to serve as an instructional device for coaches, playground and recreational leadersV and others for teaching the above mentioned baseball hitting fundamentals.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a multiplel batting tee apparatus which is readily adaptable to outdoor and indoor use.

It is a further object of the present inventionlto provide a novel and improved multiple batting tee apparatus which is portable, rugged and compact in construction, light in weight, economical of manufacture, and which comprises a minimum of parts.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved multiple batting tee apparatus which is capable of supporting a plurality of baseballs at various heights and positions over a simulated home plate for teaching a batter the proper swing for hitting a ball at said various positions over the plate.

It is a further object of the present invention to` provide a novel and improved multiple batting tee apparatus which is provided with a plurality of adjustable tees mounted on support brackets which make it possible to adjust tees to any area on the base. This in turn means that a bm or balls can be placed on any part of the plate at any level in the strike zone.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, andthe accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is an elevational perspective lview of a multiple batting tee made in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. l, taken along the line 2-2 thereof, looking in thev direction of the arrows and showing the tees 4in cross section; and,

' FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged elevational sectional View of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3--3 thereof andv looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now tothe drawing and in particular to FIG. l, the practice batting apparatus of the present invention comprises the base generally indicated by the numeral l0. The base lll is 25" wide along the front edge indicated by the numeral l1 and 81/2 long on each side indicated by the

numerals

12 and 13. The angular rear edges 14 and 15 are each 15% long. The base 10 may be constructed of any suitable material, as for example laminated rubber. The base 10 is approximately one inch in overall thickness and is provided with the centrally disposed metal plate 16 which extends through the entire plate. The layers of

rubber

17 and 18 would be fixedly secured to the metal plate 16 by any suitable means as by means of a suitable adhesive.

As shown in FIG. 2, an area on the base 10, generally indicated by the numeral 19, is shaped like a home plate. This home plate area 19 is bounded by the front edge 11 of the base 10, the side lines marked by the numerals 20 and 21, and the rear

angular lines

22 and 23. The home plate area 19 would be colored white and have dimensions equal to a conventional home plate. The outer or border area of the base 1t) around the home plate area 19 would be colored black.

As shown in FIGS. l and 2, the multiple batting tee apparatus of the present invention includes a pair of adjustable tees generally indicated by the numerals 2li and 25. The batting tee 24 will be described in detail and similar reference numerals followed' by the small letter a will be applied to the batting tee 2S. The batting tee 24 comprises the elongated support bracket 26 which is preferably made of metal and which is provided with the` elongated, longitudinally extended slot 27. The support bracket 26 isl adapted to be seated on the top surface of the base 10 as shownr in FIG. 2 and to be adjustably secured in place by means of the boltZS and the wing nut 29. The bolt 28 is preferably anchored in the base l0 at a point approximately 81/2" from the front edge 11 of the plate 10 and approximately 2%" inwardly from the home plate side line 21. The bolt 28 and wing nut 29 are merely illustrative of one suitable means for securing the supporting bracket 26 to the base 1) to permit adjustment of the bracket 26 over the home plate 19. It will be seen that by means of the releasable wing nut 29, the mounting bracket 26 may be adjustably secured over various areas of the home plate 19.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a metal tube 30 is fixedly secured to the outer end of the support bracket 26 by means of the bolt 31. The bolt 31 extends upwardly through a suitable hole formed in the front end of the bracket 26 and is threadably engaged in the inner diameter of the metal tube 3l). Any other suitable fastening means may be used, if desired. A lirst rubber tube 33 is slidably mounted at the lower end thereof over the metal tube 30. The rubber tube 33 is held in place on the tube 30 by a friction fit. The rubber tube 33 preferably has an outside diameter of 21/2. 'Ihe tube 33 is approximately 18" in length. Slidably mounted in the upper end of the rubber tube 33 is a second rubber tube 34. The second rubber tube 34 is also approximately 18" in length. The second rubber tube 34 would have an approximately outside diameter of 2?/16" so as'to be large enough to t snugly into the irst tube 33 so as to be held in place by friction yet permit slidable adjustment of the second tube 34 relative to the first tube 33. A third rubber tube 35 is telescopically mounted in the upper end of the second tube 34. The

tubes

34 and 35 are also made of a suitable rubber material. The third tube 35 would be approximately 20" in length and have an outside diameter of approximately /8". The lower end of the third tube 35 would be slidably mounted in the tube 34 to provide a snug fit to hold the tubes in position relative to each other by friction yet permit adjustment of the tubes relative to each other. The height of the aforedescribed telescopic set of tubes when fully extended would be approximately 50 inches plus the thickness of the supporting bracket 26 and the base 10, making a total height of approximately 52". As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the tube 35 would be ilared as indicated by the numeral 36 to provide a suitable seat for the baseball 37.

The second batting tee 2S has been marked with the same reference numerals followed by the small letter a and it will be seen that this batting tee is constructed identical to batting tee 24 with the exception that it is reversed so that the ball supporting tubes are disposed at the rear end of the support bracket 26a. It will be understood that the aforecited dimensions of the various parts of the batting tees of the present invention may be varied as desired, but that they are merely set forth to indicate one illustrative embodiment of the invention.

In the use of the multiple. batting tee of the present invention, the player would assume the proper stance and distance from the plate 10 for all types of pitches in order to applyV the aforecited four inch wood portion of the bat to the

balls

37 or 37a as selectively called for by a batting instructor. The

batting tees

24 and 25 would be disposed at different heights with the inside batting tee 25 being Adisposed lower than the outside batting tee 24 and in accordance with Whether the batter is a right hand or left hand batter. The tees 24 and 2S are adjusted to the desired positions over the home plate 19, and the player assumes the proper stance. The coach, or instructor, then calls inside or outside indicating the position of the ball which the batter should attempt to hit, as for example, the ball 37 or the ball 37a depending on whether the batter is a left hand or right hand batter. If the hitter focuses his eyes either on the ball 37 or the ball 37a, the coach can call for the opposite ball to be h it. This will help prevent the player from attempting to guess the coachs call.

It will be seen that the multiple batting tee of the present invention helps to show the player whether he is using the proper swing at the proper level and it helps in determining the exact time in which the players wrist should be snapped during a batting swing on all types of pitches. The positions of the

tees

24 and 25 can be adjusted so that the batter can hit the balls over all parts of the home plate area 19. 'The

tees

24 and 25 are vertically adjustable to accommodate adults and children on both the high and low levels. The multiple batting tee apparatus of the present invention serves to develop a more effective batting swing by developing both strength and coordination, and it helps to determine the proper hip rotation for both inside and outside pitches. It also shows a hitter the proper bat angle, as well as the distance in front of the body, to which the bat should be disposed to make proper contact with the ball on both inside and outside pitches'. Actual experience has shown that the multiple batting tee of the present invention is a practical and efficient device for perfecting the various phases of the skill or art of hitting and in carrying out the aforecited philosophy of hitting.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fuliill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modication, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a baseball tee for batting practice, a base plate having a home plate area formed thereon; at least a pair of adjustable baseball tees adjustably mounted in spaced relation on said base plate on said home plate area; each of said adjustable baseball tees comprising; an elongated horizontally disposed support bracket; an extensible vertically disposed ball support member mounted on said support bracket for supporting a baseball in a selective elevated position above the home plate area of the base plate, from where it may be struck by a batter; and, means for adjustably securing said support bracket to the home plate for positioning the ball supporting member in a selective position over the home plate area.

2. The baseball tee for batting practice as defined in claim l, wherein: said elongated horizontally disposed support bracket comprises an elongated bar having a longitudinally extended slot formed therethrough and said means for adjustably securing said support bracket to said base plate includes a bolt having the lower end fixed in the base plate and the upper end threaded and extended upwardly through said slot, and a wing nut mounted on the upper threaded end for engaging the bracket to releasably secure it to the base plate.

3. The baseball tee for batting practice as defined in claim 1, wherein: said baseball supporting member comprises, a plurality of telescopic adjustably connected tubes including at least a bottom tube, an intermediatte tube, and an upper tube, the lower end of the bottom tube being xed to the support bracket and the upper end of the upper tube having a baseball supporting seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Auffi-

Claims

1. IN A BASEBALL TEE FOR BATTING PRACTICE, A BASE PLATE HAVING A HOME PLATE AREA FORMED THEREON; AT LEAST A PAIR OF ADJUSTABLE BASEBALL TEES ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED IN SPACED RELATION ON SAID BASE PLATE ON SAID HOME PLATE AREA; EACH OF SAID ADJUSTABLE BASEBALL TEES COMPRISING; AN ELONGATED HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SUPPORT BRACKET; AN EXTENSIBLE VERTICALLY DISPOSED BALL SUPPORT MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT BRACKET FOR SUPPORTING A BASEBALL IN A SELECTIVE ELEVATED POSITION ABOVE THE HOME PLATE AREA OF THE BASE PLATE, FROM WHERE IT MAY BE STRUCK BY A BATTER; AND, MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY SECURING SAID SUPPORT BRACKET TO THE HOME PLATE FOR POSITIONING THE BALL SUPPORTING MEMBER IN A SELECTIVE POSITION OVER THE HOME PLATE AREA.