Practice guide for baseball pitchers

Application filed September 10, 1925. Serial No. 55,535.

This invention relates to improvements in practice guides for baseball pitchers.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a practice guide or training deft vice which baseball pitchers may use in order to determine accurately the efficiency of their pitching and to become proficient in the control of their pitched balls.

A further object of this invention is the 10 provision of an improved type of training device for base ball pitchers, embodying means for adjustment in order to properly regulate the efficiency of the pitched balls of a pitcher; the device embodying an open1ft ing of a width equal to the width of the conventional home plate, and of a regulated height adjustable to suit the varying height of players between the “strike” heights limits of the player, that is, between 20 the knees and shoulders of the player.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved practice guide for baseball pitchers, the frame work having improved means to prevent injury to the 25 pitched ball should the same foul thereagainst. . .

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled practice guide or training device for baseball pitchers, showing a player in a cooperative relation to the training device in order to more clearly designate the novel 40 features of the device.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the framework of the improved training device, with parts thereof removed to show the adjustable construction of the framework.

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines of Figure 1.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred 60 embodiment of the invention the letter A may generally designate the improved practice guide or training device. It includes vertical frame standards 10 and 11, rigidly secured in right angled vertically extended 66 relation from the base members or plates 12 and 13 respectively. The plates or mem bers 12 and 13 are preferably elongated, in parallel relation along the path of trajectory of the pitched ball, so that portions of each of said attaching members or plates 12 and 60 13 extend forwardly and rearwardly of the plane of the standards 10 and 11. These plates or members 12 and 13 are each provided with a plurality of forward and rearward openings 14, adapted to receive rivets 65 or bolts 15, whereby to secure the said plates or members 12 and 13 upon a floor or other foundation, to stably mount the standards 10 and 11 in vertical, and preferably nonvibratory position. The standards 10 . and 70 11 may of course be of any height desired. The standards 10 and 11 are furthermore spaced a distance exactly equivalent to the width of the conventional home plate at its widest part, namely, about 17 inches. The 76 standards 10 and 11 are each preferably provided with a lower series of openings 18 therein, and an upper series of openings 19 therein. Lower and upper horizontal cross bars or members 20 and 21 are adapted for 80 respective attachment with the lower and upper openings 18 and 19 of the standards 10 and 11. These cross bars 20 and 21 each include a cylindrical body portion 22, as is illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, 85 witn reduced outwardly extending shanks 23 at the ends thereof adapted for detachable disposition in the openings, 18 or 19 of the standards 10 and 11. The shanks 23 are screw threaded at 28, for detachably re- 80 ceiving nuts 29.

The bar 20 is placed at the average knee height of a player, and the same is of course adjustable as to various heights above the floor attaching plates 12 and 13, as is readily 86 obvious, by merely detaching the nuts 29 and removing the bar 20 to position the same at the desired height in any of the lowermost openings 18 of the standards 10 and 11, which horizontally align. 10®

The upper bar 21 is formed identical with the description above given for the bar .20, and it is adapted for adjustable positioning at a desired horizontal height above the floor or above the cross bar 20, in order that 106 the pitcher may place the same on the shoulder line of the height of player to which he desires to pitch.

As an improved and novel feature of the training device, it is preferred to provide HO protecting rollers loosely fitting about the standards 10 and 11 and the cross bars 20

1,682,005 and 21, so that the same will freely rotate on their respective parts of the frame and prevent injury to pitched balls which foul as by striking on the device A, and to read• ily deflect said balls and buff the action thereof. To this end it is preferred to provide roller sleeves 35 and 36 for the lower portions of the standards 10 and 11 below the lower cross bar 20; individual rollers 37 10 and 38 for the lower and upper cross bars 20 and 21 respectively; and sleeves 39 and 40 for the standards 10 and 11 respectively between the lower and upper bars 20 and 21, as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. 16 The roller sleeves 35, 36, 39 and 40 may be made adjustable as to height, in order to permit of the adjustment of the horizontal cross bars 20 and 21 in a vertical plane, and to this end the said rollers 35, 36, 39 and 40 to may include detachable auxiliary sleeve portions 41, of any approved number in order to vary the height of said sleeve portions for the standards 10 and 11 to entirely cover the same below the uppermost cross bar 21. In 25 lieu of such arrangement the sleeves 35, 36, 39 and 40 may be made telescopic or extensible in accordance with any approved construction.

On the practice ground, playing field, or 30 gymnasium, the improved training device and practice guide is placed about 60½ feet from the location where the pitcher stands to deliver the ball. The rectangular opening 45 provided by the device A between the S5 upper and lower cross bars and the vertical standards 10 and 11, designates the area within which the pitched ball may pass to be termed a “strike” ball. The upper and lower cross bars being adjustable, the device io may be used to suit the desires of the pitcher, in order to train for pitching to the height of player with which he is least effective.

Due to the provision of rubber tubing rollers 35 to 40 inclusive, which are of course *6 flexible, injury to the ball is prevented.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit 50 of the invention or the scope of the claims.