Perfect strike

Abstract

A new and improved training device for baseball/softball pitchers. It is a practice with a three-dimensional rigid metal frame ( 1 ) separated in thirds by vertical adjustable metal dividers ( 2,3 ). The frame and adjustable dividers are able to securely support colored mesh netting ( 4 ) with open mouth and is mounted on a cylinder ( 5 ) that is slidably received within the outer cylinder ( 6 ) and locked into place by a tension clip ( 7 ). Four hinged support legs ( 8, 9, 10, 11 ) with ground spikes ( 12, 13, 14, 15 ) are connected to the bottom of the outer cylinder ( 6 ) and are used for ground support and stability.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected is as follows.  
     
         1 . A portable, lightweight, training aid for baseball and softball pitchers comprised of: 
 A) A three dimensional metal non-adjustable rigid frame outline of the strike zone with horizontal metal protruding towards the back of the strike zone and four slotted areas, two on the top and bottom portion of the rigid frame.    B) Two metal vertical adjustable strike zone dividers that slide left to right within the rigid metal framed outline of the strike zone.    C) Color-coded sections of open mouth mesh netting. Designed to be attached to the framed outline of the strike zone and vertical dividers and overhangs in the back for catching and holding balls.    D) Electrical ties to secure the mesh netting to the rigid frame and vertical dividers.    E) A hollow metal cylinder that is able to adjust the height of the strike zone by sliding in and out of another slightly larger hollow cylinder.    F) A locking tension clip that when flipped in the upward position would release the tension on the top hollow cylinder and allow it to be height adjusted.    G) Four legs that protrude out two feet with ground spikes on the end of each leg, that when stepped upon will secure the unit to the ground. Legs are pivotally connected and hinged in the middle so they fold up when you want to transport the devise.    
     
     
         2 . Two metal vertical dividers of claims  1 B &  1 C that slide left and right and lock into place with threaded screw and wing nut. 
 A) Threaded screw is pushed through the hole in the strike zone dividers and pass through rigid frame the end of the screw protrudes out the back of the frame and wing nut is placed over the threaded end of the screw and turned until dividers are secured.  
 
     
     
         3 . Two hollow metal cylinders of claim  1 E; one slightly larger than the other so top cylinder, which is attached to the rigid metal, framed strike zone can slide up and down for height adjustment.  
     
     
         4 . Locking clip of claim  1 F. A clip that when flipped in the up position releases tension band that is around the top hollow cylinder of claim  1 E and inside bottom hollow cylinder of claim  1 E. 
 A) A pivotal clip that moves only in an up and down motion and is used for the sole purpose of locking the top cylinder in place.    
     
     
         5 . Folding legs with ground spikes of claim  1 G that are pivotally connected to bottom of bottom cylinder of claim  1 E and are hinged in the middle so that they fold up for storage and transportation. Legs are locked into place with threaded screw and wing nut assembly. 
 A) Each leg has a ground spike on the end that make contact with the surface of the playing area.    B) Each leg has a hinge approximately half way that allows the leg to fold onto itself when in the transport or storage position.    
     
     
         6 . The rigid framed strike zone of claim  1 A comprising of: 
 A) A rigid metal frame encompassing the entire strike zone. Consisting of two fixed horizontal (top and bottom of frame) and two fixed vertical (left and right sides) metal pieces.    B) Four horizontal protruding pieces of rigid metal frame ( 17 ), one at each corner of rigid frame, protruding to the rear of the frame.    C) A horizontal piece of flat metal frame ( 16 ) located to the rear of the outer frame ( 1 ) that extends and is connected to one horizontal protruding piece of metal frame ( 17 ) to another horizontal protruding piece of metal frame ( 17 ) and is connected to the hollow cylinder of claim  1 E.    D) Four horizontal slotted areas ( 31 ). Two located on the top and two located on the bottom portion of the rigid metal frame ( 1 ).    
     
     
         7 . Two colored open mouthed mesh netting. The left and right-hand side of the strike zone is orange colored netting and the middle of the strike zone is black netting. 
 A) Open mouth of mesh netting is connected to all parts of rigid frame with electrical ties.    B) Netting is color coded as to draw the attention to the outside portion of the strike zone.    C) Mesh netting overhangs in the back as to act as a ball catch.