Retainer plates for throwing machine

Abstract

A set of universal fit retaining plates which secure to one or more legs of a ball pitching or skeet throwing machine to help maintain a steady trajectory of the throwing mechanism. The plates are engaged to the ground with protruding devices and secure to the machine leg(s) by means such as a funnel type pocket which can hold the end of a leg in a wedge fit condition. This accommodates a variety of machines with different leg angles, leg end profiles, and leg end materials. The retaining plates help keep the throwing machine in a steady position in a variety of conditions and situations such as hard, dusty ball field surfaces, soft, moist field conditions or when a ball hits the machine.

1 . A retaining brackets used to hold a steady position of a pitching machine which includes; a top surface, a pocket mounted on said top surface, and said pocket including an opening to connect a leg of the pitching machine to the bracket and a plurality of ground engaging protrusions extending away from said top surface to engage a ground surface to prevent shifting of a pitching machine during use.  
   
   
       2 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the includes a surface with a taper that causes said leg to wedge in said pocket.  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the ground engaging protrusions are formed by bending down corners of the top surface of the retainer bracket.  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said top surface is a generally planar top surface.  
   
   
       7 . A combination machine leg and retaining bracket used to hold a steady position of a machine, said combination including: a retaining bracket having a top surface, a funnel pocket mounted on said top surface and said funnel pocket including an opening to receive a portion of said leg of the pitching machine and at least one ground engaging protrusion extending away from said top surface to engage a ground surface to prevent shifting of the machine during use.  
   
   
       8 . The combination as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the funnel pocket includes a surface with a taper that causes said portion of said leg to wedge in said pocket.  
   
   
       9 . The combination as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said funnel pocket includes an angle bracket having at least two planar surfaces attached to said top surface and wherein each of said at least two planar surfaces and said top surface engage with said portion of said leg to secure against movement relative to said funnel pocket.  
   
   
       10 . The combination as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one ground engaging protrusion is formed by bending down a corner of the top surface of the retainer bracket.  
   
   
       11 . The combination as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said top surface includes a hole and wherein said combination includes a spike adapted to pass through said hole to further secure said top surface to said ground.  
   
   
       12 . The combination as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said top surface is rectangular and includes four triangular protrusions formed by bending down of four corners of said rectangular top surface.  
   
   
       13 . The combination as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said top surface is a generally planar top surface.  
   
   
       14 . A universal retaining bracket used to hold a steady position of a throwing machine leg on a ground surface, said retaining bracket including: a generally planar top surface, a funnel pocket mounted on said generally planar top surface and said funnel pocket including an opening to receive a portion of said leg of the throwing machine and at least one ground engaging protrusion extending away from said generally planar top surface to engage said ground surface to prevent horizontal shifting of the machine during use.  
   
   
       15 . The retaining bracket as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the funnel pocket includes a bracket with a taper that causes said portion of said leg to wedge in said pocket.  
   
   
       16 . The retaining bracket as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said funnel pocket includes an angle bracket having at least two planar interior surfaces attached to said planar top surface and wherein each of said at least two planar surfaces and said planar top surface engage with said portion of said leg to secure against movement relative to said funnel pocket during use of said machine.  
   
   
       17 . The retaining bracket as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one ground engaging protrusion is formed by bending down a corner of the planar top surface of the retainer bracket.  
   
   
       18 . The retaining bracket of  claim 14 , wherein said planar top surface includes a hole and wherein said bracket includes a spike adapted to pass through said hole to further secure said planar top surface to said ground.  
   
   
       19 . The retaining bracket as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said planar top surface is rectangular and includes four triangular protrusions formed by bending down four corners of said rectangular planar top surface.  
   
   
       20 . The retaining bracket as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said leg can be removed from said funnel pocket by picking up said machine.  
   
   
       21 . The retaining bracket as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said leg is attached to said retaining plate.