Batting aid device

Abstract

A batting aid is described. The batting aid includes a height-adjustable stand having top and bottom portions. A hollow tube having first and second ends is attached to the top portion of the stand. A mechanism is attached to the second end of the tube, and is adjustable to modify the exit angle of a ball placed in the device.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . A ball delivery device, comprising: 
 a stand; and    a generally V-shaped, hollow cylinder attached to the stand and defining a vertex, a first length extending from the vertex, and a second length extending from the vertex,    wherein the first length defines a first open end opposite the vertex, the second length defines a second open end opposite the vertex, and the cylinder defines an opening substantially near the vertex, wherein the cylinder is configured to receive a ball via each of the first open end and the opening and is configured to discharge the ball at the second open end.    
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the hollow cylinder further comprises a first section defining the first open end, a second section defining the opening, and a third section defining the second open end, and wherein the first and second sections define the first length and the second section defines the second length.  
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the first section and the second section are non-linearly aligned.  
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 an exit mechanism coupled to the second open end of the cylinder, wherein the ball travels through the exit mechanism after being discharged from the cylinder, the exit mechanism being configured to define an exit angle of the ball out of the ball delivery device.    
   
   
       29 . The delivery device of  claim 28 , wherein the exit angle is between about 0° and about 90° as measured from a vertical downward ball path.  
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the exit mechanism comprises a curved, hollow cylinder.  
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the exit mechanism is configured to be selectively coupled with the cylinder in any one of a plurality of positions, and wherein each of the plurality of positions corresponds with a different exit angle between about 0° and about 90° as measured from a vertical downward ball path.  
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the exit mechanism is rotatably coupled with the cylinder.  
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the exit mechanism is configured to be coupled with the cylinder with a snap fit connection in a plurality of positions, wherein each of the plurality of position corresponds with a different exit angle between about 0° and about 90° as measured from a vertical downward ball path.  
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the exit mechanism is coupled to the cylinder with an adjustable fitting including a pin configured to selectively engage the first length near the second open end.  
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the first length includes a plurality of holes near the second open end configured to receive the pin, and wherein each of the holes corresponds with a different exit angle between about 0° and about 90° as measured from a vertical downward ball path.  
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the cylinder is configured such that the user can place the ball in the first opening and can hit the ball exiting the second open end with a stick.  
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the cylinder is configured such that a first user places the ball into the opening, and a second user can hit the ball exiting the second open end with a stick without striking the first user.  
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a dial mechanism for coupling the cylinder to the stand, the dial mechanism configured to allow the tube to be adjustably rotated relative to a position of the stand, wherein rotational adjustment of the tube relative to the position of the stand adjusts a speed of the ball through the cylinder.    
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the stand includes a first leg and a second leg, the first leg being collapsible toward the second leg for storage.  
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein a height of the stand is adjustable.  
   
   
       41 . A device for delivering balls to a first user, the device comprising: 
 an adjustable stand;    an enclosed tube attached to the stand and having a first length and a second length extending from first length to define the tube with a substantially V-shape, the first length defining a first opening and a second opening spaced from the first opening, and the second length defining a third opening, wherein the tube is configured to receive the balls via the first opening and the second opening and to discharge the balls from the third opening.    
   
   
       42 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein the tube further comprises a first section defining the first opening, a second section defining the second opening, and a third section defining the third opening, and wherein the first and second sections define the first length and the second section defines the second length.  
   
   
       43 . The device of  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 an exit mechanism coupled to the second open end of the tube such that the ball travels through the exit mechanism after exiting the second open end of the tube, the exit mechanism being configured to define an exit angle of the ball out of the ball delivery device, the exit angle being between about 0° and about 90° as measured from a vertical downward ball path.    
   
   
       44 . The device of  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 a dial mechanism for coupling the tube to the stand and configured to allow the tube to be adjustably rotated relative to a position of the stand.    
   
   
       45 . A device for delivering a ball to a user, the device comprising: 
 a stand having an adjustable height;    a generally V-shaped, hollow cylinder attached to the stand and defining a vertex, a first length extending from the vertex, and a second length extending from the vertex, wherein the first length defines a first open end opposite the vertex and an opening substantially near the vertex, and the second length defines a second open end opposite the vertex, wherein the cylinder is configured to receive the ball via each of the first open end and the opening and to discharge the ball via the second open end;    a dial mechanism for coupling the cylinder to the stand and configured to allow the cylinder to be adjustably rotated relative to a position of the stand;    a ball exit mechanism rotatably coupled to the second end of the cylinder and configured to alter an exit angle of the ball exiting the device, wherein the exit angle is between about 0° and about 90° as measured from a vertical downward ball path.