Sports device for practicing hitting and fielding a ball/ball-like object

Abstract

The present invention is a sports device for practicing hitting and fielding a ball/ball-like object comprising an arm member mounted rotatably and substantially horizontal on a base in hitting and fielding practice mode, with a ball/ball-like object positioned at the outer end of the arm member either by a plurality of elastic members, or just freely. The preferred embodiment of the arm member is multi-sectional. The present invention is used in baseball to practice hitting by having the ball/ball-like object in a plurality of stationary positions, or offering the hitter a variety of pitches ranging from fast ball and slow pitch to curve ball by manually or mechanically rotating the ball/ball-like object clockwise or counter clockwise at various speeds at different positions. When the ball/ball-like object is hit into free flight it is used to practice fielding. The height of the ball/ball-like object is easily adjusted.

1 . A sports device used to practice hitting and fielding a ball/ball-like object comprising:
 a. a base member;   b. an arm member;   c. a ball/ball-like object positioned at an end of said arm member;   d. said arm member having means to provide plurality of independent planes of movement for said ball/ball like object in hitting practice mode; and   e. said arm member having means to relieve stress on said arm member when said ball/ball-like object being hit in hitting practice mode.   
     
     
         2 . The sports device of  claim 1 , wherein said means to provide plurality of independent planes of movement for said ball/ball-like object in hitting practice mode and said means to relieve stress on said arm member when said ball/ball-like object being hit in hitting practice mode comprising:
 a. said arm member being multi-sectional having a first section and a second section, said first section having a first end and a second end, said second section having a first end and a second end;   b. said second end of said first section of said multi-section arm member having a recess and within said recess said first end of said second section of said multi-section arm member being rotatably connected to said second end of said first section of said multi-section arm member, with said connection allowing said second section to move back and forth relative to said first section and also to rotate upwards and downwards around said connection and clockwise and counter clockwise within said connection;   c. said first section of said multi-section arm member having a hole in substantially the longitudinal axis of said first section and in the proximity of the closed end of said recess and thru said hole, said multi-section arm member being mounted rotatably on said base member in hitting practice mode, allowing said multi-section arm member to rotate completely, clockwise and counter clockwise;   d. said ball/ball-like object positioned at said second end of said second section of said multi-section arm member; and   e. said multi-section arm member having means to keep said second section of said multi-section arm member substantially horizontal in hitting practice mode.   
     
     
         3 . The sports device of  claim 2 , wherein said means to relieve stress on said multi-section arm member when said ball/ball-like object being hit in hitting practice mode comprising:
 a. said second section of said multi-section arm member being hollow;   b. said ball/ball-like object conjoined to a plurality of elastic members which are drawn taut thru said hollow second section with said plurality of elastic members fastened at said first end of said hollow second section, thus positioning said ball/ball-like object at said second end of said hollow second section; and   c. a plurality of safety members conjoined to said ball/ball-like object, said safety members drawn thru said second section and fastened at said first end of said second section.   
     
     
         4 . The sports device of  claim 3 , wherein said second end of said second section of said multi-section arm member being flared to receive said ball/ball-like object. 
     
     
         5 . The sports device of  claim 2 , wherein said second section of said multi-section arm member being a solid shaft with said ball/ball-like object affixed at said second end of said solid shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The sports device of  claim 2 , wherein said means to keep said second section of said multi-section arm member substantially horizontal in hitting practice mode being a support member with said support member fastened within said recess and under said second section thus supporting the weight of said second section of said multi-section arm member in hitting practice mode. 
     
     
         7 . The sports device of  claim 2 , wherein said means to keep said second section of said multi-section arm member substantially horizontal in hitting practice mode being a counter-weight member with said counter-weight member fastened within said recess and over that part of said second section extending from said connection to said first end of said second section and acting as a counter weight to the weight of said second section of said multi-section arm member in hitting practice mode. 
     
     
         8 . The sports device of  claim 1 , wherein said means to provide plurality of independent planes of movement for said ball/ball-like object in hitting practice mode and said means to relieve stress on said arm member when said ball/ball-like object being hit in hitting practice mode comprising:
 a. said arm member being a hollow shaft having a first end and a second end;   b. said hollow shaft having a hole in substantially the longitudinal axis of said hollow shaft and in the proximity of said first end of said hollow shaft and thru said hole, said hollow shaft is mounted rotatably on said base member in hitting practice mode, allowing said hollow shaft to rotate completely, clockwise and counter clockwise;   c. said ball/ball-like object is conjoined to a plurality of elastic members which are drawn taut thru said hollow shaft with said plurality of elastic members fastened at said first end of said hollow shaft, thus positioning said ball/ball-like object at said second end of said hollow shaft; and   d. a plurality of safety members conjoined to said ball/ball-like object, said safety members drawn thru said second section and fastened at said first end of said second section.   
     
     
         9 . The sports device of  claim 8 , wherein said second end of said second section of said multi-section arm member is flared to receive said ball/ball-like object. 
     
     
         10 . The sports device of  claim 1 , wherein said means to provide plurality of independent planes of movement for said ball/ball-like object in hitting practice mode and said means to relieve stress on said arm member when said ball/ball-like object being hit in hitting practice mode comprising:
 a. said arm member being a solid shaft having a first end and a second end;   b. said solid shaft having a hole in substantially the longitudinal axis of said solid shaft and in the proximity of said first end of said solid shaft and thru said hole, said solid shaft is mounted rotatably on said base member in hitting practice mode, allowing said solid shaft to rotate clockwise and counter clockwise; and   c. said ball/ball-like object affixed at said second end of said solid shaft.   
     
     
         11 . The sports device of  claim 1 , wherein in fielding practice mode, an end of said arm member being a platform on which said ball/ball-like object is freely mounted, with said ball/ball-like object hit to a player or players in fielding practice mode. 
     
     
         12 . The sports device of  claim 1 , wherein said base member used in practicing hitting and fielding a ball/ball-like object in baseball in a static or dynamic mode comprising:
 a: a spine member having a first end and a second end;   b: a plurality of leg members rotatably connected at substantially the ends of said spine member;   c: a plurality of wing members rotatably connected at substantially the ends of said spine member;   d: a plurality of housing members affixed to said spine member at different angles; and   e: a height adjustment member;   g: said base member having means, where at a set height in the upper region of the strike zone, said ball/ball-like object moves to the hitter at different speeds in hitting practice mode;   h: said base member having means, where at a set height in the lower region of the strike zone, said ball/ball-like object moves to the hitter at different speeds in hitting practice mode;   i: said base member having means where said ball/ball-like object moves to the hitter as a curve ball at different speeds in hitting practice mode; and   j: said base member having means to keep said device stable during hitting and fielding practice mode.   
     
     
         13 . The sports device of  claim 12 , wherein each leg member of said plurality of leg members being connected individually and rotatably at substantially the ends of said spine member, wherein each leg member of said plurality of leg members being rotated substantially parallel to said spine member in transportation or storage mode, and in hitting and fielding practice mode each leg member is rotated away from and secured to said spine member in a position defined by an acute angle of each leg member to the vertical and an obtuse angle to the horizontal plane through said spine member; and with the leg members attached to one of the lateral sides of said spine member shorter than the leg members attached to the other lateral side of said spine member, gravity returns the ball/ball-like object to the hitter after it being hit in hitting practice mode. 
     
     
         14 . The sports device of  claim 12 , wherein said leg members at each end of said spine member are joined together to move as one, each leg member flaring away from said spine member by the same obtuse angle; said joined leg members rotated substantially parallel to said spine member in transportation or storage mode, and in hitting and fielding practice mode are rotated away from said spine member and secured to said spine member at an acute angle to the vertical; and with the leg members attached to one of the lateral sides of said spine member shorter than the leg members attached to the other lateral side of said spine member, gravity returns the ball/ball-like object to the hitter after it being hit in hitting practice mode. 
     
     
         15 . The sports device of  claim 12 , wherein said height adjusting member being a bar with a longitudinal slot through which said height adjusting member is connected rotatably to said spine member of said base member, whereby in hitting and fielding practice mode said height adjusting member being rotated to a substantially vertical position and secured within said housing member of said spine member of said base member and can be moved up and down within said housing member to adjust the height of said ball/ball-like object; and in transportation or storage mode said height adjusting member is rotated out of said housing member and secured substantially parallel to said spine member of said base member. 
     
     
         16 . The sports device used to practice hitting and fielding a ball/ball-like object of  claim 12 , wherein said means where at a set height in the upper region of the strike zone, said ball/ball-like object moves to the hitter at different speeds in hitting practice mode comprises of:
 a: the plurality of leg members being opened as in hitting practice mode;   b: said height adjustment member being set to desired height within said housing member;   c: said arm member is mounted on said height adjustment member;   d: said ball/ball-like object being rotated, manually or mechanically, counter clockwise into a right handed hitter or clockwise into a left handed hitter at speeds that vary from fast to slow.   
     
     
         17 . The sports device of  claim 12 , wherein said means where at a set height in the lower region of the strike zone, said ball/ball-like object moves to the hitter at different speeds in hitting practice mode comprises of:
 a: said spine member being placed on the surface with the plurality of leg members in storage and transportation mode;   b: said height adjustment member secured within said housing member in an upright position;   c: said plurality of wing members being rotated away from said spine member and secured contiguously to the surface on which said device rests;   d: said arm member being mounted on said height adjustment member;   e: said ball/ball-like object is rotated, manually or mechanically, counter clockwise into a right handed hitter or clockwise into a left handed hitter at speeds that vary from fast to slow.   
     
     
         18 . The sports device of  claim 12 , wherein said means where at a set height said ball/ball-like object moves to the hitter as a curve ball at different speeds in hitting practice mode comprises of:
 a: the plurality of leg members being opened as in hitting practice mode;   b: said height adjustment member being set to desired height within a housing member inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal;   c: said arm member being mounted on said height adjustment member;   d: said ball/ball-like object being rotated, manually or mechanically, counter clockwise into a right handed hitter or clockwise into a left handed hitter at speeds that vary from fast to slow.   
     
     
         19 . The sports device of  claim 12 , wherein said means to keep said base member stable during hitting and fielding practice mode comprises of a plurality of detachable weight members and a plurality of spike members; said plurality of detachable weight members hung over said spine member during hitting and fielding practice mode; said plurality of spike members secured to said plurality of leg members during transportation and storage mode and fastened to said plurality of leg members and driven into the ground during hitting and fielding practice mode.