Ball Hitting Practice Device and Ball

Abstract

The present invention is a device to be used to practice hitting a ball. The device according to the invention suspends a ball at a variety of positions movable along three axes. The ball is removably connected to a flexible line having a first side magnet thereon. The user can select if the first-end magnet will rise or fall when the removable ball is struck and the first-end magnet is hit and/or swings a predetermined amount by using either a counterweight or a connector-magnet attached to an adjustment peg fixedly attached to a vertical support. When using the connector-magnet, the user can also select the amount of force required to dislodge the connector-magnet from a metallic component on the vertical support. The present invention is also the ball having metallic components inside which can be safely used with or without the device. The device is safer than existing devices and it produces better results due to its configuration.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A ball hitting practice device comprising a weighted base, a vertical support connected to the base, and a horizontal support connected to a top of the vertical support, said device having a first side and a second side about said vertical support defined by the location of each of two ends of the horizontal support;
 a line having a first end and a second end, said line slidably connected to the horizontal support;   a first-end magnet fixedly connected to said first end of said line;   a connector connected to said second end of said line comprising a connector-magnet and a connector-loop;   wherein a ball having a magnetic component is releasably attachable to said first-end magnet and can be suspended at a height below said horizontal support; and   wherein a user can select to use the connector-magnet or the connector-loop on said second side to suspend said ball on said first side.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least two height adjustment pegs attached to said vertical support. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein said connector can releasably connect to any of the at least two height adjustment pegs using the connector-magnet or the connector-loop. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said vertical support is rotatably connected to said base. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said vertical support is telescoping. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said vertical support comprises a lockable cross member at the top of said vertical support; wherein said horizontal support is slidably connected to said lockable cross member. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first-end magnet comprises a magnet within an enclosure, a surface of said first-end magnet flush with or below a bottom outside surface of said enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said horizontal support is telescoping. 
     
     
         9 . A ball hitting practice device comprising a vertical support and a horizontal support connected to a top of the vertical support, said device having a first side and a second side;
 a flexible line having a first end and a second end, said line received slidably inside the horizontal support;   a first-end magnet fixedly connected to said first end of said flexible line;   a connector connected to said second end of said flexible line comprising a metallic component;   at least two height adjustment pegs attached to said vertical support, each of said at least two height adjustment pegs comprising a magnet;   wherein said metallic component on said connector is releasably attachable to any of said magnets on said at least two height adjustment pegs;   wherein a user can releasably connect the connector to any of the at least two height adjustment pegs; and   wherein a ball having a metallic component is releasably attachable to said first-end magnet.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said vertical support comprises a lockable cross member at the top of said vertical support; wherein said horizontal support is slidably connected to said lockable cross member. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said horizontal support is rotatably connected to said vertical support. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said first-end magnet comprises a magnet within an enclosure, a surface of said first-end magnet flush with or below a bottom outside surface of said enclosure. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said ball comprises metal inside said ball without any protrusions through the exterior surface of said ball. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said magnet can be removed and replaced with a magnet having a greater or lesser magnetic strength. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said at least two height adjustment pegs are positioned on at least one sliding and rotatable peg support attached to said vertical support. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein each of said at least one sliding peg support comprises a plurality of magnets having different magnetic strengths located around the circumference of said sliding peg support. 
     
     
         17 . A ball hitting practice device comprising a weighted base, a vertical support connected to the base, and a horizontal support connected to a top of the vertical support, said device having a first side and a second side about said vertical support defined by the location of each of two ends of the horizontal support;
 a line having a first end and a second end, said line slidably connected to the horizontal support;   a first-end magnet connected to said first end of said line, wherein said first-end magnet comprises a magnet within an enclosure;   a connector connected to said second end of said line comprising a connector-loop;   at least one height adjustment peg attached to said vertical support, wherein said connector can connect to any of the at least one height adjustment pegs using the connector-loop; and   wherein a ball having a magnetic component is releasably attachable to said first-end magnet and can be suspended at a height below said horizontal support.   
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 17 , further comprising at least two height adjustment pegs attached to said vertical support, wherein said connector can connect to any of the at least two height adjustment pegs. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein said vertical support is telescoping and collapsible. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein said horizontal support is slidably connected to said vertical support.