Apparatus for hitting a ball and a ball assembly

Abstract

An apparatus for hitting a ball is disclosed. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a frame structure including base footings, a support structure, and a canopy structure. The apparatus also includes a dampening material connected to the canopy structure and draped towards the support structure. The apparatus also includes a guide wire connected to the frame structure and having a central anchor structure. The apparatus also includes a ball assembly including a connection structure and a ball, the ball assembly being connected to the central anchor structure of the guide wire via the connection structure. The guide wire and ball assembly hang from the canopy structure with the guide wire in a V-shape that allows the ball to swing back-and-forth pendulum style.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for hitting a ball, the apparatus comprising:
 a frame structure including base footings, a support structure, and a canopy structure;   a dampening material connected to the canopy structure and draped towards the support structure;   a guide wire connected to the frame structure and having a central anchor structure; and   a ball assembly including a connection structure and a ball, the ball assembly being connected to the central anchor structure of the guide wire via the connection structure;   wherein the guide wire and ball assembly hang from the canopy structure with the guide wire in a V-shape that allows the ball to swing back-and-forth pendulum style.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the connection structure of the ball assembly includes a rotation mechanism to enable the ball to rotate. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a front edge of the canopy structure is wrapped in a padding material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the guide wire strings along the canopy structure and down to the support structure and is anchored to a slide assembly structure. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the slide assembly structure is connected to the support structure in a manner that can be moved up or down. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein left and right sides of the support structure are marked to identify synchronized positions for the slide assembly structure. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dampening material is connected to the support structure in a manner that allows the damping material to expand and move to absorb the impact of the ball and return to its original position. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support structure is configured to rise vertically, angled, or curved to adjust the hang of the damping material to allow clearance between the frame structure and the dampening material. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for hitting a baseball/softball, the apparatus comprising:
 a frame structure 3′ to 6′ wide,  5 ′ to  7 ′ tall, and 4′ to 6′ in length, including base footings, a support structure for a dampening material, and a canopy structure providing clearance between the ball strike point and the support structure for the dampening material;   a dampening material connected to the front of a canopy structure and draped towards a back of the support structure and connected to the back of the support structure;   a guide wire connected to the frame structure and having a central anchor structure; and   a ball assembly including a connection structure and a ball, the ball assembly being connected to the central anchor structure of the guide wire via the connection structure;   wherein the guide wire and ball assembly hang from the front edge of the canopy structure with the guide wire in a V-shape centering the central anchor structure and the ball assembly between left and right ends of the canopy structure and allowing the ball assembly to swing back-and-forth pendulum style upon the ball being hit.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the connection structure of the ball assembly includes a rotation mechanism to enable the ball to rotate. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the front edge of the canopy structure is wrapped in a padding material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the guide wire strings along the sides of the canopy structure sides and down to the support structure and is connected to a slide assembly structure. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the slide assembly structure is connected to the support structure and can be moved up/down and can lock in place, thereby controlling the height of the central anchor structure and the ball assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the left and right sides of the support structure are marked to identify synchronized positions for the slide assembly structure. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a ball; and   a ball connection structure connected to the ball;   wherein the ball connection structure includes a connection assembly for connection to an external guide wire and a rotation mechanism to enable the ball to rotate relative to the ball connection structure.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the ball connection structure includes an anchor rod that is attached to the ball within the ball. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the ball includes a built-in fastener located near its center for connection to the anchor rod, wherein the fastener includes a connection feature that is compatible with a connection feature of the anchor rod. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further including padding around a portion of the ball connection structure. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further including an inertial and/or motion sensor embedded within the ball. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the ball is at least one of a regulation sized baseball, a regulation sized softball, a ball that is bigger than a regulation sized baseball or softball, and a ball that is heavier than a regulation weight baseball or softball.