Baseball/Softball Hitting Training Device

Abstract

The baseball/softball hitting training device includes a base, a frame body, and a ball suspension system. The ball suspension system is supported by the frame body. The frame body includes a vertical stem portion and an offset portion. An upwardly-projecting arm of the vertical stem and a downwardly-projecting arm of the offset portion define a vertical axis between them. The ball suspension system is supported between the upwardly-projecting arm and downwardly-projecting arm, with the ball held vertically intermedially via a tether in alignment with the vertical axis and positioned to allow the player to practice hitting. Height-adjustment mechanisms are also disclosed. The tethered-ball training device can optionally be converted to a tee-ball training device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball hitting training device comprising:
 a base comprising an upwardly-extending frame receiving portion;   a frame comprising a vertical stem and an offset portion; said vertical stem comprising an upwardly-projecting arm and a support section attachable to said frame receiving portion; said offset portion having an offset lower portion attached to an upper portion of said vertical stem, an offset midsection attached to said offset lower portion, an offset upper section attached to said offset midsection, and a downwardly-projecting arm attached to said offset upper section and vertically aligned with said upwardly-projecting arm; and   a ball suspension portion comprising a resilient tether supported at least by said downwardly-projecting arm and comprising a ball suspended intermedially on said tether.   
     
     
         2 . The ball hitting training device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base further comprises:
 a foundational leg extending along an x axis and comprising a distal end, a proximally-disposed T-shaped portion, and said frame receiving portion; wherein said T-shaped portion comprises a first extension and a second extension extending along a y axis at a perpendicular angle to said foundational leg; wherein said first extension comprises a first extension open outer end extending outwardly; wherein said second extension comprises a second extension open outer end extending outwardly; wherein said frame receiving portion extends along a z axis at a perpendicular angle to said foundational leg;   a first connectional leg comprising a first connectional leg inner end and a first connectional leg outer end; wherein said first connectional leg inner end is connectable both to said frame receiving portion upper end and to said first extension open outer end; and   a second connectional leg comprising a second connectional leg inner end and a second connectional leg outer end; wherein said second connectional leg inner end is connectable to said second extension open outer end.   
     
     
         3 . The ball hitting training device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said base further comprises a first leg end cap disposed at said first extension open outer end; said first leg end cap comprising a concave top surface. 
     
     
         4 . The ball hitting training device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said first connectional leg comprises a leg attachment mechanism portion;   said first extension of said T-shaped portion comprises an extension attachment mechanism portion that corresponds to said leg attachment mechanism portion; and   said frame receiving portion comprises a frame attachment mechanism portion that corresponds to said leg attachment mechanism portion.   
     
     
         5 . The ball hitting training device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base comprises a fillable container with an open interior configured to receive a weighting material. 
     
     
         6 . The ball hitting training device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said ball suspension portion further comprises an upper cord-to-shaft connector attached to an upper part of said resilient tether;   said downwardly-projecting arm comprises an open structure and a downwardly-projecting arm interior shaft disposed within said open structure; and   said upper cord-to-shaft connector is removably attachable to said downwardly-projecting arm interior shaft.   
     
     
         7 . The ball hitting training device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein:
 said ball suspension portion further comprises a lower cord-to-shaft connector attached to an lower part of said resilient tether;   said upwardly-projecting arm comprises an open structure and a upwardly-projecting arm interior shaft disposed within said open structure; and   said lower cord-to-shaft connector is removably attachable to said upwardly-projecting arm interior shaft.   
     
     
         8 . The ball hitting training device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a first height-adjustment device disposed between said base and said frame. 
     
     
         9 . The ball hitting training device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second height-adjustment device disposed between said upwardly-projecting arm and said support section to allow adjustment of the vertical swing distance between said upwardly-projecting arm and said downwardly-projecting arm. 
     
     
         10 . The ball hitting training device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said foundational leg comprises a distal end, a proximal end, a junction, a bracing portion, and an intermediary portion; wherein said bracing portion extends from said distal end to said junction; wherein said intermediary portion extends from said junction to said T-shaped portion; and wherein said frame receiving portion extends upwardly from said junction. 
     
     
         11 . The ball hitting training device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said offset portion of said frame is not in vertical alignment with said vertical stem. 
     
     
         12 . A base to support an upright support section of a structure comprising:
 a foundational leg extending along an x axis and comprising a distal end, a proximally-disposed T-shaped portion, and a frame receiving portion; wherein said T-shaped portion comprises a first extension and a second extension extending along a y axis at a perpendicular angle to said foundational leg; wherein said first extension comprises a first extension open outer end extending outwardly; wherein said second extension comprises a second extension open outer end extending outwardly; wherein said frame receiving portion extends along a z axis at a perpendicular angle to said foundational leg;   a first connectional leg comprising a first connectional leg inner end and a first connectional leg outer end; wherein said first connectional leg inner end is connectable both to said frame receiving portion upper end and to said first extension open outer end; and   a second connectional leg comprising a second connectional leg inner end and a second connectional leg outer end; wherein said second connectional leg inner end is connectable to said second extension open outer end.   
     
     
         13 . The base as recited in  claim 12  further comprising:
 a first leg end cap disposed at said first extension open outer end; said first leg end cap comprising a concave top surface. 
 
     
     
         14 . The base as recited in  claim 12  wherein:
 said first connectional leg comprises a leg attachment mechanism portion; 
 said first extension of said T-shaped portion comprises an extension attachment mechanism portion that corresponds to said leg attachment mechanism portion; and 
 said frame receiving portion comprises a frame attachment mechanism portion that corresponds to said leg attachment mechanism portion. 
 
     
     
         15 . The base as recited in  claim 12  wherein said second connectional leg inner end is connectable to said frame receiving portion outer end. 
     
     
         16 . The base as recited in  claim 15  further comprising:
 a second leg end cap disposed at said second extension open outer end; and 
 a third leg end cap disposed at said distal end of said foundational leg. 
 
     
     
         17 . A ball swing training device comprising:
 a base comprising:
 a foundational leg extending along an x axis and comprising a distal end, a proximally-disposed T-shaped portion, and said frame receiving portion; wherein said T-shaped portion comprises a first extension and a second extension extending along a y axis at a perpendicular angle to said foundational leg; wherein said first extension comprises a first extension open outer end extending outwardly; wherein said second extension comprises a second extension open outer end extending outwardly; wherein said frame receiving portion extends along a z axis at a perpendicular angle to said foundational leg; wherein said frame receiving portion comprises a frame receiving portion upward end and a frame receiving portion downward end connected to said foundational leg; 
 a first connectional leg comprising a first connectional leg inner end, a first connectional leg outer end, and a leg attachment mechanism portion; wherein said first connectional leg inner end is connectable both to said frame receiving portion upper end and to said first extension open outer end; 
 a second connectional leg comprising a second connectional leg inner end and a second connectional leg outer end; wherein said second connectional leg inner end is connectable to said second extension open outer end; and 
 a first leg end cap disposed at said first extension open outer end; said first leg end cap comprising a concave top surface. 
 said first extension of said T-shaped portion comprises an extension attachment mechanism portion that corresponds to said leg attachment mechanism portion; and 
 said frame receiving portion comprises a frame attachment mechanism portion that corresponds to said leg attachment mechanism portion. 
   a frame comprising a vertical stem and an offset portion; said vertical stem comprising an upwardly-projecting arm and a support section removably attachable to said upward end of said frame receiving portion; said offset portion having an offset lower portion attached to said vertical stem, an offset midsection attached to said offset lower portion, an offset upper section attached to said offset midsection, and a downwardly-projecting arm attached to said offset upper section and vertically aligned with said upwardly-projecting arm;   a first height-adjustment device disposed between said base and said frame; and   a ball suspension portion comprising a resilient tether, comprising an upper cord-to-shaft connector attached to an upper part of said tether connectable to at least said downwardly-projecting arm, and comprising a ball suspended intermedially on said tether.   
     
     
         18 . The ball hitting training device as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising a second height-adjustment device disposed between said upwardly-projecting arm and said support section to allow adjustment of the vertical swing distance between said upwardly-projecting arm and said downwardly-projecting arm. 
     
     
         19 . The ball hitting training device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said downwardly-projecting arm comprises a fish mouth-type upper edge; and wherein said upwardly-projecting arm comprises a fish mouth-type upper edge. 
     
     
         20 . The ball hitting training device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said downwardly-projecting arm comprises a flared-type upper edge; and wherein said upwardly-projecting arm comprises a flared-type upper edge.