Mechanism for Protecting a Baseball Pitcher

Abstract

A mechanism to protect a softball and/or a baseball thrower and/or pitcher is disclosed. The mechanism includes a base, a post, and a shield. The base, oriented substantially vertically and shaped generally rectangularly, includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The shield is rotatable about the post between a first position designated for a right-handed thrower and/or pitcher and a second position designated for a left-handed thrower and/or pitcher.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A mechanism for protecting a softball and/or a baseball thrower and/or pitcher, comprising:
 a base ( 100 ) shaped generally rectangularly, disposed substantially vertically and having an upper portion ( 160 ) and a lower portion ( 180 );   a post ( 120 ) fixed to and extending vertically upwardly from the upper portion ( 160 ) of the base ( 100 ) and defining a vertical axis (X-X);   a shield ( 140 ,  140 A) pivotably mounted to a vertically extending portion of the post ( 120 ), wherein the shield is rotatable about the vertical axis (X-X) between a first position located for a right-handed softball and/or baseball thrower and/or pitcher and a second position located for a left-handed softball and/or a baseball thrower and/or pitcher.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of feet ( 200 ) fixed to spaced-apart end portions of a lower surface of the lower portion ( 180 ) of the base ( 100 ) and extending laterally from the lower portion ( 180 ), for supporting the base on a surface (S).   
     
     
         3 . The mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the surface is substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the pair of feet is a tubular member ( 200 A), and wherein the mechanism further comprises:
 an axle ( 210 ) disposed through the tubular member ( 200 A); and   a spaced-apart pair of wheels ( 220 ) rotatably mounted on opposite end portions of the axle ( 210 ), for moving the mechanism over the surface.   
     
     
         5 . The mechanism of  claim 2 , including a ceiling ( 240 ) extending substantially horizontally from an upper portion ( 260 ) of the shield ( 140 A) in relation to the surface (S), wherein the ceiling is dimensioned and configured to protect the head of a softball and/or a baseball thrower and/or pitcher. 
     
     
         6 . A mechanism for protecting a baseball pitcher, comprising:
 a base ( 100 ) shaped generally rectangularly, disposed substantially vertically, and including an upper portion ( 160 ) and a lower portion ( 180 ), wherein the base ( 100 ) has a height ranging from about 30 to about 40 inches and a width ranging from about 60 to about 80 inches;   a post ( 120 A) fixed to and extending vertically upwardly from the upper portion ( 160 ) of the base ( 100 ) and downwardly to the lower portion ( 180 ) of the base ( 100 ), wherein the post ( 120 A) defines a longitudinal axis (X-X) substantially vertically oriented relative to a surface; and   a shield ( 140 A) pivotably mounted to a vertically extending portion of the post ( 120 A) and having a height and a width, each of which ranges from about 30 to about 40 inches, wherein the shield ( 140 A) is rotatable about the longitudinal axis (X-X) defined by the post ( 120 X) between a first position designated for a right-handed pitcher and a second position designated for a left-handed pitcher.   
     
     
         7 . The mechanism of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a pair of feet ( 200 ) fixed to spaced-apart end portions of a lower surface of the lower portion ( 180 ) of the base ( 100 ) and extending laterally from the lower portion ( 180 ) of the base ( 100 ), wherein each of the pair of feet ( 200 ) extends laterally from the base ( 100 ) by a length ranging from about two inches to about fourteen inches or to about two or three feet, for supporting the base ( 100 ) upon a surface (S).   
     
     
         8 . The mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the surface is substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         9 . The mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the pair of feet ( 200 ) is a tubular member ( 200 A), and wherein the mechanism further comprises:
 an axle ( 210 ) disposed through the tubular member ( 200 A); and   a spaced-apart pair of wheels ( 220 ) rotatably mounted on opposite end portions of the axle ( 210 ), for moving the mechanism over the surface.   
     
     
         10 . The mechanism of  claim 7 , including a ceiling ( 240 ) extending substantially horizontally from an upper portion ( 260 ) of the shield ( 140 A) in relation to the surface (S), wherein the ceiling ( 240 ) is dimensioned and configured to protect the head of a pitcher.