Systems and methods for protective screen
An improved protective barrier includes a stationary portion and a movable portion. The movable portion is configured to move between a first (e.g., open) and a second (e.g., closed) position. The movement may be in response to certain events taking place (e.g., the delivery and/or hitting of a baseball) and/or to regulate certain activity (e.g., to ensure that pitches are being delivered according to a particular cadence, such as, for example, not allowing a pitch to be delivered when a ball that has been hit remains in the air, or not allowing a pitch to be delivered before a certain amount of time has passed). A method of using the improved barrier includes placing the barrier in a closed position while a ball that has been hit remains in the air or until a certain amount of time has passed.
1 . A protective barrier comprising:
a first fixed screen portion having a first frame and a first mesh positioned within an area defined by the first frame;
a second screen portion having a second frame and a second mesh positioned within an area defined by the second frame; and
a translation mechanism coupled to the first frame and the second frame, the translation mechanism configured to permit translation of the second frame relative to the first frame from an open position to a closed position;
wherein the open position permits a ball to be thrown from a first side of the protective barrier to an opposing side of the protective barrier; and
wherein the closed position prohibits the ball to be thrown from the first side of the protective barrier to the opposing side.
2 . The protective barrier of claim 1 , wherein the translation mechanism includes a rail configured to facilitate movement of the second screen portion between the closed position and the open position.
3 . The protective barrier of claim 1 , wherein the translation mechanism includes a motor configured to facilitate movement of the second screen portion between the closed position and the open position.
4 . The protective barrier of claim 1 , further comprising a control system configured to facilitate movement of the second screen portion between the closed position and the open position in response to sensor data, wherein the sensor data comprises at least one of: a detected position of the ball, movement of the ball, movement of a pitcher, or movement of the second screen portion.
5 . The protective barrier of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to facilitate movement of the second screen portion between the closed position and the open position based on whether the ball is detected to have hit a ground surface.
6 . A method of controlling a protective barrier having a first screen portion and a second screen portion movable between an open position that permits a ball to be thrown over the first screen portion and from a first side of the protective barrier to an opposing side of the protective barrier and a closed position that prohibits the ball to be thrown over the first screen portion and from the first side of the protective barrier to the opposing side, the method comprising:
moving the second screen portion to the open position without moving the first screen portion; and
after the ball has been hit, moving the second screen portion to the closed position without moving the first screen portion.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the second screen portion is moved to the closed position after the ball has been hit and then the second screen portion is moved to the open position after the ball has hit a ground surface.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the second screen portion is moved to the closed position after the ball has been hit and then the second screen portion is moved to the open position after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed.
9 . A protective barrier comprising:
a first screen portion comprising:
a first frame, and
a first screen coupled to the first frame;
a second screen portion comprising:
a second frame, and
a second screen coupled to the second frame;
a translation mechanism coupled to the first frame and the second frame, the translation mechanism configured to facilitate repositioning of the second screen portion relative to the first screen portion between a first position and a second position, the second screen overlapping at least a portion of the first screen when the second screen portion is in the first position, and at least a portion of the second screen extending above at least a portion of the first screen when the second screen portion is in the first position.
10 . The protective barrier of claim 9 , wherein the first frame borders an L-shaped opening.
11 . The protective barrier of claim 10 , wherein the second frame borders a rectangular opening.
12 . The protective barrier of claim 11 , wherein:
the first frame has a first width; and
the second frame has a second width that is equal to the first width.
13 . The protective barrier of claim 11 , wherein:
the first frame has a first height; and
the second frame has a second height that is less than the first height.
14 . The protective barrier of claim 13 , wherein:
the first frame has a first width; and
the second frame has a second width that is equal to the first width.
15 . The protective barrier of claim 14 , wherein the translation mechanism is configured to facilitate repositioning of the second screen portion relative to the first screen portion via linear translation of the second screen portion relative to the first screen portion.
16 . The protective barrier of claim 15 , wherein the first frame borders an L-shaped opening.
17 . The protective barrier of claim 16 , wherein the second frame borders a rectangular opening.
18 . The protective barrier of claim 9 , wherein the translation mechanism is configured to facilitate repositioning of the second screen portion relative to the first screen portion via linear translation of the second screen portion relative to the first screen portion.
19 . The protective barrier of claim 9 , further comprising a leg coupled to the first frame, the leg configured to support the protective barrier on a ground surface so that the first frame is perpendicular to the ground surface.
20 . The protective barrier of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the first screen extends below at least a portion of the second frame in the first position and the second position.