| Apparatus and methods for improving batting skills -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Apparatus and methods for improving batting skillsUSPTO Application #: 20070060421Title: Apparatus and methods for improving batting skills Abstract: A device and method for training baseball batters how to develop a proper stance and to properly shift weight from the back leg to the front leg during a swing. The portable device includes a series of indicator markers to show proper foot placement, head and navel alignment, and stride extension. The device includes separable sections that may be quickly assembled for easy set-up and disassembled for easy transportation. (end of abstract)
Agent: C. Milton Fick - Sugar Land, TX, US Inventor: Benito J. Distefano USPTO Applicaton #: 20070060421 - Class: 473452000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Playing Field Or Court Game; Game Element Or Accessory Therefor Other Than Projector Or Projectile, Per Se, Practice Or Training Device, For Game In Which Play Involves Base Running (e.g., For Baseball, Cricket, Etc.), Foot Positioner (e.g., Stance, Stride Device, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070060421. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/713,158 filed on Aug. 31, 2005. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates, in general, to apparatus and methods for improving the batting skills of a baseball player, and more particularly, to teaching how to develop a proper initial stance and to properly position and shift a batter's weight before and during a swing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In a baseball, a proper initial stance and controlled weight shift and swing are critical to good batting form. In order to deliver adequate power and control to strike a pitched ball, the batter's weight must be primarily on the batter's trailing foot at the start of the swing, then shifted during the swing at a point during the usual forward stride that will provide contact with the ball from the combined arm swing, wrist snap, and forward body movement. It is necessary that a player not over stride so as not to move his shoulders and his head, thereby avoiding too much body movement which may result in a hitter losing sight of the ball. [0004] Numerous prior art devices have been proposed and are available to train a baseball player proper batting stance, stride, and swing motion. Most such devices involve hand, arm, ankle, and/or leg restraining devices that attempt to teach a batting method through limiting a batter's movement of one or more body parts. Many such prior art devices are so constraining that the user loses concentration on what the proper stance and swing motion are. [0005] Examples of such devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,836 (Kisder) which discloses a brace fastened to a player's body that has an arm and a support for the trailing elbow to keep the elbow up before a swing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,142 (Gillespie, et al.) discloses a strap system that is secured around a batter's torso and is connected to a strap around the bicep of the lead arm to restrain lifting of the lead elbow during a swing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,548 (Upshaw) describes an arm cuff arrangement to limit the space between a batter's arms in the ready position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,978 (Evangelist) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,995 (Gallagher) describe stride-restraining devices (ankle cuffs) that limit a batter's stride during a swing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,856 (Morse) describes a leg/arm cuff arrangement to train a batter to properly shift weight to the front leg at the beginning of a swing. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,420 (Martelli) describes a waist belt to be worn by a batter, with the belt fastened to a rigid structure so that the batter can rotate his hips during a swing, but not bend his forward knee during the swing. [0006] There is a need for a simple apparatus and method to teach proper batting skills that do not require physical restraints or attachment of a device to a batter's body. The present invention satisfies this need by utilizing a convenient, portable device which is placed on the ground in front of a batter to show proper initial stance and how weight should be shifted during a swing to provide improve power and control during a swing. No restraining device is needed for the present invention. [0007] A baseball (or softball) batter in preparing to bat a pitch ball, typically stands sidewise in a batter's box, with his lead arm and elbow poised and his rear arm and shoulder raised to receive the pitch. For the purposes of this invention, "lead leg" or "lead foot" will be understood to mean that leg or foot on the side from which the ball is delivered, e.g., the left leg for a right-handed batter. For best results, the bat is swung horizontally, or tilted slightly downwardly from the horizontal as the bat passes over the plate, while the batter shifts his weight to his leading foot. This results in "tophand" action, i.e., the bat chops slightly downwardly on the ball, which generates more power in the swing. Such batting action may be accomplished, however, only if the batter's lead arm and elbow are properly positioned at all times, and if the batter correspondingly maintains his rear arm and shoulder so as to effectuate proper shifting of his hips and body during the swing. [0008] Many people begin playing baseball at an early age without formal instruction as to proper batting technique. As a result, they often develop bad habits which are difficult to break. This is especially true of the baseball swing, which most people develop without sufficient instruction in the fundamentals (e.g., proper positioning of the feet and body, and proper shifting of the body and hips with the swing). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention provides a lightweight, portable training device to assist in training a baseball player in proper hitting techniques according to the methods of the present invention. The present invention will train a batter through the entire swing, including initial coiling and weight transfer through the forward stride and forward shift of body weight through the swing. The present method will also help in developing proper balance and bat control. [0010] There are numerous objects of the present invention, including: [0011] (i) to provide an improved batting training device that trains a batter in the proper hitting movement sequence and that adjusts to the individual stride for individual batters; [0012] (ii) to provide a simple, durable, inexpensive, lightweight, portable batting device, which baseball players may use during training and/or practice to improve their batting stride; [0013] (iii) to provide a training device for baseball hitters which insures proper starting, follow-through, and finishing positions in the swing; [0014] (iv) to provide and teach proper foot placement, weight positioning and shifting, and stride work; [0015] (v) to provide a training device which results in the hitter maintaining proper body balance throughout the swing, with the result that the ball is squarely hit and is hit more often; [0016] (vi) to provide a training device which is interchangeable for batters hitting right-handed or left-handed; [0017] (vii) to provide an improved training device which is safe in use and presents no hazard to the user at any time; [0018] (viii) to provide an improved training device which can be easily fabricated from commercially available with little or no special tooling or equipment; [0019] (ix) to provide an improved training device which is foldable and may easily be fit in a small, slender bag for easy transport; [0020] (x) to provide a simple apparatus that may be adjustable in size to fit or be readily modified to accommodate players having different sizes, stances, and strides; and [0021] (xi) to provide a visible indication of the correctness of the batter's swing, observable by both the batter and the batter's trainer, enabling immediate adjustments for expedient training. [0022] The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In one preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a batting training device comprising: [0023] (a) a first rod section having a first end and a second end; [0024] (b) a second rod section operably connected at or near the first end of the first rod section approximately orthogonally to the first rod section; [0025] (c) a first indicator marker on the first rod section between the first end of the first rod section and the second end of the first rod section; [0026] (d) a second indicator marker on the first rod section for aligning a batter's lead foot between the first end of the first rod section and the first indicator marker; [0027] (e) a third indicator marker on the first rod section for aligning a batter's trailing foot between the second end of the first rod section and the first indicator marker; and [0028] (f) a fourth indicator marker on the first rod section between the first indicator marker and the third indicator marker. [0029] In any of the embodiments of the batting training device of the present invention wherein one or more of the first indicator marker, the second indicator marker, the third indicator marker, and the fourth indicator marker are slidably connected to the first rod section. [0030] In any of the embodiments of the batting training device of the present invention further comprising a third rod section operably connected approximately orthogonally to the second rod section at the end of the second rod section opposed to the end of the second rod section operably connected to the first rod section. [0031] In another preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a batting training device comprising: [0032] (a) an axially hollow first rod section having a first end and a second end; [0033] (b) an axially hollow second rod section removably connected at or near the first end of the first rod section approximately orthogonally to the first rod section; [0034] (c) a first indicator marker on the first rod section between the first end of the first rod section and the second end of the first rod section; [0035] (d) a second indicator marker on the first rod section for aligning a batter's lead foot between the first end of the first rod section and the first indicator marker; [0036] (e) a third indicator marker on the first rod section for aligning a batter's trailing foot between the second end of the first rod section and the first indicator marker; [0037] (f) a fourth indicator marker on the first rod section between the first indicator marker and the third indicator marker; and [0038] (g) one or more flexible chords extending through the first rod section and the second rod section, whereby the first rod section may be removed from the second rod section for disassembly and transportation. [0039] In any of the embodiments of the batting training device of the present invention wherein a first indicator marker is an axially hollow third rod section removably connected to the first rod section, and further comprising a flexible chord extending through the first rod section and the third rod section, whereby the third rod section may be removed from the first rod section for disassembly and transportation. [0040] Also disclosed is a method of training a batter to swing a baseball bat comprising: [0041] (a) positioning a batter having a center of gravity, a lead foot, and a trailing foot, over a baseball training device comprising: [0042] (i) a first rod section having a first end and a second end; [0043] (ii) a second rod section operably connected at or near the first end of the first rod section approximately orthogonally to the first rod section; [0044] (iii) a first indicator marker on the first rod section approximately from the first end of the first rod section and the second end of the first rod section; [0045] (iv) a second indicator marker on the first rod section between the first end of the first rod section and the first indicator marker; [0046] (v) a third indicator marker on the first rod section between the second end of the first rod section and the first indicator marker; and [0047] (vi) a fourth indicator marker on the first rod section between the first indicator marker and the third indicator marker; [0048] (b) aligning the batter's center of gravity with the first indicator marker; [0049] (c) aligning the batter's lead foot with the second indicator marker; [0050] (d) aligning the batter's trailing foot with the third indicator marker; [0051] (e) beginning a swing at a baseball, wherein the batter's center of gravity moves backward no further than the fourth indicator marker; completing the swing wherein batter's lead foot moves no further than to the second rod section; and [0052] (f) completing the swing wherein batter's lead foot moves no further than to the second rod section. [0053] In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments of the present invention. This embodiment will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0054] In order that the present invention may be more fully understood, the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0055] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a training device of the present invention. [0056] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a training device of the present invention relative to home plate. Continue reading... Full patent description for Apparatus and methods for improving batting skills Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus and methods for improving batting skills patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Apparatus and methods for improving batting skills or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Basketball net Next Patent Application: Table tennis mount assembly Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Apparatus and methods for improving batting skills patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.49291 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf |
||
