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Swing training device for sportsRelated 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.)Swing training device for sports description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060234816, Swing training device for sports. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application 60/671,608, filed Apr. 15, 2005 and U.S. provisional application 60/679,616, filed May 10, 2005 FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to the field of training aids for batting a ball, and especially to devices for training the foot positions and body movements for batting a ball such as a baseball or softball. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Numerous bat swing training aids have been devised for softball and baseball. Some of these include plates or mats placed on the ground beside a home plate, with foot placement indications for an address stance and swing stride. These aids vary in emphasis, mode of enforcement, intended result, safety, and other factors. However, none of them combines an ideal training result with safety, convenience, and practicality in the same way and to the same degree as the present invention. [0004] For example, a product called "stride guide" is a flat plate with foot placement and stride indicators and a rotating disk for the ball of the back foot. It has a raised edge behind the disk to enforce lifting of the back heel, thus shifting the user's weight forward. It has other raised edges to limit the stride of the lead foot. However, it does not require the user to step with the lead foot, rather than slide, it does not physically set both feet in toe alignment for the address stance, it does not physically align the lead foot perpendicularly to the pitch, it does not physically set the address stance width, it does not retain the back foot, and it does not limit the pivot range of the back foot. [0005] The present inventor feels that physical enforcement of address stance and stepping into the swing provides more definitive training and faster coaching than visual indicators alone, and that these physical enforcements make a stronger impression on a user's "muscle memory". She also feels that physical limits on the back foot pivot range are important, both for training and safety, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] The invention is explained in following description in view of the drawings that show: [0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention [0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a ground anchor [0009] FIG. 3 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. [0010] FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. [0011] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along section line 5-5 of FIG. 3. [0012] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along section line 6-6 of FIG. 3. [0013] FIG. 7 is a top view of left and right-handed configurations of the device relative to a home plate, with an extended lead portion of base. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0014] The inventor recognized that a better training aid would be useful in instructing softball and baseball users during batting practice to align their feet in the address stance, to avoid putting their feet too far apart, to lift the back heel, and to step toward the pitcher and shift their weight while swinging the bat. She devised a convenient and practical device for this purpose. In this description "front" or "forward" means toward the ball pitcher, "back" means away from the ball pitcher. Gender-specific pronouns are used for convenience only, and are intended to include both genders. [0015] The drawings illustrate an embodiment of a device for training the foot positions and body motions for batting a ball such as a baseball during the address stance, swing, and follow-through. It teaches proper foot orientation and stance width, swing stride, shifting of body weight, and proper back foot pivot. It comprises a base plate 12 with anchor holes 14 for ground anchors 15. A step plate 30 for the lead foot comprises a traction surface 32, a raised toe stop 36, and two raised foot guards 34. The step plate 30 is mounted to the base plate 12 at a selectable position provided by pegs 17 in alternate peg holes 16 as seen in FIG. 5. A swivel plate 31 for the back foot comprises a traction surface 32, a raised toe stop 36, and foot restraint straps 38, 39 arranged to hold the ball of the foot on the plate while allowing the heel to lift. The swivel plate 31 is mounted on the base plate 12 by a bearing 42 that allows rotation of the swivel plate 31 about a vertical axis. The bearing 42 may be recessed in the base plate 12 as in FIG. 6 so that the top surfaces of the step plate 30 and the swivel plate 31 are at approximately the same height. As an example of bearing 42 a ring of ball bearings captured between two race plates can be used. The base plate 12 may be divided in half along a hinge line 28 connected by a hinge 26 for compact folding. It may further comprise a handle 29 on each half for convenient carrying of the folded device. The handles 29 may be on the ends of the base plate 12, as shown, or on other parts of the edge. [0016] FIGS. 1 and 3 show a swiveled position 44 of the swivel plate 31 that occurs during a batter's swing. The swivel range is limited by swivel stops 18, 20, 22, 24 in the base plate. This prevents excess swiveling that overshoots the desired running position and could injure a user's ankle or knee. Two stop pegs 19 are inserted in a selected two of the stop holes 18, 20, 22, 24 depending on right or left-handed use. For a right-handed batter, swivel stop holes 18 and 20 are pegged. The peg in hole 18 stops the swivel plate 31 in alignment with the step plate 30 for the address stance. The peg in hole 20 stops the swivel during the swing. Swivel stop 20 provides a predetermined swivel angle such as 40 degrees. Optionally, a series of stop holes 20 (not shown) or another adjustable stop means (not shown) can be provided so the user can select a swivel angle within a range such as 20-90 degrees, for both hitting and bunting practice. [0017] The step plate 30 is adjustably mounted so users know where and how to begin their address stance. This prevents them from starting with their feet too far apart. A series of stance width adjustment holes 16 may be provided on the base plate 12. The step plate 30 may have a bottom surface with mounting pegs 17 extending downward for insertion into selected adjustment holes 16 as in FIG. 5. This allows the step plate 30 to be mounted on the base plate in a position that provides a natural stance for the user, such as approximately shoulder width apart from the swivel plate 31. [0018] The length of the baseplate(s) may be any selected length, with both halves being of equal or of unequal length as measured from the hinges. FIG. 7 shows a version of this device with a base 12 with one half that is larger in the forward direction. This extension provides extra space upon which the lead foot can step during the swing, as shown by footprints 46. The base may be asymmetric about the hinge 28, as shown in FIG. 7. Two handles 29 can be provided as shown that are equidistant from the hinge-line 28 at approximately a balance point when the base is folded. This brings the handles together in the folded position of the base for easy carrying, so that a latch is not needed to maintain the folded position. FIG. 7 shows a right-handed configuration 48 and left-handed configuration 50 of the device relative to a home plate 52. [0019] To use this device a user puts her back foot, which is the foot furthest from the pitcher into the swivel plate 31 up to the toe stop 36. Then she adjusts the toe strap 38 across the foot, and adjusts the ankle strap 39 over the foot and around the ankle. This retains the foot on the swivel plate 31 while allowing the heel to rise during the swing. The user puts her lead foot on the step plate 30 with her toe against the toe stop 36 and the leading side of the foot against a foot guard 34. The user is now standing on the two plates with her feet aligned with each other as shown by footprints 46 of FIG. 7. Continue reading about Swing training device for sports... Full patent description for Swing training device for sports Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Swing training device for sports 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. 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