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Training and strengthening device for throwing 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.)Training and strengthening device for throwing sports description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060135291, Training and strengthening device for throwing sports. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/637,523 filed on Dec. 20, 2004 and entitled TRAINING AND STRENGTHENING DEVICE FOR THROWING SPORTS, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention generally relates to athletic training and strengthening devices for throwing and swinging sports. More particularly, the invention relates to athletic training devices that create aerodynamic drag and resistive forces in response to throwing or swinging motions, to promote an athlete's strength and control. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Athletic devices for developing throwing or swinging techniques and strength can be generally grouped into two categories. In the first category are strengthening devices that use a resistive force to strengthen those specific muscles used in the motion of swinging (e.g., tennis) or throwing (e.g., pitching). In the second category are training devices designed to teach the correct technique of swinging (e.g., volley, serve) or throwing (e.g., a curveball, slider, etc.) without specifically targeting muscle development. [0004] With respect to baseball pitching, some devices in the first category consist of a non-elastic cord or rope that passes over a pulley secured to a fixed point. One end of the cord or rope is attached a handle or ball while the other end is connected to an inertial force or weighted object. The handle or ball is accelerated by being propelled through the air as a result of the transfer of energy from the athlete's throwing hand. The opposing resistive force that is produced can strengthen some of the muscles an athlete uses in pitching a baseball. Examples of such devices are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,974,836, 5,158,517, 6,413,196, and 6,565,491. [0005] Other devices in the first category produce a resistive force by stretching an elastic material. Typically, the device consists of an elastic cord with one end tethered to a grounded surface. At the opposite end of the elastic cord is attached a handle or ball that the athlete pulls to produce a resistive force that can strengthen some of the muscles an athlete uses in pitching a baseball. Examples of such devices are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,652,085 and 4,846,471. [0006] These devices generally develop some degree of muscle strengthening in the hand, arm and shoulders but are not as effective in developing the remainder of the athlete's body, such as the legs, hips and torso. Most importantly, these types of devices don't specifically target the development of muscle coordination or conditioning that is required to properly pitch a baseball. That is, these devices typically do not allow a training motion that allows the windup, delivery and follow-through phases of pitching a baseball while producing a resistive force throughout this entire motion. Importantly, these devices do not produce appreciable resistance towards the end of the delivery and the follow-through. In these types of devices, as the throwing hand of the athlete ends the delivery and enters the follow-through, the throwing hand begins to reverse direction with the effect that the cord, rope or elastic material is no longer being pulled out of the device to produce significant resistance. Additionally, the momentum generated in some of these devices during the delivery phase of the pitching motion tends to self propel the device and thus produce little resistance on the athlete's throwing hand. By varying degrees, the aforementioned limitations of these types of devices produce insufficient conditioning and coordination, or muscle development, to fully develop an athlete's capacity to pitch a baseball properly. [0007] Some exceptions to first category devices that use an inertial force or weighted object and produce resistance throughout the entire motion of the device are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,592,545 and 5,197,933. Both devices, however, restrict the throwing motion of the athlete to the one dictated by the device, and do not allow a motion similar to pitching a baseball. Such devices can promote overall muscle development and conditioning, but do little to improve the precise muscle coordination required to accelerate a baseball to the maximum velocity an athlete is capable of achieving. [0008] Additionally, all of the first category devices described above are, by necessity, anchored or tethered, thus allowing limited degrees of portability and opportunities of use. [0009] Other devices of the first category disclosed consist of a ball or other object to be thrown that is of greater weight than a baseball. These devices are both untethered and easily portable but require someone willing to catch a ball whose weight is significantly heavier than a baseball. Devices such as these can strengthen most or all of the specific muscles used in the motion of pitching a baseball, but it is believed this is achieved at an increased risk of wear and tear on the athlete's muscular-skeletal structure and the loss of proper pitching technique. Examples of these devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,942,793, 4,943,055, and 5,893,808. [0010] There are numerous devices in the second category that have been disclosed that use a variety of methods to teach the athlete the proper techniques and mechanics of throwing a baseball. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,888,482, 4,984,789, 5,348,292 and 6,322,462 B1 each disclose a device to help teach and train baseball pitchers to use correct arm and elbow action when pitching a baseball. Various other training devices are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,354,050, 5,639,243, and 6,024,660. Generally, these types of devices do not disclose methods to strengthen or condition the athlete while simultaneously teaching the proper techniques and mechanics of throwing a baseball. [0011] In particular, U.S. Pat. 5,639,243 discloses a training device and method that improves upon the well known "towel drill". The "towel drill" is a method used to improve a pitcher's delivery and is "believed to provide resistance training for arm muscles because the towel experiences air resistance as the pitcher swings it".It should be appreciated that a towel propelled through the air by the athlete provides very little air resistance and that any muscle development resulting from the use of the "towel drill" is minimal. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,497 81 for a detailed discussion of the towel drill. [0012] As is evident from the prior art discussed above, typical athletic training and strengthening devices for throwing or pitching do not combine training, strengthening and conditioning capability in one device. It is therefore an object of the invention to combine the ability to teach the correct method of throwing while simultaneously strengthening, coordinating and conditioning all the specific muscle sets required to effectively do so. [0013] Other objects of the invention include, but are not limited to: [0014] A training and strengthening device for pitching a baseball by producing a resistive force throughout the entire pitching motion; [0015] a device that would aid in developing strength, coordination and conditioning of all the specific muscle sets required for pitching a baseball; [0016] a training and strengthening device for enhancing the quality of the athlete's pitching technique; [0017] a training and strengthening device that allows a motion closely resembling an athlete's typical pitching; [0018] a training and strengthening device for pitching a baseball that does not need to be tethered, anchored or fixed to any grounding structure; [0019] a training and strengthening device for pitching a baseball that is hand-held and remains attached to the athlete's hand during use; [0020] a training and strengthening device for pitching a baseball that would allow using the device indoors or outdoors; [0021] a training and strengthening device for pitching a baseball that would allow using the device on a pitching mound; Continue reading about Training and strengthening device for throwing sports... Full patent description for Training and strengthening device for throwing sports Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Training and strengthening device for throwing 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. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Training and strengthening device for throwing sports or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Multifunctional and random pitching apparatus Next Patent Application: Baseball swing trainer Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Training and strengthening device for throwing sports patent info. 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