Abstract:
A training equipment device is provided for developing and improving a batter&#39;s swing. The device comprises a base unit that supports a pair of resistance members that a batter strikes through with a swing of the bat. The resistance members are spaced apart a distance such that a first resistance member successively contacts a second resistance member as the batter follows through on the swing. The sounds produced from the resistance members being struck provide an auditory indication on the quality of the batter&#39;s swing. The training equipment device is capable of ready transport and can easily be moved and stored.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present non-provisional patent application claims priority benefit of an earlier-filed provisional patent application of the same title, Ser. No. 62/343,506, filed May 31, 2016. The identified earlier-filed application is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to training equipment for baseball and softball. More specifically, the invention relates to a device and method for developing and improving an athlete&#39;s batting swing. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Baseball and softball are extremely popular sports and are widely played throughout the U.S. and even worldwide. Children are generally introduced to the sport at a young age. Like any activity, it is important for the participant to properly learn and develop the fundamentals and techniques of the sport. There are several aspects to learn in order to play baseball/softball, including throwing and batting. As one develops the necessary skills, it also enhances the player&#39;s enjoyment in playing the game. A coach&#39;s challenge is to properly demonstrate good technique, but the player must have the discipline to learn and apply proper technique to develop and maintain good skills. Bad habits are easily learned, but sometimes difficult to unlearn. 
         [0004]    One skill in baseball/softball that is particularly challenging is batting. This activity requires hand-eye coordination, strength and speed. However, proficiency in those traits still does not guarantee success in batting. If a batter does not have good form and technique in swinging the bat, then even a high degree of athleticism may not be enough to achieve success at batting. A successful batter is able to put the ball in play, and minimize pop flies, grounders and other easy outs. A player&#39;s satisfaction can come from hitting a single as well as knocking a home run. Therefore, it is desirable to develop one&#39;s batting skills. 
         [0005]    The problem exists in providing means to train proper hitting techniques to players. A coach has limited time to work with any particular player to teach proper fundamentals, and cannot be around the player at all times to ensure that the proper techniques are followed. Therefore, a batter must typically spend time developing his/her batting skills through self-practice. A batter&#39;s tee provides an opportunity for repetitive hits, but does not provide critical feedback on the batter&#39;s swing. A batter is not able to watch his own swing and form while hitting from a tee, so bad habits can unknowingly creep in. 
         [0006]    It would therefore be desirable to provide an apparatus that could serve as training equipment to help a batter develop proper hitting techniques. It would be further desirable to provide an apparatus that helps develop a powerful swing. It would be further desirable to provide a training apparatus for developing proper hitting techniques which provides an audible signal that indicates that a proper batting swing was made. It would be further desirable to provide a training apparatus that is compact in size and readily transportable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention comprises a training device to assist batters in developing their swing by providing sensory feedback generated from the swing. An embodiment of the invention comprises a pair of spaced apart resistance members which the batter strikes with the bat. Bottom portions of the resistance members are retained in a base support while the upper portions of the resistance members are adapted to freely bend back and forth when force is applied to them. The resistance members should have sufficient rigidity such that they will stand upright in the absence of a force applied against them. The resistance members are preferably made of durable rubber to withstand repeated striking from bats. 
         [0008]    The resistance members provide sensory feedback to the batter through a particular set of sounds generated by the swing of the bat against the resistance members. The resistance members are spaced apart from each other a sufficient distance, such as a few inches, whereby a top portion of the first member struck must move over a distance before engaging the second member. A batter will swing at the first resistance member to simulate a swing at a pitch. The use of a ball is not necessary. The striking of the first member by the bat will naturally produce a sound (“smack”). By having an appropriate distance between the resistance members, an audible snapping noise can be independently produced when the first resistance member strikes the second resistance member with sufficient force. The audible snapping noise produced from the first resistance member engaging the second resistance member provides a sound cue (“snap”) that indicates a good follow-through form swing by the batter. That is, the batter will hear a “smack” when the bat hits the first resistance member, and then hear a second “snap” if the first resistance member hits against the second resistance member with the proper velocity. A batter&#39;s swing that fails to produce the combined “smack-snap” sound indicates that insufficient follow-through is being applied by the batter on the swing. 
         [0009]    An embodiment of the invention comprises a mobile apparatus to enable the training device to be easily transported and employed in various settings. The mobile apparatus comprises a base member for receiving the resistance members in an upright position and spaced apart from each other. The base member may itself be of a substantial weight to provide stability and to keep the apparatus from tipping over when in use. Alternatively, the base member may be constructed to receive separate weights which when added give the apparatus the necessary stability. Water can be added to a compartment area in the base member to provide appropriate weight. The base member is provided with wheels to facilitate moving the apparatus around. The mobile apparatus makes it easy to transport the training device and to quickly set it up in different areas. 
         [0010]    Another embodiment of the invention provides an attachment for a ball tee so that the batter may practice hitting a ball. The resistance members can be moved out of position when the invention is placed in ball-hitting mode with the ball tee. 
         [0011]    These and other features of the present invention are described in greater detail below in the section titled DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0012]    The present invention is described herein with reference to the following drawing figures, with greater emphasis being placed on clarity rather than scale: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a view in side elevation of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the invention with the resistance members removed. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the invention with the resistance members removed and the ball hitting tee installed. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view in side elevation of the invention taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0019]      FIGS. 7A-7E  are a series of views showing a bat striking and following through the resistance members of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the invention in transport. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    With reference to the drawings figures, an embodiment of the present invention is herein described, shown, and otherwise disclosed. 
         [0022]    The training apparatus  10  is generally shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . It comprises a base member  12  and resistance members  14 . Base member  12  may have dimensions comprising 13 inches in width, 15 inches in length and a height of 18 inches but can vary in any of those dimensions. Base member  12  may be provided with internal compartments  16  as shown in  FIG. 6  for receiving materials to provide weight and stability. For example, the compartments may be filled with concrete or replaceable weights. Alternatively, the compartments may be adapted to receive water for providing weight. Base member  12  may be provided with a top lid  18  which can be opened or removed so that the weight material can be added. Drain plug  20  is provided as shown in  FIG. 6  for removing water from base member  12 . An internal bladder can be provided for storing the water. The bladder can be removable for filling prior to placement in base member  12 . 
         [0023]    To provide additional stability to withstand the lateral forces delivered by repeated bat swings, a series of lateral extending leg elements  22  may be positioned at the bottom of base member  12  to engage the ground and prevent the device from tipping over. Leg elements  22  may be provided with holes  24  to receive pegs or stakes for securing into the ground. For convenience in transport, leg elements  22  can be made pivotable so that they may be folded back against base member  12 . Alternatively, leg elements  22  can be made to be removably attached to base member  12 . As a further alternative, leg elements  22  can comprise a web material that can be made to be retractable within base member  12  so that they can be pulled out when needed for use, and retracted back into base member  12  during transport. As a further means for stability during use of the training device, the bottom of base member  12  may have anti-skid material such as rubber to help prevent the unit from sliding around during use. 
         [0024]    Resistance members  14  comprise a pair of resistance members  30  and  32 . The resistance members may be composed of hard durable rubber. For example, the rubber material may be reinforced with an integral wire mesh material such as that of which tires and conveyor belts are composed. Also, the resistance members may be comprised of silicone or polycarbonate. The resistance members must have a certain stiffness so that they will stand upright on their own, yet have a degree of flexibility so that the resistance members will bend when struck. Also, the resistance members must have resiliency so that they spring back to an upright position after they are struck. The resistance members can be selected of materials which can provide varying levels of resistance. That is, multiple sets of resistance members can be provided and switched out on base member  12  to provide the desired level of resistance. 
         [0025]    The resistance members  14  are affixed to base member  12  such that they present a hitting area of preferably about 25 inches above the top surface of base member  12 . Preferably, resistance members  30  and  32  are spaced apart a sufficient distance such that the first resistance member must bend over a distance before engaging the second resistance member such as shown in  FIGS. 7A-7E . If the resistance members are positioned too closely to each other, then they will be more prone to move together as a unit when struck. A distance between the resistance members is necessary so that an audible sound can be produced upon the first resistance member striking the second resistance member. In other words, a first sound (“smack”) will be produced when the batter swings and strikes against the first resistance member  30  as shown in  FIG. 7B . As the batter follows through on his swing as shown in  FIGS. 7C-7E , first resistance member  30  will bend forward towards second resistance member  32 . When first resistance member  30  passes through the distance between the resistance members it hits against second resistance member  32  whereupon it will produce a second sound (“snap”). This combination of audible sounds (“smack-snap”) provides an indication to the batter that a swing of good follow-through (and thus good form) was made. If only the first “smack” sound is made but not the second “snap” sound, then that indicates that the batter did not swing with sufficient follow-through. Thus, in the absence of a “smack-snap” sound, a batter will be made aware that good swinging form was not made. Achieving the “smack-snap” sound also provides positive feedback to the batter that the placement of the bat during the swing was optimum. If the resistance member was hit either too high or too low, the first resistance member would not strike against the second resistance member properly to produce the sound. 
         [0026]    The height of resistance members  30  and  32  can be adjusted as required to accommodate different heights of batters and also different swing paths. Slots  50  and  52  receive resistance members  30  and  32 , respectively, and retain them in an upright position. Locking pins  54  align with apertures in resistance members  30  and  32  to retain them in place in slots  50  and  52 . A series of apertures (not shown) may be provided along a bottom length of resistance members  30  and  32  so that the resistance members may be moved up or down in slots  50  and  52  to align appropriate apertures with the locking pins to vary the height at which the resistance members are presented to the batter. Locking pins  54  may be released for quick withdrawal of the resistance members from base member  12 . 
         [0027]    Training apparatus  10  can be equipped with additional batting training elements. For example, base member  12  may be provided with a receptacle  34  for removably receiving a batting tee post  36  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . When the batting tee  36  is used, resistance members  30  and  32  can be removed from base member  12 . 
         [0028]    Training apparatus  10  can be provided with additional training aids to help develop proper swing and batting technique. For example, retaining collar  38  can be positioned on base member  12  to receive training stick  40  as shown in  FIG. 4  as a guide for the batter to help keep his “hands inside the ball” during his swing. Training stick  40  may be freely held by a coach and used to point aspects to the batter while being safely out of reach of the bat when swinging. 
         [0029]    Wheel members  26  may be provided on base member  12  to provide mobility to the apparatus. The axle  28  for wheel members  26  mounts to a rear end of base member  12  at an elevated height so that wheel members  26  avoid engagement with the ground when training apparatus  10  is in use. To transport training apparatus  10 , training stick  40  can be inserted into receptacle  34 . Base member  12  can be tilted back onto wheel members  26  as shown in  FIG. 8  and can be guided using training stick  40  as a handle. 
         [0030]    The resistance members  14  are disposed on base member  12  such that a proper batting swing-through will produce a distinct audible sound upon being struck in succession by the batter.  FIGS. 7A-7E  show a succession of views of the resistance members being struck by a bat  42 . In  FIG. 7A , bat  42  is swung towards first resistance member  30 . Upon being struck by bat  42 , flexible resistance member  30  bends in the direction of the swing towards resistance member  32  as shown in  FIGS. 7B-7C . The striking of the bat against first resistance member  30  will naturally produce a “smack” sound. As the batter swings bat  42  with proper follow-through, it drives resistance member  30  into resistance member  32  as shown in  FIGS. 7D-7E . An audible “snap” sound is produced as resistance member  30  engages against resistance member  32  with an appropriate amount of power and velocity, indicating a good swing. If the batter does not apply proper follow-through in her batting swing, resistance member  30  will not engage resistance member  32  with significant power or velocity and will not produce the particular “smack-snap” sound. Accordingly, if the batter only hears the “smack” sound, but not the “snap” sound, he will know that his batting swing did not have proper follow-through. When the batter, however, hears the combined “smack-snap” sound, she can be confident that her swing had appropriate velocity and power and was made with good follow-through. 
         [0031]    The training device of the present invention can also be used for other batting training exercises. For example, one of the resistance members can be removed from the base member such that a single resistance member is presented to the batter to swing at. Use of the training device in this format helps the batter to develop various muscles used in the batting swing. 
         [0032]    Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to various particular embodiments, it is understood that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention.