Batting swing practice apparatus

A batting practice apparatus comprising an upright support mast associated with a base having a plurality of legs which are able to be mounted to a surface. A rotatable sleeve slides over the mast. The sleeve can rotate about the mast and a pin slides within the slots. An arm with a ball-shaped object at the distal end extends from the sleeve. An elastic member is associated at one end with the sleeve by means of a tab extending from the sleeve; and, at the other end is associated with a base leg. When the batter strikes the ball-shaped object, the sleeve rotates upward about the mast and returns as urged by the elastic member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of baseball practice and training aids. More particularly, the present invention relates to a batting swing practice apparatus that enables a batter to repeatedly strike a baseball target without having to manually reset an apparatus or recover a struck ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Batting training aids, devices and apparatus have been known for decades. The goal of many of them is to provide a realistic sensation of hitting a baseball and seeing the results of the hit for swing analysis, yet returning the ball to the same pre-strike position without the batter having to manually reset the ball or apparatus, i.e., without having to chase and retrieve a hit ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,037, issued to Dixon, Jr. discloses a batting training apparatus having a base, a telescoping two-segment support mast, and a horizontal arm with an extended arm with a ball-shaped object associated therewith at the distal end. The horizontal arm proximal end has a hook which holds one end of an elastic cord; the other end of the cord is attached to one of several hooks on the base leg. A disadvantage of this apparatus is the lack of defined stop point of rotation of the horizontal arm after the ball is struck, other than the extent of elasticity of the elastic cord.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,818,255, issued to Ponza, discloses a batting practice device in which a post mounted in the ground has a collar that rotates when a bat strikes a ball mounted on the end of an arm associated with the collar. The collar has a cam surface which rotates over a pin. A spring is mounted inside the post with the lower end fixed to a pin and the upper end mounted to a connecting rod which is associate with the cam collar. When the ball is struck the collar rotates and rises, thereby stretching the spring. The spring's elasticity urges the collar to counter-rotate back to its original position. This apparatus requires an internal spring, with the problem of the mast having to be disassembled in the event the spring must be changed. Additionally, there is no convenient and quick way to adjust the tension on the spring for different batters.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,339, issued to Llewellyn, discloses an eye-hand coordinator, which uses a spring mounted around the support mast and over the arm to dissipate the energy imparted to the arm when the ball is struck and the arm rises on a cam surface. Llewellyn cannot conveniently change the spring to accommodate different strength hitters' swings.

It would be desirable to have a mountable practice device that can vertically adjust the height of the ball to be struck as well as the absorbability of the energy of the swing. Further, it would be desirable to have a device which can easily be fully or partially disassembled for transport and storage without requiring separate tools. Additionally, such an apparatus should be able to accommodate left- as well as right-hand hitters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides, in one exemplary embodiment, a batting practice apparatus comprising an upright support mast associated with a base having a plurality of legs which are able to be attached to a surface, such as the ground. A rotatable sleeve is slid over the mast. The sleeve has upper and lower halves, each half having a pair of opposing slots formed therein, each slot in the upper half curving clockwise downward, each slot in the lower half curving counterclockwise downward. A pin is inserted through a pair of slots in the lower half and through one of several apertures in the mast. The sleeve can rotate about the mast and the pin slides within the slots. An arm with a ball-shaped object at the distal end extends horizontally from the sleeve. An elastic member is associated at one end with the sleeve by means of a tab extending from preferably about the midpoint of the sleeve; and, at the other end is associated with a base leg. When the batter strikes the ball-shaped object the sleeve rotates upward about the mast until about the end of the slot is reached and the elastic member has elongated to a general limit. The elastic member urges the sleeve to counter-rotate to return to its original position to enable the batter to swing again without having to move from the original batting position.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows one exemplary embodiment of a batting swing practice apparatus of the present invention in which an apparatus10has main components comprising a base12, support mast14, rotatable sleeve16and elastic member18.

The base12, mast14and sleeve16are preferably made of a generally rigid sturdy material, such as, but not limited to, plastic, metal, polymer, alloy, and mixtures or combinations of the foregoing. In one preferred embodiment the material is plastic.

The base12comprises a plate20having a set of legs22,24,26and28extending from the plate at generally right angles to one another. It is possible to modify this basic configuration to have two or three legs or more than four legs, as desired, with appropriate angling from each other. Alternatively, the plate20may also be a generally circular plate. However, a four leg configuration may be optimal for support, stability and material usage. The legs are preferably substantially the same, so the following description applies to each leg. The leg22may comprise a single length of material. Preferably, the leg comprises a first leg segment30and may have ribs32,34for additional strength and support. The first leg segment30has at least one, and preferably, two apertures36,38. A second leg segment40has ribs32A,34A, which mate with ribs32,34with the first and second segments being joined together, such as by a nut and bolt, screw, or other fastening device. The second leg segment40preferably has an aperture42.

The leg22may be attached to a surface, such as a flat floor (e.g., wood, tile, linoleum, or the like) preferably by means of a set of suction cups44which are mounted to the second leg segment (for each leg)40by means of a bolt45passing through aperture42and screwed into the suction cup44. The suction cup44is best suited for surfaces which can accommodate a suction cup mechanism of attachment. Optionally, a second suction cup44(not shown inFIG. 1) can be attached to the leg22via a bolt45A passing through the aperture38. For ground, such as earth, the second leg segment40may be attached by means of a large helical screw46, having a handle portion48. The screw46is passed through an aperture50and into the soft ground51, as shown inFIG. 3. It is contemplated that other attachment means can be used, such as, but not limited to, adhesive, bolts, screws, clamps, or the like.

While it is possible for the support mast14and base12to be constructed of a single piece of material, it will likely be more cost effective from a manufacturing, assembly and shipping standpoint to have two pieces which are separate and assemblable. The support mast14is mounted to the base12as follows. The base12has a base collar52into which the support mast14can be inserted. The bottom portion54of support mast14also has an aperture56(not shown) passing through thereof. At the underside of the base12, shown inFIG. 2, the base12has the lower portion58of the base collar52. The base collar lower portion58has an aperture60passing therethrough. When the support mast bottom portion54is inserted into the base collar52, the support mast bottom aperture56is aligned with the base collar lower portion aperture60and a pin62is inserted through both apertures56,60and secured by a cotter pin64or other retention device. The pin62may optionally have a ring66, knob, handle or other grasping mechanism attached thereto to enable a user to remove the pin62. In this manner the support mast14can be removably and securely fastened to the base12. It is to be understood that other attachment mechanisms can be used to fastened the base12to the support mast14, such as, but not limited to, clips, mating threaded screws, bolts, snaps and the like. It is preferable to have an attachment mechanism that is easily manipulated to enable a user to quickly assemble and disassemble the support mast and base for use or transport.

The support mast14preferably has a number of apertures70passing through the generally middle portion of the mast. A mast pin72can be inserted into any of the apertures70and held in place by a pin74such as a cotter pin and a washer76, or other commonly used means for removably securing the pin72in place. The support mast14optionally may have a removable cap78to keep dirt and debris from entering the support mast. The cap78may also function to keep the sleeve16on the support mast14.

The sleeve16generally comprises a first segment80, second segment82, middle segment84, arm86and tab88. When the sleeve16is positioned on the support mast14as shown inFIG. 1, the first segment80(with accompanying marking “R” for right-hand batting practice) is above the second segment82(with accompanying marking “L” for left-hand batting practice). The arm86extends generally horizontally outward and, at its distal end, has an object90associated therewith preferably of generally the same size and feel (i.e., weight and hardness) of a soft or hard baseball. In one exemplary embodiment Fiberglas or other rigid material formed as a rod is inserted and centered into a ball mold. A foam material which creates the ball is injected into the mold and adhered to the rod. The tab88has an aperture92or notch or slot or other receiving means.

The first segment80has at least one and preferably two slots94,96curved downward around the first segment80in a clockwise direction when viewed from top down. The second segment82has at least one and preferably two slots98,100curved downward in a counter clockwise direction when viewed from top down around the second segment82. The slots can accommodate the mast pin72. The two slots94,96and98,100are preferably arranged on opposite sides of the sleeve16so that the pin72can pass through both slots.

For right-hand batting practice, the sleeve16is slid over the support mast14with the first segment80being above the second segment82. The second segment82slot98is aligned with an aperture70and the mast pin72is inserted through the slots98,100and aperture70and the mast pin72is held securely in place using a cotter pin74and preferably a washer76. The sleeve16can rotate about the support mast14and, in doing so, the slots98,100rotates about the sleeve16with the pin72guiding and limiting the movement. As the sleeve16rotates, the sleeve16is raised vertically along the axis of the support mast16. When the terminal end102of the slots98,100is reached the sleeve16stops rotating.

The apparatus10also incorporates an elastic biasing mechanism comprising an elastic member18, which preferably is made of rubber or other elastic material. Alternatively, the elastic member may be a coiled spring, bungee cord, elastic fibers, spandex, or other material having suitable elastic qualities. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus10is supplied with several elastic members18, each preferably having a different modulus of elasticity such that each member18has a different resistance. Alternatively, the apparatus10can be supplied with several elastic members18and two or more can be used simultaneously to increase resistance. The elastic member has a first end110and a second end112, each end preferably having a first and second hook114,116or other attachment mechanism associated therewith. The first hook114can be attached to the tab88, such as through the aperture92or notch. The second hook116can be attached to the leg28(or any other leg as shown inFIG. 1) through an aperture118.

In operation, the sleeve16is set at the appropriate initial height based upon the height or swing style of the batter by raising or lowering the sleeve16and positioning the slots98,100in alignment with the appropriate mast aperture70and inserting the pin72to set the sleeve16in position. For a right-hand batter, the apparatus10is set up and the batter can strike the object90with the bat using a conventional batting swing. As the object90is struck, the arm86imparts rotational energy to the sleeve16, which rotates about the support mast14and the pin72moves within the slot98so that the sleeve16rises as it rotates. The elastic member18elongates since one end116is attached to the base via the aperture118and the other end110to the tab88on the sleeve16. As the elastic member18elongates it twists around the support mast14. The maximum extension occurs when the slot terminal end102abuts the pin72. The elastic member18seeks to retract to its original length and urges the sleeve16to counter-rotate to its original position, thereby placing the object90in essentially the same position in which it started, thus enabling the user to again strike the object90without having to reset anything or to move from the proper position. The base12remains in position during the striking and reset activity either by being attached to the earth by means of the screw46or a smooth surface by the suction cups44. The sleeve16can be removed for transport and storage by removing the cotter pin74and the mast pin72. The support mast14can be removed from the base12by removing the base cotter pin64and the pin62.

The apparatus10is designed for left- or right-hand hitters by simple removing the sleeve16and inverting it. The reversed direction slots96,98allow a left-hand hitter to use the apparatus10equally as well as a right-hand hitter.

The different elastic members18can be used to create different resistance levels. For younger or easier swinging hitters, elastic member18can be chosen as the one with the least resistance. Older stronger hitters will likely want to use a more resistive elastic member18so that the stronger striking force energy will be absorbed by the more resistive elastic member18.

An advantage of the present invention is that it can be used in connection with most indoor or outdoor surfaces or environments where a suction cup or ground screw can be used. The present invention can be assembled and mounted quickly and easily, essentially without any tools required. Additionally, the apparatus can be partially or fully disassembled for transport or storage, i.e., the arm and/or base can be easily separated from the support mast using the pin. The use of the unique sleeve and elastic member enables a user to maintain proper batting position for repetitive swing practice by returning the ball object to the same position after every swing.

It should further be noted that any patents, applications and publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.