Baseball swing training apparatus

A sports swing training apparatus (10) for temporarily immobilizing a users back foot except for pivotal movement; wherein, the apparatus (10) comprises a base member (20) rotatably secured to a platform member (40); and, releasable securing means (50) operatively and detachably securing the user foot to said platform member (40) for teaching the user the proper swing technique for baseball, softball and golf.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to the field of sports training devices in 
general, and in particular to a releasable foot engaging device used to 
instruct a baseball player the correct form while swinging a bat. 
BACKGROUND ART 
This invention was the subject matter of Document Disclosure Program 
Registration No. 287771 which was filed in the United States Patent and 
Trademark Office on Jul. 29, 1991. 
As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,757,995; 
4,516,772; 4,194,735; and 5,037,094; the prior art is replete with myriad 
and diverse baseball hitting instructional devices which concentrate on 
the proper placement and stride elements incorporated into the mechanics 
of hitting a ball. 
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than 
adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been 
specifically designed, these patented constructions have relied heavily on 
the need to provide some sort of mechanical immobilization feature which 
physically limits the stride length of the batters leading foot in the act 
of swinging the bat. 
As most coaches are aware the proper mechanics of swinging a bat at a ball 
involve limiting the movement of the back foot of the batter to pivotal 
movement only as the batters lead foot moves freely in the direction of 
the ball. 
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a 
longstanding need among batting instructors for a new type of 
instructional apparatus that will temporarily immobilize a batters 
trailing foot from lateral displacement while also allowing the batters 
trailing foot to pivot in place, as the batter follows through with their 
swing; and, the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of 
the present invention. 
Briefly stated, the baseball swing training apparatus that forms the basis 
of the present invention comprises in general a base unit, an anchor unit; 
a pivot unit; a platform unit; and, a releasable foot engaging unit. 
The anchor unit is employed to secure the base unit at a desired location 
within the batters box. The pivot unit forms the operative engagement 
between the base unit and the platform unit; and, the releasable foot 
engaging unit provides a break-away engagement between the batters rear 
foot and the platform unit. 
As will be explained in greater detail further on in the specification, the 
releasable foot engaging unit is intended to maintain the batters rear 
foot in the proper position during the act of swinging the bat and also to 
allow the batters foot and the attached platform unit to rotate in unison 
when the batter pivots their rear foot in accordance with the proper swing 
technique. 
However, the releasable nature of the foot engaging unit also insures that 
should the batter employ an improper technique during their swing, that 
their trailing foot will be readily detached from contact with the 
platform unit to prevent injury to the batter such as a sprained ankle or 
the like.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, 
the baseball swing training apparatus that forms the basis of the present 
invention is designated generally by the reference numeral (10). The 
apparatus (10) comprises in general: a base unit (11) an anchor unit (12); 
a platform unit (13); a pivot unit (14); and, a releasable foot engaging 
unit (15). These units will now be described in seriatim fashion. 
As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 11, the base unit (11) comprises a generally 
rectangular, rigid base member (20) provided with a central aperture (21) 
a plurality of recessed, angled apertures (22) whose purpose and function 
will be described presently. 
Still referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 11, it can be seen that the anchor unit 
(12) comprises a plurality of anchor stakes (30) provided with a hooked 
portion (31) on their upper ends, and a sharpened point (32) on their 
lower ends; wherein, the intermediate portion (33) of the anchor stakes 
(30) are dimensioned to be received in the angled apertures (22) in the 
base member (20) for anchoring the base member (20) to the ground in a 
well recognized fashion. 
As can best be seen by reference to FIGS. 2, through 6 in the preferred 
embodiment of the invention, the platform unit (13) comprises a generally 
rigid platform member (40) provided with a tapered aperture (41) and 
associated recess (42) whose purpose and function will be described 
presently. Prior to proceeding to a description of the pivot unit (14) it 
should first be noted that while the platform member (40) of the preferred 
embodiment is depicted as having a generally rectangular configuration 
wherein the recessed aperture (41) is centrally disposed therein; in 
alternate versions of the preferred embodiment, which will be discussed in 
greater detail further on in the specification, other geometric 
configurations of the platform member (40) as well as the placement of the 
recessed aperture (41) may be employed. 
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pivot unit (14) forms the operative 
connection between the base member (20) and the platform member (40) to 
allow the platform member (40) to rotate freely relative to the base 
member (20). In addition, the pivot unit (14) comprises in general: a 
pivot member (50) having an enlarged tapered head (51) and a reduced 
diameter shaft; (52) and, a cylindrical bearing member (53) having an 
axial bore (54) formed therein. 
Furthermore, as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the enlarged tapered head (51) 
of the pivot member (50) is dimensioned to be received in the tapered 
aperture (41) in the platform member (40) to connect the pivot member (50) 
to the platform member (40); and, the reduced diameter shaft (52) of the 
pivot member (50) is dimensioned to be loosely received in the axial bore 
(54) in the bearing member (53). 
In addition the top portion of the bearing member (53) is dimensioned to be 
received in the recess (42) formed in the underside of the platform member 
(40). 
Turning now to FIGS. 5 through 8 it can be seen that the foot securing unit 
(15) comprises cooperating hook and loop fastening members wherein the 
platform member (40) is provided with a hooked or looped mat (60), and the 
batters foot is provided with a looped or hooked encircling arrangement, 
including a pad member (61) adapted to releasably engage the mat (60), and 
a plurality of strap elements (62) connected to the pad member (61), for 
securing the pad member (61) to the bottom of one of the batters shoes 
(100). 
Once the pad member (61) has been attached via the strap elements (62) to 
the users foot and shoe (100), and the users foot presses down on the mat 
(60); the users foot will be constrained from lateral displacement 
relative to the platform member (40). However the users foot will still be 
allowed to pivot in conjunction with the platform member (40) when the 
user employs the proper technique with their swing; and the users foot 
will disengage from the platform member in the event that an improper 
technique is employed. 
In one alternate version of the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 10, 
the base member (20') comprises a pair of hinged panels (80) (81) wherein 
one of the panels is provided with an enlarged recess (82) which receives 
the rest of the apparatus (10); wherein, the combined length and width of 
the panels approximates the dimensions of a regulation batters box. 
As can also be seen by reference to FIG. 10, this particular embodiment can 
also be employed to practice a golf swing, since the self contained nature 
of the apparatus (10) within the panels (80) and (81) does not require 
that a circular bole by dug into the ground to place the top of the 
platform member (40) at ground level as suggested in FIG. 6. 
In another alternate version of the preferred embodiment depicted in FIGS. 
11 and 12, the platform member (40') has an added thickness on one side of 
the pivot member (50) to accommodate an enlarged recess (44) dimensioned 
to receive a pair of shoe support members (45); wherein, the other side of 
the platform member (40') is truncated for reasons that will be explained 
presently. In addition the platform member (40') of this version is 
further provided with a strip member (63) which extends across the 
platform member (40') in the vicinity of the pivot member (50) to 
releasably engage the pad member (61) of the foot encircling arrangement. 
In this particular version of the preferred embodiment, it is anticipated 
that the batter will be wearing conventional cleated baseball shoed (not 
shown); wherein, the front cleats will be loosely received in the enlarged 
recess (44) and supported by the shoe support members (45) such that only 
the front portion and arch of the batters cleated shoe will be in 
operative engagement with the platform member (40') as the batter 
practices their swinging technique. 
Having thereby described the subject matter of the present invention, it 
should be apparent that many substitutions, modifications and variations 
of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is 
therefore to be understood that the invention as taught and described 
herein is only to be limited to the extent of the breadth and scope of the 
appended claims.