Abstract:
A baseball swing training apparatus including that enables a batter to determine whether his swing followed the proper principles for hitting or batting. Oriented for use by both right-handed and left-handed batters it is intended to teach batters how their wrists should react in order to most effectively hit a ball. This generally baseball bat shaped apparatus includes a swing indicator disposed inside the barrel, which impacts one of four impact points producing an audible response when a swing is performed correctly. An incorrect swing produces no audible response.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/376,513, filed Apr. 30, 2002, entitled “BASEBALL SWING TRAINING APPARATUS.” Said U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/376,513 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to the field of baseball and softball training devices, and more particularly, to a baseball swing training apparatus for indicating the correct or incorrect swing of a batter through the heart of the strike zone. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Baseball has been known and loved for at least 150 years. In this time, many new devices have been devised to improve pitching, catching and most importantly batting. These batting devices have been utilized to increase the strength of the batter, the bat speed, and improve the hand/eye coordination and hand/wrist motion during the swing of the batter. This particular device is designed to indicate whether or not a batter is swinging the bat correctly. 
   The path a bat travels during a swing by a batter may vary from swing to swing. However, in a correct swing, the batter strives to roll or rotate the top hand over the bottom hand (with respect to the grip of the bat). This movement is commonly referred to as “breaking the wrists” and is performed immediately before, during and through contact with a baseball or other such object. The batter “breaks his wrist” to follow through the forward motion of his or her swing, making contact with the ball and resulting in an optimal amount of force being applied to the baseball as well as control over the direction the baseball is hit. 
   In an incorrect swing, the batter has a tendency to prematurely release the top hand from the bat during the swing, or alternatively, to rotate the top hand over the bottom hand prematurely. This is considered a bad habit by most batting coaches. The premature release of the bat by the top hand limits the control the batter has over where the ball is hit into the field. Likewise, the premature rotation of the bat by the batter usually results in the ball being hit downward. In either case, the improper swing typically results in a ball hit in an unintended direction and without much power. 
   It is therefore desirable to provide a baseball swing training apparatus which will readily disclose to the batter whether or not he is swinging a bat in accordance with the proper principles for batting. A still further object of this apparatus is to provide a useful device for developing the swing of a batter that is economical to manufacture and use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a baseball or softball swing training apparatus that allows a batter to consistently practice proper hitting mechanics and obtain immediate feedback as to whether or not he was utilizing proper or improper hitting mechanics. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the baseball swing training apparatus of the present invention includes a bat with a swing indicator disposed inside the barrel. The swing indicator has an end guide that follows one of two paths. A contact is attached to the end of one of two paths to disclose to the batter that the batting swing was correct or incorrect. 
   It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view illustrating a baseball bat disposed with the baseball swing training apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2A  is an isometric view illustrating the baseball swing training apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  wherein a schematic representation of the paths of a correct swing are shown; 
       FIG. 2B  is an isometric view illustrating the attachment of a swing indicator within the cylinder of the baseball swing training apparatus; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the baseball swing training apparatus shown in  FIG. 2  wherein the swing indicator is at equilibrium; and 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the cylinder suspended in the barrel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A and  2 B, a baseball or softball swing training apparatus  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described. baseball swing training apparatus  100  includes a handle  102 , a barrel  104 , a cylinder  106  disposed within barrel  104 , a swing indicator  108  disposed inside cylinder  106 . Cylinder  106  further includes impact points  110 ,  112 ,  114  and  116 . Baseball swing training apparatus  100  is composed of metal such as aluminum and the like or may be composed of wood. Barrel  104  extends outwardly beyond the length of handle  102 . Handle  102  includes a grip  118 , which acts as a guide for the batter to place both hands into the desired hitting position giving baseball swing training apparatus  100  the proper orientation during the swing. Grip  118  may have a variety of visual indicators attached through a process such as adhering, printing, painting and the like. The visual indicators may be a piece of tape, a symbol or any other suitable label or sign for providing visual indication of proper orientation. Baseball swing training apparatus  100  is oriented for use by both a right-handed batter and a left-handed batter. 
   In exemplary embodiments, cylinder  106  comprises a hollow enclosure that is suspended within barrel  104 . Preferably, cylinder  106  has a cross-section generally comprising a hollow figure eight. It is contemplated that cylinder  106  may be shaped as a hollow circular enclosure. Such a circular enclosure may provide increased integrity strength for baseball swing training apparatus  100 , while still allowing both right-handed and left-handed hitters to utilize the apparatus. Further, cylinder  106  may be isolated entirely within barrel  104  or may extend through the length of barrel  104  and connect with handle  102 . 
     FIG. 2A  illustrates a first path  124  and a second path  126 , which are generally an arch pattern that the swing indicator may follow when the batter swings as a right-handed batter or as a left-handed batter. The path swing indicator  108  follows depends on the swing the batter executes. For example, if the batter swings the bat correctly, i.e. the batter rotates his swing to “break his wrist” by rolling or turning the top hand over the bottom hand during the swing, swing indicator  108  will follow the path established as correct. When this occurs swing indicator  108  impacts one of swing indicator impact points  110 ,  112 ,  114  and  116 , verifying that a correct swing has been performed. If the batter swings the bat incorrectly, i.e. the batter does not “break his wrist” by rolling the top hand over the bottom hand, but releases his top hand prematurely or too late, the swing indicator will follow the path established as incorrect. The result is that swing indicator  108  will not impact one of swing indicator impact points  110 ,  112 ,  114  and  116 . 
   Swing indicator impact points  110 ,  112 ,  114  and  116  rest at both ends of one of first path  124  and second path  126  to allow both right-handed batters and left-handed batters to utilize baseball swing training apparatus  100 . Swing indicator impact points  110  through  116  are generally rectangular plates, which curve to follow the shape of cylinder  106  and form a smooth connection. The plates are composed of a durable material such as steel, aluminum and the like. One length of each swing indicator impact point  110  through  116  projects upwardly beyond the surface of cylinder  106 . Preferably, as the batter swings baseball swing training apparatus  100  swing indicator  108  follows one of first path  124  and second path  126  and hits the ends of one of the swing indicator impact points  110  through  116 , that extends upwardly beyond the surface of cylinder  106 . 
   Being composed of metal the plates, which comprise the ends of impact points  110  through  116 , when contacted produce an audible response. In this manner, the correctness or incorrectness of the swing can be imparted through resonation from the impact of the swing indicator  108  on one of the impact points  110  through  116 . In another embodiment the impact points  110  through  116 , upon impact by the swing indicator, may send an electrical signal to provide verification of a correct swing. The electrical signal may produce a sound such as a buzzer, a bell, a ringer and the like or may even provide some form of visual indication. Other verification methods may be employed as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2B  illustrates swing indicator  108  comprised of a spring  120  having an end guide portion  122 . End guide portion  122  is generally metal and may be a variety of shapes, such as, round, oval, rectangular and the like. Before or after a swing of baseball swing training apparatus  100 , spring  120  is sufficiently firm, to keep the swing indicator  108  at equilibrium within barrel  104 . However, spring  120  is sufficiently flexible, so that it may follow a first path  124  or a second path  126  when the batter swings the baseball swing training apparatus  100 . 
   Swing indicator  108  is connected to a first end  107  of cylinder  106 . The connection of spring  120 , of swing indicator  108 , with first end  107  of cylinder  106  is accomplished via an attachment assembly  128  such as, a hook, a rivet and the like, or even may be integrated with first end  107  through processes such as welding, sodering and the like. It is contemplated that if cylinder  106  extends to connect with handle  102  that swing indicator  108  may connect to handle  102  via an attachment assembly as substantially described above. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , swing indicator  108  generally sits at equilibrium in the center of cylinder  106 . From this equilibrium position, swing indicator  108  may follow the first path  124  or the second path  126  to indicate a correct swing. The baseball swing training apparatus  100  provides an audible response following the correct swing, indicating to the user that the swing was correct. However, if the user performs a swing which is incorrect, then swing indicator  108  will not follow path  124  or path  126  and will not impact one of the impact points  110  through  116 . The user will be aware of the incorrect swing by the absence of the audible response which follows a correct swing. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , barrel  104  suspends cylinder  106  within. This may be accomplished by filling the space around cylinder  106  with a fluid, a lubricant, or a bearing assembly and the like. Thus, cylinder  106  may rotate in order to place swing indicator  108  in the correct position to properly verify a correct or incorrect swing. For example, if the batter picks up baseball swing training apparatus  100  and impact points  110  through  116  are in a position where if the batter executed a correct swing, swing indicator  108  would not impact one of the impact points  110  through  116  then swing indicator  108  would place force upon the interior sides of the plates, which provide impact points  110  through  116 , and rotate cylinder  106 . The rotation of cylinder  106  is necessary so that when the batter executes a correct swing, baseball swing training apparatus  100  will verify a correct swing by producing the audible response as described above. When the batter executes an incorrect swing, baseball swing training apparatus  100  will verify an incorrect swing by not producing the audible response, which indicates a correct swing. 
   In the foregoing discussion, a swing training apparatus  100  suitable for use in baseball or softball is described. However, it will be appreciated that the swing training apparatus  100  of the present invention may be utilized in other sports which employ a bat, racket or the like, swung in a manner similar to that in baseball or softball. 
   It is believed that the baseball swing training apparatus of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form, construction and arrangement herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.