Abstract:
A swing training device and system that includes a sequence of LED lights that are used to simulate the movement of a pitched ball along a horizontal line and act as a cue for initiating a swing. The swing training device will help develop visual skills by using the eyes to track a light source along a path to the ball such that a bat or striking object hits the ball at the same time the moving light intersects or passes over the ball. The light carrying cable is of a durable design so that the user may practice with the game used bat.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Application No. 61/582,596 e-filed on Jan. 3, 2012. 
     The present application presents an improvement to Sams U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,388. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is directed generally to systems and methods for developing and training the proper swing mechanics of a baseball or softball player by using a cue to initiate a timely swing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates an improvement to my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,388 for swing training in which a line configuration was claimed to support a ball assembly and also simulate a visual path or track that a ball would travel from pitcher to batter. 
     The present invention is a swing training device and system that also develops eye movement and tracking skills used to strike or hit a moving object with a bat, stick or racket. The training device proposed here will provide a more realistic practice experience to users of swing trainers in a manner that simulates those skills used to hit a pitched baseball or softball by conditioning the eyes to track and time a moving light source which illuminates the line configuration claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,388. This invention now provides a cue to the hitter in a training opportunity designed to consistently swing a bat on time. A moving light serves as the cue by simulating a pitched ball such that the batter trains to strike a stationary ball when a moving light intersects, leads to, or otherwise provides a path to the stationary ball. 
     This swing training device will also provide user feedback as to record and display weather the user&#39;s swing was early, on-time (i.e., ball was hit at the same time moving light intersected with ball) or late. Timing feedback may be presented as an audible sound, a digital readout, (yellow, red, green lights), digital score or combinations thereof. The feedback information may be stored electronically and/or downloaded to various devices and used to track progress over time for players and coaches. The device may be used with a range of swing trainers designed as a single or multiple ball hitting station that can be configured for a range of situations from home to indoor gym to on field use. A realistic cue provides a new dimension for swing trainers using a stationary ball in which the user develops those timing skills for hitting a pitched ball. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A sports training device is used to teach specific skills required for a sport. The device may be used to fine tune and exercise the muscular-skeletal mechanics related to the specific sport. The device may be used to practice and drill specific skills on and off the playing field. At competitions, the device may be used for pre-game warm-up exercises. Training devices generally include mobile or stationary objects used in the specific sport. In baseball or softball, for instance, a training device may include a mobile or stationary baseball, softball or similar object that a user may strike with his or her baseball/softball bat. For tennis, racquetball, squash or badminton, a training device may include a mobile or stationary ball, birdie or other similar object that a user may strike with a racket. For golf, a training device may include a golf ball or similar object that a user may strike with a golf club, and so on. 
     To enhance the training device, a timing mechanism maybe used to train and develop the hand and eye skills used to track and time a moving object such as a baseball or softball. This proposed training device added to such devices as a batting tee, elastic-cord swing trainers, soft-toss machines, etc., can help make the experience more realistic providing a cue of when to swing. 
     Because a user may want to practice in different locations such as at home, at the gym, at a practice field, and/or during game competition, it may be desirable for the training device to be transportable. Furthermore, to enhance the learning experience, it may be desirable for the training device to provide feedback to the user. Feedback allows the user to make physiological adjustments and mechanical corrections. Feedback can also reduce the length of time required to learn or master a skill for a particular sport. The swing quality can be measured and recorded through the use of electronic devices and monitors. The recorded feedback can then be stored and transmitted to other devices to monitor swing statistics such as the number of on-time swings versus number of total swings. That information can be used by the players and coaches to track improvements over time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of one embodiment of a single station, swing training apparatus from Sams U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,388 to which may be added the swing training device and system according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the apparatus from  FIG. 1  to which has been added one embodiment of a swing training device, a cable consisting of a series of Light Emitting Diodes (LED&#39;s) in a durable construction and designed to illuminate a line or path leading to a ball, to serve as a cue to swing by conveying the idea of a moving object such as a pitched baseball or softball according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side plan view of the apparatus from  FIG. 2  which show greater detail for the components&#39; of the LED cable so designed to be shock resistant through repetitive hitting of a baseball or softball while using the game bat. The cable is subjected to stress and strain as the ball is propelled forward and then catapulted back to the starting point through the action of the elastic cords. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the swing training device computer/controller showing several component parts in detail; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a baseball practice device for repetitive batting practice using a ball and elastic-cord system. The practice device shown in  FIG. 1  reference  1  is similar to the device claimed and patented in Sams U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,388. The V line configuration  13  and single anchor line  8  as claimed and patented in Sams U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,388 serves two purposes: the first is to control and stabilize the ball after bat contact. The second was an attempt to provide a visual conditioning mechanism for training the user to track the flight of a ball with every practice swing by moving his/her eyes along line  8 . The single anchor line provides a path for the hitter to visualize the flight track of the pitched ball. The mechanics of hitting and making contact with the ball involves seeing the ball along its flight track. This conditioning allows skilled hitters to visualize a path by viewing points along the line of directional movement. By this process, one may better determine the location, direction, and speed of a particular moving object. The current invention of a swing training device presented here with a moving light source, traversing line  8 , provides a cue to the batter of when to swing thus making this swing training experience substantially more realistic through simulating the forward motion of a thrown object like a baseball or softball. 
     Continuing with reference to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of swing training apparatus  1  comprises a rigid rectangular frame  2  and an object assembly  13  operatively coupled to ball  7 . The proximate end of Line  8  is operatively coupled to the object assembly  13 , wherein the distal end of line  8  passes through net  9  and is operatively coupled to an anchoring strap  11  attached to frame  2 . A second V shaped line  12  as claimed and patented in Sams U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,388 is operatively coupled to the object assembly  13  with opposite ends connected to the rectangular frame  2 . In further detail,  FIG. 1  shows the rectangular frame  2  attached to an upper arm  3  and lower arm  4  which contain pulley wheels  5  through which an elastic-cord  6  freely moves. The object assembly  13  with ball  7  is attached to stretch cord  6 . The upper arm  3  and lower arm  4  are substantially horizontal. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , wherein the improvement presented here, in which the structure of line  8  from Sams U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,388 has been modified to a multi-part resilient cable containing LED lights connected by electric wiring such that the cable and LED lights may withstand the flex and tension created by repetitively hitting a baseball in a elastic-cord swing training system. One embodiment of the swing training device and system consists of a sequence of LED lights  28  such that the lights are sequentially timed in the direction of path  14  to simulate a moving object such as a pitched baseball or softball. The LED lights  28  are operatively coupled and controlled by the computing device  30  such that the lighting pattern and timing of the LED lights are in a manner as to create a speed adjustable forward moving LED lighting sequence along the length of line  8  in which the lighted LED progressively advances from the computing device  30  to the object assembly  13 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the multi-part cable is shown in more detail. The cable consisting of a substantially transparent, flexible, durable braided outer sleeve  29  designed to bind all inner elements of the multi-part assembly. A main tension bearing line  22  is beneath the outer sleeve  29  and operatively coupled at the proximate end  23  to the object assembly  13  and at the distal end  24  to strap  11  ( FIG. 1 ) which is attached to frame  2 . An inner sleeve  27  in the design of a polymeric tube, substantially transparent, flexible and resilient, serves to separate the main tension bearing line  22  from the LED lights  28 . The LED lights  28  are connected by electrical fibers  26 . A void filling material  25 , substantially decreases void space around the LED lights  28  and electric fibers  26  which substantially increases the resiliency of the LED lights  28  and electric fibers  26  by absorbing the shock resulting from hitting the ball and the corresponding tension placed on the entire assembly during the rebound process as the ball returns to its set position. The distal end of the inner sleeve  27  and all the elements therein pass through frame  2  as shown in  FIG. 2  to terminate in a computing device  30  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a preferred embodiment of the swing training device and system includes a computing device  30  with micro-processor  31  that is programmable to control the lighting pattern and timing of the LED lights  28  ( FIG. 2 ) in a manner as to create a speed adjustable forward moving LED lighting sequence  14  in which the lighted LED progressively advances from the computing device  30  to the proximate end of line  22  ( FIG. 3 ). The computing device  30  contains a speed adjustment means  35  to control the forward speed of the lighted LED. The computing device  30  is operatively connected to a sensor  36  for detecting sound or motion in a manner to record the striking contact of the ball  7 , wherein the computing means is programmable to record a measurement of the elapsed time from the lighting of the first LED near the control unit to the detected contact. Wherein, the performance goal is to hit the ball when the last LED is lighted near location  23 . This would be considered as an on-time swing which represents the skill needed to hit a pitched baseball or softball. A swing that is too early or too late will result in missing the ball or no-contact. Continuing with  FIG. 4 , the computing device  30  contains a display means  32  for showing a calculated index of performance, wherein the computing device  30  is programmable to display a performance index of swing timing in milliseconds representing how early or late contact with ball  7  was detected in reference to the lighting of the last LED. 
     Continuing with  FIG. 4 , results from a practice session would be stored in a data storage module  36 ,  FIG. 4 , where the data could then be transferred through hardwire or wireless communication modules  37  to electronic devices such as PDA&#39;s or smart phones for further analysis. One such use of this information would be for tracking swing improvement over time as measured by an increase in the frequency of practice swings that are “on-time”. 
     While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. 
     REFERENCES FOR PRIOR ART 
     
         
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