Abstract:
An apparatus is provided to aid training users to throw a ball with proper biomechanical form. The sleeve is open on one end to receive a weight, ball, and user&#39;s hand. The sleeve is closed on an opposite end to maintain the weight within the sleeve during use. A wrist portion may be attached to the open end of the sleeve and is releaseably securable around the user&#39;s wrist, so as to removably secure the user&#39;s hand, holding the ball, within the sleeve. In practice, a user wearing the sleeve may perform each motion associated with throwing a ball, including releasing the ball within a passageway defined by the interior surface and closed end of the sleeve. The aforementioned weight acts as a lead or guide, directing the user&#39;s body through all physical motion experienced over the course of a properly executed pitch.

Description:
GOVERNMENT CONTRACT 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    None 
       STATEMENT RE. FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       COPYRIGHT &amp; TRADEMARK NOTICES 
       [0004]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter that is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights and trade dress rights whatsoever. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0005]    The disclosed subject matter relates generally to a training device for throwing sports and, more particularly, to a device which aids a baseball pitcher in practice to repeat a biomechanically correct motion of pitching a ball so that he may develop muscle memory, decrease the chance of injury, and ensure precision during game play. The subject matter further relates to a device that may be used to train in any location or weather condition. The subject matter is even further related to a device that supports post-conditioning muscle recovery. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0006]    Baseball has been a popular professional and recreational sport for many years. Unfortunately, at professional and amateur levels, repetitious motions associated with certain positions played during the game may cause players injury, especially when performed improperly. For instance, pitchers are known to experience injury to their shoulder joints due to the repeated rapid motion of throwing a ball toward a batter. Of course, other players throwing the baseball during play, such as outfielders and basemen, may experience the same stress to their body as pitchers do. However, with particular attention drawn to pitchers, the throwing motion involves not just a pitcher&#39;s hand, arm, and shoulder joint but further integrates motion contributed by his back and hips as well. Using proper biomechanical form during each pitch may diffuse the kinetic energy contributed to the ball from the pitchers shoulder joint to his other contributing body parts. This in turn may prevent injury and lead to greater durability and health of the pitcher&#39;s body. As such, it is important to ensure that baseball pitchers, outfielders, and basemen are trained to repeat the throwing motion with proper form in a manner that places as little injurious stress on the body as possible. 
         [0007]    There have been some proposals to solve this problem in the past. For example, one popular method of training players to pitch with good form has been to provide a ball tethered either to a stationary object, such as a wall or floor mount, or even to another ball. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,512 to Crowson discloses a ball tethered by rope to a spool and drum torsion spring. To train a player&#39;s arm, he may use the tethered ball to simulate the action of throwing a baseball against the resistance created by the spring. Although this solution may build strength in the muscles involved, it fails to accurately recreate the physical feeling of throwing a baseball. This is because the tethered rope adds a resistive force against the forward arc of the thrower&#39;s arm, which is achieved through the torsion spring. In particular, this solution may hinder a player from practicing biomechanically correct forward extension of his arm. Furthermore, the ball is not released during this simulation because releasing the ball, as one would during play, would cause the torsion spring to retract the ball, possibly causing injury to the thrower. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2006/0135291 filed by Biegen discloses a ball tethered not to a mount but to a freestanding, drag-producing device. This solution, however, is also deficient because it is unsuitable for use indoors. Moreover, it also fails to accurately simulate pitching because the drag-producing device transfers a resistive force to the user&#39;s hand, causing the ball to seem much heavier than it would during play. As in Crowson, this makes it more difficult for a player to practice proper forward extension of his throwing arm, and indeed the “slow arc” of the pitch caused by the resistive force may actually increase possibly injurious strain to the involved arm and shoulder joint. 
         [0009]    Such deficiencies fail to accurately condition a player for baseball pitching and add additional strain to the muscles involved in the position. Thus, there is a need for a ball throwing training aid which avoids unnecessary strain on a user&#39;s hands, arms, shoulders, and body during practice, preserves the same range of motion experienced during actual game-time throwing, and is moreover suitable for indoor and outdoor applications. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The present disclosure is directed to a device for training a user to throw a ball with biomechanically proper form. In an embodiment, the device trains a baseball player how to pitch a baseball with proper extension of his throwing arm and rotation of his hips. 
         [0011]    For purposes of summarizing, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features have been described. It is to be understood that not all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment. Thus, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages without achieving all advantages as may be taught or suggested. 
         [0012]    In accordance with one embodiment, the device is a sleeve having an inner surface that defines a passageway in which the ball may travel. The sleeve may comprise a rugged material such as cotton, linen, polyester, or blended cloth and has an end that is open to receive a weight, a ball, and a user&#39;s hand, respectively. Additionally, the sleeve has an end that is closed to retain the weight within the sleeve. An adjustable wrist portion, or cuff, may also be attached to the open end of the sleeve in order to releaseably enclose the user&#39;s hand within the sleeve. In one embodiment, the cuff is adjustable by way of hook and loop fasteners. In another embodiment, the cuff may comprise a series of mateable snaps. In yet another embodiment, the cuff may be elastic so that it may stretch and closely conform to writs of various sizes. In this manner, movement of the sleeve along a user&#39;s hand and arm during use may be avoided. 
         [0013]    It is contemplated that the sleeve may be any length that allows a user to release the ball within the passageway defined by the inner surface of the sleeve so that the ball travels some distance before coming upon the weight that is retained at the closed end of the sleeve. One skilled in the art will recognize that this arrangement allows a user to experience each of the winding up, releasing, and following through steps involved in throwing a ball. Moreover, because the weight, ball, and user&#39;s hand are all enclosed within the sleeve, such an authentic throwing experience does not pose a risk of property damage or personal injury while in use. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the sleeve may be about 12 to about 24 inches in length. In another embodiment, the sleeve may be about 16 to about 20 inches in length. Of course, the length of the sleeve may depend on the size and particular needs of the user. For example, a sleeve suitable for use by a small child may be shorter than a sleeve suitable for use by a full-grown adult with considerably larger arms. Thus, it should be clear that such measurements do not limit the invention and are merely offered by way of example. 
         [0015]    In practice, a user may place the weight, which is used to guide the thrown ball and user&#39;s arm through an arced trajectory, into the sleeve. The weight may be secured at the closed end therein by cinching the sleeve above the weight with a clamping member. In one embodiment, the clamping member may be chosen from hook and loop, metallic, or plastic cable ties, wire ties, and zip ties. In another embodiment, the clamping member may be a rubber band. In an alternative embodiment, the weight may be secured to within the closed end of the sleeve with glue or hook and loop fasteners, rather than by a clamping member. In still another embodiment, the weight is not secured at the closed end of the sleeve but is merely placed therein. 
         [0016]    It should be noted that the weight may any object or size desired by a user. In one embodiment, the weight may be about one to about eight ounces. In a preferred embodiment, the weight may be an additional baseball, which may be readily and conveniently supplied by baseball players using the device to practice because they often have many extra baseballs at hand. 
         [0017]    Having placed and optionally secured the weight at the closed end of the sleeve, a user may then place his hand, holding the baseball, into the sleeve. Then the wrist portion, or cuff, may be releaseably secured around his wrist in order to prevent the sleeve from translating along his arm and hand during use. Using the ball that he placed in the sleeve with his hand, the user may then practice each motion associated with throwing or pitching. For example, the user may practice the typical phases of over-hand throwing including windup, cocking, acceleration and deceleration of the throwing arm, releasing the ball, and following through with the arm and body. Occasional, a pitcher practicing using typical techniques may forget or otherwise fail to properly rotate his hips during the phases of the pitch. The weight of this device, however, may help to steer the body into the appropriate rotation during each phase by forcing extension of the arm as it follows the arc of the pitch. This may ultimately protect the shoulder, in particular, from unnecessary strain because it trains a player to transfer energy associated with the pitch to other parts of his body, namely, his hips. Over repeated use, a pitcher may develop muscle memory relating to the extension and rotation, which should allow him to recreate his pitches with proper form when he is not using the device. 
         [0018]    As an example, when the user initiates windup, the weight my extend the pitcher&#39;s arm backward, causing his hips to rotate toward the same direction. Upon cocking and releasing the ball, the weight may guide the user&#39;s arm to extend upward and forward toward the direction that the user intends the ball to travel. This extension may also steer the user&#39;s hips in a proper rotation toward the direction that the user intends the ball to travel. Finally, upon release of the ball, the weight at the closed end of the sleeve leads the arc of the user&#39;s pitch into a proper follow-through, which may further relieve the user&#39;s shoulder from strain, instead distributing the energy associated with the throw among other parts of the body. Since the weight of the device is at all times concentrated beyond the pitch or throw, the device my further ensure that a user practices proper extension of his arm even after the ball has been released from his hand. Moreover, because the weight, ball, and hand are contained within the sleeve during use, the device is applicable for all-weather, indoor, and outdoor training alike to support year-round, consistent conditioning and training 
         [0019]    One or more of the above-disclosed embodiments, in addition to certain alternatives, are provided in further detail below with reference to the attached figures. The disclosed subject matter is not, however, limited to any particular embodiment disclosed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the pitch training apparatus. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a profile view of the pitch training apparatus from  FIG. 1 , which has been vertically rotated along axis  3  to show another side of the aid. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the pitch training apparatus. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show an embodiment of the pitch training aparatus in use at different phases of the pitch. 
       
    
    
       [0024]    The disclosed embodiments may be better understood by referring to the figures in the attached drawings, as provided below. The attached figures are provided as non-limiting examples for providing an enabling description of the apparatus. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered as limiting of its scope. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without some of the details included in order to provide a thorough enabling description of such embodiments. Well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the device  10  is shown in one embodiment as a sleeve  100  having a closed end  102  and an open end  104 . The width of the sleeve  100  and the width of the open end  104  may be chosen in order to accommodate a weight  106  (here encased within the sleeve  100 ), a ball, and a user&#39;s hand. 
         [0026]    As may be seen from the figures, the sleeve  100  may comprise a flexible, rugged material. In a preferred embodiment, the material is a cloth comprising natural, cellulose, or synthetic fabric, or a blended combination of the same. For example, in one embodiment, the fabric is chosen from polyester, cotton, linen, and any other fiber capable of withstanding the repeated force of a ball thrown within it. 
         [0027]    An adjustable wrist portion, or cuff  108 , may be attached to the open end of the sleeve  100  in order to releaseably enclose the weight  106 , ball, and user&#39;s hand within the sleeve  100  during use. It may be attached to the sleeve  100  in any manner sufficient to inseparably join the sleeve  100  and cuff  108  components. For example, it is contemplated that the cuff  108  may be sewn with thread to the opening of the sleeve  100 . In another embodiment, it may be glued to the opening of the sleeve  100 . Of course, these are offered by way of example only and not of limitation, and it will be recognized by one skilled in the art that many other effective modes of attachment are possible. 
         [0028]    In a preferred embodiment, the width of the cuff  108  may be adjustable along an opening  110  by way of hook and loop fasteners, or even mateable snaps. In yet another embodiment, the cuff may be elastic in order to stretch over a user&#39;s hand and closely conform to his wrist. In any embodiment, it is contemplated that the cuff  108  may be adjustable by any means that effectively prevent the sleeve from moving along the user&#39;s forearm and hand during use. As such, one skilled in the art will recognize that the cuff  108  may also be adjustable to increase or decrease the size of the opening in order to accommodate a larger or smaller hand, ball, weight, or wrist as needed. When finally in use, the cuff  108  may be adjusted to increase or decrease the width of the opening  104  in the sleeve  100  so that a user&#39;s hand is secured inside, and also so that dexterity, blood circulation to the fingers and hand, and motor control are unimpeded. 
         [0029]    The sleeve may further comprise a clamping member  112  to cinch the sleeve  100  above the weight  106  so that the weight  106  may be securely retained within the closed end  102  of the sleeve  100 . In particular, the clamping member  112  may ensure that the weight does not interfere with any actions of the user&#39;s hand when it is secured within the sleeve  100 . 
         [0030]    In an embodiment, the clamping member  112  may be chosen from hook and loop, metallic, or plastic cable ties, wire ties, and zip ties. In another embodiment, the clamping member may be a rubber band. In yet another embodiment, the clamping member  112  may be a string, ribbon, or length of other material tied around the sleeve  100 . The device  10  may even be operable without cinching the sleeve  100  with the clamping member  112 . For example, rather than cinching the sleeve  100  above the weight  106  to retain the weight  106  within the closed end  102  of the sleeve, the weight  106  may be secured within the closed end  102  of the sleeve  100  with glue. It is contemplated, however, that the device  10  may also be effective without the use of any weight-retention mechanism at all. Indeed, a user may even rely solely on the centripetal force naturally occurring as a result of the swift, arced motion of a pitch to retain the weight  106  within the closed end  102  of the sleeve  100  during use. 
         [0031]    With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a cross sectional view of the sleeve  100  is shown so that a passageway defined by the inner surface of the sleeve  100  below the cuff  108  is visible. As may be seen by the exemplary illustration, the length of the passageway may be chosen so that a baseball  114  can travel through the sleeve for some distance in the direction indicated by arrow  116  before coming upon the weight  106 , here depicted as an additional baseball, retained by the clamping member  112  at the closed end of the sleeve  100 . One skilled in the art will recognize that this arrangement allows a user to experience and practice each of the typical phases of over-hand throwing. Such phases may include, for example windup, cocking, acceleration and deceleration of the throwing arm, releasing the ball, and following through with the arm and body. In one embodiment, the sleeve  100  may be about 12 to about 24 inches in length, measured from the cuff  108  to the closed end of the sleeve  100 . In another embodiment, the sleeve  100  may be about 16 to about 20 inches in length from the cuff  108  to the closed end of the sleeve  100 . Of course, the length of the sleeve  100  may be chosen based on the size and particular needs of a specific user. For example, a sleeve suitable for use by a small child first learning to pitch may be shorter than a sleeve suitable for use by a full-grown adult. Thus it should be clear to one skilled in the art that such measurements do not limit the invention and are merely offered as examples for the sake of clarity. 
         [0032]    It should also be noted that because the weight  106 , ball  114 , and user&#39;s hand (depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and discussed below) are enclosed within the sleeve  100 , such an authentic pitching experience does not pose a risk of property damage or personal injury while the device  10  is use. This is because when a user throws the ball  114  while his hand is inside the sleeve  100 , the ball is prevented from exiting the sleeve  100  through its closed end  102 . Moreover, the adjustable opening  110  of the cuff  108  ensures that the sleeve  100  is prevented from sliding off the hand and flinging the entire device  10  in the direction of the throw when a ball is pitched inside of it. 
         [0033]    The weight  106  retained at the closed end  102  of the sleeve  100  is offered to guide or lead the arc of the thrown ball  114  and user&#39;s bodily rotation during the pitch. This may be more readily understood with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5  below. As a preliminary matter, the weight  106  may be conveniently chosen from a variety of objects and may in fact comprise any shape or weight desired by a user. In an exemplary embodiment, the weight may be about one to about 12 ounces in weight. A weight in this range may be sufficient to lead or guide the user in his pitching practice, but is also light enough to avoid additional strain on his throwing wrist, arm, and shoulder. In a preferred embodiment, the weight is aerodynamically shaped to reduce drag on the device  10 . For example, the weight  106  may be an additional baseball, which may be readily and conveniently supplied by users who are baseball players using the device  10  to practice pitching because such users often have many extra baseballs in their possession. 
         [0034]    Now with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the sleeve  100  is arranged with the weight  106 , ball  114 , and user&#39;s hand  118  secured by the clamping member  110  and cuff  108 , respectively. In  FIG. 4 , the user is shown in the windup phase of a pitch, wherein his arm  120  has been drawn downward, backward, and upward, depicted by arrow  121  at his shoulder joint. In this rotational motion, the force of the weight  106  leads the user&#39;s hand  118  and arm  120  in an arc. It should be noted that at this phase, the user&#39;s torso  122  guided by his rotating hips  124  is pointed generally in the direction of his pitching arm. Thus, in the exemplary illustration, the user is throwing with his right arm  120 , and his torso  122  and hips  124  are also rotated toward his right side. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows the ball  114  after the user has completed the releasing phase of his pitch as he completes the follow through phase. It may be seen that the ball  114  has been completely released from the user&#39;s hand  118 , as it would be during actual game play. In the absence of the sleeve, the ball  114  would still continue to travel according to the trajectory determined by the rotational motion of the user&#39;s arm and position of his body. Still the ball  114  is entirely contained within the sleeve so that people and property in the user&#39;s vicinity are protected from any risk of injury caused by flying objects. As such, it is contemplated that the device  10  is suitable for all-weather, indoor, and outdoor training alike to support year-round conditioning and training This may ensure that a user maintains his fitness and skill even during off-season. 
         [0036]    As in  FIG. 4 , the user&#39;s torso  122 , guided by his rotating hips  124 , point generally in the direction of his pitching arm  120  as he completes the follow through phase of his pitch. More particularly, the force of the weight  106  aids a more complete extension of the arm  120 , and consequently pulls the torso  122  and hips  124  into this direction. Of course, one skilled in the art will recognize that the force of the weight  106  may also lead the user&#39;s hand  118 , arm  120 , torso  122 , and hips  124  through any intermediary pitching phases as well. 
         [0037]    Whereas a practicing pitcher may fail to properly rotate his hips at any phase during the pitch, to the effect of concentrating physical strain in his shoulder joint, the weight  106  ensures that each body part is guided into a more biomechanically correct position by forcing extension of the arm  120  as it follows through the arc of the user&#39;s pitch. This may protect a user&#39;s shoulder in particular from unnecessary strain during training and practice because it forcefully encourages a player to transfer energy associated with the pitch out of his shoulder joint and into other parts of his body, namely, his hips. Additionally, it prevents users from continually practicing, and thus developing muscle memory for, poor and injurious form. Moreover, since the weight of the device  10  is at all times concentrated beyond the pitch or throw, the device  10  may further ensure that a user practices proper extension of his arm even after the ball has been released from his hand. Over repeated use, a pitcher may develop muscle memory relating to this extension and rotation, which should allow him to recreate his pitches with proper form when he is not using the device  10 . 
       CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
       [0038]    While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications are contemplated and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the sleeve may be sized for any desirable length, and the weight may be chosen from lighter or heavier objects depending on the training needs of the user. Various different balls may also be used with this device. For example, a user may practice throwing regulation 5 oz. baseballs within the sleeve. A user might also practice throwing baseballs that are heavier than regulation baseballs in order to build additional strength. Indeed, it is contemplated that any ball that can be thrown with a single hand may be accommodated by and used with the baseball pitch training aid. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited, except as by the appended claim(s). 
         [0039]    The teachings disclosed herein may be applied to other devices, and may not necessarily be limited to any described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention. 
         [0040]    Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the pitch training apparatus with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be constructed to limit the apparatus to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification unless the above description section explicitly define such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosed device. The above description of embodiments of the pitch training apparatus is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed above or to a particular field of usage. 
         [0041]    While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the device are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible for which those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. 
         [0042]    While certain aspects of the device disclosed are presented below in particular claim forms, various aspects of the method and system are contemplated in any number of claim forms. Thus, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the pitch training apparatus.