Patent Publication Number: US-8535179-B2

Title: Baseball swing training device

Description:
The present invention relates to baseball training devices, and in particular to baseball swing training devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Baseball is an extremely popular sport in the United States and as so it is often referred to as America&#39;s Pastime. It begins as a youth sport with children as young as 5 or 6 years old playing the game. The kids who really like baseball will hopefully continue to play throughout their childhood. Those kids who have the best skills and interest will play for their high school team. Then only the most highly skilled will play at the college level. Only the very few elite players can then play on a professional level. 
     Although, most kids stop playing organized baseball prior to high school there is a very strong fan interest in the game. Parents and kids and young adults are very interested in following baseball games at the local, college and professional levels. The sport moves at a very good pace so that it is easy to follow the strategy of the game and appreciate the skill level of the players. 
     Baseball holds the interest of America. There is tremendous money spent on developing players starting at the youth level and all the way through the professional level. The hitter plays an extremely important role on a team. A great hitter can find his way onto a baseball team much easier than an average or below average hitter. Hence, there are many hitting training devices on the market designed to improve baseball hitting skills. However, none of these prior art products are optimum for proper training. They tend to be bulky, hard to transport, impractical to set up and costly. 
     What is needed is a better baseball swing training device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a swing training device. A plurality of legs is pivotally connected to a base. A bottom support tube is rigidly connected to the base. A height adjustment tube is inserted into the bottom support tube. The height of the height adjustment tube is controlled by a height adjustment controller. A lower band holder is rigidly connected to the upper end of the height adjustment tube. A band tube is positioned between the lower band holder at its lower end and an upper band holder at its upper end. A plurality of elastic bands are connected between the lower band holder and the upper band holder. A pivot piece is rigidly connected to the upper band holder. A rotation stick having a hittable ball is pivotally connected to the pivot piece. The bottom support tube, the height adjustment tube and the band tube form a rotation axis. When a user hits the ball then the ball and the rotation stick rotate about the rotation axis in an initial rotation direction causing the elastic bands to stretch and wrap around the band tube. The elastic bands then act as a spring causing the ball and rotation stick to rotate back in an opposite direction to simulate a pitch to the user so that the user can hit again. For easy transport and storage, the rotation stick pivots downward and the legs pivot upwards so that they are all parallel with the rotation axis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a preferred base. 
         FIG. 3  shows a preferred band ball. 
         FIG. 4  shows a preferred band. 
         FIG. 5  shows a preferred lower band holder. 
         FIG. 6  shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention folded and ready for carrying and storage. 
         FIG. 7  shows stretched bands. 
         FIGS. 8-10  show a raised rotation stick. 
         FIG. 11  shows lowered legs. 
         FIGS. 12-12B  show the rotation stick in a horizontal position. 
         FIG. 13  shows the height adjusted for a very small child. 
         FIG. 14  shows the rotation stick in a vertical position. 
         FIG. 15  shows a leg staked to the ground. 
         FIGS. 16A and 16B  show preferred rotation components. 
         FIGS. 17-19  show a preferred rotation stick. 
         FIGS. 20 and 21  show a preferred height adjustment sleeve. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  provide a simple illustration of the utilization of the present invention. In  FIG. 1B , swing training device  2  is at a rest position. A left handed batter can now hit ball  25  and the ball will rotate counter clockwise about rotation axis  30  (i.e., the axis formed by bottom support tube  9 , height adjustment tube  12  and band tube  16 ).  FIG. 1A  shows ball  25  after the left handed batter has hit it. Ball  25  has been treaded onto the end of rotation stick  21 . In  FIG. 1A , ball  25  has rotated multiple times around rotation axis  30  and bands  35  are wound tight around band tube  16 . A spring force created by the stretched bands  35  will now cause ball  25  to rotate backwards (i.e., clockwise) multiple times simulating a pitch. The harder the batter hits the ball, the faster the pitch will be as it comes back to the batter. The batter can now hit the ball again and repeat this process for as long as he wishes eliminating the need for a pitcher or the need for chasing batted balls. 
     Components of a Preferred Embodiment 
       FIG. 1A  shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Base  1  provides support for swing training device  2 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A , three legs  4  are pivotally connected to base  1  as shown. Legs  4  pivot about bolt axis  5  which is attached through hole  6  ( FIG. 2 ). As shown in  FIG. 1A , spring loaded pull pins  7  are connected to legs  4  and engage slots  8  ( FIG. 2 ) to hold legs  4  in a horizontal position. 
     Bottom support tube  9  is rigidly bolted to base  1 . Height adjustment sleeve  10  is bolted to bottom support tube  9  via set screw  11 . Height adjustment tube  12  is inserted into bottom support tube  9  through height adjustment sleeve  10 . In a preferred embodiment, height adjustment tube  12  includes a height-stop mechanism that functions to prevent the separation of height adjustment tube from height adjustment sleeve  10  if the user raises height adjustment tube to its maximum height. For example, in one preferred embodiment height adjustment tubes  12  includes two button head screws attached to its lower end. The heads of the button head screws are just large enough to prevent the whole top part of the unit from being adjusted too much and separating. The button head screws are stopped by the smaller diameter of height adjustment sleeve  10 . 
     The vertical position of height adjustment tube  12  can be adjusted by the user as desired by loosening and then tightening a height adjustment controller. For example in the preferred embodiment shown the height adjustment controller is threaded knob  13  and the height of height adjustment tube  12  is adjusted by loosening and then tightening threaded knob  13 . 
     Lower band holder  14  is bolted to height adjustment tube  12 .  FIG. 5  shows a detailed view of lower band holder  14  bolted in place using bolts  15 . In a preferred embodiment, lower band holder  14  lower band holder  14  is a three piece part that fits together ( FIG. 22 ). Band tube  16  is supported by bearings  17  and  18  (see also  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). Upper band holder  19  is bolted to pivot support piece  20 . Pivot piece  20  is bolted to shaft  91 . Rotation stick  21  is clamped tightly between upper stick holder  81  lower stick holder  82  (see also  FIGS. 1A and 17 ). Lower stick holder  82  is pivotally connected to pivot piece  20  and can be locked in place at the angle desired by the user ( FIG. 1A ). 
     Bands 
       FIG. 4  shows a detailed view of band  35 . Band  35  is preferably an elastic, rubbery band that will stretch and then regain its original size. Each end of band  35  is inserted into band ball  36 .  FIG. 3  shows a detailed view of band ball  36 .  FIG. 7  shows a detailed view of bands  35  wrapped tight around band tube  16 . The spring force in elastic bands  35  will now cause ball  25  (see  FIG. 1A ) to rotate backwards (i.e., clockwise) multiple times simulating a pitch to a batter. The batter can now hit the ball again and repeat this process for as long as he wishes. 
     Preferred Height Adjustment Sleeve 
       FIGS. 20 and 21  show details of preferred height adjustment sleeve  10 . In  FIG. 20 , set screw  11  has been turned so that pressure pad  68  is pressed tightly against bottom support tube  9 . Threaded knob  13  has been loosened. Height adjustment tube  12  can now be moved up or down to its desired location. To secure height adjustment tube  12  at its desired position the user will turn threaded knob  13  so that pressure pad  67  presses tightly against height adjustment tube  12 . 
     Preferred Rotation Components 
       FIGS. 16A and 16B  show a detailed drawing identifying the primary components associated with allowing for a smooth rotation about rotation axis  30  ( FIG. 1A ). Shaft  91  extends downward through band tube  16  and height adjustment tube  12 . Pivot piece  20  ( FIG. 1A ) is bolted to shaft  91 . Shaft  91  also extends through bearing sleave  92  and inner shaft tube  95 . Bearing sleeve  92  holds main bearing  93  and main bearing  94 . Main bearings  93  and  94  allow for the smooth rotation of rotation stick  21  about rotation axis  30 . Inner shaft tube  95  is used as a bearing spacer. Band tube  16  is slightly longer and covers bearings  17  and  18  which allow band tube  16  to spin freely around inner shaft tube  95 . Because band tube  16  spins freely, band tube  16  moves along with bands  35 . Elastic bands  35  grab onto band tube  16  so that they move together in order to eliminate rubbing and grinding of the bands that would otherwise occur. The above described preferred rotation components are held together tightly by nut  99 . 
     Rotation Stick Attachment 
       FIGS. 17-19  show the connection of rotation stick  21 . As explained above, rotation stick  21  is clamped between top stick support piece  23  and bottom stick support piece  22 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 18 , top stick support piece  23  and lower stick holder  82  clamp tightly onto stick  21  so that there is no spinning of the stick. In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 19 , bearings  83  and  84  are connected to stick  21 . Spinning tube  85  rides on bearings  83  and  84 . Top stick support piece  23  and bottom stick support piece  22  clamp tightly onto tube  85  allowing for free spinning of rotation stick  21 . The spinning rotation stick allows for ball  25  to also spin. The spinning ball  25  more closely resembles a true pitch as the ball spins through the air. This provides better training for the batter. 
     Stowage, Transport and Set Up 
       FIG. 6  shows swing training device  2  as it has been folded for storage or transport. In the position shown in  FIG. 6 , swing training device is approximately 3.5 feet×8 inches×8 inches and weights approximately 17 pounds. It can easily be stowed into a carrying bag and carried by a 9 year old child of ordinary strength. 
     In  FIG. 6  the user has set swing training device  2  upright so that it is resting on base  1 . 
     In  FIG. 8  the user has pivoted rotation stick  21  upward so that it is in the tilted position shown.  FIG. 9  shows a detailed view of rotation stick  21 , pivot piece  20 , bottom stick support piece  22  and top stick support piece  23 .  FIG. 10  shows details of pivot piece  20 . Pivot bolt  24  is permanently inserted through the leftmost hole of bottom stick support piece  22  and through hole  26  of pivot piece  20 . Rotation stick  21  pivots about the axis formed by pivot bolt  24 . To lock rotation stick  21  in the position shown in  FIG. 9  bolt  27  is inserted through the middle hole of bottom stick support piece  22  and through hole  28  of pivot piece  20 . 
     In  FIG. 11  the user has disengaged pull pins  7  from upper slots and has pivoted legs  4  downward to their horizontal position. Pull pins  7  are engaged in lower slots  8  ( FIG. 2 ) to lock legs  4  into the horizontal position. Swing training device  2  is now ready for use. 
     In  FIG. 12  the user has decided that he would like rotation stick  21  to be horizontal rather than tilted downward. Bolt  27  has been inserted through the rightmost hole of bottom stick support piece  22  and through hole  29  of pivot piece  20  ( FIG. 12B  and  FIG. 10 ). 
     In  FIG. 13  the user has decided that he would like to set up swing training device  2  for a very small child. Therefore the user has loosened threaded knob  13 , lowered height adjustment tube  12  all the way so that lower band support  14  is flush with height adjustment sleeve  10 . The user has then tightened threaded knob  13  to lock the position as shown. 
     To better secure swing training device  2  to the earth, in  FIG. 15  the user has staked each leg  4  to the ground by inserting stakes  63  through each leg  4 . This helps prevent swing training device from having undesired motion during usage. In a preferred embodiment, stakes  63  are inserted into an earth at an angle rather than straight up and down. Inserting stakes  63  at an angle increases their ability to hold legs  4  to the ground. 
     When the user is finished training with swing training device  2 , he can put swing training device  2  back into the position shown in  FIG. 6  by reversing the above described steps. To lock rotation stick  21  in the position shown in  FIG. 6  the user inserts bolt  27  through hole  30  of pivot piece  20  ( FIGS. 10 and 14 ). 
     Preferred Materials 
     In a preferred embodiment the major structural components of the present invention (for example, bottom support tube  9 , height adjustment tube  12  and band tube  16 ) are fabricated from aluminum. Aluminum provides high strength and is light weight. Elastic bands  35  are preferably fabricated from rubber. 
     Prototype 
     Applicant has successfully built and tested a prototype of swing training device  2 . He has had very positive feedback from adults and children. Expert baseball players as well as beginners have found great benefit from swing training device  2 . Kids especially like to practice with it and have successfully improved their swings. 
     Although the above-preferred embodiments have been described with specificity, persons skilled in this art will recognize that many changes to the specific embodiments disclosed above could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, although  FIG. 14  shows legs  4  staked to the ground, it is also possible to secure legs  4  by resting something heavy on top of them. In one preferred embodiment the user places a sandbag on top of each leg  4  to better secure swing training device  2  to the ground. Therefore, the attached claims and their legal equivalents should determine the scope of the invention.