Patent Publication Number: US-2013244815-A1

Title: Pitching Training Device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a training device and, more particularly, to a pitching training device for use in learning, practicing, and perfecting the act of throwing a ball. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The ability to throw a ball is a basic skill in many sports, including baseball and softball, and practice pitches are essential not only to improve a player&#39;s basic skill but also to keep a healthy and strong arm in shape and to rehabilitate an arm that has been injured. Traditionally, throwing a ball repeatedly has required a partner to return the ball for another throw. Further, substantial space and rainless weather are required. 
     The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, the main purpose is to provide a pitching training device includes a connecting element and a pocket. The connecting element alternatively attached to the wrist of a throwing hand of a thrower. The pocket includes open and closed ends disposed at two opposite ends thereof. The open end of the pocket is connected with the connecting element and allowing the throwing hand and a ball gripped in the palm of the throwing hand into the pocket. The closed end of the pocket limits the thrown ball that cannot move to outside of the pocket. 
     An advantage of the pitching training device according to the present invention is that the thrown ball will be limited by the closed end of the pocket so that the thrower can throw the ball in the pocket repeatedly himself and does not require a partner to return the ball for another throw. 
     Another advantage of the pitching training device according to the present invention is that the pitching training device can be used in both indoors and out, even in a narrow space, and is not affected by the weather. 
     Other objects, advantages, and new features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanied drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The illustrative embodiment may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a pitching training device in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of the pitching training device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the pitching training device of  FIG. 1  illustrating the operation of dropping a ball to be gripped previously in the palm of a throwing hand reaching into a pocket. 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of the pitching training device illustrating the ball gripped in the palm of the throwing hand received in the pocket and a connecting element attached to the wrist of the throwing hand. 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic view illustrating the ball released from the palm and limited in the pocket. 
     
    
    
     All Figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the Figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. 
     Where used in the various Figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “inner”, “outer”, “side”, “end”, “portion”, “section”, “longitudinal”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A pitching training device according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is shown in the drawings. In the preferred forms shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the pitching training device includes a connecting element  10  and a pocket  20  securely connected with the connecting element  10  therein. The connecting element  10  is adapted to be attached to the wrist of a throwing hand of a thrower (as shown in  Fig.4 ). The pocket  20  is adapted to receive a ball gripped in the palm of the throwing hand. 
     The connecting element  10  is desirably of a flexible material such as rubber, nylon, cotton, or elastic fiber, which is configured to enclose the wrist of the throwing hand. Desirably, the connecting element  10  is formed in a belt shape. Additionally, an area of the connecting element  10  adapted to abut against the wrist of a throwing hand may be mounted soft foam padding to improve thrower wearing comfort. Further, the connecting element  10  defines bottom and top surfaces  11  and  12  arranged at two opposite ends thereof. Moreover, inner and outer side surfaces  13  and  14  are respectively extended between bottom and top surfaces  11  and  12 , and first and second coupling portions  15  and  16  are respectively mounted on the inner and outer side surfaces  13  and  14 . The first and second coupling portions  15  and  16  can be selectively coupled with each other. In this embodiment, the first and second coupling portions  15  and  16  are constructed of VELCRO. 
     The pocket  20  is desirably of a relatively lightweight and flexible material such as nylon mesh or PVC mesh and should be sufficiently strong to withstand the force exerted by the thrown ball without breaking. Desirably, the pocket  20  is substantially non-stretchable so that it does not snap the ball back toward the thrower after the ball is released from the thrower&#39;s throwing hand. In the perfected form, the appearance of the pocket  20  is generally formed in a strip type bag. The pocket  20  includes open and closed ends  21  and  22  disposed at two opposite ends thereof Furthermore, a length is extended longitudinally from the open end  21  to the closed end  22  of the pocket  20  to reduce the air resistance when the thrower swings his arm and the pitching training device. A width defined at the open end  21  is narrower than a width defined at the closed end  22  in a non-use state (as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
     The open end  21  of the pocket  20  is securely connected with the bottom surface  11  of the connecting element  10 , and allows the thrower&#39;s throwing hand and the ball into the pocket  20 . The closed end  22  of the pocket  20  limits the thrown ball that cannot move to outside of the pocket  20 . An aperture  23  is extended from the open end  21  to a side edge of the pocket  20 , wherein a length defined from the open end  21  to the side edge of the pocket  20  is smaller than 2 inches. 
     The ball is gripped in the palm of the thrower&#39;s throwing hand reaching into the pocket  20  through the open end  21 . The connecting element  10  is curved so that the inner side surface  13  encloses the wrist of the throwing hand. Furthermore, the first and second coupling portions  15  and  16  are coupled with each other, so that the connecting element  10  is attached to the wrist of the throwing hand in a desired position, and the top surface  12  faces to the thrower. When the thrower swings his arm and the pitching training device, and releases the ball at a release point, the thrown ball will be limited by the closed end  22  of the pocket  20 , so that the thrower can throw the ball in the pocket  20  repeatedly himself and does not require a partner to return the ball for another throw. Additionally, the pitching training device can be used in both indoors and out, even in a narrow space, and is not affected by the weather. 
     In view of the foregoing, an advantage of the pitching training device according to the present invention is that the thrown ball will be limited by the closed end  22  of the pocket  20  so that the thrower can throw the ball in the pocket  20  repeatedly himself and does not require a partner to return the ball for another throw. 
     Another advantage of the pitching training device according to the present invention is that the pitching training device can be used in both indoors and outdoors, even in a narrow space, and is not affected by the weather. 
     Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiment described herein is to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.