Patent Publication Number: US-2012035004-A1

Title: Dual handle baseball bat

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 61/302,030 filed on Feb. 5, 2010 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an exercise device in the form of a baseball bat that has been modified to have dual handles in order to perform abdominal exercises while doing baseball related motions and plyometric movements. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Exercise devices are commonly used to develop muscles that are used in certain athletic activities such as baseball, golf, hockey or tennis. In the building and training of muscles useful for improving performance of a baseball player or other athletes, various exercises are typically performed which strengthen muscles useful for improving, for example, hitting distance. 
     General batting practice using a pitcher or a pitching machine is sometimes inefficient particularly with newer players who may be unable to hit the ball. In this case, the batter gets little accuracy or muscle strength training. Additionally, a pitcher or a pitching machine does not add any resistance to the swing in order to strengthen muscles, such that the batter can obtain a more powerful swing. 
     Swinging a baseball bat involves a batter holding the bat using both their hands, one on top of the other. The hand closest to the knob of the bat is called the bottom hand and the other hand is called the top hand. The bottom hand guides the bat during the swing and affects the batter&#39;s accuracy of the swing. The top hand pushes the bat during the swing and provides the power behind the swing. During a swing of the bat, the batter uses many different muscle groups that affect the power of the swing, such as the abdominal core, legs, hips, shoulders and arms. 
     The abdominal core is the foundation for the body and the stronger the abdominal core, the stronger an individual&#39;s body will be overall. It would behoove the batter to have a strong abdominal core, in order to enhance the batter&#39;s swing. An individual can do sit-ups or use exercise equipment to strengthen their abdominal core, but such exercises do not involve baseball related motions and do not assist in further development of baseball related skills. 
     Thus, a need exist for an improved device that strengthens an individual&#39;s abdominal core while assisting the user in further developing sports related skills. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, as embodied and broadly described herein, a device is disclosed that strengthens the abdominal core and comprises a first end, a second end and a longitudinal body that extends between the first and second end. The longitudinal body comprises a first handle and a second handle, wherein the first handle is adjacent the first end, and the second handle is separated from the first handle but not adjacent the second end. The second end is adapted to have a coupling device, such as a ring or clip, that allows the device to be connected to a weight pulley system or other weight resistance system. 
     These and other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example the features of the invention. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the invention in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating a second embodiment of the invention where the modified barrel is configured to detachably couple to the first handle. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view illustrating another embodiment of the invention comprising a plurality of rings or hooking devices. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the use of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Core strength is essential to athletic performance. An important factor in improving and maximizing athletic performance is building a strong core. Athletic performance normally involves unstable environments, such as hitting or throwing a ball from an awkward position. A strong core improves balance and stability, and the strength of the core will dictate the ease or difficulty in which a person can perform such athletic movements. Core muscles are exerted when an individual performs a baseball swinging motion. Thus, increasing an individual&#39;s core strength is essential to improving an individual&#39;s performance of a baseball swinging motion. 
     The present invention has been designed to help individuals develop core strength while performing baseball related motions and plyometric movements. The invention can be used to perform different exercises that will strengthen the core by mimicking a baseball swing and other baseball related movements. A stronger core will not only improve an individual&#39;s ability to perform baseball related skills, but a strong core will also assist in preventing the occurrence of bodily injury due to repeated baseball related motions. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the device  10  is shaped in the form of a baseball bat. The device  10  comprises a first end  11 , a second end  12  and a body  13  extending between the first end  11  and the second end  12 . The body  13  comprises a first handle  14  and a second handle  15 , wherein the first handle  14  is adjacent the first end  11  and the second handle  15  is separated from the first handle  14  and near the second end  12 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the second handle  15  in located at the middle of the barrel  16  of the baseball bat device  10 . However, in other embodiments, the second handle  15  can be located at different locations of the barrel  16 . The second handle  15  allows an individual to grip the baseball bat with one hand on each handle  14 ,  15  separating their hands while performing a baseball swinging motion. The device  10  can be configured to have a first ring  26  or other attachment device attached to the second end  12 , such that the device  10  can be connected to a weight pulley system or other weight resistance system. A variety of grips can also be added to one or both handles to increase comfort and grip. Typical baseball bats are made of wood or aluminum. The present invention can be made of different materials, such as but not limited to wood, aluminum, steel, metal alloy, or a combination thereof. 
     Using the present invention connected to a weight resistance system allows an individual to further strengthen their core. In using weight resistance training, while performing baseball related motions with an individual&#39;s hands gripping the first handle  14  and second handle  15 , an individual&#39;s core will be isolated. Continued use results in improved core strength and improved ability in performing baseball related movements. Other core strengthening or plyometric motions can be used to further isolate an individual&#39;s core. For example, the core can be isolated by separating an individual&#39;s hands by holding the invention at the first handle  14  and second handle  15 , aligning the arms and hands with the shoulders, and standing with the legs separated to shoulder width. By maintaining this position, the core will be isolated while performing exercises with the present invention. Good athletic posture and balance is the result of a strong core. The invention having the first handle  14  and second handle  15  assists in aligning the user&#39;s body into a good athletic posture and balanced position in order to develop a strong core. Separating an individual&#39;s hands on the first handle  14  and second handle  15  of the present invention, used in connection with a weight resistance system, and performing baseball related skill motions, will not only improve core strength, but will also increase overall athletic performance. 
     The present invention can also be used to correct and/or develop proper baseball swinging mechanics. Swing mechanics can be worked on by attaching the ring  26  to a weight resistance system  41 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Resistance training allows individuals to work on muscle groups exerted during a baseball swinging motion, for example, the top hand. The top hand can be exercised by gripping the second handle  15  with the top hand, while the bottom hand is gripping the first handle  14 . During a swinging motion, the top hand pushes the bat through the swinging motion and provides the power in the swing. Pushing the top hand through the swinging motion, while the bat is connected to a weight resistance system  41 , strengthens the top hand, and a strong top hand will improve an individual&#39;s ability to generate power and bat speed during a baseball swinging motion. This resistance training will strengthen an individual&#39;s top hand which is vital to maximize and improve baseball swinging mechanics, while also strengthening the individual&#39;s core. Secondary muscle groups, such as legs, hips, arms and shoulders, can also be strengthened when performing the exercises to strengthen the top hand and the core. Resistance training corrects and/or develops proper swing mechanics because the resistance on the bat assists users to follow a certain swing path. Repeated use of the invention while performing baseball swinging motion will also develop the core&#39;s muscle memory, which improves an individual&#39;s ability to activate the important muscle groups to produce a strong and accurate quick swing. 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the device can be configured to comprise a plurality of rings  26  or hooking devices attached on different locations of the body  13  in order for the device  30  to be connected to a weight resistance system at the plurality of rings  26 . The configuration of the embodiment in  FIG. 3  allows the device  30  to be used with an increased resistance or a dual motion resistance while performing a baseball swinging motion. 
     In yet another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the body  13  may be formed of two individual pieces, a base  21  and a top  22  that are adapted to be connected together. In some embodiments, the manner in which the base  21  and the top  22  are adapted to be connected together comprise a screw  23  extending from one of the base  21  or the top  22  and one of the top  22  or base  21  having a corresponding threaded hole  24  to receive the screw  23 . In other embodiments, the base  21  and top  22  can be connected by using clamps, or the outer surface of one of the base  21  or top  22  is threaded and the inner area of the top  22  or base  21  is adapted to receive the threaded outer surface. This would allow the modified barrel  16 , comprising the second handle  15 , to be detached from the base  21 , comprising the first handle  14 , and then attaching a second top  25  to the base  21 , wherein the second top  25  has not been modified to have a second handle  15  or a first ring  26 . This would result in the invention resembling a typical baseball bat and may be used to perform baseball related activities, such as but not limited to, hitting off a tee or hitting Wiffle® balls. In other embodiments, the second top  25  may comprise a weighted barrel which again results in the invention resembling a typical baseball bat, but is heavier than a typical baseball bat. Attaching the weighted barrel allows users to perform baseball related motions with a bat that is heavier than what is typically used. 
     The invention, when in the form of a baseball bat, has dimensions similar to a typical baseball bat. An example of approximate dimensions of the invention in the form of a baseball bat is as follows:
         Weight of bat with ring  26  on second end  12  is approximately 29.25 ounces   Length of bat without the ring  26  is approximately 34 inches   Length of bat with the ring  26  is approximately 36 inches   Length of the second handle  15  on the modified barrel  16  is approximately 4 inches   Length from the base of the knob to the modified barrel  16  is approximately 25 inches   Length of body  13  from end of the second handle  15  to the second end  12  is approximately 5 inches, with the ring  26  is approximately 7 inches   Diameter of the base of the first handle  14  is approximately 1.5 inches   Diameter of the end of the modified barrel  16  is approximately 2 inches   Circumference of the modified barrel  16  at the center of the second handle  15  is approximately 4.75 inches   Circumference at the start point  17  of the modified barrel  16  is approximately 7.5 inches   Circumference at the end point  18  of the modified barrel  16  is approximately 8 inches   Circumference of body at the second end  12  is approximately 8 inches   Circumference of widest part of knob 7.25 inches       

     However, the invention can be formed having various dimensions in order for both adults and youths to be able to use the invention. 
     The present invention is described herein with reference to certain embodiments, but it is understood that the invention can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. For example, the embodiments herein show a device formed in the shape of a baseball bat. However, the present invention is not limited to be in the shape of a baseball bat. In other embodiments, the invention can be formed to have alternative shapes, such as but not limited to, a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a golf club, or the like.