Patent Publication Number: US-2010130313-A1

Title: Apparatus for assisting with optimal physical mechanics of a sports swing

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/117,054, filed Nov. 21, 2008 (the &#39;054 application), the entire contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for use in training individuals to achieve the optimal physical mechanics of a sports related swing and/or movement. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for use in training individuals to achieve the optimal physical mechanics of a baseball or softball swing. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Most of us know that training and repetition are the key to perfecting a skill. Although this may be true in most areas, it is especially true for sports. A number of sports require continued practice and the ongoing development of skills. The repetition of movement and development of muscle memory is key to perfecting one&#39;s ability to perform at an optimum level. Although, an individual may have “natural” talent or abilities in sports, there is always the ability to further refine and improve one&#39;s skill in the sport through continuous training. Due to the added benefits of training within various sport areas, a number of training methods have been developed to assist in the further refinement of one&#39;s athletic skills Training methods and systems, include for example, specialized individual coaching, training modules that require pre-designed training regimens, as well as the use of specifically designed training apparatus. 
     Sports that emphasizes the need for various training methods include those that utilize a swinging motion or movement, such as for example, baseball, softball, tennis, hockey, or golf. In order to perfect and/or refine the optimum physical mechanics associated with a swinging motion/movement, it is necessary to train one&#39;s muscle to remember the movement necessary for the optimum swing. Overall, repetitive movements and patterns during training which focus on and emphasize correct muscle movement help to ensure that correct muscle memory continues during the athletic event. Repetitive corrective muscle movement develops ongoing muscle memory thereby optimizing the physical mechanics of the swing. In order to further optimize the physical mechanics of the swing, various training devices may be utilized. For sports, such as baseball or softball, repetitive motion may aid in developing the optimal muscle memory to strike a ball at the desired location to achieve the desired results. 
     In particular, baseball and softball batters know that when swinging a bat, the maximum performance results when the bat and ball have connected at the “sweet-spot,” or node, on the bat barrel. At this node, the vibrations from the bat transferred to the hands are minimal and the exit velocity of the batted ball is at its highest. This sweet-spot is usually between three and seven inches from the thick end of the bat barrel. The sweet-spot of a bat is the location on the barrel of the bat that is the most responsive part of the barrel. Both professional athletes and amateur players alike can practice continually to develop the optimal hand-path swing that results in hitting the sweet-spot. Batting practice often involves expensive pitching machines and facilities to contain the batted balls. Alternatives involve the need for other players with whom to practice. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to develop an apparatus that allows an individual, at any skill level, to practice the optimal hand-path swing without the need for expensive equipment, large practice area, or additional players. Additionally, it is desirable to develop an apparatus that is lightweight and impact absorbing that allows athletes recovering from injury to maintain and practice their hitting form. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure includes an apparatus for teaching optimal swing mechanics of a sports swing. An embodiment of the apparatus includes a handle having an end portion; a tapered section coupled to the handle and defining a cavity; a connection member coupled to the handle and extending through the cavity, and an impact member coupled to an end of the connection member. 
     The disclosure further provides an apparatus for teaching the optimal swing mechanics of a baseball or softball swing. Accordingly, an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure includes an apparatus having a bat handle with an end portion; a tapered section coupled to the bat handle and defining a cavity; a connection member coupled to the handle and extending through the cavity, and an impact member coupled to an end of the connection member. 
     A further embodiment of the present disclosure provides an apparatus which includes a hollowed bat handle, a hollowed tapered section joined to the bat handle, and a rope secured inside and extending from the bat handle and the tapered section. The rope may be a specific length that corresponds to a node located on a bat of a certain length. The ball may be formed about and secured to the end of the rope opposite the bat handle. The rope length approximates the length from the knob of the bat handle to the sweet-spot of a bat barrel. The ball, molded around one end of the rope such that the end of the rope is at the center of the ball, acts as the sweet-spot of the apparatus. 
     The foregoing and other aspects, features, details, utilities, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from reading the following description and claims, and from reviewing the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a view of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is an alternate perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the embodiments, it will be understood the invention is not to be limited to these embodiments, but is intended to cover alternatives and modifications, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     As previously discussed, the apparatus of the present disclosure relates to a training apparatus for assisting with optimal physical mechanics of a sport swing. Such apparatus may include those used to facilitate training in a number of sports, such as baseball, softball, golf, hockey, tennis or any other sport wherein a swing-like motion and/or movement is used. Accordingly, the apparatus of the present disclosure may be modified to include a baseball and/or softball bat, a tennis racket, a hockey stick, a golf club or any other similar type sporting apparatus/equipment. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the apparatus  40  may reflect a training apparatus used for baseball or softball. The apparatus  40  includes a handle  10 , such as for example a baseball handle, having an end portion  12 . The end portion  12  may be a knob or any other alternate configuration such as understood by those skilled in the art. Handle  10  may be composed of a composite material, wood, metal, metal alloy, or combinations thereof. Handle  10  may be hollow thereby further providing a handle cavity  13  disposed within the handle  10 . Handle cavity  13  may extend along the entire length of the handle or only a portion thereof. Moreover, handle  10  may be covered with a grip-like material to aid the user in securely holding onto the handle. 
     Apparatus  40  further includes a tapered section  14  joined to bat handle  10 . Tapered section  14  is similar to the tapered section of the barrel of a bat as understood by those skilled in the art. Tapered section  14  may be hollowed and may be composed of a composite material, wood, wood alloy, metal, metal alloys, or combinations thereof. Tapered section  14  may be coupled to handle  10  by various methods known by one of ordinary skill in the art, such as for example, by adhesion or other securing methods. Tapered section  14  may be composed of the same material as handle  10  or different materials depending on the desired performance of apparatus  40 . Alternately, tapered section  14  and handle  10  may be formed as a unitary piece. In various embodiments, tapered section  14  may vary in length. 
     Connection member  16  is further provided and may be coupled either to the handle  10  or the tapered section  14  of apparatus  40 . Connection member  16  may be a rope or rope-like structure. More specifically, connection member  16  may be made of nylon, nylon fibers, natural fibers or combinations thereof. Connection member (or rope)  16  may vary in length, as regular bats vary in length. The length of rope  16  approximates the length from the end portion  12  (knob) of the bat handle to the sweet-spot of a bat barrel of a regular bat. Connection member (or rope)  16  may act as part of the barrel of a bat. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , connection member  16  may include an exposed section  18  that extends from tapered section  14 .  FIG. 2  further illustrates an embodiment of tapered section  14 . In one embodiment, connection member  16  may be of a length such that an encased section  20  of connection member  16  extends through the hollowed cavity  22  of tapered section  14  and further extends through handle cavity  13  of handle  10  to end portion  12 . In other embodiments, connection member  16  may be of varying lengths such that section  20  may extend through tapered section  14  and may extend into and/or throughout the handle cavity  13  of bat handle  10 . Accordingly, connection member  16  and be secured at various points through hollowed cavity  22  of tapered section  14  or handle cavity  13  of handle  10 . 
     Connection member  16  may be secured inside handle  10 . In one embodiment, connection member  16  may extend to end portion  12  and may be secured within handle cavity  13  of handle  10  by a staple at end portion  12 . The section  20  of connection member  16  that extends through cavity  22  of tapered section  14  and cavity  13  of handle  10  may be secured further inside handle  10  with securing member, such as for example, pins (not shown). These securing member may be placed along the length of connection member  16  and secured in indentations inside cavity  13  of handle  10 . Alternatively, connection member  16  may be secured inside tapered section  14 . In another embodiment, the end  28  of connection member  16  opposite bat handle  10  may be knotted. The knot may be a securing member, such as for example, pins. Further, the pins may be composed of a metal or a metal alloy and may provide weight to mimic heaviness that exists in a regular bat. One of ordinary skill in the art would be able to ensure that pins of an adequate size and weight were used to provide a sufficient weighted apparatus. Alternatively, weights or alternate weighted components may be incorporated within the apparatus to meet the training needs of the user. 
     Connection member  16  may further be encased inside a sleeve or sleeve-like member (not shown). The sleeve or sleeve-like member may be disposed about the connection member or a portion thereof. The sleeve may include a smooth rubber or rubber-like coating comprised of natural rubber, synthetic rubber or combinations thereof. In one embodiment the sleeve may extend the length of the exposed section  18  of connection member  16 . In particular, the sleeve may be disposed about the connection member and extend from the point  19  wherein the exposed section  18  of the connection member exits the tapered section to the base  26  of impact member  24 . 
     Apparatus  40  further includes an impact member  24 , such as a ball, coupled to end  28  of connection member  16 . In an embodiment, impact member  24  may be formed about or molded around the knot at end  28  of connection member  16  such that the center  30  of impact member or ball  24  is approximately in the location of the sweet-spot on a regular bat. Impact member  24  may be composed of material that is the same or similar material used to make pitching machine balls. Impact member  24  may be the size of a regulation baseball or a regulation softball or another size appropriate for swinging practice by an individual. The combination of connection member (rope)  16  and impact member (ball)  24  together act as the barrel of the bat, with center  30  of impact member  24  approximating the node, or sweet-spot, of the barrel. When a batter swings apparatus  40  and successfully connects ball  24  with a pitched ball, rope  16  absorbs most of the vibration created because of contact between ball  24  and the pitched ball. This reduces the sting and shock that may be transferred to the batter&#39;s body, thereby reducing potential pain, discomfort, or injury. 
     Baseball and softball bats are available in different lengths. Therefore, bats of different lengths have sweet-spots of different lengths. By example, a bat of 33 inch length will have a sweet-spot on the bat barrel approximately 27 inches from the knob of the bat handle. A bat of 30 inch length will have a sweet-spot approximately 24 inches from the knob of the bat handle. Apparatus  40  may be used by individuals of all ages and sizes. Since connection member  16  may be configured in various lengths, it can approximate different length bats. Accordingly, the apparatus of the present disclosure can be modified to meet the specific needs of the user and the components may be modified. For example, connection member  16  of an embodiment of apparatus  40  that is used by a child may not be the same length as the length of connection member (rope)  16  of an embodiment of apparatus  40  used by a professional baseball player. Because the length of the connection member  16  may vary, impact member (ball)  24  will be at the location of the sweet-spot for the regular bat length which apparatus  40  is mimicking. By example, if apparatus  40  is used in place of a regular bat of 33 inch length, center  30  of ball  24  will be approximately 27 inches from bat handle  10 . Rope  16  will be the appropriate length so center  30  of ball  24  will be at a distance from handle  10  that would approximate the distance of the sweet spot from the knob of a regular bat. Encased portion  20  of connection member  16  may be varying lengths and may extend through the entirety of cavity  22  of tapered section  14  and cavity  13  of bat handle  10 . In an alternate embodiment, section  20  may extend through a part of cavity  22  of tapered section  14 . Moreover, section  20  may run through a part of cavity  13  of bat handle  10 . Exposed section  18  may vary in length. As an example, length of exposed section  18  of apparatus  40  used in place of a bat of length 33 inches may be less than length of section  18  of apparatus  40  used in place of a bat of length 30 inches. Accordingly, each of the components of the present invention, in particular the connection member, may be configured to have a predefined length depending on the size of the intended user and/or training application. 
     Apparatus  40  can be used in several environments for various purposes. An individual can practice “dry swinging” where no ball is attempted to be hit. Rather, swings are taken to practice the optimal swing-path for hitting a pitched ball or a stationary ball at the sweet-spot of a regular bat, thereby developing correct muscle memory. Apparatus  40  can be used in a tee-ball setting, where apparatus  40  is used to hit a stationary baseball or softball placed on a tee. To make a solid connection with ball placed on the tee, an individual must hit the ball with impact member, or molded ball,  24 . Since the molded ball  24  secured to rope  16  of specific length at the location of where the sweet-spot of a full-length bat of would be, the individual swinging apparatus  40  is practicing the correct swing-path for the length bat the individual is using. Thus, in order to successfully hit the ball placed on the tee, the individual must use the optimal swing-path mechanics. Apparatus  40  may be used in a player-player setting. One player pitches or tosses a ball to the other player swinging apparatus  40 . In order to successfully connect with the pitched ball, the player swinging will connect at the impact member  24  of apparatus  40 . This action is allowing the player to correctly practice the optimal swing mechanics such that player will connect a regular bat to a pitched ball at the sweet-spot of a regular bat. 
     The foregoing description of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description and are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. By example, the invention may be used in a baseball, softball or tee-ball setting or any other setting that involves swinging a bat to connect with a ball, in motion or stationary.