Patent Publication Number: US-9833676-B2

Title: Baseball and softball pitching training aid

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/106,147, filed Jan. 21, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a training aid and, more particularly, to a baseball pitching training aid. 
     In baseball and softball, the pitcher is the player who throws a ball from the pitcher&#39;s mound toward the catcher to begin each play. Currently, players have a difficult time learning how to rotate a baseball or softball when throwing a pitch. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a pitching training aid for softball or baseball. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a pitching training aid comprises: an elongated poll comprising a first end and a second end and having a common center axis; a ball comprising a slot running from a first side to a second side opposite the first side along a center of the ball; and a first stopper secured to the first end of the elongated poll and a second stopper secured to the second end of the elongated poll, each of the first stopper and the second stopper comprising a diameter greater than a diameter of the elongated poll, wherein the slot is sized to fit around the elongated poll so that the ball slidably engages the elongated poll along the common center axis. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of the present invention, taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the travel of the ball when pitched; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in use with a wall mount; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the height adjustment of the wall mount; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the slope adjustment of the wall mount; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention with the wall mount adjusted for height and slope; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a connection between sensors of the ball and a computer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, the present invention includes an elongated pole and a ball that slidably engages the elongated pole. The present invention allows a user to see and feel the proper arm action and rotation that should be used then throwing or pitching. For example, the user sees the ball rotating down the line of the stick and also feels how the ball comes off his/her hand to rotate the ball properly. Acquiring the correct feeling of a pitch with the proper rotation is important in the success of playing baseball and softball. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 9 , the present invention includes a pitching training aid  10 . The pitching training aid  10  includes an elongated pole  12  having a first end, a second end, and a common axis running from the first end to the second end. The present invention further includes a ball  14  having a slot  18  running from a first side to a second side opposite the first side along a center of the ball  14 . The slot  18  is sized to fit around the elongated pole  12  so that the ball  14  slidably engages the elongated pole  12  along the common center axis. A first stopper  11  is secured to the first end of the elongated pole  12  and a second stopper  11  is secured to the second end of the elongated pole  12 . The first stopper  11  and the second stopper  11  have a diameter greater than a diameter of the elongated pole  12  and the slot  18 , thereby preventing the ball  14  from sliding off of the elongated pole  12 . 
     The ball  14  of the present invention is able to slide from the first stopper  11  to the second stopper  11  of the elongated pole  12 . In certain embodiments, the pole  12  may be made of a low friction material, such as a smooth metal or plastic. Further, the present invention may include a low friction insert  16  secured to the ball  14  within the slot  18 . The low friction insert  16  may also be made of a low friction material, such as a smooth metal or plastic. An inside surface of the low friction insert  16  may contour with an outside surface of the pole  12 . For example, the outside surface of the pole  12  may be rounded and the inside surface of the low friction insert  16  may be rounded. A user may thereby easily throw the ball  14  from the first stopper  11  to the second stopper  11 . 
     The present invention may further include at least one spring  24 . For example, the spring  24  may be a compression spring wrapped around the elongated pole  12 . In certain embodiments, the spring  24  may be secured to the first end of the elongated pole  12  by a pinch clamp  26 . In certain embodiments, a spring  24  may be secured to the first end and the second end of the elongated pole  12 . A user may thereby slide the ball  14  from the second end to the first end and the spring  24  may compress and launch the ball back to the second end. A user may thereby continuously train using the pitching training aid  10  without pause. 
     In certain embodiments, the stoppers  11  may be in the form of handles  20 . For example, the first stopper  11  may include a first handle  20  and the second stopper may include a second handle  20 . The handles  20  allow a user to hold onto and support the pitching training aid  10  in an elevated position. In such embodiments, rubber grips  22  may be secured over the first handle  20  and the second handle  20 . 
     The present invention may further include a wall mount  32  for supporting the pitching training aid  10  in an elevated position. The wall mount  32  may include a first bracket  38  and a second bracket  38 . A first post  36  may extend from the first bracket  38  and a second post  36  may extend from the second bracket  38 . A first clip  34  may be secured to the first post  36  and a second clip  34  may be secured to the second post  36 . Each of the brackets  38  may include apertures. Bolts  46  may run through the apertures and into a wall  48  or other surface, thereby securing the brackets  38  to the wall  48 . The first stopper  11  releasably retains to the first clip  34  and the second stopper  11  releasably retains to the second clip  34 , thereby mounting the elongated pole  12  to the wall  48 . 
     In certain embodiments, the posts  36  may pivot relative to the brackets  38  to adjust a height of the elongated pole  12 . A first pivot pin  42  and wing nut  44  pivotally secure the first post  36  to the first bracket  38  and a second pivot pin  42  and wing nut  44  pivotally secure the second post  36  to the second bracket  38 . By loosening the wing nuts  44 , a user may pivot the first and second posts  36  about a center axis of the pivot pins  42 . By tightening the wing nuts  44 , the posts  36  are fixed to the adjusted height. 
     In certain embodiments, the clips  34  are rotatable about a center axis of the posts  36  to adjust a slope of the elongated pole  12 . In such embodiments, the posts  36  may include a hollow center and the clips  34  may include a tube running into the hollow center. A set screw  40  may run through each of the posts  36  and press against the tube of the clips  34 . In such embodiments, a user may loosen the set screw  40  and rotate the clip  34 . The user may then tighten the set screw  40  to set the clip  34  in a fixed position. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the brackets  46  may be secured to different heights of the wall  48 , thereby providing an adjustable slope. 
     In certain embodiments, the present invention may provide data feedback. In such embodiments, a speed sensor  28  and a cadence (rotation) sensor  30  may be secured to the ball  14 . The speed sensor  28  detects how fast the ball is moving and the cadence sensor  30  detects rotations per amount of time, such as rotations per minute, of the ball  14 . The ball  14  may further include a wireless transmitter  50 , such as Bluetooth ® technology  52  or a network connection  54 . The present invention may further include a computer  56  with a display  58 . The computer  56  may be a desktop, laptop, or smart device, such as a smart phone or tablet. The computer  56  includes a wireless receiver operable to receive the data from the wireless transmitter  50  including the speed and rotations per minute of the ball  14 . The display  58  then displays the data to the user. 
     The present invention allows the player more repetitions with less stress on the arm and elbow. The proper throwing mechanics are key to all good pitchers and throwers. When the elongated pole is mounted to a wall, a user throws the ball down the line of the elongated pole, thereby improving arm action and proper rotation. When using the elongated pole off the wall, a user may place one end of the elongated pole against the wall with some pressure. The user holds the handle above their head to the required height and uses the throwing hand to throw the ball along the elongated pole. The user is able to the view the rotation of the ball. 
     The spring returns the ball back to the user after each throw. When using the present invention with a softball, the user may go through their pitching motion throwing underhand and spinning or rotating the ball for inside or outside rotation. When using a shorter length stick, the user can sit on the bench or in the bullpen working on hand action and rotation. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.