Abstract:
A device and method of use in learning, practicing and perfecting a baseball pitching motion comprising, a practice glove worn on the pitching hand having a pair of directional indicator elements extending therefrom. The indicator elements extending as independent elongated flexible band ribbons attached to the end of the index finger portion and adjacent finger portion. By practicing the pitching motion, the relative position of the indicator strap ribbons will confirm and teach proper pitching arm and hand position through the multiple pitching sequence of the pitching action.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This device and method relates to the teaching of proper baseball pitching techniques to improve the pitching mechanics of the pitcher. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   Prior art devices of this type are unknown for baseball pitching. A variety of sports related devices have been developed to teach proper sports form and mechanics, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,159 on a tennis training device that has a weighted flexible tether that is grasped at one end and swung forward using the motion associated with the exaggerated throwing of a baseball to teach the proper arm stroke used in tennis. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,664 discloses another tennis training device that uses a pair of weighted elongated pouches attached to a handle at one end. 
   A baseball glove with an automatic ball return device is claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,442 that is used with a baseball glove and has a baseball attached to the end of a flexible line. The other end of the line extends from a retractable spool positioned on the backside of a baseball glove. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,292 a golf training aid is disclosed using a clicker which is slidably positioned on an extension element from the golfer&#39;s wrist. 
   Finally, in U.S. Patent Publication US 2003/0210905 A1 a dual purpose child&#39;s baseball glove is disclosed having a baseball secured to the end of the resilient tether extending from the ball and attached on the other end to the glove. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A baseball method and teaching device for pitching in which a specialized sports glove is used by the pitcher to simulate the action of pitching a baseball. The glove has positioning indicator strips extending from its fingers to provide for a visual indicator of the pitching arm and hand position during the act of pitching. By following a set of method steps the correct arm and hand action position can be taught and confirmed by the resulting positioning of the indicator strips in relation to the pitcher&#39;s body. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the first indication position of the pitcher with the training glove of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the second indication position of a pitcher with the training glove; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the third indicator position; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the fourth indicator position; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the fifth indicator position; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the training glove of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate pitching method for softball pitching with the training glove illustrating the first indicator position of a pitcher; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the pitching method for softball illustrating the second indicator position of a pitcher with the training glove; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the pitching method for softball illustrating the third indicator position of a pitcher with the training glove; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternate pitching method for softball pitching illustrating the fourth indicator position of a pitcher with the training glove; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an alternate pitching method for softball pitching illustrating the fifth indicator position of a pitcher with the training glove; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an alternate pitching method for softball pitching illustrating the sixth indicator position of a pitcher with the training glove; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an alternate pitching method for softball pitching illustrating the seventh indicator position of a pitcher with the training glove; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6  of the drawings, a training glove  10  of the invention for teaching baseball pitching can be seen. The glove  10  has a plurality of finger portions  11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14  with an adjacent thumb portion  15  and a backhand portion  16 . A palm portion  17  interconnects the hereinbefore described finger and thumb portions with a preferably integral elastic wrist band insert  18  inwardly of the glove&#39;s open end at  19 . 
   A finger portion  11  defined as the “index finger” has a position indicator band  20  of the invention secured to an end tip portion  21 . The indicator band  20  is of an elongated flat flexible synthetic fabric material of extended length as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The indicator band  20  is of a transverse dimension equal to that of the finger portion  11  from which it extends and is flexible, as noted, due to its extended length and the properties of the material from which it is made. 
   A second indicator band  22  is attached to and extend from an end tip  23  of the finger portion  12  adjacent that of the first “index” finger portion  11 . The second indicator band  22  is of the same material and dimensional characteristics as of the first indicator band  20  as hereinbefore described. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5  of the drawings, a training practice sequence is illustrated illustrating and detailing the critical steps and positions of the motions of a correct pitch using the training glove  10  of the invention by a player P. 
   In  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a first position is illustrated as a hands together relaxed position with a pitching hand  24  is resting inside a baseball glove  25  on the glove hand  25 A. The indicator bands  20  and  22  hang straight down along the center axis of the player&#39;s body B. The indicator bands  20  and  22  do not move which indicates and creates the proper balance that is needed on the rubber of a pitching mound (not shown). 
     FIG. 2  defines the “thumbs to thigh” position in which the indicator bands  20  and  22  will hang straight down from the pitching hand  24  with the palm portion  17  of the pitching hand  24  facing to the first base side of the field (not shown). 
   In  FIG. 3  of the drawings, the pitching position step is illustrated of “knuckles high, gloves to the sky” in which the proper pitching arm  26  and pitching hand  24  position with the training glove  10  thereon is achieved wherein the indicator bands  20  and  22  will hang straight down with an elbow  27  bent so that the indicator bands  20  and  22  are approximately one to four inches in spaced relation from the elbow  27 . This correct position, thus indicated by arrows, will allow the pitcher P to rotate his pitching hand  24  at the proper position to lessen the chances of arm injury. If, for example, the indicator bands  20  and  22  land over the pitcher&#39;s arms  26  bicep portion (not shown) the pitcher P in such position may cause injury. 
   Alternately, if the indicator bands  20  and  22  are not within the afore defined distance from the elbow portion  27  as illustrated by arrows, the pitching arm  26  would be improperly straight (not shown) thus causing the elbow  27  to drop below the shoulder causing increased strain on the pitcher&#39;s shoulder causing potential injury. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, the arm motion of the pitch has simulated an indication of ball release and wherein the indicator bands  20  and  22  will engage “slap” the ground G forward of the pitcher with the “nose to toes, with eyes to the sky” position. The indicator bands  20  and  22  are now extended outwardly from the training glove  10  and on the ground G making a distinct slapping sound if proper positioning has been achieved at this functional point in the pitching motion. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, the proper follow-through is illustrated in which the indicator bands  20  and  22  must wrap somewhere around the pitcher P&#39;s neck  28  as shown or upper back  29  to indicate proper follow-through has been achieved. If, for example, the indicator bands  20  and  22  do not stay on the neck  28  or the back  29  then the pitcher&#39;s arm  26  will whip back to the ground as in a so-called “bull whipping” known within the art causing potential arm injury. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7-10  of the drawings, an alternate glove hand and pitching arm positions of the training glove  10 &#39;s indicator bands  20  and  22  are illustrated for softball pitching motion in which the pitching arm  26  position and action are different from the underhand throwing style of fast pitch softball. 
   In  FIG. 7  of the drawings specifically a hand relaxed position is shown with the arm  26  extended downwardly and accordingly the indicator bands  20  and  22  hanging straight down from the training glove  10  of the invention. 
   In  FIG. 8  of the drawings, the illustrated portion of the softball pitch mechanics is illustrated as the pitching hand  24  swings forward with the wrist  30  caulked backwards. The indicator bands  20  and  22  will then lie across if properly done the palm portion  17  with the remaining sections of the bands hanging straight down. This “setting” of the wrist is a position in which the hand is snapped forward upon release during the pitching action. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 9  of the drawings, an illustration of the hand  24  rotation towards the third base of a playing field (not shown) for right hand pitchers keeping the wrist  30  caulked back so that the indicator bands  20  and  22  lay across the palm  17  of the hand  24  and hang straight down thus setting the wrist  30  in position to “snap” forward upon release during the pitching action. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 10  of the drawings, the pitcher&#39;s hand  24  is shown as rotating back towards the second base of the baseball field (not shown) again keeping the wrist caulked back with the indicator bands  20  and  22  laying thereacross and hanging straight down. This keeps the wrist in position to “snap” forward. 
   For a fast ball pitch as seen in  FIG. 11  of the drawings illustrating the arm  26  rotating to throw the ball with the wrist  30  “snaps” forward with the indicator bands  20  and  22  flying over and landing on the shoulder  32  of the player P ensuring proper fastball technique which will be evident to those skilled in the art. 
   In  FIG. 12  of the drawings, the proper positions of the indicator bands  20  and  22  are shown for throwing a “rise ball”. The pitching arm  26  rotates to throw the ball to the plate (not shown) with the wrist  30  now “snaps” forward with the indicator bands  20  and  22  flying away. The indicator bands  20  and  22  must fly forward towards first base or third base of a playing field (not shown) depending on a right hand or left hand pitcher away from the throwing shoulder. This position of the indicator bands  20  and  22  will indicate a proper “rise ball” technique has been followed. 
   Finally, in  FIG. 13  of the drawings, a proper “curve” ball technique is illustrated for underhand softball pitching so as the pitching arm  26  rotates the wrist  30  now “snaps” forward with the result that the indicator bands  20  and  22  of the invention fly across the pitcher&#39;s body B. Specifically, the indicator bands  20  and  22  must fly towards first base or third base of the field (not shown) as noted above and across the pitcher&#39;s stomach  33 . 
   It will be seen from the above description and illustrations that by use of the training glove  10  and the integral indicator bands  20  and  22  of the invention, a visual indication system of proper baseball pitching technique has been disclosed. By determining the relative positions of the indicator bands  20  and  22 , the proper mechanics of pitching can be taught for both hard and softball pitchers. 
   Thus it will be seen that a new and novel training glove for pitchers has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.