Abstract:
A baseball swing training apparatus includes a ground frame section with a forward motion restraint attached to the ground frame section. The forward motion restraint will be adjustable such that the forward motion restraint is positionable at various levels on the body of a user. The training apparatus will further include a ball launcher, a foot plate and a trigger attached to the foot plate for activating the ball launcher.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/243,422 filed Oct. 25, 2000 and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/248,800 filed Nov. 15, 2000, both of which are incorporate herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to sports training devices and more particularly, to a device for training baseball players to maintain the most advantageous stance, body position, and weight distribution while batting.  
           [0003]    Proper body position, balance, and weight distribution prior to beginning (and during) a swing of the baseball bat is a key element to a baseball player or batter developing the most effective and powerful swing possible. While waiting for a pitch, the batter should maintain a 55/45 weight distribution with the rear foot carrying the higher weight. As the batter strides to hit the ball, this ratio should not change, and thus the swing should be executed with little or no weight transfer onto the front leg. This will assist the batter in using to the muscles of the hips and legs to turn the torso during the swing and not to “step into” the oncoming ball which takes the head and shoulders forward and reduces the ability to make contact the ball and reduces the power of the swing. However, the prior art has not provided a swing training system which reinforces the need to turn into the ball and not step into the ball. All of the prior art allows the batter to incorrectly move forward as the swing is executed, thereby reducing the force that can be applied to the baseball. Most swing training devices do little more than launch a ball into the strike zone in order for the batter to swing at the ball. Pitching machines which launch balls at realistic pitching speeds are well known in the art. However, these machines do nothing to improve a batter&#39;s stance. Similarly, “soft toss” devices which are position on the ground within the strike zone and launch the ball vertically to allow the batter to swing at the ball, also provide no assistance with the batter&#39;s stance.  
           [0004]    What is needed in the art is a swing training system which encourages the batter to maintain weight more centered rather than stepping into the ball. The training system should be inexpensive to manufacture, be easily portable, and be readily adjustable for players of all different ages and heights.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention provides a batter training apparatus. The training apparatus includes a ground frame section with a forward motion restraint attached to the ground frame section. The forward motion restraint will be adjustable such that the forward motion restraint is positionable at various levels against the body of a user. The training apparatus will further include a ball launcher and a trigger for activating the ball launcher.  
           [0006]    The present invention also includes a training apparatus having a support tube with a diameter approximate to that of a bat at the bat&#39;s striking surface and three substantially flat striking surfaces connected to and surrounding the support tube, thereby forming a triangle structure around the support tube. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a prospective view of the batter training apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0008]    FIGS.  2 A- 2 C are different views of the ball launcher utilized in the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views of the ball launcher with FIG. 3A being a sectional view taken along the line BB seen in FIG. 3B.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the hinges of the foot plate in the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a section view showing the embodiment of FIG. 5 positioned upon a bat. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 illustrates the batter training apparatus  1  of the present invention. The embodiment seen in FIG. 1 shows how the training apparatus  1  will generally comprise a ground frame section  2 , a forward motion restraint device  10 , a ball launcher  20  and a foot plate  50 . The embodiment of ground frame section  2  seen in FIG. 1 will be constructed of a generally U-shaped tubular frame member  3 . Tubular frame member  3  generally has a square shaped cross-section and may be constructed of a metal such as steel or high strength aluminum. However, frame member  3  need not have a square cross-section, nor necessarily be tubular. Additionally, frame member  3  could be constructed of materials other than metals such as high strength polymers. Frame member  3  may also include a series of apertures  5  (explained below) and feet  6 .  
         [0014]    Forward motion restraint  10  will be positioned on frame member  3  and will include bracket  13  with flanges  18   a  and  18   b  engaging two sides of frame member  3 . A bolt  19   a  will extend through one of the apertures  5  and secure bracket  13  to frame member  3 . While hidden from view, it will be understood that bolt  19   a  will have a knob (similar to the other knobs seen in FIG. 1) which allows for easy attachment and detachment of bracket  13 . Bracket  13  will also include adjusting channels  14 . An outer bar  16 , generally formed of a square tubular member, will be pivotally connected to bracket  13  by way of bolt  19   b . Another bolt, bolt  11  will extend from knob  15 , through an aperture in outer bar  16 , and engage channel  14 . The end of bolt  11  engaging channel  14  will have a cap fixed thereon whose diameter is larger than the width of channel  14 , thus preventing bolt  11  from being withdrawn from channel  14 . The end of bolt  11  connected to knob  15  will be threaded. Bolt  11  will be fixed within outer bar  16  such that bolt  11  cannot rotate with respect to outer bar  16 . It can be understood how tightening the knob  15  will press flanges  18   a  and  18   b  against outer bar  16  and fix it in place. Likewise, loosening knob  15  will allow outer bar  16  to rotate freely in channel  14 . In this manner, the angle of outer bar  16  in bracket  13  may be readily adjusted and then locked into place.  
         [0015]    An inner bar  17  will be form of a similar, but slightly smaller cross-section than outer bar  18 , such that a subsection of inner bar  17  (subsection  17   a ) may slide within outer bar  18  in a telescoping manner. While hidden from view in FIG. 1, it will be understood that inner bar  17  and outer bar  18  will have corresponding side apertures. An adjusting pin (also hidden from view) will engage the apertures in both bars to adjustably fix the length of inner bar subsection  17   a  which extends from outer bar  18 . It can also be seen in FIG. 1 that inner bar  17  is generally L-shaped having a second subsection  17   b . Subsection  17   b  will form the frame for the part of forward motion restraint  10  which actually contacts the batter. To prevent the rigid metal subsection  17   b  from contacting the batter&#39;s body, subsection  17   b  will have a padding tube  12  fixed thereto.  
         [0016]    Positioned opposite of forward motion restraint  10  will be ball launching assembly  20 . Ball launching assembly  20  generally comprises adjustable bracket  29 , outer bar  21 , inner bar  22 , main spring tube  26 , and scallop piece  28  upon which a ball is intended rest. Adjustable bracket  29  is substantially identical to bracket  13  discussed above. Knob  30  will be attached to a bolt (not shown) which will extend through a bolt aperture to secure bracket  29  to frame member  3 . Outer bar  21  will be pivotally attached to bracket  29  and may be fixed at a given angle by way of tightening knob  31 . Inner bar  22  (best seen in FIGS.  2 A- 2 C) will have a plurality of apertures and be sized to slide within outer bar  21 . Outer bar  21  will have an aperture through which spring pin  23  (see FIG. 1) may be inserted to fix the relative positions of inner bar  22  and outer bar  21 . Spring pin  26  will be a conventional biased retaining pin fixed to outer bar  21 . It will be possible to pull the retaining pin upward out of an aperture  9  (see FIG. 2A), to adjust inner bar  22  inward or outward, and then to release the retaining pin to re-engage another aperture  9 . Therefore, inner bar  22  is readily adjustable in a radial direction relative to bracket  29 .  
         [0017]    As shown in FIGS.  2 A- 2 C, spring tube  26  will be attached to and extend upwards from inner bar  22 . As suggested in the figures, spring tube  26  will be hollow and will have an elongated spring slot  38  formed on both the front side (FIG. 2A) and the rear side (FIG. 2B). Spring slot  38  will include cocking notch  39  whose function will be described below. FIG. 3A best shows how spring tube  26  will house spring rod  32  which is formed of a threaded upper rod  35  and a lower rod  46 . Spring rod  32  will be connected at its bottom to tension adjustment knob  24  such that the turning of knob  24  will also rotate spring rod  32 . A spring collar  36  will be threaded onto upper spring rod  35 . Spring collar  36  will be engaged by guide screw  44  (see FIG. 2C) which rides in guide slot  43 . While guide screw  44  engages spring collar  36 , guide screw  44  does not penetrate through spring collar  36  to engage upper rod  35 . Rather, upper rod  35  is allowed to rotate relatively to spring collar  36 . Guide screw  44  will serve two purposes. First, because guide screw  44  is constrained by the sides of slot  38 , guide screw  44  will prevent rotation of spring collar  36  as knob  24  (and thus spring rod  32 ) is rotated. Therefore, the rotation of knob  24  will result in the movement of spring collar  36  up or down along the threads of upper spring rod  35 . As explained below, this will serve as an indicator of the tension in spring  37 . FIG. 2B shows the aperture  42  which guide screw  44  will engage. Second, guide screw  44  will act as an indicator of where spring collar  36  is located along the length of upper spring rod  35 .  
         [0018]    Referring to FIG. 2A, spring  37  will be positioned over upper spring rod  35  and will rest upon spring collar  36 . Retaining ring  34  (hidden from view by spring  37 ) will engage a groove on the top end of upper spring rod  35  and retaining ring  34  will prevent spring collar  36  from sliding over the top of upper spring rod  35 . Positioned on top of upper spring rod  35  will be end cap  33  which has a diameter just under the inside diameter of spring tube  26 . Positioned on top of end cap  33  will be scallop tube  27  which is connected to scallop piece  28 . Both end cap  33  and scallop tube  27  will have an aperture  45  formed there through. As suggested in FIG. 3A, eye bolt  41  will be inserted through apertures  45  and be fixed in place by nut  40 .  
         [0019]    Again viewing FIG. 1, another major element of training apparatus  1  is foot plate  50 . Foot plate  50  is generally a flat, rectangular plate of metal, wood, plastic, or any other suitable material. Foot plate  50  will be pivotally attached to frame member  3  by way of spring hinges  52 . FIG. 4 more clearly shows how spring hinges  52  are composed of hinge bracket  55 , hinge spring  63  and hinge pin  53 . As is well known in the art, hinge bracket  55  will be fixed to foot plate  50  and pivotally mounted on hinge pin  53 . Hinge spring  63  will be connected between hinge pins  53  and hinge bracket  55 . This will cause foot plate  50  to rotate upward until foot plate  50  contacts stops  54 . It will be understood that foot plate  50  is biased in the upward direction by spring hinges  52 . As shown in FIG. 1, foot plate  50  will also include a foot print outline  51 . Foot print outline  51  will serve as a reminder of the proper foot position with the toes pointed slightly downward and the heal lifted slightly upward.  
         [0020]    Another element of training apparatus  1  is the trigger mechanism. In the embodiment shown, the trigger mechanism generally consists of cord  56  connected to foot plate  50 , extending through eyelet post  57 , and connecting to eyelet bolt  40  on ball launcher assembly  20 . It can be seen that cord  54  is connected to foot plate  50  byway of tie apertures  58 , one of which is formed on each side of foot plate  50 . Additionally, eyelet post  57  will be connected to frame member  3  by being inserted into post slot  48 , one of which is also formed on each side of frame member  3 . The operation of the trigger mechanism will be explained below.  
         [0021]    The ball launching assembly  20  will be assembled by aligning the elements as seen in FIG. 2B and then pressing down on scallop piece  28  until end cap  33  is within spring tube  26  and scallop tube  27  has slid over spring tube  26  as suggested by FIG. 3A. When apertures  45  in scallop tube  27  and end cap  33  are at the level of spring slot  38 , eye bolt  40  may be inserted through spring slot  38  and apertures  45  and nut  41  threaded onto the end of eye bolt  40  which has extended through to the other side of spring tube  26 . It will be understood that at this point launching assembly  20  is complete and moving eye bolt  40  downward will compress spring  37 . To place ball launching assembly  20  in the firing position, it is only necessary to move eye bolt  40  to the level of cocking notch  39  and rotate eye bolt  40  into notch  39 . Thus, when eye bolt  40  is forced out of notch  39 , spring  37  will accelerate scallop piece  28  upward, launching any ball which is resting on scallop piece  28 . Viewing FIG. 3A, it will be clear how turning knob  24  one direction will cause spring collar  36  to move upward, compressing spring  37 . This will cause spring  37  to launch a ball with greater force than when spring collar  36  is positioned further down upper spring rod  35 . Similarly, turning knob  24  the other direction will move spring collar  36  downward, decrease compression of spring  37 , and reduce the force accelerating the ball upward. In this manner, the height to which a ball on scallop piece  28  will be launched is fully adjustable. It will also be understood that springs with different spring constants could be used for baseballs, softballs, and plastic “wiffle” balls. In such a case, the raising or lowering of spring collar  36  will act as a “fine” adjustment of the height to which the ball is launched.  
         [0022]    The use and operation of the present invention may be understood by first viewing FIG. 1. The training apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 is configured for a right-handed batter. The batter will stand in a batting position in front of training apparatus  1  with the lead foot against foot plate  50 . The batter or a coach will then adjust forward motion restraint  10  such that it will press against the batter anywhere between the shin and hip of the lead leg. Exactly where the pad  12  will be adjusted to contact the batter (e.g., shin, thigh or hip), is a matter of preference for the batter or coach. However, it is believed preferable to have the pad  12  be resting against the batter&#39;s hip. It will be readily apparent how the necessary adjustments of forward motion restraint  10  may be made by pulling inner bar  17  out of outer bar  16  and fixing the relative position of those bars with a spring pin (which is hidden from view in FIG. 1, but is identical to spring pin  23  on ball launching assembly  20 ). Also, the angle of forward motion restraint  10  may be easily adjusted by moving channel guide  11  at the desired position on channel  14  and securing channel guide  11  in place by tightening knob  15 . The forward motion restraint  10  should be adjusted such that when the batter places the lead foot on foot decal  51 , substantially all the batter&#39;s weight is on the rear foot and pad  12  is against the batter&#39;s hip, preventing him or her from being able to inadvertently transfer weight to the front foot during the swing. To launch the ball, the batter will place a slight downward pressure on foot plate  50  with the lead foot. This will cause foot plate  50  to place tension on cord  56  which will then pull on eye bolt  40  and move it out of cocking notch  39 , thereby launching the ball as described above. The batter will then swing at the ball while being forced to maintain a proper stance since forward motion restraint  10  prevents the batter from stepping forward. This forces the batter to hit against a stiff front leg and not on top of it.  
         [0023]    While the configuration of training apparatus  1  seen in FIG. 1 is for a right-handed batter, training apparatus  1  is easily modified to accommodate a left-handed batter. This modification begins with both brackets  13  and  29  being disconnected from frame member  3 . Bracket  13  may then be placed in the position where bracket  29  appears in FIG. 1. Additionally, inner bar subsection  17   a  will be withdrawn from outer bar  16 , rotated such that inner bar subsection  17   b  points inward, and then be reinserted into outer bar  16 . In a similar manner, bracket  29  may be positioned where bracket  13  is shown positioned in FIG. 1. It then is only necessary to rotate outer bar  21  to the other end of guide channel  14  and launching assembly  20  will be in the proper position for a left-handed batter. Cord  56  will be untied from the aperture  58  shown on the right side of foot plate  50  and retied in the aperture  58  on the left side of foot plate  50 . Also, eyelet post  57  will be moved to the slot  48  on the left side of frame member  3 . At this point, training apparatus  1  has been reconfigured for a left-handed batter.  
         [0024]    Training apparatus  1  may also be easily transformed to a compact configuration for transportation. Outer bar  21  may be rotated against frame member section  3   a  and knob  31  tightened in that position. Then inner bar  22  is withdrawn from outer bar  21 , rotated  90  degrees, and reinserted into outer bar  21  such that spring tube extends across the front of foot plate  50 . Outer bar  16  will then be rotated downward until it contacts frame member section  3   b  and knob  15  is tightened in that position. Finally, foot plate  50  may be pushed downward until it is below the level of aperture  5   a . The straight end of eye post  57  is then inserted into aperture  5   a  and the eye of eye post  57  will hold foot plate  50  in the same plane as frame member  3 . This configuration creates a very flat and convenient package for carrying or transportation.  
         [0025]    An alternate embodiment of the present invention is seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. Bat attachment  70  will be formed of a support tube  73  having a triangle or prism structure formed thereon. FIG. 6 illustrates how support tube  73  will be of a diameter approximate to bat  80 . Formed on support tube  73  is a triangle having three flat sides  71  and three peaks  72 . The embodiment seen in the Figures shows portions  78  of the triangle as being hollow to reduce the weight of bat attachment  70  and to reduce the amount of materials needed to produce the bat attachment  70 . FIG. 5 also shows how support tube  73  may extend beyond flat sides  71 . The end of this extended portion of support tube  73  will include male threaded section  74 . The diameter of support tube  73  may be slightly tapered along threaded section  74 , and such the diameter of support tube  73  is the smallest at the end of threaded section  74 . Formed through threaded section  74  will be a series of split channels  75 . Additionally, bat attachment  70  will include a tightening collar  76  which has female threaded section  77  formed therein. It will be apparent from viewing FIGS. 5 and 6 that when support tube  73  slides over the knob end of the bat  80  and is moved up the striking portion of bat  80 , the spit channels  75  make it possible for threaded section  74  to spread apart slightly. When tightening collar  76  is threaded onto threaded section  74 , tightening collar  76  will constrict threaded section  74  and cause it to firmly grip bat  80 , thereby securely retaining bat attachment  70  to bat  80 .  
         [0026]    In operation, bat attachment  70  will be used to teach the batter not to twist or pronate his or her hands prior to striking the ball. The batter will grip the bat such that a flat surface  71  is perpendicular to the path an oncoming ball would take. If the batter twists his or her hands downward, the surface  71  will not be level and will direct the ball sharply downward upon striking the ball. If the batter twists his or her hands upward, the surface  71  will again not be level and will direct the ball sharply upward upon striking the ball. Thus, bat attachment  70  greatly exaggerates the misdirection of the ball caused by twisting the hands and bat prior to contacting the ball. Therefore, it will be immediately apparent to the batter after striking the ball whether he or she kept the hands level (in the “hammer” position) or rotated the hands up or down. This will aid the batter to recognize and correct any tendency to twist the hands during the swing.  
         [0027]    Although certain preferred embodiments have been described above, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains that modifications, changes, and improvements may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention defined by the claims. For example, it will be apparent that the embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 4  and that of FIGS.  5 - 6  will tend to complement one another in use. The first embodiment limits forward motion while the triangular bat attachment reinforces a square wrist. Thus, the hips turn the hands through the ball and the hips must bring the bat around as opposed to rolling the wrist to do so. Both embodiments work together to optimize the batter&#39;s swing. All such modifications, changes, and improvements are intended to come within the scope of the present invention.