Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Practice or training device
Reexamination Certificate
2003-04-07
2004-04-06
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Practice or training device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06716121
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a baseball training apparatus, and more particularly, to such a device that can be used to improve the power and hitting ability of a batter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A desirable characteristic of baseball players is that they possess acceptable hitting skills. Two of the most important contributors to good hitting are power and the ability to swing so as to have the bat meet the ball. While practice, weight training, and the use of existing training devices have proved somewhat helpful, there is a perceived need for a baseball training device which can simultaneously increase the power of a swing, while at the same time developing a swing which will result in the batter more effectively gaining contact with the ball.
The most desirable swing is a level swing. From that initial type of swing, a batter may proceed to strike the lower side of a ball to induce a fly ball or strike the topside of the ball to induce a grounder. In either event, it is important for the batter to have the bat make good contact with the ball. Some players try as they might, have extreme difficulty with producing a level swing. Instead, the player is said to be reaching upwardly or downwardly with the bat. In fact, in some cases a player may actually prefer to hit in this non-level manner under the belief that such a hitting style is more powerful or effective.
Other prior art hitting practice devices generally do not improve the hitting power of the batter as well as hitting form and are sometimes expensive devices.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,670, issued Sep. 24, 2002 to Beers, provides a swing-practicing device that trains a hitter, such as a baseball batter, to improve the accuracy and power of his swing. A target is coupled to the terminal end of a target support, the target accepting swing impacts without separating from the target support. The target support extends from a base having a rounded bottom surface, the curves of the rounded surface in rotational engagement with the ground. Swing impacts at the target cause the apparatus to rotate from an upright position to a more horizontal position and then return to the upright position to accept repeated swing impacts. The device can include an inflatable air bladder within the target and target support, and can include an adjustable weight for its base. The device can also include an adjusting mechanism to adjust the vertical height of the target.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,308, issued May 29, 2001 to Sanchez, shows a hitting trainer that has a slanted surface mounted on a stand, and which the player will hit with a bat in order to develop strength and quickness. mounting bracket secured thereon. A rubber tire has an opening therethrough. The rubber tire receives the vertical post through the opening and is secured to the mounting bracket of the vertical post. A series of baseballs are painted on the outer surface of one of the two sidewalls.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,821, issued Jan. 29, 1980 to Piccini, describes a batting practice device that is a tubular elastomeric cylinder closed at both ends and has a mounting tube down the center with a bore capable of receiving a rope or other tension suspension member. A valve is provided for filling the interior portion of the closed end cylinder to a depth of 30% to 70% of the volume with a fluid such as water. The method contemplates providing a batter with such a structure, and repetitively swinging a bat against the subject device to simulate the resistance rebound effect of striking a ball.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,599, issued Apr. 14, 1998 to Malwitz, discloses a batting practice device that is attachable to any of various existing permanent fixtures. The device includes a mounting bracket attachable to the fixture, the bracket supporting a receiving tube. The tube has two opposing openings for interlockably receiving a rod with a portion extending from the bracket in a cantilevered horizontal fashion. A first metal support plate is transversely mounted on the rod portion extending from the bracket. A tire has a tread face and an inside wall. The tread face abuts the metal plate. A second metal support plate is located on the inside wall, aligned with the first plate. This configuration of plates sandwich and support the tire in place while being hit by a bat.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,044, issued Jun. 27, 1978 to Miniere, indicates a batting training device that is designed and constructed to have a movable target which is automatically positioned for batting practice after each blow delivered with a baseball bat.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,966, issued Feb. 27, 1990 to Liao, puts forth a device for batting and striking practice that has a base assembly to provide a firm support. The base assembly has a threaded hole for receiving a lower tube. A sleeve encompassing a set of packing rings and an intermediate tube constitute a height adjusting mechanism. The intermediate tube engages with a spring and a protective housing, which in turn engages with an upper tube. A variety of batting or striking bodies may be mounted on and engage with the spring.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,138, issued Aug. 6, 1985 to Rodriguez, Jr., concerns a multiple sport-training device which includes a stabilizing base and a vertical support. A vertically adjustable carriage is positioned on the vertical support. Connecting members extend from opposite sides of the carriage for reception of attachment members that are used for sports skills training purposes. The attachment members are rotatable around a horizontal axis so that their vertical attitude may be adjusted. Batting training devices, ball rebounders, catching nets, and batting tees comprise some of the attachment members. Additionally, the vertical support is foldable against the stabilizing base for easy storage and transport wheels are insertable into one of the connecting members to allow easy movement of the device when tilted on its side.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,053, issued Nov. 31, 1978 to Piccini, illustrates a method of practicing batting that includes providing an open-ended cylinder formed of an elastomeric material. The method includes swinging the cylinder from a support above the cylinder by using at least three support members symmetrically spaced and attached atop the cylinder at one end and attached to the support on the other end. The method further includes repetitively swinging a bat against a strike area on the cylinder.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,217, issued Jun. 6, 1978 to Piccini, is for a batting practice device that has an open-ended cylinder of reinforced rubber-like material of at least two plys and weighing at least ten pounds per foot. The cylinders being suspended by a sling of not less than three cables, terminating in a loop at an upper end portion for tying to an overhead support. The loop at the top is formed by bending the cables into an eye shape, and clamping the same. The cylinder is supported by means of apertures near its upper end, the lower end of the sling being secured therein and clamped in place.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,645, issued Jul. 13, 1993 to Stewart, provides a baseball-training device that has a base, a post extending upwardly from the base, an upper sleeve member secured to the post. The upper sleeve member has an upper barrier spaced a distance from the post, and a lower sleeve member secured to the post with a lower barrier spaced a distance from the post. A method of utilizing this baseball-training device is also disclosed.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,452, issued Apr. 7, 1987 to Huerstel, shows a batting practice device that includes an extensible frame, which is pivotally mounted to a base and oriented in a generally vertical position. An upper arm is pivotally mounted to the frame and extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the frame. An upper wheel is rotatably mounted to the upper arm for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the frame.
Legesse Nini F.
Meeker Donald W.
Sewell Paul T.
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