Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Practice or training device
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-10
2001-07-03
Rimell, Sam (Department: 3712)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Practice or training device
C473S422000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254498
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an instructional device having an adjustable ball-striking sleeve for training a batter to consistently make contact with a pitched ball in an area representing the sweet spot of a standard baseball or softball bat, and for improving the hand-eye coordination of the batter. The invention has further application as an instructional device for other sports, such as tennis, racquetball, squash, and cricket.
Numerous attempts have been made in the past to provide an instructional device which helps improve the ability of a batter to effectively hit a baseball or softball with a bat. The device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,984 to Brockhoff is primarily intended to teach proper rotation of the batter's wrists during a swing. This device further includes a batting portion having a width corresponding generally to that of a standard baseball bat, and a body portion intermediate the handle and batting portion. The body portion is of reduced diameter to reduce the likelihood of contacting the ball in this area of the device. The batting portion is intended to represent the sweet spot of the bat. The batting portion, however, is not adjustable along the length of the device and would not accurately represent the sweet spot for every bat. Moreover, because the batting portion cannot be adjusted, the ability to effectively exercise the batter's hand-eye coordination is reduced.
The present invention addresses these and other problems of such devices by providing an instructional device with an adjustable ball-striking sleeve which can be located to represent the sweet spot of any size bat, and which is easily moved along the body portion of the device to different fixed positions to better exercise the batter's hand-eye coordination. The outside diameter of the ball-striking sleeve is greater than the diameter of the body portion, and is formed of a relatively soft compressible material. The body portion is formed of a hard rigid material such that a ball struck with this part of the device will make a clearly distinct sound indicating improper ball contact. The ball used with the invention is preferably a lightweight plastic “whiffle” ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an instructional device having an adjustable ball-striking sleeve which is easily moved along the length of the device to different hitting positions.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device which improves the batter's ability to hit a baseball or softball.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device which improves the batter's ability to bunt a baseball.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device wherein the ball-striking sleeve can be positioned to represent the sweet spot for standard bats of all lengths.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device which uses the effect of friction to hold the ball-striking sleeve in a fixed position during a batter's swing.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device which can be used to exercise the batter's hand-eye coordination.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device which exercises the batter's “quick twitch” muscles located in the hands, wrists, and forearms to improve the bat speed of the batter.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device which is relatively light-weight such that the batter can practice increased consecutive swing repetitions to develop muscle memory without developing substantial muscle fatigue.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device which generates an audible indication of bat speed when swung.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device which creates a “swoosh” sound when swung.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device which helps prevent lunging, overswinging, and uppercutting.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device which helps develop top hand/bottom hand control of the batter.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device which helps the batter identify the ideal contact zone.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device which helps the batter develop a proper swing plane.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device helps the batter improve his timing.
It is another object of the invention to provide an instructional device which builds confidence.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing an instructional device for training a user to hit a ball. The device includes an elongate handle portion for being gripped by the user, and an elongate body portion extending from the handle portion. An enlarged diameter ball-striking sleeve is carried by the body portion and defines a hitting zone in which the user attempts to make contact with the ball. Adjusting means are provided for moving the ball-striking sleeve along the length of the body portion between a plurality of hitting positions. Retaining means holds the ball-striking sleeve in a selected one of the hitting positions as the instructional device is swung by the user.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the adjusting means includes a raised, sleeve-adjusting flange integrally formed with the ball-striking sleeve, and adapted for being gripped by the user to move the ball-striking sleeve from one hitting position to another.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the adjusting means includes first and second raised sleeve-adjusting flanges integrally formed at opposite ends of the ball-striking sleeve.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the body portion and ball-striking sleeve are formed of different materials adapted for generating distinct sounds upon contacting the ball.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the body portion is formed of fiberglass.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the ball-striking sleeve is formed of a resilient, foam rubber material.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle portion and the body portion are integrally formed together.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a synthetic leather strip is wrapped around the handle portion to enhance the grip of the user.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, markings are applied to the body portion for indicating the proper location of the ball-striking sleeve for each of the plurality of hitting positions.
According to another embodiment, the instructional device includes an elongate handle portion for being gripped by the user, and an elongate body portion extending from the handle portion. A resilient, enlarged diameter ball-striking sleeve is carried by the body portion and defines a hitting zone within which the user attempts to make contact with the ball. The ball-striking sleeve has an inner diameter slightly less than an outer diameter of the body portion, such that the ball-striking sleeve is frictionally held in a selected one of a plurality of fixed hitting positions as the device is swung. At least one raised, sleeve-adjusting surface is formed with the ball-striking sleeve for being gripped by the user to move the ball-striking sleeve along the length of the body portion between the plurality of fixed hitting positions.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the sleeve-adjusting surface includes first and second raised flanges integrally formed at opposite ends of the ball-striking sleeve.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a method of training a batter to hit a ball includes the steps of providing an instructional
Adams, Schwartz & Evans P.A.
Rimell Sam
LandOfFree
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