Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Practice or training device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-29
2001-08-28
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Practice or training device
C473S519000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280353
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to training bats, and more particularly, to training bats employing multiple internal weights. The invention further relates to a method of using such training bats.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of various training bats is well known, and many designs and configurations have heretofore been employed to increase a ball player's strength and bat speed. The increased bat speed achieves the desired result of increasing the distance a ball will travel when struck.
Among methods and devices employed to increase bat speed are “doughnut” weights, which derive their name from their doughnut shape. Doughnut weights slide over the knob end of a bat and fit snugly around the barrel portion of the bat. The ball player then swings the weighted bat to increase strength during practice and to warm up during a game. However, one drawback of the doughnut weight is that the resultant swing motion is unnatural since the weight is concentrated in one small area of the bat rather than uniformly distributed along the barrel portion of the bat. Moreover, the external location of the weight near or on the barrel prevents the ball player from hitting balls with the weighted bat. Furthermore, doughnut weights have a tendency to become jammed on the bat and can be difficult to remove. Moreover, in some instances a jammed weight can damage the bat.
Similarly, other designs employ weights either disposed on the outside of the barrel portion of the bat (Wales, U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,877) or extending axially from the knob portion of the bat (Nolan, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,674,138 and 5,741,193). Again, the positioning of the weights in these designs produces an unnatural swing motion.
Later, internal weights were incorporated into training bat designs. For example, the design disclosed in Rewolinski, U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,421, includes a single weight disposed on a stem in the barrel portion of the bat. The stem and weight are received in an axial sleeve in the end portion of the bat. Therefore, a ball player cannot use weights in combination to enhance training, and thus, one disadvantage of the Rewolinski design is that it cannot accommodate more than one weight at a time. Rather, a player must remove the weight currently disposed in the bat before inserting a different weight, which limits the selection of total weight that can be disposed in the bat at any given time.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved training bat with a weighting system which permits disposing multiple weights in the bat simultaneously as training requires. These and other advantages will be provided by the training bat set forth in this patent application.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a new and improved training bat comprising a baseball bat having an integral handle portion and barrel portion. The barrel portion has a hollow cavity and an opening for accessing the cavity. A plurality of nestable weights can be disposed in the barrel cavity in combination, and a means is provided for closing the opening so that the weights may be fixedly secured inside the barrel cavity.
Preferably, the opening for accessing the cavity is located at the end of the barrel portion of the bat. Optimally, the weights will be substantially cylindrical or frustoconical in shape. In a preferred embodiment, the means for closing the opening comprises an end cap which can be attached to the barrel portion with threads, bayonet connectors, or other similar structure.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the training bat further comprises a means such as a velocimeter, accelerometer, or the like, for measuring the speed of the bat when swung. Preferably, the measuring means would include a means for displaying the speed of the bat measured by the measuring means. In one embodiment, the display means would continue to display the highest speed measured until the ball player reset the display means.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention is to increase a ball player's strength and bat speed. Another object is to distribute the inserted weight throughout the barrel portion of the bat. A further object is to enable a ball player to dispose weights in combination inside the training bat.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1026990 (1912-05-01), Matson
patent: 1499128 (1924-06-01), Shroyer, Jr.
patent: 3116926 (1964-01-01), Owen et al.
patent: 3414260 (1968-12-01), Gust
patent: 4593903 (1986-06-01), Waitz
patent: 4759219 (1988-07-01), Cobb
patent: 4898386 (1990-02-01), Anderson
patent: 5050877 (1991-09-01), Wales
patent: 5277421 (1994-01-01), Rewolinski
patent: 5456461 (1995-10-01), Sullivan
patent: 5674138 (1997-10-01), Nolan
patent: 5741193 (1998-04-01), Nolan
Anderson & Morishita
Graham Mark S.
Martinez Raul
Morishita Robert Ryan
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