JP3208123B2 - Baseball bat swing practice machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a baseball bat swing training machine used for training to enhance the reflexes of a baseball batter with respect to a throwing ball to increase agility, and more particularly, to light up a short time for simulated throwing. The present invention relates to a baseball bat swing training machine including timing means for notifying a person swinging a baseball bat immediately before lighting one light emitting unit of the swing timing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, virtual game software has been developed mainly for children, in which an image of a pitching ball approaching is projected on a screen of a television or the like, and a bat is swung in front of the screen with respect to the ball. Are in circulation.

[0003]

The speed of the pitching ball in the above-described conventional virtual game is, of course, unsatisfactory for baseball players to practice swinging. Even in professional baseball, batters often use their intuition for fastballs to decide the course of the next pitched ball and take it. However, if you miss the intuition, you tend to be a dead ball, and the batter will be seriously injured. Therefore, it is important to enhance the reflexes of the batter and to increase the agility of the muscular strength so as to be able to quickly cope with the thrown ball without having to worry about the mountain. When training, it is more encouraging than just to do the swing, if you swing to the target and know the result. As such a swing practice machine, in order to make it easier to get the timing of swing, there is one that notifies the timing of each, knee, sun by sound, but it is better to take the timing visually with no sound output at the actual pitch More practical.

[0004] The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and is intended to allow a bat to quickly swing against a fastball of various courses which strikes from professional baseball players to baseball enthusiasts of various levels. In order to train the reflexes and muscular strength in a game-like manner, the timing of the swing can be obtained visually by approaching the actual pitching situation. The structure can be simplified by also using it for the purpose, and after the notice timing by the light emitting unit, it is possible to make a swing for the next instantaneous simulated pitching light emission on the extension of the visual stimulus, It is an object of the present invention to provide a baseball bat swing practice machine capable of performing batting practice that is close to actual practice.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a baseball bat swing training machine according to claim 1 of the present invention is supported substantially vertically on a footrest and has a wide area including at least a strike zone. , A light emitting unit disposed on the front plate, a control unit for turning on one of the light emitting units for a simulated pitch for a short time, and a short light emitting unit for the simulated pitch. Timing means for notifying a person swinging a baseball bat of the lighting timing immediately before the time lighting, and the timing means,
In a baseball bat swing training machine comprising visual stimulating means that is operated by the control means for a time longer than the lighting time for the simulated pitch, the visual stimulating means includes a plurality of visual stimulating means on the front plate for simulated pitching. It is characterized by comprising the above-mentioned light emitting unit arranged.

[0006] Therefore, the person who trains the baseball bat swinger must stand in front of the baseball bat swinger toward the home base unit as in a normal batter box, and move a plurality of baseball bat swingers on the vertical front board strike zone. One of the light-emitting units follows a random table stored in the control means, or quickly swings on a light that is lit for a short time in response to a switch pressed by a coach beside. The shorter the lighting time, the more it feels like a fastball, and the trainer can enhance the reflexes to train faster and train the muscle strength needed for batting. In addition, as the timing means, it is constituted by a plurality of visual stimulating means such as a light emitting portion arranged on a front plate having a size including a strike zone, so that a visual notice closer to the actual notice than an acoustic notice is made. The timing can be set, and the batting practice closer to the actual one can be practiced by swinging the next instantaneous simulated pitching light emission on the extension of the visual stimulus. Furthermore, the structure can be simplified by using the light emitting portion for both the simulated pitch and the visual stimulus means, and for the next instantaneous simulated pitch on extension of the visual stimulus after the notice timing by the light emitting portion. You can pretend to emit light, and you can practice batting more realistically.

[0007]

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the baseball bat swing training machine according to the first aspect, the light-emitting portion extends the strike zone vertically and horizontally on the substantially square front plate. An advanced mode in which a total of nine are arranged at almost each intersection point of the kanji character “ta” which can be separated, and six to nine of the nine light emitting parts are used for the visual stimulus means. An intermediate mode in which five or four light-emitting portions arranged in a cross shape are used for the visual stimulus means, and one of them is illuminated for simulated pitching; Line up vertically, horizontally or diagonally 2
A beginner mode in which one or three light emitting units are used as the visual stimulating means, and one of them emits light for simulated pitching;
One of the nine is configured to be used by being selected and set to one of the visual stimulating means and the beginner mode used for the simulated pitch. , Out horizontal ball position and high,
The ball position in the strike zone can be specified by the middle and low ball positions in the vertical direction, and one of the nine light-emitting parts emits light instantly for simulated pitch. The difficulty level can be selected in the mode setting according to the skill of the person who trains up to the beginner mode, in which one light-emitting unit that emits light instantaneously for timing is preliminarily emitted and taught.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the baseball bat swing training machine according to any one of the first to second aspects, the light emitting portion is formed so as to have an outline substantially the size of a baseball. A plurality of light emitting diodes arranged, arranged at the center of the circular contour formed by these light emitting diodes,
A trainer consists of a set of reflective phototubes that perform infrared radiation and detection of its reflected radiation and are positioned to outline the size of a baseball ball so that the trainer can time or swing. Therefore, the baseball can be clearly grasped without feeling glare. In addition, since it is determined whether the baseball bat has been properly shaken by the infrared radiation and the detection of the reflected line by the reflection type photoelectric tube set arranged at the center of the circular contour formed by the light emitting diodes, it is dazzling to the trainee Is not given. Thus, each light-emitting unit provides a simulation ball having an excellent visibility and a rational configuration capable of performing a swing determination.

[0010]

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a baseball bat swing training machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a baseball bat swing training machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the baseball bat swing training apparatus, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing various training modes in a baseball bat swing training machine according to a representative embodiment, (a) showing an advanced player mode, (b) showing an intermediate player mode, and (c) showing a beginner player mode. , (D) respectively show the beginner mode, and FIG.
6 is a front view schematically showing a baseball bat swing training machine having another visual stimulating means, FIG. 5 is a front view schematically showing a baseball bat swing training machine having still another visual stimulating means, FIG.
FIG. 8 is a front view schematically showing a baseball bat swing training machine having still another visual stimulating means.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a baseball bat swing training machine 1 according to a representative embodiment includes a display unit 10 and a baseball bat 60 swung about 1.5 m forward so as not to hit the unit 10. It is composed of a home base unit 50 placed at a position distant from the base, and a baseball bat 60 swinging above the base base unit and having a reflective tape 61 attached to a sweet spot.

The display unit 10 has a control box 20 on a footrest 12 and is vertically supported on the box 20.
A front face plate 11 having a size including at least the strike zone Z and having a square shape in a front view, and three rows of kanji characters “ta” including the center of the front face plate 11 showing the strike zone Z on the front plate 11 (At substantially each intersection point), a total of nine light-emitting portions 15 arranged, a reflective phototube set 19 incorporated in each of these light-emitting portions 15, and a control box 2
The control unit 21 is provided in the control unit 0 and controls the lighting of the light emitting unit 15 via a drive circuit and determines the light reception of the photoelectric tube set 19 via the drive circuit.

In the first embodiment, as a visual stimulus timing means for notifying that a simulated pitch will be emitted from now on,
The nine light emitting units 15 prepared as the simulated pitching means are also used. The light-emitting unit 15 includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 15A that are arranged so as to substantially form an outline of a size of a baseball ball, and is arranged at the center of a circular outline formed by the light-emitting diodes 15A. And a reflection type phototube set 19 for detecting a line. For the timings of the four modes to be described below, one light emitting unit 15 for the simulated pitch under the control of the control unit 21 is provided. Light is emitted immediately before light is emitted instantaneously with the set 19. In this embodiment, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEs) are used for timing light emission.
D) Although control is performed so that only 15A emits light and the reflective phototube set 19 does not emit light, it is also possible to configure so that both the light emitting diode 15A and the phototube set 19 emit light for timing.

On the front panel 11, an electronic sound alarm 30 for notifying a nice batting, a numerical display 35 for displaying the number of remaining balls and the number of hits, a start switch 41, a pitch setting knob 42, and a ball speed setting It has a knob 43, a batting completion determination time setting knob 44, and a mode setting knob 45. The control unit 21 sets a light emission interval of the light emitting unit 15 set by the setting knob 42, that is, a pitching interval setting timer T1, a light emission speed set by the setting knob 43,
That is, the ball speed setting timer T2, and these timers T1,
One of the light emitting units 15 is time-controlled by T2.
ON / OFF control unit 22 for emitting light through a drive circuit based on a random table, and a batting completion determination time setting timer T3 set by setting knob 44
Under the time control by the light-emitting unit 15, the light-receiving determination control unit 23 that determines the light reception of the reflective phototube set 19 via the drive circuit, the timing light emission setting timer T4 set by the setting knob 46, and the timing setting And a unit 25.

The timing setting section 2 is controlled by a setting knob 45.
The timing mode selected in FIG.
(A) to (d). In the expert mode shown in FIG. 3A, all of the nine light-emitting units 15 are used for visual stimulation, and the trainee can use the nine light-emitting units 15.
One of them must respond quickly to the simulation light emission, which is the most difficult. In addition, 6 to 8 advanced modes can be adopted. In the intermediate player mode shown in FIG. 3B, five light emitting units arranged in a cross shape among the nine light emitting units 15 are used for visual stimulation, and one of them is emitted by a simulated pitch. . In addition to the above, four intermediate corners can be adopted as the intermediate level mode. FIG. 3 (c)
In the beginner mode shown in FIG. 3, three light emitting units 15 in an oblique line from among the nine light emitting units 15 are used for visual stimulation,
One of them is emitted by the simulated pitch. In addition to this, there are two or three rows that are arranged vertically and horizontally in the beginner mode.
Also, two light emitting units in oblique rows can be adopted. In the beginner mode shown in FIG. 3D, any one of the nine is used for visual stimulation and simulated pitching.

The swing interval time is controlled by a timer T1, and the light emission speed of the simulated pitch is controlled by a timer T2. The lighting time is shortened according to the batting skill and the like, and the lighting time is increased for a faster ball. Then, the lighting speed corresponding to each slow ball is selected, and at the same time, the time for determining whether to hit or miss is also controlled by the timer T3. The timing setting section 25 sets the light emitting section 15 corresponding to, for example, the visual stimulus timing mode as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D set by the mode setting knob 45, and first sets the pitching interval setting timer T1 described above. Under the control of a timer T4 that sets the time to emit light by using and then sets the timing light emission speed, that is, the time during which light is emitted,
Light emission for timing is emitted via the light emission ON / OFF control unit 22.

When the timing is set, for example, when simulated pitch light emission is performed with two beats, each time, the light emitting unit 15 of each mode emits light for 1.5 seconds under the control of the pitch interval setting timer T1 and the light emission setting timer T4. After that, one light emitting unit 15 for simulated pitching is subsequently made to emit light under the control of the setting timer T2 according to the ball speed. Of course, for example, one light emitting unit 15 for simulated pitching may be configured to emit light after sun for 1.5 seconds in three beats, knee for one second, and knee for one second.

The use of the baseball bat swing training machine 1 of the first embodiment will be described. The person who trains the swing of the baseball bat first turns on the start switch 41 on the display unit 10, selects a swing interval time suitable for oneself with the pitch interval setting knob 42, and selects the ball speed with the setting knob 43. Then, the batting completion judgment time is set by the setting knob 44 (which can be set in advance at the game site by the organizer), and the setting knob 45 is used to set one of the advanced mode to the beginner mode according to the skill of the user. One is selected, and the timing light emission speed is set by the setting knob 46 (this timing light emission speed can be constant).

Next, the person who trains the display unit 10.
In front of the home base unit 50 in a normal batter's box, and the light emitting units 15 corresponding to the modes among the nine light emitting units 15 on the strike zone Z of the vertical front panel 11 are controlled by the timers T1 and T4. Immediately after turning on the light for 1.5 seconds through the drive circuit of the light emission ON / OFF control unit 22 under the control (following the turning off of the timing light emission unit 15), the timer T1 and the control of the T2 are performed. , A quick swing is performed on one of the simulated pitching light emitting units 15 which is turned on through the drive circuit of the light emission ON / OFF control unit 22. The shorter the lighting time, the faster the ball feels,
The trainer can enhance the reflexes to swing faster and train the muscles needed for batting.

When a swing equivalent to the hit property is made, the sweet spot reflecting tape 61 of the baseball bat 60 uses the sweet spot P to emit infrared light radiated from the radiating portion of the photoelectric tube set 19 of the light-emitting portion 15. reflect. The light reception determination control unit 23 determines that the reflected infrared light is received within a predetermined determination time by the detection unit of the photoelectric tube set 19 of the light-emitting unit 15 that has been turned on, and the nice butting is notified to the alarm 30 via each drive circuit. , An electronic sound or the like, and a numerical value display section 35 can display a score, etc., so that the accuracy of the swing can be competed like a game. If the emitted infrared ray does not hit the reflective tape 61 at the sweet spot P of the baseball bat 60, the reflected infrared ray cannot be received by the detector of the photoelectric tube set 19 of the light-emitting section 15 within a predetermined determination time, and the nice batting is performed. Is determined to be a missed swing or a foul ball without being notified, and a buzzer sound is emitted from the alarm 30. The grade is provided as print D. The numerical value display unit 35 also displays the number of remaining balls.

In addition, training machines that only emit light by throwing a ball without making a determination are employed.
Is formed into a circle other than a square, an ellipse, a pentagon, or the like.
The arrangement of the light-emitting units 15 is also appropriately increased or decreased to a number other than nine, and is strategically biased and unevenly arranged other than this division. In addition to the lighting based on the random table, the light emission ON / OFF control unit 22 automatically turns on the lighting position and the ball speed according to a program so that the light is turned on in response to the switch pressed by the coach beside and the swing is quickly performed. It is also configured to be controlled.

Next, a baseball bat swing training machine having a visual stimulating means of another configuration will be described. The members having the same configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and described.
The baseball bat swing training machine 2 shown in FIG. 4 does not use the nine light emitting portions 15 on the strike zone Z of the front plate 11 as timing means, but separately provides a timing light emitter 16 on the front plate 11. ing. The timing light-emitting body 16 is composed of a plurality of LEDs arranged in the vertical direction on the periphery of the front plate 11, for example, on both sides. The driving of the light emitters 16 and the timing are performed in the same manner as the driving of the nine light emitting units 15 of the first embodiment.

Therefore, the timing can be visually determined by using the LED 16 which can select a color having relatively low power consumption, which is different from the light emitting section 15 for simulation pitching, and a short time for simulation pitching for swinging. The distinction from lighting can be made clearer. In addition, one or a plurality of timing lamps other than the LED can be provided on the front plate 11.

Baseball bat swing training machine 3 shown in FIG.
Uses a swinging rod 17 of a movable member which rises slowly on the front plate 11 and falls down quickly as timing means. The swing bar 17 resembles a pitching arm of a pitcher holding a ball, and is attached to a rotatable fan-shaped gear 17A. The sector gear 17A meshes with a pinion 17B that is slowly driven to rotate by a motor M equipped with a speed reducer installed adjacent thereto, but the range of the sector gear portion rises from a position where the swinging bar 17 vertically hangs down. It is set to rotate to a position slightly past the top dead center.

At a position slightly past the top dead center, the pinion 18B is disengaged from the sector gear 18A, so that the swinging bar 17 rapidly turns with the weight corresponding to the ball. In order to drive the swing rod 17, a motor M
The swinging rod 17 is rotatably supported on the spindle of the rotating disk which is slowly driven to rotate, and the swinging rod 17 hanging down by the pin on the rotating disk is moved backward to a position slightly past the top dead center. It is also possible to take a configuration in which the robot is freely dropped and rotated from a position slightly above the top dead center.

In this embodiment, the timer T of the first embodiment is used.
4 is omitted, and the light emission is turned on under the control of the timer T1.
-Start rotation via an ON / OFF control unit corresponding to the OFF control unit 22. By visually observing the slowly rising and rapidly falling motion of the swinging bar 17 simulating the movement of the pitcher's throwing arm, the timing can be visually determined,
It is possible to more clearly distinguish between a short-time lighting for a simulated pitch for swinging. In addition to the swing bar 17, the movable member can be operated by using air pressure, elastic force of rubber or a spring, electromagnetic force, or the like.

Baseball bat swing training machine 4 shown in FIG.
Is composed of a pitching arm of a pitching operation pitcher projected on a display 18 comprising a large number of light emitting diodes mounted on the front plate 11 as timing means. In this case, there is provided a video deck for transmitting the image signal of the pitcher's pitching arm to the display 18 via the ON / OFF control unit under the control of the timer T1, and the timer T4 is omitted. The pitcher arm of the pitcher projected on the display 18 made of an LED that can select a color with relatively low power consumption, which is different from the light emitting unit 15 for simulated pitching, can be visually recognized to take a timing and perform a swing. Can be more clearly distinguished from lighting for a short time for simulated pitching. Alternatively, a video of the pitching motion of the pitching motion of the pitcher can be projected by the projector on the front plate 11 or on an extension part around one of the front plate.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the baseball bat swing training machine according to the first aspect of the present invention,
A front plate which is supported substantially vertically on a footrest and has a size including at least a strike zone, a plurality of light-emitting portions arranged on the front plate, and one of the light-emitting portions is short-time for simulated pitching. Control means for lighting, and timing means for notifying a person who swings the baseball bat of the timing of the lighting immediately before the short-time lighting of the one light emitting unit for the simulated pitch, and the timing means, In a baseball bat swing training machine constituted by visual stimulating means operated for a longer time than the lighting time for the simulated pitch by the control means, a plurality of the visual stimulating means are arranged on the front plate for the simulated pitch. The trainer of baseball bat swing training requires the head-up base unit in front of the baseball bat swing training machine because it is composed of the above-described light emitting unit. Standing as in a normal batter's box, one of the light emitters on the strike zone of the vertical front panel follows a random table stored in the control means, or corresponds to a switch pressed by a coach beside. Perform a quick swing on something that lights up for a short time. The shorter the lighting time, the more it feels like a fastball, and the trainer can enhance the reflexes to train faster and train the muscle strength needed for batting.

Further, since the timing means is constituted by a plurality of visual stimulating means such as a light emitting portion arranged on a front plate having a size including a strike zone, the visual sense is more realistic than the sound notice. , And the batting practice can be made closer to the actual one by swinging the next instantaneous light emission for simulated pitching on the extension of the visual stimulus. Furthermore, the configuration can be simplified by also using the light emitting unit for the simulation pitch and the visual stimulus means,
Further, after the notice timing by the light-emitting unit, it is possible to make a swing with respect to the next instantaneous light emission for simulated pitching on the extension of the visual stimulus, so that a more realistic batting practice can be performed.

[0031]

According to the apparatus for practicing swinging a baseball bat according to the second aspect, in the first aspect, the light-emitting portion extends vertically and horizontally on the front plate having a substantially square shape. An advanced mode in which a total of nine are arranged at nearly each intersection position of the equally divided Chinese character "", and six to nine of the nine light emitting parts are used for the visual stimulus means. And an intermediate mode in which five or four light-emitting portions in four corners arranged in a cross shape are used for the visual stimulus means and one of them is illuminated for simulated pitching. A beginner mode in which two or three light-emitting portions forming a line either vertically or horizontally or diagonally are used for the visual stimulus means, and one of the light-emitting portions emits light for simulated pitching. One of the pieces is used for the visual stimulus means and the simulated pitch. In order to be configured to be used by being selected and set to any one of the beginner modes, nine light-emitting portions provide horizontal ball positions for in, middle, and out and vertical positions for high, middle, and low. The position of the ball that almost enters the strike zone can be specified by the ball position, and any one of the nine light-emitting portions emits light for a simulated pitch instantly from the advanced mode in which one of the nine light-emitting portions emits light for a simulated pitch. The difficulty level can be selected in the mode setting according to the skill of the person who trains up to the beginner mode in which one light emitting unit is preliminarily illuminated by timing and taught.

According to the baseball bat swing training apparatus of the third aspect, in the baseball bat swing training machine of the first or second aspect, the light emitting section substantially forms a contour of a size of a baseball. A plurality of light emitting diodes arranged as described above, and a reflective phototube set that is arranged at the center of the circular contour formed by these light emitting diodes and performs infrared radiation and detection of its reflection line, the size of a baseball ball By the diodes arranged so that
The trainer can grasp the baseball clearly without timing or without glare to swing.

[0034]

Further, it is determined whether the baseball bat has been properly shaken by the infrared radiation and the detection of the reflected line by the reflection type photoelectric tube set arranged at the center of the circular contour formed by the light emitting diodes. Does not give glare to Thus, each light-emitting unit provides a simulation ball having an excellent visibility and a rational configuration capable of performing a swing determination.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a baseball bat swing training machine according to a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the apparatus for practicing swinging a baseball bat.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing various training modes of the baseball bat swing training machine according to the representative embodiment, and FIG.
Shows an advanced mode, (b) shows an intermediate mode, (c) shows a beginner mode, and (d) shows a beginner mode.

FIG. 4 is a front view schematically showing a baseball bat swing training machine having another visual stimulating means.

FIG. 5 is a front view schematically showing a baseball bat swing training machine having still another visual stimulating means.

FIG. 6 is a front view schematically showing a baseball bat swing training machine having still another visual stimulating means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 baseball bat swing training machine of representative embodiment of the present invention 11 front plate 12 footrest 15 light emitting section (also used as visual stimulating means) 15A light emitting diode 19 photoelectric tube set 21 control means (control section) Z strike zone

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-59-75070 (JP, A) JP-A-9-322295 (JP, A) JP-A-63-59670 (JP, U) JP-A-59-137763 (JP) , U) Actual opening 62-111060 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A63B 69/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A front plate supported substantially vertically on a footrest and having a size including at least a strike zone, a plurality of light emitting units arranged on the front plate, and one of the light emitting units is simulated. Control means for lighting for a short time for pitching, and timing means for notifying a person swinging a baseball bat of the timing of the lighting immediately before short-time lighting of one light-emitting unit for the simulated pitch, and In a baseball bat swing training machine, wherein the timing means is constituted by a visual stimulating means which is operated by the control means for a longer time than the lighting time for the simulated pitching, the visual stimulating means comprises A swing training machine for a baseball bat, comprising a plurality of the light-emitting portions arranged on a face plate. 2. A total of nine light-emitting portions are arranged at substantially each intersection point of a Chinese character "ta" which divides a strike zone into two parts vertically and horizontally on the substantially square front plate. And six of those nine light emitting parts
An advanced mode in which nine are used for the visual stimulus means,
Intermediate mode in which five or four light-emitting portions arranged in a cross shape among them are used for the visual stimulus means, and one of them is illuminated for simulated pitching. Beginner mode in which two or three light-emitting parts in a row, either horizontally or diagonally, are used for the visual stimulus means, and one of them emits light for simulated pitching. 2. The training machine according to claim 1, wherein one of them is selected and set to one of the visual stimulus means and the beginner mode used for the simulated pitch, and used. 3. The light-emitting section is arranged at a center of a circular contour formed by a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged so as to form an outline of a size of a baseball ball, and emits infrared radiation and its reflection. 3. A reflection type phototube set for detecting a line.
The training machine described in.