JPS60227778A - Training racket and acceleration of baseball and softball - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Background of the Invention 1 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a racket for propelling a ball. More particularly, the present invention relates to a training racket for propelling baseballs and softballs with special features that enable efficient and effective training of persons.

More specifically, the present invention improves ball strength by effectively and efficiently hitting fly balls and ground balls (baseballs and softballs) in training and practice before and after games for Team Menno Z- and each individual. To provide a new and unique training racket that provides an easy way to hit the ball far. This new racket consists of a series of self-retaining, individual rackets with an angled weighted section at one end, an elongated thread attached adjacent to the opposite end, and interconnecting the perimeter of the net to the frame. A training racket consisting of an open frame having a removable net with a flexible periphery that is held in an extended state inside the frame by an adjustable extension piece. be.

2 Prior Art The disadvantages of utilizing conventional baseball or softball bats for field training are discussed in U.S. Pat.
No. 8,399 is described in sufficient detail.

This patent partially addresses the problems with conventional bats by utilizing a field practice bat consisting of a solid nondle section and an interconnected loop section with a springy membrane included along with the loop section. We are proposing a solution. The membrane is made of relatively thin rubber or similar material so that it is easily stretched. When a practice bat is swung and the ball hits the bat, the membrane is stretched, keeping the ball in contact with the membrane for a relatively long period of time, thus increasing control and positioning of the ball. This is disadvantageous because in order to properly train an infielder or an outfielder, it is first necessary for the outfielder to practice timing for "bat strikes." In other words, the deflection or strike of the ball in the opposite direction must correspond as closely as possible to the direction of bat swing. If they do not match, the outfielder loses his sense of timing, resulting in errors in the outfield. Moreover, when the ball hits a thin, stretchable surface, there is less or no opportunity to simulate real-life conditions, such as would occur if the ball were hit with a conventional bat. Phenomena such as slicing the ball or imparting spin to the ball are difficult if not impossible to achieve with the structures claimed in the aforementioned patents. Also, pressing a ball directly against a thin stretchable surface ultimately results in considerable stress and weakening of that surface at the point of contact, instead of distributing the force evenly over the entire surface of the contact surface. It will give rise to

Another drawback to structures such as those claimed in U.S. Pat. The problem is that it is not possible to see the surface of the loop-shaped part of the bat for the purpose of informing the players. Also, the large surface area of these bats experiences significant wind resistance, which not only affects the speed at which the bat is swung, but also the control of setting the ball in the desired position.

Moreover, such wind resistance causes considerable strain on the user's arms, elbows, and shoulders.

It is therefore an object of the invention to propel a match ball, in particular a non-deformable ball, so that the pole is propelled almost simultaneously on impact and the setting of said ball thus propelled is controlled by the user of the device. Our goal is to provide a complete system that allows us to make accurate decisions.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a match pole which has little or no wind resistance to the device, thus allowing good setting of the ball and reducing arm distortion on the part of the user. The object of the present invention is to provide a device for accurately propelling the vehicle.

Yet another object of the present invention is that the ball is propelled immediately upon impact, while at the same time being precisely configurable while imparting effects such as spinning, cutting or slicing on the ball as achieved with a conventional bat. An object of the present invention is to provide a ball propulsion device.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a pole propulsion device, particularly for hard balls, that allows the user to see the striking area of the device and thus determine which area of the device the ball will come into contact with. There is a particular thing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a training racket in which the tension of the net can be individually adjusted to better control the distance, height and velocity of the ball.

Another object is to provide a training racket for pole propulsion that allows maximum force to be delivered with minimum effort due to special markings of the "sweet spot" in the net area and the "power area".

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball propelling training racket that emphasizes follow-through in swings and improves distance and accuracy.

Still another object of the present invention is to enable an outfielder to pick up a ball out of the plane of the racket, and to improve reflexes and coordination between his eyes and body when jumping to pick up a fly ball in the outfield. It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a new training racket that provides an easy, safe and convenient method for picking up balls that are returned to the user of the racket. be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects herein comprise a sloping weighted portion at one end and a long nondle attached adjacent to the opposite end to frame the periphery of the net. a series of self-retaining, individually adjustable pieces interconnected with a removable body having a flexible periphery smaller than the periphery of the open frame held in tension within the frame; It has been found that this is achievable with the novel training racket of the invention consisting of an open frame with a net e. The size and shape of the open frame can vary, as can the size and shape of the net suspended within the frame. A net stretched tightly within an open frame provides a relatively stable surface as it comes into contact with the ball to be propelled. Although there is some degree of deformability or elasticity within the net, a spring-like or resilient band connecting the net to the frame provides a springing force that propels the ball away from the net. In other words, a trampoline-type effect is created and the contact time between the ball and the net is minimized, thus allowing the goal to be propelled away from the net most upon contact.

By using the present invention, the ball can be propelled high into the air as a fly in the infield or outfield. The ball can also be hit as a liner. More importantly, the ball can be propelled along the ground at various speeds, cutting and slicing while the ball is being propelled to simulate the real-world conditions in which the ball is propelled from a conventional putt. Or you can spin it.

The open nature of the point of impact virtually eliminates wind resistance or surface draft and also allows the hitter to see where the ball is coming into contact with the net. .

Special self-retaining, individually adjustable extension pieces attached to the net frame allow the user to set the tension of the net to suit his own needs. For example, a tightly taut net is best for distance, height, and speed, while a loosely taut net is best for control and precision. Moreover, such adjustment eliminates loose vibrations of the racket in the vertical direction and torque, which in turn eliminates vibrations or strains in the user's hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, shoulder areas, and upper and lower back areas.

In addition, "Sweet cost spot" and "Hirnoku Warband"
The novel racquet of the present invention with handles located close together in the striking area improves distance and speed.

The "sweet spot" is the location on the racket where vibrations are absent and maximum distance and control is created.

The racquet of the present invention features a wide and uniform design of the racquet surface, the ability to adjust and set tension on a self-retaining adjustable extension piece, and proximity to the aforementioned "power band" and "sweet spot." It is designed to take advantage of the ``sweet spot'' and ``power band'' where the handle is positioned. “Sweet Spot” and “Power Band”
Newer racquets with see-through nets with different colors on the net surface to represent the ball also give the user an excellent opportunity to place the ball within these special areas.

A special arrangement of a weighted and inclined colored rim on the surface of the racket also provides additional advantages.

Weighted rims are focused on hitting the ball with the desired swing and arc to improve both distance and accuracy and follow-through after hitting (baseball and softball). Did the colored rim move the outfielder away from the face of the racket?
- You will be able to pick up balls more easily, and by continuing to practice seeing goals coming from a silent net, you will be able to improve your eye and body reflexes and coordination when jumping to catch fly balls or catching ground balls. It can be improved.

The sloped edges of the racket provide the racket user with an easy, safe and convenient way to pick up pitched, pounded or rolled balls.

Another advantage is that the new training racket of the present invention does not generate noise when the user hits the ball. This provides extra training and conditioning for the outfielder, since the outfielder can no longer hear the sound of the ball being hit and must rely solely on the pitch of the ball. This improves and enhances the ability to pick up incoming waves from a noise-free net. Eventually, by continuing to practice and picking up fly or ground ball streaks, an outfielder will significantly improve his ability to pick up all types of fly and ground balls.

The novel training racket of the present invention has a sloping weighted portion at one end, a long handle attached adjacent to the opposite end, and a series of self-containers interconnecting the frame around the perimeter of the net. A training racket consisting of an open frame having a removable net with a flexible periphery smaller than the periphery of the open frame held in tension inside the frame by retained and individually adjustable elongated pieces. It consists of

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. These figures show an open frame 12 that has an inclined weight portion at its upper end 12A and is attached to a nondle 13.
is illustrated. The net 14 is suspended within the open frame and is attached to the open frame by self-retaining adjustable pieces 15. The internet has a “sweet spot”
Band 14B and "power band" 14A are marked.

The handle 13 and open frame 12 can be an integral unit or separately molded. The open frame can be formed into any useful geometric shape. For example, the open frame can be oval, round, square, rectangular, or any other polygonal shape. The handle 13 is mounted in close proximity to the frame, for example, no more than 3 inches from the frame. The handle itself is preferably shorter than the diameter of the open frame and can have an enclosure or be shaped like the handle of a baseball bat. The handle can be bent differently, except that the plane of the open frame is parallel to the plane of the handle. The handle can be provided with finger grips to indicate positioning or to enable a better gripping action. The handle can be adjustable or replaceable and can be used to store other nets or other useful items.
It can be made hollow.

The handle and frame can be constructed of any suitable material. This includes, for example, various reinforcing and reinforcing materials, i.e.
Includes plastics with graphite, glass fibers, etc. The handle and frame can also be made of steel or aluminum or any alloy thereof. The handle and frame can also be made of wood, either of solid piece construction or a combination of bamboo and wood plywood or any combination thereof, or of any of the aforementioned materials such as plastic, wood, etc. It is. The tubes for the handle and frame can be of any shape: round, oval, square, flat or angled. As previously mentioned, the frame is sloped at the top to allow for quick capture of the ball.

The net 14 can have the same shape as the open frame or a different shape. For example, an oval frame can have an oval, square, rectangular, round, or any other shaped net suspended therein. The net can be made of any suitable material, such as gut, extruded plastic or metal, or wool, cotton,
It can be a woven fiber such as nylon, polyester or a combination thereof. opening 17 in 14
The size and shape of the shape and the manner in which it is formed can also vary. For example, the opening may be square, round, triangular,
It can be rectangular or any other polygonal shape, and can be formed by wavy cross weaving, lace knitting, knotting, etc.

Moreover, the perforated openings 17 in the net can be uniform or variable in size. For example, depending on the desired effect, it may be advantageous to provide a small or, conversely, a large hole in the place of the butt.

The flexibility of the net depends on the materials used and how tightly the materials are connected together. Laced strings woven into a net shape exhibit greater flexibility than tightly woven, corrugated, extruded nylon strings.

The tension of the net within the frame also affects the flexibility of the net.

The dimensions of the net can also vary from a minimum area large enough to apex contact a pole of the desired size to a maximum area slightly less than the area defined in the open frame. The net is approximately 1 of the shortest diameter of the open frame.
Preferably it exhibits a diameter of /2 to 9/1°, particularly preferably a diameter of 315 to 415°.

The net can be of uniform color or can include a colored design or structure to indicate the optimal points for contacting the dowel poles with the net to achieve the desired result. As mentioned above, the net provides a ``sweet spot'' and a ``power band'' that allow the user to hit long distance fly balls, ground balls, liner balls, high fly balls, etc. with high accuracy. You can mark it as such. In FIG. 1, the "sweet spot" is indicated by line 14B and the "power band" is indicated by line 14A.

The net is connected to the frame by the use of special self-retaining, individually adjustable elongate strips as shown in FIG.

This elongated piece may be made of rubber or any elongated material or combination of elongated materials capable of providing the desired propulsion or trampoline effect and additives to prevent deterioration due to elements in the ozone or other natural elements. It has become.

For example, the length of the elongated piece is 2.54 cfi (1 inch) wide.
It can be changed over a wide range from the number of centimeters (several inches) to suit your needs. The length can be changed in stages from 30.48 cm (1 foot) to several cm (several inches).

The elongated piece can be of any desired shape, but T
A piece having a corrugated plate shape modified from a mold or a modified triangular shape is preferred. The shape can also be hexagonal and hexagonal or any part of the aforementioned shapes. One (distal) end is provided with a hole or slit. A hole or slit is provided at the end opposite the far end or hole so that the elongated piece forms a loop. The ends are then adjusted for the required or desired tension within the racket. These ends can be marked with notches or graduated markings (similar to a ruler) on the extension pieces to precisely mark each piece around the periphery of the racket. . This is required to cent or "tune" the racquet to suit the needs, desires, or wishes of the individual user. The assembly of the elongated pieces on the net and frame is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12.

If the self-retaining, individually adjustable extension strips match the individual desired tension on the net of the racket, the ends of the extension strips are held by their own adjusted or set tension. The extension strips are inverted or flipped over so that the The tension that is set (repelled) is provided by the rim of the racket and the net. When propelling the ball, the user can use the graduated increments or markings on the distal or upper end of the self-retaining extension piece to adjust the user's individual needs, such as adjusting the spokes of a bicycle wheel. You can easily set or adjust the racket according to your playing conditions. So, for example, someone might hit the top and bottom of the racket on one side? ＜Si, You may wish to make it looser on both sides.

As a preferred modification, a protective plastic clip can be placed on the elongate piece to protect the piece when the ball strikes the piece against the rim of the racket. The self-retaining, adjustable elongate strips can also be provided with a snap-on or Percro tape on each end to hold the end down.

The elongated body is also used to aid visual recognition and the ability to pick up the ball as it silently leaves the racquet, as well as to protect the elongated body itself from ozone, sunlight and atmospheric impurities. It is also possible to color it. The elongated body can be painted a fluorescent yellow or orange color to more easily follow the swing of the racket as the ball is propelled through the silent net.

As mentioned above, a weight is installed at the upper end of the racket to help provide the racket with its superior stringing characteristics. The weight is preferably located on the sloped upper rim of the face of the racket. This weight is introduced into the racquet structure and preferably becomes a permanent part of the racquet. The primary function of this weight is to assist in striking the ball and to provide force to the swing or stroke of the racket. others,
The weight gives the user increased distance and accuracy for fly balls, and faster speed and accuracy for ground balls. A secondary benefit of this weight is that it helps loosen and stretch the muscles, keys, and ligaments in the wrist and forearm before using the racket.

The weight can be changed according to the user's needs. Accordingly, weights in the form of BB shot or other metal particles can be added to or removed from the top of the rim as desired. The weight preferably varies from about 141.7F (5 ounces) to about 907F (2 pounds) depending on the needs of the user. The weight can be held firmly within the rim or housed in a hollow container that can be shifted back and forth as the racket is swung to assist in the use of the racket.

In the case of the present invention, the weight remains on the racket.
The weights employed in the racquet of the present invention to assist in propelling the k-ball are very different from the weights applied to the end of a conventional baseball bat during the warm-up period. It should be noted that In this way, the weight becomes a permanent part of the racket and is not a temporary addition.

The weight is located at the upper end 12A in FIG. 1 and at the upper end 30 in FIG.
It can be positioned within the upper end of the racket as shown in the figure. The weight can also be housed in an additional hollow section 31, as shown in FIG. The weight itself (indicated by 32 in FIG. 9) can be moved freely together with the movement of the racket.

The upper edge of the rim is preferably sloped as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Its original purpose was to help recover balls thrown back at players for reuse in practice. The angled portion can be of any desired angle or length as long as it provides the required retrieval function. Generally, this slope is approximately 5 cm to 1 cm at the upper rim of the racket.
0 Cm (2 to 4 inches), preferably about 4
It has an angle of 5.

The handle is located close to the frame holding the net and is preferably hollow. This reduces overlap in the area below the face of the racquet which greatly aids in the use of the racquet. As previously mentioned...the $7 can be used to hold or store extra netting, self-retaining pieces, or the like.

The end of the handle can be a removable abutment plate that acts to retain the stored material during use of the racquet. A hollow no. 7 dollar is shown in FIG. 6 (item 32) with a butt plate indicated at 33.

The handle can also be bent as shown in FIG. This allows maximum force to be generated with minimum effort. This special feature also results in better controlled distance and accuracy with respect to the trajectory of the ball hit in the air or on the ground.

The handle of this new racket can be attached with a lace to ensure safety and secure grip of the racket. Item number 40 is shown in Figure 7 for such strings.
It is shown in

In another embodiment of the invention, the first net can be attached to the frame by means of new adjustable extension pieces. This embodiment minimizes the displacement effects that would occur with a single net by providing a bank net that provides high ball propulsion and resists displacement effects.

With the foregoing in mind, reference will now be made to the specific embodiments illustrated in the drawings that illustrate the complete functional embodiments of the invention. However, this description does not in itself limit the scope of the invention as a whole.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a racket I with a rounded open frame 12, an interconnecting throat 16 and a handle 13. The complete outer structure of the handle, throat and frame is constructed from a single piece of tubular metal material 18 that is bent or otherwise formed into the appropriate shape. A handle ridge 22 is tightly fitted onto the end of the tubular metal material 18. The handle is preferably at a distance of no more than 2.5 to 3 inches from the frame. The oval portion of the frame formed as described above is completed by welding portion 18A where the frame is bent to form the handle.

The racket is slanted over a distance of 4 inches (cm) and contains a metal BB in the frame at the closed part to add weight to that end of the racket.

(14) are interfolded 9's forming a substantially square hole approximately 1.59 cm (5/8 inch) in diameter secured to the circumference of the outer periphery by folds or ties 24.
Constructed from dense polyester strands. The diameter of the net is approximately 374 mm of the diameter of the open frame. The net) 14 is formed by a series of elastic rubber self-retaining individually adjustable pieces I5 which are looped either directly through the loops of the net or through the ties 24. It is fixed to the IJ release frame 12 and attached to the rim of the frame as shown in FIG.

The self-retaining, individually adjustable halves are best illustrated in FIG. The rubber strip shown in the figure has an opening 37 through which the other end is inserted as in FIG. inserted to hold the part against the rim.

The pieces are marked with markings such as 36 to allow the tension to be adjusted appropriately to suit the user's needs.

14 can be marked with different shapes to represent desired bands. For example, line 14A can be used to indicate the power band, and line 14A can be used to represent the "sweet spot."

Figures 2-4 illustrate racquets having different shapes for the frame and net as described above. Figure 2 shows a generally square open frame 12 and a net 14.
' indicates a racket with

FIG. 3 shows a racket having an open frame 12 with a circular shape and a rectangular shape with a net 14 suspended therein. Contrasting laqueso)k shown in Figure 8. In this case, the open frame 12 and net 14 are rectangular in shape to facilitate swinging, similar to a conventional bunt.

FIG. 6 illustrates a previously defined racket with a hollow handle 31 with an opening and a removable abutment plate 33. Figure 7 is similar to Figure 1 except that the weight is contained within a tubular hollow section 21 attached to the outside of the frame and a protective cover 30 is added to the sloping edge of the frame. A racket similar to the one shown is illustrated. A lace 40 is added to the bottom of the handle to ensure safety and secure grip of the racket handle.

Figure 8 illustrates the inclined state of the upper end of the frame.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A--A in FIG. 8 showing the inclined state of the rim, and FIG. 9 shows the presence of the BB shot 42 inside the inclined rim.

11 and 12 are cross-sectional views taken along the line B--B in FIG. 1, showing a state in which the elongated pieces are attached to the binding portion 24 and the rim on the outside of the net. One piece has an end 37 and an opening 3
8 is provided on the binding part and the circumference of the rim in a state above the rim. End 38 is then threaded through opening 37 and pulled to the appropriate tension. The end is then bent downwards, the piece inserted and the end held underside and against the rim as shown in FIG.

To protect the self-adjusting halves from the weather, a plastic cover, such as item 43, as shown in FIG. 7, may be provided over the portion of the halves as they rest on the rim.

The novel training racket of the present invention can be used for a variety of purposes. This racket has many advantages as explained above and is used for training players on soft balls and hard balls. However,
This racket is not limited to this use, but can be used in other fields where training and development of various muscles are required.

Another related invention involves the use of self-retaining, individually adjustable springs to interconnect the perimeter of the net to the frame.

The embodiments described above are merely exemplary and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 has an oval open frame with the handle very close to the rim of the frame and the top of the rim slanted and weighted with "sweet spot" and "power band" markings on the net. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a racket including one embodiment of the present invention. 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views of different embodiments of the invention in which frames have various shapes. Figure 5 is a side view of the racket showing the presence of a curved nondle to help increase force. FIG. 6 is an end view of the racket showing the presence of a hollow handle. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the racket showing the presence of a weight added to the end of the racket rim and the presence of a string for safety and secure grip of the racket. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing how the top of the racket frame is inclined. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A--A in FIG. 8 showing the tilted state of the frame and the metal shot at the center of the weight. Figure 1'O is a side view showing the special self-retaining adjustable piece used to connect to the k-frame. Figures 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views showing how the pieces can be used for attachment purposes. 11... Racket 12... Open frame 13...
・Handle 14...Net 15...Self-retaining adjustable piece. Patent applicant: William F., So → Clean side of the Lesberry drawing (no change in content) FIG, 1 FIG, 3 FIG, 8 FIG, 10 Procedural amendment May 1, 1985 Commissioner of the Patent Office Manabu Shiga 1, Indication of the case: Japanese Patent Application No. 60-24562 2, Title of the invention: Training racket and baseball ball. Softball Promotion Method 3, Relationship with the Amendment Person Case Patent Applicant Address 264 Springwill South 700 East, Utah, USA 84663 Name
William F., Nurlsbury Nationality United States of America 5 Date of amendment order Voluntary amendment 6 Target of amendment Engraving of specification) Official drawing 7 Contents of amendment Engraving of detailed engraving and official drawing ζ 1 or left pear (no change in content) )

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A training racket for propelling baseballs and softballs, comprising an inclined weighted portion at one end and a long handle attached adjacent to the opposite end. and the periphery of the net has a flexible periphery smaller than the periphery of the open frame held in tension inside the frame by a series of self-retaining, individually adjustable extension strips interconnecting the whole frame. A training racket consisting of an open frame with a removable net. 2) The training racket according to claim 1, wherein the weighted portion includes a hollow tube containing a movable metal body, and the hollow tube is permanently attached to the frame. 3)...The handle is hollow and has a 7-inch opening from the base of the open frame.
．． 6CmC3 inches) or more. 4) A training racket according to claim 1, wherein the self-retaining, individually adjustable elongate pieces are made of rubber and are uniformly spaced around the periphery of the racket. 5) The training racket according to claim 1, wherein the net and the open frame have the same overall shape. 6) The training racket according to claim 1), wherein the frame is oval-shaped, and the longest part of the oval is aligned with the handle. 7) A patent claim in which the elongated piece is provided with graduated markings at the upper end thereof so that the elongated piece can be used for the purpose of adjusting the tension on the net according to the needs of the user. The training racket described in item 1). 8) A training racket according to claim 1, wherein the special area is marked by a line on the net. 9) The training racket according to claim 8), wherein one of the areas marked on the net is a bower area. 10) The training racket according to claim 1, wherein the rim of the frame is coated with fluorescent paint. 11) The training racket according to claim 1), wherein the elongated piece is colored with fluorescent paint. 12) Claim 1 in which the net is held within the frame at a position approximately close to the surface of one side of the frame.
) The training racket described in section 2. 13) A second net supported by a separate set of self-retaining adjustable elongate strips is retained within the frame in a position generally flush with the opposite surface of the frame. The training racket described in item 1). 14) The racket for practice according to claim 1, wherein the upper part of the frame is inclined at an angle of at least 45 so that the returned ball can be quickly picked up. 15) The training racket according to claim 1, wherein the nondle is bent so that maximum force can be generated with minimum effort. 16) A method for propelling a baseball or softball by hitting a released ball with a special racket defined in claim 1).