US20060199673A1 - Pitcher's training device - Google Patents
Pitcher's training device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20060199673A1 US20060199673A1 US11/369,099 US36909906A US2006199673A1 US 20060199673 A1 US20060199673 A1 US 20060199673A1 US 36909906 A US36909906 A US 36909906A US 2006199673 A1 US2006199673 A1 US 2006199673A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- ball
- pitcher
- training
- supporting arm
- slot
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000011295 pitch Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 238000009987 spinning Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 210000000707 wrist Anatomy 0.000 description 12
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000007306 turnover Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
- A63B69/0002—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for baseball
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
- A63B69/0002—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for baseball
- A63B2069/0004—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for baseball specially adapted for particular training aspects
- A63B2069/0006—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for baseball specially adapted for particular training aspects for pitching
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
- A63B2102/18—Baseball, rounders or similar games
- A63B2102/182—Softball
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2210/00—Space saving
- A63B2210/50—Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)
Abstract
A pitcher's training device is provided for training a softball or baseball pitcher in gripping and spinning a ball for special pitches, such as fastball, curve ball or screwball pitches. The pitcher's training apparatus includes a base which may be in the form of a folding tripod with a central column that can be raised and lowered to adjust for the person being trained. A training ball supporting arm is attached to and extends from the base and may be positioned for different pitchers. The supporting arm has an elongated slot passing through the side thereof. A pair of practice balls are connected by a shaft extending through the arm slot so that a pitcher can practice the gripping and spinning of the training ball forcing the ball shaft to spin and move in the slot.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/658,643, filed Mar. 7, 2005.
- The present invention relates to a pitcher's training device and especially to a pitcher's training device used in baseball or softball and especially a training device for fast pitch softball. It is especially useful in teaching proper technique for pitching fastballs, curve balls, screwballs, and rise and drop pitches.
- Proper throwing, especially when pitching, requires the person throwing the ball to impart a particular spin or rotation to the ball upon release of the ball from the pitching hand. The exception to this is the knuckle ball which is deliberately delivered in such a manner that the spin or rotation is minimized or non-existent. A fastball is thrown such that as the ball moves towards the plate, the top of the ball rotates towards the release hand of the pitcher and away from the plate. A curve ball is thrown so that the top of the ball rotates away for the release hand of the pitcher and towards the plate. Each pitch requires a particular arm angle and wrist motion to deliver the ball to the plate in the desired manner.
- Various techniques exist for teaching proper throwing pitching techniques, such as that seen in the Barth U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,808 for a Baseball Throwing Trainer which has two baseballs connected together with a dowel screw. The student grips either ball in an appropriate manner for a pitch being thrown and flips or throws a ball while trying to impart rotation to the ball. The U.S. Pat. No. to Simpson 6,471,606 shows a device for creating ball spins which has a ball spinning device having a plurality of balls attached thereto. In the Romanick U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,091, a sports ball throwing training device audibly indicates proper throwing mechanics and has a sports ball attached to an elongated hollow tubular member with a closed end and having a freely movable inner dowel in the tubular member. The Kempf U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,187 teaches a Ball Pitch Training Device to facilitate a user learning to make a better pitching release and motion so that a ball, when pitched, will have a proper rotation to achieve maximum velocity and accuracy and is generally disc-shaped.
- In contrast, the present invention is specifically directed towards an aid for training a student's speciality pitches in fast pitch softball in which the pitcher grips and spins a softball tandem with proper followthrough to generate spin and translation of the connected ball. The student receives feedback on his technique by the motion of the tandemly connected balls moving within an elongated slot.
- A pitcher's training device is provided for training a softball or baseball pitcher in gripping and spinning a ball for special pitches, such as fastball, curve ball or screwball pitches. The pitcher's training apparatus includes a base which may be in the form of a folding tripod with a central column that can be raised and lowered to adjust for the person being trained. A training ball supporting arm is attached to and extends from the base and may be positioned for different pitchers. The supporting arm has an elongated slot passing through the side thereof. A practice ball has a shaft extending therefrom which shaft is rotatably and moveably attached through the supporting arm slot so that a pitcher can practice the gripping and spinning of the training ball forcing the ball shaft to spin and move in the slot. A pair of balls may be attached to the shaft which extends through the training ball supporting arm slot and the supporting arm may be rotated to different positions. The training ball supporting arm may also be a straight supporting arm or a curved one in which the slot extends through the curved portion. The pitcher's training apparatus allows a pitcher to adjust the position of the training ball supporting arm having the practice ball and shaft attached through the slot therein. Spinning the ball in a manner for pitching a fastball, curve ball, screwball or the like then moves the practice ball and attached shaft rotating in the supporting arm slot to move across the slot.
- Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the written description and the drawings in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a pitcher's training device in accordance with the present invention set up for training the wrist to throw a curve ball or a screwball; -
FIG. 2 is the pitcher's training device in accordance with the present invention set up for training the wrist to throw a rise or drop pitch; and -
FIG. 3 is the pitcher's training device set up for a turn-over pitch. - Referring to the drawings and especially to
FIG. 1 , a pitcher'straining device 10 is illustrated having aconventional tripod base 11 having threelegs 12 attached to abase 13. Thelegs 12 can be hingedly connected to thebase 13 or may be fixed legs, as illustrated, and may be telescoping legs. Thebase member 13 has acollar 14 having a vertically extendingcolumn 15 sliding therein having a plurality ofapertures 16 positioned so that a locking pin may be inserted through anaperture 17 in thecollar 14 and through any one of the plurality ofapertures 16 through thecolumn 15 for adjusting the height of the column for any particular pitcher. The top of thecolumn 15 has an L-shaped coupling 18 which is attached to thecolumn 15 with a threadedfastener 20. The L-connector 18 has acurved arm 21 attached thereto with a threadedlocking fastener 22 and has aarcuate slot 23 therein extending around the curved portion of thearm 21. A pair ofspherical balls dowel 26 which extends through theslot 23 in thearm 21 with theballs slot 23. - This particular embodiment of the present pitcher's training device is for training a pitcher's wrists for throwing a curve ball or screwball pitch and trains the pitcher's wrist motion for making a softball pitch. The student thus grabs either the
ball ball dowel 26, the pair ofballs slot 23 in thearm 21 when the appropriate spin is imparted to one of the balls. Continuous rote practice while spinning a ball in this nature teaches the pitcher the proper wrist motion in throwing the softball for producing a curve ball. - Turning to
FIG. 2 , thetripod 11 having thelegs 12 and thebase 13 withcollar 14 having theaperture 17 therein, has thecolumn 15 passing therethrough.Column 15 has apertures 16 therein and has the L-connector 18 attached to thecolumn 16 with the threadedfastener 20.Arm 30 is attached to the L-connector 18 by the tightening of thefastener 22 and has aslot 31 therein which is an arcuate slot following thearcuate arm 30 but extending in a downward direction relative to thecolumn 15. Theballs arcuate slot 31 with the connectingdowel 26 passing through theslot 31. In this case, thearm 30 with thearcuate slot 31 is positioned for training a student's wrist for a proper spin for a rise or drop ball pitch. Putting the proper spin on either theball arcuate slot 31 and continuous spinning of theball arcuate arm 30 can be rotated upside down and locked with thenut 22 as desired. - Turning to
FIG. 3 , thetripod 11 has the threelegs 12 connected to thebase 13 and having thecollar 14 having anaperture 17 therethrough. Thecolumn 15 slides through thecollar 14 and hasapertures 16 for adjusting the height of thecolumn 15. The L-shaped connector 18 is attached to the column with thefastener 20 and has thetraining arm 35 attached thereto with thefastener 22. Thearm 35 has anelongated slot 36 therein which, unlike the arms inFIGS. 1 and 2 , is not arcuate. Theballs dowel 26 which rides in theslot 36. In this embodiment, the student grips eitherball FIG. 3 , theballs dowel 26 will ride along theelongated slot 36 to provide the student with feedback to his wrist motion. - It will be clear at this time that an aide for training a pitcher's wrist, especially for use in fast pitch softball, has been provided in which interchangeable arms can be utilized for training the wrist of a pitcher in different pitches. However, it will also be clear that two or all three of the training arms can be mounted together on one tripod base so that all three can be practiced from different positions around the tripod. In addition, it will be clear that the tripod base is only one means for supporting the upright column and training arms so that any other support can be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is however desirable to have a vertical column which can be adjusted for the height of different pitchers using the practice device. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be construed as limited to the forms shown which are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
Claims (14)
1. A pitcher's training apparatus for training a pitcher on gripping and spinning a ball for special pitches comprising:
a base;
a training ball supporting arm attached to and extending from said base and positional on said base for a pitcher, said supporting arm having an elongated slot therein;
a practice ball having a shaft attached thereto and extending therefrom, said shaft being rotatably attached in said supporting arm slot; whereby a pitcher can practice gripping and spinning the training ball forcing the spinning ball shaft to move in said slot.
2. The pitcher's training apparatus of claim 1 in which said ball supporting arm is adjustable on said base to position said training ball for a pitcher using said pitcher's training apparatus.
3. The pitcher's training apparatus of claim 2 in which said ball supporting arm is generally vertically adjustable to vary the height of said training ball.
4. The pitcher's training apparatus of claim 1 having two training balls, each training ball being attached to said shaft, and each training ball being mounted on an opposite side of said ball supporting arm from the other training ball so that spinning one training ball spins both said training balls.
5. The pitcher's training apparatus of claim 1 in which said ball supporting arm and the slot therein has a generally arcuate shaped portion.
6. The pitcher's training apparatus of claim 1 in which said ball supporting arm and the slot therein form a generally linear portion.
7. The pitcher's training apparatus of claim 5 in which said ball supporting arm is rotatably adjustable relative to said base.
8. The pitcher's training apparatus of claim 1 in which said base is a foldable tripod having a sliding column supporting said ball supporting arm.
9. The pitcher's training apparatus of claim 8 in which said ball supporting arm is attached to one end of said tripod sliding column.
10. The pitcher's training apparatus of claim 9 in which said ball supporting arm is rotatably attached to said tripod column for repositioning said ball supporting arm and ball attached thereto.
11. The pitcher's training apparatus of claim 4 in which each said training ball is a softball.
12. The pitcher's training apparatus of claim 5 in which said slot in said arcuate ball supporting arm extends through the arcuate portion of said ball supporting arm so as to move said rotating training ball shaft in an upwardly curve on said arm.
13. The pitcher's training apparatus of claim 5 in which said slot in said arcuate ball supporting arm extends through the arcuate portion of said supporting arm so as to move said rotating training ball shaft along a flat curved path.
14. The pitcher's training apparatus of claim 1 in which said ball supporting arm is removably attached to said base whereby said ball supporting arm can be exchanged with another ball supporting arm of a different shape.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/369,099 US20060199673A1 (en) | 2005-03-07 | 2006-03-03 | Pitcher's training device |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US65864305P | 2005-03-07 | 2005-03-07 | |
US11/369,099 US20060199673A1 (en) | 2005-03-07 | 2006-03-03 | Pitcher's training device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20060199673A1 true US20060199673A1 (en) | 2006-09-07 |
Family
ID=36944796
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/369,099 Abandoned US20060199673A1 (en) | 2005-03-07 | 2006-03-03 | Pitcher's training device |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20060199673A1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7517290B1 (en) * | 2007-03-22 | 2009-04-14 | Jeffrey Springer | Practice device for softball pitchers |
US8602919B2 (en) | 2010-09-01 | 2013-12-10 | Michael J. Bishop | Pitching cage |
USD835742S1 (en) | 2015-08-12 | 2018-12-11 | Armin Joseph Altemus, Jr. | Baseball bat swing exerciser |
US11439881B1 (en) * | 2022-02-22 | 2022-09-13 | Nadel Richard | Pitch training device |
US11679317B2 (en) | 2019-05-17 | 2023-06-20 | David Martina | Pitcher training device |
US11969637B2 (en) | 2023-04-03 | 2024-04-30 | Robert Geoffrey Nadel | Spherical cage pitch training device with spinning ball |
Citations (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3118670A (en) * | 1960-12-19 | 1964-01-21 | James W Smith | Baseball batting practice device |
US3472075A (en) * | 1965-09-27 | 1969-10-14 | Jess Oppenheimer | Golf simulation system |
US5441255A (en) * | 1993-06-11 | 1995-08-15 | Verbick; Basil G. | Practice device for bowling and other sports |
US5467979A (en) * | 1993-08-23 | 1995-11-21 | Zarate; Rene A. | Baseball batting practice device |
US5471606A (en) * | 1989-08-31 | 1995-11-28 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Information storage and processing |
US5472187A (en) * | 1995-02-10 | 1995-12-05 | Kempf; Cheri K. | Ball pitch training device |
US5605326A (en) * | 1994-11-18 | 1997-02-25 | Sport Innovations, Inc. | Object hitting apparatus |
US5685788A (en) * | 1996-04-25 | 1997-11-11 | Shy; Haw-Yaw | Shock-absorbable ball practice device |
US5743808A (en) * | 1996-03-25 | 1998-04-28 | Barth; Joseph | Baseball throwing trainer |
US5830091A (en) * | 1997-11-19 | 1998-11-03 | Romanick; Ron | Sports ball throwing training device |
US5833555A (en) * | 1997-09-04 | 1998-11-10 | Jer-Min; Liaw | Gravitationally restored ball practice device |
US6656063B2 (en) * | 2001-11-14 | 2003-12-02 | Robert Prichard | Practice ball hitting device |
US7114725B2 (en) * | 2004-03-17 | 2006-10-03 | Better Bilt Products, Inc. | Rotary shooting target |
US7214147B2 (en) * | 2004-05-26 | 2007-05-08 | Gregory Gutierrez | Batting training apparatus |
US7217202B2 (en) * | 2005-03-03 | 2007-05-15 | April Troxell | Device for teaching softball or baseball pitching technique |
-
2006
- 2006-03-03 US US11/369,099 patent/US20060199673A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3118670A (en) * | 1960-12-19 | 1964-01-21 | James W Smith | Baseball batting practice device |
US3472075A (en) * | 1965-09-27 | 1969-10-14 | Jess Oppenheimer | Golf simulation system |
US5471606A (en) * | 1989-08-31 | 1995-11-28 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Information storage and processing |
US5441255A (en) * | 1993-06-11 | 1995-08-15 | Verbick; Basil G. | Practice device for bowling and other sports |
US5467979A (en) * | 1993-08-23 | 1995-11-21 | Zarate; Rene A. | Baseball batting practice device |
US5605326A (en) * | 1994-11-18 | 1997-02-25 | Sport Innovations, Inc. | Object hitting apparatus |
US5472187A (en) * | 1995-02-10 | 1995-12-05 | Kempf; Cheri K. | Ball pitch training device |
US5743808A (en) * | 1996-03-25 | 1998-04-28 | Barth; Joseph | Baseball throwing trainer |
US5685788A (en) * | 1996-04-25 | 1997-11-11 | Shy; Haw-Yaw | Shock-absorbable ball practice device |
US5833555A (en) * | 1997-09-04 | 1998-11-10 | Jer-Min; Liaw | Gravitationally restored ball practice device |
US5830091A (en) * | 1997-11-19 | 1998-11-03 | Romanick; Ron | Sports ball throwing training device |
US6656063B2 (en) * | 2001-11-14 | 2003-12-02 | Robert Prichard | Practice ball hitting device |
US7114725B2 (en) * | 2004-03-17 | 2006-10-03 | Better Bilt Products, Inc. | Rotary shooting target |
US7214147B2 (en) * | 2004-05-26 | 2007-05-08 | Gregory Gutierrez | Batting training apparatus |
US7217202B2 (en) * | 2005-03-03 | 2007-05-15 | April Troxell | Device for teaching softball or baseball pitching technique |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7517290B1 (en) * | 2007-03-22 | 2009-04-14 | Jeffrey Springer | Practice device for softball pitchers |
US8602919B2 (en) | 2010-09-01 | 2013-12-10 | Michael J. Bishop | Pitching cage |
USD835742S1 (en) | 2015-08-12 | 2018-12-11 | Armin Joseph Altemus, Jr. | Baseball bat swing exerciser |
US11679317B2 (en) | 2019-05-17 | 2023-06-20 | David Martina | Pitcher training device |
US11439881B1 (en) * | 2022-02-22 | 2022-09-13 | Nadel Richard | Pitch training device |
US11969637B2 (en) | 2023-04-03 | 2024-04-30 | Robert Geoffrey Nadel | Spherical cage pitch training device with spinning ball |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |