US20100323825A1 - Baseball batting trainer - Google Patents
Baseball batting trainer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20100323825A1 US20100323825A1 US12/456,522 US45652209A US2010323825A1 US 20100323825 A1 US20100323825 A1 US 20100323825A1 US 45652209 A US45652209 A US 45652209A US 2010323825 A1 US2010323825 A1 US 2010323825A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- batter
- ankle
- ball
- sack
- spring clip
- 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
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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
- A63B69/0057—Means for physically limiting movements of body parts
- A63B69/0059—Means for physically limiting movements of body parts worn by the user
-
- 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
- A63B2069/0008—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for baseball specially adapted for particular training aspects for batting
Definitions
- This invention relates to a baseball batter training device for attachment from the batter's forward ankle to a weighted sack on the opposite side of home plate that conditions the batter to overcome a natural reflex to draw away from a fast ball pitched through the strike zone, and the like.
- the “strike zone” is the area over home plate, between the batter's knees and armpits, through which the ball must be pitched for a strike to be called by the umpire.
- an ankle strap is placed around the batter's forward ankle, that is the ankle closest to the pitcher's mound.
- the strap is linked through a line placed over home plate to a movable weight on the side of home plate opposite the batter.
- the batter To prevent injury the batter also must be able to move swiftly in a manner that will avoid being hit by a ball outside of the strike zone.
- the movable weight although, sufficient to restraint involuntary movement of the batter's forward ankle is not so great that it will prevent the batter from employing the voluntary muscular action needed to duck a ball outside of the strike zone.
- FIGURE of the drawing is a perspective view of the typical embodiment of the invention.
- a typical embodiment of the invention has a movable weight 10 shown as a canvas sack 11 loaded with sand (not shown in the drawing).
- the weight of sand in the sack 11 varies according to age, size, weight and physical conditioning of a batter 12 . It has been found, for example, that for a 9 year old boy about 4 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 75 pounds and in good physical condition, for the purpose of the invention a weight 10 of about twenty pounds is satisfactory. Thus, in this exemplary embodiment of the invention the sack 11 is filled with about twenty pounds of sand.
- the sack 11 is opened and closed by nylon strapping and a Dee ring 13 , of which Unicorn Stainless, Inc. Item No. S 0139-X540 or Item No. S 0139-X525 is preferred.
- a spring clip and eye 14 (Unicorn Stainless, Inc. Item No. S 0121-0050) couples the Dee ring 13 , through a loop 18 formed at an end of a line, such as black wire rope cable 16 , (preferably 1 ⁇ 8 inch Unicorn Stainless, Inc. Item No. S 0709-0103).
- a ferrule 15 preferably a 3/16 inch aluminum cable sleeve ferrule, Forney Co. Item No. 61038
- the end of the cable 16 is doubled back on itself to form a loop 18 .
- the cable 16 is placed over a regulation home plate 17 to a cable end 20 which is joined through a loop 19 formed by another ferrule 21 to a further spring clip and eye 22 .
- a Champion Barbell Nylon Ankle Strap No. 1101263 has been found to be quite satisfactory for the purpose of the invention.
- a coupling 25 on the ankle strap 24 joins the ankle 23 and the ankle strap 24 through the spring clip and eye 22 , the loop 19 and the cable 16 to the weighted sack 11 .
- the length of the cable 16 can vary, but should be sufficient to extend from the forward ankle 23 (shown in the drawing on a mat 26 that simulates the customary batter's box beside the home plate 17 ) to a short distance beyond the home plate 17 on the side of the home plate 17 that is opposite to the batter 12 .
- the sack 11 is filled with sand or other suitable material to a weight appropriate to the physique of the batter 12 .
- the sack 11 is closed by the Dee ring 13 .
- the cable 16 and the loop 18 are attached through the spring clip 14 to the Dee ring 13 .
- the sack 11 is placed on the ground, usually in the unused batter's box (not shown in the drawing) and the central portion of the cable 16 is placed over the home plate 17 .
- the loop 19 on the cable end 20 is connected through the spring clip 22 to the coupling 25 on the ankle strap 24 and the ankle strap 24 is wrapped around the forward ankle 23 of the batter 12 .
- the batter 12 assumes a batter's stance and a baseball (not shown in the drawing) is fast pitched toward the batter's strike zone.
- An inexperienced batter 12 (and, perhaps some experienced batters) on seeing the fast ball coming toward the strike zone involuntarily attempts to draw the forward ankle 23 away from the home plate 17 .
- the weighted sack 11 restrains or impedes this involuntary muscular reaction and keeps the forward ankle 23 in its proper position relative to the home plate 17 .
- the batter 12 eventually learns to overcome, suppress or cope with this involuntary reflex and thus improve batting technique.
- the movable weight 10 is not only sufficient to train the batter 12 to overcome the involuntary “flinching” reflex but also to enable the batter 12 swiftly to drag the sack 11 toward the home plate 17 and to duck away from the ball in order to avoid injury.
Abstract
The batter training device attaches an ankle strap on the batter's forward ankle to a weighted sack on the side of home plate opposite to the batter. A cable placed over home plate connects the sack to the ankle strap. As a fast ball is pitched through the strike zone the weight attached to the batter's ankle inhibits the batter's involuntary reflex to draw away from the ball and ruin the batter's swing. Repeating this training with the device enables the batter to overcome or cope with this undesirable involuntary reflex. The weight in the sack, however, is not so great that it will prevent the batter from ducking away from a wild pitch outside of the strike zone in order to avoid injury.
Description
- None
- None
- None
- None
- This invention relates to a baseball batter training device for attachment from the batter's forward ankle to a weighted sack on the opposite side of home plate that conditions the batter to overcome a natural reflex to draw away from a fast ball pitched through the strike zone, and the like.
- Baseball and softball batter training devices have concentrated on developing the proper stance for a batter to adopt when swinging a bat against a ball. Other devices have been developed to correct errors in the batter's stance. For example a device has been proposed to restrain the batter's rear foot, that is the foot furthest from the pitching mound, to pivotal movement. Other proposals that are illustrative of these devices suggested for training a batter in the proper stance or correcting errors in the stance hobble both of the batter's ankles or further restrict movement of the batter's rear foot.
- Nevertheless, “flinching,” or involuntarily stepping away from a pitched ball coming through the strike zone1 can ruin what might have been a well-hit ball, or to miss the ball entirely. 1 The “strike zone” is the area over home plate, between the batter's knees and armpits, through which the ball must be pitched for a strike to be called by the umpire.
- Consequently, there is an unsatisfied need to provide an apparatus that will enable a batter to overcome an involuntary reflex to “flinch” or step back from a fast ball that is coming through the strike zone. For safety's sake, however, the apparatus must not prevent the batter from being able to duck away from a ball that is outside the strike zone.
- These and other unsatisfied needs that have characterized the prior art are fulfilled to a great extent through the practice of the invention.
- For example an ankle strap is placed around the batter's forward ankle, that is the ankle closest to the pitcher's mound. The strap is linked through a line placed over home plate to a movable weight on the side of home plate opposite the batter.
- As a ball is coming through the strike zone the batter's involuntary reflex acting to draw his forward foot back from the ball is overcome by the weight attached to the batter's forward ankle. Through practice with this apparatus the batter eventually overcomes or at least learns to cope with the involuntary reflex that otherwise would cause him to flinch and ruin his swing at the ball.
- To prevent injury the batter also must be able to move swiftly in a manner that will avoid being hit by a ball outside of the strike zone. The movable weight, although, sufficient to restraint involuntary movement of the batter's forward ankle is not so great that it will prevent the batter from employing the voluntary muscular action needed to duck a ball outside of the strike zone.
- For a more complete appreciation of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when taken with the figure of the drawing. The scope of the invention, however, is limited only through the claims appended hereto.
- The sole FIGURE of the drawing is a perspective view of the typical embodiment of the invention.
- As illustrated in the drawing a typical embodiment of the invention has a
movable weight 10 shown as acanvas sack 11 loaded with sand (not shown in the drawing). The weight of sand in thesack 11 varies according to age, size, weight and physical conditioning of abatter 12. It has been found, for example, that for a 9 year old boy about 4 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 75 pounds and in good physical condition, for the purpose of the invention aweight 10 of about twenty pounds is satisfactory. Thus, in this exemplary embodiment of the invention thesack 11 is filled with about twenty pounds of sand. - The
sack 11 is opened and closed by nylon strapping and a Deering 13, of which Unicorn Stainless, Inc. Item No. S 0139-X540 or Item No. S 0139-X525 is preferred. A spring clip and eye 14 (Unicorn Stainless, Inc. Item No. S 0121-0050) couples the Deering 13, through aloop 18 formed at an end of a line, such as blackwire rope cable 16, (preferably ⅛ inch Unicorn Stainless, Inc. Item No. S 0709-0103). A ferrule 15 (preferably a 3/16 inch aluminum cable sleeve ferrule, Forney Co. Item No. 61038) moreover, clamps the bitter end of thecable 16 to the body of thecable 16 in order to secure theloop 18. Note that the end of thecable 16 is doubled back on itself to form aloop 18. - The
cable 16 is placed over aregulation home plate 17 to acable end 20 which is joined through aloop 19 formed by anotherferrule 21 to a further spring clip andeye 22. -
Forward ankle 23 of thebatter 12, that is, theankle 23 that is closest to the pitcher's mound (not shown in the drawing) is restrained through an ankle restraint or anankle strap 24 that encircles theankle 23 of thebatter 12. A Champion Barbell Nylon Ankle Strap No. 1101263 has been found to be quite satisfactory for the purpose of the invention. Acoupling 25 on theankle strap 24 joins theankle 23 and theankle strap 24 through the spring clip andeye 22, theloop 19 and thecable 16 to theweighted sack 11. Note in passing, moreover, that the length of thecable 16 can vary, but should be sufficient to extend from the forward ankle 23 (shown in the drawing on amat 26 that simulates the customary batter's box beside the home plate 17) to a short distance beyond thehome plate 17 on the side of thehome plate 17 that is opposite to thebatter 12. - In operation, the
sack 11 is filled with sand or other suitable material to a weight appropriate to the physique of thebatter 12. Thesack 11 is closed by the Deering 13. Thecable 16 and theloop 18 are attached through thespring clip 14 to the Deering 13. Thesack 11 is placed on the ground, usually in the unused batter's box (not shown in the drawing) and the central portion of thecable 16 is placed over thehome plate 17. Theloop 19 on thecable end 20 is connected through thespring clip 22 to thecoupling 25 on theankle strap 24 and theankle strap 24 is wrapped around theforward ankle 23 of thebatter 12. - The
batter 12 assumes a batter's stance and a baseball (not shown in the drawing) is fast pitched toward the batter's strike zone. An inexperienced batter 12 (and, perhaps some experienced batters) on seeing the fast ball coming toward the strike zone involuntarily attempts to draw theforward ankle 23 away from thehome plate 17. Theweighted sack 11, however, restrains or impedes this involuntary muscular reaction and keeps theforward ankle 23 in its proper position relative to thehome plate 17. After repeated experiences with fast balls, thebatter 12 eventually learns to overcome, suppress or cope with this involuntary reflex and thus improve batting technique. - Consider now, a wild pitch in which a fast ball is coming at the
batter 12 not only low, between the batter'sknee 27 and theankle 23, but also “inside.” In this circumstance an “inside” ball would cross between the edge of thehome plate 17 that is closest to thebatter 12 and the person of thebatter 12. In this circumstance thebatter 12 must duck away from the ball, voluntarily using his leg muscles to jump or fall backwards in order to avoid being injured by the ball. Consequently, the weight of the sack and its frictional resistance with the ground must not prevent thebatter 12 from executing his voluntary reflex in drawing himself away from thehome plate 17. Thus, in accordance with a salient feature of the invention themovable weight 10 is not only sufficient to train thebatter 12 to overcome the involuntary “flinching” reflex but also to enable thebatter 12 swiftly to drag thesack 11 toward thehome plate 17 and to duck away from the ball in order to avoid injury.
Claims (6)
1. A batting trainer for conditioning a batter to overcome an involuntary reflex to draw the forward ankle away from a ball in the strike zone comprising a movable weight, a line for coupling to said movable weight, an ankle restraint for the forward ankle, and means for coupling said ankle restraint to said line and said movable weight to overcome the batter's involuntary reflex to draw the forward ankle away from the ball.
2. A batting trainer according to claim 1 for enabling the batter to duck a ball outside of the strike zone wherein said movable weight further comprises a weight that enables the batter to voluntarily exercise muscles and reflexes to move said weight to permit the batter to duck the ball.
3. A batting trainer according to claim 1 wherein said line coupling further comprises a Dee ring for attachment to said movable weight, a spring clip for coupling to said Dee ring, a loop on said line for engagement with said spring clip, an ankle restraint, a spring clip for attachment to said ankle restraint and another loop on said line for engagement with said ankle restraint spring clip.
4. A batting trainer according to claim 1 wherein said movable weight further comprises a sack.
5. A batting trainer according to claim 4 wherein said sack encloses a weight of about twenty pounds.
6. A batting trainer for conditioning a batter to overcome an involuntarily reflex to draw the forward ankle away from a fast ball pitched through the strike zone and avoid impeding the batter from ducking away from a ball pitched outside of the strike zone comprising: a sack, a twenty pound weight within said sack, strapping and a Dee ring for selectively closing said sack, a spring clip and eye for selective attachment to said Dee ring, a cable having a loop formed in an end of said cable and received in said eye on said spring clip; a ferrule engaging the end of said cable in order to form said loop, an ankle strap for binding the forward ankle, further a loop formed in another end of said cable, a ferrule engaging said cable end in order to form said further loop, another spring clip and eye, said eye receiving said further loop and said another spring clip selectively coupled to said ankle strap.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/456,522 US20100323825A1 (en) | 2009-06-18 | 2009-06-18 | Baseball batting trainer |
US12/460,774 US20100323826A1 (en) | 2009-06-18 | 2009-07-24 | Baseball batting trainer |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/456,522 US20100323825A1 (en) | 2009-06-18 | 2009-06-18 | Baseball batting trainer |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/460,774 Continuation-In-Part US20100323826A1 (en) | 2009-06-18 | 2009-07-24 | Baseball batting trainer |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20100323825A1 true US20100323825A1 (en) | 2010-12-23 |
Family
ID=43354838
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/456,522 Abandoned US20100323825A1 (en) | 2009-06-18 | 2009-06-18 | Baseball batting trainer |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20100323825A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140206508A1 (en) * | 2013-01-23 | 2014-07-24 | William B. Hall | Training Device |
US20190083840A1 (en) * | 2017-09-15 | 2019-03-21 | Jason Guidicipietro | Modular exercise device |
Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2232163A (en) * | 1939-12-12 | 1941-02-18 | Brecht Hermann | Roof worker's safety device |
US5591089A (en) * | 1995-01-27 | 1997-01-07 | Gehr - Huff Technologies, Inc. | Swing trainer |
US5620398A (en) * | 1996-04-10 | 1997-04-15 | Moriarty; Eric P. | Exercise apparatus for wrists and forearms |
US5860872A (en) * | 1996-03-07 | 1999-01-19 | Vitale; Kevin | Batter's stride training device |
US6578528B1 (en) * | 2001-02-23 | 2003-06-17 | David W. Brown | System and an apparatus for confining a pet within a preselected area |
US20030130072A1 (en) * | 2002-01-04 | 2003-07-10 | Barth Gary A. | Baseball batting stride device and system, and method of using same |
US20040069241A1 (en) * | 2002-10-10 | 2004-04-15 | Falwell Maureen Diane | Cat can't jump-device for restraining small animals from jumping |
US20040097344A1 (en) * | 2002-11-01 | 2004-05-20 | Maui Toys, Inc. | Jumping or skipping plaything |
US20050233875A1 (en) * | 2004-04-20 | 2005-10-20 | Raymond Clarke | Office gym exercise kit |
US20080108485A1 (en) * | 2006-11-03 | 2008-05-08 | Brien Douglas S | Tethered iso-kicker |
US20100048363A1 (en) * | 2008-08-21 | 2010-02-25 | All Sports Conditioning, Inc. | Resistance exercise trainer and related speed training process |
-
2009
- 2009-06-18 US US12/456,522 patent/US20100323825A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2232163A (en) * | 1939-12-12 | 1941-02-18 | Brecht Hermann | Roof worker's safety device |
US5591089A (en) * | 1995-01-27 | 1997-01-07 | Gehr - Huff Technologies, Inc. | Swing trainer |
US5860872A (en) * | 1996-03-07 | 1999-01-19 | Vitale; Kevin | Batter's stride training device |
US5620398A (en) * | 1996-04-10 | 1997-04-15 | Moriarty; Eric P. | Exercise apparatus for wrists and forearms |
US6578528B1 (en) * | 2001-02-23 | 2003-06-17 | David W. Brown | System and an apparatus for confining a pet within a preselected area |
US20030130072A1 (en) * | 2002-01-04 | 2003-07-10 | Barth Gary A. | Baseball batting stride device and system, and method of using same |
US20040069241A1 (en) * | 2002-10-10 | 2004-04-15 | Falwell Maureen Diane | Cat can't jump-device for restraining small animals from jumping |
US20040097344A1 (en) * | 2002-11-01 | 2004-05-20 | Maui Toys, Inc. | Jumping or skipping plaything |
US20050233875A1 (en) * | 2004-04-20 | 2005-10-20 | Raymond Clarke | Office gym exercise kit |
US20080108485A1 (en) * | 2006-11-03 | 2008-05-08 | Brien Douglas S | Tethered iso-kicker |
US20100048363A1 (en) * | 2008-08-21 | 2010-02-25 | All Sports Conditioning, Inc. | Resistance exercise trainer and related speed training process |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140206508A1 (en) * | 2013-01-23 | 2014-07-24 | William B. Hall | Training Device |
US20190083840A1 (en) * | 2017-09-15 | 2019-03-21 | Jason Guidicipietro | Modular exercise device |
US10688333B2 (en) * | 2017-09-15 | 2020-06-23 | Jason Guidicipietro | Inflatable exercise device and method |
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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 |