US20140274488A1

US20140274488A1 - Baseball Swing Trainer

Info

Publication number: US20140274488A1
Application number: US13/794,873
Authority: US
Inventors: Jay W. Garthwaite
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-12
Filing date: 2013-03-12
Publication date: 2014-09-18

Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, a baseball swing trainer apparatus includes: a first end section; a second end section; a hand grip section between the first end section and the second end section; and a bat coupled to the first end section and to the second end section.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to a baseball swing trainer.

BACKGROUND

Many athletes agree that hitting a baseball with a baseball bat is a difficult athletic activity and requires practice and special skills. The hitting of a baseball becomes even more challenging in a game-situation because of the variety of pitches that pitchers can throw such as, for example, fastballs, knuckleballs, change-ups, forkballs, screwballs or “gyroballs”, splitters, curves, “slurves”, variations of the fastball such as the two-seam fastball and the four-seam fastball, prohibited pitches such as spitters, and/or other types pitches. In addition, the ability to hit for power, average, direction, and/or baseball placement requires skills, practice, control of the bat, and/or natural hitting ability. Therefore, baseball players are required to constantly attempt to improve their hitting skills in order to be successful hitters.
Previous devices and/or systems that attempt to aid the hitters in improving their hitting skills are known to those skilled in the relevant art(s). For example, the following patent references disclose devices or systems that attempt to improve the swing of batters: U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,645, U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,418, U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,195, U.S. Pat. No. 7,819,763, U.S. Pat. D620,064, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0135292, U.S. Patent 2007/0072704, and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0323826. While the devices or systems disclosed in these patent references are suited for their intended purposes, at least some of these devices or systems are mechanically complicated, are difficult to manufacture, require custom manufacturing equipment, are large in size, are subject to wear-and-tear or mechanical breakdowns, and/or are costly in price for the consumer.
Another previous device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,572,198 is a training grip that is coupled to a baseball bat so that the batter can be trained in the proper gripping of a bat and can improve in hitting skills. While this disclosed device is suited for its intended purposes, the unique contours and shape of this device may require custom manufacturing equipment and/or may be costly in price for the consumer. Additionally, this device may be unable to improve other motor or coordination skills required for hitting.
The bat is divided into several regions. The barrel is the thick part of the bat, where the bat is meant to hit the ball. The part of the barrel best for hitting the ball, according to construction and swinging style, is often called the sweet spot. The end of the barrel is not part of the sweet spot, and is simply called the tip or end of the bat. The barrel narrows and becomes the handle. The handle is very thin, so that batters can comfortably set the bat in their fingers. Sometimes, especially on metal bats, the handle is wrapped with a rubber or cloth grip. Finally, next to the handle is the knob of the bat, a wider piece that keeps the bat from sliding out of the hands of the batter.
One major problem encountered by a batter is the tendency to drop the barrel as the batter is swinging the bat above home plate and finishing high (or upward) in the swing after the bat drags through the strike zone or swing zone. When the batter drops the barrel and finishes high in the swing, the bat will typically hit under the baseball and, as a result, the batter will hit a lot of pop-ups, rollovers, or foul tips. As known to baseball players and coaches, hitting a line drive or a ground ball is preferable to hitting a pop-up because a line drive or a ground ball can find a “hole” (i.e., spaces between defensive players) that result in a hit (e.g., single, double, triple, homer run, or inside the park home run). In contrast, hitting a pop-up will often result in a baseball that can easily be caught by a defensive player. Current baseball bat swing training devices do not solve the problem of batters dropping the barrel during the swing. Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus that will help batters to avoid dropping the barrel during a swing. There is also a further need to help train children and younger baseball players in improving their swing.
Based on the above discussion, the current technology is limited in its capabilities and suffers from at least the above constraints and deficiencies.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the invention, a baseball swing trainer apparatus includes: a first end section; a second end section; a hand grip section between the first end section and the second end section; and a baseball bat; wherein the first end section and the second end section are coupled to the baseball bat.
In another embodiment of the invention, a baseball swing trainer apparatus, includes: means for gripping; and a baseball bat, wherein the means for gripping is coupled to the baseball bat.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, a baseball swing trainer apparatus, includes: a first end section; a second end section; a hand grip section between the first end section and the second end section; a first bat attacher coupled to the first end section; and a second bat attacher coupled to the second end section.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, a method of assembling a baseball swing trainer apparatus includes: providing a hand grip section, a first end section, and a second end section; attaching the hand grip section to the first end section and to the second end section; and attaching a baseball bat to the first end section and the second end section.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, a method of assembling a baseball swing trainer apparatus, includes: providing a hand grip section, a first end section, and a second end section; attaching the hand grip section to the first end section and to the second end section; and providing a first bat attacher that is removably coupled to the first end section and providing a second bat attacher that is removably coupled to the second end section.
Other possible variations in an embodiment of the invention are disclosed below.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one (several) embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

Additionally, the left-most digit of a reference number may identify the drawing in which the reference number first appears unless otherwise indicated.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a baseball swing trainer apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of an advantage provided by an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a baseball swing trainer apparatus, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram of the swing trainer grip member of FIG. 2A as shown from a top view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are block diagrams of the swing trainer grip member of FIG. 2A as shown from a side view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the swing trainer grip member of FIG. 2A as shown from a side cross-section view, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the swing trainer grip member of FIG. 2A as shown from a side view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the apparatus of FIG. 2A as coupled to a baseball bat, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is another block diagram of the apparatus of FIG. 2A as coupled to a baseball bat, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the apparatus of FIG. 2A as coupled to a baseball bat and held by a batter, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a method of assembling a baseball swing trainer apparatus of FIG. 2A, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of components, parts, structures, and/or methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art(s) will recognize, however, that an embodiment of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other apparatus, systems, methods, components, materials, parts, structures, and/or the like. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the invention. Additionally, the figures are representative in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape or precise size of any element and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
Those skilled in the relevant art(s) will understand that when an element or part in the drawings is referred to as being “on” (or “connected” to or “coupled” to or “attached” to) another element, it can be directly on (or attached to) the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Furthermore, relative terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “upper”, “above”, “lower”, “beneath”, and “below”, “upward”, “downward”, “clockwise”, “counter-clockwise”, and similar terms, may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element to another element. It is understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.
Although the terms first, second, and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, components, parts, regions, layers, chamber, and/or sections, these elements, components, parts, regions, layers, chambers, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, part, region, layer, region, chamber, or section from another element, component, part, region, layer, chamber, or section. Thus, a first element, component, part, region, layer, chamber, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, part, region, layer, chamber, or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to cross-sectional view illustrations that are schematic illustrations of representative embodiments of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result of, for example, manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances are expected. For purposes of avoiding in overcrowding the drawings, the elements shown in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the elements may be larger in physical size or smaller in physical size than as shown in the drawings.
Embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of the regions or components/parts/elements illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing or particular implementations. For example, an element illustrated or described as square or rectangular may typically have rounded or curved features due to normal manufacturing tolerances or due to a particular implementation. Thus, the elements illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature, and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of an element of a device and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a baseball swing trainer apparatus 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 1A, the apparatus 100 is seen from a viewpoint of a batter (or other person) who would hold the baseball bat 105. In the discussion herein, the terms that refer to a direction (e.g., top, bottom, front, back, upper, lower, left, right, above, beneath, and other directional terms) are used to denote a direction or position in reference to the apparatus 100 when viewed from the perspective of the user.
In an embodiment of the invention, the baseball swing trainer apparatus 100 includes a hand grip section 110 that is configured for gripping by one hand of the batter. The hand grip section 110 is between a first end section 115 a and a second end section 115 b. The first end section 115 a and second end section 115 b are coupled to the bat 105. The hand grip section 110 is at least substantially parallel (or is substantially parallel) to a central axis (e.g., X-axis) of the bat 105. Therefore, the bat 105 is also at least substantially parallel (or is substantially parallel) to the X-axis. The members 115 a and 115 b are each at least substantially perpendicular (or are each substantially perpendicular) to the horizontal X-axis (and are each, therefore, substantially perpendicular to the hand grip section 110 or at least substantially perpendicular to the hand grip section 110) and are each at least substantially parallel (or are each substantially parallel) to the vertical Y-axis. The X-axis and Y-axis are the horizontal axis and vertical axis, respectively, in the Cartesian coordinate system as known to those skilled in the relevant art. The members 110, 115 a, and 115 b are components that form (or are components of) a swing trainer grip member 118 (or means for gripping 118) in the apparatus 100.
In an embodiment of the invention, any of the hand grip section 110 and the end sections 115 a and 115 b can be constructed from the same material that forms the bat 105. Typically, this material can be composite material, aluminum, or other materials used for a non-wood baseball bat.
In another embodiment of the invention, the hand grip section 110 and the end sections 115 a and 115 b can be components that are formed or manufactured into a single integrated component, or that are formed or manufactured so that the hand grip section 110 and the end sections 115 a and 115 b form a single component. As mentioned above, this component is a swing trainer grip member 118 that is coupled to the bat 105. In an embodiment of the invention, the swing trainer grip member 118 is integral with the bat 105 so that the member 118 and bat 105 are a single apparatus or component.
The bat 105 has a knob 155 on a first end 165 and a tip 160 on a second end 168 which is opposed to the first end 165. In an embodiment of the invention, the grip section 110 and end sections 115 a and 115 b are disposed adjacent to the bat handle area 150 of the bat 105. As known to those skilled in the art, the bat handle area 150 is near the end section 165 which is adjacent to the knob 155.
In an embodiment of the invention, the swing trainer grip member 118 is coupled to the bat 105 during the manufacturing process of the bat 105. After the bat 105 is coupled to the end sections 115 a and 115 b, the batter can have one hand holding the bat 105 in the bat handle area 150 and another hand holding the hand grip section 110. The batter can then perform baseball swings.
In an embodiment of the invention, an exemplary bat 105 has a size of approximately 31 inches for use by older kids or young adults and a size of approximately 28 inches for use by younger kids
The barrel 170 of the bat 105 is used for hitting a baseball and is between the tip 160 and the bat handle area 150. The barrel 170 for a baseball bat is generally a frusto-conical barrel.
In an embodiment of the invention, the bat 105 is a composite bat (i.e., the bat 105 is entirely formed of a composite material) or the bat 105 is an aluminum bat (i.e., the bat 105 is entirely formed of aluminum or aluminum alloy or another suitable type of alloy or metal). In another embodiment of the invention, the bat 105 is a composite wood bat (i.e., the bat 105 is formed of a composite wood material, where the barrel 170 is formed of wood such as maple or another wood type suitable for baseball bats and the bat handle area 150 is formed of a composite material). Composite bats and composite wood bats are commercially available from various manufacturers such as, for example, DeMarini Sports, Inc. of Hillsboro, Oreg., Wilson Sporting Goods Co. of Chicago, Ill., or other baseball bat manufacturers.
As an example, the bat handle area 150 is formed of carbon fiber, aluminum or aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, steel, other alloys, a thermoplastic material, a thermoset material, or combinations thereof. As an example, the barrel 170 is formed of wood, one or more composite materials, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, scandium alloy, other alloys, steel, a thermoplastic material, a thermoset material, or combinations thereof.
At least some of the manufacturing steps used for manufacturing composite bats (or composite wood bats) that are commercially available from the above-mentioned manufacturers or other manufacturers may be used to manufacture or form at least one or more parts in the bat 105. As known to those skilled in the relevant art(s), a composite material in a bat refers to a plurality of fibers impregnated (or permeated throughout) with a resin. The fibers can be configured in various ways. For example, the fibers can be co-axially aligned in sheets or layers, weaved or braided in sheets or layers, and/or chopped and randomly dispersed in one or more layers. As also known to those skilled in the relevant art(s), the composite material may be formed of a single layer or multiple layers, with each layer formed by a matrix of fibers that are impregnated with resin. As an example, the number of layers of composite material can range from one layer to eight layers. In an embodiment having multiple layers of composite material, the fibers can be aligned in different directions (or angles) with respect to a longitudinal axis including 0 degrees, 90 degrees and angular positions between 0 to 90 degrees, and/or in braids or weaves from one composite layer to another composite layer. Typically, the composite layers may be separated at least partially by one or more scrims or veils. A scrim or veil will generally separate two adjacent composite layers and prevent resin flow between the composite layers during curing. Scrims or veils can also be used to reduce shear stress between layers of the composite material. As an example, the scrim or veils can be formed of glass, nylon, thermoplastic materials, or another suitable material. In one particular embodiment, the scrim or veil can be used to enable sliding or independent movement between layers of the composite material. Typically, the fibers are formed of a high tensile strength material such as, for example, graphite or another suitable material. Alternatively, the fibers can be formed of other materials such as, for example, glass, carbon, boron, basalt, carrot, Kevlar®, Spectra®, poly-para-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole (PBO), hemp, or combinations thereof. As example, the resin is preferably a thermosetting resin such as epoxy or polyester resins. As another example, the resin can be a thermoplastic resin. The composite material may be wrapped about a mandrel and/or a comparable structure, and cured under heat and/or pressure. While curing, the resin is configured to flow and fully disperse and impregnate the matrix of fibers.
As one example, the swing trainer grip member 118 (FIG. 1) may be formed on and made integral with the bat handle area 150 of the bat 105 by use of a mold. Heat and pressure are applied by the mold so that the heat and pressure are sufficient to cure the composite materials that are formed by the member 118 and bat handle area 150 in the mold. As another example, the swing trainer grip member 118 may be attached to the bat handle area 150 by standard manufacturing attachment methods such as welding or another suitable attachment technique.
FIG. 1B is a block diagram of an advantage provided by an embodiment of the invention. One major problem encountered by a batter is the tendency to drop the barrel as the batter is swinging the bat above home plate and finishing high (or upward) in the swing after the bat drags through the strike zone or swing zone. When the batter drops the barrel and finishes high in the swing, the bat will typically hit under the baseball 190 and, as a result, the batter will hit a lot of pop-ups, rollovers, or foul tips. As known to baseball players and coaches, hitting a line drive or a ground ball is preferable to hitting a pop-up because a line drive or a ground ball can find a “hole” (i.e., spaces between defensive players) that result in a hit (e.g., single, double, triple, homer run, or inside the park home run). In contrast, hitting a pop-up will often result in a baseball that can easily be caught by a defensive player. Current baseball bat swing training devices do not solve the problem of batters dropping the barrel during the swing.
Accordingly, when the batter practices hitting with the swing trainer apparatus 100, when the batter subsequently uses a standard baseball bat 180, the batter has been trained to hit the baseball 190 while avoiding in dropping the barrel 185 during a swing as the bat 180 drags through the swing zone. Therefore, the swing trainer apparatus 100 helps the batter to swing the baseball bat 180 so that the bat 180 drags through the swing zone at a substantially parallel planar movement to the horizontal axis X. As a result, the swing trainer apparatus 100 helps the batter to avoid or minimize in dropping down the barrel 185 in the swing zone during the swing, and therefore, the barrel 185 does not cross the swing zone at a substantially parallel planar movement to the angled axis X′ where X′ is at an acute angle H below the horizontal axis X.
FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a baseball swing trainer apparatus 200, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 2A, the apparatus 200 is seen from a viewpoint of a batter (or other person) who would hold the baseball bat 105. In the discussion herein, the terms that refer to a direction (e.g., top, bottom, front, back, upper, lower, left, right, above, beneath, and other directional terms) are used to denote a direction or position in reference to the apparatus 200 when viewed from the perspective of the user.
In an embodiment of the invention, the baseball swing trainer apparatus 200 includes a swing trainer grip member 218 with a hand grip section 210 that is configured for gripping by one hand of the batter. The hand grip section 210 is between a first end section 215 a and a second end section 215 b. A first bat attacher 220 a is coupled to the first end section 215 a, and a second bat attacher 220 b is coupled to the second end section 210 b.
In an embodiment of the invention, a first coupling member 225 a removably couples the first bat attacher 220 a to the first end section 215 a and a second coupling member 225 b removably couples the second bat attacher 220 b to the second end section 215 b. Two components that are removably coupled (or removably attached or removably secured or removably inserted) means that the two different components can be attached together and detached apart. An exemplary coupling members 225 a and 225 b are discussed below.
Therefore, the member 218 is a removable bat grip 218 which can be removably coupled to a bat 105 and which can also be separated from the bat 105.
In an embodiment of the invention, any of the hand grip section 210 and the end sections 215 a and 215 b can be constructed from any rigid material such as, for example and without limitations, steel, rigid rubber, rigid metal or alloys, durable plastic, other durable synthetic materials, any suitable durable heavy duty material, durable wood, or other suitable materials.
In an embodiment of the invention, the hand grip section 210 and the end sections 215 a and 215 b can be components that are separately formed or manufactured. The hand grip section 210 and the end sections 215 a and 215 b can then assembled together by any suitable methods for securely and permanently attaching two components together as known to those skilled in the relevant art(s). By way of example and not by way of limitation, the hand grip section 210 can be securely attached to the end sections 215 a and 215 b by use of screws, welding, a joint-member for coupling the hand grip section 210 to an end section 215 a or 215 b and/or other suitable known methods or components.
In another embodiment of the invention, the hand grip section 210 and the end sections 215 a and 215 b can be components that are formed or manufactured into a single integrated component, or that are formed or manufactured so that the hand grip section 210 and the end sections 215 a and 215 b form a single component.
In an embodiment of the invention, the bat attachers 220 a and 220 b can be constructed from flexible metal, steel, alloys, or rubber. The bat 105 is removably inserted into the openings of the bat attachers 220 a and 220 b prior to removably coupling the attachers 220 a and 220 b to the end sections 215 a and 215 b, respectively. The bat attachers 220 a and 220 b are sufficiently flexible so that the user can insert the bat 105 into the bat attachers 220 a and 220 b. After the bat 105 is inserted into the bat attachers 220 a and 220 b, the bat 105 is securely surrounded by the bat attachers 220 a and 220 b.
The first bat attacher 220 a can be removably coupled to the first end section 215 a by the first coupling member 225 a, and the second bat attacher 220 b can be removably coupled to the second end section 215 b by the second coupling member 225 b. The hand grip section 210 is at least substantially parallel to a central axis (e.g., X-axis) of the bat 105.
The bat 105 has a knob 155 on a first end 165 and a tip 160 on a second end which is opposed to the first end. In an embodiment of the invention, the grip section 210 and end sections 215 a and 215 b are disposed adjacent to the bat handle area 150 of the bat 105.
After the bat 105 is removably inserted into and removably coupled to the attachers 220 a and 220 b and after the attachers 220 a and 220 b are removably coupled to the end sections 215 a and 215 b, respectively, the batter can have one hand holding the bat 105 and another hand holding the hand grip section 210. The batter can then perform baseball swings.
FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a swing trainer grip member 218 of FIG. 2A as shown from a top view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The bat attachers 220 a and 220 b are partially seen from a top view.
In an embodiment of the invention, the hand grip section 210 is integral with end sections 215 a and 215 b as shown in FIG. 2A. In another embodiment of the invention, if the sections 210, 215 a, and 215 b are separate components, then joint-members (shown as dashed boxes 206 a and 206 b for clarity) may be used to connect the section 210 to the sections 215 a and 215 b. For example, the joint-member 206 a connects the section 210 to the section 215 a and the joint-member 206 b connects the section 210 to the section 215 b. In an embodiment of the invention, the joint member 206 a can threadably couple the section 210 to the section 215 a and the joint member 206 b can threadably couple the section 210 to the section 215 b.
In another embodiment of the invention, the joint member 206 a is integral to the member 216 a of end section 215 a and the joint member 206 b is integral to the member 216 b of end section 215 b. Other variations in the features of the disclosed embodiments of the invention are possible.
FIGS. 3A and 33 are block diagrams of the member 218 of FIG. 2A as shown from a side view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment of the invention, the first end section 215 a is a single integral component that is at least substantially L-shaped as shown in FIG. 3A. In another embodiment of the invention, the first end section 215 a is formed by two separate members, which are the first section member 310 a (also shown as member 216 a in FIG. 2A) and the second section member 310 b. A joint-member 320 a connects the member 310 a to the member 310 b. In an embodiment of the invention, the joint member 320 a can threadably couple the member 310 a to the member 310 b. In an embodiment, the members 310 a and 310 b are substantially perpendicular to each other so that member 310 a is substantially parallel to a reference X-axis and member 310 b is substantially parallel to a reference Y-axis.
In an embodiment of the invention, the second end section 215 b is formed by two separate members, which are the third section member 315 a (also shown as member 216 b in FIG. 2A) and the fourth section member 315 b. A joint-member 320 b connects the member 315 a to the member 315 b. In an embodiment of the invention, the joint member 320 b can threadably couple the member 315 a to the member 315 b. In an embodiment, the members 315 a and 315 b are substantially perpendicular to each other so that member 315 a is substantially parallel to a reference X-axis and member 315 b is substantially parallel to a reference Y-axis.
In an embodiment of the invention, the coupling member 225 a couples the first bat attacher 220 a to the section 215 a. The member 225 a threadably couples the attacher 220 a by turning the member 225 a in, for example, the counter-clockwise direction 325 a with respect to the Y-axis when the attacher screw portion 330 a is inserted in openings in the attacher 220 a. By turning the member 225 a in a counter-clockwise direction 325 a while the bat 105 is inserted in the attacher 220 a, the attacher 220 a is securely coupled to the bat handle area 150 which is between the bat ends 155 and 160 but closer in position to the end 155 than to the end 160. The ends of the attacher 220 a will also overlap in the area 335 a when the attacher 220 a is secured to the end 215 a. By turning the member 225 a in the clockwise direction 325 b with respect to the Y-axis, the attacher 220 a is loosened from the bat handle area 150 and the attacher 220 a is removed from the end 215 a and bat 105.
In another embodiment of the invention, the joint member 320 a is integral to the member 310 b of the end section 215 a and the joint member 320 b (FIG. 3B) is integral to the member 315 b of the end section 215 b. Other variations in the features of the disclosed embodiments of the invention are possible.
In an embodiment of the invention, the coupling member 225 b couples the second bat attacher 220 b to the section 115 b. The member 225 b threadably couples the attacher 220 b by turning the member 225 b in, for example, the counter-clockwise direction 325 a when the attacher screw portion 330 b is inserted in openings in the attacher 120 b. By turning the member 225 b in a counter-clockwise direction 325 a while the bat 105 is inserted in the attacher 220 b, the attacher 220 b is securely coupled to bat area 165 which is near and adjacent to the end 155. The ends of the attacher 220 b will also overlap in the area 335 b when the attacher 220 b is secured to the end 215 b. By turning the member 225 b in the clockwise direction 325 b, the attacher 220 b is loosened from the bat area 155 and the attacher 220 b is removed from the end 115 b and bat 105.
In an embodiment of the invention, the diameter D1 of the attacher 220 a (and/or attacher 220 b) when the attacher 220 a (and/or attacher 220 b) is removably coupled to the bat 105 is less than the diameter D2 (FIG. 5) of the attacher 220 a (and/or attacher 220 b) when the attacher 220 a (and/or attacher 220 b) is not coupled to the bat 105.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the member 218 of FIG. 2A as shown from a side cross-section view, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the second end section 215 b and the first end section 215 a (not shown in FIG. 4) are vertical or orthogonal in shape and are not L-shaped. Therefore, the first and second end sections 215 a and 215 b are each a single member 405 that extends vertically from the hand grip section 210 of the swing trainer grip member 218.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the member 218 of FIG. 2A as shown from a side view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The bat attacher 220 a is removed from the end 215 a. To removably couple the bat attacher 220 a to the end 215 a, the bat attacher 220 a is wrapped around the bat handle area 150. The screw threaded portion 505 of coupling member 225 a is inserted into and threadably coupled to the threaded opening 510 of the end section 215 a. The threaded portion 330 is inserted in the threaded openings 515 a and 515 b of the attacher 220 a so that the openings 515 a and 515 b are adjacent to each other. As discussed above, the coupling member 225 a is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction 325 a in order to tighten the grip of the attacher 220 a on the bat handle area 150. Similar steps, as discussed above, are used to secure the attacher 220 b to the bat area 165.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the apparatus 200 of FIG. 2A as coupled to a baseball bat 105, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Exemplary joint- members 206 a, 206 b, 320 a, and 320 b are shown in FIG. 6. For example, the joint- members 206 a, 206 b, 320 a, and 320 b are pipe-shaped or can be L-shaped pipe joint-members as shown in the drawings.
FIG. 7 is another block diagram of the apparatus 200 of FIG. 2A as coupled to a baseball bat 105 in an upright position, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the apparatus 200 of FIG. 2A as coupled to a baseball bat 105 and held by a batter 801, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The hand 805 a of the batter 801 can hold the bat portion 800 of the bat 805 and the hand 805 b of the batter can hold the hand grip section 210 of the swing trainer grip member 218.
FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a method 900 of assembling a baseball swing trainer apparatus 200 of FIG. 2A, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In block 905, a hand grip section, a first end section, and a second end section are provided. In block 910, the hand grip section is attached to the first end section and to the second end section.
In block 915, a first coupling member is provided for removably coupling a first bat attacher to the first end section and a second coupling member is provided for removably coupling a second bat attacher to the second end section.
In block 920, a first bat attacher is provided and that can be removably coupled to the first end section and a second bat attacher is provided and that can be removably coupled to the second end section.
Other possible variations in an embodiment of the invention are disclosed above.
Other variations and modifications of the above-described embodiments and methods are possible in light of the teaching discussed herein.
The above description of illustrated embodiments of the invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art(s) will recognize.
These modifications can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. The terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined entirely by the following claims, which are to be construed in accordance with established doctrines of claim interpretation.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A baseball swing trainer apparatus, comprising:

a first end section;

a second end section;

a hand grip section between the first end section and the second end section; and

a bat coupled to the first end section and to the second end section.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end section and the second end section are integral to the baseball bat.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand grip section is configured for gripping by a batter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand grip section and the bat are substantially parallel to an X-axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end section and the second end section are substantially perpendicular to an X-axis and are substantially parallel to a Y-axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand grip section and the end sections comprise a composite material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand grip section and the end sections are molded with a hand grip area of the bat.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bat is a composite bat.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bat is a composite wood bat.

10. A baseball swing trainer apparatus, comprising:

a first end section;

a second end section;

a hand grip section between the first end section and the second end section;

a first bat attacher coupled to the first end section; and

a second bat attacher coupled to the second end section.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first bat attacher and second bat attacher are both removably coupled to a baseball bat.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the hand grip section is configured for gripping by a batter.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the batter grips the hand grip section and a baseball bat removably coupled to the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first bat attacher is removably coupled to the first end section by a first coupling member and the second bat attacher is removably coupled to the second end section by a second coupling member.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the hand grip section and end sections comprise at least one rigid material.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the hand grip section and end sections are separately formed components.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the hand grip section and end sections are integrated into a single component.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the bat attachers are flexible.

19. A method of assembling a baseball swing trainer apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a hand grip section, a first end section, and a second end section;

attaching the hand grip section to the first end section and to the second end section; and

attaching a baseball bat to the first end section and the second end section.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the hand grip section, the first end section, and the second end section comprises a composite material.