US20180345108A1

US20180345108A1 - Training device for throwing a baseball

Info

Publication number: US20180345108A1
Application number: US15/951,718
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel Jay Mueller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-06-05
Filing date: 2018-04-12
Publication date: 2018-12-06

Abstract

A baseball and a method of instructing throwing a baseball is disclosed. The baseball has a seam, a first, preferably green, color zone placed on a first side of the ball, a second, preferably yellow color zone placed around a first circumference of the ball, and a third, preferably red, color zone placed on a second side of the ball. A pair of finger placement markings are carried on the first color zone. The baseball player is instructed to engage in a proper throwing motion, and the ball confirms by maintaining visual line of sight with the first color zone throughout, providing feedback of a correct throwing motion in which the ball is drawn. away from the target with the arm and hand placed in a correct position.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/603,517, filed 5 Jun. 2017.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a baseball training device that is used to teach proper throwing mechanics.
In the sport of baseball or softball an objective of a player is to throw a ball with speed and accuracy toward a target, whereby skill in the art is optimized by utilizing proper throwing mechanics. Proper throwing mechanics can be learned and developed through the use of a training device. A preferred training device is one that closely emulates the act of throwing a baseball or softball, provides immediate feedback as to whether a player is using proper throwing mechanics, and can be used in a manner that is similar to a standard baseball or softball.
One of the most co eon mistakes made by a player when throwing a ball relates to the initial phase of the throwing motion during which the ball is draws back away from the target in preparation for the throw. During this phase it is common for a player to incorrectly position the arm and hand, whereby the palm turns skyward as the ball is being drawn back, thereby causing the player to use a pushing motion when the hand reverses direction and moves toward the target. This type of pushing motion inhibits the speed at which a ball can be thrown by a player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device that trains a player to draw the ball back away from the target with the arm and hand placed in a correct position with the palm facing away from the player, thereby causing the player to use proper throwing mechanics when the hand reverses direction and moves toward the target, whereby the speed at which a ball can be thrown by a player is optimized.
For the purpose of this application the term “visual indicators” may be used interchangeably with the term “visual indicator” or “visual indicator zone.”
The device comprises of a ball with visual indicators located on its outer surface. The visual indicators can be incorporated into the surface of the ball during the manufacturing process using any common means, such as, imprinting with ink, dye or stamping, or these visual indicators can be added to a ball following the manufacturing process by using any common means, such as, adhesive decals, felt tip pen or stamping. The visual indicators are at locations on the ball that correlate to the player's line of sight and to the anatomical position of the player's arm, whereby the player is able to ascertain whether the arm is positioned correctly as it is being drawn back away from the target based on which visual indicators can be viewed by the player as the ball is being drawn back.
For proper use of the device in a preferred method, the player grips the ball with throwing hand placed in a specific location on the ball, wherein this location correlates with the visual indicators and the player's line of sight, whereby a hand placement marking or several hand placement markings are present on the ball to indicate said location.
In using the device a player places the throwing hand on said specific location on the ball and then draws the ball back away from the target in preparation for a throw. The player maintains continuous visual contact with the ball as it is being drawn back and uses the arm and hand to reposition the ball as may be required to maximize visual contact with certain visual indicators and minimize or eliminate visual contact with certain other visual indicators, whereby said repositioning of the ball places the arm and hand in the proper position throughout the process of drawing the ball back away from the target.
A baseball and a method of instructing throwing a baseball is disclosed. The baseball has a seam, a first, preferably green, color zone placed on a first side of the ball, a second, preferably yellow color zone placed around a first circumference of the ball, and a third, preferably red, color zone placed on a second side of the ball. A pair of finger placement markings are carried on the first color zone. The baseball player is instructed to engage in a proper throwing motion, and the ball confirms by maintaining visual line of sight with the first color zone throughout, providing feedback of a correct throwing motion in which the ball is drawn away from the target with the arm and hand placed in a correct position.
The ball may include a spin monitoring line that encircles the ball at its hemisphere, wherein this line may be solid or dashed line, whereby this line provides visual indication as to whether ball is rotating properly on its horizontal axis as it travels in mid-air toward its target.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1-9 and comprises of a standard baseball that is imprinted with three visual indicators, several hand placement markings and a spin monitoring line.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a baseball with a first color pattern scheme;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective rear view of the device with the first color pattern scheme;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view the device with the first color pattern scheme;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view showing a player's hand gripping the device in a preferred manner;

FIG. 5 is a top side perspective view of a player in an initial stage of drawing the ball back away from the target with the ball gripped and positioned in a preferred manner;

FIG. 6 is perspective view showing a player in an initial stage of drawing the ball back away from the target with the ball gripped properly but the hand positioned incorrectly;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a player with the ball fully drawn back away from the target with the pp ball positioned in a preferred manner;

FIG. 8 is perspective view showing a player with the ball fully drawn back away from the target with the ball positioned incorrectly;

FIG. 9 is a view of the ball spinning properly in mid-flight as it moves toward its target shown from the perspective view of the player;

FIGS. 10-12 are front, rear and side perspective views, respectively, of an alternate embodiment of a baseball with a second color pattern scheme.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
For the purpose of this application the term “ball” is intended to include standard baseballs and standard softballs, as well as balls that are not considered standard baseballs or a standard softballs. Several examples of which include, but are not limited to, balls that may be weighted or underweighted, balls that may be softer or have a cushioned core, balls that may not have seams, balls that may be hollow, balls that may be molded, balls that may be comprised of a single material throughout and balls that may be larger or smaller than a traditional baseball or softball.
Referring generally to FIGS. 1-3, in a preferred embodiment, the device begins with a standard baseball 1.
A first visual indicator 2 is preferably a solid circle (preferably colored, such as green) which is centered on the front of the ball and in a preferred embodiment measures roughly 2½″ in diameter. A second visual indicator 3 is preferably a straight solid line. (preferably colored, such as yellow) that in a preferred embodiment measures ¾″ in width and preferably encircles the ball 1 adjacent to the first visual indicator 2.
A third visual indicator 4 is located on the rear of the ball 1 and preferably covers the remaining surface area of the ball that is not covered by the first visual indicator 2 or covered by the second visual indicator 3.
In the description above, a three color stoplight scheme is described (green/yellow/red). However, the invention is not limited to this color scheme, or even colors in general. Rather, patterns, shading, or any other distinguishing features could be used to signify a differentiating indicator for the player to visualize as the ball 1 is grasped.
In art alternate embodiment and optionally, a spin monitor line 6 preferably measuring approximately ¾″ in diameter is a straight solid black line that encircles the ball at its hemisphere, crossing each of indicators 2, 3 and 4. On the front of the ball 1, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, this line 6 transverses the center of the first visual indicator 2 and transverses two seams 7 of the ball in a perpendicular manner. On the rear of the ball 1 as shown in FIG. 2 the spin monitoring line 6 transverses the center of the third visual indicator 4 and passes directly between the two seams of the ball 7 that are present within the third visual indicator 4.
In a preferred embodiment, two hand placement markings 5 are located on the front of the ball 1 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 to indicate the locations at which the player's forefingers should be placed on the ball (see, e.g., FIG. 4). The markings 5 are preferably colored lines that preferably measure ⅛″ in width. The markings 5 preferably run roughly parallel to the spin monitoring line 6 and substantially parallel to each other with, in a preferred embodiment, a 1″ space between them. In a preferred embodiment, the markings 5 are placed atop first visual indicator 2 and may transverse the entire visual indicator 2, wherein they transverse two seams of the ball 7 in a perpendicular manner.
In using the device as shown in FIG. 4 a player places the forefingers 8 of the throwing hand 9 on the two finger placement markings 5 of the ball 1.
FIG. 5 is a snapshot perspective view of the player in an initial stage of drawing the ball 1 back away from the intended target (not shown) with the hand 9 positioned correctly on the ball 1, whereby the player is positioning the ball 1 to maintain visual contact with a maximal portion of the first visual indicator 2, a minimal portion of the second visual indicator 3 and preferably no portion of the third visual indicator 4. Viewing first visual indicator 2 (preferably green in color) immediately alerts the player that the ball 1 is being thrown correctly.
In contrast to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 is a snapshot perspective view of the player in an initial stage of drawing the ball 1 back away from the target with the hand 9 positioned incorrectly, whereby the player has visual contact with a significant portion of the third visual indicator 4 and no line of sight contact with the first visual indicator 2. Viewing third visual indicator 4 (preferably red in color) immediately alerts the player that the ball 1 is being thrown incorrectly.
FIG. 7 is a snapshot perspective view of the player in the final stage of drawing the ball 1 back away from the target with the hand 9 positioned correctly, whereby the player is positioning the ball 1 to maintain visual contact with a significant portion of the first visual indicator 2, a minimal portion of the second visual indicator 3 and no portion of the third visual indicator 4.
FIG. 8 is a snapshot perspective view of the player of the player in the final stage of drawing the ball 1 back away from the target with the hand 9 positioned incorrectly, whereby the player has visual contact with a significant portion of the third visual indicator 4 and no visual contact with the first visual indicator 2.
At the final stage of drawing the ball 1 back as shown in FIGS. 7-8 the player may elect to discontinue the throwing process or may continue the throwing process and throw the ball 1 toward a target. If the player elects to throw the ball 1, the player may visually track the ball 1 in mid-flight after it is released from the throwing hand, whereby the spin monitor line 6 will appear as a solid vertical line as shown in FIG. 9 if the ball 1 was thrown correctly and is rotating on its horizontal axis, and whereby the spin monitor line 6 will not appear as a solid vertical line if the ball 1 was thrown incorrectly and is not rotating on its horizontal axis.
Referring now to FIGS. 10-12, front, rear and side perspective views, respectively of an alternate embodiment of a baseball 1 with a second color pattern scheme are shown. Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, again first visual indicator 2 is preferably a solid circle (preferably colored, such as green) which is centered on the front of the ball, but in this embodiment covering the entirety of the first side of the ball 1. In this embodiment, referring now to FIG. 11, second visual indicator 3 is again a straight solid line (preferably colored, such as yellow) but in this embodiment second visual indicator 3 is on the second side of ball 1, and third visual indicator 4 still located on the rear of the ball 1 covers the remaining surface area of the ball that is not covered by the first visual indicator 2 or covered by the second visual indicator 3.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.

Claims

I/We Claim:

1. A ball comprising:

a seam;

a first visual indicator zone placed on a first side of said ball;

a second visual indicator zone placed around. a first circumference of said ball;

a third visual indicator zone placed on a second side of said ball, across said second visual indicator zone from said first visual indicator zone;

a pair of finger placement markings carried by said first visual indicator zone.

2. A ball according to claim 1, said ball further comprising a spin indicating marker placed around a second circumference of said ball, said second circumference substantially perpendicular to said first circumference.

3. A ball according to claim 1, each of said finger placement markings crossing said seam in at least one location.

4. A ball according to claim 1, said first visual indicator zone comprising a first color.

5. A ball according to claim 4, said second visual indicator zone comprising a second color, different than said first color.

6. A ball according to claim 5, said third visual indicator zone comprising a third color, said third color different than said second color.

7. A method of instructing a baseball player how to throw a baseball comprising:

providing said player with a ball comprising a first visual indicator zone on a first side of said ball, said first visual indicator zone carrying a first finger placement marking, a second visual indicator zone about a circumference of said ball, and a third visual indicator zone on a second side of said ball, opposite said first side;

instructing said player to place a first finger on said first finger placement marking;

instructing said player to maintain line of sight with said first visual indicator zone during a throwing motion.

8. A method according to claim 3, said method further comprising instructing said player to avoid line of sight with said third visual indicator zone during said throwing motion.

9. A method according to claim 3, said method further comprising providing said player with said ball further comprising a second finger placement marking, and instructing said player to place a second finger on said second finger placement marking.

10. A method according to claim 3, said method further comprising providing said player with said ball further comprising a spin indicating marker placed around a second circumference of said ball, said second circumference substantially perpendicular to said first circumference; and instructing said player to throw said ball to result in said spin indicating marker appearing as a solid vertical line.