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
  • A63B69/0073—Means for releasably holding a ball in position; Balls constrained to move around a fixed point, e.g. by tethering
  • A63B69/0079—Balls tethered to a line or cord
• • 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
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B2208/00—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player
  • A63B2208/12—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player specially adapted for children
• • 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
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B43/00—Balls with special arrangements
  • A63B43/007—Arrangements on balls for connecting lines or cords
• • 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
  • A63B69/0073—Means for releasably holding a ball in position; Balls constrained to move around a fixed point, e.g. by tethering
  • A63B69/0091—Balls fixed to a movable, tiltable or flexible arm

Definitions

• No. 5,271,618 shows a batting practice device that includes a horizontally extending metal pipe from which a ball is suspended with a rope. The rope passes through a central aperture of the ball. A knot is formed at the end of the rope that holds the ball on the rope.
• Rabine U.S. Patent No. 5,624,113 shows a portable batting system that can be attached to a chain link fence. Additional systems that suspend balls from ropes mounted to horizontal support members are shown, for example, in Lunsford
• 5,374,056 shows a baseball practice device that suspends a ball from a "Y" shaped tether system that is itself supported by two horizontal arms that are also arranged in a "Y" shaped configuration.
• the "Y" shaped tether system is visually distracting and mechanically complicated and the "Y" shaped arms can add substantial weight to the upper portion of the device, potentially destabilizing it.
• a ball hitting practice apparatus that includes a substantially rigid member, a hinge, and a ball mounting assembly.
• the substantially rigid member has a first, upper end and a second, lower end.
• the hinge can be supported by a frame and the upper end of the substantially rigid member is fixed to the hinge such that the member can rotate about a substantially horizontal axis.
• the ball mounting assembly is suspended from the lower end of the substantially rigid member .
• FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an illustrative embodiment of a ball hitting practice apparatus according to the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of another illustrative embodiment of a ball hitting practice apparatus according to the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional, partial elevational view of the hinge region between two elongated portions that make up the substantially rigid member shown in FIG. 2 according to the present invention.
• FIG. 3a is a perspective view of an illustrative base of a ball hitting practice apparatus according to this invention.
• FIG. 3b is a side elevational view of an illustrative vertical support structure and a mechanism for adjusting its length according to this invention.
• FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an illustrative embodiment of a ball mounting assembly (front view) and the lower end of the rigid member (side view), from which the assembly is suspended according to the present invention. This view corresponds to the portion enclosed by a dashed box shown FIG. 2.
• FIG. 5 is an elevational view of another illustrative embodiment of a ball mounting assembly (front view) and the lower end of the rigid member (side view), from which the assembly is suspended according to the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is an elevational view of yet another illustrative embodiment of a ball mounting assembly (front view) and the lower end of the rigid member (side view), from which the assembly is suspended according to the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial front elevational view of the ball hitting practice apparatus shown in FIG. 1, taken from line 7-7 of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is a front partial elevational view of the ball hitting practice apparatus shown in FIG. 2, taken from line 8-8 of FIG. 2 according to the present invention.
• FIG. 9 is a top partial plan view of the ball hitting practice apparatus shown in FIG. 2, taken from line 9-9 of FIG. 2 according to the present invention.
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view of yet another illustrative embodiment of a ball hitting practice apparatus according to the present invention.
• FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the ball hitting practice apparatus shown in FIG. 10, taken from line 11-11 of FIG. 10 according to the present invention.
• FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative lower end of a substantially rigid member according to this invention.
• FIG. 1 shows ball hitting practice apparatus 10 according to this invention.
• Apparatus 10 at least includes (1) substantially rigid member 15 having first end 17 and second end 19, (2) hinge 20 attached at or near first end 17 such that second end 19 rotates about a substantially horizontal axis, and (3) ball mounting assembly 25.
• second end 19 rotates in a substantially vertical plane.
• member 15 is elongated and rotates in a substantially vertical plane.
• Ball mounting assembly 25 includes tether 30 and ball mounting device 29, which is suspended from tether 30. In one embodiment, member 15 is longer than assembly 25.
• the substantially rigid member can be made from two or more substantially rigid portions 16 and 18 connected by second hinge 21 so that each of portions 16 and 18 is capable of movement with respect to the other.
• second hinge 21 permits motion only in, or parallel with, the vertical plane already provided by hinge 20.
• hinge 21 can be a cylinder-and-socket type connector, which includes cylinder 27 and socket 29.
• the cylinder only rotates about its longitudinal axis in the socket. This serves to restrict rotation of the lower portion to a substantially vertical plane.
• apparatus 10 can also include frame 40 for attaching hinge 20.
• frame 40 includes substantially horizontal support structure 50 onto which hinge 20 is secured.
• Apparatus 10 can also include substantially vertical support structure 60 for supporting structure 50.
• Structure 60 has upper end 62 and lower end 64.
• end 52 of horizontal structure 50 can be secured at or near end 62 of vertical structure 60 and hinge 20 can be secured at or near end 54 of horizontal structure 50.
• Frame 40 can also include base 70 for supporting vertical structure 60.
• substantially horizontal and substantially vertical structures 50 and 60 can be made from a single component, or from two or more components. It will be further appreciated that these components need not be oriented in the same direction.
• substantially horizontal support structure 50 actually includes components 55, 56, and 57.
• Base 70 can be located in or near the substantially vertical plane of rotation. As shown in FIG. 3a, for example, base 70 can include two or more legs 72 (which may be collapsible) . When used for baseball practice, base 70 can be placed behind home plate so that apparatus 10 can be used easily by both left and right handed hitters. Other types of bases can also be used, including water or sand filled bases. Both support structures 50 and 60 can have adjustable lengths to accommodate different user heights. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, these structures can be telescopically connected. Locking hardware, such as pins and/or mechanical belts or collars, can be used to secure the lengths of the telescopic structures. As shown in FIG.
• vertical support structure 60 includes locking structure 65, which rotates about pivot 66 and is insertable through outer component 67 via aperture 68 for engaging inner component 69.
• Adjustable collar 63 can also be used to tighten the coupling between inner and outer structural components 67 and 69 for the purpose of preventing wobble therebetween.
• Ball mounting assembly 25 includes ball mounting device 29, but can additionally include one or more components, such as tether 30.
• Tether 30 could have an adjustable length, using a variable length loop, adjustable with any convenient fixing means, including a cord latch or simply knot 32.
• Ball mounting assembly 25 is suspended from lower end 19 of member 15.
• FIG. 4 shows illustrative ball mounting device 70, which includes vertically suspended tube 72, plurality of shafts 74 that extend somewhat horizontally, and plurality of tubular members 76, which are supported by shafts 74.
• members 76 are adapted to rotate around each of shafts 74.
• Tubular members 76 can allow for releasable mounting of ball 80.
• Shafts 74 can be made from any material that is sufficiently stiff to support tubular member 76.
• shafts 74 allow rotation of tubular member 76, such as a rope (e.g., made from nylon) or a rod. As shown in FIG. 4, the same rope can be inserted through tube 72 to form loop 73 for attachment to tether 90.
• a releasable fastener can be used between device 70 and ball 80.
• the fastener can include two complementary halves 78 and 79. First half 78 is fixed to tubular member 76 and second half 79 is fixed to ball 80.
• One fastener of this type is a hook-and-loop type fastener (commonly referred to as VELCRO®) , with the hook portion preferably attached to device 70 and the loop portion attached to ball 80.
• a portion of tubular member 76 can be made concave for increasing contact surface between the two fastener halves.
• tubular member 76 or any other part of device 70 can be replaceable.
• FIG. 5 shows another illustrative releasable ball mounting device 100.
• Device 100 includes at least one cup 102 that is secured to tubular member 104.
• cup 102 is used instead of a tubular member with a concave portion.
• Tubular member 104 can be suspended by substantially horizontal shaft 103, which can be part of a larger support structure, such as triangular structure 105. Structure 105 need not be triangular, but should be capable of suspending member 104, preferably in a substantially horizontal manner.
• Tubular member 104 can optionally be rotatable about shaft 103.
• Cup 102 preferably has an inner radius of curvature that substantially matches the outer radius of curvature of ball 120.
• the concave shape of cup 102 serves to increase contact surface area with ball 120.
• a releasable fastener is used to facilitate attachment of cup 102 to ball 120.
• the fastener has two halves. First half 106 is fixed to inner surface of cup 102 and second half 108 is fixed to ball 120.
• One fastener of this type is a hook-and-loop type fastener (i.e., VELCRO®), with the hook portion preferably attached to device cup 102 and the loop portion attached to ball 120.
• cup 102 can be releasably attached to ball 120 using suction.
• cup 102 preferably attaches to a substantially smooth surface of ball 120.
• FIG. 6 shows another type of ball mounting device that includes a different type of releasable fastener.
• Ball mounting device 130 includes a releasable fastener that itself includes piercing half 132 and pierceable half 134.
• Piercing half 132 is preferably attached to lower end 136 of ball mounting device 130 and pierceable half 134 to ball 140.
• Piercing half 132 which is buried in pierceable half 134 in FIG. 6, includes at least one pointed member (e.g. a spike) .
• Pierceable half is preferably made from a penetrable material, such as rubber, that can withstand multiple pierces.
• a substantially rigid member according to this invention can be a rod made from a material that is preferably lightweight, substantially rigid, and/or soft. Materials that can be used to construct the substantially rigid member include, for example, foam, aluminum, plastic, rubber, or the like. Moreover, a combination of such materials can also be used.
• the substantially rigid member may include an aluminum rod surrounded by foam, rubber, or any other soft material to prevent injury.
• the substantially rigid member can have a length that is adjustable .
• FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial front elevational view of ball hitting practice apparatus 10, showing, in particular, hinge 20.
• Hinge 20 is preferably fixed near end 54 of horizontal structure 50 and to upper end 17 of member 15 such that member 15 is guided in substantially vertical plane 11.
• hinge 20 can include pin 24 (shaft-like member) having substantially horizontal longitudinal axis 23 about which bottom part 22 can rotate. This ensures that member 15, which is attached to bottom part 22, rotates substantially in vertical plane 11.
• Upper part 26 can either be integrated with structure 50 or secured thereto.
• FIG. 9 also shows hinge 20 and structure 50 from above. It will be appreciated that hinge 20 can be anything that substantially limits rotation of member 15 about a substantially horizontal axis. Hinge 20 can be constructed to provide member 15 limited motion out of vertical plane 11 as well.
• hinge 20 is preferably lightweight.
• hinge 20 should be small and preferably made with a lightweight material, such as plastic.
• passages can be molded into or bored from any part of hinge 20.
• bottom part 22 include passages 28.
• member 15 can be inserted into one of passages 28 and secured with set screw 31 or the like.
• FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of a ball hitting practice apparatus according to this invention.
• Apparatus 150 includes a different type of hinge than the one shown in FIG. 1.
• horizontal support structure 170 e.g., a horizontal bar of a children's swing set
• collar 180 acts as one half of the hinge and collar 180, to which member 190 is attached, is rotatably mounted on horizontal support structure 170.
• FIG. 11 shows a magnified side view of the region surrounding hinge 160.
• apparatus 150 also includes ball mounting assembly 192, which includes tether 194 and ball mounting device 196.
• Tether can be any elongated flexible component that is suspendable from the bottom of member 190, from which ball mounting device 196 can be suspended.
• tether 194 is adjustable in length and can be made from an elastic or inelastic string or rope.
• member 190 rotates in substantially vertical plane 198. It will be appreciated, however, that only the lower end of member 190 (where ball mounting assembly 192 is attached) can rotate in a vertical plane.
• member 190 can be mounted to hinge 160 at an angle. In this case, only the lower end of member 190 rotates in substantially vertical plane 199. It will be appreciated that any substantially rigid member according to this invention can be mounted in a similar fashion.
• a ball mounting assembly according to this invention can be of the releasable type.
• a ball mounting assembly can include a tether suspended from the lower split end of the substantially rigid member and a ball mounting device suspended from the tether.
• the tether can have an upper end with a releasable object, such as a bead, attached thereto.
• the lower split end of the rigid member can have a longitudinal passage adapted to hold the object until the tether has a tension greater than a threshold tension. When the threshold tension is reached, the object will slip through the passage.
• the apparatus is safer than non-detachable practice devices. For example, if a batter swings into the tether and entangles his bat, the detachable feature ensures that the frame does not topple and that the batter does not otherwise injure himself .
• the threshold tension is determined, at least in part, by the amount that the substantially rigid member must flex before the object can slip out.
• the threshold can be decreased by increasing the size of the passage, the rigidity of the substantially rigid member, or decreasing the friction between the object and the passage .
• split end 205 can be formed by forming longitudinal slot 207 at the end of a standard tube.
• split end 205, or entire rigid member 200 can be formed using any conventional molding technique.
• Longitudinal slot 207 preferably has a thickness that is less than the diameter of bead 230 to prevent bead 230 from falling out from end 205.
• the upper end of longitudinal slot 207 has a thickness that is greater than the diameter of bead 230 to allow manual insertion or removal of bead 230 from end 205.
• member 200 can be made from a material such as foam, aluminum, plastic, rubber, or the like.
• Hollow plug 240 can also be made from any of these materials.
• One suitable plastic material is sold by E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, of Wilmington, Delaware, under the trademark DELRIN®.
• Plug 240 can be attached to end 205 by any convenient means, including glue 250 or a set screw (not shown) . As shown in FIG. 12, the upper surface of plug 240 is sloped to center bead 230 at the upper end of bead passage 270. It will be appreciated that plug 240 is two unattached semi-annular pieces, each of which is attached to opposite inner surfaces of end 205. Because these pieces are unattached, they can separate when bead 230 is pulled in a downward direction from the position shown in FIG. 12.
• Bead 230 can be fixed to upper end 210 of tether 220 by threading end 210 through bead 230 as shown in FIG. 12.
• bead 230 and tether 220 can be formed from a single material. It will be appreciated, however, that tether 220 could be suspended with any object, including a non-spherical object.
• tip 260 of tether 220 is preferably thick enough such that tip 260 does not slip through bead 230, even when tension is applied to tether 220.
• member 200 can be integral with tether 220.
• member 200 and tether 220 can be made from a rope, where the upper portion that forms member 200 is hardened.
• a nylon rope can be hardened by coating it or impregnated with a resin (or by heating it) , while the lower portion is left flexible.
• the hinge between member 200 and tether 220 is simply the transitional region therebetween. In this case, member 200 and tether 220 may not be detachable.
• a method for practicing hitting a ball includes providing a ball hitting practice apparatus that includes a ball mounting device, mounting a ball on the ball mounting device, positioning the ball at a preferred height, allowing the ball to fall while attached to the ball mounting device, and hitting the ball with a hitting device.
• the ball hitting practice apparatus can be any of the embodiments shown or discussed above.
• Hitting devices that can be used according to this invention include, but are not limited to, a bat, a club, a racket, a stick, a bare hand, and a gloved hand.
• the ball should be positioned correctly during use of the apparatus. For example, when the ball is positioned correctly, the ball should be able to fall, causing the substantially rigid member to rotate on a hinge about a substantially horizontal axis. As explained above, the lower end of the member preferably moves in a substantially vertical plane.
• the ball can be positioned by raising the ball to a user-determined height. When the height is substantially above the lowest point along its path, the ball can fall under the force of gravity and pass that point (e.g., directly above or in front of home plate) along its arc at a high speed. When the ball is not raised to a lower height, the ball will pass that point at a lower speed. In this way, the speed of the ball passing the lowest point on the ball's arc can be adjusted. It will be appreciated that the ball can also be raised with an automated device, driven by an electric motor, or by any number of non-automated devices.
• An advantage of the present invention is that a ball attached to the ball mounting device can be made to travel in a substantially consistent fashion — in or out of the vertical plane, but limited by the path of the substantially rigid member, which is preferably elongated.
• the motion of the ball during its swing will be primarily in-plane.
• the ball is raised to the same position and then pushed in a direction that is out-of-plane, the motion of the ball will include out-of-plane motion.
• the ball can also be raised and released at a position outside the vertical plane.
• the apparatus when used to practice hitting a baseball, a number of different types of pitches (e.g., curve, outside, inside, etc.) can be simulated consistently with the apparatus.
• the combination of the substantially rigid member and the upper hinge is believed to be at least partially responsible for the ability of the apparatus to provide consistent yet variable simulations. This appears to be especially true when the substantially rigid member is longer than the ball mounting assembly.
• the method can further include adjusting that length to adapt the apparatus to the practicing hitter.
• the ball mounting assembly includes a ball mounting device and a tether with an adjustable length
• the method can further include adjusting the tether to a length to suit the practicing hitter.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)
• Golf Clubs (AREA)
• Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)
• Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
• Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
• Manipulator (AREA)
• Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)
• Percussive Tools And Related Accessories (AREA)
• Mirrors, Picture Frames, Photograph Stands, And Related Fastening Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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ID=22522734

Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (1)

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• 2000
  • 2000-07-27 IL IL14793800A patent/IL147938A0/xx unknown
  • 2000-07-27 EA EA200200231A patent/EA003178B1/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-07-27 YU YU8102A patent/YU8102A/sh unknown
  • 2000-07-27 BR BR0013091-5A patent/BR0013091A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2000-07-27 TR TR2002/00311T patent/TR200200311T2/xx unknown
  • 2000-07-27 PL PL00353951A patent/PL353951A1/xx not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2000-07-27 WO PCT/US2000/020503 patent/WO2001010515A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2000-07-27 CZ CZ2002382A patent/CZ2002382A3/cs unknown
  • 2000-07-27 JP JP2001515024A patent/JP2003506167A/ja active Pending
  • 2000-07-27 AU AU66108/00A patent/AU765813B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2000-07-27 CA CA002380743A patent/CA2380743A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-07-27 KR KR1020027001434A patent/KR20020043550A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-07-27 MX MXPA02001318A patent/MXPA02001318A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-07-27 HU HU0202445A patent/HUP0202445A2/hu unknown
  • 2000-07-27 EP EP00953707A patent/EP1206305A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-07-27 CN CNB00812888XA patent/CN100400128C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-01-30 ZA ZA200200837A patent/ZA200200837B/en unknown
  • 2002-02-21 BG BG06425A patent/BG106425A/xx unknown
• 2010
  • 2010-04-15 JP JP2010094504A patent/JP2010155167A/ja not_active Withdrawn

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