U.S. patent application number 10/321292 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-27 for adjustable sports-club trainer arrangement.
Invention is credited to Orlando, Joseph M..
Application Number | 20030220177 10/321292 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46281734 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030220177 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Orlando, Joseph M. |
November 27, 2003 |
Adjustable sports-club trainer arrangement
Abstract
A swing trainer apparatus for the teaching of a sport player the
proper follow-through of a swing to hit a ball or puck. The swing
trainer apparatus comprises a movable hanger assembly supporting a
plurality of swing resistant straps and a support arrangement for
adjustably supporting the hanger assembly, to permit the swing
resistant straps to be moved for different sport players.
Inventors: |
Orlando, Joseph M.;
(Gloucester, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald N. Halgren
35 Central St
Manchester
MA
01944
US
|
Family ID: |
46281734 |
Appl. No.: |
10/321292 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10321292 |
Dec 17, 2002 |
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09740769 |
Dec 19, 2000 |
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6494820 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/0057 20130101;
A63B 69/36212 20200801; A63B 21/04 20130101; A63B 2069/0008
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/148 |
International
Class: |
A63B 001/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A swing trainer apparatus for the teaching of a sport player the
proper follow-through of a swing to hit a ball or puck, said swing
trainer apparatus comprising: a movable hanger assembly supporting
a plurality of swing resistant straps; a support arrangement for
adjustably supporting said hanger assembly, to permit said swing
resistant straps to be moved for different sport players.
2. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said
movable hanger comprises a frame for supporting said straps in a
vertical array.
3. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said
support arrangement comprises a hanger post attached to said hanger
assembly.
4. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 3; wherein said
hanger post is vertically adjustable.
5. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said
hanger post is rotatably adjustable about a vertical axis.
6. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said
hanger post is supported on an elongated support arm.
7. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said
support arm is supported on a main support post.
8. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said
support arm is rotatable about a vertical axis of said main support
post.
9. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said
support arm is vertically adjustable with respect to said main
post, by an adjustment bold disposed therebetween.
10. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said
straps are supported in a configuration to define a homeplate shape
for a player to swing a bat towards.
11. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said
support arrangement is connected to an attachment bracket for
securement to a basketball hoop.
12. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein
said attachment bracket comprises an upper hoop bracket connector
and a lower hoop bracket connector.
13. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein
said upper hoop bracket connector and said lower hoop bracket
connector are securable to the upper and lower sides of a
basketball hoop ring.
14. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein
said upper hoop bracket connector and said lower hoop bracket
connector have an arrangement of radial arms extending from an
upper and a lower post housing respectively.
15. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein
said arms have an outer end with a flange thereon to engage an
outer edge of said ring.
16. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein
said upper hoop bracket connector and said lower hoop bracket
connector are secured together on said ring by a plurality of
bolts.
17. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at
least one of said straps has a swing target arranged thereon.
18. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said
support assembly includes an elongated twistable and bendable
spring therewith to minimize any shock of hitting said straps.
19. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein
said spring is arranged between a hanger post and a hanger assembly
to permit a player from being injured while swing a bat or stick
into said straps.
20. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein a
hanger post from a frame carrying said straps is vertically
arranged through said hoop connector brackets to permit said frame
to be vertically adjusted with respect to said basketball ring.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to an apparatus for improving the
swing of a player utilizing a sports bat, club or racquet, and is a
continuation in part application of my co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/740,769 filed Dec. 19, 2000, and is
incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] The attainment of success in any sport requires
concentration, muscle development and "follow-through",
particularly in those sports utilizing a bat, club, or a racquet.
"Follow-through" may be defined as completing the swing of that
bat, club or racquet through an arc from an initial start position,
then around and into the strike zone, and thereafter maintaining
that swing until the player's arm has been fully extended. The
necessity for such follow-through is often a requirement for
directing the ball or puck in the direction in which the player has
intended and for providing the power to drive the ball or puck with
maximum force. Such follow-through, though, is a difficult lesson
to learn and to remember. Muscle memory would ensure that such
follow through would take place if the player could in fact develop
such a muscle memory capability.
[0005] The sports of baseball, golf, tennis, and hockey all require
an arcuate and full swing of a bat, club, or racquet. Other body
motion other than movement of the arm is also required. It is thus
significant to instill in the player, a muscle memory so that such
follow through becomes automatic.
[0006] There exists no arrangement or apparatus to instill upon the
player, the reminder that the follow-through be undertaken each
time, except for a coach or personal trainer who must otherwise be
present during practice or playing and remind that player each time
a swing is undertaken.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus which will provide a sport player with the follow-through
skills necessary which are not taught by the prior art.
[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
sport skill training device which does not require assistance to
operate.
[0009] It is still yet a further object of the present invention to
provide a realistic sports swing training apparatus which is
adaptable to a number of sports so that its use may be appreciated
by a number of different players.
[0010] It is a still yet further object of the present invention to
provide a sport training apparatus which is stepwise adaptable to
the improving skill level of the particular player or user of that
apparatus.
[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
bat or racket swing training apparatus which is adaptable for
attachment to existing sports equipment such as basketball hoops
with minimal effort and equipment.
[0012] It is a further object of the present invention which is
rotatably adaptable for left or right handed players.
[0013] It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide a swing trainer which is heightwise variable for different
height players.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention comprises an improved, movably
supported swing trainer apparatus for instructing a player of
baseball, tennis, hockey or golf, in the lessons of "following
through" with the swing of their bat, racquet, club or stick.
[0015] The swing trainer apparatus of the present invention
comprises a vertically supported hanger assembly comprised of a
housing, a plurality of downwardly extending flexible, spaced-apart
swing resistant straps supported within that housing. The housing
has an upper portion defined as a hanger assembly with an
elongated, bendable spring, extending vertically therefrom. The
bendable spring has an upper end which is attached to a vertically
adjustable hanger post. The hanger post is adjustably lockable
within a generally cylindrically shaped post-bearing housing. The
post bearing housing is arranged on the distal end of a support
arm. The support arm has a proximal end which is fixedly attached
to an enclosure bearing. The enclosure bearing is a generally
cylindrically shaped housing which is vertically adjustable on a
main support post.
[0016] The main support post may be telescopable, and is vertically
adjustable itself into a post housing arranged about the lowermost
end of the support post. The post housing is a generally
cylindrically shaped member having a lower end which is fixedly
attached to a support post base. The support post is heightwise
adjustable with respect to the post housing, through a plurality of
spaced apart openings which receive a lower adjustment bolt
therethrough. The lower adjustment bolt rides on the upper edge of
the post housing to permit the vertical adjustment of the support
post with respect to the post housing. A support post is swingable
with respect to the lower post housing, to permit the entire
assembly to be rotated about the vertical axis of the support
post.
[0017] The main support post preferably also has a plurality of
vertically spaced apart adjustment openings near its uppermost end.
An upper adjustment bolt is arranged through the enclosure bearing
to engage successively any one of the spaced apart adjustment
openings in the upper end of the support post, to permit the
support arm to be vertically raised or lowered with respect to that
main support post.
[0018] The frame of the hanger assembly as aforementioned supports
a plurality of generally horizontally arranged strap support rods
and vertically disposed swing resistant straps arranged thereon.
That frame assembly may have a peripheral shape which defines in
one embodiment wherein a "home plate" shape is configured as its
"footprint" so as to provide a player or user of this apparatus,
with a realistic and proper geometric and spacial swing area in
which a baseball would likely travel for that player to swing
at.
[0019] The plurality of vertically disposed swing resistant straps
have a foremost strap or straps which may present a target thereon.
Such a target in one preferred embodiment, may be the
representation of a baseball. Such a target representation may of
course be adjusted vertically depending upon the height of the
player being instructed.
[0020] The hanger post in the post bearing on the distal end of the
support arm may be rotated about its vertical axis 180 degrees so
as to provide that target to an alternatively handed player that is
a left handed player or a right handed player.
[0021] When a player being instructed to follow-through with his or
her swing, the bat or sports racquet will swing through the swing
resistant straps thus providing the muscle tone and memory, to
encourage such a follow through for proper playing of the sport.
The vertically disposed bendable spring arranged between the upper
side of the hanger assembly and the lower portion of the hanger
post will yield and may twist somewhat so as to not provide too
much resistance and injure the player during long practice
sessions.
[0022] The swing resistant straps are hung in a parallel array on a
plurality of removable parallel strap support rods. Initial
practice with this apparatus, may consist of only utilizing several
parallel support rods with the swing resistant straps thereon. Each
of the swing resistant straps may be held in an overlapping
relationship to the strap support rods and held in that position by
a fastener, such as a rivet. Those flexible straps may be changed,
and may be slidably adjustable on those support rods in the support
rod axial direction of those as desired by the player being
trained.
[0023] A further embodiment of the present invention may consist of
the hanger post and hanger assembly being vertically supported on
an attachment bracket arrangement. The attachment bracket
arrangement is comprised of an upper hoop bracket connector and a
lower hoop bracket connector. The upper hoop bracket connector and
the lower hoop bracket connector mate about the ring of a
basketball hoop, so as to provide the swing trainer assembly to be
utilized on an existing piece of sports equipment, such as a
basketball hoop with its typical backboard and basketball hoop
support post supporting that assembly.
[0024] The attachment bracket arrangement or bracket connector in
this embodiment comprises a lower post bearing in the lower hoop
bracket connector, and an upper post bearing for receipt of the
upper portion of the hanger post therethrough. A receiving opening
extends through the lower post bearing so as to permit an
adjustment bolt to be received through the adjustment hole and into
the receiving openings in the upper end of the hanger post. This
permits the hanger post to be vertically adjustable with respect to
the connector bracket arrangement attached to the basketball hoop.
The lower hoop bracket connector and the upper hoop bracket
connector may each have a plurality of radially directed arms which
are in vertical alignment with one another on either side of the
basketball hoop. Each radially directed arm may have an opening
therethrough for receipt of a connector bolt. The arms each have a
flange or lip on their radially outer or distalmost end to engage
the outer periphery of the basketball hoop to lock that connector
arrangement therearound. The connector bolts secure the upper hoop
bracket connector to the lower hoop bracket connector both
connectors thus being securedly fixed to the basketball hoop.
[0025] Thus, such a hanger assembly may vertically support a
plurality of swing resistant straps from an existing sports
apparatus such as a basketball hoop, while providing the same
vertical adjustment with respect to those swing resistant straps
and also providing the bendable spring arranged between the lower
portion of the hanger post and the upperpost portion of the hanger
assembly to permit the yielding of that assembly as a bat or
racquet is pushed through the swing resistant straps.
[0026] The invention thus comprises a swing trainer apparatus for
the teaching of a sport player the proper follow-through of a swing
to hit a ball or puck. The said swing trainer apparatus comprises a
movable hanger assembly supporting a plurality of swing resistant
straps; a support arrangement for adjustably supporting the hanger
assembly, to permit the swing resistant straps to be moved for
different sport players. The movable hanger may comprise a frame
for supporting the straps in a vertical array. The support
arrangement may comprise a hanger post attached to the hanger
assembly. The hanger post may be is vertically adjustable. The
hanger post may be rotatably adjustable about a vertical axis. The
hanger post may be supported on an elongated support arm. The
support arm may be supported on a main support post. The support
arm may be rotatable about a vertical axis of the main support
post. The support arm may be vertically adjustable with respect to
the main post, by an adjustment bold disposed therebetween. The
straps may be supported in a rectilinear configuration to define a
baseball game "homeplate" shape for a player to swing a bat
towards. The support arrangement may be connected to an attachment
bracket for securement to a basketball hoop. The attachment bracket
may comprise an upper hoop bracket connector and a lower hoop
bracket connector. The upper hoop bracket connector and the lower
hoop bracket connector are securable to the upper and lower sides
of a basketball hoop ring. The upper hoop bracket connector and the
lower hoop bracket connector have an arrangement of radial arms
extending from an upper and a lower post housing respectively. The
arms may have an outer end with a flange thereon to engage an outer
edge of the basketball hoop ring. The upper hoop bracket connector
and the lower hoop bracket connector are secured together on the
ring by a plurality of bolts. At least one of the straps may have a
swing target arranged thereon. The support assembly may include an
elongated twistable and bendable spring therewith. The spring is
preferably arranged between a hanger post and a hanger assembly to
permit a player from being injured while swinging a bat or stick
into the straps.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The objects and advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent when viewed in conjunction with the following
drawings in which:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swing trainer apparatus
constructed according to the principles of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective of the hanger assembly and the swing
resistant straps in an enlarged viewing thereof, similar to that
shown in FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a swing
resistant strap and its strap support rod arranged therewith;
and
[0031] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of the
present invention wherein the hanger assembly and swing resistant
strap arrangement may be fixedly and adjustably attached to an
existing sports apparatus such as a basketball hoop assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to
FIG. 1, there is shown the present invention which comprises a
movably supported swing trainer apparatus 10 for instructing a
player of baseball, tennis, hockey or golf, in the lessons of
"following through" with the swing of their bat, racquet, club or
stick.
[0033] The swing trainer apparatus 10 of the present invention
comprises a vertically supported hanger assembly 12 comprised of a
housing 14, a plurality of downwardly extending flexible,
spaced-apart swing resistant straps 16 supported within that
housing 14. The housing 14 has an upper portion defined as a hanger
assembly 18 with an elongated, bendable and twistable coil spring
20 extending vertically therefrom. The bendable spring 20 has an
upper end which is attached to a vertically adjustable hanger post
22, as shown in FIGS. 1 and. 3. The hanger post 22 is adjustably
lockable within a generally cylindrically shaped post-bearing
housing 24, shown in FIG. 1. The post-bearing housing 22 is
arranged on the distal end of a support arm 26. The support arm 26
has a proximal end which is fixedly attached to an enclosure
bearing 28. The enclosure bearing 28 is a generally cylindrically
shaped housing which is vertically adjustable on a main support
post 30, as represented in FIG. 1.
[0034] The main support post 30 may be telescopable, and is
vertically and rotatably adjustable itself into a post housing 32
arranged about the lowermost end of the support post 30. The post
housing 32 is preferably a generally cylindrically shaped member
having a lower end 34 which is fixedly attached to a support post
base 36, which base 36 may be movably supported on wheels, not
shown for clarity. The support post 32 is heightwise adjustable
with respect to the post housing 34 through a plurality of
longitudinally spaced apart openings 38 which receive a lower
adjustment bolt 40 therethrough. The lower adjustment bolt 40
slidably rides on the upper edge 42 of the post housing 32, as
shown in FIG. 1, to permit the vertical (and rotational) adjustment
of the support post 30 with respect to the post housing 32, as
represented by the arrows "H" and "R" respectively. The support
post 30 is thus swingable with respect to the lower post housing
32, to permit the entire assembly to be rotated about the vertical
axis "V" of the support post 30.
[0035] The main support post 30 preferably also has a plurality of
vertically spaced apart adjustment openings 42 near its uppermost
end, as shown in FIG. 1. An upper adjustment bolt 44 is arranged
through the enclosure bearing 28 to engage successively any one of
the spaced apart adjustment openings 42 in the upper end of the
support post 30, to permit the support arm 26 to be vertically
raised or lowered with respect to that main support post 30.
[0036] The frame 14 of the hanger assembly 12 as aforementioned,
supports a plurality of generally horizontally arranged strap
support rods 50 and vertically disposed swing resistant straps 16
arranged thereon, as may be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. That frame
assembly 12 may have a peripheral shape or contour which defines in
one preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, wherein a "home plate"
shape is configured as its "footprint" 52, so as to provide a
player or user of this apparatus 10 with a realistic and proper
geometric and spacial swing area in which a baseball would likely
travel for that player to swing.
[0037] The plurality of vertically disposed swing resistant straps
16 have a foremost strap 54 or straps which may present a target 56
thereon. Such a target in one preferred embodiment, as represented
in FIGS. 1 and 2, may be the representation of a baseball 58. Such
a target representation may of course be adjusted vertically
depending upon the height of the player being instructed.
[0038] The hanger post 22 in the post bearing 24 on the distal end
of the support arm 26 may be rotated about its vertical axis 180
degrees, as represented by arrows "A", so as to provide that target
to an alternatively handed player that is a left handed player or a
right handed player.
[0039] When a player being instructed to follow-through with his or
her swing, the bat or sports racquet will swing through the swing
resistant straps thus providing the muscle tone and memory, to
encourage such a follow through for proper playing of the sport.
The vertically disposed bendable and twistable coil spring 28
arranged between the upper side of the hanger assembly 18 and the
lower portion of the hanger post 22 will yield and may twist
somewhat so as to not provide too much resistance and injure the
player during long practice sessions.
[0040] The swing resistant straps 16 are hung in a parallel array
on a plurality of removable parallel strap support rods 50 as
represented best in FIG. 2. Initial practice with this apparatus,
may consist of only utilizing several parallel support rods 50 with
the swing resistant straps 16 thereon. Each of the swing resistant
straps 16 may be held in an overlapping relationship to the strap
support rods 50 and held in that position by a fastener, such as a
rivet 60, as shown in FIG. 3. Those flexible straps 16 may be
changed, and may be slidably adjustable on those support rods 50 in
the support rod's 50 axial direction of those as desired by the
player being trained.
[0041] A further embodiment of the present invention may consist of
the hanger post and hanger assembly 12 being vertically supported
on an attachment bracket arrangement 70, as shown in FIG. 4. The
attachment bracket arrangement 70 is comprised of an upper hoop
bracket connector 72 and a lower hoop bracket connector 74. The
upper hoop bracket connector 72 and the lower hoop bracket
connector 74 mate about the ring 76 of a basketball hoop 78, so as
to provide the swing trainer assembly to be utilized on an existing
piece of sports equipment, such as a basketball hoop with its
typical backboard and basketball hoop support post 80 supporting
that assembly 12.
[0042] The attachment bracket arrangement or bracket connector 70
in this embodiment comprises a lower post bearing 82 in the lower
hoop bracket connector 74, and an upper post bearing 84 for
vertical and rotatable adjustable receipt of the upper portion 86
of the hanger post 12 therethrough. A receiving opening 88 extends
through the lower post bearing 82 so as to permit an adjustment
bolt 90 to be received through the adjustment hole 88 and into the
receiving openings 92 in the upper end of the hanger post 12. This
permits the hanger post 12 to be vertically adjustable with respect
to the connector bracket arrangement 70 attached to the basketball
hoop 78. The lower hoop bracket connector 74 and the upper hoop
bracket connector 72 may each have a plurality of radially directed
arms 94 which are in vertical alignment with one another on either
side of the basketball hoop ring 76. Each radially directed arm 94
may have an opening 96 therethrough for receipt of a connector bolt
98. The arms 94 each have a flange or lip 100 on their radially
outer or distalmost end to engage the outer periphery of the
basketball hoop ring 76 to lock that connector arrangement
therearound. The connector bolts 98 secure the upper hoop bracket
connector 72 to the lower hoop bracket connector 74, both
connectors 72 and 74 thus being securedly fixed to the ring 76 of
the basketball hoop 78.
[0043] Thus, such a hanger assembly may vertically support a
plurality of swing resistant straps from an existing sports
apparatus such as a basketball hoop, while providing the same
vertical adjustment with respect to those swing resistant straps
and also providing the bendable spring arranged between the lower
portion of the hanger post and the upperpost portion of the hanger
assembly to permit the yielding of that assembly as a bat or
racquet is pushed through the swing resistant straps.
* * * * *