U.S. patent application number 10/189904 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-08 for training bat system.
Invention is credited to Black, Donald E..
Application Number | 20040005940 10/189904 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29999747 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040005940 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Black, Donald E. |
January 8, 2004 |
TRAINING BAT SYSTEM
Abstract
A training bat system for increasing the batting skills of a
baseball player. The training bat system includes a tubular member
having a center bore, a plurality of weight members removably
positioned within the center bore, an inner cap secured to an inner
end of the tubular member, and an outer cap secured to the outer
end of the tubular member. A compression spring is preferably
positioned between the weight members and the inner cap for
maintaining the weight members non-movably adjacent one another.
The tubular member is comprised of a first section having an outer
diameter similar to a handle gripping of a baseball bat, a second
section having a tapered structure, and a third section having an
outer diameter smaller than said first section.
Inventors: |
Black, Donald E.; (Van Wert,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael S. Neustel
Suite No. 4
2534 South University Drive
Fargo
ND
58103
US
|
Family ID: |
29999747 |
Appl. No.: |
10/189904 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/457 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 15/00 20130101;
A63B 2069/0008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/457 |
International
Class: |
A63B 069/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A training bat system, comprising: a tubular member having a
bore extending within from an inner end to a distal end of said
tubular member; a plurality of weight members positionable within
said bore; and an inner cap attachable to said inner end of said
tubular member for retaining said weight members within said
bore.
2. The training bat system of claim 1, wherein said tubular member
has a first section having a first diameter, a second section
extending from said first section, and a third section having a
third diameter, wherein said first diameter is greater than said
third diameter.
3. The training bat system of claim 2, wherein said second section
is comprised of a tapered structure.
4. The training bat system of claim 1, wherein said bore is
comprised of a consistent diameter.
5. The training bat system of claim 1, wherein said weight members
are comprised of varying weights.
6. The training bat system of claim 1, wherein said weight members
are comprised of varying sizes.
7. The training bat system of claim 1, wherein said inner cap has a
flanged portion and an extended portion.
8. The training bat system of claim 7, wherein said extended
portion is threaded for threadably engaging an interiorly threaded
portion of said inner end.
9. The training bat system of claim 1, including a compression
spring positioned between said weight members and said inner
cap.
10. The training bat system of claim 1, wherein said tubular member
is comprised of a plastic material.
11. A training bat system, comprising: a tubular member having a
bore extending within from an inner end through a distal end of
said tubular member; a plurality of weight members positionable
within said bore; an inner cap attachable to said inner end of said
tubular member for retaining said weight members within said bore;
and an outer cap attachable to said distal end of said tubular
member for retaining said weight members within said bore.
12. The training bat system of claim 11, wherein said tubular
member has a first section having a first diameter, a second
section extending from said first section, and a third section
having a third diameter, wherein said first diameter is greater
than said third diameter.
13. The training bat system of claim 12, wherein said second
section is comprised of a tapered structure.
14. The training bat system of claim 11, wherein said bore is
comprised of a consistent diameter.
15. The training bat system of claim 11, wherein said weight
members are comprised of varying weights.
16. The training bat system of claim 11, wherein said weight
members are comprised of varying sizes.
17. The training bat system of claim 11, wherein said inner cap has
a flanged portion and an extended portion.
18. The training bat system of claim 17, wherein said extended
portion is threaded for threadably engaging an interiorly threaded
portion of said inner end.
19. The training bat system of claim 11, including a compression
spring positioned between said weight members and said inner
cap.
20. The training bat system of claim 11, wherein said tubular
member is comprised of a plastic material.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable to this application.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable to this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1.Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates generally to baseball bat
training devices and more specifically it relates to a training bat
system for increasing the batting skills of a baseball player.
[0005] 1.Description of the Related Art
[0006] Batter training devices have been in use for years. A
commonly utilized batter training device is comprised of a weight
having a ring structure that surrounds the barrel of a baseball bat
often times referred to as a "doughnut." The weight placed upon a
conventional baseball bat increases the overall weight of the
baseball bat and the player then swings the baseball bat repeatedly
with the weight placed upon thereof.
[0007] While weights for baseball bats assist the player in
developing increased strength, they do not assist the player in
developing increased ball engagement accuracy. Conventional
baseball bat devices do not significantly increase the mental and
physical focus required to engage a baseball with the bat.
[0008] Examples of patented devices which may be related to the
present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 3,116,926 to Owen et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,908 to Muhlhausen; U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,773 to
Pomilia; U.S. Pat. No. 339,621 to Briden; U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,353
to Brundage; U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,193 to Nolan; and U.S. Pat. No.
5,456,461 to Sulllivan.
[0009] While these devices may be suitable for the particular
purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for
increasing the batting skills of a baseball player. Conventional
baseball bat training devices do not significantly assist with
developing mental and physical focus for engaging a baseball.
[0010] In these respects, the training bat system according to the
present invention substantially departs from the conventional
concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an
apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of increasing the
batting skills of a baseball player.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of baseball bat training devices now present in the prior
art, the present invention provides a new training bat system
construction wherein the same can be utilized for increasing the
batting skills of a baseball player.
[0012] The general purpose of the present invention, which will be
described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new
training bat system that has many of the advantages of the baseball
training devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that
result in a new training bat system which is not anticipated,
rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior
art baseball training devices, either alone or in any combination
thereof.
[0013] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a
tubular member having a center bore, a plurality of weight members
removably positioned within the center bore, an inner cap secured
to an inner end of the tubular member, and an outer cap secured to
the outer end of the tubular member. A compression spring is
preferably positioned between the weight members and the inner cap
for maintaining the weight members non-movably adjacent one
another. The tubular member is comprised of a first section having
an outer diameter similar to a handle gripping of a baseball bat, a
second section having a tapered structure, and a third section
having an outer diameter smaller than said first section.
[0014] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the
present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There
are additional features of the invention that will be described
hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims
appended hereto.
[0015] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0016] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a
training bat system that will overcome the shortcomings of the
prior art devices.
[0017] A second object is to provide a training bat system for
increasing the batting skills of a baseball player.
[0018] Another object is to provide a training bat system that
increases a baseball player's mental and physical focus for making
contact with a baseball.
[0019] An additional object is to provide a training bat system
that may be utilized within various sports that utilize a bat to
engage a ball such as but not limited to baseball, softball and
similar sports.
[0020] A further object is to provide a training bat system that
improves the hand and eye coordination of a player.
[0021] Another object is to provide a training bat system that may
be utilized by individuals of various ages, sizes and skill
levels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of
the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
[0023] FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a side exploded view of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 3 is an exploded upper perspective view of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a side cutaway view of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a side cutaway view of the present invention with
the weights removed from the tubular member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar
reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several
views, FIGS. 1 through 5 illustrate a training bat system 10, which
comprises a tubular member 20 having a center bore 27, a plurality
of weight members 60 removably positioned within the center bore
27, an inner cap 40 secured to an inner end 23 of the tubular
member 20, and an outer cap 30 secured to the outer end of the
tubular member 20. A compression spring 50 is preferably positioned
between the weight members 60 and the inner cap 40 for maintaining
the weight members 60 non-movably adjacent one another. The tubular
member 20 is comprised of a first section 22 having an outer
diameter similar to a handle gripping of a baseball bat, a second
section 24 having a tapered structure, and a third section 26
having an outer diameter smaller than said first section 22.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings, the tubular
member 20 is an elongate structure having a length similar to the
length of a conventional bat. The tubular member 20 has an open
distal end 21 and an open inner end 23 which are both interiorly
threaded as best illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. It can be
appreciated that either the distal end 21 or the inner end 23 may
be a closed structure as only one end is required to input the
weight members 60 within the tubular member 20.
[0030] The tubular member 20 is comprised of a relatively rigid
material such as but not limited to metal, plastic, polymer or
similar material. A suitable polymer material for the tubular
member 20 is manufactured by DUPONT under the trademark KEVLAR.
[0031] The tubular member 20 has a center bore 27 that extends from
the inner end 23 to the distal end 21 thereof as best shown in FIG.
5 of the drawings. The bore 27 may stop before or extend through
the distal end 21 of the tubular member 20. The bore 27 is
preferably comprised of a consistent diameter, however the bore 27
may be comprised of varying diameters to accommodate similar sized
weight members 60. The bore 27 may have various cross sectional
shapes such as but not limited to circular, square and the
like.
[0032] The exterior portion of the tubular member 20 is comprised
of a first section 22, a second section 24 and a third section 26
as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings. The first section 22
is basically the handle portion of the tubular member 20 and has
approximately the same outer diameter as a conventional bat for the
user to grasp.
[0033] The second section 24 is comprised of a tapered structure
extending from the first section 22 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of
the drawings. The second section 24 may be comprised of various
other shapes or the tubular member 20 may be constructed without
the second section 24.
[0034] The third section 26 of the tubular member 20 is comprised
of a generally consistent outer diameter. The outer diameter of the
third section 26 is smaller than the outer diameter of the first
section 22 thereby making it relatively difficult for a user to
engage a ball with the third section 26. As further shown in FIG. 5
of the drawings, the third section 26 is preferably longer than the
first section 22 and is preferably at least two times greater in
length than the first section 22.
[0035] The distal end 21 of the tubular member 20 is interior
threaded within the bore 27 as best shown in FIG. 5 of the
drawings. A recessed cavity 25 is preferably positioned within the
distal end 21 of the tubular member 20 for allowing the outer cap
30 to be threadably inserted within relatively flush with the
distal end 21 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings. The outer
cap 30 may have one or more slots for allowing a tool to engage for
removal and insertion thereof within the tubular member 20.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, an inner cap
40 having a threaded extended portion 42 is threadably engageable
within the inner end 23 of the tubular member 20. The inner cap 40
preferably have a flanged structure that is similar to an inner
portion of a conventional baseball bat. A compression spring 50 may
be inserted after the inner cap 40 for maintaining the weight
members 60 in a compressed structure as shown in FIG. 4 of the
drawings.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, a plurality of
weight members 60 are provided that are removably inserted into the
bore 27 of the tubular member 20 from either/both the inner end 23
and the distal end 21. The weight members 60 have an outer shape
similar to the shape of the bore 27. The weight members 60 are
formed to slidably fit within the bore 27 with reduced movement
within the bore 27. The weight members 60 are preferably comprised
of various lengths and weights to allow for the user to balance the
tubular member 20 to simulate the weight and balance of their
regular bat. The weight members 60 may be comprised of various
materials such as but not limited to metal, plastic, polymers and
other well-known materials. The lengths of the weight members 60
may range from 0.5 to 8 inches.
[0038] In use, the user inserts a plurality of weight members 60
into the bore 27 of the tubular member 20 based upon an estimated
overall weight of a normal bat. The user is able to insert
heavier/denser weight members 60 comprised of metal within
locations along the bore 27 in order to increase the weight of a
specific section. The user is able to insert lighter weight members
60 comprised of plastic or other materials within locations along
the bore 27 in order to increase the weight of a specific section.
The user then secures the inner cap 40 and the outer cap 30 with
the compression spring 50 positioned between the inner cap 40 and
the weight members 60 thereby maintaining the weight members 60 in
a compressed state within the tubular member 20. The user is then
able to grasp the first section 22 of the tubular member 20 and
attempt to engage a ball with the third section 26 of the tubular
member 20.
[0039] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and
operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent
from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion
relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
[0040] With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and
all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
[0041] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, 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, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
[0042] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects
and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
[0043] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this
invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however,
that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be
made in the specific construction illustrated and described within
the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *