U.S. patent application number 12/157342 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-10 for hand-held baseball pitching apparatus for generating controlled curving trajectories.
Invention is credited to Michael T. Yamashiro, Ryan J. Yamashiro.
Application Number | 20090301455 12/157342 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41399155 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090301455 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yamashiro; Michael T. ; et
al. |
December 10, 2009 |
Hand-held baseball pitching apparatus for generating controlled
curving trajectories
Abstract
A slingshot-based training apparatus for propelling standard
plastic apertured baseball or softball size projectiles along a
desired curved trajectory. The present invention comprises a
simplified portable, lightweight, hand-held pitching apparatus
capable of safely hurling ubiquitous lightweight plastic baseball
and softball size practice balls to a batter in training. The
preferred embodiment comprises a rotatable grip to which a pair of
offset yoke members are connected. These yoke members are also
connected to opposed edges of a sling member through elongated
elastic bands. Rotation of the grip offsets the yoke members so
that one of the two yoke members is closer to the user than the
other yoke member. Because grip rotation can be effected in either
clockwise or counterclockwise directions, either yoke member can be
offset to be closer to the user than the other yoke member. It will
be seen hereinafter that when the yoke members are offset, the
tension on the elastic bands is unequal when the sling is pulled
back in preparation for propelling a training ball. Upon release of
the sling, the unequal tension imparts a spin torque on the ball
causing it to curve either left to right or right to left depending
upon the direction of rotation of the grip.
Inventors: |
Yamashiro; Michael T.;
(Chino Hills, CA) ; Yamashiro; Ryan J.; (Chino
Hills, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEONARD TACHNER, A PROFESSIONAL LAW;CORPORATION
17961 SKY PARK CIRCLE, SUITE 38-E
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
41399155 |
Appl. No.: |
12/157342 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/20.1 ;
124/81; 473/458 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/0002 20130101;
A63B 2069/0008 20130101; F41B 3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/20.1 ;
473/458; 124/81 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/00 20060101
A63B069/00; F41B 7/00 20060101 F41B007/00 |
Claims
1. A training apparatus for propelling simulated baseballs and
softballs toward a batter along a trajectory that curves in a
selected direction, the apparatus comprising: a
slingshot-configured device having a pair of yoke members and a
pair of elastic bands connected to said yoke members at respective
first ends of said bands; a sling having opposed edges connected to
said elastic bands at respective second ends of said bands; and a
rotatable hand grip receiving said yoke members at spaced apart
locations for placing said yoke members at unequal distances from
said sling and generating unequal tension on said elastic bands
depending upon the direction of rotation of said hand grip.
2. The training apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said handgrip
is cylindrical in shape and wherein said yoke members are connected
to said handgrip at a first axial end of said grip.
3. The training apparatus in claim 2 further comprising a pair of
arm support rods connected to a second axial end of said hand grip,
said arm support rods terminating in an arm support configured for
overlying a user's forearm for stabilizing said
slingshot-configured device during use.
4. The training apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said yoke
members and said hand grip are configured for generating a left to
right ball trajectory upon clockwise rotation of said handgrip and
a right to left ball trajectory upon counter-clockwise rotation of
said hand grip.
5. A slingshot apparatus for pitching baseball and softball
training balls toward a batter along a trajectory that curves along
a selected direction; the apparatus comprising: a rotatable
handgrip; a pair of yoke members extending from said handgrip; a
sling; elastic bands interconnecting said yoke members and said
sling; said yoke members and said hand grip being configured for
generating a left to right ball trajectory upon rotation of said
hand grip in a first direction and a right to left ball trajectory
upon rotation of said hand grip in a second direction opposite of
said first direction.
6. The apparatus recited in claim 5 wherein said yoke members
extend from said hand grip at spaced apart locations for placing
said yoke members at unequal distances from said sling and
generating unequal tension on said elastic bands depending upon the
direction of rotation of said hand grip.
7. The slingshot apparatus recited in claim 6 wherein said handgrip
is cylindrical in shape and wherein said yoke members are connected
to said handgrip at a first axial end of said grip.
8. The slingshot apparatus in claim 6 further comprising a pair of
arm support rods connected to a second axial end of said hand grip,
said arm support rods terminating in an arm support configured for
overlying a user's forearm for stabilizing said slingshot apparatus
during use.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a device useful
in training young baseball players to hit a pitched curveball. The
invention herein relates more specifically to an apparatus used to
propel a plastic simulated baseball toward a batter and impart a
curved trajectory in a selected direction for training
purposes.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] The prior art which appears to be most relevant to the
present invention, is U.S. published patent application No. US
2006/0191521, which was published on Aug. 31, 2006, and claims
priority to a provisional application filed on Apr. 4, 2003. This
published application (Gee) discloses an underlying aspect of the
present invention, namely, use of a slingshot to propel a plastic
baseball. However, unlike the present invention, the Gee
application discloses the concept of using a golf ball size plastic
ball with a non-homogeneous structure such as apertures on only a
portion of the ball's surface, to generate a spin or curve. The
direction of the spin or curve can, it is alleged, be controlled by
orienting the ball apertures in a launcher pouch of the slingshot
before the ball is released. Of course, this requirement for a
special ball having a non-uniform hole pattern and a smaller size
than a baseball is a significant disadvantage. It means that the
balls for the prior art device have to be unique and therefore have
to be specially manufactured for that device. Such balls would tend
to be significantly more costly than more standard baseball size
plastic balls with a homogeneous distribution of apertures.
[0005] Moreover, the direction of the spin imparted to the ball
disclosed in Gee is dependent on its orientation in the launder
pouch. That, of course, means that before each such special ball is
propelled toward a batter, it must be carefully placed in the pouch
with its holes in a particular position. That is a time-consuming
inconvenience which will clearly slow down the process and detract
from the training benefits of the device. Furthermore, if the
position or orientation of the ball should inadvertently change
during operation of the slingshot, the ball is likely not to spin
or curve along a desired trajectory toward the batter, but instead
assume a curving trajectory along a different path. This would, of
course, likely impact the desired training lesson of a batter.
[0006] These various disadvantages of the device disclosed in the
Gee patent application, point up the continuing need for a
slingshot based training apparatus which overcomes the noted
deficiencies. More specifically, it would be highly desirable to
provide a training device for "shooting" simulated baseballs at
batters where the size of the ball is substantially the same as a
standard baseball (or softball); where the plastic balls are
standard and homogeneous in structure; where the orientation of the
ball in the launching pouch is not determinative of the trajectory;
and where the resulting trajectory is more likely to follow a
predetermined desired path to best advance the training of each
batter in attempting to hit a curve ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention meets the aforementioned continuing
need. It comprises a slingshot-based training apparatus for
propelling standard plastic apertured baseball or softball size
projectiles along a desired curved trajectory.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment fully disclosed herein, the
present invention comprises a simplified portable, lightweight,
hand-held pitching apparatus capable of safely hurling ubiquitous
lightweight plastic baseball and softball size practice balls to a
batter in training. The preferred embodiment comprises a rotatable
grip to which a pair of offset yoke members are connected. These
yoke members are also connected to opposed edges of a sling member
through elongated elastic bands. Rotation of the grip offsets the
yoke members so that one of the two yoke members is closer to the
user than the other yoke member.
[0009] Because grip rotation can be effected in either clockwise or
counterclockwise directions, either yoke member can be offset to be
closer to the user than the other yoke member. It will be seen
hereinafter that when the yoke members are offset, the tension on
the elastic bands is unequal when the sling is pulled back in
preparation for propelling a training ball. Upon release of the
sling, the unequal tension imparts a spin torque on the ball
causing it to curve either left to right or right to left depending
upon the direction of rotation of the grip.
[0010] The bottom end of the grip is connected to a pair of arm
support rods and an arm support member which overlies the upper
forearm of the user to stabilize the apparatus during use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present
invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof,
will be more fully understood herein after as a result of a
detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in
conjunction with the following drawings in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional front view of a preferred
embodiment of the invention and a plastic training baseball used
therewith;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment shown in
with the plastic training baseball in the sling and in tension
ready to be propelled toward a batter;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus showing the training
ball centered in the sling;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a top view of the apparatus showing the training
ball off-center left and off-center right in the sling,
respectively;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of the band/yoke pin and
band/sling interfaces;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the grip and arm support
connections thereto;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a top view of the grip and yoke member connections
thereto with the left yoke member shown further from the sling to
produce a left to right curved trajectory; and
[0019] FIG. 8 is a top view similar to that of FIG. 7 but showing
the right yoke member further from the sling to produce a right to
left curved trajectory.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Referring to the accompanying figures, it will be seen that
a pitching apparatus 10 is used to propel a plastic training ball
12, the latter being a hollow sphere with uniformly distributed
apertures 13. Apparatus 10 comprises yoke members 14 and 15 each
connected to the upper surface of a cylindrical handgrip 16 at
spaced apart locations 17 and 19. Yoke members 14 and 15 are
attached at their opposite ends to elastic bands 18 which, in turn,
connect to opposed ends of a sling 20. Elastic bands 18 are
preferably covered by flexible rubber tubes 22 which prevent the
bands from becoming tangled.
[0021] The lower surface of grip 16 connects to arm support rods 24
and 25 which extend along a user's arm and terminate in an arm
support 26 which extends partially around the user's upper forearm
as shown best in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.
[0022] The manner in which bands 18 connect at one end to sling 20
and at their other end at a yoke member 14 or 15, is shown in FIG.
5. As seen therein, each end of sling 20 has an attachment hole 28
through which band 18 is routed to form an attachment 30. As also
seen therein each yoke member 14,15 terminates with a transverse
pin 32 which extends beyond the cross-sectional diameter of the
yoke member. Pin 32 provides a secure attachment for an end loop 34
of band 18. Tube 22, shown in phantom in FIG. 5 and in sold line in
FIG. 1, is also secured to pin 32 through aligned apertures in the
tube. The tube 22 keeps band 18 from inadvertently coming loose
from pin 32.
[0023] The manner of employing pitching apparatus 10 to propel ball
12 along a desired trajectory, will now be described. As seen in
FIGS. 2 and 3, sling 20 is pulled back from yoke members 14 and 15
extending bands 18. Ball 12 may be positioned at about the center
of sling 20 with the yoke members positioned to be about
symmetrical relative to a batter standing at a distance. The grip
16 determines the trajectory of the ball 12. If as shown in FIG. 6,
grip 16 is in its mid-rotational configuration, there is likely to
be no significant curve in the trajectory of ball 12. On the other
hand, if grip 16 is rotated clockwise as shown in FIG. 7, the ball
12 will curve from left to right. If grip 16 is rotated
counter-clockwise as shown in FIG. 8, ball 12 will curve from right
to left. The rotation of grip 16 moves one of the two yoke members
14 or 15 further from the user, depending upon the direction of
rotation. This longer distance places greater tension on one side
of the sling as compared to the other. This tension difference
places a lateral torque or spin on the ball as it is released from
the apparatus and such spin causes the ball to curve along its
trajectory to the batter. FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative way to
impart such spin on ball 12. As seen in FIG. 4, ball 12 may be
located off-center in sling 20 to generate unequal tension and
resulting spin on the ball. This alternative may be used either
instead of grip rotation or in addition to grip rotation.
[0024] Having thus disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, it will now be seen that the particular embodiment shown
herein may be readily modified without deviating from the inventive
features thereof. Accordingly, the scope hereof will be limited
only by the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *