U.S. patent number 3,834,697 [Application Number 05/360,130] was granted by the patent office on 1974-09-10 for removable weight for practicing with athletic implements.
Invention is credited to William Baum, John J. McNamara, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,834,697 |
McNamara, Jr. , et
al. |
September 10, 1974 |
REMOVABLE WEIGHT FOR PRACTICING WITH ATHLETIC IMPLEMENTS
Abstract
A practice device or assistor comprising a weight for quick
attachment to and detachment from an athletic implement for
practicing with the weight in place and playing the game with the
same implement with the weight removed the weight comprises a box
or cube-shaped member constructed from two similar (in reverse)
halves hingedly connected together on one side edge and being
provided with a latch member on the opposite side edge, each half
being provided with similar undercut recesses for detachably
receiving additional weights. Placed between the additional weights
and an implement to be weighted are elastometric bars or strips to
prevent sliding of the weights along the implement during use and
to prevent marring of the implement when the latch is closed for
holding the weight on the implement.
Inventors: |
McNamara, Jr.; John J. (South
Norwalk, CT), Baum; William (Northboro, MA) |
Family
ID: |
23416723 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/360,130 |
Filed: |
May 14, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/256; 473/437;
482/109 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
69/0026 (20130101); A63B 69/38 (20130101); A63B
69/3638 (20130101); A63B 2069/0008 (20130101); A63B
2102/14 (20151001) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
69/36 (20060101); A63B 69/38 (20060101); A63b
067/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/26B,1B,72,194,81D,67A ;272/181 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Brown; Theatrice
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fay; Charles R.
Claims
We claim:
1. The combination with an athletic implement having a shank, of a
detachable weight device, said weight device comprising a plurality
of interconnected relatively movable parts adapted to encompass the
shank, and including a separable latch means holding the parts
together about the shank,
elastomeric means on parts of said weight device closely gripping
the sides of the shank without shifting when the latch holds the
device to the shank,
each part of said device including a recess and a removable and
replaceable weight in each recess, the elastomeric gripping means
being located between the weights and the shank.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the recesses are undercut and
the weights are located at least in part in the undercuts, the
elastomeric gripping means extending through the recesses past the
undercut areas to grip the shank.
3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric gripping
means are mounted on said weights, said elastomeric means facing
each other.
4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said recesses being adapted
to receive weights of different capacity.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known in many sports to add weights at strategic
locations as for instance on a baseball bat, hockey stick, the
handle of a tennis racket, lacrosse sticks, etc., in order to
exercise the muscles to a greater degree while practicing so that
the athlete has an improved arm or wrist action while actually
playing. However, many such devices are merely applied to practice
implements and are not easily detachable therefrom so that they can
be taken off at a moment's notice for actual playing of the
respective game. In addition in most instances prior art devices do
not provide for the application of various weights to accommodate
different ages and sizes of athletes; the weights should not be
alien to the age of the player.
In the past there have been no provisions for internally varying
the weight of a device or assistor. This device provides for this
variability. The installation of the various weights shall be by
the manufacturer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The practice assistor includes a box-like member made in two halves
pivoted together along corresponding edges and having a separable
latch at the opposite edges thereof for quick and easy application
about the shaft or shank of an athletic implement such as a hockey
stick, tennis or lacrosse racket, golf club, baseball bat, polo
stick, and the like.
Each pivoted one-half portion of the aforesaid member is supplied
with a weight. Weights of different sizes can be made by the
manufacturer to fit recesses provided therefor in the half portions
of the said device; or on the other hand non-weighted shims may be
utilized instead of weights for instance, for the least heavy model
in the line.
The weights are provided with means to hold them in place on one
side thereof and on the other side facing the athletic implement
they are provided with resilient deformable elastomeric members or
other means which are provided to grasp the shank or shaft of the
athletic implement tightly so as to prevent it from shifting on the
shank or shaft to any degree during vigorous practice or exercise.
A quick action latch holds the halves of the assistor to the shank
of the implement and this is actuated instantaneously without the
need for any tools.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the novel weight applied to an
athletic implement, in this case a hockey stick;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the take-apart
member;
FIG. 3 is a view in elevation showing the weights and pads at the
inside of one of the halves of the box-like member; and
FIG. 4 is a cross section on line 4--4 of FIG. 1.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
The practice device or assistor of the present invention comprises
a box-like member consisting of two half portions 10 and 12, one of
which is provided with extensions 14 at one side edge thereof to
extend into corresponding recesses 16 in the other half portion. A
hinge pin or pintle 18 passes through both members 14 and portions
of the member 12 hinging the parts together.
At the opposite side edge of the device there is provided a well
known commercial separable latch which is generally indicated at
20. While this firmly connects the parts together during its
application to the athletic implement, it is instantaneously
openable and completely detachable therefrom, the assistor being
lifted directly from the athletic implement 22 without the
necessity of sliding it along the latter in order to remove it.
Each one half portion of the assistor 10 and 12 is similar but
reversed to provide complementary longitudinal parts having similar
recesses generally indicated as for instance 24 and 26 with
undercuts 28 and 30. The undercuts 28 and 30 receive the actual
weights 32, 32 which may be held in position by any desired means
such as for instance fasteners 34, 34 which may be screw threaded
or the like.
The weights 32 may just fill the undercut portions of the recesses.
Each of the weights 32, 32 is provided with a pair of elastomeric
bars, strips, or other means 36, 36 extending along the length
thereof, see FIG. 3. These strips are arranged for the particular
implement involved so as to rightly grasp the same when in the
latched position shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2 so that the weight
assistor cannot slide along the implement 22 as would otherwise be
the tendency when the implement is used in fast practice of the
particular sport involved. When the device is in position on the
athletic implement as in FIGS. 1 and 4 the implement itself
compresses the gripping means 36 when the latch 20 is in closed
position.
It will be seen that it is very easy to snap open latch 20 and
detach the weight practice assistor directly from the athletic
implement. Usually in the case of a hockey stick, e.g., the latch
20 will be placed downwardly and the hinge portion upwards as in
FIG. 1 in order to prevent as much as possible any injury to the
latch.
In various sports the present practicing assistor will develop
powerful wrist ability, and in hockey will train the player to keep
the stick on the ice and not elevated. In general, implement
handling of any kind is greatly improved by practicing with the
added weight and it assists in one-handed use of the implement. In
general, the use of this device improves ability and dexterity and
improves reflexes through a taxing isometric process.
One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide
a device of this nature which is used at all times except in actual
playing of the official game. The present device can be quickly
applied and as quickly released and taken off so that practice may
continue right up to the moment the official game begins.
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