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.

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.

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.