Claims
- 1. An athletic training apparatus for training a trainee having a torso, wherein a training projectile is to be launched by movement of the trainee during execution of a training maneuver, the apparatus comprising a harness configured to:
be supported substantially about the torso of the trainee; and, releasably support the training projectile thereon.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein:
the trainee has a throwing shoulder; and, the harness is further configured to releasably support the training projectile substantially proximate the throwing shoulder.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a restraint device, and wherein:
the trainee has a throwing arm; and, the restraint device is configured to substantially restrain movement of the throwing arm during the training maneuver.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein:
the trainee has two arm/shoulder joints; a line of reference is defined to intersect both of the arm/shoulder joints; the apparatus is configured to restrict movement of the training projectile to a direction which is substantially normal to the line of reference.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a support unit which is attached to the harness and which is configured to releasably support the training projectile on the harness.
- 6. An athletic training apparatus for training a trainee having a torso and a throwing shoulder, the apparatus comprising:
a harness configured to be worn by the trainee substantially about the torso; a support unit attached to the harness substantially proximate the throwing shoulder when the harness is worn; and, an opening defined by the support unit, the opening configured to receive a training projectile there within.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising a training projectile configured to be releasably supported within the opening.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7, and wherein the training projectile comprises a substantially cylindrical center portion located between two substantially rounded end portions.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8, and wherein each of the end portions is substantially hemispherical.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9, and wherein the training projectile has an overall length and a diameter, wherein the overall length is between about five percent and fifty percent greater than the diameter.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 9, and wherein the training projectile has an overall length and a diameter, wherein the overall length is between about twenty percent and thirty percent greater than the diameter.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising a restraint device attached to the harness, and wherein:
the trainee has a throwing arm; and, the restraint device is configured to substantially restrain the throwing arm.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising an adjustment device mounted on the harness and configured to facilitate adjustable positioning of the support unit relative to the harness.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 6, and wherein the opening passes completely through the support unit.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 10, and wherein:
the trainee has a throwing-side clavicle having an outer tip; and, the support unit is configured to be adjustably positioned on the harness whereby the opening substantially circumscribes the outer tip of the throwing-side clavicle.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising a sensor supported on the harness, wherein the sensor is configured to detect acceleration force exerted on the training projectile during execution of a training maneuver.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 16, and wherein the sensor is mounted withing the opening of the support unit.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 16, and wherein the sensor is a load cell.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 16, and further comprising a display unit which is connected to the sensor and which is configured to display the amount of force detected thereby.
- 20. A method of training a trainee to throw, wherein the trainee has a throwing shoulder and a throwing arm, the method comprising:
providing a training projectile; releasably supporting the training projectile proximate the throwing shoulder; executing a training maneuver; and, launching the training projectile from its supported position as a result of executing the training maneuver.
- 21. The method of claim 20, and further comprising restraining movement of the throwing arm during execution of the training maneuver.
- 22. The method of claim 20, and wherein:
the trainee has a throwing-side clavicle having an outer tip; and, the training projectile is releasably supported proximate the outer tip of the throwing side clavicle.
- 23. The method of claim 20, and further comprising:
providing a harness configured to be worn about the torso of the trainee; providing a support unit configured to releasably support the training projectile; and, adjustably positioning the support unit on the harness.
- 24. The method of claim 23, and wherein the support unit is adjustably positioned on the harness so that the training projectile is supported substantially proximate the outer tip of the throwing-side clavicle.
RELATED CASES
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/247,863 filed Nov. 14, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60247863 |
Nov 2000 |
US |