FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to devices used for sports training in which a ball can be spun.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a known product called “The TightSpin Trainer” (trademarked) for wrist exercise or training for softball pitching. This product has a hole drilled all the way through a softball. A bar goes through an entry on one side of the ball and comes out an exit on the other side, and is capped on the other side of the ball. Thus, the entry side, and the exit side of the ball are damaged and have obstructions mounted on them during normal operation of the “The TightSpin Trainer”. This is disadvantageous because in order to hold the altered softball, with a pitching grip, one must avoid the two altered or damaged areas. Also, the altered softball of “The TightSpin Trainer” often becomes loose, sliding up and down the bar and/or does not spin properly on the bar. In addition, the “TightSpin Trainer” (trademarked) generally, is not very durable, at least in part because the inside drilled out hole of the altered ball rubs against the bar, further altering the modified ball, and resulting in more looseness and/or an inconsistent spinning, or changing how the ball spins over time. In addition the “TightSpin Trainer” (trademarked) cannot easily be used by one person. There is a need for a better softball ball spinning device and/or a better ball spinning device generally.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In at least one embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising a bar having a length and a width, wherein the length is substantially greater than the width, and having a longitudinal axis along its length; a member which is connected to the bar and aligned with the bar so that the member has a longitudinal axis which is the same as the longitudinal axis of the bar; and wherein the member is connected to the bar so that the member rotates with respect to the bar, about the longitudinal axis of the bar.
The member may be connected to the bar by a bolt. The bolt may be fixed to the bar by a tension pin which is perpendicular to a length of the bolt and to the length of the bar. The apparatus may further include a ball having a bore hole, wherein the bore hole enters the ball through a first opening on a side of the ball, and the bore hole terminates inside a core of the ball, so that the bore hole does not go all the way through the ball; and wherein the member is fixed to the ball, by insertion of the member into the bore hole.
In at least one embodiment, the bore hole of the ball has diameter, which has a rest measurement, prior to insertion of the member, which is less than a diameter of the member, so that the bore hole diameter must expand by pressure, in order for the member to be inserted into the bore hole.
The apparatus may further include a first washer connected to the bolt and the member, between a bolt head of the bolt and a first end of the member; and a second washer connected to the member and the bar, between a second end of the member, opposite the first end of the member, and a first end of the bar.
The apparatus may further include a first ball bearing inserted in the member, nearer the first end of the member than the second end of the member; and a second ball bearing inserted in the member, nearer the second end of the member than the first end of the member. The apparatus may further include a nut located between the second washer and the bar.
In at least one embodiment, a method is provided comprising the steps of inserting a member of an apparatus into a bore hole of a ball, to thereby attach the member and the apparatus to the ball, so that the member is fixed to the ball, and the member and the ball rotate with respect to a bar of the apparatus; and wherein the bore hole terminates inside of the ball so that member enters the ball from a first opening on one side of the ball, but the member does not go all the way through the ball.
The bar may have a length and a width, wherein the length is substantially greater than the width, and the bar may have a longitudinal axis along its length. The member may be connected to the bar and aligned with the bar so that the member has a longitudinal axis which is the same as the longitudinal axis of the bar; and wherein the member is connected to the bar so that the member rotates with respect to the bar, about the longitudinal axis of the bar.
The member may be connected to the bar by a bolt. The bolt may be fixed to the bar by a tension pin which is perpendicular to a length of the bolt and to the length of the bar.
In at least one embodiment, prior to insertion of the member into the bore hole of the ball, the member has a diameter and the bore hole has a diameter, and the diameter of the member is greater than the diameter of the bore hole, so that pressure must be applied to insert the member into the bore hole to cause the bore hole diameter to expand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A shows a right side view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus of FIG. 1A in a first state, and along with dashed lines for a hand which grips part of the apparatus of FIG. 1A, and another hand which spins a ball of the apparatus of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1B shows a right side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1A in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus of FIG. 1A in a second state;
FIG. 10 shows a right side view of another apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus of FIG. 10 in a third state;
FIG. 1D shows a right side view of the apparatus of FIG. 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus of FIG. 10 in a fourth state;
FIG. 2A shows a front, right side, top perspective view of an inner ball, and a spinning device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, for use with the apparatus of FIGS. 1A-B or FIGS. 1C-D, with the inner ball and the spinning device separate from each other;
FIG. 2B shows a front, right side, top perspective view of the inner ball, and the spinning device of FIG. 2A, with the device connected to the inner ball, and the inner ball shown as transparent for ease of description;
FIG. 2C shows a front, right side, top perspective view of the inner ball, and the spinning device of FIG. 2A, with the spinning device connected to the inner ball, and the inner ball not shown as transparent;
FIG. 3A shows a cross sectional view of the inner ball of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3B shows a cross sectional view of the inner ball and the spinning device of FIG. 2A connected to each other;
FIG. 4A shows a cross sectional view of the spinning device of FIG. 2A, with the spinning device assembled;
FIG. 4B shows a right side view of the spinning device of FIG. 2A, with the spinning device of FIG. 2A shown taken apart;
FIG. 4C shows a cross sectional view of the spinning device of FIG. 2A, with the spinning device taken apart;
FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of a ball which is used to form the inner ball of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 5B shows a perspective view of the inner ball which has been formed from the ball of FIG. 5A;
FIG. 6A shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of the spinning device of FIG. 2A, with the spinning device taken apart;
FIG. 6B shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of the spinning device of FIG. 2A, with the spinning device assembled;
FIG. 7A shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of a rod, post, or bar, used for the spinning device of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 7B shows a rear, bottom, and right side perspective view of the rod, post, or bar of FIG. 7A; used for the spinning device of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 8A shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of a member, used for the spinning device of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 8B shows a rear, bottom, and right side perspective view of the member of FIG. 8A; used for the spinning device of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 9A shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of a bolt or attachment device, used for the spinning device of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 9B shows a rear, bottom, and right side perspective view of the bolt or attachment device of FIG. 9A; used for the spinning device of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 10A shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of a ball bearing, used for the spinning device of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 10B shows a rear, bottom, and right side perspective view of the ball bearing, used for the spinning device of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 11A shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of a washer, used for the spinning device of FIG. 2A; and
FIG. 11B shows a rear, bottom, and right side perspective view of the washer, used for the spinning device of FIG. 2A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A shows a right side view of an apparatus 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1A in a first state. FIG. 1B shows a right side view of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1A in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1A in a second state.
The apparatus 1 includes a spinning device 2, and a ball 90. The ball 90 may be a known regulation softball, except as will be described. The ball 90 has seams, including horseshoe or U-shaped portion 91 shown in FIG. 1A, which is connected to horseshoe or U-shaped portion 92, shown in FIG. 1B. The U-shaped portion 91 has seams or portions 91a and 91c which are substantially parallel to a bar or rod 4 of the spinning device 2, and seams or portion 91b which is substantially perpendicular to the bar or rod 4. The U-shaped portion 92 has seams or portions 92a and 92c which are substantially parallel to a bar or rod 4 of the spinning device 2, and seam or portion 92b which is substantially perpendicular to the bar or rod 4.
FIG. 10 shows a right side view of an apparatus 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus of FIG. 10 in a third state. FIG. 1D shows a right side view of the apparatus 100 of FIG. 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus of FIG. 10 in a fourth state.
The apparatus 100 includes the spinning device 2, and a ball 94. The ball 94 may be a known regulation softball, except as will be described. The ball 94 has seams, including horseshoe or U-shaped portion 95 shown in FIG. 10, which is connected to horseshoe or U-shaped portion 96, shown in FIG. 1D. The U-shaped portion 95 has seams or portions 95b and 95c which are substantially perpendicular to bar or rod 4 of the spinning device 2, and seams or portion 95a which is substantially parallel to the bar or rod 4. The U-shaped portion 96 has seams or portions 96b and 96c which are substantially perpendicular to a bar or rod 4 of the spinning device 2, and seam or portion 6a which is substantially parallel to the bar or rod 4.
The apparatus 1 and 100 are the same, except as will be described. In the apparatus 1, the spinning device 2 is fixed to the ball 90, so that four seams: 91a, 91c, 92a, and 92c, will be substantially parallel to the rod or bar 4 of the spinning device 2. In contrast, in the apparatus 100, the ball 94 is attached to the spinning device 2, so that two seams: 95a and 96a, will be substantially parallel to the rod or bar 4 of the spinning device 2. In apparatus 1, a hole has been drilled part way into the ball 90, at a location, with respect to covering 90a, so that the spinning device 2 will be fixed to the ball 90, so that the four seams 91a, 91c, 92a, and 92c will be substantially parallel to the rod or bar 4. In apparatus 100, a hole has been drilled part way into the ball 94, at a location, with respect to covering 94a, so that only two seams, 95a and 96a, will be substantially parallel to the rod or bar 4 of the spinning device 2. Otherwise, the apparatus 1 and the apparatus 100 are identical. Both balls 90 and 94 have the same inner ball 80, which will be described below.
FIG. 2A shows a front, right side, top perspective view of an inner ball 80, and the spinning device 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, for use with the apparatus 1 or 100 of FIGS. 1A-B or FIGS. 1C-D, respectively, with the inner ball 80 and the spinning device shown separate from each other in FIG. 2A. FIG. 2B shows a front, right side, top perspective view of the inner ball 80, and the spinning device 2, with the spinning device 2 connected to the inner ball 80, and the inner ball 80 shown as transparent for ease of description. FIG. 2C shows a front, right side, top perspective view of the inner ball 80, and the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A, with the spinning device 2 connected to the inner ball 80, and the inner ball 80 not shown as transparent.
The inner ball 80 is located within each of balls 90 and 94. The inner ball 80 may include a core 82, and an inner cylindrical bore or chamber 86 extending from a circular opening 84 into the inner ball 80, to a termination point 88, such as near the midpoint of the core of the inner ball 80. The inner ball 80 may be identical to the inner core, within a covering of a regulation softball, except for the cylindrical bore or chamber 86, including 84 and 88.
The spinning device 2 includes the rod, bar, or post 4, a member 6, a washer 8, and a bolt 10, and a washer 22. As shown in FIG. 2B, the member 6, washer 8, and bolt 10 are inserted into the bore 86, so that the end or portion 10a of the bolt 10 is near or contacts the termination end 88 within the inner ball 80, near the middle, inside the core, of the inner ball 80. In at least one embodiment, the outer diameter of the member 6, D3 shown in FIG. 4B which may be 0.562 inches, is larger than the inner diameter D4, which may be 0.5 inches (at rest), shown in FIG. 3A, of the circular opening 84, and of the bore 86, generally, so that the member 6 has to be injected, into the bore 88, through the opening 84, by pressure, such as by using a drill press or some other machine. Because the core 82 of the inner ball 80 of a regulation softball (or a regulation baseball, and other balls) is elastic, the larger diameter member 6 can be pushed into the bore 86 by sufficient pressure, which causes the diameter of the opening 84 and bore 88 to be forcibly expanded to allow the member 6 to enter. After the member 6 has been inserted, by pressure into the bore 86 as shown in FIG. 2B, the elastic core 82 automatically retracts, holds the member 6 in the bore 86 and keeps the member 6 from falling out of the bore 86. In this manner, the inner ball 80, and consequently the balls 90 and 94 of FIGS. 1A, and 1C, respectively, are only marred or altered on one side or one entry point of the respective balls. In addition, the member 6 is held tightly and does not move with respect to bore 86 or the ball 80, and thus there is no rubbing of member 6 against bore 86, and spinning of the 80 or the balls 90 or 94 with respect to the bar or handle 4, remains consistent over time.
The inner ball 80 (and consequently the balls 90 and 94) can be rotated in a clockwise direction C1, or a counterclockwise direction C2 with respect to an axis of the bar or member 4, as shown in FIG. 2C.
FIG. 3A shows a cross sectional view of the inner ball 80 of FIG. 2A. FIG. 3A shows the inner diameter D4 of the bore 86, which may be 0.5 inches at rest, i.e. when the bore 86 is not being forcibly expanded by entry of member 6. FIG. 3B shows a cross sectional view of the inner ball 80 and the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A connected to each other. The spinning device 2 may include bolt 10, washer 8, ball bearings 12 and 14, member 6, ball bearings 16, and 18, washer 22, nut 24, and bar or rod 4. The bolt 10 has a portion or end 10a, a non threaded body portion 10b, a body portion with outer threads 10c, an insertion end 10d, and after drilling will have a bore hole 10e through bolt 10 perpendicular to the length of the bolt 10. The washers 8 and 22 have cylindrical bodies 8a (and corresponding to washer 22, which may be identical) and a central opening 8b, and 22b, as shown by FIG. 6A, and FIGS. 11A-B, which may have an inner diameter slightly more than the outer diameter of the portion 10b of the bolt 10, to allow the bolt 10 to be inserted into the opening 8b and the opening 22b. The bearing 12 may have an outer cylinder 12a, an inner cylinder 12b, balls 12c between the cylinders 12a and 12b, and an inner opening 12d. The inner opening 12d may have a diameter equal to the diameter of the opening 8b of the washer 8. The bearings 14, 16, and 18 may be identical to the bearing 12.
The nut 24 shown in FIG. 6A, may have an opening 24b, an inner threads through which the end 10d of the bolt 10 is inserted.
The member 6, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, may have a cylindrical body 6a, inner regions 6b and 6d, into which ball bearings are inserted, and region 6c, into which portion 10b of the bolt 10 is inserted as shown in FIG. 3B. The inner regions 6b and 6d have larger inner diameters than region 6c, to allow ball bearings to be inserted.
The spinning device 2 further includes a tension pin or spring pin 20. In at least one embodiment, the spinning device 2 is assembled as in FIG. 4A, except for opening 4e and 10e, i.e. bolt 10 is screwed into opening 4a, and then an opening 4e is drilled through the bar 4 and an aligned opening 10e is drilled through the bolt 10, perpendicular to the lengths of the bar 4 and the bolt 10. Then the tension or spring pin 20 is placed in the opening of bores 4e and 10e, to thereby hold the bolt 10 to the bar 4 and keep the bolt 10 from coming out of the bar 4.
FIG. 4A shows a cross sectional view of the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A, with the spinning device 2 assembled. FIG. 4B shows a right side view of the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A, with the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A shown taken apart. FIG. 4C shows a cross sectional view of the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A, with the spinning device 2 taken apart.
Referring to FIGS. 4A-4B, the overall spinning device 2, when assembled, has a length L1, which may be about 6.836 inches. The bar 4 may have a length L2 of about 4.775 inches. The inner diameter D1 of the member 6 may be about 0.257 inches. The outer diameter D2 of the portion 10b of the bolt 10 may be slightly less than 0.257 inches for a tight fit. The length L3 of the bolt 10 may be about 2.75 inches. The length L5 of the washer 8 and washer 22 may be about 0.061 inches. The length L4 of the ball bearing 12 may be about 0.125 inches. The length L6 of the member 6 may be about 1.750 inches. Referring to FIG. 4C, the length of the bore 4a into the rod or member 4 may be about 0.750 inches, and the diameter of the bore 4a may be about 0.201 inches. The outer diameter D3, shown in FIG. 4B, of the member 6 may be about 0.562 inches. The inner diameter D4, shown in FIG. 3B, of the opening 84 and the bore 86 may be about 0.5 inches, or less, which is less than the outer diameter D3 of the member 6, shown in FIG. 4B, and in order to insert the member 6 into the bore 86 (of FIG. 2A), the member 6 must be pushed into the bore 86 by high pressure, in line with the longitudinal axis (i.e. along its length) of the member 6.
FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of an inner ball 81 which is used to form the inner ball 80 of FIG. 2A and FIG. 5B. The inner ball 81 may be the inner core of a regulation softball (or regulation baseball or other ball). The ball 80 is formed by drilling a hole part way into the inner ball 81, typically through a cover of a ball. The cover of the ball has not been shown, in FIGS. 5A-5B, for ease of description, but typically, one would drill through the cover of the ball, and part way into the inner core, such as into a cover of either ball 90 or 94, in the orientation, and at the location, shown in either FIG. 1A or FIG. 10. FIG. 5B shows a perspective view of the inner ball 80 which has been formed from the ball 81 of FIG. 5A.
FIG. 6A shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A, with the spinning device 2 taken apart. FIG. 6A shows components 10, 8, 12, 14, 6, 16, 18, 22, 24, 20, and 4. In order to assemble the spinning device 2, end 10d of the bolt 10 is inserted through the opening 8b of the washer 8, through the opening 12d of the ball bearing 12, through the opening 14d of the ball bearing 14, through the openings 6b, 6c, and 6d of the member 6, through the opening 16d of the ball bearing 16, through the opening 18d of the ball bearing 18, through the opening 22b of the washer 22, screwed through the opening 24b of the nut 24, and screwed into the bore 4a. The threaded portion 10c of the bolt 10 is screwed into the inner threads of the bore 4a to attach the bolt 10, washer 8, bearings 12, 14, member 6, bearings 16, and 18, washer 22, and nut 24, to the bar or member 4 as shown in FIG. 6B and FIG. 4A. Then, a hole or bore 4e, shown in FIG. 6A, and hole or bore 10e shown by dashed lines in FIG. 9A, is drilled through bar 4 and bolt 10, respectively, to hold the bolt 10 securely to the bar or handle 4. FIG. 6B shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A, with the spinning device assembled.
FIG. 7A shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of a rod, post, or bar 4, used for the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A. FIG. 7B shows a rear, bottom, and right side perspective view of the rod, post, or bar 4 of FIG. 7A; used for the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A. The rod, post or bar 4 may include a solid cylindrical body portion 4b, inner bore 4a, and ends 4c and 4d. The end 4d may be curved and smooth to avoid hurting one's hand when an individual grips the body portion 4b, while spinning a ball, such as ball 90 or 94, or while another spins a ball 90 or 94. FIGS. 7A-7B does not show the hole or bore 4e, which has not yet been drilled into the bar or handle 4.
FIG. 8A shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of the member 6, used for the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A. FIG. 8B shows a rear, bottom, and right side perspective view of the member 6 of FIG. 8A; used for the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A. The member 6 includes body portion 6a, inner regions 6b, 6c, and 6d.
FIG. 9A shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of the bolt or attachment device 10, used for the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A. FIG. 9B shows a rear, bottom, and right side perspective view of the bolt or attachment device 10 of FIG. 9A; used for the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A. FIGS. 9A-B show by dashed lines where the hole or bore 10e would be drilled through the bolt 10, perpendicularly to the length of the bolt 10, after the bolt 10 has been screwed into opening or bore 4a of the bar 4.
FIG. 10A shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of the ball bearing 12, used for the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A. FIG. 10B shows a rear, bottom, and right side perspective view of the ball bearing 12, used for the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A. FIG. 11A shows a front, top, and right side perspective view of a washer 8, used for the spinning device 2 of FIG. 2A. FIG. 11B shows a rear, bottom, and right side perspective view of the washer 8, used for the spinning device of FIG. 2A.
In operation, referring to FIG. 1A, a person can grip and/or grasp the bar 4 of the spinning device 2 with one hand, such as a left hand, for example, and can simultaneously spin the ball 90 in clockwise C1 or counterclockwise C2 directions, as shown in FIG. 2C with the other hand, such as a right hand, to work on wrist exercises or training such as for softball pitching. Alternatively, someone else can hold the bar 4, while another person spins the ball 90 or 94 (thereby spinning inner ball 80). However, the apparatus 1 or 100 has been constructed so that it can be conveniently used by one person, in at least one or more embodiments.
The spinning device 2, bar 4, and member 10, all have the same, or substantially the same longitudinal axis L8 shown in FIG. 3B, about which the member 10 (and the ball 80 and/or balls 90 and 94) rotates with respect to the bar 4.
The components 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 22, and 24 may be made of a hard rigid metal such as steel, or aluminum.
Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.
Patent Grant
10188924
