Patent Application
20160023079
The disclosure relates to sports training devices and more particularly pertains to a new sports training device for facilitating teaching of proper base running techniques in the game of baseball.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a plurality of bases configured for positioning on a baseball diamond. Each base comprises an incoming edge transverse to an outgoing edge. Base indicia is positioned on each of the bases demarcating a section of an associated one of the bases defining a desired area to be contacted by a player when playing baseball on the baseball diamond.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
Base indicia 36 is positioned on each of the bases 12. Each of the base indicia 36 demarcates a section of an associated one of the bases 12 defining a desired area to be contacted by a player when properly reaching the bases 12 while playing baseball on the baseball diamond. The base indicia 36 further comprises a plurality of rounding indicia 40. Each of the rounding indicia 40 is positioned proximate a respective corner 42 positioned between the incoming edge 14 and the outgoing edge 16. Each of the rounding indicia 40 has a shape corresponding to a forward portion of a shoe sole extending inwardly from the incoming edge 14 and is angled to extend towards the outgoing edge 16. Thus, the rounding indicia 40 shows how the player's foot is to properly touch the base 12 as the runner runs to and past the base 12 towards another base 12 or home plate 24. The rounding indicia 40 is positioned on each of the first base 18, the second base 20, and the third base 22.
A run through indicia 44 is positioned on the first base 18. The run through indicia 44 is positioned proximate and parallel to a first lateral edge 46 of the first base 18. The run through indicia 44 is shoe sole shaped showing the proper positioning of the player's foot as the player touches the first base 18 when running through and past the first base 18.
The base indicia 36 also comprises a plurality of slide back indicia 48 positioned on each of the first base 18, the second base 20, and the third base 22. Each of the slide back indicia 48 is positioned extending inwardly from the outgoing edge 16 of the associated one of the bases 12. Each slide back indicia 48 is hand shaped indicating a position the player's hand should touch the base 12 when sliding back into the base 12.
The base indicia 36 also comprises a plurality of slide into indicia 50 positioned on each of the second base 20 and the third base 22. The slide into indicia 50 extends inwardly from the incoming edge 14 of the associated base 12 The slide into indicia 50 is substantially rectangular but for being interrupted by the rounding indicia 40. The slide into indicia 50 extends substantially along the full length of the incoming edge 14 of the associated base 12.
Plate indicia 52 is positioned on the home plate 24. The plate indicia 52 demarcates a section of the home plate 24 defining a desired area to be contacted by the player when coming to the home plate 24. The plate indicia 52 comprises a standing indicia 54 extending inwardly from a first one of the lateral edges 28 of the home plate 24. The standing indicia 54 is shaped to correspond to a front portion of a shoe sole. The standing indicia 54 is substantially centered along the first one of the lateral edges 28 of the home plate 24. The plate indicia 52 also comprises a sliding indicia 56 extending inwardly from the first one of the lateral edges 28 of the home plate 24. The sliding indicia 56 also extends inwardly from a portion 58 of a first one of the angled rear edges 32 of the home plate 24.
Each of the above described types of base indicia 36 and plate indicia 52 may be associated with a particular color to further distinguish between each type and facilitate teaching by allowing a coach to simplify description by using color as opposed to a descriptive word identifier.
In use, the bases 12 and the home plate 24 are placed on the baseball diamond during a practice session or for use by younger children where use may be permitted during a game. As described above, the base indicia 36 and plate indicia 52 show the players where to contact the base 12 or home plate 24 consistent with proper base running technique. The base indicia 36 and plate indicia 52 further allows an observer to compare the desired position of contact with the actual contact made by a player to assist in correcting or reinforcing correct contact.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.
