SPORTING DEVICE WEIGHT

Abstract

A sporting weight system couplable to a sporting device. The sporting weight system including a plurality of shaped weight portions and at least one fastener. The at least one fastener is configured to couple the plurality of shaped weight portions together about a shaft portion of the sporting device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to weights coupled to elongated sporting devices or sticks, and, more particularly, to a detachable weight couped to a sporting stick or device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many sporting activities utilize a sporting device, which can take the form of a bat, a racket, a club, a paddle or similar device generally manipulated with the hands of a person. It is recognized that the adding of weight to the sporting device and swinging the device provides a desirable exercise for the sporting participant.

Weights for baseball bats can be in the form of a toroidal shape that is slipped over an end of the bat and the inner portion of the weight is sized so that it will engage the bat along a tapered surface, with the tapered surface acting with the inner portion of the weight to keep it from sliding further up the bat.

What is needed in the art is a sporting weight system that can be easily attached to and removed from the shaft of the sporting device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sports training aid in the form of a weight system that is couplable to a sporting device.

The invention in one form is directed to a sporting weight system couplable to a sporting device. The sporting weight system including a plurality of shaped weight portions and at least one fastener. The at least one fastener is configured to couple the plurality of shaped weight portions together about a shaft portion of the sporting device.

The invention in another form is directed to a sporting weight system including a plurality of shaped weight portions and at least one fastener. The at least one fastener is configured to couple the plurality of shaped weight portions together about a shaft portion of the sporting device.

An advantage of the present invention is that the weight system is applicable to all types of sporting devices, with just a differing inner surface contour.

Another advantage is that the weight system is quickly engaged and removed from the shaft of the sporting device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a sporting device in the form of a baseball bat to which is attached an embodiment of a weight system of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a top view of one embodiment of the weight system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a top view of another embodiment of the weight system of FIG. 1 having a different weight from that of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a top view of yet another embodiment of the weight system of FIG. 1 having a different weight from that of the weight system of FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 2D is a top view of still yet another embodiment of the weight system of FIG. 1 having a different weight from that of the weight system of FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C;

FIG. 3A is an end view of the weight system of FIGS. 1 and 2A;

FIG. 3B is an end view of the weight system of FIG. 2B;

FIG. 3C is an end view of the weight system of FIG. 2C;

FIG. 3D is an end view of the weight system of FIG. 2D;

FIG. 4A is a view of one shaped weight portion of the weight system of FIG. 2A and 3A, for example;

FIG. 4B is a view of another shaped weight portion of the weight system of FIG. 2A and 3A, complementary to the weight portion of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C is a view of one shaped weight portion of the weight system of FIG. 2C and 3C, for example;

FIG. 4D is a view of another shaped weight portion of the weight system of FIG. 2C and 3C, complementary to the weight portion of FIG. 4C;

FIG. 5 is an end perspective view of the weight system of FIGS. 2A and 3A;

FIG. 6 is a geometrical shape of an inner surface of one of the weight systems of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, the shape being circular in nature;

FIG. 7 is another geometrical shape of an inner surface of one of the weight systems of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, the shape being square in nature;

FIG. 8 is another geometrical shape of an inner surface of one of the weight systems of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, the shape being octagonal in nature;

FIG. 9 is another geometrical shape of an inner surface of one of the weight systems of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, the shape being rectangular or rectilinear in nature;

FIG. 10 is a geometrical shape of an inner surface of one of the weight systems of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, the shape being oval in nature; and

FIG. 11 is a geometrical shape of an inner surface of one of the weight systems of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, the shape being in the form of the cross-section of a cricket bat.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 there is shown a perspective view of a sporting weight system WS for use with a sporting device 10, illustrated here as a baseball bat 10 with an embodiment of the weight system WS in the form of a baseball bat weight 12 installed on sporting device 10. Weight 12 is coupled to bat 10 on a shaft portion S between a grip portion 14 and a major diameter portion 16 of bat 10. The placing of weight 12 in this location allows the assembly to be used for training purposes, to enhance a batter's swing and the power associated with the swing.

Sporting weight system WS includes shaped weight portions 12A1 and 12A2, and at least one fastener 18 configured to couple shaped weight portions 12A1 and 12A2 together about shaft portion S of sporting device 10.

Now, additionally referring to FIGS. 2A-2D and 3A-3D, there are shown four examples of weight 12, in the forms of weights 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D, to illustrate that different sizes of weights 12 are contemplated. The designations 12X1 and 12X2, where X would be A, B, C, or D (in other reference numbers as well), illustrates the complimentary weight portions 12X1 and 12X2. As can be seen in FIGS. 4A-4D weights 12 each have two portions 12A1 and 12A2, or 12C1 and 12C2, as two examples thereof. As illustrated portions 12A1 and 12C1 have fasteners 18 that extend therethrough and may respectively be coupled thereto. Although threaded fasteners 18 are used in the illustrated embodiment, it is contemplated that other fastening systems may be used. It is also contemplated that portions 12A1 and 12A2 (12C1 and 12C2) can be identical with one fastener 18 extending from one portion into the other portion. It is further contemplated that portion 12A1 may be hingedly coupled to portion 12A2 and with just one fastener 18 being used to secure portions 12A1 and 12A2 together on bat 10. It is further contemplated that the differing portions 12X1 can be coupled with 12X2 of differing weight sizes. This allows an offset of the weighting about an axis of sporting device 10.

Portions 12A1 and 12A2 each are shown with a half cylindrical or quasi-cylindrical void 20A that when portions 12A1 and 12A2 are coupled to bat 10 significantly surround bat 10 and compress against bat 10 to hold weight 12 in place. It is also contemplated that void 20X can be a tapered void to conform with the general taper of a bat 10, where weight 12 is illustrated to be mounted. Additionally, void 20 may be formed to fit a particular model of bat 10 having a known taper. Fasteners 18 may be tightened without the use of tools.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4C and 4D, void 20C of weight 12C has a dual level void 20C which resembles two cylindrical voids of differing radii. This allows for the customization of the total mass associated with each weight 12 and the insertion of a pad P.

Voids 20A-D can differ in size with weights 12 appearing to be two concentric circles when viewed from the end perspective. Differing void sizes are used for differing sizes of bats 10. As can be seen in FIG. 5 inner surfaces 22 can be cylindrical in nature to accommodate shafts S of sporting devices 10 that have a cylindrical cross-section such as golf clubs or bats.

Fasteners 18 are illustrated as removable threaded fasteners, but captive fastening systems without threads are also contemplated. For example, portions 12X1 and 12X2 can be hinged along one side, along the outer diameter of weight 12, with an over center latch on an opposite side. The foregoing construct provides a single integrated construct, which can be easily installed on a bat 10, easily removed, and stored as a single unit.

The present invention places a selected weight 12 on bat 10 at a position that assists in swing training and challenges arm muscles in the user to develop so that swings without weight 12 will be more powerful. The positioning helps preserve balance of bat 10 versus weights that are traditionally placed closer to the outer end of bat 10, in area 16.

Sporting weight system WS can be applied to sporting devices 10 that may have outer surfaces having cross sections that vary as those shown in FIGS. 6-11. FIGS. 6-11 illustrate inner surfaces 22 of weights 12 that are complementary to the outer surfaces of round shafts, as shown in FIG. 6. In a similar fashion inner surface 22 of FIG. 7 has a square contour. Further, inner surface 22 of FIG. 8 has an octagonal contour. Still further, inner surface 22 of FIG. 9 is rectangular or rectilinear in nature. Still further, inner surface 22 of FIG. 10 is oval in nature. Yet still further, inner surface 22 of FIG. 11 has a shape of a cricket bat.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sporting weight system couplable to a sporting device, the sporting weight system comprising: a plurality of shaped weight portions; andat least one fastener configured to couple the plurality of shaped weight portions together about a shaft portion of the sporting device.

2. The sporting weight system of claim 1, wherein each shaped weight portion has an inner contour complimentary to an outer surface of the shaft portion of the sporting device.

3. The sporting weight system of claim 2, further comprising at least one resilient pad coupled to the inner contour of at least one of the shaped weight portion.

4. The sporting weight system of claim 2, wherein the inner contour has a cross-section that is at least partially circular.

5. The sporting weight system of claim 2, wherein the inner contour has a cross-section that is at least partially rectilinear.

6. The sporting weight system of claim 2, wherein the inner contour has a cross-section that is at least partially octagonal.

7. The sporting weight system of claim 2, wherein the inner contour has a cross-section that is at least partially oval.

8. The sporting weight system of claim 2, wherein the inner contour has a cross-section that has a cricket bat shape.

9. The sporting weight system of claim 2, wherein the inner contour has a cross-section that has a square shape.

10. A sporting weight system, comprising: a plurality of shaped weight portions; andat least one fastener configured to couple the plurality of shaped weight portions together about an outer surface of a shaft portion of a sporting device.

11. The sporting weight system of claim 10, wherein each shaped weight portion has an inner contour complimentary to the outer surface of the shaft portion of the sporting device.

12. The sporting weight system of claim 11, further comprising at least one resilient pad coupled to the inner contour of at least one of the shaped weight portion.

13. The sporting weight system of claim 11, wherein the inner contour has a cross-section that is at least partially circular.

14. The sporting weight system of claim 11, wherein the inner contour has a cross-section that is at least partially rectilinear.

15. The sporting weight system of claim 11, wherein the inner contour has a cross-section that is at least partially octagonal.

16. The sporting weight system of claim 11, wherein the inner contour has a cross-section that is at least partially oval.

17. The sporting weight system of claim 11, wherein the inner contour has a cross-section that has a cricket bat shape.

18. The sporting weight system of claim 11, wherein the inner contour has a cross-section that has a square shape.

19. The sporting weight system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of shaped weight portions are substantially similar in shape and weight.

20. The sporting weight system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of shaped weight portions are similar in cross-sectional shape, but different in weight.