Patent Application
20080102992
1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally pertains to gaming and sporting apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus, equipment and methods for games, sports and similar activities involving the training and improving of a player's swing for swinging a striking member and striking an unconstrained playing object, such as a ball or a puck.
2. Background Art
There are a number of well-known sports which include an unconstrained playing object driven by the action of a player upon the object. Typically the playing object is a ball and the player acts upon the ball by striking the ball with a striking member such as a bat. In each case, the playing object must be located in a prescribed strike zone, from which it is driven in furtherance of obtaining the goal. Examples of such sports include baseball (hardball or softball), tennis, hockey, and golf. As is generally well known, the playing object and the striking member is different in each sport, and each has different operating, behavioral and response characteristics. Furthermore, each game has its own specific sets of generally well known and easily obtained rules and regulations which control the play of the game and the actions of the player or players.
Generally, the baseball is a hard leather ball sized to fit comfortably in the palm of the average hand and of a suitable weight to be easily thrown. In play, the ball is thrown by one player and passes through a baseball strike zone immediately in front of another player, who swings a striking member in the form of a generally cylindrical bat in an endeavor to strike the airborne ball so as to gain an opportunity to traverse the series of bases and obtain a score. If the player strikes the ball with the bat, it is a “hit”, and if the player misses the ball, a “strike” is counted against the player.
In tennis, a net is provided to divide the field of play or tennis court. Each player is provided a striking member in the form of a racquet which includes a head portion and a handle portion for striking a resilient tennis ball to drive the ball across the net and into the opposing player's portion of the field. Each player must return the ball from their respective portion of the tennis court, and the ball must be struck within the court boundaries and while airborne.
Hockey includes a striking member in the form of a hockey stick with a striking head and a handle extending upwardly at an angle to be gripped by the player. In lieu of a ball, the playing object is formed as an annular cylindrical section commonly known as a puck. Each player attempts to strike and drive the puck toward the goal of the opposing team. Each of two opposing teams is provided with a goal at opposing ends of the field of play, an ice covered arena.
In each case, the conformation of the playing object and the methods and rules of the game vary, but the playing object must be driven at the correct speed and in the correct direction to attain the goal and win the game. This can only be accomplished by the player's correctly striking the playing object in the strike zone, whether with bat, racquet or foot. Therefore, it is extremely important that the player seek to improve the skill of correctly and accurately striking the ball. In each respective sport, there is an ideal swing pattern which is preferred as bringing about the most accurate reaction in the playing object, and the player will seek to consistently replicate this pattern. However, this result cannot be casually obtained. The act of striking the swing must be regularly practiced, and the player who attains the status of professional athlete will seek to hone this skill as an integral and important part of a successful career. The player seeking to improve his or her swing will often review printed instructional materials, whether text or photographic, which reduce the ideal swing to a series of component portions or moves. After reviewing these materials, the player will then attempt to replicate these moves. However, it is difficult for the player to ascertain whether in fact his swing has successfully duplicated the requisite moves. Of course, it is generally critical to actually duplicate the moves and not merely to make the attempt. Therefore, some form of feedback from the practice swings is necessary so as to bring the next successive practice swing into greater conformity with the desired swing.
Training feedback, in the prior art, has been accomplished in a number of ways. The player, in some cases may be able to perform the practice swings before a mirror and observe the actual swing. While this method offers instantaneous feedback, it has several substantial disadvantages. Firstly, the player cannot concentrate on the practice swing and concentrate on observing the mirrored swing simultaneously without a real reduction in performance. Secondly, the practice swing often takes place at a high rate of speed, exceeding the ability of the human eye to correctly discern the sequence and correctness of the moves of the swing. Thirdly, the mere presence of the mirror may actually constitute a physical hazard to the player if the mirror is not sufficiently protected from the playing object when propelled by the impact of the striking member. Finally, it is typical to attempt many practice swings during a practice session, which may necessitate the use of a relatively large number of playing objects and a fair amount of time to recover the projected playing objects.
Another method of training requires the player to employ the services of an instructor or personal trainer. This method is better than the former method, since the trainer can observe the swing objectively and the player can concentrate on the practice swing entirely. However, this method still involves the use of a relatively large number of playing objects and the recovery time necessary. Also, the trainer's ability to observe the swing remains limited to the ability of the human eye to interpret the moves. There is also commonly a substantial cost factor involved in the retaining of a personal trainer, and the additional concern regarding the knowledge and qualifications of the trainer to diagnose and teach the correct swing.
The player may also elect to photograph a video record of the practice swings. This allows the player, or an instructor, to review the practice swings with a view to correctness, although this review may be difficult to conduct contemporaneously. Also, the video record may be reviewed at a reduced speed and thereby more accurately analyzed. However, as with the personal trainer, the recording and analyzing process usually involves substantial set-up and operating expense, and may also require a special location providing controlled conditions.
Another method of training involves the use of specially designed mechanical apparatus which provides feedback to the player about the swing. Such apparatus is often expensive and distracting to the player during the practice session, occasionally even hindering the training process.
Furthermore, in all of the foregoing, it is typically necessary to conduct practice sessions at either an actual playing field or a field or facility especially designed for the practice of the selected sport, which often presents difficulties because of scheduling constraints for the player and others, because of travel, or because of weather.
None of the foregoing provide any substantial immediate tactile feedback useful and desirable for immediate correcting of the swing. It is also difficult to determine whether the player has correctly placed the striking member in relation to the playing object and thereby determine the accuracy of the player's swing. Finally, the momentum and response of the ball may vary under different playing conditions, and it is desirable to emulate these conditions and to train the player's physical responses to accommodate these differences with a minimum of discomfiture and thereby to maximize the player's accuracy and power in the strike.
Most current training methods like U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,397 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,021, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,671 utilize some sort of weighting arrangement to provide resistance. Unfortunately they do not increase the resistance at the most critical point of the swing-impact. Nor, do they provide verification of squareness at impact.
One training method and apparatus which overcomes several of these difficulties in training the swing for the various sports is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,064, issued to the present inventor, which discloses a golf training club and a specially adapted target resting on a playing surface.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to conveniently provide a method of practicing the swing desired for a selected sport or game.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus suitable for providing feedback of the results of the practice swing.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as will permit the player to safely and conveniently practice the desired swing.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as will permit the player to obtain immediate desirable tactile feedback useful in improving each successive practice swing.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as will enable the player to improve his swing for a selected sport or game.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as may be employed either by the player or by the player and an instructor for the improvement of the player's swing.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as may be inexpensively and simply employed by the player.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as may be employed without requirement of a special location or playing or practice field.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to conveniently provide a method of practicing the swing desired for a selected sport or game.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus suitable for providing feedback of the results of the practice swing.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as will permit the player to safely and conveniently practice the desired swing.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as will permit the player to obtain immediate desirable tactile feedback useful in improving each successive practice swing.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as will enable the player to improve his swing for a selected sport or game. It is another object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as will successfully emulate in the practice swing the physical requirements of the actual swing.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as will provide accurate tactile feedback to the player and to train the player to rapidly adapt to changing responses of the ball in play.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as will enable a player to visually determine whether the player has correctly placed the striking member in relation to the playing object and thereby determine the accuracy of the player's swing.
These and other objectives of the present invention will become apparent in the specification and claims that follow.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as may be employed either by the player or by the player and an instructor for the improvement of the players swing.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as may be inexpensively and simply employed by the player.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus as may be employed without requirement of a special location or playing or practice field.
The subject invention is comprised a striking member adapted to emulate a specific selected sport and a target member adapted to emulate the playing object of the same selected sport, the target member including flexible, elongate momentum elements selectively attachable to the target member to accurately simulate the characteristics of an actual ball or playing object.
A tennis training apparatus identified by the reference numeral 10 according to the present invention is disclosed generally in
In
The forward hemisphere 36 of the contact element 32 is surfaced with preferably two fastener strips 38A and 38B of material which is of the selectively engageable multiple hook and loop engagement type removeable fastener, such as Velcro™ brand hook and loop fastener. These two fastener material strips 38A and 38B are preferably disposed at right angles to each other. As shown, one fastener strip 38A is aligned with the axis of the connecting rod 34 and the other fastener strip 38B is normal to the axis of the connecting rod 34.
Those skilled in the art will recognize the forward hemisphere 36 may also be completely covered with fastener material or that other conformations of partial coverage with fastener material may be employed with substantially similar results, or that other types of fastener materials may be employed, and that the disposition shown is by way of example only.
Turning now more particularly to
As shown in
This selective linking engagement is more clearly shown in the enlarged side view of the link members 48 and the target member 50 shown in
The target element 50 also includes a secondary fastener surface 54, which is a means for selectively engaging a momentum element 56. In
The momentum element 56 is preferably a sash of cloth or other similar material generally of the same width as the target surface 52, for example, 6 to 14 inches wide and up to 4 feet long. In
As shown in
Turning now to
In
An alternative mounting method including a dependent support hanger subassembly 70 is shown in
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the target surface 52 may bear a variety of imprints or printed targeting patterns. The principal requirement of the target surface imprint is to indicate the desired point of contact to the player, and to enable the player to determine the accuracy of the player's swing.
The baseball striking member 120 includes a handle portion 122 substantially identical with that provided on the actual baseball bat with a grip 124 of the same dimensions as that commonly found in professional baseball bats. A spherical contact element 32, preferably of substantially the same diameter as a regulation baseball, is provided at the proximate position of the preferred strike zone of an actual baseball bat. A connecting rod 134 immovably joins the contact element 32 to the handle portion 22 and ensures the relationship of the handle portion 122 and the contact element 132.
The forward hemisphere 136 of the contact element 132 is surfaced with preferably two fastener strips 138A and 138B of material which is of the selectively engageable multiple hook and loop engagement type, such as Velcro™ brand hook and loop fastener. These two fastener material strips 138A and 138B are preferably disposed at right angles to each other. As shown, one fastener strip 138A is aligned with the axis of the connecting rod 134 and the other fastener strip 138B is normal to the axis of the connecting rod 134.
Those skilled in the art will recognize the forward hemisphere 136 may also be completely covered with fastener material or that other conformations of partial coverage with fastener material may be employed with substantially similar results, or that other types of fastener materials may be employed, and that the disposition shown is by way of example only.
The target element 150 also includes a secondary fastener surface 154 for engaging a momentum element 156. In
The player in training employs the baseball training apparatus 110 in much the same manner as the preferred embodiment is used for the tennis player. However, all training for striking a pitched baseball is done with swings through the baseball strike zone, so the method is most similar to that of the tennis forehand, although both hands are used to grip the handle 122. The player in training grasps the handle 122 of the baseball striking member 120 and assumes the batting position adjacent the baseball training apparatus 110, with the target member 150 depending from the link members 148 and adjusted to a selected height in the baseball strike zone. A momentum element 156 is attached to the target member 150 to cause the desired response when the contact element 132 strikes the target surface 152. The player then swings the strike member 120 and contacts the target surface 152, causing the fastener surfaces 138A and 138B to removably engage the target surface 152 and carry the target member 150 from the target support frame, disengaging the link members 148. As with the preferred embodiment, the player can then disengage the target member 150 from the contact element 132 and examine the target surface 152 to determine the accuracy of the swing, reattach the target member 150 to the baseball training apparatus 110 and continue training with another subsequent swing, which can be repeated as desired.
A hockey swing training apparatus 310 is shown in
Construction of the various strike members should be such as would provide the necessary durability for repeated training swings. For example, the handle portion of the tennis strike member should be of substantially the same construction as that of the standard tennis racquet. The contact elements of the respective strike members should likewise be formed from a durable plastic or metal as will provide the desired mass and weight balance to simulate the regulation bat or stick, as the case may be. It is believed that those skilled in the respective arts will readily apprehend the nature of the required materials.
As can be seen, the various embodiments are of relatively straightforward construction, and permit the player to train conveniently and safely. Furthermore, the training apparatus provide a simple and effective means of improving the swing required in selected sport due to the instant and accurate feedback and the positive physical training provided by the present invention. The player's swing under the actual gaming conditions is substantially enhanced by the tactile feedback experienced during training, especially the accurate tactile feedback provided by the momentum element when attached to the target member during the practice session. This accurate tactile feedback enables the player in training to train for an accurate physical response to the swing. In addition, the present invention is relatively simple of manufacture and maintenance. Also, the present invention is inexpensive to use and to operate, and can be used in cooperation with other training methods to provide improved training where desired.
Modifications to the preferred embodiment of the subject invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art within the scope of the claims that follow.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60854610 | Oct 2006 | US |
