Baseball bat with sliding contact zone

Abstract

herein details a swing training device for teaching a baseball or softball player the proper swing mechanics. The device consists of a handle, a sliding contact zone and a rod which is connected to the handle and forms the means for the sliding contact zone to move. The idea of this trainer is to swing the device such that the sliding contact zone moves from just above the hands at the start of the swing to the end of the bat (top stop) at approximately the same time that contact is made with the ball. This device is designed and meant to be used in real hitting situations such as batting practice, batting tee practice and all types of hitting drills where the ball is tossed or pitched.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional application No. 61/209,791 filed Mar. 11, 2009.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002]The present invention involves the use of a bat like device which contains a sliding contact zone for the purpose of forcing the hands to swing down on the ball and thus forcing the slide to travel down the bat shaft to the end, where contact with the ball is made. Contacting the ball with the sliding contact zone would teach the batter the proper swing mechanics. The device and method is meant to be used in a live batting situation, batting tee practice and all types of hitting drills where the ball is tossed or pitched.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003]Many devices have been presented over the history of baseball to teach the batter the proper and most efficient way to swing a baseball bat. One such device is shown and explained in US2004/0048696 where the weight is placed just above the hands so when swung the weight will slide forward and contact the top portion of the device, thus making a sound that will be indicative of the swing velocity. While swing velocity can be equated to power transfer to the ball, it is not an indication of swing technique or proper mechanics.

[0004]Various other devices have been developed to show the batter when he reaches a certain velocity or are useful to maximize the velocity. In general these devices use sliding weights or springs to load and measure the force generated by the batter during the swing.

[0005]The piece that is missing from all of these devices is the timing aspect of the swing and making contact at the exact moment that the bat velocity reaches its maximum point. Such a method would teach the batter not only where the maximum velocity is reached but also where to make contact with the ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

[0006]FIG. 1 shows the swing training device of this invention in the ready position. This would be the starting point from which a batter would start with the device held over his right shoulder (for a right handed batter) with his hands on the handle (1)

[0007]FIG. 2 shows the device as the sliding contact zone (2) is started in motion down the rod (3) by the action of the batter starting to swing. The movement of the hands from above the shoulder down towards the belt of the batter forces the sliding zone to lose contact with the bottom stop (4).

[0008]FIG. 3 shows the point of contact where the sliding contact zone (2) reaches the top stop (5) at approximately the same instant contact with the ball (6) is made. If the swing is executed correctly contact with the stop and ball will occur over the strike zone.

[0009]FIG. 4 shows the attachment of the handle to the rod portion of the training device such that a standard baseball or softball bat can be attached via the male (7) and female (8) threaded union.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010]The method swinging a bat to generate the most power and proper mechanics involves the use of a modified bat designed for live batting practice. Such a device is prepared by cutting the handle from a wooden or aluminum bat and mounting a solid pole into the handle portion. The barrel of the bat (typically the flat portion when viewed cross-wise) is cut from the wood or aluminum bat and a hole is drilled longitudinally through the barrel section. The hole will be just slightly larger than the diameter of the rod which has been placed into the handle portion.

[0011]The rod will have some device for stopping the barrel from sliding too far down the rod so as to not hit the hands of the batter (lower stop, 4) and also from sliding off the rod (away from the hands) and coming off the end (upper stop, 5). The overall length and weigh of the device, as described above, will be as close to the original bat as possible.

[0012]The method of using this device will involve placing the hands on thee grip as one would normally do for a wooden or aluminum bat. The sliding contact zone will rest on the lower stop as the bat is placed in the ready position (this is with the hands held high and just over the batter's right shoulder for a right handed person). As the batter starts the swing the hands immediately drop towards the batters belt thus causing the contact zone to start sliding towards the end of the device. As the bat is accelerated towards the strike zone, the sliding contact zone is approaching the end of the bat. If done correctly the sliding contact zone will reach the end of the bat at the same instant that contact is made with the ball.

[0013]In one embodiment of this invention the lower stop will contain small magnets that will engage similar magnets in the sliding contact zone so as to prevent the sliding contact zone from moving prematurely. In another embodiment, the sliding contact zone will be made fashioned as if it were an aluminum bat barrel.

[0014]In another embodiment of this invention, the handle of the bat will be attached to the rod portion containing the sliding contact zone such that the handle can be removed and replaced with a traditional bat end. This will allow the device to be quickly and easily changed from a batting practice tool to a functioning baseball (or softball) bat having the same weight and feel. One way to accomplish this transformation is to make the attachment via a male (7) and female (8) threaded union (see FIG. 4). The standard bat portion of the device can be configured as a baseball bat, softball bat or cricket bat.

[0015]While the device of this invention can be used to practice good swing mechanics without the use of a ball, the true value of this device is that it can withstand the impact of hitting a regulation hard ball, even at batting practice pitching speeds. Of course one could also use a softer tennis ball for younger players. Additionally the device and method of this invention can be used for softball training as well as baseball practice. In one embodiment of this invention the device is used in live batting practice. For purposes of this application, live batting practice is defined as any situation where the ball is tossed or pitched to the batter.

Claims

1) A swing training device for teaching proper swing mechanics comprising a handle portion, a rod portion and a sliding contact zone.

2) The device of claim on wherein the device has a weight and a length of a traditional bat.

3) The device of claim 1 wherein the rod further contains a top and bottom stop to restrict the sliding contact zone distance of travel.

4) The device of claim 3 wherein the bottom stop contains a means for holding the sliding contact zone until the device has reached a minimum swing speed.

5) The device of claim 4 wherein the means for holding the sliding contact zone are a plurality of magnets mounted in the bottom stop and the sliding contact zone.

6) The sliding contact zone of claim 1 wherein the sliding contact zone has the same size and shape as a regulation bat.

7) The sliding contact zone of claim 6 wherein the contact zone is made from wood or aluminum.

8) A method of teaching proper swing mechanics using the device of claim 1 comprising the steps of placing a batter's hands on the handle portion of the device, positioning the hands and device in the proper position above the batter's shoulder, starting a swing by bringing the hands down towards the batter's belt causing a sliding contact zone to start to slide down the rod toward a top stop, and continuing the swing such that the sliding contact zone reaches the top stop at approximately the same time that contact is made with a ball.

9) The use of the swing training device of claim 1 where the training device is used for live batter practice.

10) The device of claim 1 wherein the handle portion is attached to the rod portion by a male and a female threaded union.

11) The device claim 10 wherein the rod portion is replaced with a traditional bat end.

12) The device of claim 11 wherein the bat end is chosen from the group consisting of a baseball bat end, a softball bat end or a cricket bat end.

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