Mr. Hitter, Interactive baseball batting/hitting training device

Abstract

This invention is a device to improve the hand eye coordination of baseball and softball hitters. It is used to allow the hitter to practice their swinging techniques and develop good swing mechanics in a short period of time by providing multiple repetitious looks at the ball. The device consists of a short wooden bat with a predetermined length of rope attaching the bat to the ball. The coach uses the bat to swing the ball into the hitting zone in front of the hitter every few seconds allowing multiple swings at the ball in a repetitive manner. When hit the ball only travels a few feet for easy retrieval by the coach allowing for maximum hitting attempts in a short period of time.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] There are no previous applications to reference in this present application.

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable

REFERENCE TO A "SEQUENCE LISTING," A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPUTER DISK

[0003] Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

[0004] This invention relates to an interactive device to improve the hand eye coordination of baseball/softball hitters thereby leading to increased ability to actually "see the ball" and hit the ball more often at each batting attempt. This invention allows multiple "looks at the ball" in a short period of time and subsequent improved ability to swing the bat and actually hit the ball.

[0005] Hitting a baseball/softball requires precise timing while executing a powerful swing. To improve their swing, hitters must practice their swing mechanics repeatedly. Of course players can practice swing mechanics by actually playing the game, nevertheless, other practicing techniques are necessary because of the very nature of the game. In a game the pitcher tries to throw the ball into the strike zone in an unpredictable manner to prevent the batter from hitting the thrown ball. Each thrown pitch can require the batter to employ a slightly different swing and does not reinforce needed swing mechanics. A batter usually is "at bat" only three or four times in a game and there is no time for repetitious practicing that is absolutely necessary to optimize and enhance swing mechanics while actually "seeing" the ball. Further, the process of playing ball requires a large area and is time consuming which by its very nature limits the amount of "at bats" in a game.

[0006] Many methods and devices have been created over the years to support practicing a baseball swing in an efficient and expeditious manner. A player can practice their swing in a batter's cage swinging at nearly identical pitches from an automatic pitching machine or by hitting a ball from a tee. Both these techniques can enhance the hand-eye coordination of the hitter, but does little to teach the batter to "see" and "hit" a ball that comes into their field of vision from a different angle or arc each and every time. Also, hitting an actual ball each time requires a large space and necessitates that the balls be gathered at the end of a certain number of hits to assure a supply of balls being available for continued hitting practice.

[0007] Adjustable posts or tees for mounting balls at various heights and positions all have limitations and/or shortcomings in that they are cumbersome and very difficult to adjust and use, have limited ball-strike positions and require an overly enlarged home plate for proper tee alignment, operation and use, are not designed to teach proper swing attitudes and ball contact strokes for hitting balls to various parts of the playing area, and do not allow balls over the corners of the plate.

[0008] A continuing need exists for a new and improved batting practice training device that teaches a person how to actually "see" and "hit" the ball. Once the batter can hit the ball consistently then placement of the ball that is hit in a particular area of the playing field is much easier.

[0009] The following references provide supplemental and background information for this invention.

[0010] 1. "Combination Batting Practice Tee and Pitching Target" U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,343.

[0011] 2. "Swing Practice Apparatus" U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,943

[0012] 3. "Device For Batting and Striking Practice" U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,424

[0013] 4. "Bat Master" U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,790

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0014] According to the invention, Mr. Hitter, a batting/hitting training device is presented that reduces problems associated with other apparatus for hitter swing improvement. Mr. Hitter has virtually unlimited ball-strike positions because the ball never arrives in the hitting zone at the same location, angle or arc which is designed to allow the hitter to "see" and "hit" more often thereby exponentially increasing their on-base percentage. A hitter must first see the ball, then hit the ball and get on-base to score a run. Mr. Hitter allows the hitter to substantially improve their hand-eye coordination by multiple looks at the ball and attempts to hit the ball in a very short period of time. These multiple attempts to hit the ball teaches the hitter their particular swing mechanics and gives them the repetitive looks at the ball necessary to become a high percentage hitter. Mr Hitter allows hundred of repetitions for many players in any one time period.

[0015] In the original embodiment Mr. Hitter comprises 101/2 inch short wooden bat, a nine (9) foot length of 1/4 inch rope, and a baseball. A 1/4 inch hole is drilled lengthwise through the bat from the large end to approximately 80% of the length of the bat. Another hole is drilled from outside the wooden bat to intersect the longitudinal hole drilled from the end of the bat. The 1/4 inch rope is threaded through the hole at the end of bat to emerge at the opening of the latitudinal hole in the bat, where a knot is tied in the rope to hold it in the bat. A 1/4 inch hole is drilled totally through the baseball. The other end of the rope is threaded through the baseball and a knot is tied on the end preventing the rope from slipping out. The length of the wooden bat, length of the rope and the method of attachment of the rope to the ball may be different in other embodiment's of the device. Such embodiment's are incorporated herein by reference as though set forth in full in this application.

[0016] Use of the Mr. Hitter training device requires two persons, a hitter/player and a device operator. The hitter with a bat is positioned approximately ten (10) from the operator. The operator swings the device bat over his/her head to swing the baseball in a circular arc to a position directly in front of the hitter. The operator can swing the ball faster or slower, higher or lower, and closer or further from the hitter. Each swing is a pitch which the hitter can swing at or ignore. The device can deliver hundreds of pitch's in an hours practice time and gives the hitter hundreds of "looks" at a different pitch each time.

[0017] The arc and angle of each pitch is never duplicated in subsequent pitches. This allows the hitter to be able to "see" and "hit" the ball by virtue of the literally hundreds of "looks" at the ball in a practice session. This repetitive procedure gives the hitter many more chances to hit the ball in a practice session than would ever be possible with any apparatus in existence. Repetitive looks at the ball creates better swing mechanics that result in more hits which equals a better on base percentage and more runs scored. The object of any baseball/softball game is to score more runs than the opponent.

DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a depiction of the typical bat used in the training device in the original embodiment with typical specifications of the bat. (1a) pictures the typical radius on the bat. In other embodiments the bat and it's specifications may be by other different and varied methods and different specifications.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a depiction of both the bat and baseball used in the training device with holes drilled in each item per the specifications. (2a) pictures the typical baseball as set out in the specifications. (2b) is a depiction of the typical wooden bat. (2c) is a depiction of the typical hole drilled through the baseball. (2d) is a depiction of the 1/4 inch hole drilled lengthwise through the wooden bat from the large end to approximately 80% of the length of the bat. (2e) is a depiction of the hole drilled from outside of the wooden bat that intersects the longitudinal hole drilled from the end of the bat.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a depiction of the entire training device in the original embodiment, consisting of the bat, the rope attaching the bat and ball together, and the baseball. (3a) is a depiction of the knot tied in the end of the rope or other fastening mechanism to prevent the rope from slipping out of the ball. (3b) is a depiction of the (9) foot length of 1/4 inch rope. (3c) is a depiction of the knot tied in the end of the rope or other fastening mechanism to prevent the rope from slipping out of the bat.

[0021] The drawings are an integral part of the system in this invention and by this reference are incorporated herein as though set forth in full.

Claims

1. The system in this invention provide a wooden bat with a hole therein drilled or manufactured into the bat covering approximately 80% of the longitudinal length of the bat ending at a latitudinal hole drilled into the bat to intersect the longitudinal hole for insertion of the attachment rope, a 1/4 inch rope nine (9) feet in length for attachment of ball to the bat, a baseball with 1/4 inch hole drilled therein for insertion of the attachment rope with the attachment rope knotted at each end, at both the bat and baseball. Any embodiments arising out of the claims set out in this application are by reference made a part of this invention. The system in this invention embodies a wooden bat or a bat constructed of metal, plastic or any other material. The system in this invention further embodies a wooden, metal, or plastic bat of any length using any system of rope of any length or size attached to any type ball for the training of hitting or swing mechanics. The system in this invention further embodies any type of baseball, softball, or ball constructed of any material that is attached to any type batting device in any manner for the training of hitting or swing mechanics. The system in this invention further embodies the rope being attached to the ball of any type, by any method of a metal or plastic grommet inserted into the ball for attachment of the rope in any manner. The system in this invention further embodies any size and length of rope being used the connect the bat to the ball for use as a device for training of hitting and swing mechanics. The system in this invention further embodies any size and length of bat constructed of any material attached to a ball by any method for use as a device for training of hitting and swing mechanics. The system in this invention further embodies any method of attaching a ball to a bat for use as a device for training of hitting and swing mechanics.