Adjustable weight training belt

Abstract

Adjustable weight training belt for use with a baseball bat comprising a first layer of flexible material and a hook and loop fastening system. The hook portion of the fastening system connected to one face and the loop portion of the fastening system on the other face, the fastening system being adjustable to adjust the area encircled by the belt. A second layer of flexible material connected to the first layer forming a plurality of pockets between the a face of the first layer and a face of the second layer. A face of the second layer has a high coefficient of friction to resist movement of the belt when placed about the barrel of a baseball bat. A plurality of malleable weights engaged in the pockets, the weights formed to the curved surface of the barrel creating a substantially similar surface profile contributing to the resistance of movement.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The claimed invention relates to devices used to enhance the performance of a baseball player's batting swing, and more specifically to adjustable weighted attachments for baseball bats.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Athletes train to become better players in their sport, spending hours in practicing different aspects of the sport. As an example, baseball players continually practice hitting, fielding, and base running to become a better baseball player. In the past, different types of training devices have been used that were intended to enhance the performance of an athlete, particularly in sports requiring hand held equipment such as baseball, tennis, and hockey. These devices were often developed and used based on impressions that the devices would enhance an athlete's performance without actually studying the effect that a particular device might have upon a player's performance.

[0005] One of the more popular types of training methods has been attaching weights to an athletes hand held playing equipment such as baseball bats, tennis racquets, hockey sticks, or golf clubs. The attaching of extra weigh to these types of equipment is thought to strengthen the athlete's muscles through practice while using such weighted equipment. However, placement of such weight upon the equipment has seldom been studied. In some applications, placement of extra weight upon playing equipment such as a baseball bat can actually be counter productive to the performance of the athlete due to the improper placement of the weight. If the weighted device is not secured about a baseball bat in the proper location, the extra weight can interrupt the baseball player's proper swinging form, possibly resulting in poor hitting performance. Several of the prior art weighted training devices and their disadvantages are discussed below.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,156, issued to Guguere discloses a Golf Club Practice Swing Weight that comprises a flexible web arranged to have secured thereto a plurality of flexible pouches. The strap member can have a hook and loop fastener surface using a ring member. The device can be mounted about a shaft, such as a golf shaft whereupon it can be secured about itself. This training device provides a weight that conforms to the curvature of the golf club shaft, but does not provide an expedient way to add or remove a discrete amount of weight having a solid, reshapeable curved surface for engagement with a rounded surface such as a baseball bat. This makes it difficult for the user or athletic trainer to accurately monitor the amount of weight being used in the training device. Further, this training device does not have a memory characteristic allowing users to reattach the training device to the golf club in the same location as previously positioned if removed.

[0007] Athletes often use the training device during practice sessions and then remove the training device during actual play. In prior art training devices of this type, it would be difficult if not impossible to place the training device on the golf shaft at the same location as previously placed due to the lack of formability memory training devices of this type have. This point is important in that an athlete can use and remove the training device from the golf club while being able to consistently place the training device on the club in the same location thereby providing a uniform training experience.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,812, issued to Mugford et al. discloses a Weight Device for Athletic Racket having two sheets separated by an elastic member. Each sheet contains a plurality of weights that are housed in chambers that are formed by the joining of two layers of flexible material at spaced locations. Attachment can be made using VELCRO type surfaces. This training device presents many of the same problems as previously discussed. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the training device may perhaps be repeatably replace upon the racquet, but only due to the configuration of the racquet. This device would not be capable of being repeatably replace upon a hand held athletic tool as shown in FIG. 5. Therefore there is a need for a weighted training device that provides for quick and easy repeatable placement of the training device upon a hand held athletic tool.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,560, issued to Gemmel includes a practice weight for a flat sided hockey stick that is a U-shaped weight that can be clamped onto a shaft or handle and is then clamped by clamp screws and then secured by a flexible cover that is wrapped around the shaft and itself. The clamp feature of this training device provides a device that can be removably coupled to a hockey stick while providing means for preventing the training device from shifting during use. However, this training device does not allow for easy repeatable placement of the training device upon the hockey stick. Therefore, there is a need for a training device that provides a quick and easy way to reattach a weighted training device to a hand held athletic tool in the same location as previously placed.

[0010] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,893, issued to Evans teaches a weight holder and method of use that can removably add weight at selected positions on a flat sided racket and possibly a bat. The device is made of flexible material that wraps around a shaft or handle and overlaps at the ends for removable, adjustable securement and positioning. The holder comprises two, spaced pockets with a weight in each pocket and these weights can be removed to change weight size and weight. The weights disclosed in this training device are cylindrical and non-formable. Weights of this type tend to shift during use of the tennis racquet do the surface profile of the weight not being similar to the surface profile of the racquet. Therefore, there is a need for a weighted training device that provides a weight that conforms to the curvature of a hand held athletic tool that prevents the weights from shifting during use of the training device.

[0011] As athletic training methods have advanced, athletic trainers have studied the effects of different types of training devices upon the performance of an athlete. Improved technology such as slow motion imaging has helped athletes and athletic trainers to study the behavior of athletes as they perform different tasks within a sport. These advances have made athletes and athletic trainers aware that some of the training methods previously used actually hinder an athletes performance instead of improving performance. As an example, some baseball trainers who study hitting discourage the use of the doughnut type weight that has been in use for many years due to the negative effects weighting of this kind is thought to have on a hitter's form. Therefore there is a long felt need for a weighted training device that can provide a solution to the problems previously explained in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Accordingly, there is a need for a weighted device that can be placed about the baseball bat in a more appropriate position than that of the ordinary doughnut type weight. To satisfy this need as well as others, an objective of the claimed invention is to provide an adjustable weight training belt for use with a baseball bat.

[0013] Another object of the claimed invention is to provide an adjustable weight training belt where the amount of weight may be varied by changing the amount of weight contained with an adjustable weight training belt.

[0014] Yet another object of the claimed invention is to provide an adjustable weight training belt where the weights have formable memory allowing the adjustable weight training belt to be repeatable placed in the same location upon the hand held athletic tool as previously placed.

[0015] A further object of the claimed invention is to provide an adjustable weight training belt where the weights are formable to prevent the weights from shifting during use.

[0016] A yet further object of the claimed invention is to provide an adjustable weight training belt where the weights are formable to prevent the training belt from moving about the surface of the hand held athletic tool.

[0017] To achieve the foregoing objectives, the claimed invention provides an adjustable weight training belt for use with a baseball bat. The belt comprises a first layer of flexible material having a front face and a back face. A hook and loop fastening system with the hook portion of the fastening system on the front face and the loop portion of the fastening system on the back face is employed to increase or decrease the area encircled by the belt.

[0018] A second layer of flexible material having a front face and a back face is connected to the first layer forming a plurality of pockets between the front face of the first layer and the back face of the second layer. The front face of the second layer has a high coefficient of friction to resist movement of the belt when placed about the barrel of a baseball bat.

[0019] A plurality of malleable weights are engaged in the pockets. The weights formable to the curved surface of the barrel of the baseball bat creating a substantially similar surface profile contributing to the resistance of movement of the training belt against the surface of the bat. The weights have a memory characteristic enabling a user to place the weights in substantially the same location along the surface of a baseball bat from one use to another by matching the surface profile of the weights to the curvature of the baseball bat. In one embodiment of the invention the malleable weights are removably engaged in the pockets. In another embodiment of the invention the pockets are sewn closed permanently retaining the malleable weights.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable weight training belt.

[0021] FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a top view of the adjustable weight training belt.

[0022] FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a solid reshapeable weight.

[0023] FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the adjustable weight training belt about a baseball bat.

[0024] FIG. 5. FIG. 5 illustrates the placement of the adjustable weight training belt about a baseball bat.

[0025] FIG. 6. Shows an alternate embodiment having two adjustable weight training belts sewn together.

[0026] FIG. 7. Shows a preferred embodiment of the adjustable weight training belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0027] FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7 show the adjustable weight training belt 10. The adjustable weight training belt 10 is essentially made of four major components, a belt 20, a plurality of malleable or preferably manually reshapeable weights 30, a weight cover 40, and an adjustable fastener 50. In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7, the plurality of weights 30 are removable from the training belt 10 so that the amount of weight can be varied depending upon the training needs. FIGS. 1 and 2 show an adjustable weight training belt 10 containing four 2 ounce weights 30 providing a total of 8 ounces of weight. Other embodiments of the invention will be discussed below.

[0028] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the belt 20 is preferably made of a durable, flexible material such as nylon webbing, but may be made of other durable, flexible materials such as plastic or canvass. The belt 20 is preferably about 2 inches in width, but may be configured in greater or narrower widths to support larger or smaller weights. The belt 20 is preferably about 11 inches in length, but may be shorter or longer depending upon the weights being employed with the adjustable weight training belt 10. The belt 20 preferably has sufficient length to wrap around a baseball bat 60 approximately 1½ times.

[0029] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the reshapable weights 30 are preferably made of lead covered with a non-toxic plastic coating 70, but may be made of other materials having similar weight to volume ratio and formability. FIGS. 1 and 2 show that an 8 ounce adjustable weight belt 10 has four 2 ounce weights measuring approximately 1¼ inches in length by approximately 1 inch in width by approximately ⅛ inch in thickness. The weights 30 are covered with a non-toxic coating 70 so that the toxicity of the lead will not pose a potential health problem to persons handling the weights 30 while using the training belt 10 as shown in FIG. 3. The weights 30 employed in the adjustable weight training belt 10 can range from as little as about ½ ounce to as much as about 80 ounces. The surface profile 80 of the weights 30 can be formed to conform to the curvature of the baseball bat 60 as shown in FIG. 4. The reshapeability of the weights 30 serves several purposes. One of the purposes the reshapable weights 30 serve is to help hold the training belt 10 at a desired location upon the baseball bat 60. The curvature 90 of the weights 30 creates a greater amount of surface to surface contact between the training belt 10 and the baseball bat 60. Another purpose the reshapeable weights 30 serve is to make the training belt 10 feel more like a continuous part of the baseball bat 60 when using it in training. Due to the high surface to surface contact between the training belt 10 and the baseball bat 60, the weights 30 resist shifting when the baseball bat 60 having the training belt 10 strapped about it is swung. The weights of the prior art weighted devices tended to shift about the baseball bat due to the inability of the weights to form to the curved surface of the baseball bat.

[0030] FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 show the weight cover 40 is preferably made of a flexible material having a surface with a high coefficient of friction such as rubber, but may be made of other similar materials. The weight cover 40 is preferably sewn to the belt 20 forming at least one pocket 100 between the belt 20 and the weight cover 40 for receiving the weights 30. In the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 7, the weight cover 40 forms four pockets 100 for receiving the weights 30 with an opening 110 at one end of each pocket 100 so that different configurations of weights 30 can be employed with the adjustable weight training belt 10. The openings 110 may have a closure such as a zipper 120 to close the pockets 100 and retain the weights 30 within the pockets 100. The distance between each of the weight pockets 100 in the training belt 10 may vary depending upon the type of baseball bat 60 the training belt 10 is designed to fit.

[0031] In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the openings 110 are sewn closed so that the weights 30 are permanently retained within the training belt 10. Training belts of this type do not require the use of coated weights 30 and therefor are potentially less costly to manufacture. However, training belts 10 of this type do not allow the adjustment of the amount of weight contained in the training belt 10. Therefore, persons using a training belt 10 of this configuration would either have to purchase additional training belts 10 of differing weight or would have to combine the weight of more than one training belt 10 to achieve the amount of weight desired. FIG. 6 illustrates in this particular embodiment, more than one adjustable weight training belt 10 is employed to adjust the amount of weight being used during weight training. These additional weight belts may be separately strapped to the baseball bat 60 or a plurality of belts may be sewn together forming one training belt 10. It is contemplated for ease of manufacturing purposes that one training belt 10 containing a standard amount of weight would be produced, and a plurality of these belts could be sewn together and sold to provide training belts of differing weight while achieving the desired economy of scale by producing many of the same configuration of training belt 10.

[0032] FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 show the adjustable fastener 50 is preferably VELCRO, but may be other types of fastening devices such as a series of snaps. The hook 130 and loop 140 portions of the VELCRO are sewn to opposite sides of the belt 20 so that the training belt 10 can be properly secured to the baseball bat 60 by wrapping the training belt 10 upon itself as shown in FIG. 4. The end of the training belt 10 opposite the weighted portion has a pull tab 150 to facilitate the removal of the training belt 10 from the baseball bat 60. The VELCRO allows the user of the adjustable weight training belt 10 to secure it about a baseball bat 60 at different locations along the barrel of the bat 60. The VELCRO also allows the use of the adjustable weight training belt 10 on baseball bats 60 of many different sizes.

[0033] The VELCRO fastener 50 allows use of the training belt 10 on full sized wooden and metal bats as well as smaller bats sized for youth baseball. The placement of the adjustable weight training belt 10 is preferably from about ½ inch to about 8 inches from the grip of the person holding the baseball bat 60 as shown in FIG. 5. Due to the various types of grips employed from one baseball player to another as well as from one situation to another, the adjustable weight training belt 10 may need to be placed close to the knob 160 of the bat 60 or close to the hitting area 170 of the bat 60. The placement of the training belt 10 above the hands 180 of the athlete positions the training belt 10 in a more balanced location than that of the prior art devices previously discussed in the background of the invention section. Since the training belt 10 is place in a more properly balanced location upon the baseball bat 60, the added weight of the training belt 10 does not interfere with the swinging form of the athlete. The ability to form the training belt 10 to the curvature 190 of the baseball bat 60 along any part of the bat 60 gives the claimed invention an important advantage over the prior art. The prior art did not provide means for conforming a training device to a hand held athletic tool while also providing means for allowing a user to remove the training device and reliably place the training device back on the hand held athletic tool in the same location as previously placed.

[0034] The training belt 10 is generally used by first shaping the malleable weights 30 so that the surface profile 80 of the weights 30 are substantially similar to the curvature 190 of the baseball bat 60 as shown in FIG. 4. This can be accomplished by placing the malleable weights 30 against the barrel 200 of the baseball bat 60 and then forming them to the curvature 190 by applying force to the weights 30 such as the user pushing upon the weights 30 with the user's thumb or tapping the outside of the training belt 10 with a hammer to form each of the weights 30 to a desired configuration.

[0035] After the weights 30 have been properly formed, the weighted portion of the training belt 10 is placed against the barrel 200 of the bat 60 from about ½ inch to about 8 inches above the hands 180 of the athlete using the bat 60 as shown in FIG. 5. The remainder of the training belt 10 is then wrapped around the bat 60, the hook 130 and loop 140 fastener securing the training belt 10 about the bat 60 and the weight cover 40 providing resistance to slippage of the training belt 10 against the bat 60.

[0036] Although the invention has been described by reference to some embodiments it is not intended that the novel device be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims and the appended drawings.

Claims

1. An adjustable weight training belt for use with a baseball bat, the belt comprising:

a first layer of flexible material having a front face, a back face, and a hook and loop fastening system, the hook portion of the fastening system on the front face and the loop portion of the fastening system on the back face, the fastening system being adjustable to increase or decrease the area encircled by the belt;

a second layer of flexible material having a front face and a back face, the second layer connected to the first layer forming a plurality of pockets between the front face of the first layer and the back face of the second layer, the front face of the second layer having a rubberized surface to resist movement of the belt when placed about a baseball bat; and

at least two malleable weights engaged in the pockets, the weights permanently formable to the curved surface of the baseball bat creating a substantially similar surface profile contributing to the resistance of movement enabling a user to place the weights in substantially the same location along the surface of a baseball bat from one use to another by matching the surface profile of the weights to the curvature of the baseball bat.

2. The belt of claim 1 wherein the weights are removably engaged in the pockets.

3. The belt of claim 2 wherein the malleable weights are made of lead covered by a flexible non-toxic material and have a combined weight of about four ounces to about twenty ounces.

4. The belt of claim 3 wherein the second layer of flexible material is made of rubber.

5. The belt of claim 4 wherein the first layer of flexible material is made of nylon webbing.

6. A weight training belt for use with a hand held athletic tool, the belt comprising:

a first layer of flexible material having a front face, a back face, and a two part fastening means, one part of the fastening means on the front face and the second part of the fastening means on the back face;

a second layer of flexible material connected to the first layer forming at least one pocket between a face of the first layer and the second layer, at least one face of the second layer having a high coefficient of friction to resist movement of the belt when place about the athletic tool; and

at least three solid manually reshapeable weight engaged in the pocket, the weight formable to the surface of a hand held athletic tool creating a substantially similar surface profile contributing to the resistance of movement enabling a user to place the weights in substantially the same location along the surface of a hand held athletic tool from one use to another by matching the surface profile of the weights to the surface of the hand held athletic tool.

7. The belt of claim 6 wherein the two part fastening means is adjustable to increase or decrease the area encircled by the belt.

8. The belt of claim 7 wherein the weight is removably engaged in the pocket.

9. The belt of claim 8 wherein the fastening means is a hook and loop fastening system, the hook portion of the fastening system on the front face of the first layer and the loop portion of the fastening system on the back face of the first layer

10. The belt of claim 9 wherein the first layer of flexible material is made of nylon webbing.

11. The belt of claim 10 wherein the second layer of flexible material is made of neoprene rubber.

12. The belt of claim 11 wherein the malleable weight is made of lead having weight of about four ounces to about twenty ounces and is covered by a flexible non-toxic material.

13. An adjustable weight training belt in combination with a baseball bat, the combination comprising:

a baseball bat;

an adjustable weight belt about the baseball bat having a first layer of flexible material with a front face, a back face, and a hook and loop fastening system, the hook portion of the fastening system on the front face and the loop portion of the fastening system on the back face, the fastening system adjusting the belt to the size of the baseball bat;

a second layer of flexible material having a front face and a back face, the second layer connected to the first layer forming a plurality of pockets between the front face of the first layer and the back face of the second layer, the front face of the second layer having a rubberized surface to resist movement of the belt on the baseball bat; and

at least two solid manually reshapeable weights engaged in the pockets, the weights formed to the curved surface of the baseball bat creating a substantially similar surface profile contributing to the resistance of movement enabling a user to place the weights in substantially the same location along the surface of the baseball bat from one use to another by matching the surface profile of the weights to the curvature of the baseball bat.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the weights are removably engaged in the pocket.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the first layer of flexible material is made of nylon webbing.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein the second layer of flexible material is made of neoprene rubber.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein the malleable weights are made of lead having weight of about four ounces to about twenty ounces and are covered by a flexible non-toxic material.

18. An improved adjustable weight training belt for use with a baseball bat, the improvement comprising forming the surface profile of three solid reshapeable weights within an adjustable belt wrapped about a baseball bat to conform with the curved surface of the bat, the surface profile contributing to the retention of the belt about the bat and reducing shifting of the belt about the bat while the bat is in use.

19. The improvement of claim 18 wherein the discrete malleable weights are removably engaged in the belt so that the amount of weight the belt contains can be changed.

20. The improvement of claim 19 wherein the discrete malleable weights are made of lead having weight of about four ounces to about twenty ounces.