DEVICE FOR PRACTICING THROWING A BALL

Abstract

A device (10) for practicing throwing a ball (24) includes an elongated bag (12) having an opening (14) at one end thereof with a second end (16) of the bag being closed. A flexible sleeve (18) is fixed to the bag around a perimeter of the opening of the bag. The flexible sleeve and the opening in the bag allow a hand (26) of a person to pass through the sleeve and the opening. A cinching strap (20) provided with a hook and loop fastening system (22) is fixed to the sleeve. A ball is placed inside the bag, and a hand of a person is passed through the sleeve into the bag. The device is secured to a forearm or wrist of the person such that the device will not become separated from the person when the person has his hand in the bag with a ball grasped by his hand and releases the ball from his grasp when making a throwing motion.

Description

This is a non provisional application claiming priority of provisional application Ser. No. 61/288,312 filed Dec. 20, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for practicing throwing a ball, such as a baseball, softball, football or any ball that can be thrown with one hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Normally, throwing a ball, such as a baseball, softball, any ball that can be thrown with one hand, results in the ball traveling some distance from the thrower, which requires either that a second person be positioned to catch and return the ball to the thrower, or that the thrower leave his throwing location to retrieve the ball. Throwing a ball indoors encompasses the risk of unintended damage to objects in the enclosed area. It is desirable to have a device that would allow a person to practice throwing a ball without the need for another person to catch and return the thrown ball and without the risk of causing property damage if a ball is thrown indoors. The present invention provides a device that addresses both of these problems.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 7,563,183 B2 discloses the use of “indicator bands” attached to the wrist of a throwers arm such that by practicing a throwing motion the resultant positions of the indicator bands teach indicate whether proper throwing is occurring. The device of U.S. Pat. No. 7,563,183 B2 does not require the person being trained and evaluated to actually grasp a ball during the use of the device, which does allow it to be used safely indoors. However, this is a drawback because the grip used to grasp a ball is a major influence upon the behavior of a thrown ball. The use of the device of the present invention allows a thrower to grasp a ball and release the ball in a throwing motion safely indoors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device for practicing throwing a ball wherein the device includes an elongated bag having an opening at one end thereof with a second end of the bag being closed. A flexible sleeve is fixed to the bag around a perimeter of the opening of the bag. The flexible sleeve and the opening in the bag allow a hand of a person to pass through the sleeve and the opening. A cinching strap (20) provided with a hook and loop fastening system is fixed to the sleeve. A ball is placed inside the bag, and a hand of a person is passed through the sleeve into the bag. The device is secured to a wrist or forearm of the person such that the device will not become separated from the person when the person has his hand in the bag with a ball grasped by his hand and releases the ball from his grasp when making a throwing motion.

The new device has utility for teaching proper throwing technique, rehabilitation of an injury in the throwing hand, arm, shoulder or other body parts, and in warming up before participating in practice or competition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a device according to the present invention, with a ball located outside of the device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device with the ball inside the device and a hand of a thrower just starting to enter the device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device with the thrower's hand inside the device and a sleeve of the device secured about the wrist or forearm of the thrower, but the thrower is not grasping the ball.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but the hand of the thrower is now grasping the ball.

FIG. 5A shows a thrower using the device during his throwing motion prior to releasing his grasp on the ball.

FIG. 5B shows the thrower using the device during his throwing motion after he has released his grasp on the ball with the device retaining the thrown ball within the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a device 10 according to the present invention, with a ball 24, for example a baseball, located outside of the device. It is understood that while the drawings show the device in use with a baseball, it may be used with other types of balls such as softballs, footballs or any other type of ball that may be thrown with one hand. The device for practicing throwing a ball has an elongated bag 12 with an opening 14 at one end, while a second end 16 of the bag is closed. As used herein and in the claims the term “bag” is understood to have its common meaning of a flexible container in the form of a sack or pouch. As shown in the drawing figures the bag comprises a mesh material. While the bag may be constructed of any suitable material, including a tightly woven fabric or a film, the mesh construction is desirable because it allows the throwing hand of the user to remain cooler and allows a coach or trainer to observe the throwers grasp on the ball and motion when releasing the ball. As used herein and in the claims the term “mesh material” is understood to refer to a material or fabric having open spaces in a cord, thread, or wire network.

The end of the bag having the opening 14 is fixed to a means 18, 20 for securing the device to a forearm or wrist of the person such that the device will not become separated from the person when the person has his hand in the bag with a ball grasped by his hand and releases the ball from his grasp when making a throwing motion.

In the drawing figures the means for securing the device to the forearm of the person is a flexible sleeve 18 that is fixed to the bag around a perimeter of the opening 14 of the bag 12 and a means 20 for tightening the sleeve around at least one of the forearm or wrist of a person. The sleeve may comprise an elastic material or any other suitable material. As used herein and in the claims the term “elastic material” is understood to refer to a flexible stretchable fabric made with interwoven strands of rubber or an imitative synthetic fiber, the fabric attempting to return to an initial form after deformation. The flexible sleeve 18 is fixed to the bag 12 around a perimeter of the opening 14 of the bag. Both the flexible sleeve and the opening in the bag allow a hand of a person to pass through the sleeve and the opening in the bag. Further, a ball 24 can pass through the sleeve and the opening in the bag. As a point of reference in sizing these components it is noted that diameter of a regulation size baseball is about 2.9 inches.

The sleeve is provided with a means for securing the sleeve in place with respect to the forearm and wrist of a user. A tightening member 20 is provided for extending around an exterior surface of the flexible sleeve 18 such that the tightening member can be cinched around the sleeve with a means 22 for maintaining a cinched state of the tightening member. In the drawings a cinching strap 20 is fixed to the sleeve 18 and the cinching strap is provided with a fastening system 22 to secure the flexible sleeve in place with respect to the wrist and forearm of a user, such as a buckle, elastic band, knot, one or more snaps, a hook and loop fastening system. An example of a hook and loop fastening system is marketed under the trademark Velcro®. The hook tape presents a rough or hard side for mating with the loop tape that presents a soft or fuzzy side. The hook and loop tapes may be secured to the straps by sewing, adhesive or any other suitable means.

In a prototype of the device the elongated bag 12 has a width when laid flat of about 7.75 inches and a length of about 15 inches as measured from the end of the flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve when laid flat has a length of about 6.5 inches and a width of about 3 inches. It is to be understood that these dimensions are merely exemplary, and that the device may be manufactured in sizes suitable to children, youth and adults of various sizes. While the bag before assembly with the sleeve may have a substantially rectangular shape when laid flat, it is understood that the bag may be of a tubular configuration. The sleeve may be fixed to the sleeve in any suitable manner such as sewing, weaving, adhesive, heat welding and so forth. The cinch strap may be fixed to the flexible sleeve by any suitable means including sewing, weaving, adhesive, heat welding and so forth. However, it is understood that a cinch strap or other suitable means for securing the sleeve in place around the forearm and wrist of a user may be a separate component that is not permanently fixed to the sleeve, and is applied after the user has inserted his hand, wrist and forearm into the device.

The intended use of the device is shown in FIGS. 2-5B. In FIG. 2 the ball 24 has been passed through the flexible sleeve 18 into the elongated bag 12. The cinch strap 20 remains in a loose configuration while a hand 26 of a user is being inserted into the flexible sleeve.

In FIG. 3 the hand 26 of the user is inside the flexible bag 12, but the user has not yet grasped the ball. A portion of the forearm 28, including the wrist of the user is inside the sleeve 18 and the cinch strap 20 has been cinched securely around an exterior surface of the sleeve and the forearm and secured in a cinched configuration using the hook and loop fastening system 22.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 except the hand 26 of the user is grasping the ball 24 inside the elongated mesh bag 12. A trainer or coach can observe the users grasp on the baseball through the mesh bag to determine if it is appropriate and advise the user of any necessary adjustments in the manner of grasping the ball.

FIG. 5A shows a person part way through a throwing motion with the device 10 of the invention mounted on his throwing arm and hand as shown in FIG. 4. In this example a baseball glove 32 is worn on the user's non throwing hand.

FIG. 5B shows the same person 32 at a time further through his throwing motion. The person's hand 26 has released the ball 24, which is trapped inside the elongated bag 12. The advantages of this feature of the device have already been explained, namely that the ball can actually be thrown indoors without causing damage and the need for a second person to catch and return the ball or the thrower to retrieve the ball is eliminated, and that a coach or therapist can observe the grasp on the ball and release of the ball.

It will be seen that the advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.

Claims

1. A device for practicing throwing a ball comprising:

(a) an elongated bag having an opening at one end thereof with a second end of the bag being closed, the opening being large enough to allow a hand of a person to pass through the opening; and

(b) the end of the bag having the opening being fixed to a means for securing the device to at least one of the wrist or forearm of the person such that the device will not become separated from the person when the person has his hand in the bag with a ball grasped by his hand and releases the ball from his grasp when making a throwing motion.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for securing the device to at least one of the wrist or forearm of the person is a flexible sleeve that is fixed to the bag around a perimeter of the opening of the bag and a means for tightening the sleeve around at least one of the wrist or forearm of a person.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the sleeve comprises an elastic material.

4. The device according to claim 2 wherein the sleeve is provided with a means for securing the sleeve in place with respect to at least one of the forearm or wrist of a user.

5. The device according to claim 2 wherein a tightening member is provided for extending around an exterior surface of the sleeve such that the tightening member can be cinched around the sleeve with a means for maintaining a cinched state of the tightening member.

6. The device according to claim 2 wherein a cinching strap is fixed to the sleeve, and the cinching strap is secured in a tightened configuration by a hook and loop fastening system.

7. The device according to claim 2 wherein a cinching strap is fixed to the sleeve, and the cinching strap is secured in a tightened configuration by a hook and loop fastening system.

8. The device according to claim 2 wherein a cinching strap is fixed to the sleeve and the cinching strap is provided with a buckle.

9. The device according to claim 2 wherein a cinching strap is fixed to the sleeve and the cinching strap is elastic.

10. The device according to claim 2 wherein a cinching strap is fixed to the sleeve and the cinching strap is provided with one or more snaps.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein the bag comprises a mesh material.

12. The device according to claim 2 wherein the bag comprises a mesh material.

13. The device according to claim 3 wherein the bag comprises a mesh material.

14. The device according to claim 4 wherein the bag comprises a mesh material.

15. A device for practicing throwing a ball comprising:

(a) an elongated bag having an opening at one end thereof with a second end of the bag being closed;

(b) a flexible sleeve that is fixed to the bag around a perimeter of the opening of the bag, both the flexible sleeve and the opening in the bag allowing a hand of a person to pass through the sleeve and the opening in the bag; and

(c) a means for tightening the sleeve around at least one of the wrist or forearm of a person.

16. The device according to claim 15 wherein the means for tightening comprises a means for tightening a tightening member is provided for extending around an exterior surface of the sleeve such that the tightening member can be cinched around the sleeve with a means for maintaining a cinched state of the tightening member.

17. The device according to claim 15 wherein the means for tightening comprises a cinching strap fixed to the sleeve and the cinching strap is secured in a tightened configuration by a hook and loop fastening system.

18. The device according to claim 15 wherein the bag comprises a mesh material.

19. The device according to claim 15 wherein the sleeve comprises an elastic material.

20. A device for practicing throwing a baseball, softball, football or any ball that can be thrown with one hand comprising:

(a) an elongated bag comprising a mesh material and having an opening at one end thereof with a second end of the bag being closed;

(b) a flexible sleeve that is fixed to the bag around a perimeter of the opening of the bag, the sleeve comprising an elastic material, wherein both the flexible sleeve and the opening in the bag allowing a hand of a person to pass through the sleeve and the opening; and

(c) a cinching strap fixed to the sleeve, the cinching strap being provided with a hook and loop fastening system.