TRAINING APPARATUS FOR A PITCHER
Disclosed is a training apparatus for underhand pitching, the apparatus including a support frame including at least one leg portion configured to support at least one bar portion, and at least one flap suspended from the at least one bar portion.
The disclosure relates generally to a training device for a pitcher, and more particularly to a training device for a pitcher pitching underhand.
BACKGROUNDA major component of successful pitching in both baseball and softball consists of an ability of a pitcher to develop a repeatable and consistent pitching motion that leads to proper body form and proper release of a pitched ball. Accordingly, a training device configured to assist a pitcher in developing a repeatable and consistent motion with proper form and release would be desirable.
SUMMARYDisclosed is a training apparatus for underhand pitching, the apparatus including a support frame including at least one leg portion configured to support at least one bar portion, and at least one flap suspended from the at least one bar portion.
Also disclosed is a training apparatus for a pitcher pitching underhand, wherein the apparatus includes a support frame including at least one leg portion configured to support at least one bar portion, and at least one flap suspended from the at least one bar portion at a height configured to contact or be disposed proximately at least the face of the pitcher when the pitcher is executing a pitching motion, and contact a hand of the pitcher at a position above the face of the pitcher when the pitcher is executing the pitching motion.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention should be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments taken in conjuncture with the accompanying Figures in which like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:
Referring to
As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
As is best shown in the exemplary embodiment of
In addition, and as is best shown in
As shown in the Figures, intermediate portions 30a, 30b may also be disposed between the bar pieces 26a, 26b and leg portions 16a, 16b, and separable and associable therewith. These intermediate pieces may be added (with more than two being associated with both legs) and taken away from the frame 14 to assist in adjusting the height of the bar 18 and flaps 22, 24 that extend therefrom. In addition, height of the bar portion 18 and flaps may be adjusted via extendibility of the leg portions 16a, 16b, which may be achieved via any known means for extending metal or plastic poles, such as but not limited to a telescoping configuration. Height adjustability of the bar portion 18 and/or flaps 22, 24 is desirable in that it allows the apparatus 10 to be configured for use with pitchers of varying height.
Referring now to the flaps 22 and 24 hanging from the bar portion 18, it should be noted that these flaps may be suspended from the bar portion 18 via any known strap configuration (such as strap 32), such as but not limited to straps that are looped and affixable via snaps, buttons, buckles, and hoop and loop material. Such strap configurations allow the straps 32 to be positioned in any desirable position along the bar portion 18, with the second flap 24 being positionable on either side of the first flap 22 to allow for convenient adjustability between right handed and left handed pitching configurations. In addition, and as shown in the exemplary embodiment of
With continued reference to
It should be noted that the frame 14 apparatus 10 may be variously constructed of any know material, such as but not limited to metal, plastic, fiber-glass etc. In addition, the flaps 22, and 24 may be constructed of any known material, such as but not limited to rubber, plastic, glass, or composite material.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or substance to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is important that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the apportioned claims. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.
Claims
1. A training apparatus for underhand pitching, the apparatus comprising:
- a support frame including at least one leg portion configured to support at least one bar portion; and
- at least one flap suspended from said at least one bar portion.
2. The training apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one flap is a first flap suspended from said at least one bar portion and a second flap suspended from said at least one bar portion, wherein said first flap offset from said second flap.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one flap is a first flap suspended from said at least one bar portion and a second flap suspended from said at least one bar portion, and wherein said first flap includes a greater length than said second flap.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one leg portion is two substantially vertical leg portions, and said at least one bar portion is a substantially horizontal bar portion, said substantially horizontal bar portion extending between said two substantially vertical leg portions.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support frame includes modular sections.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one bar portion and said at least one flap is height adjustable relative to a surface upon which said support frame is disposed.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one leg portion is extendable.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said at least one flap is transparent.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one flap is a first flap suspended from said at least one bar portion and a second flap suspended from said at least one bar portion, and wherein said first flap is transparent.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one flap is a first flap suspended from said at least one bar portion and a second flap suspended from said at least one bar portion, and wherein said first flap and said second flap are removable from said at least one bar, and positionable along any desirable position along said at least one bar portion.
11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second flap is positionable upon said at least one bar portion at opposing sides of said first flap.
12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first flap and said second flap are spaced along said at least one bar portion such that said first flap is vertically alignable with a face of a pitcher while said second flap is vertically alignable with a shoulder of the pitcher.
13. A training apparatus for a pitcher pitching underhand, the apparatus comprising:
- a support frame including at least one leg portion configured to support at least one bar portion;
- at least one flap suspended from said at least one bar portion at a height configured to contact or be disposed proximately at least the face of said pitcher when the pitcher is executing a pitching motion, and contact a hand of the pitcher at a position above the face of the pitcher when the pitcher is executing the pitching motion.
14. The training apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one flap is a first flap suspended from said at least one bar portion and a second flap suspended from said at least one bar portion, wherein said first flap portion is suspended from said at least one bar portion at a height configured to contact or be disposed proximately at least the face of said pitcher when the pitcher is executing a pitching motion, and said second flap portion is suspended at a height configured to contact a hand the pitcher at a position above the face of the pitcher when the pitcher is executing the pitching motion.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 5, 2012
Publication Date: Dec 5, 2013
Inventor: Shawn Cain (Cottontown, TN)
Application Number: 13/488,817
International Classification: A63B 69/00 (20060101);