BASEBALL TRAINING ZONE
A sports pitching and hitting training apparatus generally including a vertical pole, a base affixed to an end of the vertical pole, and first and second horizontal poles, the first and second horizontal poles being removably affixed to the vertical pole. The vertical pole may have a plurality of apertures extending along the length of the vertical pole, for receiving, securing and supporting an end of each of the horizontal poles. In some embodiments the apparatus includes a pair of vertical zone indicators removably and movably positioned on the first horizontal pole, having a receiving channel at their top end to receive the horizontal pole and provide a point of suspension for the vertical zone indicators from the horizontal pole, to form a zone of interest with the horizontal poles.
The disclosed technology regards a sports pitching and hitting training apparatus useful in assisting individuals in pitching into, or hitting through, a zone of interest (e.g., a hitting or strike zone).
Boys and girls starting at age 4 are playing some form of baseball or softball. Worldwide, there are over 3 million young people ages 4 to 21 participating in organized baseball and softball. The ability to hit and pitch a baseball or softball are learned skills.
The disclosed technology teaches the best area to hit the ball through the technique of muscle memory. Using the disclosed technology, visualization and practice swinging through the “hitting zone” will assist the user in rapidly gaining experience in this skill area. Because of its novel design and features, the disclosed technology works well for both right handed and left handed hitters.
The disclosed technology further teaches pitchers, through simple visualization where the “strike zone” is located, and allows them to practice throwing through the visualized strike zone or other zone of interest to increase their skill level.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGYThe disclosed technology regards a sports pitching and hitting training apparatus useful in practicing pitching into a zone of interest (e.g., a strike zone), and hitting through a zone of interest (e.g., a hitting zone). The apparatus generally includes a vertical pole, a base affixed to an end of the vertical pole, and first and second horizontal poles, the first and second horizontal poles being affixed or removably affixed to the vertical pole. The vertical pole may have a plurality of apertures extending along the length of the vertical pole, for receiving, securing and supporting an end of each of the horizontal poles. These apertures may include an internally threaded barrel with a disk-shaped head about a circumference of the barrel.
In some embodiments, and particularly useful for pitching practice, the apparatus includes a pair of vertical zone indicators removably and movably positioned on the first horizontal pole. The vertical zone indicators each have a receiving channel at their top end to receive the horizontal pole and provide a point of suspension for the vertical zone indicators from the horizontal pole, which further define a zone of interest with the horizontal poles.
In embodiments hereinafter discussed, the vertical pole may include first and second telescopically engaged vertical pole segments, with the first vertical pole segment being affixed to the base, and the second vertical pole segment telescopically extending from the first vertical pole segment between a first storage position, and a second extended position.
In some embodiments the base of the disclosed technology may include a support structure having dimensions greater than the outer diameter of the vertical pole, and three or more legs extending from and removably affixed to the support structure. In other embodiments the base may include a plurality of legs hingedly affixed to the vertical pole by a ring, with movable support arms to secure the vertical poles in an extended position.
In some embodiments the horizontal poles include a threaded fastener and a spring, extending from the end of each horizontal pole, the spring providing flexibility to the poles in the event the same are contacted by a bat or ball, wherein the threads of the fastener are sized and configured to be securely and removably received in the apertures of the vertical pole.
In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a pair of vertical zone indicators removably and movably positioned on the first horizontal pole, wherein each of the vertical zone indicators comprise a receiving channel at their top end to receive the horizontal pole and provide a point of suspension for the vertical zone indicators from the horizontal pole, to further define the zone of interest.
The disclosed technology further regards a method of training for sports pitching and hitting. The method includes the steps of: (1) providing an apparatus including a vertical pole, a base affixed to an end of the vertical pole, and first and second horizontal poles, the first and second horizontal poles being removably affixed to the vertical pole, wherein the horizontal poles form a zone of interest; and (2) throwing a ball into the zone of interest, and/or swinging a bat through the zone of interest.
The disclosed technology, and the advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
As shown in
The vertical pole 1 may have a first vertical pole segment 11 telescopically engaged with a second vertical pole segment 12, wherein the first vertical pole segment is affixed to the base at a first end. As shown in
As shown in
The apertures along the vertical pole may be threaded to receive in threaded engagement a threaded end portion of a horizontal pole. In some embodiments, the apertures include an affixed, internally threaded barrel 131 with a disk-shaped head 132 about the circumference of the barrel. As shown in
The vertical pole (or the second vertical pole segment) may be closed at its top, such as by a rounded cap 14 affixed to a top thereof, to avoid injury and damage.
In an embodiment of the disclosed technology, as shown in
Further, each of the legs comprise a plurality of apertures 221 at a first end, parallel with the longitudinal axis of the leg, and a plurality of apertures 222 at a second end, extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the leg, the apertures being sized and positioned to receive the post(s) of the slots and secure the legs within the slots. When the legs are positioned with the posts of the slots received within the apertures 221 at the first end, the legs are supported in an extended position and extend horizontally from the support structure, thereby stabilizing the apparatus (see, e.g.,
As shown in
In another embodiment, shown in
In another embodiment, shown in
As shown in the embodiment of
In the embodiment shown in
In some embodiments, the horizontal poles have a colored segment 35 (created by paint, colored material, tape, etc.) between 10″ and 15″ from the point of affixation to the vertical pole to the horizontal pole, wherein the colored segment is a different color (e.g., orange) than the remainder of the horizontal pole (e.g., which may be colored black) to easily distinguish a zone of interest, and may be between about 15″-20″.
In an alternative embodiment, as shown in
The pair of vertical zone indicators 4 removably and movably positioned on the first horizontal pole may be made from a flexible material, such as for example fabric, or a rigid material, such as for example wood or graphite (see
In some embodiments, as shown in
The disclosed technology further regards a method of using the sports pitching and hitting apparatus as herein described. In this method, the legs of the base are positioned in an extended position, defined by the embodiment of the apparatus as hereinabove described. When the vertical pole includes a plurality of vertical pole segments, the second vertical pole segment is pulled away from the first vertical pole segment to a desired height. Each of the horizontal poles are positioned along the vertical pole, by securing the fastening means of the horizontal poles in the desired apertures along the vertical pole, so that the top and bottom of the zone of interest is defined by the position of the first horizontal pole and the second horizontal pole, respectively. Alternatively, with embodiments wherein the horizontal poles are affixed to rings, the rings are positioned about and secure to the vertical pole. Finally, if desired, the vertical zone indicators are positioned on the first horizontal pole, at the left and right sides of the zone of interest, wherein the recesses of the vertical zone indicators receive the horizontal pole.
To accommodate right handed hitters, the vertical pole is positioned on the left side of a plate when viewed from the pitching position (or the right side of the batter), with the horizontal poles extending from the pole over the plate (towards the batter); the vertical pole may be positioned on the right side of the plate (left side of the batter) to accommodate left handed hitters. Once in position, a user may throw a ball, aiming at the zone of interest; a batter may be positioned on an opposing side of the apparatus of the disclosed technology and attempt to swing through the zone of interest at the ball. By such means, the pitcher is able to aim a ball at a zone of interest, to improve accuracy, and/or a hitter is able to practice hitting a ball, through a zone of interest. In either case, visual clarity (and in some instances physical contact with a horizontal pole or vertical indicator) is provided to evidence any error in the trajectory of a thrown ball or the swing of a bat.
The disclosed technology further regards a method of disassembling the sports pitching and hitting apparatus as herein described. In this method, if used, the vertical zone indicators are removed from the first horizontal pole, by removing the horizontal pole from the recesses of the vertical zone indicators. Each of the horizontal poles are then removed from the vertical pole, by withdrawal of the fastening means of the horizontal pole from the apertures of the vertical pole, by removal of the horizontal pole rings from the vertical pole, or by repositioning the horizontal poles in the vertical position (depending on the embodiment of the apparatus). When the vertical pole includes a plurality of vertical pole segments, the second vertical pole segment is pushed into the vacuous area of the first vertical pole segment until it reaches the storage position. In some embodiments, the horizontal poles may be stored within the vacuous area of the vertical pole. Finally, the base is positioned in the stored position, as defined by the embodiment of the apparatus as hereinabove described.
Although only a few embodiments of the disclosed technology have been described in detail, it should be appreciated that the invention may be implemented in many other forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present embodiments should be considered illustrative and not restrictive and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A sports pitching and hitting training apparatus, comprising: a vertical pole, a base affixed to an end of the vertical pole, and first and second horizontal poles, the first and second horizontal poles being removably affixed to the vertical pole.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vertical pole comprises a plurality of apertures extending along the length of the vertical pole, for receiving, securing and supporting an end of each of the horizontal poles.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least some of the apertures of the vertical pole each comprise an internally threaded barrel with a disk-shaped head about a circumference of the barrel.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vertical pole comprises first and second vertical pole segments, the first vertical pole segment being affixed to the base, and the second vertical pole segment telescopically extending from the first vertical pole segment between a first storage position, and a second extended position.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least some of the apertures of the vertical pole each comprise an internally threaded barrel with a disk-shaped head about a circumference of the barrel, and
- a. wherein the disk-shaped heads positioned on the second vertical pole segment sit flush with an exterior wall of the second vertical pole segment, and the barrels extend into an interior vacuous area of the second vertical pole segment, to counterbalance the weight of the horizontal pole and hold the horizontal pole in a horizontal position, and
- b. wherein the disk-shaped heads positioned on the first vertical pole segment protrude from an exterior wall of the first vertical pole segment to counterbalance the weight of the horizontal pole and hold the horizontal pole in a horizontal position, with the barrels ending flush with an interior wall of the first vertical pole segment.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a support structure having dimensions greater than the dimensions of the vertical pole, and three or more legs extending from the support structure.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the base further comprises a plurality of hooks, affixed about the circumference of the support structure.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the legs are removably affixed to the support structure.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein
- a. the support structure comprises a plurality of slots extending radially outward and through the depth of the support structure, the number of slots corresponding with the number of legs, each slot having at least two posts extending radially outward from a surface of the slot, the slots being sized and shaped to receive a first end of the legs;
- b. wherein each of the legs comprises a plurality of apertures at a first end, parallel with a longitudinal axis of the leg, the apertures being sized and positioned to receive the posts of the slots, to support the legs in an extended position so that the legs may extend horizontally from the support structure; and
- c. wherein each of the legs further comprises a plurality of apertures at a second end of each leg, extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the leg, the apertures being sized and positioned to receive the posts of the slots, to support the legs in a stored position so that the legs may extend vertically from the support structure for storage purposes.
10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the base further comprises a cylindrical structure extending from a top face of the support structure, and received within a hollow interior of the vertical pole.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein
- a. the base comprises a plurality of legs hingedly affixed to the vertical pole by a ring, with a plurality of support arms movably positioned to support the vertical poles in an extended or stored position; and
- b. each of the legs terminate in a foot, wherein the foot is a circular structure with a post sized and configured to be received within an interior area of a distal end of each leg.
12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the horizontal poles comprises a threaded fastener at its affixation end, with the threaded fastener being sized and configured to be securely and removably received in the aperture of the vertical pole.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the horizontal poles further comprises a spring at its affixation end, with the spring being affixed between the threaded fastener and the affixation end of the horizontal pole.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the horizontal poles are removably affixed to and selectably positioned along the vertical pole by a ring structure designed and configured to secure about the vertical pole, wherein the ring structure allows the horizontal pole to rotate about a portion of the vertical pole, when a force is applied to the horizontal pole.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of vertical zone indicators removably and movably positioned on the first horizontal pole, wherein each of the vertical zone indicators comprises a receiving channel at its top end to receive the horizontal pole and provide a point of suspension for the vertical zone indicators from the horizontal pole, to form a zone of interest with the horizontal poles.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the vertical zone indicators are lightweight fabric.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder strap, affixed to the vertical pole and the base.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the shoulder strap is affixed to the vertical pole by a ring, and wherein the vertical pole comprises a recessed portion, at its end, to accommodate the ring.
19. A method of training for sports pitching and hitting, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing an apparatus comprising a vertical pole, a base affixed to an end of the vertical pole, and first and second horizontal poles, the first and second horizontal poles being removably affixed to the vertical pole, the horizontal poles forming a zone of interest;
- b. throwing a ball into the zone of interest, and swinging a bat through the zone of interest.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the apparatus further comprises a pair of vertical zone indicators removably and movably positioned on the first horizontal pole, wherein the vertical zone indicators comprise a receiving channel at their top end to receive the horizontal pole and provide a point of suspension for the vertical zone indicators from the horizontal pole, to further define the zone of interest.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 6, 2017
Publication Date: Apr 12, 2018
Inventor: WALTER CLIFTON BIRD (MORGANTOWN, WV)
Application Number: 15/726,591