BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL FIELDING AID ACCESSORY
A baseball or softball fielding aid accessory comprises an arcuate panel, at least two first straps, at least a second strap, and at least one retaining element. The arcuate panel comprises an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is in contact with a forearm of the fielder. The first straps are fixedly attached to the outer surface of the arcuate panel. The first straps are positioned at a first end of the arcuate panel for fastening the arcuate panel to the forearm of the fielder. The second strap is positioned at a second end of the arcuate panel for fastening the glove of the fielder to the arcuate panel. The at least one retaining element is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the arcuate panel defining a space. The hand of the fielder is retained in the space to properly field ground balls.
The invention disclosed herein generally relates to baseball or softball accessories. More particularly, the invention relates to a baseball or softball fielding aid accessory for positioning a hand or a glove of a fielder to properly field ground balls.
BACKGROUNDBaseball or softball refers to a bat and ball game, which remains highly popular in many regions of the world, for example, North America, South America, the Caribbean, East Asia, etc. With increasing popularity, baseball or softball is played in multiple professional league formats across the world. Traditionally, baseball or softball fielders caught ground balls or fly balls using their bare hands. Over time, gloves were invented to prevent injuries to hands of fielders. Fielding ground balls requires proper technique and form of the forearm, wrist, and hand simultaneously. Bad form or technique can lead to injuries that may jeopardize a player's career. Additionally, bad form or technique may lead to misfields that must be avoided in pro-competitive games. A baseball or softball accessory, which improves the technique and form of a wrist and hand of a fielder, is required.
In the past, players were taught to field by watching other fielders who were already experienced in proper fielding techniques. Typically, players were instructed to get underneath the ball and scoop it instead of putting their glove in the right spot to have better success. Many players like to flip their hand or glove instead of leaving the glove fingers pointed down. Moreover, the glove or hand was to be positioned flat to the ground. A baseball or softball accessory, which allows an individual to achieve a good technique and form of a wrist and hand of a fielder or player in the baseball or softball game, is required.
Hence, there is a long felt but unresolved need for a baseball or softball accessory, which fix or correct the technique form of a wrist, and hand of the kids, pros, or all prospective fielders, or for learning a general skill set. Furthermore, there is a need for a baseball or softball accessory, which allows an individual to achieve a good technique and form of a wrist and hand of the kids, pros, or all prospective fielders, or for learning a general skill set.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory disclosed herein addresses the above-mentioned need for a baseball or softball accessory, which improves the technique and form of a wrist and hand of a fielder. Furthermore, the invention addresses the need for a baseball or softball accessory, which allows an individual to achieve a good technique and form of a wrist and hand of a fielder or player. The baseball or softball players may include players of any age, experience or level. The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory for positioning a hand or a glove of a fielder to properly field ground balls comprises an arcuate panel, at least two first straps, at least one second strap, and at least one retaining element. The arcuate panel comprises an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the arcuate panel is in contact with a forearm of the fielder. The two first straps are fixedly attached to the outer surface of the arcuate panel. The two first straps are positioned at a first end of the arcuate panel for fastening the arcuate panel to the forearm of the fielder. The second strap is positioned at a second end of the arcuate panel for fastening the glove of the fielder to the arcuate panel. The retaining element is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the arcuate panel defining a space. The hand of the fielder is retained in the space to properly field ground balls.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and structures disclosed herein. The description of a method step or a structure referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or structure shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein.
In an embodiment, the second fastening member 103a is a hook and loop fastener, for example, Velcro® of Velcro Industries B.V. LLC. In another embodiment, the second fastening member 103a is, for example, a snap fastener, etc. The retaining element 104 is fixedly attached to the inner surface 101a of the arcuate panel 101 defining a space 105 as exemplarily illustrated in
The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 enhances muscle memory of the proper hand and wrist technique to allow the fielder to field ground balls. The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 attaches to the lower forearm 202 using the retaining element 104 and attaches to the glove 301 via the second fastener 103a as exemplarily illustrated in
The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100, disclosed herein. While the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100, has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may effect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 disclosed herein in their aspects.
Claims
1. A baseball or softball fielding aid accessory for positioning an extremity of a fielder to properly field ground balls, the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory comprising:
- an arcuate panel comprising at least two first straps positioned at a first end of the arcuate panel for fastening the arcuate panel to a forearm of the fielder, wherein an inner surface of the arcuate panel is in contact with the forearm of the fielder; and
- at least one retaining element fixedly attached to the inner surface of the arcuate panel, the inner surface of the arcuate panel and the at least one retaining element defining a space, wherein the extremity of the fielder is retained in the space to properly field ground balls.
2. The fielding aid accessory of claim 1, wherein the extremity of the fielder is a hand of the fielder.
3. The fielding aid accessory of claim 1, further comprising a glove detachably attached to a second end of the arcuate panel for enclosing the extremity of the fielder to properly field ground balls.
4. A baseball or softball fielding aid accessory for positioning a hand or a glove of a fielder to properly field ground balls, the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory comprising:
- an arcuate panel comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface in contact with a forearm of the fielder;
- at least two first straps fixedly attached to the outer surface of the arcuate panel, the at least two first straps positioned at a first end of the arcuate panel for fastening the arcuate panel to the forearm of the fielder;
- at least one second strap positioned at a second end of the arcuate panel for fastening the glove of the fielder to the arcuate panel, wherein the glove encloses the hand of the fielder; and
- at least one retaining element fixedly attached to the inner surface of the arcuate panel, the inner surface of the arcuate panel and the at least one retaining element defining a space, wherein the hand of the fielder is retained in the space to properly field ground balls.
5. The fielding aid accessory of claim 4, wherein the at least two first straps fasten the arcuate panel to the forearm of the fielder via first fastening members.
6. The fielding aid accessory of claim 5, wherein the first fastening members are hook and loop fasteners.
7. The fielding aid accessory of claim 4, wherein the at least one second strap fastens the glove of the fielder to the arcuate panel via second fastening members.
8. The fielding aid accessory of claim 7, wherein the second fastening members are hook and loop fasteners.
9. The fielding aid accessory of claim 4, wherein the arcuate panel is of a rigid material.
10. The fielding aid accessory of claim 4, wherein the retaining element is an elastic band.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 19, 2016
Publication Date: May 24, 2018
Inventor: Jerahmine Libke (Henderson, NV)
Application Number: 15/356,554