Apparatus for Increasing Core Strength and Improving Balance
The disclosure relates to a training apparatus for increasing core body strength and balance and for providing a repetitive pitching motion exercise for baseball pitchers. The training apparatus comprises a frame structure having a pair of laterally spaced base members for bracing the apparatus on the floor. Each base member is attached to an upright support member that are attached at the top by a lateral connector. A balance pulley is attached to the lateral connector and a balance cord is threaded through the balance pulley. The balance cord has a ball attached to one end and a foot strap attached to the opposite end, such that a user of the apparatus attaches the balance cord foot strap to the non-pivot foot of the user, grabs and extends the ball simulating a throwing motion involving the forward extension of the arm and the forward leaning of the upper body thereby placing the balance cord in tension and lifting the users non-pivot foot and leg upwards towards the balance pulley, thereby forcing the user into a prototypical pitching form. Through repetition, the user strengthens the core muscles, improves balance and increases muscle memory, all in a manner that trains the user to consistently achieve the prototypical pitching form.
All baseball pitchers endeavor to achieve the prototypical pitching form which involves a follow-through motion where the head and upper body pivot over the pivot foot towards the ground while the non-pivot foot simultaneously rises from the ground to a height that is ideally higher than the head of the user. Baseball pitchers and trainers use various training methods and exercises to achieve the prototypical pitching form, but there lacks a sufficient training apparatus to increase the core strength, balance and muscle memory necessary to achieve the prototypical pitching form.
There are several prior art references related to baseball and in particular teaching a pitcher how to improve pitching abilities. Representative examples of them can be found in the following patents: Sparks, U.S. Pat. No. 9,227,124, Sparks U.S. Pat. No. 8,672,781, Luke, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,120, Williams, U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,883, Williams, U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,078, Hayson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,471 and Hurley U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,395. The Sparks patents provide an exercise for strengthening muscles used in the pitching throw. The Williams patents teach a device that will help a pitcher achieve proper foot alignment as the pitcher delivers the pitch. Hayson teaches a method for training and warming up baseball pitchers using a baseball attached to a cord and the pitcher simulating a pitching movement. Hurley teaches a device that trains the pitcher in the appropriate alignment of the legs to give them their direct line during the pitching motion to home plate. None of these patents, however, provide a training apparatus for increasing the core strength, balance and muscle memory at the point of the pitching follow-through which is critical to achieving the prototypical pitching form.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a training apparatus for increasing the core strength, balance and muscle memory at the point of the pitching follow-through which is critical to achieving the prototypical pitching form.
BRIEF SUMMARYThe present apparatus is a training and exercise apparatus for increasing core strength and improving balance, and more specifically, to be used by a baseball pitcher in order to achieve the prototypical baseball follow-through form. The training apparatus comprises a frame structure having a pair of laterally spaced base members, each said base member attached to an upright support member that are attached at the top by a lateral connector. The support members are height adjustable in order to raise and lower the lateral connector. A balance pulley is attached to the underside of the lateral connector such that the balance pulley is capable of swiveling and having an adjustable resistance. A balance cord threaded through the balance pulley has a ball attached to a first end and a foot strap attached to the second end. A variable tension wheel is attached to one or more of the base members with a tension cord having a foot strap for attaching to the user's foot.
When in use, the balance cord foot strap and the tension cord foot strap are both attached to the non-pivot foot of a user and the user grabs the ball end of the balance cord and simulates a throwing motion involving the forward extension of the arm and the forward leaning of the upper body thereby placing the balance cord in tension and lifting the users non-pivot foot and leg upwards towards the balance pulley while such upward foot motion is resisted by the tension cord. In this manner the user simulates the throwing motion and achieves the prototypical pitching follow-through. Through repetition, the user exercises the core muscles used in achieving the follow-though motion thereby increasing balance and muscle memory.
While the training apparatus is described specifically for improving the pitching motion, it is not limited thereto and can be used for any purpose in order increase core strength and balance or for stretching the user muscles and increasing flexibility. It has applications in physical and occupational therapeutic purposes.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the principles described herein and are part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims.
It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the foregoing brief description and the following detailed description are exemplary (i.e., illustrative) and explanatory of the subject matter as set forth in the present disclosure but are not intended to be restrictive thereof or limiting of the advantages that can be achieved by the present disclosure in various implementations. Additionally, it is understood that the foregoing summary and ensuing detailed description are representative of some embodiments as set forth in the present disclosure and are neither representative nor inclusive of all subject matter and embodiments within the scope as set forth in the present disclosure. Thus, the accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate embodiments of this disclosure, and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain principles of embodiments as set forth in the present disclosure.
In the game of baseball, in order for a baseball pitcher to be effective, it is critical that the pitcher achieve the prototypical pitching form. The apparatus of the present invention is intended to help train a pitcher to achieve the prototypical pitching form.
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The balance cord 208 can be made be any type of known cord or rope, such as a metal cable or a twine rope. In one embodiment, the throwing end 209 of the balance cord 208 is attached to a baseball, it will be appreciated that the throwing end is not limited to a baseball or any other ball, but may be any know means for grabbing such end of the balance cord, such as a handle or a large knot at the end of the balance cord or multiple large knots along the cord. The foot strap end of the balance cord 207 may include a connector interface for attaching the balance cord 207 to an extension cord as shown in
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In one embodiment the training apparatus includes a mat to be placed on the ground. The mat includes a foot guide for indicating the correct placement of the pivot foot and, optionally, a balance bubble intended to provide instability to the user when the user places the pivot foot on the balance bubble.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A training apparatus for increasing core strength and improving balance, said apparatus comprising:
- A frame structure having a pair of laterally spaced base members, each said base member attached to an upright support member, said support members attached at the top by a lateral connector, said support members being height adjustable in order to raise and lower the lateral connector;
- A balance pulley attached to the underside of the lateral connector and extending downward, said balance pulley capable of swiveling and having an adjustable resistance;
- A balance cord threaded through the balance pulley, said cord having a ball attached to a first end and a foot strap attached to the second end;
- A variable tension wheel attached to one or more of the base members,
- A tension cord having a first end attached to the tension wheel and a second end with a foot strap,
- Whereby, when in use, the balance cord foot strap and the tension cord foot strap are both attached to the non-pivot foot of a user and the user grabs the ball end of the balance cord and simulates a throwing motion involving the forward extension of the arm and the forward leaning of the upper body thereby placing the balance cord in tension and lifting the users non-pivot foot and leg upwards towards the balance pulley while such upward foot motion is resisted by the tension cord.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 where the balance pulley is a multi-wheel pulley.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a mat having a foot guide for indicating where a user should place a pivot foot and having a balance bubble for creating instability to the user when performing the exercise.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 where said laterally spaced base members include attachment means for attaching an accessory.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 where the accessory is a balance handle.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wearable apparatus and one or more stabilizing cords, each said stabilizing cord attached at one end to said frame and having second end adapted to be attachable to the wearable apparatus.
7. A training apparatus for increasing core strength and improving balance, said apparatus comprising:
- A frame structure having a pair of laterally spaced base members, each said base member attached to an upright support member, said support members attached at the top by a lateral connector;
- A balance pulley attached to the lateral connector;
- A balance cord threaded through the balance pulley, said cord having a grip attached to a first end and a foot strap attached to the second end;
- Whereby, when in use, the balance cord foot strap is attached to the non-pivot foot of a user and the user, while gripping the grip end of the balance cord, simulates a throwing motion involving the forward extension of the arm and the forward leaning of the upper body thereby placing the balance cord in tension and lifting the users non-pivot foot and leg upwards towards the balance pulley.
8. The training apparatus of claim 7 where said support members are height adjustable.
9. The training apparatus of claim 7 where the balance pulley has a variable resistance.
10. The training apparatus of claim 7 where grip is a baseball attached to the balance cord.
11. The training apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a variable tension wheel attached to one or more of the base members, and
- a tension cord having a first end attached to the tension wheel and a second end with a foot strap.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 where the balance pulley is a multi-wheel pulley.
13. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a mat having a foot guide for indicating where a user should place a pivot foot and having a balance bubble for creating instability to the user when performing the exercise.
14. The apparatus of claim 7 where said laterally spaced base members include attachment means for attaching one or more balance handles.
15. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a wearable apparatus and one or more stabilizing cords, each said stabilizing cord attached at one end to said frame and having second end adapted to be attachable to the wearable apparatus.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 9, 2018
Publication Date: Sep 12, 2019
Inventors: Gary Irwin (Mount Airy, MD), William Mack Irwin (Mount Airy, MD)
Application Number: 15/932,507