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US20170120128A1 - Hitting stick for baseball training - Google Patents

  • ️Thu May 04 2017

US20170120128A1 - Hitting stick for baseball training - Google Patents

Hitting stick for baseball training Download PDF

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Publication number
US20170120128A1
US20170120128A1 US14/929,814 US201514929814A US2017120128A1 US 20170120128 A1 US20170120128 A1 US 20170120128A1 US 201514929814 A US201514929814 A US 201514929814A US 2017120128 A1 US2017120128 A1 US 2017120128A1 Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
stick
hitting
plate
socket
bat
Prior art date
2015-11-02
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US14/929,814
Inventor
Jacob Cruz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
2015-11-02
Filing date
2015-11-02
Publication date
2017-05-04
2015-11-02 Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
2015-11-02 Priority to US14/929,814 priority Critical patent/US20170120128A1/en
2017-05-04 Publication of US20170120128A1 publication Critical patent/US20170120128A1/en
Status Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
    • A63B69/0002—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for baseball
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
    • A63B69/0002—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for baseball
    • A63B2069/0004—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for baseball specially adapted for particular training aspects
    • A63B2069/0008—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for baseball specially adapted for particular training aspects for batting
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2210/00—Space saving
    • A63B2210/50—Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to baseball training devices.
  • a popular drill used by baseball players at all levels is the soft toss drill.
  • the soft toss drill the hitter is continually fed balls tossed underhand to the hitting zone from a short distance (usually 10 to 15 feet), and the batter swings at each of them.
  • the balls may be tossed from the front of the hitter (with the thrower shielded by a hitting net) or sometimes from the side or even behind.
  • the main purpose of such a drill is to achieve a large number of swing repetitions.
  • the drill may also be used to focus on particular swing elements such as staying balanced throughout the swing or difficulties such as a low and outside pitch. While the soft toss drill is useful, it fails to address important elements of proper swing mechanics such as maintaining a proper bat path throughout the swing (e.g., staying inside the ball).
  • a hitting stick comprises a plate that can be shaped like a home plate and a stick flexibly attached to the plate and extending vertically therefrom.
  • the hitting stick can be used during a soft toss drill. Facing toward the hitting stick, the batter assumes a normal hitting stance and begins hitting soft tosses.
  • the swing training stick teaches correct bat path and also for the hitter to maintain the barrel of the bat in the hitting zone. It focuses on staying inside the ball. If the swing is done properly, the barrel of the bat will stay close to the body and strike the inner part of the ball thrown. By doing this the swing is correct and will not strike the hitting stick. Conversely, if the swing is improper, the bat will hit the hitting stick.
  • the stick will be a height sufficient to be hit by a baseball bat swung by a hitter.
  • the hitting stick can include a flexible member disposed between the plate and the stick, the flexible member allowing the stick to be flexibly attached to the plate.
  • the flexible member is a coil wherein the stick extends partially through the coil, leaving a gap between a distal end of the stick and the plate.
  • the stick may achieve flexible attachment by other means, such as usage of a rubber stick or provision of a ball joint attachment to the plate allowing the stick to pivot when struck.
  • the coil is attached to a single socket disposed in the plate.
  • the sockets can be arranged on opposite side of the plate, and the socket selected may depend on whether the hitter is left-handed or right-handed.
  • the socket can be placed in the approximate center of the plate or on either the left side or right side of the plate.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of a hitting stick, according to a first embodiment
  • FIG. 2 illustrates front perspective view of a hitting stick, according to the first embodiment
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a hitting stick, according to a second embodiment
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a side perspective view of the hitting stick, according to the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a front perspective view of, according to the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 a side perspective view of a hitting stick 100 , according to a first embodiment, is illustrated.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of the hitting stick 100 .
  • the hitting stick 100 comprises a plate 80 and a stick 50 flexibly attached to the plate 80 and extending vertically therefrom.
  • the plate 80 is in the shape of a home plate used in a baseball game but other shapes such a square, a diamond or a rectangle may suffice.
  • the stick 50 will be a height sufficient to be struck by a baseball bat swung by a typical hitter (e.g., between about 4.5 feet and 6 feet in height for typical adult usage.)
  • the hitting stick can include a flexible member disposed on a lower end of the stick 50 , the flexible member allowing the stick 50 to be flexibly attached to the plate 80 .
  • the flexible member is a coil 55 .
  • the stick 50 includes a first end 50 - 1 and a second end 50 - 2 , with the second end 50 - 2 of the stick 50 extending partially through the coil 55 , leaving a gap between the second end 50 - 2 and a short stick 52 that extends to a socket 60 disposed in the plate.
  • the short stick 52 preferably has about the same diameter as the stick 50 and includes a threaded portion to allow it to be screwed into the socket 60 having complementary threading.
  • the hitting stick 100 is shown having a coil for the flexible member, it understood that the stick 50 could achieve flexible attachment by other means, such as usage of rubber or provision of a ball joint attachment to the plate 80 allowing the stick 50 to pivot when struck.
  • the stick 50 may be constructed of wood, plastic, metal or any other suitable material.
  • the socket 60 is situated approximately between a left side L and a right side R, and closer to the rear side. However, it is to be understood that the socket 60 could instead be situated either on the left side L or the right side R.
  • the stick 50 could be attached without usage of a socket 60 , such as by connecting the short stick 52 or the coil 55 directly into the plate 80 .
  • the hitting stick 100 can be used during a soft toss drill. Facing toward the hitting stick 100 , the batter stands about the length of his or her bat and assumes a normal hitting stance and begins hitting soft tosses.
  • the hitting stick teaches 100 correct bat path and also for the hitter to maintain the barrel of the bat in the hitting zone. It focuses on staying inside the ball. If the swing is done properly, the barrel of the bat will stay close to the body and strike the inner part of the ball thrown. By doing this, the swing is correct and will not strike the hitting stick 100 . Conversely, if the swing is improper, the bat will hit the hitting stick 100 .
  • FIG. 3 a top view of a hitting stick 200 , according to a second embodiment, is illustrated.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a side perspective view of the hitting stick 200 .
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a front perspective view of the hitting stick.
  • the hitting stick 200 is substantially the same as the hitting stick 100 , the difference being that while the hitting stick 100 can accommodate attachment of the stick 50 at a single location on the plate 80 , the hitting stick 200 includes interchangeable sockets 60 -L and 60 -R to accommodate attachment of the stick 50 into either of the interchangeable sockets 60 -L and 60 -R.
  • socket 60 -L is situated on the left side L of the plate 80 while socket 60 -R is situated in the right side R of the plate 80 .
  • the stick 50 is shown screwed into socket 60 -L, it is to be understood that the stick 50 could be unscrewed from socket 60 -L and screwed into socket 60 -R. Furthermore, it is be understood that in embodiments were one or more socket is provided, the device may be disassembled when not in use by unscrewing the stick 50 from the socket it was screwed into.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)

Abstract

A hitting stick comprises a plate shaped like a home plate and a stick flexibly attached to the plate and extending vertically therefrom. In operation, the hitting stick can be used during a soft toss drill. Facing toward the hitting stick, the batter assumes a normal hitting stance and begins hitting soft tosses. The swing training stick teaches correct bat path and also for the hitter to maintain the barrel of the bat in the hitting zone. It focuses on staying inside the ball. If the swing is done properly, the barrel of the bat will stay close to the body and strike the inner part of the ball thrown. By doing this the swing is correct and will not strike the hitting stick. Conversely, if the swing is improper, the bat will hit the hitting stick.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

  • 1. Field of the Invention

  • The present invention relates to baseball training devices.

  • 2. Description of the Related Art

  • A popular drill used by baseball players at all levels is the soft toss drill. In the soft toss drill, the hitter is continually fed balls tossed underhand to the hitting zone from a short distance (usually 10 to 15 feet), and the batter swings at each of them. The balls may be tossed from the front of the hitter (with the thrower shielded by a hitting net) or sometimes from the side or even behind. The main purpose of such a drill is to achieve a large number of swing repetitions. The drill may also be used to focus on particular swing elements such as staying balanced throughout the swing or difficulties such as a low and outside pitch. While the soft toss drill is useful, it fails to address important elements of proper swing mechanics such as maintaining a proper bat path throughout the swing (e.g., staying inside the ball).

    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

  • A hitting stick comprises a plate that can be shaped like a home plate and a stick flexibly attached to the plate and extending vertically therefrom. In operation, the hitting stick can be used during a soft toss drill. Facing toward the hitting stick, the batter assumes a normal hitting stance and begins hitting soft tosses. The swing training stick teaches correct bat path and also for the hitter to maintain the barrel of the bat in the hitting zone. It focuses on staying inside the ball. If the swing is done properly, the barrel of the bat will stay close to the body and strike the inner part of the ball thrown. By doing this the swing is correct and will not strike the hitting stick. Conversely, if the swing is improper, the bat will hit the hitting stick.

  • In an embodiment, the stick will be a height sufficient to be hit by a baseball bat swung by a hitter. The hitting stick can include a flexible member disposed between the plate and the stick, the flexible member allowing the stick to be flexibly attached to the plate. In an embodiment, the flexible member is a coil wherein the stick extends partially through the coil, leaving a gap between a distal end of the stick and the plate. However, the stick may achieve flexible attachment by other means, such as usage of a rubber stick or provision of a ball joint attachment to the plate allowing the stick to pivot when struck.

  • In an embodiment, the coil is attached to a single socket disposed in the plate. In an alternate embodiment, there are two sockets available wherein the stick is capable of interchangeable attachment to either of the sockets. In such a case, the sockets can be arranged on opposite side of the plate, and the socket selected may depend on whether the hitter is left-handed or right-handed. For the single-socket embodiment, the socket can be placed in the approximate center of the plate or on either the left side or right side of the plate.

    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1

    illustrates a side perspective view of a hitting stick, according to a first embodiment;

  • FIG. 2

    illustrates front perspective view of a hitting stick, according to the first embodiment;

  • FIG. 3

    illustrates a top view of a hitting stick, according to a second embodiment;

  • FIG. 4

    illustrates a side perspective view of the hitting stick, according to the second embodiment; and

  • FIG. 5

    illustrates a front perspective view of, according to the second embodiment.

    • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

  • Referring to

    FIG. 1

    , a side perspective view of a

    hitting stick

    100, according to a first embodiment, is illustrated.

    FIG. 2

    illustrates a front perspective view of the hitting

    stick

    100. The

    hitting stick

    100 comprises a

    plate

    80 and a

    stick

    50 flexibly attached to the

    plate

    80 and extending vertically therefrom. As shown, the

    plate

    80 is in the shape of a home plate used in a baseball game but other shapes such a square, a diamond or a rectangle may suffice. The

    stick

    50 will be a height sufficient to be struck by a baseball bat swung by a typical hitter (e.g., between about 4.5 feet and 6 feet in height for typical adult usage.) The hitting stick can include a flexible member disposed on a lower end of the

    stick

    50, the flexible member allowing the

    stick

    50 to be flexibly attached to the

    plate

    80. As shown, the flexible member is a

    coil

    55. The

    stick

    50 includes a first end 50-1 and a second end 50-2, with the second end 50-2 of the

    stick

    50 extending partially through the

    coil

    55, leaving a gap between the second end 50-2 and a

    short stick

    52 that extends to a

    socket

    60 disposed in the plate. The

    short stick

    52 preferably has about the same diameter as the

    stick

    50 and includes a threaded portion to allow it to be screwed into the

    socket

    60 having complementary threading. Although the

    hitting stick

    100 is shown having a coil for the flexible member, it understood that the

    stick

    50 could achieve flexible attachment by other means, such as usage of rubber or provision of a ball joint attachment to the

    plate

    80 allowing the

    stick

    50 to pivot when struck. The

    stick

    50 may be constructed of wood, plastic, metal or any other suitable material. As illustrated, the

    socket

    60 is situated approximately between a left side L and a right side R, and closer to the rear side. However, it is to be understood that the

    socket

    60 could instead be situated either on the left side L or the right side R. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the

    stick

    50 could be attached without usage of a

    socket

    60, such as by connecting the

    short stick

    52 or the

    coil

    55 directly into the

    plate

    80.

  • In operation, the

    hitting stick

    100 can be used during a soft toss drill. Facing toward the

    hitting stick

    100, the batter stands about the length of his or her bat and assumes a normal hitting stance and begins hitting soft tosses. The hitting stick teaches 100 correct bat path and also for the hitter to maintain the barrel of the bat in the hitting zone. It focuses on staying inside the ball. If the swing is done properly, the barrel of the bat will stay close to the body and strike the inner part of the ball thrown. By doing this, the swing is correct and will not strike the

    hitting stick

    100. Conversely, if the swing is improper, the bat will hit the

    hitting stick

    100.

  • Referring to

    FIG. 3

    , a top view of a

    hitting stick

    200, according to a second embodiment, is illustrated.

    FIG. 4

    illustrates a side perspective view of the hitting

    stick

    200.

    FIG. 5

    illustrates a front perspective view of the hitting stick. The

    hitting stick

    200 is substantially the same as the

    hitting stick

    100, the difference being that while the

    hitting stick

    100 can accommodate attachment of the

    stick

    50 at a single location on the

    plate

    80, the

    hitting stick

    200 includes interchangeable sockets 60-L and 60-R to accommodate attachment of the

    stick

    50 into either of the interchangeable sockets 60-L and 60-R. As illustrated, socket 60-L is situated on the left side L of the

    plate

    80 while socket 60-R is situated in the right side R of the

    plate

    80. Although the

    stick

    50 is shown screwed into socket 60-L, it is to be understood that the

    stick

    50 could be unscrewed from socket 60-L and screwed into socket 60-R. Furthermore, it is be understood that in embodiments were one or more socket is provided, the device may be disassembled when not in use by unscrewing the

    stick

    50 from the socket it was screwed into.

  • While this invention has been described in conjunction with the various exemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (19)

What is claimed is:

1. A hitting stick, comprising:

a plate; and

a stick flexibly attached to the plate and extending vertically therefrom.

2. The hitting stick of

claim 1

, further comprising a flexible member disposed between the plate and the stick, the flexible member allowing the stick to be flexibly attached to the plate.

3. The hitting stick of

claim 2

, wherein the flexible member is a coil.

4. The hitting stick of

claim 3

, wherein the stick extends through a portion of the coil.

5. The hitting stick of

claim 4

, wherein a gap exists between a distal end of the stick and the plate.

7. The hitting stick of

claim 1

, wherein the plate is shaped like a home plate in a baseball game.

8. The hitting stick of

claim 1

, wherein the stick extends vertically between about 4.5 feet and 6 feet in height.

9. The hitting stick of

claim 1

, wherein the stick is attached to approximately the center of the plate.

10. The hitting stick of

claim 1

, further comprising a first socket, wherein the stick is attached to the first socket.

11. The hitting stick of

claim 10

, further comprising a second socket.

12. The hitting stick of

claim 11

, wherein the stick is capable of interchangeable attachment to either the first socket or the second socket.

13. The hitting stick of

claim 11

, wherein the sockets are disposed on left and right sides of the plate, respectively.

14. A hitting stick, comprising:

a plate shaped like a home plate in a baseball game; and

a stick flexibly attached to the plate and extending vertically therefrom.

15. The hitting stick of

claim 14

, wherein the stick extends vertically between about 3 feet and 6 feet in height.

16. The hitting stick of

claim 12

, wherein the stick is attached to approximately the center of the plate.

17. The hitting stick of

claim 12

, wherein the stick is attached to a socket.

18. The hitting stick of

claim 12

, further comprising a second socket, each socket capable of attaching the stick to the plate.

19. A method of using the hitting stick of

claim 1

for baseball training, comprising:

standing facing the hitting stick;

using a bat, swinging at a soft tossed ball; and

determining that the swing path was proper based on the bat not contacting the hitting stick.

20. The method of

claim 15

, wherein the standing is at a distance about the length of the bat.

US14/929,814 2015-11-02 2015-11-02 Hitting stick for baseball training Abandoned US20170120128A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14/929,814 US20170120128A1 (en) 2015-11-02 2015-11-02 Hitting stick for baseball training

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14/929,814 US20170120128A1 (en) 2015-11-02 2015-11-02 Hitting stick for baseball training

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20170120128A1 true US20170120128A1 (en) 2017-05-04

Family

ID=58638570

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/929,814 Abandoned US20170120128A1 (en) 2015-11-02 2015-11-02 Hitting stick for baseball training

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Country Link
US (1) US20170120128A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170340940A1 (en) * 2016-05-31 2017-11-30 Melinda R. Danielson Training equipment for improving batting swing
USD880629S1 (en) * 2017-09-06 2020-04-07 Christopher L. Wills Batting tee for practicing a batting swing

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170340940A1 (en) * 2016-05-31 2017-11-30 Melinda R. Danielson Training equipment for improving batting swing
USD880629S1 (en) * 2017-09-06 2020-04-07 Christopher L. Wills Batting tee for practicing a batting swing

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
2017-09-05 STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION