SPORTS TRAINING DEVICE

Description

This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/440,115 filed Feb. 7, 2011, by Terry Warren, and is entitled to that filing date for priority. The specification, figures and complete disclosure of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/440,115 are incorporated herein by specific reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a device and apparatus for sports training. More specifically, this invention relates to a device and apparatus for improving a user's ability to swing a bat or other sports equipment with greater speed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of sports training equipment and techniques are known in the prior art. However, prior art techniques for sports that require hitting a ball or object with a piece of sports equipment like a bat, racquet, club or stick typically require large facilities that direct multiple balls or objects at the athlete in training. Strength and speed conditioning and training for the same athlete, conversely, requires that the athlete train in a weight room or similar facility with other equipment, without using their specialized sports equipment.

Accordingly, what is needed is a device that allows an athlete to perform strength and speed conditioning and training while using their specialized sports equipment.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In various embodiments, the present invention comprises a handle of a sporting implement with a flexible, elastic band attached at one end at or proximate to one end of the handle. In one embodiment, the band may pass through a hole or eyelet in the handle. The opposite end of the band comprises a clip, loop, hook, or other fastening device, or combination thereof.

The size, weight, and general configuration of the handle varies depending on the sport, and is generally intended to simulate the user holding the corresponding sporting equipment. For example, the handle may correspond to a handle for a bat for baseball or softball, a golf club, a hockey stick, a lacrosse, a tennis racquet, or a cricket bat. In some embodiments, the handle may comprise the actual handle from the sporting equipment (i.e., with the opposing end of the equipment removed). Alternatively, the handle may comprise a simple cylindrical or semi-cylindrical stick or rod of various lengths, weights, and circumferences.

The handle may be made of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass, aluminum, hard rubber, or other suitable material, or combinations thereof. The handle may be labeled, polished, coated, or treated in a similar fashion to the corresponding sporting equipment.

In several exemplary embodiments, the handles have the following dimensions:

Bat—handle 12 to 14 inches long, band 3′6″ to 4 feet long

Golf club—handle 18 to 21 inches long, band 3 to 5 feet long

Tennis racquet—handle 13 to 14 inches long, 6 inch top, band 3 to 5 feet long

Hockey stick—handle 48 to 50 inches long, band 4 to 6 feet long

Lacrosse stick—handle 30 to 40 inches long, band 3 to 5 feet long

Cricket bat—handle 24 to 30 inches long, band 3 to 5 feet long

The band may be made of any suitable elastic material, such as rubber, nylon, or the like. The band may be tubular, elliptical, flattened, or any similar configuration. One end is attached or affixed to one end of the handle (generally, the end opposite where the user is gripping the handle), and the other end is attached via a loop or clip or other fastener to a relatively stable and fixed object, such as a door handle on a closed door, top of a door, a table leg, a stair rail post, a post set in the ground, a hitch on a truck or car, a fence post, or the like. If a clip or loop is used, the clip or loop may be used to directly fasten the band to a fence or similar object. Alternatively, the band may be passed around the stable and fixed object, and the handle and band passed through the loop or clip (i.e., fastened to itself). In yet another alternative embodiment, the end of the band may be closed in a door so that the end of the band with the clip or loop cannot pass through.

The user then stands an appropriate distance away from the stable and fixed object so that there is some tension in the band when the handle is held in the ready position (i.e., for initiating the swing), and then performs the swing against the resistance created by the elastic band. The handle is returned to the ready position, and the action is repeated. This exercise helps to increase strength, swing speed and the performance of the swing mechanics through training muscle memory. For a sport like baseball, this results in increased bat velocity and hitting distance.

In another embodiment, the band is not elastic, and may be comprised of rubber, nylon, rope, cotton, plastic, or metal (e.g., a cable or chain). The band then may be attached through a pulley system, or the like, to a weight or weights which provide resistance during the swinging motion. Alternatively, the band may be fastened to a short elastic or flexible material, similar to the elastic form of the band described above, which is then in turn anchored in a manner similar to that described above.

The band may be permanently or removably fastened to the end of the handle. In one embodiment, the band is passed through a ¼ inch to ½ inch hole 20 in the end of the handle, and fastened or tied in place.

The length of the band may vary. In one exemplary embodiment, the band is two to six feet in length. In another embodiment, the length of the band is adjustable. In yet another embodiment, the bands can be replaced, so that bands with varying resistances can be used. Thus, as a user becomes stronger, bands with increased resistances may be used. Alternatively, different bands can be used with the same handle for users with different strength and skill levels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a view of a device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a view of another device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a view of another device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a view of another device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a view of another device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a view of another device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7-9 show views of a device in use with a door and a fence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In various exemplary embodiments, as seen in FIGS. 1-6, the present invention comprises a handle of a sporting implement 2 with a flexible, elastic band 4 attached at one end at or proximate to one end of the handle. In one embodiment, the band may pass through a hole or eyelet 20 in the handle. The opposite end of the band comprises a clip 8, loop 6, hook, or other fastening device, or combination thereof.

The size, weight, and general configuration of the handle 2 varies depending on the sport, and is generally intended to simulate the user holding the corresponding sporting equipment. For example, the handle 2 may correspond to a bat handle for baseball or softball (see FIG. 1), a golf club handle (see FIG. 2), a hockey stick (see FIG. 3), a lacrosse stick handle (see FIG. 4), a tennis (or racquetball or squash or badminton) racquet (see FIG. 5), or a cricket bat handle (see FIG. 6). In some embodiments, the handle 2 may comprise the actual handle from the sporting equipment (i.e., with the opposing end of the equipment removed, as shown in FIGS. 1-6). Alternatively, the handle 2 may comprise a simple cylindrical or semi-cylindrical stick or rod of various lengths, weights, and circumferences.

The handle may be made of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass, aluminum, hard rubber, or other suitable material, or combinations thereof. The handle may be labeled, polished, coated, or treated in a similar fashion to the corresponding sporting equipment.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the handle corresponds to a bat handle, and is approximately 12 inches to 14 inches in length, with a band 3.5 to 4 feet in length. The other figures show embodiments with the following dimensions:

Golf club—handle 18 to 21 inches long, band 3 to 5 feet long

Tennis racquet—handle 13 to 14 inches long, 6 inch top, band 3 to 5 feet long

Hockey stick—handle 48 to 50 inches long, band 4 to 6 feet long

Lacrosse stick—handle 30 to 40 inches long, band 3 to 5 feet long

Cricket bat—handle 24 to 30 inches long, band 3 to 5 feet long

The band 4 may be made of any suitable elastic material, such as rubber, nylon, or the like. The band may be tubular, elliptical, flattened, or any similar configuration. One end is attached or affixed to one end of the handle (generally, the end opposite where the user is gripping the handle), and the other end is attached via the loop 6 or clip 8 or other fastener to a relatively stable and fixed object, such as a door handle on a closed door, top of a door, a table leg, a stair rail post, a post set in the ground, a hitch on a truck or car, a fence post, or the like. If a clip or loop is used, the clip or loop may be used to directly fasten the band to a fence or similar object. Alternatively, the band may be passed around the stable and fixed object, and the handle and band passed through the loop or clip (i.e., fastened to itself). In yet another alternative embodiment, the end of the band may be closed in a door so that the end of the band with the clip or loop cannot pass through.

As shown in FIG. 7-9, the user then stands an appropriate distance away from the stable and fixed object so that there is some tension in the band when the handle is held in the ready position (i.e., for initiating the swing), and then performs the swing against the resistance created by the elastic band. The handle is returned to the ready position, and the action is repeated. This exercise helps to increase strength, swing speed and the performance of the swing mechanics through training muscle memory. For a sport like baseball, this results in increased bat velocity and hitting distance.

In another embodiment, the band is not elastic, and may be comprised of rubber, nylon, rope, cotton, plastic, or metal (e.g., a cable or chain). The band then may be attached through a pulley system, or the like, to a weight or weights which provide resistance during the swinging motion. Alternatively, the band may be fastened to a short elastic or flexible material, similar to the elastic form of the band described above, which is then in turn anchored in a manner similar to that described above.

The band may be permanently or removably fastened to the end of the handle. In one embodiment, the band is passed through a ¼ inch to ½ inch hole 20 in the end of the handle, and fastened or tied in place.

The length of the band may vary. In one exemplary embodiment, the band is two to six feet in length. In another embodiment, the length of the band is adjustable. In yet another embodiment, the bands can be replaced, so that bands with varying resistances can be used. Thus, as a user becomes stronger, bands with increased resistances may be used. Alternatively, different bands can be used with the same handle for users with different strength and skill levels.

Thus, it should be understood that the embodiments and examples described herein have been chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited for particular uses contemplated. Even though specific embodiments of this invention have been described, they are not to be taken as exhaustive. There are several variations that will be apparent to those skilled in the art.