An Unloader assembly to control load distribution about a joint is disclosed. The assembly including an upper collar attachable above the joint and a lower collar attached below the joint, and a hinge positioned between the upper attachment and the lower attachment. The Unloader further includes a compression assembly includes an arm attached at one end to the hinge and a housing into which the arm is slidable. The housing further includes a bushing and a variable resistance beam positioned between the arm and the bushing. The variable resistance beam provides a variable degree of rigidity to provide different levels of resistance to compression.

An Unloader assembly to control load distribution about a joint is disclosed. The assembly including an upper collar attachable above the joint and a lower collar attached below the joint, and a hinge positioned between the upper attachment and the lower attachment. The Unloader further includes a compression assembly includes an arm attached at one end to the hinge and a housing into which the arm is slidable. The housing further includes a bushing and a variable resistance beam positioned between the arm and the bushing. The variable resistance beam provides a variable degree of rigidity to provide different levels of resistance to compression.

A transducer attenuates a physiologically damaging vibration by converting vibration energy to fluidization energy. The transducer includes a canister defining a sealed enclosure, a powder contained within the enclosure, and a coupler for vibrationally coupling the canister to the physiologically damaging vibration. When undisturbed, the powder has a settled state occupying less than the entire enclosure of the canister. However, when excited by physiologically damaging vibration, the powder has a fluidized state occupying the entire enclosure of the canister. When agitated by the physiologically damaging vibration via the coupler, the canister transmits vibration energy to the powder contained therein and causes the powder to fluidize, thereby attenuating the physiologically damaging vibration.

A transducer attenuates a physiologically damaging vibration by converting vibration energy to fluidization energy. The transducer includes a canister defining a sealed enclosure, a powder contained within the enclosure, and a coupler for vibrationally coupling the canister to the physiologically damaging vibration. When undisturbed, the powder has a settled state occupying less than the entire enclosure of the canister. However, when excited by physiologically damaging vibration, the powder has a fluidized state occupying the entire enclosure of the canister. When agitated by the physiologically damaging vibration via the coupler, the canister transmits vibration energy to the powder contained therein and causes the powder to fluidize, thereby attenuating the physiologically damaging vibration.

A knob sleeve for a ball bat extending along a longitudinal axis and having a tubular handle portion and a knob attached to the handle portion. The knob sleeve includes a tubular body having a distal end and a proximal end. The body defines a central bore for receiving the handle portion. The body includes at least first and second regions positioned adjacent the distal and proximal ends of the body, respectively. The first and second regions have first and second maximum outside diameters, respectively. The second maximum outside diameter is greater than the first maximum outside diameter. Each of the first and second regions has a height measured with respect to the longitudinal axis of at least 0.4 inch.

A knob sleeve for a ball bat extending along a longitudinal axis and having a tubular handle portion and a knob attached to the handle portion. The knob sleeve includes a tubular body having a distal end and a proximal end. The body defines a central bore for receiving the handle portion. The body includes at least first and second regions positioned adjacent the distal and proximal ends of the body, respectively. The first and second regions have first and second maximum outside diameters, respectively. The second maximum outside diameter is greater than the first maximum outside diameter. Each of the first and second regions has a height measured with respect to the longitudinal axis of at least 0.4 inch.

A sports training device attached to the shaft of a swinging sports apparatus, such as a baseball bat. The device includes a drag chute disposed between two rigid members, a support rod disposed between the two rigid members along the longitudinal axis of the chute, and a plurality of coupling elements connected to the support rod. Each coupling element includes an annular opening for positioning of the sports apparatus therethrough. One coupling element has a stationary component that secures the device to the sports apparatus and a rotating component that rotates 360 around the sports apparatus. As such, the entirety of the device, with exception to this stationary component, can substantially freely rotate 360 around the sports apparatus. Resistance during a swing can be adjusted by sliding the coupling mechanisms along the support rod to expose more or less of the chute.

A sports training device attached to the shaft of a swinging sports apparatus, such as a baseball bat. The device includes a drag chute disposed between two rigid members, a support rod disposed between the two rigid members along the longitudinal axis of the chute, and a plurality of coupling elements connected to the support rod. Each coupling element includes an annular opening for positioning of the sports apparatus therethrough. One coupling element has a stationary component that secures the device to the sports apparatus and a rotating component that rotates 360 around the sports apparatus. As such, the entirety of the device, with exception to this stationary component, can substantially freely rotate 360 around the sports apparatus. Resistance during a swing can be adjusted by sliding the coupling mechanisms along the support rod to expose more or less of the chute.

A training apparatus for use with a bat is provided. The training apparatus has a fastening portion releasably securable to a barrel of the bat and a resistance portion attached to the fastening portion such that the resistance portion extends past a barrel end of the bat when the training apparatus is secured to the barrel. The resistance portion is a flexible material configured to add resistance throughout a bat swing, thus increasing the strength and torque of the athlete for that motion. The training apparatus can be used with the bat for training and released for normal bat use when not training, thus using the athletes regular bat for training.

Baseball bats described herein may have handle, throat and/or barrel portions that include non-circular cross-sections.