SWING STARTER

Abstract

A training device for protecting the hands from contact and teaching proper hand pathway and position during the swinging motion of a baseball bat, tennis racket, cricket bat or golf club prior to contact with a ball, the device comprising a short handle attached to a flat shaped plate an long handle extension, wherein at least one hand grips the handle, resting the base of the hand against and inner surface of the shaped plate during a swing motion, with the swing movement resulting in contact with a ball tossed, thrown or placed upon an adjustable elevated tee, the ball contacting an outer surface of the shaped plate dead center instead of the hitter's hands, with the plate perpendicular with the ground while the handle is horizontal during the moment of contact with the ball.

Claims

1. A swing training device, protecting the hands of hitter and training a hitter's hand swing pathway during critical rotational phase during a swing movement, the swing training device comprising: a contact plate defining a flat contact surface and an inner surface; an attached short handle providing a first end attached to said inner surface of said contact plate and a second end for one hand training; and a long handle extension defining a first end attaching to said second end for two handed positional training, wherein said flat contact surface of said contact plate is directed towards a ball which is either tossed, thrown or resting upon an elevated tee, said contact plate protecting the hand or hands gripping said short or long handle against said inner surface at a moment of contact between said ball and said flat contact surface thereby developing a proper swing pathway during the rotational phase of the swing movement used in baseball, tennis, cricket, golf or other sports utilizing a club, racket, bat or other striking instrument to hit a ball.

2. The swing training device, as disclosed in claim 1, further comprising: said contact plate is a shaped flat composite material having the capacity to withstand repeated contact with a struck ball, said contact plate having an overall circular and bisymmetrical shape, defining an upper and lower concave portion on opposing sides of said contact plate for the purpose of balance to said contact plate, with said lower concave portion making minimal contact with an elevated tee when said contact plate makes contact with said ball positioned atop an elevated tee.

3. The swing training device, as disclosed in claim 1, further comprising: said second end of said short handle providing a long handle attachment means; and said long handle extension providing a first end defining a short handle attaching means to connect and disconnect said long handle extension from said short handle.

4. The swing training device, as disclosed in claim 1, further comprising: said second end of said short handle providing an inner threaded bore; and said long handle extension providing a first end defining an outer threaded reduction to connect and disconnect said long handle extension from said short handle.

5. The swing training device, as disclosed in claim 1, further comprising: a plug defining a threaded end, securing within a long handle attachment means of said second end of said short handle, and a hook member formed at a hook end, said hook attached to an elastic cord, said elastic cord further attaching to a stationary object providing a resistance force required to move said training device to build muscle strength and grip during training, with said elastic cord urging said training device backwards and requiring force to move said training device through said swing pathway and to develop the repetitive target skills developed by use of the training device.

6. A swing training device, protecting the hands of hitter and training a hitter's hand swing pathway during critical rotational phase during a swing movement, the swing training device comprising: a contact plate defining a flat contact surface and an inner surface; and a resilient hitting instrument socket, providing for and conforming to a handle of a hitting instrument which is removably received and secured within said resilient hitting instrument socket, said hitting instrument handle including but not limited to a knob of a baseball bat, an end of a handle of a tennis racket, an end of a golf club handle or a knob end of the cricket bat handle, said ends and knobs inserting securely within said resilient hitting instrument socket integrated upon said inner surface of said contact plate wherein said flat contact surface of said contact plate is held by a hitter using one or two hands and directed towards a ball which is either tossed, thrown or resting upon an elevated tee, thereby protecting the hand or hands gripping said hitting instrument and developing a proper swing pathway during the rotational phase of the swing movement used in baseball, tennis, cricket, golf or other sports utilizing a club, racket, bat or other striking instrument to hit a ball.

7. The swing training device, as disclosed in claim 6, further comprising: said contact plate is a shaped flat composite material having the capacity to withstand repeated contact with a struck ball, said contact plate having an overall circular and bisymmetrical shape, defining an upper and lower concave portion on opposing sides of said contact plate for the purpose of balance to said contact plate, with said lower concave portion making minimal contact with said tee when said contact plate makes contact with said ball positioned atop said tee.

Description

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The following drawings are submitted with this utility patent application.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a drawing of a batter swinging a baseball bat in the rotation phase of the swing.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a drawing of a batter swinging the present training device in the rotation phase of the swing.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the training device.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a opposing perspective view of FIG. 3, with the long handle extension attached.

[0014] FIG. 5 is an illustration of the training device with the plug and the elastic cord shown.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a second embodiment of the training device with phantom line shown a baseball bat handle and knob attaching within the resilient hitting instrument receiver.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a drawing of FIG. 6 along section lines 7/7.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] A swing training device 10, protecting the hands of hitter and training a hitter's hand swing pathway during critical rotational phase during a swing movement, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the swing training device shown in FIGS. 2-7, comprises a contact plate 20, an attached short handle 30 for one hand training and a long handle extension 40 for two handed positional training. The swing training device 10 is used with a tee A upon which is placed a stationary ball B, FIG. 2. It is the objective of the swing training device 10 to place the ball B on the tee A, using the contact plate 20 to make contact with the ball B on the elevated tee A, to; 1) protect the hands of the hitter; 2) locate the handle 30, 40, of the swing training device 10 in a horizontal position with the contact place 20 precisely perpendicular and vertical with the ground at the time of contact, and 3) contact the ball B in a manner to direct the ball B from the tee A on a level and straight forward movement.

[0018] The contact plate 20 is a shaped flat composite material having the capacity to withstand repeated contact with a ball on a tee. The preferred perimeter shape of the contact plate is overall circular and bisymmetrical, with an upper and lower concave portion 26, 28 on opposite sides of the contact plate 20, as shown in FIG. 3, although shape of the contact plate may be any flat configuration. The contact plate 20 defines a contact surface 22 and an inner surface 24, the overall center of the inner surface 24 directly attached to a first end 32 of the short handle 30. A second end 34 of the short handle provides a long handle attachment means 36, FIGS. 3-6, shown by the inclusion as an inner threaded bore 38. The long handle extension 40 includes a first end 42 having a short handle attaching means 44, shown in the drawing figures as an outer threaded reduction 46.

[0019] The long and short handle attaching means 36, 44, may be provide by any connection which would secure the short and long handle together to maintain the integrity required by a full two handled swing motion. Alternatively, a hitting instrument attaching means 50, indicated as is a resilient hitting instrument socket 52, the handle attached within the resilient hitting instrument socket 52 is the knob D of a baseball bat C, the end of the handle of a tennis racket, the end of a golf club handle or the knob end of the cricket bat handle, these ends and knobs inserting securely within the resilient hitting instrument socket 52 integrated within the inner surface 24 of the contact plate 20.

[0020] It is also contemplated that the short and long handles 20, 30, may be removably connected to the inner surface 24 of the contact plate 20. In all cases the short and long handles 20, 30, should form a radially perpendicular extension when attached to the contact plate 20. It is also contemplated within the scope of the training device to employ and integrate the contact plate with a glove, wristband, wrap, or other connection to the hand providing protection of the hands and also to orient the contact plate prior to the hands to promote the proper swing pathway of the hands during a swinging motion, although these alternative applications are not shown within the drawing figures.

[0021] Use of the swing training device 10 is intended to promote proper hand position and pathway movement at the commencement of the rotation phase, previously discussed, at which time such hand position is critical to a proper swing. Use of a tee is strongly encouraged to provide a visual result of a proper and consistent hand position while training the hitter. For a baseball swing, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the knob D end of the bat C is located at the forefront of the swing. This is the location for the ball B spaced upon a stationary tee A, FIG. 2. When the ball is properly struck by the contact surface 22 of the contact plate 20, optimally in the direct center of the contact surface 22, the ball B should leave the tee A in a straight and horizontal position from the tee A, not just once, but every time the swing motion is performed and repeated. Using the short handle 30 only, the lead hand will grip the short handle 20, with the back of the fist of the lead hand against the inner surface 24 of the contact plate 20. One could strike the ball with the back of the fist, but that could result in injury during repeated contact over time. The back of the fist is also an irregular and uneven variable surface, with the contact plate 20 thereby enhancing a consistent resultant ball movement from the tee by use of the flat contact surface 22 of the contact plate 20 and protecting the hand from direct contact with the ball, lessening the potential damage to the hand. Two hands are used with the long handle extension 30 for two handed training, with the forward hand against the inner surface 24 of the contact plate 20 and the rear hand behind the front hand as they grip the handle, just like one would when holding the bat, racket, golf club or cricket bat. The contact plate 20 in its preferred shape, having the radially opposed concave cutouts 26, 28, is provided to enhance clearance of the tee A during training using a ball B placed upon the tee A, with the orientation of the cutouts 26, 28, being vertically centered. The dual concave cutouts are for the purpose of balance to the contact plate, with the lower oriented cutout making minimal contact with the tee when the contact plate makes contact with the ball positioned atop the tee.

[0022] On the embodiment of the training device 10 attaching to the end of the handle of the striking instrument, once placed on the end of the hitting instrument, the same outer surface 22 of the contact plate 20 is directed to the ball B, while the inner surface 24 of the contact plate 20 rests against the lead hand grip. The resilient hitting instrument receiver 52 attaches to the inner surface 24 of the contact plate 20, further defining a resilient upper collar 54 and a lower fixed base 56, the fixed base 56 being the portion of the resilient hitting instrument receiver 52 in contact with the inner surface 24 of the contact plate 20. The resilient upper collar 54 expands and contracts in an elastic manner, opening under force to insert the end of the hitting instrument (knob, racket handle end, golf club grip end, etc.) and then close around the inserted end to secure the training device to the end of the hitting instrument. An embodiment of a baseball bat training device 10 attaching to the knob D of a baseball bat C is demonstrated in FIGS. 6-7. This embodiment, not necessarily accepting the attachment of a long or short handle, is attached to the baseball bat so that the hitter can experience the full weight of an approved size and weight regulation baseball bat C during swing training and development.

[0023] Additionally, resistance training is made possible by use of accessories which integrate with the long handle attachment means in the form of a plug 60 defining a threaded end 62, securing within the long handle attachment means 36, shown in FIG. 5, with a hook member 64 formed at the other end. This hook 64 may be attached to an elastic cord 70, FIG. 5, with the cord attached to a stationary object, not shown. This allows for a force to be required to move the training device to build muscle strength and grip during training, with the cord urging the training device back and requiring force to move the training device through the ball upon the tee. It may also be used without the ball and tee to develop the target skills intended by use of the training device.

[0024] While the training device has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.