SPORTS SWING IMPROVEMENT APPARATUS

• US 20140171213A1
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Brzon, Terry Newman
• Original Assignee: Mark Brzon, Terry Newman
• Inventors: Newman, Terry, Brzon, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,155,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/270
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 26/003 for improving balance or equilibrium balance beams A63B4/00; apparatus for rope dancing A63B7/08; balancing drums, balancing boards or the like A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3673 Foot inclining aids; Foot wobbling devices

Abstract

An apparatus for improving the swing of a batter or golfer broadly comprises a frame, a forward pedestal, a rear pedestal, and a rear pedestal biasing element. The frame may include at least one horizontal member. The forward pedestal may support a forward foot of the user and may couple to the frame. The rear pedestal may support a rear foot, couple to the frame, be operable to rotate, and be biased to pivot forward. The rear pedestal biasing element may couple to the rear pedestal and urge the rear pedestal to pivot forward.

Claims

1. An apparatus for improving the swing of a batter or golfer, the apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a forward pedestal for supporting a forward foot of a user, the forward pedestal coupled to the frame;

a rear pedestal for supporting a rear foot, the rear pedestal coupled to the frame, operable to rotate, and biased to pivot forward; and

a rear pedestal biasing element coupled to the rear pedestal to urge the rear pedestal to pivot forward.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame includes at least one horizontal member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the forward pedestal includes a forward base coupled to the at least one horizontal member and a forward platform positioned on top of the forward base.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the rear pedestal includes a rear base operable to pivot forward and a rear platform positioned on top of the rear base and rotatably coupled thereto.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the rear base includes a first base member coupled to the at least one horizontal member and a second base member coupled to a forward edge of the first base member with a hinge to allow the second base member to pivot forward with respect to the first base member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the rear pedestal biasing element includes a compression spring with a first end coupled to the first base member and a second end coupled to the second base member.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the rear pedestal biasing element includes a leaf spring with a first side coupled to the first base member and an opposing second side coupled to the second base member.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the rear pedestal biasing element includes a hinge spring that couples to the hinge and a torque adjustment device operable to vary the torque applied to the second base member.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the frame further includes first and second spaced apart vertical members with a horizontal crosspiece positioned therebetween and the rear pedestal biasing element includes a spring coupled to the horizontal crosspiece to pull a rear edge of the second base member upward.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one rail coupled to the at least one horizontal member and the forward pedestal for adjusting the distance between the forward pedestal and the rear pedestal.

11. An apparatus for improving the swing of a batter or golfer, the apparatus comprising:

a frame including at least one horizontal member;

a forward pedestal for supporting a forward foot of a user, the forward pedestal including

a forward base coupled to the at least one horizontal member and

a forward platform positioned on top of the forward base;

a rear pedestal for supporting a rear foot, the rear pedestal including

a first base member coupled to the at least one horizontal member,

a second base member coupled to a forward edge of the first base member with a hinge to allow the second base member to pivot forward with respect to the first base member, and

a rear platform positioned on top of the second base member and rotatably coupled thereto; and

a rear pedestal biasing element coupled to the rear pedestal to urge the rear pedestal to pivot forward.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rear pedestal biasing element includes a compression spring with a first end coupled to the first base member and a second end coupled to the second base member.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rear pedestal biasing element includes a leaf spring with a first side coupled to the first base member and an opposing second side coupled to the second base member.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rear pedestal biasing element includes a hinge spring that couples to the hinge and a torque adjustment device operable to vary the torque applied to the second base member.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the frame further includes first and second spaced apart vertical members with a horizontal crosspiece positioned therebetween and the rear pedestal biasing element includes a spring coupled to the horizontal crosspiece to pull a rear edge of the second base member upward.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising at least one rail coupled to the at least one horizontal member and the forward pedestal for adjusting the distance between the forward pedestal and the rear pedestal.