Instructional and/or teaching devices for ball games

• US 4,317,567 A
• Filed: 09/26/1979
• Issued: 03/02/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minden V. Blake
• Original Assignee: Minden V. Blake
• Inventors: Blake, Minden V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkham, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, T.
• Application Number:
  US06/079,178
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 273/26 R, 273/26 B, 273/29 A, 273/186 R, 273/186 A, 273/186 C, 273/183 D, 273/72 R, 273/81 R, 273/81.2
• US Class Current: 473/233
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence

Abstract

A device for enabling a player to practice swinging a club, racket, bat or the like comprises two telescopically engaged parts, one having a handle or grip and the other simulating or carrying the head portion of the club. A release mechanism is provided including an axially movable weight which prevents relative axial movement of the two telescopically engaged parts until centrifugal force induced by the swing of the device exceeds a predetermined value. The weight is spring urged into position locking the two parts together and means are provided to adjust the compression of the spring.

Claims

1. A device for enabling a player to practice swinging a club, racket, bat or the like comprising an elongate member including two telescopically engaged parts, one said part having a portion which is gripped by the player at one end, and a release mechanism for preventing relative axial movement of the two parts of the member until it is released by centrifugal force, induced by the swing of the member, exceeding a predetermined value, said release mechanism including a weight within the elongate member, and movable axially of the member, means for restricting the movement of the weight until it is released by centrifugal force exceeding the said predetermined value, and means locking the two telescopically engaged parts together, said locking means being released by axial movement of the weight, the locking means comprising two balls which rest in recesses in the outer one of said telescopically engaged parts to lock said parts together and which are movable within a transverse bore in the inner one of said parts to release the parts, the weight comprising a rod having an end resting between the balls to urge them into the recesses whereby axial movement of the rod releases the balls.

2. A device for enabling a player to practice swinging a club, racket, bat or the like comprising an elongate member including two telescopically engaged parts, a first of said parts having a portion which is gripped by the player at one end and the second of said parts having a striking portion at its end remote from the portion of said first part which is gripped, said first and second parts being relatively axially movable between a first rest position and a second position, spring means biasing said first and second parts toward said first position, a release mechanism for preventing relative axial movement of the two parts from the first position to the second position until said mechanism is released by centrifugal force induced by the swing of the member exceeding a predetermined value, whereupon said first and second parts move by centrifugal force to said second position against the biasing action of said spring means, said spring means being operable upon reduction of the centrifugal force to return said parts from said second position to said first position.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein the release mechanism includes a weight mounted within the elongate member and movable axially of the member, and means for restricting the movement of the weight until it is released by centrifugal force exceeding the said predetermined value.

4. A device as in claim 3 including means for adjusting the predetermined value of centrifugal force at which the weight is released.

5. A device as in claim 4 wherein the restricting means comprises a spring and wherein the adjusting means comprises means for compressing the spring.

6. A device as in claim 3 wherein the release mechanism further includes means locking the two telescopically engaged parts together, said means being released by axial movement of the weight.

7. A device as in claim 2 including means to limit the relative axial movement of the two telescopically engaged parts.

8. A device as in claim 7 wherein said limiting means comprises abutments on said members and a spring located between said abutments, said spring acting to return the parts to their rest position after operation of the device.