Baseball batter training method

• US 7,160,213 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AF Sports LLC
• Original Assignee: Aer-Flo Canvas Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Henning, William W
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US10/857,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20050266937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 473416-451, 473/452, 473/459, 473/465, 473/470, 473/504
• US Class Current: 473/451
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

A batter training and protection system and method are shown. A protector for protecting an infield area is provided with a plurality of indicia situated thereon or integrally formed therein to define a plurality of target areas, respectively. The indicia may comprise a plurality of material segments, a plurality of colors, patterns, graphics or the like in order to define the plurality of target areas at which a player may practice bunting a baseball.

Claims

1. A method for training a batter to bunt or hit a baseball or softball, more accurately toward an area of a playing field;

providing a trainer for positioning on a surface, wherein said surface comprises at least one of a baseball infield, diamond, batting cage area, or indoor floor;

said trainer comprising a plurality of target zones;

each of said plurality of target zones defining a target at which the batter may bunt or hit the baseball or softball; and

causing said trainer to be situated on said surface so that when the baseball or softball is thrown toward the batter, the batter may bunt or hit the baseball or softball at one of said plurality of target zones, thereby facilitating training the batter to improve the batter'"'"'s bunting or hitting skills;

wherein said trainer comprises a material comprising said plurality of target zones and said material lying in a generally flat or generally planar plane on said surface, said material providing a second surface which the baseball or softball may land on or travel over so that the batter'"'"'s bunting or hitting may be judged or improved.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of target zones are defined by a plurality of indicia, respectively.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said plurality of indicia are a plurality of colors.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said plurality of indicia comprise at least one of the following:

yellow, red or green.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said plurality of colors comprise a first color associated with said third base zone and a second color associated with said first bad-bunt zone.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein said first color is yellow and said second color is red.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of target zones are defined by indicia that are integral with said trainer.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said method comprises the step of:

providing a trainer that comprises a plurality of target zones defining a third base zone, a sacrifice bunt zone, a bad-bunt zone and a first base zone.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said method comprises the step of:

defining said plurality of target zones to extend along radial lines from said batter'"'"'s box;

wherein at least one of said plurality of target zones enlarges as it moves along one of said radial lines away from said batter'"'"'s box.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said method comprises the step of:

defining said plurality of target zones to extend along radial lines from said batter'"'"'s box;

wherein a plurality of said plurality of target zones enlarges as it moves along one of said radial lines away from said batter'"'"'s box.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

providing a trainer having a plurality of material segments to define said plurality of target zones and that cooperate to define a predetermined shape.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said predetermined shape is polygonal.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said predetermined shape is a trapezoid.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

providing said trainer that comprises a material that protects the ground and is water-resistant.

15. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of target zones comprises a different shape than another of said plurality of target zones.

16. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said trainer is a solid mesh fabric material.

23. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said target is a solid mesh fabric material.

24. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said plurality of target zones are integral with said web of the material.

25. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said plurality of indicia are applied to said web of the material.

17. A method for training a player to bunt or hit a baseball or softball more accurately toward a predetermined area of a surface associated with a batter'"'"'s box, comprising the steps of:

providing a target that can be situated on said surface comprising a plurality of zones at which said player may selectively bunt or hit the baseball or softball; and

positioning the target or directing the target to be positioned on a surface so that when the baseball or softball is pitched toward the player, the player may bunt or hit the baseball or softball toward one of the plurality of target zones, thereby facilitating training the batter to improve the batter'"'"'s bunting or hitting skills;

said surface comprising at least one of a baseball infield, diamond, batting cage area, or indoor floor;

wherein said target comprises a material comprising said plurality of target zones and said material lying in a generally flat or generally planar plane on said surface, said material providing a second surface which the baseball or softball may land on or travel over;

said plurality of target zones being defined by a plurality of indicia, respectively, each of which defining an area at which the player may bunt or hit the softball or baseball.

18. The method for training the player as recited in claim 17 wherein said method further comprises the step of:

defining said plurality of target zones by a plurality of colors, respectively.

19. The method for training the player as recited in claim 17 wherein said method further comprises the step of:

defining said plurality of target zones by a plurality of material segments, respectively.

20. The method for training the player as recited in claim 17 wherein said target comprises a protector for protecting said infield area.

21. The method for training the player as recited in claim 19 wherein said plurality of target zones is defined by a plurality of material segments, respectively.

22. The method as recited in claim 17 where at least one of said plurality of target zones comprises a different shape than another of said plurality of target zones.