Ball hitting training device

• US 7,670,238 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Esquerra
• Original Assignee: Robert Esquerra
• Inventors: Esquerra, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour; Mitra
• Application Number:
  US11/689,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20070232420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 473/422, 473/431, 473/437, 473/450, 473/451, 473/458, 473/464, 473/559, 473/564, 473/521, 473/457, 150/159, 150/160, D21/796
• US Class Current: 473/457
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

A novel ball hitting training device configured to hold two bats together in a secure configuration. Also provided is a method of using the device to increase bat speed; strengthen the arm, core, and grip; and improve, and receive feedback on, bat swing technique. The training device allows the user to assess if his hands and grip are optimally positioned to deliver maximum power to the ball upon contact. The device provides two pockets, each having a bat handle end and a bat head end. The pockets are connected to each other between the bat handle ends and the bat head ends. Each bat handle end includes a bat handle opening, such that each pocket can receive a bat through the bat handle opening. A fastener near the bat handle end cinches the device around the bats, which may allow for the twisting of the bats such that the handles are touching and the knob of one bat is closer to the bat handle openings than the knob of the other bat. The device receives bats of various sizes and is constructed of a durable material, such as neoprene. It may also be advantageous that the fastener be a strap of double-sided hook and loop-type fastener material.

Claims

1. A method of using a ball hitting training device, comprising the steps of:

providing a ball hitting training device, the device comprising;

two pockets,

wherein each pocket further comprises a bat handle opening and a bat head opening; and

wherein each pocket is constructed to receive a bat through the bat head opening; and

at least one fastener adapted to cinch the device around two bats,

wherein the at least one fastener is attached to the device near the bat handle end;

loading a first bat into the device, wherein the first bat comprises a knob, a handle, and a head, by inserting the knob of the first bat into the bat head opening and feeding it through the pocket to the bat handle opening;

loading a second bat into the device, wherein the second bat comprises a knob, a handle, and a head, by inserting the knob of the second bat into the bat head opening of the unoccupied pocket and feeding it through the pocket to the bat handle opening;

twisting the first and second bats such that their respective handles and knobs touch and the knob of one bat is closer to the bat handle openings than the knob of the other bat;

cinching the fastener around the first and second bats;

placing the first and second bat head ends on the ground in front of the user such that the hitting surface is parallel to the user'"'"'s chest;

placing the bat handle closest to the user into the dominant hand, such that the handle rests on the fingers of the dominant hand;

positioning the non-dominant hand on a section of the handle adjacent to that occupied by the dominant hand and located between the dominant hand and the knob, such that the handle rests on the fingers of the non-dominant hand;

gripping the bat handles of both bats firmly;

lifting the bats into a hitting stance;

swinging the bats, such that when the bats enter the strike zone, one bat is directly above the other bat.

2. The method of using a ball hitting training device of claim 1, wherein the swinging step further comprises swinging the bats such that when the bats enter the strike zone, the palm of the user'"'"'s dominant hand faces up, the palm of the user'"'"'s non-dominant hand faces down, and the wrist of the user'"'"'s dominant hand is straight.

3. The method of using a ball hitting training device of claim 1, wherein the device is used to increase the speed of the bat during the swing.

4. The method of using a ball hitting training device of claim 1, wherein the device is used to strengthen the user'"'"'s arm and core muscles and grip.

5. The method of using a ball hitting training device of claim 1, further comprising hitting a moving ball with the bat-loaded device.