Variable inertia bat weight

• US 8,231,484 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2010
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Franklin Sports, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Franklin Sports, Inc.
• Inventors: Quinn, Charles T
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chambers, M
• Application Number:
  US12/773,800
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 473/437, 473/457, 473/422, 482/93, 482/105, D21/683, D29/73
• US Class Current: 473/437
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/00 Clubs for gymnastics or the like , e.g. for swinging exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/005 with adhesive type surfaces, e.g. hook-and-loop type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

A variable inertia bat weight training aid having a sleeve with radially divided, elongate pockets in which are permanently captured a plurality of weights. One end of the sleeve has a diameter sufficient to receive the barrel of a baseball bat but the other end of the sleeve includes a restricting band having a diameter sufficient to receive the handle of the bat but insufficient to pass over the barrel of the bat. Each weight within an associate pocket may be adjustably positioned along the length of the sleeve and secured in place by a restraining strap in order to vary the inertial resistance of the baseball bat and the perceived weight a batter experiences for warm-up and strength training exercises.

Claims

1. A variable inertia bat training aid for a bat having a barrel of substantially uniform diameter, a narrower handle portion and a tapered transition from the handle portion to the barrel, said training aid comprising:

a double layered sleeve having a diameter sufficient to receive said bat barrel and having a length to extend along at least a portion of said bat barrel, said sleeve having closed ends with a proximal end having a diameter less than said barrel diameter;

a plurality of partitioning elements running lengthwise of said sleeve to establish a plurality of closed, elongate radial pockets substantially the length of said sleeve;

a plurality of weights corresponding in number to the number of radial pockets with one said weight being captured within each said radial pocket and each said weight being substantially shorter in length than the length of said radial pocket in order to be selectively moveable along the length thereof; and

a plurality of restraining members adapted to encircle said sleeve to restrict movement of said weights captured within said radial pockets along the length of said sleeve;

whereby said sleeve may be inserted over said bat handle and slid along said bat until limited in further travel by said proximal end of said sleeve and then said weights may be individually positioned along the length of said sleeve and held in place by said restraining members to achieve a preselected moment of inertia for bat training exercises.

2. The training aid as in claim 1, said sleeve having an inner flexible layer for contact with said bat and an outer flexible layer wherein said inner and outer layers are joined to each other at the ends of said sleeve.

3. The training aid as in claim 2, said partitioning elements comprising seams joining said inner and outer layers along the length of said sleeve.

4. The training aid as in claim 2, said inner and outer layers being fabricated from neoprene material.

5. The training aid as in claim 1, said partitioning elements being three in number arranged at 120 degrees around said sleeve.

6. The training aid as in claim 5, said weights comprising three in number with one disposed in each of said pockets established by said partitioning elements.

7. The training aid as in claim 1 further including a constriction band connected to the proximal end of said sleeve and having a diameter less than the diameter of said bat barrel in order to prevent said sleeve from sliding off said bat barrel.

8. The training aid as in claim 1, said weights having an inside longitudinally concave surface substantially corresponding to the diameter of said bat barrel.

9. The training aid as in claim 1, each said restraining member comprising a strap secured to said sleeve along the length thereof and spaced apart from said sleeve ends and adjacent said straps to accommodate said weight therebetween.

10. The training aid as in claim 1, said restraining members comprising two in number and being evenly spaced along said sleeve to define three sleeve sections for receiving said weights.