Full swing weight training apparatus

• US 8,444,500 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2011
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Phillip Erkkinen
• Original Assignee: Phillip Erkkinen
• Inventors: Erkkinen, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W
• Application Number:
  US13/116,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20120302380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 473/256, 473/226, 473/219, 473/437, 473/459
• US Class Current: 473/256
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3638 Normal golf clubs with directly attached weights

Abstract

A weight training apparatus which develops strength, suppleness and memory in the muscles used for swinging of a sports implement which may be a baseball bat, tennis racquet, golf club or other sporting implement or equipment. More specifically, the trainer provides for normal use of the sport implement by a user to swing and hit an object such as a golf ball while providing shock absorption to reduce vibration and twisting of the implement upon impact with the object.

Claims

1. A training apparatus for sports equipment comprising:

a tube having an axial length defined about a main axis, the tube comprising;

a central passage extending the length of the tube;

an inner wall and an outer wall, the outer wall having a greater diameter than the inner wall defining a space therebetween;

a first radial wall connecting the inner and outer walls and extending the axial length of the tube, and a second radial wall spaced from the first axial wall also connecting the inner and outer walls and extending the axial length of the tube;

an opening defined between the first and second radial walls and the opening communicating with the central passage; and

a filling material provided in the space between the inner and outer walls of the tube.

2. The training apparatus for sports equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein the axial opening extends the length of the tube between a first and second ends of the tube.

3. The training apparatus for sports equipment as set forth in claim 2 wherein the filling material provided in the space between the inner and outer walls of the tube is a plurality of separate articles.

4. The training apparatus for sports equipment as set forth in claim 2 wherein the filling material provided in the space between the inner and outer walls of the tube is a unitary article.

5. The training apparatus for sports equipment as set forth in claim 2 wherein the filling material provided in the space between the inner and outer walls of the tube is a single solid material.

6. The training apparatus for sports equipment as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least one of the first and second ends of the tube are sealed by at least one of a respective first and second end cap.

7. The training apparatus for sports equipment as set forth in claim 6 wherein the end cap is provided with a central passage and an axial passage substantially aligned with the central passage and axial passage of the tube.

8. The training apparatus for sports equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tube is radially flexible to the extent that the axial passage can accommodate passage of an article wider than then a width of the axial passage therethrough.

9. A training device for a manually operated implement comprising;

a tube having an inner wall and an outer wall defined about a central passage;

vibration dampening material contained within a compartment defined between the inner and outer wall; and

a second passage communicating with the central passage through the inner and outer walls of the tube, the second passage extends along a length of the tube to allow passage of one of a shaft, barrel or frame of the manually operated implement into the central passage.

10. The training device for the manually operated implement of claim 9 wherein the vibration dampening material has sufficient weight to increase the overall weight of the sport implement.

11. The training device for the manually operated implement of claim 9 wherein the compartment is attached around one of at least a shaft, barrel or frame of a sport implement without the use of a tool or other additional equipment.

12. The training device for the manually operated implement of claim 9 wherein the inner and outer walls of the tube are fabricated of a substantially rigid material but slightly flexible material such as plastic or elastomeric material to provide a variable diameter to the central passage of the tube.