Instructional baseball

Abstract

An instructional baseball used for the art of teaching the proper techniques of throwing a curveball is shown having a spherical body with an integrally formed fin extending from the body in a figure-8 path which extends around the outer surface of the body in a figure-8 path similar to the stitching of a conventional baseball. In other preferred embodiments an elongated V-shaped groove is formed in the outer surface of the body with a fin disposed within the groove also following the same figure-8 path as the V-groove. The fin acts as an air shield creating greater drag forces on the baseball as it is thrown through the air with a spinning motion. The greater drag forces increase the Magnus force on the ball, allowing it to curve move dramatically then that of a conventional baseball. Increasing the curve rate of the baseball will serve to help pitchers more easily see the results of their throwing techniques and ultimately improve their curveball throwing skills. To fill the gap left on each side of the fin in the grooved embodiments and give the pitcher a surface to grasp, cross braces are set perpendicular to the fin member and are spaced evenly along the figure-8 path of the groove and fin.

1 . An instructional ball for teaching the proper manner of throwing a curveball comprising: 
 a generally spherical body member,    a single recessed groove formed in the outer peripheral surface of the body member which follows a lined figure-8 path around the outer peripheral surface of the body member in the same manner as the stitching on a conventional baseball, the groove having a bottom portion and side walls,    an elongated fin member located in the center of the groove and extending up from the bottom portion of the groove out toward and beyond an imaginary continuation of the outer peripheral surface of the body member, the portion of the fin member extending beyond an imaginary continuation of said outer peripheral surface having opposed first and second generally parallel face surfaces, the fin member following the same path as the groove encompassing the figure-8 path, the fin member serving as an air dampening shield causing increased drag as the ball is thrown through the air with a rotating spin.    
   
   
       2 - 3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . An instructional ball for teaching the proper manner of throwing a curveball comprising: 
 a generally spherical body member,    a single recessed V-shaped groove formed in the outer peripheral surface of the body member which follows a lined figure-8 path around the outer peripheral surface of the body member in the same manner as the stitching on a conventional baseball, the groove having a bottom portion and side walls, a plurality of members having a generally V-shaped cross section, the members having base walls which are configured to be closely received in the groove with the base walls of the members mating with the side walls of the groove and    an elongated fin member located in the center of the groove forming a center wall between the base walls of the V-shaped members, and extending up from the bottom portion of the groove out toward an imaginary continuation of the outer peripheral surface of the body member, the fin member following the same path as the groove encompassing the figure-8 path, the fin member serving as an air dampening shield causing increased drag as the ball is thrown through the air with a rotating spin.    
   
   
       5 . An instructional ball as set forth in  claim 4  in which a plurality of generally parallel extending center walls are formed between the base walls forming elongated fin members.  
   
   
       6 . An instructional ball as set forth in  claim 4  in which a plurality of generally parallel extending center walls are formed between the base walls forming elongated fin members.  
   
   
       7 . An instructional ball set forth in  claim 1  further comprising an array of vent members supporting and connecting the fin member to the side edges of the recessed groove, the vent members including cross braces located perpendicular to the fin member and spaced evenly around the ball in a figure-8 path wherein the cross braces provide a continuation of the outer peripheral surface of the body member where a pitcher may place his fingers as he grips the ball.  
   
   
       8 . An instructional ball as set forth in  claim 1  in which the recessed groove is V-shaped and the fin member is formed integrally with the body member and further comprising a plurality of vent members, each vent member having an elongated curved wall formed with first and second sides, each side having an edge formed at an angle complimentary to the side walls of the V-shaped groove, the elongated curved wall fitting into the recessed groove to form a continuation of the spherical surface of the body member over the groove, a plurality of slots formed in the elongated curved wall, the slots defining cross braces extending perpendicular to the fin member.  
   
   
       9 . An instructional ball as set forth in  claim 8  in which the vent members encompass a raised continuous stitch pattern extending beyond the outer peripheral surface of the body member forming a figure-8 type path.  
   
   
       10 . An instructional ball as set forth in  claim 8  in which the vent members have base walls complimentary to the side walls of the V-shaped groove and a center wall is formed between the base walls to serve as part of the fin member.  
   
   
       11 . An instructional ball as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the size and weight of the instructional ball are similar to that of a conventional baseball.  
   
   
       12 . An instructional ball as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the size and weight of the instructional ball are similar to that of a conventional softball.  
   
   
       13 . An instructional ball for teaching the proper manner of throwing a curveball comprising: 
 a generally spherical body member, 
 a single recessed groove formed in the outer peripheral surface of the body member which follows a lined figure-8 path around the outer peripheral surface of the body member in the same manner as the stitching on a conventional baseball, the groove having bottom portion and side walls,  
 an elongated fin member located in the center of the groove and extending up from the bottom portion of the groove out toward an imaginary continuation of the outer peripheral surface of the body member, the fin member following the same path as the groove encompassing the figure-8 path, the fin member serving as an air dampening shield causing increased drag as the ball is thrown through the air with a rotating spin, and  
 an array of cross braces which support and connect the fin member to the side walls of the recessed groove, the cross braces being perpendicular to the fin member and spaced evenly along the recessed groove.