Baseball batting training device and method of use

Abstract

A device (10) for training a batter for a baseball or softball game has a body (12) that is fitted to the arm of the user, parallel to the humerus bone. A slot (30) on an outer surface of the device body is sized and adapted to receive a shaft portion of a user's bat, at an oblique angle to the humerus bone. The device trains the user to keep the shaft of the bat close to an upper portion of the user's arm below the shoulder and above the elbow. The device also trains the user to employ a rotation of the torso and hips to induce a moment of rotational inertia in the bat, causing the bat to be pulled out of the slot and into a swing plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for training a user in batting a ball, comprising:
 a body member;   an open channel;   wherein the body member is adapted to be secured along an upper portion of an arm of the user, the arm being a trailing arm of the user when the user is positioned to strike the ball with a bat;   wherein the body member comprises an axis that runs substantially parallel to the humerus bone of the trailing arm;   wherein the open channel is sized and adapted to receive an intermediate shaft portion of a bat having a handle portion at a first end and a ball-striking portion at a second end; and   wherein angular momentum generated in the intermediate shaft portion of the bat by body core rotation of the user causes the intermediate portion of the bat to be released from the open channel and into a ball-striking arc.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ball is a baseball.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ball is positioned on a batting tee.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a removed portion defining an inner surface of the body member; 
 wherein the removed portion is adapted to be secured along the upper portion of the arm of the user. 
 
     
     
         5 . The device  claim 1 , wherein:
 the open channel runs obliquely across an outer surface of the body member.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an adjustable strap; 
 wherein the adjustable strap is configured to close around the arm to cinch the bat thereto. 
 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the adjustable strap includes a first portion comprising hooks and a second portion comprising loops;   wherein the hooks are configured to engage the loops to cause the first portion to be securely connected to the second portion.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bat strap having a first end and a second end;   wherein a portion of the bat strap extending from the second end is configured to be attached to a portion of the body member above the open channel.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 one of the portion of the bat strap extending form the second end and the portion of the body member comprises hooks, and the other comprises loops;   wherein the hooks are configured to engage the loops to cause the portion of the bat strap extending from the second end to be securely connected to the portion of the body member above the open channel.   
     
     
         10 . A method for assembling a device for training a user in batting a baseball, the method comprising:
 assembling a substantially cylindrical body member;   removing an open channel sized and adapted to receive an intermediate shaft portion of a bat from the substantially cylindrical body member;   removing a portion of the body member to define an inner surface sized to be secured along the upper portion of the arm of the user; and   providing an adjustable strap configured to close around the arm to cinch the bat thereto.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 providing a bat strap having a first end and a second end; and   anchoring the first end of the bat strap to a portion of the body member below the open channel.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing an attachment pad configured to attach to a portion of the bat strap to permit a closed position thereof.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 providing foamed polymeric material to form the body member.   
     
     
         14 . The method  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing foamed, closed-cell polyurethane to form the body member.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing hooks on one of the attachment pad and a portion of the bat strap extending from the second end, and providing loops on the other of the attachment pad and the portion of the bat strap extending from the second end.   
     
     
         16 . A device for training a user in batting a baseball, comprising:
 a body member;   an open channel;   a bat strap;   an adjustable strap;   wherein the adjustable strap is configured to close around an arm of a user to cinch the bat thereto;   wherein the body member is adapted to be secured along an upper portion of the arm of the user, the arm being a trailing arm of the user when the user is positioned to strike the ball with a bat;   wherein the body member comprises an axis that runs substantially parallel to the humerus bone of the trailing arm;   wherein the open channel is sized and adapted to receive an intermediate shaft portion of a bat having a handle portion at a first end and a ball-striking portion at a second end;   wherein angular momentum generated in the intermediate shaft portion of the bat by body core rotation of the user causes the intermediate portion of the bat to be released from the open channel and into a ball-striking arc;   wherein the open channel runs obliquely across an outer surface of the body member;   wherein the bat strap includes a first end and a second end; and   wherein a portion of the bat strap extending from the second end is configured to be attached to a portion of the body member above the open channel.