Pitch Training Device With Clear Spherical Caps

Abstract

A pitch training ball includes a center portion, a first cap, and a second cap. The center portion is opaque and has a first planar surface at a first end thereof, and a second planar surface at a second end thereof opposite to the first end. The first cap portion has a first base that is adjacent to the first planar surface. The second cap portion has a second that is adjacent to the second planar surface. The first cap, the center portion, and the second cap cooperate to define a baseball shape. The first and second caps are transparent to translucent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pitch training ball comprising:
 a center portion that is opaque, the center portion comprising a first planar surface at a first end thereof, and a second planar surface at a second end thereof opposite to the first end;   a first cap portion comprising a first base, the first base being adjacent to the first planar surface; and   a second cap portion comprising a second base, the second base being adjacent to the second planar surface, wherein
 the first cap, the center portion, and the second cap cooperate to define a baseball shape, and 
 the first and second caps are transparent to translucent. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pitch training ball of  claim 1 , wherein
 the center portion includes a perimeter surface defined between the first and second planar surfaces,   the first and second planar surfaces are of a first color, and   the perimeter surface is of a second color.   
     
     
         3 . The pitch training ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second planar surfaces are illuminated by an internal lighting system. 
     
     
         4 . The pitch training ball of  claim 1 , further comprising: raised surface elements mimicking the raised seams of a conventional baseball. 
     
     
         5 . The pitch training ball of  claim 1 , wherein the pitch training ball has an overall mass between 113 g to 454 g. 
     
     
         6 . The pitch training ball of  claim 1 , further comprising: an ultrasonic weld that fixes the first and second caps to the first and second planar surfaces, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The pitch training ball of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive that fixes the first and second caps to the first and second planar surfaces, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The pitch training ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second planar surfaces each have a diameter between 50 mm and 102 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The pitch training ball of  claim 2 , wherein the perimeter surface comprises a thickness between 30 mm and 55 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A pitch training ball comprising:
 a center portion that is opaque, the center portion comprising a first planar surface at a first end thereof, and a second planar surface at a second end thereof opposite to the first end;   a first cap portion comprising a first base, the first base being adjacent to the first planar surface; and   a second cap portion comprising a second base, the second base being adjacent to the second planar surface, wherein   the first cap, the center portion, and the second cap cooperate to define a baseball shape, and   the first and second caps are transparent to translucent;   
       at least one processor; 
       at least one sensor; and 
       at least one memory including a computer program, which when executed by the at least one processor causes the ball apparatus to record information related to a movement and a position of the pitch training ball. 
     
     
         11 . The pitch training ball of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second planar surfaces are of a first color, and the perimeter surface is of a second color. 
     
     
         12 . The pitch training ball of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second planar surfaces are illuminated by an internal lighting system. 
     
     
         13 . The pitch training ball of  claim 10 , further comprising: raised surface elements mimicking the raised seams of a baseball 
     
     
         14 . The pitch training ball of  claim 10 , wherein the pitch training ball has an overall mass between 113 g to 454 g. 
     
     
         15 . The pitch training ball of  claim 10 , further comprising: an ultrasonic weld that fixes the first and second caps to the first and second planar surfaces, respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The pitch training ball of  claim 10 , further comprising: an adhesive that fixes the first and second caps to the first and second planar surfaces, respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The pitch training ball of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second planar surfaces each have a diameter between 50 mm and 102 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The pitch training ball of  claim 10 , wherein the perimeter surface has a thickness between 30 mm and 55 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The pitch training ball of  claim 10 , wherein the ball apparatus is further caused to record the spin rate of the pitch training ball along three axes. 
     
     
         20 . The pitch training ball of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a communication network; and   a pitching machine connected to the communication network, wherein
 the processor is connected to the communication network, and 
 the pitch training ball is further configured to send information related to a movement and a position of the pitch training ball to the pitching machine to control the pitching machine.