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 a recessed elongated V-shaped groove which extends around the outer surface of the body in a figure-8 path similar to the stitching of a conventional baseball. Centered within the V-shaped groove opening is a fin member which also follows the same figure-8 path as the V-groove. The fin member 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 member 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 member.

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 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.    
   
   
       2 . An instructional ball set forth in  claim 1  wherein the fin member extends up to an imaginary continuation of the spherical outer peripheral surface of the body member.  
   
   
       3 . An instructional ball set forth in  claim 1  wherein the fin member extends beyond an imaginary continuation of the spherical outer peripheral surface of the body member.  
   
   
       4 . An instructional ball as set forth in clam  1  in which the recessed groove is V-shaped and further comprising 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 a center wall is formed between the base walls of the V-shaped member, the center wall forming a part of the said elongated fin member.  
   
   
       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 1  including a plurality of fin members located in 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.  
   
   
       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.