Baseball training aid

Abstract

The present invention relates to training aids for baseball including a truncated and hinged bat-like device comprised of a first handle portion hinged to a barrel portion so that swinging the device grooves and fortifies a motion consistent with a pro batting swing, and variations thereof.

1 . A batting training aid comprising of a first handle portion having a proximal and distal end, 
 a free-swinging hinge mechanism, pivotally attached to the distal end of the first portion;    a second bat portion with a second proximal and second distal end, the proximal end being connected by said hinge to said first handle portion;    said first handle portion being of sufficient length so that when the batting training aid is swung and the second bat portion swings and collapses the batter's hands are not hit.    
   
   
       2 . The training aid of  claim 1  whereby the first handle portion has a first removable weight.  
   
   
       3 . The training aid of  claim 2  whereas the second bat portion has a second removable weight.  
   
   
       4 . The training aid of  claim 1  whereby the hinge mechanism is unbiased includes a first pin a second pin and lateral connections connected to said pins and located so as to provide constraint of the movement of the second bat portion in relation to the first handle portion in substantially one plane.  
   
   
       5 . The batting aid of  claim 1  where the second portion has a flat hitting surface.  
   
   
       6 . A batting training aid comprising of a first portion having a proximal and distal end, 
 an unbiasable free-swinging hinge mechanism, pivotally attached to the distal end of the first portion whereby the hinge mechanism includes a first pin a second pin and a lateral connections connected to said pins and located so as to constrain the movement of the second barrel in relation to the first barrel in substantially one plane;    a second portion with a second proximal and second distal end, the proximal end being connected by said hinge to said first portion;    said first portion being of sufficient length so that when the batting training aid is swung and the second portion swings and collapses upon the first, the handle is cleared and the batter's hands are not hit.    
   
   
       7 . A method of training a proper baseball swing using a segmented bat and having a first barrel with a knob at its proximal end, connected to a second barrel at its distal end by a non-biasing hinge, consisting of the following steps: 
 (a) positioning the bat in a ready position near the right shoulder with the second barrel collapsed upon the first barrel;    (b) starting the swing upon the release of a pitched ball;    (c) leading with the knob of the bat;    (d) attempting to align the first barrel and second barrel at the moment of impact so that the second barrel connects with the ball;    (e) following through with a full extension after contact with the ball.    
   
   
       8 . A baseball training aid comprising a bat with a knob at its proximal end and a flat striking surface at its distal end, and an annular grip member positioned over the handle and suitably moveable thereon so that the annular member can be gripped near the hinge area when the practice swing is initiated and towards the knob when the swing progress is finished.  
   
   
       9 . The invention of  claim 8  including an annular ring-like member which can be slid into position to make the batting aid unitary.  
   
   
       10 . A baseball training aid comprising a bat with a knob at its proximal end and a flat striking surface at its distal end and a spacer between the two ends to separate the hands.  
   
   
       11 . A baseball training aid comprising, a bat handle member, a barrel member, a hinge pivotally connecting the bat handle member and barrel member to one another without any spring force being applied, the barrel member having a flat striking surface to encourage a flat swing, whereby the hinge is comprised of parallel pins connected to lateral members whereby the axis of the pins is substantially in alignment with the flat striking surface.  
   
   
       12 . A baseball training aid comprising a bat with a knob at its proximal end and a flat striking surface at its distal end, and an annular grip member positioned over the handle and suitably moveable thereon so that the annular member an be gripped near the hinge area when the practice swing is initiated and towards the knob when the swing progress is finished.  
   
   
       13 . A batting training aid comprising of a first portion having a proximal and distal end, which is gripped by the batter. 
 a non-biasing hinge, pivotally attached to the distal end of the first portion;    a second portion with a second proximal end and second distal end, the proximal end being connected by said hinge to said first portion;    said first portion being of sufficient length so that when the batting training aid is swung and the second portion swings and collapses upon the first, the batter's hands are not hit.    
   
   
       14 . The training aid of  claim 1  whereby the first portion has a first removable weight located within the first portion.  
   
   
       15 . The training aid of  claim 2  whereas the second portion has a second removable weight, mounted externally to said second portion.  
   
   
       16 . The training aid of  claim 1  whereby the hinge mechanism is non-biasing and includes a first pin a second pin and lateral connections connected to said pins and located so as to constrain the movement of the second barrel in relation to the first barrel in substantially one plane.  
   
   
       17 . A batting training aid comprising of a first portion having a proximal and distal end, the first portion having a handle for gripping by the batter, 
 a hinge mechanism without any bias or spring, pivotally attached to the distal end of the first portion;    a second portion with a second proximal end and second distal end, and proximal end being connected by said hinge to said first portion.    
   
   
       18 . A method of training a proper baseball swing using a segmented bat having a first barrel with a knob at its proximal end, and connected to a second barrel at its distal end by a non-biasing hinge, consisting of the following steps: 
 (a) positioning the bat in a ready position near the right shoulder with the second barrel collapsed upon the first barrel;    (b) starting the swing upon the release of a pitched ball;    (c) leading with the knob of the bat;    (d) attempting to align the first barrel and second barrel at the moment of impact so that the second barrel connects with the ball;    (e) following through with a full extension after contact with the ball.