Self-contained cross-training aid for use by participants in baseball, softball, golf, and hockey

Abstract

A self-contained cross-training aid for use by a sports participant in conjunction with a selected sports implement provides a support assembly, a vertical standard assembly supported by the support assembly, a horizontal arm assembly attached to the vertical standard assembly, and at least one tethered target assembly attached to the other end of the horizontal arm assembly. The sports participant strikes the tethered target with the selected sports implement and the tethered target moves around the horizontal arm assembly. The vertical standard assembly, the horizontal arm assembly, and the tethered target assembly are stored within the support assembly. The self-contained cross-training aid adjustable between a standard height, an elevated height, a lower height, and a minimum height.

1 . A self-contained cross-training aid for use by a sports participant in conjunction with a selected sports implement, the self-contained cross-training aid adjustable between a standard height, an elevated height, a lower height, and a minimum height, wherein the adjustable self-contained cross-training aid comprises: 
 a support assembly;    a vertical standard assembly removably attached to the support assembly;    a horizontal arm assembly having two ends, wherein one end of the horizontal arm assembly is removably attached to the vertical standard assembly;    at least one tethered target assembly attached to the other end of the horizontal arm assembly, so that the sports participant strikes the tethered target with the selected sports implement and the tethered target moves in a path around the horizontal arm assembly; and    wherein the vertical standard assembly, the horizontal arm assembly, and the tethered target assembly are disassembled for storage the support assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the support assembly further comprises: 
 a bucket having a bottom and a rim;    a flanged base attached to the inside bottom of the bucket, wherein the flanged base extends upwardly and terminates in a flange socket;    a bucket vertical member having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being disposed within the flange socket;    a support coupling attached to the upper end of the bucket vertical member; and    a bucket lid having an aperture centered in the bucket lid, so that, as the bucket lid is lowered to engage the rim of the bucket, the centered aperture fits over the support coupling so that a portion of the support coupling extends upwardly through the centered aperture in the bucket lid.    
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the flanged base is adhesively attached to the inside bottom of the bucket.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the flanged based is attached to the inside bottom of the bucket by fasteners.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the bucket, the flanged base, and the bucket vertical member are integrally molded as a single piece.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the vertical standard assembly is configured for a standard height and further comprises: 
 a lower vertical section having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of the lower vertical section being removably attached to the support assembly;    an upper vertical section having an upper vertical section lower end and an upper vertical section upper end;    a vertical standard coupling removably connecting the upper end of the lower vertical section to lower end of the upper vertical section;    a tee removably attached to the upper end of the upper vertical section;    a conversion section having a conversion section lower end and a conversion section upper end; and    a conversion coupling removably attached to the upper end of the conversion section, wherein the lower end of the conversion section is removably inserted into the upper connection of the tee so the conversion section and the attached conversion coupling are removably stored atop the tee when the vertical standard assembly is configured in the standard height.    
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the vertical standard assembly is configured for an elevated height and further comprises: 
 a lower vertical section having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being removably attached to the support assembly;    an upper vertical section having an upper vertical section lower end and an upper vertical section upper end;    a vertical standard coupling removably connecting the upper end of the lower vertical section to lower end of the upper vertical section;    a conversion section having a conversion section lower end and a conversion section upper end;    a conversion coupling removably attached to the upper end of the upper vertical section and the lower end of the conversion section; and    a tee removably attached the upper end of the conversion section, so the vertical standard assembly is configured in the elevated height.    
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the horizontal arm assembly further comprises: 
 a horizontal section having a proximate end adjacent the vertical standard assembly and a distal end, wherein the proximate end of the horizontal section is removably attached to the vertical standard assembly;    an insert disposed within the distal end of the horizontal section, wherein the insert further comprises a first plastic insulator and a second plastic insulator threaded onto a threaded bolt so the first plastic insulator resides within the horizontal section and the second plastic insulator extends outwardly from the distal end of the horizontal section.    
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the first plastic insulator is adhesively affixed within the distal end of the horizontal section.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the first plastic insulator is secured within the distal end of the horizontal section by friction.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the appropriate sports implement is a softball bat and the at least one tethered target assembly further comprises: 
 a flexible line having a loop at one end and a knot supporting a restricted-flight softball at the other end, wherein the loop is rotatably attached to the horizontal arm assembly, so that, when the batter strikes the restricted-flight softball with the bat, the restricted-flight softball travels in a path around the horizontal arm assembly.    
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the sports implement is a baseball bat and the at least one tethered target assembly further comprises: 
 a flexible line having a loop at one end and a knot supporting a restricted-flight baseball at the other end, wherein the loop is rotatably attached to the horizontal arm assembly, so that, when the batter strikes the restricted-flight baseball with the baseball bat, the restricted-flight baseball travels in a path around the horizontal arm assembly.    
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the sports implement is a golf club and the at least one tethered target assembly further comprises: 
 a flexible line having a loop at one end and a knot supporting a restricted-flight golf ball at the other end, wherein the loop is rotatably attached to the horizontal arm assembly, so that, when the golfer strikes the restricted-flight golf ball with the golf club, the restricted-flight golf ball travels in a path around the horizontal arm assembly.    
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the appropriate sports implement is a hockey stick and the at least one tethered target assembly further comprises: 
 a flexible line having a loop at one end and a knot supporting a plastic hockey puck at the other end, wherein the loop is rotatably attached to the horizontal arm assembly, so that, when the hockey player strikes the plastic hockey puck with the hockey stick, the plastic hockey puck travels in a path around the horizontal arm assembly.    
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one tethered target assembly further comprises: 
 a flexible line having a loop at one end;    a target attached to the other end of the flexible line;    attachment means for attaching the target to the other end of the flexible line; and    wherein the loop is rotatably attached to the horizontal arm assembly, so that, when the sports participant strikes the tethered target, the tethered target travels in a path around the horizontal arm assembly.    
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means for attaching the target to the flexible line further comprises a cross-member supported by a knot in the end of the flexible line, and wherein the cross-member is threaded through a hole in the tethered target so the tethered target is supported by the cross-member.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means for attaching the target to the flexible line further comprises a toggle-wing member supported by a knot in the end of the flexible line, and wherein the toggle-wing member is threaded through a hole in the tethered target so the tethered target is supported by the toggle-wing member.  
   
   
       18 . A self-contained cross-training aid for use by a sports participant in conjunction with a selected sports implement, the self-contained cross-training aid adjustable between a standard height, an elevated height, a lower height, and a minimum height, wherein the adjustable self-contained cross-training aid comprises: 
 a support assembly;    a vertical standard assembly removably supported by the support assembly;    a horizontal arm assembly having two ends, wherein one end of the horizontal arm assembly is removably attached to the vertical standard assembly;    a tethered target assembly selected from among the following four tethered target assemblies: 
 a first tethered target assembly for use by a softball player with a softball bat, the first tethered target assembly further comprising: 
 a flexible line having a loop at one end and a knot supporting a restricted-flight softball at the other end, wherein the loop is rotatably attached to the horizontal arm assembly, so that, when the batter strikes the restricted-flight softball with the softball bat, the restricted-flight softball travels in a path around the horizontal arm assembly;  
 
 a second tethered target assembly for use by a baseball player with a baseball bat, the second tethered target assembly further comprising: 
 a flexible line having a loop at one end and a knot supporting a restricted-flight baseball at the other end, wherein the loop is rotatably attached to the horizontal arm assembly, so that, when the batter strikes the restricted-flight baseball with the baseball bat, the restricted-flight baseball travels in a path around the horizontal arm assembly;  
 
 a third tethered target assembly for use by a golfer with a golf club, the third tethered target assembly further comprising: 
 a flexible line having a loop at one end and a knot supporting a restricted-flight golf ball at the other end, wherein the loop is rotatably attached to the horizontal arm assembly, so that, when the golfer strikes the restricted-flight golf ball with the golf club, the restricted-flight golf ball travels in a path around the horizontal arm assembly; and  
 
 a fourth tethered target assembly for use by a hockey player with a hockey stick, the fourth tethered target assembly further comprising: 
 a flexible line having a loop at one end and a knot supporting a plastic hockey puck at the other end, wherein the loop is rotatably attached to the horizontal arm assembly, so that, when the hockey player strikes the plastic hockey puck with the hockey stick, the plastic hockey puck travels in a path around the horizontal arm assembly; and  
 
   wherein the vertical standard assembly, the horizontal arm assembly, the first tethered target assembly, the second tethered target assembly, the third tethered target assembly, and the fourth tethered target assembly are stored within the support assembly.    
   
   
       19 . A method of crossing-training by a sports player to develop skills in striking a target using a sports implement, wherein the sports implement is a baseball bat, a softball bat, a golf club, or a hockey stick, to hit a restricted-flight baseball, a restricted-flight softball, a restricted-flight golf ball, or a plastic hockey puck, respectively, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a self-contained cross-training apparatus comprising: 
 a support assembly, further comprising: 
 a bucket having a bottom and a rim;  
 a flanged base attached to the inside bottom of the bucket, wherein the flanged base extends upwardly and terminates in a flange socket;  
 a bucket vertical member;  
 a support coupling; and  
 a bucket lid having an aperture centered in the bucket lid;  
 
 a vertical standard assembly, further comprising: 
 a lower vertical section having a lower end and an upper end;  
 an upper vertical section having an uppervertical section lower end and an upper vertical section upper end;  
 a vertical standard coupling;  
 a conversion section having a conversion section lower end and a conversion section upper end;  
 a conversion coupling; and  
 a tee;  
 
 a horizontal arm assembly having two ends, the horizontal arm assembly further comprising: 
 a horizontal section having a proximate end adjacent the vertical standard assembly and a distal end; and  
 an insert disposed within the distal end of the horizontal section, wherein the insert further comprises a first plastic insulator and a second plastic insulator threaded onto a threaded bolt so the first plastic insulator resides within the horizontal section and the second plastic insulator extends outwardly from the distal end of the horizontal section;  
 
 a first tethered target assembly for use by a softball player with a softball bat, the first tethered target assembly further comprising: 
 a flexible line having a loop at one end and a knot supporting a restricted-flight softball at the other end, wherein the loop is rotatably attached to the horizontal arm assembly, so that, when the batter strikes the restricted-flight softball with the softball bat, the restricted-flight softball travels in a path around the horizontal arm assembly;  
 
 a second tethered target assembly for use by a baseball player with a baseball bat, the second tethered target assembly further comprising: 
 a flexible line having a loop at one end and a knot supporting a restricted-flight baseball at the other end, wherein the loop is rotatably attached to the horizontal arm assembly, so that, when the batter strikes the restricted-flight baseball with the baseball bat, the restricted-flight baseball travels in a path around the horizontal arm assembly;  
 
 a third tethered target assembly for use by a golfer with a golf club, the third tethered target assembly further comprising: 
 a flexible line having a loop at one end and a knot supporting a restricted-flight golf ball at the other end, wherein the loop is rotatably attached to the horizontal arm assembly, so that, when the golfer strikes the restricted-flight golf ball with the golf club, the restricted-flight golf ball travels in a path around the horizontal arm assembly; and  
 
 a fourth tethered target assembly for use by a hockey player with a hockey stick, the fourth tethered target assembly further comprising: 
 a flexible line having a loop at one end and a knot supporting a plastic hockey puck at the other end, wherein the loop is rotatably attached to the horizontal arm assembly, so that, when the hockey player strikes the plastic hockey puck with the hockey stick, the plastic hockey puck travels in a path around the horizontal arm assembly; and  
 
 wherein the vertical standard assembly, the horizontal arm assembly, and the tethered target assemblies are stored within the support assembly;  
   assembling the support assembly;    selecting a configuration for the vertical standard assembly from among a standard height configuration, an elevated height configuration, a lower height configuration, and a minimum height configuration;    assembly the vertical standard assembly in accordance with the selected height configuration;    attaching the vertical standard assembly to the support assembly;    attaching the horizontal arm assembly to the tee of the vertical standard assembly;    selecting a tethered target assembly from among the first, second, third, and fourth tethered target assemblies;    attaching the tethered target assembly to the second plastic insulator extending outwardly from the distal end of the horizontal section;    striking the tethered target using the appropriate sports implement so the tethered target moves in a path around the horizontal section; and    repeating the striking step.