Inflatable, self-supporting sports training aid

Abstract

A training aid is a figure that has an inflatable three-dimensional headless body, an inflatable three-dimensional head, and a way to removably attach the head to the top of the body. The body has a torso, legs terminating in feet, and arms. The feet may be filled with a liquid or a solid particulate material such as water or sand, which is the sole support for the figure.

1 . A training aid comprising a figure that comprises 
 (A) a three-dimensional headless body inflatable with air having 
 (1) a torso;  
 (2) two legs each terminating in a foot;  
 (3) at least one air valve for inflating said body with air;  
 (4) at least one larger-diameter valve in each foot that has a diameter greater than the diameter of said air valve, for inserting a liquid or a solid particulate material into each foot; and  
 (5) arms;  
   (B) an inflatable three-dimensional head having an air valve for inflating said head with air; and    (C) means for removably attaching said head to the top of said torso, whereby said figure is self-supporting when said liquid or solid particulate material are inserted into said feet.    
   
   
       2 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein said head is attachable to said torso by means of a first patch fixed to the base of said head and a second patch fixed to the top of said torso, where one patch comprises a multiplicity of exposed hooks and the other patch comprises an exposed fabric to which said hooks attach.  
   
   
       3 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein said head can be attached turned in any direction relative to said torso.  
   
   
       4 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein said torso has at least two chambers that are independently inflatable.  
   
   
       5 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein said legs are part of an independently inflatable chamber.  
   
   
       6 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein said feet are filled with sand.  
   
   
       7 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein said feet are filled with water.  
   
   
       8 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein said figure is about 5½ to about 6½ feet high.  
   
   
       9 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein said figure is about 4 to about 5 feet high.  
   
   
       10 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein said head has a face printed thereon and said body has a uniform printed thereon.  
   
   
       11 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein said air valve has a diameter of less than ½ inches and said larger-diameter valve has a diameter greater than ⅝ inches.  
   
   
       12 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein said figure is made of flexible plastic sheeting.  
   
   
       13 . A training aid according to  claim 12  wherein said plastic sheeting is polyethylene.  
   
   
       14 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein the bottom of said feet is flat, whereby said training aid cannot be rocked back and forth.  
   
   
       15 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein said figure is holding a bat.  
   
   
       16 . A training aid according to  claim 1  wherein said figure is wearing a cap on said head.  
   
   
       17 . A baseball or softball training aid comprising a figure of a baseball or softball batter that comprises 
 (A) a three-dimensional headless body inflatable with air having a uniform printed thereon, which comprises 
 (1) a torso;  
 (2) two legs, each terminating in a foot;  
 (3) at least one air valve, for inflating said body with air;  
 (4) at least one valve in each foot that has a diameter greater than the diameter of said air valve, for inserting a liquid or a solid particulate material into each foot; and  
 (5) arms holding a bat;  
   (B) an inflatable three-dimensional head having a face printed thereon and air valve, for inflating said head with air; and    (C) means for removably attaching said head to said body, whereby said figure is self-supporting.    
   
   
       18 . A baseball or softball training aid according to  claim 17  wherein said body comprises at least two independently inflatable chambers.  
   
   
       19 . A baseball or softball training aid according to  claim 17  wherein said legs are part of an independently inflatable chamber.  
   
   
       20 . A baseball or softball training aid comprising a figure of a baseball or softball batter that comprises 
 (A) an inflatable three-dimensional headless body having a uniform printed thereon, said body comprising 
 (1) an independently inflatable upper body having an air valve for inflating said upper body with air;  
 (2) an independently inflatable lower body that includes two legs without feet and has an air valve for inflating said lower body with air;  
 (3) two independently inflatable feet, one at the end of each of said legs, each having an air valve for inflating said foot with air and each also having two additional valves in each foot that have a diameter greater than the diameter of said air valve, for inserting a liquid or a solid particulate material into each foot; and  
 (4) an independently inflatable pair of arms holding a bat and having an air valve for inflating said pair of arms with air;  
   (B) an inflatable three-dimensional head having a face printed thereon and having an air valve for inflating said head with air; and    (C) a patch of fabric and a patch of small, exposed hooks attachable to said patch of fabric, where one patch is fixed to the top of said inflatable upper body and the other patch is fixed to the bottom of said head, whereby said figure is self-supporting.