Batter training device and method

Abstract

Generally L-shaped batter training aid devices may be removeably but fixedly attached to a handle portion of a conventional baseball bat. Preferably, the baseball batter training aid device will include a spacer arm member and a training handle member. The spacer arm member has inner and outer ends and adapted for removable attachment at the inner end thereof to a handle portion of a baseball bat. The training handle member has upper and lower ends and is rigidly connected to the outer end of the spacer arm at substantially a perpendicular junction therebetween so that when the inner end is attached to the handle portion of the baseball bat the training handle member will be laterally spaced from and axially parallel thereto. A knob is preferably fixed to the lower end of the training handle member. The inner end of the spacer member may include a clamp system for clamping the device to the handle portion of the baseball bat.

1 . A baseball batter training aid device comprising:
 a spacer arm member having inner and outer ends and adapted for removable attachment at the inner end thereof to a handle portion of a baseball bat;   a training handle member having an upper and lower ends, the training handle member being rigidly connected to the outer end of the spacer arm at substantially a perpendicular junction therebetween so that when the inner end is attached to the handle portion of the baseball bat, the training handle member will be laterally spaced from and axially parallel thereto.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a knob fixed to the lower end of the training handle member. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner end of the spacer member includes a clamp system for clamping the device to the handle portion of the baseball bat. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the clamp system comprises a C-shaped receiver portion fixed to the inner end of the spacer member, and a C-shaped clamp portion oppositely positioned and removeably attached to the receiver portion. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the receiver portion includes threaded apertures and wherein the clamp portion include through apertures, and wherein the clamp portion is removeably attached to the receiver portion by securing bolts passing through the through apertures and being threadably connected to the threaded apertures. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a brace member rigidly connected to the outer end of the spacer arm member and the upper end of the training handle member at the substantially perpendicular junction therebetween. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer member and the training handle member are formed as a one-piece structure. 
   
   
       8 . The combination comprising:
 a baseball bat having a proximal handle portion, a distal barrel portion and a bat knob fixed to a terminal lower end of the proximal handle portion so as to be disposed in a primary plane perpendicular to an elongate axis of the bat, and   an L-shaped batter training aid device which includes,   (i) a spacer arm having an inner end attached to the handle portion of the bat,   (ii) a spacer arm member dependent from an outer end of the spacer arm so as to be substantially parallel to the elongate axis of the bat, and   (iii) a training handle knob attached to a terminal lower end of the training handle member so as to be in a secondary plane which is parallel to the primary plane of the bat knob but distally spaced therefrom by a distance corresponding substantially to a batter's bottom hand dimension when gripping the handle portion of the bat adjacent the bat knob.   
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the inner end of the spacer member includes a clamp system for clamping the device to the handle portion of the baseball bat. 
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the clamp system comprises a C-shaped receiver portion fixed to the inner end of the spacer member for receiving a section of the handle portion of the bat, and a C-shaped clamp portion oppositely positioned and removeably attached to the receiver portion for immovably clamping the training device to the handle portion of the bat. 
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the receiver portion includes threaded apertures and wherein the clamp portion include through apertures, and wherein the clamp portion is removeably attached to the receiver portion by securing bolts passing through the through apertures and being threadably connected to the threaded apertures. 
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the training aid device further brace a brace member rigidly connected to an outer end of the spacer arm member and an upper end of the training handle member at a substantially perpendicular junction therebetween. 
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the spacer member and the training handle member are formed as a one-piece structure. 
   
   
       14 . A kit comprising:
 an L-shaped baseball batter training aid device having a clamp system provided with securing bolts for attaching the device to a handle portion of a baseball bat, and   a turning tool for engagement with the securing bolts to assist in the attachment of the clamp system to the handle portion of the baseball bat.   
   
   
       15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the turning tool is an Allen wrench. 
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the turning tool has a T-shaped handle. 
   
   
       17 . The kit of  claim 14 , further comprising a package within which the training aid device and the turning tool are disposed. 
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the package is transparent. 
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 14 , further comprising a product description card. 
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the clamp system comprises,
 a C-shaped receiver portion fixed to the inner end of the spacer member for receiving a section of the handle portion of the bat, and   a C-shaped clamp portion oppositely positioned and removeably attached to the receiver portion for immovably clamping the training device to the handle portion of the bat, wherein   the receiver portion includes threaded apertures and wherein the clamp portion includes through apertures, and wherein   the clamp portion is removeably attachable to the receiver portion by the securing bolts passing through the through apertures and being threadably connected to the threaded apertures.   
   
   
       21 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the training device comprises:
 a spacer arm member having inner and outer ends and adapted for removable attachment at the inner end thereof to a handle portion of a baseball bat;   a training handle member having an upper and lower ends, the training handle member being rigidly connected to the outer end of the spacer arm at substantially a perpendicular junction therebetween so that when the inner end is attached to the handle portion of the baseball bat, the training handle member will be laterally spaced from and axially parallel thereto.   
   
   
       22 . The kit of  claim 21 , further comprising a knob fixed to the lower end of the training handle member.