Hand-held baseball pitching apparatus for generating controlled curving trajectories

Abstract

A slingshot-based training apparatus for propelling standard plastic apertured baseball or softball size projectiles along a desired curved trajectory. The present invention comprises a simplified portable, lightweight, hand-held pitching apparatus capable of safely hurling ubiquitous lightweight plastic baseball and softball size practice balls to a batter in training. The preferred embodiment comprises a rotatable grip to which a pair of offset yoke members are connected. These yoke members are also connected to opposed edges of a sling member through elongated elastic bands. Rotation of the grip offsets the yoke members so that one of the two yoke members is closer to the user than the other yoke member. Because grip rotation can be effected in either clockwise or counterclockwise directions, either yoke member can be offset to be closer to the user than the other yoke member. It will be seen hereinafter that when the yoke members are offset, the tension on the elastic bands is unequal when the sling is pulled back in preparation for propelling a training ball. Upon release of the sling, the unequal tension imparts a spin torque on the ball causing it to curve either left to right or right to left depending upon the direction of rotation of the grip.

1 . A training apparatus for propelling simulated baseballs and softballs toward a batter along a trajectory that curves in a selected direction, the apparatus comprising:
 a slingshot-configured device having a pair of yoke members and a pair of elastic bands connected to said yoke members at respective first ends of said bands;   a sling having opposed edges connected to said elastic bands at respective second ends of said bands; and   a rotatable hand grip receiving said yoke members at spaced apart locations for placing said yoke members at unequal distances from said sling and generating unequal tension on said elastic bands depending upon the direction of rotation of said hand grip.   
   
   
       2 . The training apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein said handgrip is cylindrical in shape and wherein said yoke members are connected to said handgrip at a first axial end of said grip. 
   
   
       3 . The training apparatus in  claim 2  further comprising a pair of arm support rods connected to a second axial end of said hand grip, said arm support rods terminating in an arm support configured for overlying a user's forearm for stabilizing said slingshot-configured device during use. 
   
   
       4 . The training apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein said yoke members and said hand grip are configured for generating a left to right ball trajectory upon clockwise rotation of said handgrip and a right to left ball trajectory upon counter-clockwise rotation of said hand grip. 
   
   
       5 . A slingshot apparatus for pitching baseball and softball training balls toward a batter along a trajectory that curves along a selected direction; the apparatus comprising:
 a rotatable handgrip;   a pair of yoke members extending from said handgrip;   a sling;   elastic bands interconnecting said yoke members and said sling;   said yoke members and said hand grip being configured for generating a left to right ball trajectory upon rotation of said hand grip in a first direction and a right to left ball trajectory upon rotation of said hand grip in a second direction opposite of said first direction.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus recited in  claim 5  wherein said yoke members extend from said hand grip at spaced apart locations for placing said yoke members at unequal distances from said sling and generating unequal tension on said elastic bands depending upon the direction of rotation of said hand grip. 
   
   
       7 . The slingshot apparatus recited in  claim 6  wherein said handgrip is cylindrical in shape and wherein said yoke members are connected to said handgrip at a first axial end of said grip. 
   
   
       8 . The slingshot apparatus in  claim 6  further comprising a pair of arm support rods connected to a second axial end of said hand grip, said arm support rods terminating in an arm support configured for overlying a user's forearm for stabilizing said slingshot apparatus during use.