Pitching Training Apparatus

Abstract

A method and apparatus are described for training the pitching motion to aid pitchers with target line awareness, head movement, balance, mechanics, and a repeatable delivery using a light weight and portable component pieces which may be assembled to define a pitching rubber assembly for controlling selected pitch delivery motions, a home plate assembly for defining a target area, and stride length adjusters that may be slidably engaged with the pitching rubber assembly to provide an adjustable stride length.

1 . A pitching training device, comprising:
 a pitching rubber assembly comprising first and second rocker step restriction segments and a first pair of extension rails positioned and connected to define a pitching area;   a home plate assembly comprising a home plate piece and a second pair of extension rails connected to and extending from the home plate piece; and   a stride length connection assembly for connecting the first pair of extension rails to the second pair of extension rails to define a work tunnel area with predetermined stride length.   
     
     
         2 . The pitching training device of  claim 1 , where one or more of the pitching rubber assembly, home plate assembly, or stride length connection assembly are formed with a plastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The pitching training device of  claim 1 , where the pitching rubber assembly comprises:
 a back strip having a first width;   first and second right angle rocker step restriction pieces extending from opposite ends of the back strip to define the pitching area; and   first and second extension rails extending from the first and second right angle rocker step restriction pieces to define a work tunnel area having a second width that is narrower than the first width.   
     
     
         4 . The pitching training device of  claim 1 , where the pitching rubber assembly comprises:
 a back strip having a first width of less than 40 inches;   first and second right angle rocker step restriction pieces extending orthogonally from opposite ends of the back strip to define the pitching area; and   first and second extension rails extending from the first and second right angle rocker step restriction pieces to define a work tunnel area having a second width that is narrower than the first width.   
     
     
         5 . The pitching training device of  claim 1 , where the pitching rubber assembly comprises:
 a back strip that is formed with plastic and has a length of less than 40 inches, a width of approximately 1.5 inches, and a thickness of less than 2 inches;   first and second right angle rocker step restriction pieces that that are formed with plastic and extend from opposite ends of the back strip to define the pitching area, where each right angle rocker step restriction piece has thickness of approximately 4 inches; and   first and second extension rails that are formed with plastic and extend from the first and second right angle rocker step restriction pieces to define a work tunnel area having a width of approximately 24 inches.   
     
     
         6 . The pitching training device of  claim 1 , where the home plate piece has a width of substantially 17 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The pitching training device of  claim 1 , where the stride length connection assembly comprises first and second connectors configured for slidable engagement with the first pair of extension rails and the second pair of extension rails to define an adjustable stride length. 
     
     
         8 . The pitching training device of  claim 1 , where the stride length connection assembly comprises first and second connectors configured for slidable engagement with the first pair of extension rails and the second pair of extension rails. 
     
     
         9 . The pitching training device of  claim 1 , where the pitching rubber assembly, home plate assembly, and stride length connection assembly are assembled for placement of the pitching rubber assembly adjacent to a pitching rubber and the home plate assembly pointing to a home plate location. 
     
     
         10 . A pitching training device, comprising:
 a pitching rubber section comprising a back strip, first and second rocker step restriction strips, and a first pair of extension strips positioned to define a pitching area;   a home plate section comprising a home plate piece and a second pair of extension strips extending from the home plate piece; and   a stride length connection section connecting the first pair of extension strips to the second pair of extension strips to define a pitching path with predetermined stride length.   
     
     
         11 . The pitching training device of  claim 10 , where one or more of the pitching rubber section, home plate section, or stride length connection section are formed with metal strips. 
     
     
         12 . The pitching training device of  claim 10 , where the pitching rubber section, home plate section, and stride length connection section are formed with metal strips that are connected together by fastener devices. 
     
     
         13 . The pitching training device of  claim 10 , where the pitching rubber section comprises:
 a pitching rubber strip having a first width;   first and second rocker step restriction strips connected to opposite ends of the back strip to define the pitching area; and   first and second extension strips extending from the first and second rocker step restriction strips to define part of the pitching path.   
     
     
         14 . The pitching training device of  claim 10 , where the pitching rubber section comprises:
 a pitching rubber strip; and   first and second rocker step restriction strips, each comprising:
 a back strip extending laterally by a first predetermined distance; 
 a first extension segment extending perpendicularly by a second predetermined distance from one end of the back strip; 
 a second extension segment extending perpendicularly by a third predetermined distance from an opposing end of the back strip; 
 a third extension segment extending perpendicularly by the first predetermined distance from a distal end of the second extension segment; and 
 a fourth extension segment extending perpendicularly by a fourth predetermined distance from a distal end of the third extension segment. 
   
     
     
         15 . The pitching training device of  claim 10 , where the pitching rubber section comprises:
 a pitching rubber strip that is formed with metal and has a length of approximately 36 inches, a width of approximately 1.5 inches, and a thickness of approximately ⅛ inch;   first and second right angle rocker step restriction strips that that are formed with metal and extend from opposite ends of the pitching rubber strip to define the pitching area, where each right angle rocker step restriction strip has a width of approximately 1.5 inches and a thickness of approximately ⅛ inch; and   first and second extension strips that are formed with metal and extend from the first and second right angle rocker step restriction strips to define a pitching path having a width of approximately 24 inches.   
     
     
         16 . The pitching training device of  claim 10 , where the home plate piece is shaped like a home plate. 
     
     
         17 . The pitching training device of  claim 10 , where the stride length connection section comprises first and second connectors configured for fixed engagement with the first pair of extension strips and the second pair of extension strips to define an adjustable stride length. 
     
     
         18 . The pitching training device of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of hinged connectors formed in one or more of the pitching rubber section, home plate section, or stride length connection section to enable the pitching training device to be folded into a compact configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The pitching training device of  claim 10 , where the pitching rubber section, home plate section, and stride length connection section are formed with metal strips having bolt holes enabling the pitching rubber section, home plate section, and stride length connection section to be connected together by bolt fastening devices. 
     
     
         20 . The pitching training device of  claim 10 , where the pitching rubber section defines a pitching area having a sideways dimension of approximately five feet and a lengthwise dimension of approximately 24 inches.