Method and apparatus for teaching the throwing of a curveball without injury

Abstract

Training devices of the present disclosure may be mounted to a user's hand, wrist and/or forearm, and be used to prevent or substantially restrict motion of the hand or wrist in one or more defined degrees or ranges. The devices may include planar elements that may be joined with a linkage that permits the movement or rotation of the hand and/or wrist within the one or more defined degrees or ranges. The devices may further be strapped, attached or otherwise mounted to a user's hand, wrist and/or forearm using one or more straps or like features. In a preferred embodiment, the training device may be worn by a baseball pitcher, and used to physically guide the pitcher through the proper motion for throwing a curveball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for teaching throwing a curveball without injury comprising:
 a hand piece;   a hand strap adapted for mounting the hand piece to a posterior of a human hand;   a forearm section;   a forearm strap adapted for mounting the forearm section to a posterior of a human forearm;   a rotatable connection between the hand piece and the forearm section,   wherein the rotatable connection defines an axis, and   wherein the rotatable connection permits a relative rotation between the hand piece and the forearm section about the axis.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable connection comprises a rivet defining the axis, wherein the rivet extends through a hole in the hand piece, a hole in the forearm section and a hole of a low-friction separator. 
     
     
         3 . An athletic training device comprising:
 a first element comprising a first linking extension and a first strap for mounting the first element to a hand of a human;   a second element comprising a second linking extension and a second strap for mounting the second element to a portion of a forearm of the human; and   a rotational linkage defining a planar connection between the first linking extension and the second linking extension,   wherein the first element and the second element are adapted to rotate with respect to one another about an axis defined by the rotational linkage.   
     
     
         4 . The athletic training device of  claim 3 , wherein the athletic training device is adapted to substantially permit motion of the hand of the human within a range defined by a radial deviation of a wrist of the arm of the human and an ulnar deviation of the wrist of the arm of the human. 
     
     
         5 . The athletic training device of  claim 4 , wherein the athletic training device is adapted to substantially restrict motion of the hand of the human to the range defined by the radial deviation and the ulnar deviation. 
     
     
         6 . The athletic training device of  claim 4 , wherein the athletic training device is adapted to substantially prevent at least one of a supination of the wrist or a pronation of the wrist. 
     
     
         7 . The athletic training device of  claim 4 , wherein the athletic training device is adapted to substantially prevent the hand of the human from rotating about an axis defined by the forearm of the human. 
     
     
         8 . The athletic training device of  claim 3 , wherein the first strap comprises at least one strip for mounting the first element about the hand. 
     
     
         9 . The athletic training device of  claim 3 , wherein the second strap comprises at least one strip for mounting the second element about the forearm. 
     
     
         10 . The athletic training device of  claim 3 , wherein the second element further comprises a third strap for mounting the second element about at least one of the hand of the human or a wrist of the human. 
     
     
         11 . The athletic training device of  claim 3 , wherein the first strap comprises two parts,
 wherein each of the parts has a first end connected to the first element and a second free end, and   wherein the first element is adapted for mounting to the hand by connecting the second free ends of the two parts around the hand.   
     
     
         12 . The athletic training device of  claim 3 , wherein the rotational linkage comprises a rivet extending between a first hole of the first linking extension and a second hole in the second linking extension, and
 wherein the first hole and the second hole are substantially coaligned about the axis.   
     
     
         13 . The athletic training device of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first element or the second element is formed of a metal. 
     
     
         14 . The athletic training device of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first element or the second element is formed of a composite material. 
     
     
         15 . The athletic training device of  claim 3 , wherein the first element lies substantially within a first plane,
 wherein the second element lies substantially within a second plane, and   wherein the first plane and the second plane are substantially parallel to one another.   
     
     
         16 . The athletic training device of  claim 3 , wherein the first element further comprises a first mounting extension, and
 wherein the first mounting extension defines a non-zero angle with respect to the first linking extension.   
     
     
         17 . The athletic training device of  claim 3 , wherein the first element further comprises a first mounting extension, and
 wherein the first mounting extension defines a substantially arcuate shape for conforming to a posterior of the hand.   
     
     
         18 . The athletic training device of  claim 3 , wherein the second element further comprises a second mounting extension, and
 wherein the second mounting extension defines a substantially arcuate shape for conforming to a posterior of the forearm.   
     
     
         19 . The athletic training device of  claim 3 , wherein the planar connection further comprises a low-friction separator between the first linking extension and the second linking extension. 
     
     
         20 . A training method comprising:
 identifying an athletic activity involving relative motion between a hand and a forearm in a plurality of degrees;   identifying at least one of the plurality of degrees as associated with a risk of injury;   providing a device having a hand element connected to a forearm element;   mounting the hand element to the hand; and   mounting the forearm element to the forearm,   wherein the device is adapted to substantially prevent relative motion of the hand and the wrist in the at least one of the plurality of degrees.