Baseball bat swing training device

Abstract

A device to improve the swing of a baseball player is provided. The device is a flexible removable cone which is secured to the exterior surface of a baseball bat. The removable cone may have a temporary adhesive on the bottom which prevents the cone from sliding with respect to the bat. The removable cone has a plurality of colored zones which allows the user and/or a trainer to determine precisely where on the bat a ball is struck. The removable cone may have a carbon layer which allows the user to not only see exactly where on the bat the ball was struck, but to keep a record of the same.

I Claim: 
     
         1 . A baseball bat training device comprising:
 a generally cylindrical contact surface having a front, a back, a first side, a second side, a top, a bottom and an interior wherein the interior of the generally cylindrical contact surface is temporarily inserted over a barrel of a baseball bat; and   a plurality of zones on the generally cylindrical contact surface wherein the plurality of zones each have a specific color and wherein a user attempts to strike a baseball on one of the plurality of zones in an attempt to improve his/her swing.   
     
     
         2 . The baseball bat training device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first layer and a second layer wherein the first layer is substantially the same size as the second layer and wherein the first layer substantially covers the second layer and wherein the first layer and second layer are comprised of materials of different weights. 
 
     
     
         3 . The baseball bat training device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an adhesive material located on the bottom of the generally cylindrical contact surface wherein the adhesive temporarily secures the generally cylindrical contact surface to the baseball bat and restricts the movement of the generally cylindrical contact surface. 
 
     
     
         4 . The baseball bat training device of  claim 1  wherein the generally cylindrical contact surface is secured to the baseball bat by friction. 
     
     
         5 . The baseball bat training device of  claim 1  wherein the baseball has a color which is distinct from the colors of the plurality of zones. 
     
     
         6 . The baseball bat training device of  claim 1  wherein the baseball has a color which is identical or similar to a single color in one of the plurality of zones. 
     
     
         7 . The baseball bat training device of  claim 1  wherein the generally cylindrical contact surface moves from a first position to a second position wherein the first position the generally cylindrical contact surface is generally flat and wherein in the second position the generally cylindrical contact surface is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         8 . The baseball bat training device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a coating located on the top of the generally cylindrical contact surface wherein the coating leaves a visual mark when struck by a ball. 
 
     
     
         9 . The baseball bat training device of  claim 8  wherein the coating is made from carbon. 
     
     
         10 . The baseball bat training device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a perforation line between at least two of the zones of the plurality of zones wherein a user may remove a zone of the plurality of zones and therein shorten an overall length of the generally cylindrical contact surface. 
 
     
     
         11 . The baseball bat training device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a diameter at the front and a diameter at the back of the generally cylindrical contact surface wherein the diameter at the front and the diameter of the back of the generally cylindrical contact surface is slightly less than a varying diameter of the baseball bat such that the generally cylindrical contact surface lies substantially flush with an exterior surface of the baseball bat and remains on the exterior surface of the baseball bat by friction. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method for recording the batting habits of a batter comprising:
 providing a generally cylindrical contact surface which is temporarily placed over a baseball bat;   providing a coating on the generally cylindrical contact surface wherein the coating leaves a mark when struck by a ball;   swinging a bat and hitting a ball;   removing the generally cylindrical contact surface from the baseball bat;   flattening out the generally cylindrical contact surface and scanning the generally contact surface into a computer; and   recording the marks left by the baseball.