Weighted Swing Training Apparatus

Abstract

A weight apparatus is provided. The apparatus may be attached to a sports device, such as a baseball bat or other device which may be swung by a user. In one configuration, the apparatus has a body portion that at least partially surrounds a portion of the swingable device. As an example, the body portion may act as a sleeve surrounding an end of the device opposite the end of the device which is gripped by the user. The apparatus also has a weighted portion, which is coupled to the body portion. The weighted portion is disposed at least partially adjacent an end of the swingable device. In certain configurations the apparatus has a center of balance between a midpoint and one end of the apparatus. In certain cases, the weighted portion distributes weight closer to a distal end of the swingable device, in order to assist a user in warming up or otherwise training with the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bat training apparatus, for use on a bat having a first end with a handle and a second end with a barrel and a taper region extending therebetween, the apparatus comprising:
 a cylindrical structure having a first end portion and a second end portion, the apparatus adapted to be disposed on the bat by sliding the cylindrical structure onto the handle of the bat and further sliding the cylindrical structure along the bat toward the barrel of the bat such that the first end portion of the cylindrical structure is disposed toward the handle end of the bat on the taper region and the second end portion of the cylindrical structure is at least partially disposed over the barrel of the bat;   the cylindrical structure comprising a weight portion and a body portion,   the weight portion formed proximate the second end of the apparatus and having a weight cavity formed therein, and   the body portion having a first region comprising a rigid material and a second region comprising a flexible material.   
     
     
         2 . The bat training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the weight cavity is annular and surrounds a longitudinal axis of the apparatus in one continuous annular ring. 
     
     
         3 . The bat training apparatus of  claim 1 , the first region of the body portion having a plurality of lightening holes formed therein, the lightening holes reducing weight of the cylindrical structure in the body portion and acting to shift a center of gravity of the apparatus toward the second end of the apparatus as compared to an apparatus having a body portion without the plurality of lightening holes. 
     
     
         4 . A bat training apparatus, for use on a bat having a first end with a handle and a second end with a barrel and a taper region extending therebetween, the apparatus comprising:
 a structure having a first end portion and a second end portion, the apparatus adapted to be disposed on the bat by sliding the structure onto the handle of the bat and further sliding the structure along the bat toward the barrel of the bat such that the first end portion of the structure is disposed toward the handle end of the bat on the taper region and the second end portion of the structure is at least partially disposed over the barrel of the bat;   the structure comprising a weight portion, and a body portion;   the weight portion formed proximate the second end of the apparatus and having a weight cavity formed therein; and   the body portion having a first region in which is formed a plurality of lightening holes, the lightening holes reducing weight of the structure in the body portion and acting to shift a center of gravity of the apparatus toward the second end of the apparatus as compared to an apparatus having a body portion without the plurality of lightening holes.   
     
     
         5 . The bat training apparatus of  claim 4 , the body portion also having a second region, wherein the first region comprises a rigid material and the second region comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         6 . The bat training apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the weight cavity is annular and surrounds a longitudinal axis of the apparatus in one continuous annular ring. 
     
     
         7 . A sports training apparatus for use with a racket, the racket having a first end and a second end having a striking area, the first end adapted to be held by a user to swing the racket, the apparatus comprising:
 a structure having a first end portion and a second end portion, the apparatus adapted to be disposed on the racket by sliding the structure onto the handle of the racket and further sliding the structure along the racket such that the first end portion of the structure is disposed toward the handle end of the racket and the second end portion of the structure is at least partially disposed over the striking area of the racket;   the structure comprising an interaction region, a weight portion, and a body portion connecting the interaction region to the weight portion;   the weight portion formed proximate the second end of the apparatus;   the interaction region being formed proximate the first end portion of the apparatus and having an inner surface adapted to interact with a surface of the racket such that when the structure is slid onto the racket an inner surface of the interaction region substantially at a first end of the apparatus will contact the surface of the taper region of the racket to engage the racket and hold the structure in a compression friction fit against the racket in the seated position; and   the body portion having a first region and a second region, the first region comprising a rigid material and the second region comprising a flexible material.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , the first region having a plurality of lightening holes formed therein, the lightening holes reducing weight of the structure in the body portion and acting to shift a center of gravity of the apparatus toward the second end of the apparatus as compared to an apparatus having a body portion without the plurality of lightening holes. 
     
     
         9 . A swing training apparatus for use with a swingable device having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to be held by a user, the apparatus comprising:
 a structure having a first end portion and a second end portion, the apparatus adapted to be disposed on the device by sliding the structure onto the first end of the device and further sliding the structure along the device toward the second end of the device such that the first end portion of the structure is disposed toward the first end of the device and the second end portion of the structure is disposed toward the second end of the device;   the structure comprising a weight portion and a body portion;   the weight portion formed proximate the second end of the apparatus and having a weight cavity formed therein; and   the apparatus comprising a first layer adapted to be disposed next to the swingable device when the apparatus is disposed on the swingable device, and a second layer overlying at least a portion of the first layer, the first and second layers each extending from the first end of the apparatus to the second end of the apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the weight cavity is formed at least partially between the first layer and the second layer. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the weight cavity is formed at least partially within the second layer. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the weight cavity is formed at least partially within the first layer. 
     
     
         13 . A swing training apparatus for use with a swingable device having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to be held by a user, the apparatus comprising:
 a structure having a first end portion and a second end portion, the apparatus adapted to be disposed on the device by sliding the structure onto the first end of the device and further sliding the structure along the device toward the second end of the device such that the first end portion of the structure is disposed toward the first end of the device and the second end portion of the structure is disposed toward the second end of the device;   the structure comprising an interaction region, a weight portion and a body portion;   the weight portion formed proximate the second end of the apparatus and having a weight cavity formed therein; and   the interaction region being formed proximate the first end portion of the apparatus and having an inner surface adapted to interact with a surface of the swingable device such that when the structure is slid onto the swingable device an inner surface of the interaction region substantially at a first end of the apparatus will contact an outer surface of the swingable device to engage the swingable device and hold the structure in a compression friction fit against the swingable device in a seated position, the interaction region adapted to hold the apparatus in contact with the swingable device while maintaining a space between an inner surface of the apparatus and an outer surface of the device in a region of the apparatus proximate the second end of the device.   
     
     
         14 . A swing training apparatus for use with a swingable device having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to be held by a user, the apparatus comprising:
 a structure having a first end portion and a second end portion, the apparatus adapted to be disposed on the device by sliding the structure onto the first end of the device and further sliding the structure along the device toward the second end of the device such that the first end portion of the structure is disposed toward the first end of the device and the second end portion of the structure is disposed toward the second end of the device;   the structure comprising an interaction region, a weight portion and a body portion;   the weight portion formed proximate the second end of the apparatus and having a weight cavity formed therein; and   the interaction region being formed proximate the first end portion of the apparatus and having an inner surface adapted to interact with a surface of the swingable device such that when the structure is slid onto the swingable device an inner surface of the interaction region substantially at a first end of the apparatus will contact an outer surface of the swingable device to engage the swingable device and hold the structure in a compression friction fit against the swingable device in a seated position, the interaction having partial non-continuous contact with the outer surface of the device when the apparatus is in the seated position.