Leg Drive Measuring and Training Apparatus for Baseball and Softball Hitters

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring a ball hitter's “leg drive” for training and coaching purposes and for developing a strong leg drive (ground force). The apparatus includes a ground engaging lower plate and an upper plate that supports the hitter's foot. The plates are slidingly secured to one another such that the upper plate is linearly moveable relative to the lower plate. A force measuring element is provided between the upper and lower plates. The apparatus is used by the hitter stepping on the upper plate and pushing while hitting, thereby linearly moving the upper plate against the lower plate and the force measuring element, which may comprise a load cell or a spring mechanism. The apparatus provides an output indicative of the hitter's leg drive (ground force) level. In some embodiments, an audible sound is generated when a preselected leg drive level is reached.

1 . A hitting training apparatus comprising:
 a ground-engageable lower plate;   an upper plate supportable of a hitter's foot, said upper plate disposed in parallel to said lower plate and slidably connected to said ground plate; and   a force measuring element operably disposed between and functionally attached to at least one of said lower plate and said upper plate, said force measuring element operable to indicate a force imposed between said ground lower plate and said upper plate and by which relative movement between said lower plate and said upper plate is induced.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of slides sandwiched between said upper plate and said lower plate, and wherein each of said slides is secured to each of said lower plate and said upper plate whereby said lower and upper plates are linearly movable relative to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 a pair of openings is provided through the upper plate, and further comprising   a shoulder bolt received through each of said openings and is secured to the lower plate, whereby said upper plate and said lower plate are maintained in parallel and adjacent to one another and said relative movement is linear and limited by the size of said openings.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said openings are oval shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said force measuring element is a load cell from which is generated an electrical output indicative of a force imparted by the hitter's leg drive. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said force measuring element generates an output indicative of a hitter's leg drive reaching a preselected force level. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said output comprises an audible sound. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 said force measuring element comprises:   a cylindrical shell having an axial terminal end and an axial bore extending therethrough;   a plunger located in said bore and projecting beyond said shell terminal end, said plunger engaged with said upper plate; and   a spring located in said bore, said plunger urged by said spring into abutting engagement with said upper plate with a spring force.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said spring force is selectively adjustable. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a threaded fastener adjacent to said spring, said fastener adapted to engage said spring and thereby adjust a length of said spring, whereby said spring force is selectively adjustable. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a threaded fastener adjacent to said spring, said fastener being adapted to engage said spring and thereby adjust a length of said spring, whereby said spring force is selectively adjustable. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said upper plate is brought into abutment with said shell consequent to said spring force being overcome by said imposed force. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a pair of openings extends through the upper plate, and further comprising:
 a plurality of slides sandwiched between said lower plate and said upper plate, each of said slides secured to each of said lower and upper plates, said lower and upper plates linearly movable relative to each other through said slides; and   a shoulder bolt received through each of said openings and secured to the lower plate, whereby said upper plate and said lower plate are maintained in parallel and adjacent to one another and said relative movement is linear and limited by the size of said openings.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said force measuring element is a load cell providing an electrical output indicative of the hitter's leg drive force level. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein
 said force measuring element comprises:   a cylindrical shell having an axial terminal end and an axial bore extending therethrough;   a plunger located in said bore and projecting beyond said shell terminal end, said plunger engaged with said upper plate;   a spring located in said bore, said plunger urged by said spring into abutting engagement with said upper plate with a spring force; and   a threaded fastener adjacent to said spring, said fastener adapted to engage said spring and thereby adjust a length of said spring, whereby said spring force is selectively adjustable;   wherein an audible sound output is generated in response to said spring force being overcome by said imposed force and said upper plate is consequently brought into abutment with said shell.   
     
     
         16 . A method of training to hit a pitched ball with a bat, said method comprising the steps of providing a ground engaging plate; providing a foot engaging plate slidingly connected to said ground engaging plate and disposed in parallel to said ground engaging plate; providing a force measuring element disposed between and functionally attached to said plates; measuring the force between plates as a user swings at a pitched ball; adjusting the hitter's stance; and repeating the adjusting and measuring steps until a desired force is measured. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 a pair of openings is provided through the upper plate, and further comprising:   a shoulder bolt received through each of said openings and secured to the lower plate, whereby said upper and lower plates are maintained in parallel and adjacent to one another and said relative movement is linear and limited by the size of the openings.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said openings are oval shaped. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said output comprises an audible sound. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein
 said force measuring element comprises:   a cylindrical shell having an axial terminal end and an axial bore extending therethrough;   a plunger located in said bore and projecting beyond said shell terminal end, said plunger engaged with said upper plate; and   a spring located in said bore, said plunger urged by said spring into abutting engagement with said upper plate with a spring force.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said spring force is selectively adjustable. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said force measuring element comprises:
 a cylindrical shell having an axial terminal end and an axial bore extending therethrough;   a plunger located in said bore and projecting beyond said shell terminal end, said plunger engaged with said upper plate;   a spring located in said bore, said plunger urged by said spring into abutting engagement with said upper plate with a spring force; and   a threaded fastener adjacent to said spring, said fastener adapted to engage said spring and thereby adjust a length of said spring, whereby said spring force is selectively adjustable;   wherein an audible sound output is generated in response to said spring force being overcome by said imposed force and said upper plate is consequently brought into abutment with said shell.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said force measuring element further comprises a threaded fastener provided adjacent said spring, said fastener being adapted to engage said spring and thereby adjust a length of said spring, whereby said spring force is selectively adjustable. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said output is an audible sound generated by said upper plate hitting said shell when said spring force is overcome. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a plurality of slides sandwiched between said upper plate and said lower plate, each of said slides secured to each of said lower and upper plates whereby said lower and upper plates are linearly movable relative to each other.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein
 said force measuring element comprises:   a cylindrical shell having an axial terminal end and an axial bore extending therethrough;   a plunger located in said bore and projecting beyond said shell terminal end, said plunger engaged with said upper plate;   a spring located in said bore, said plunger urged by said spring into abutting engagement with said upper plate with a spring force; and   a threaded fastener provided adjacent said spring, said fastener being adapted to engage said spring and thereby adjust a length of said spring, whereby said spring force is selectively adjustable;   wherein said output is an audible sound generated by said upper plate hitting said shell when said spring force is overcome.