Swing training apparatus for sports activities

Abstract

A swing training apparatus provides the ability to improve hand-eye coordination, hand/hitting object speed, and other attributes to improve consistency and effectiveness in contacting a traveling object, such as a ball, with a hitting object, such as a bat or racquet. The swing training apparatus can include a motor, a clutch assembly coupled to the motor, and a swing arm coupled to the clutch assembly via a swing arm shaft in proximity to a first end of the swing arm. In some examples, a second end of the swing arm is coupled to a sports object, such as a ball, and the swing arm rotates about an axis corresponding to the swing arm shaft. In some examples, the clutch assembly is configured to allow rotation of the swing arm shaft in a first direction and provide resistance to the rotation of the swing arm shaft in an opposite second direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A swing training apparatus comprising:
 a motor;   a clutch assembly coupled to the motor; and   a swing arm coupled to the clutch assembly via a swing arm shaft in proximity to a first end of the swing arm, wherein a second end of the swing arm is coupled to a sports object and wherein the swing arm is configured to rotate about an axis corresponding to the swing arm shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clutch assembly is configured to allow rotation of the swing arm shaft in a first direction and provide resistance to the rotation of the swing arm shaft in an opposite second direction. 
     
     
         3 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the sports object is coupled to the swing arm using an interchangeable pitch manipulation insert. 
     
     
         4 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the interchangeable pitch manipulation insert includes a rigid member coupling the swing arm to the sports object. 
     
     
         5 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the interchangeable pitch manipulation insert includes a flexible member suspending the sports object from the swing arm. 
     
     
         6 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the motor is disposed below the swing arm and between the swing arm and a surface on which the swing training apparatus is positioned. 
     
     
         7 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a bearing sleeve disposed in an aperture of a first platform; and   a second platform disposed below the first platform, wherein a motor shaft of the motor is disposed through an aperture in the second platform and is coupled to the clutch assembly coupling the swing arm shaft to the motor shaft, and wherein the swing arm shaft is disposed in the bearing sleeve such that the swing arm is above the first platform.   
     
     
         8 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of wheels coupled to a jack assembly, wherein the jack assembly is configured to raise or lower the second platform. 
     
     
         9 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a counterweight disposed at the first end of the swing arm. 
     
     
         10 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a distance between the sports object and a surface on which the swing training apparatus is positioned, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to cause the swing arm to pivot about a swing arm pivot axis. 
     
     
         11 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the swing arm pivot axis is orthogonal to the swing arm shaft and the swing arm. 
     
     
         12 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is coupled to the first end of the swing arm. 
     
     
         13 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a motor controller configured to adjust a speed at which a motor shaft of the motor rotates. 
     
     
         14 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the sports object is a ball. 
     
     
         15 . A swing training apparatus comprising:
 a motor;   a clutch assembly coupled to the motor;   a swing arm coupled to the clutch assembly via a swing arm shaft in proximity to a first end of the swing arm, wherein a second end of the swing arm is coupled to a sports object and wherein the swing arm is configured to rotate about an axis corresponding to the swing arm shaft;   a bearing sleeve disposed in an aperture of a first platform;   a second platform disposed below the first platform, wherein a motor shaft of the motor is disposed through an aperture in the second platform and is coupled to the clutch assembly coupling the swing arm shaft to the motor shaft, and wherein the swing arm shaft is disposed in the bearing sleeve such that the swing arm is above the first platform; and   an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a distance between the sports object and a surface on which the swing training apparatus is positioned, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to cause the swing arm to pivot about a swing arm pivot axis,   wherein the sports object is coupled to the swing arm using an interchangeable pitch manipulation insert.   
     
     
         16 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the clutch assembly is configured to allow rotation of the swing arm shaft in a first direction and provide resistance to the rotation of the swing arm shaft in an opposite second direction. 
     
     
         17 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a motor controller configured to adjust a speed at which the motor shaft of the motor rotates. 
     
     
         18 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the sports object is a ball. 
     
     
         19 . The swing training apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a counterweight disposed at the first end of the swing arm. 
     
     
         20 . A method for using a swing training apparatus, the method comprising:
 providing a swing training apparatus including:
 a motor; 
 a clutch assembly coupled to the motor; 
 a swing arm coupled to the clutch assembly via a swing arm shaft in proximity to a first end of the swing arm, wherein a second end of the swing arm is configured to rotate about an axis corresponding to the swing arm shaft; and 
 an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a distance between the second end of the swing arm and a surface on which the swing training apparatus is positioned; 
   selecting a sports object;   securing the sports object to the second end of the swing arm; and   controlling the motor such that the swing arm rotates about the swing arm shaft.