Pitching Training Device

Abstract

An apparatus for training a throw includes an elongated shaft with a first end and a second end, a grip member coupled to the first end, a weight member coupled to the second end, a first stopper positioned on the elongated shaft, and a second stopper positioned on the elongated shaft at a distance from the first stopper. A sliding cartridge is positioned around the elongated shaft and is slidable along the shaft between the first stopper and the second stopper. An elastic band assembly is positioned on the sliding cartridge and has one end coupled to the sliding cartridge and another end configured to be removably couplable to one of the first stopper and the second stopper. When the elastic band assembly is coupled to one of the first stopper and the second stopper, the elastic band assembly resists movement of the sliding cartridge along the elongated shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for training a throw comprising:
 an elongated shaft with a first end and a second end;   a grip member coupled to the first end of the elongated shaft;   a weight member coupled to the second end of the elongated shaft;   a first stopper positioned on the elongated shaft;   a second stopper positioned on the elongated shaft at a distance from the first stopper;   a sliding cartridge positioned around the elongated shaft and being slidable along the shaft between the first stopper and the second stopper; and   an elastic band assembly positioned on the sliding cartridge and having one end coupled to the sliding cartridge and another end configured to be couplable to one of the first stopper and the second stopper;   wherein, when the elastic band assembly is coupled to one of the first stopper and the second stopper, the elastic band assembly resists movement of the sliding cartridge along the elongated shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a connecting member coupled to at least one of the first end and the second end of the elongated shaft at one end and coupled to at least one of the grip member and the weight member at the opposite end. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated shaft comprises a material that is different from a material of the connecting member. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first connecting member coupled to the first end of the elongated shaft at one end and coupled to the grip member at the opposite end. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a second connecting member coupled to the second end of the elongated shaft at one end and coupled to the weight member at the opposite end. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic band assembly comprises one or more elastic bands. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , whether the elastic band assembly comprises a plurality of elastic bands and wherein at least one of the first stopper and the second stopper includes a plurality of receptacles corresponding to the plurality of the elastic bands. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of elastic bands is separately couplable to the at least one of the first stopper and the second stopper. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each elastic band has a different elasticity. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each elastic band has the same elasticity. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, when the elastic band assembly is not coupled to one of the first stopper and the second stopper, the at least one elastic band is stretched in a tensioned state. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one of a visual and an audible indicator configured to indicate a position of the sliding cartridge during the throw. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for training a throw comprising:
 an elongated shaft with a first end and a second end;   a connecting member coupled to the first end of the elongated shaft at one end and coupled to a grip member at the opposite end, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a material that is different from a material of the connecting member;   a first stopper positioned on the elongated shaft;   a second stopper positioned on the elongated shaft at a distance from the first stopper; and   a sliding cartridge positioned around the elongated shaft and being slidable along the shaft between the first stopper and the second stopper.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a weight member coupled to the second end of the elongated shaft, 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising an elastic band assembly positioned on the sliding cartridge and having one end coupled to the sliding cartridge and another end configured to be removably couplable to one of the first stopper and the second stopper, wherein, when the elastic band assembly is coupled to one of the first stopper and the second stopper, the elastic band assembly resists movement of the sliding cartridge along the elongated shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the sliding cartridge further comprises a first anchor member positioned at one end of the elastic band assembly and a second member positioned at the opposite end of the elastic band assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first anchor member and the second anchor member comprise one or more receptacles configured to removably accommodate one or more elastic bands of the elastic band assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more elastic bands are configured to be removed from the one or more receptacles and coupled to one of the first stopper and the second stopper. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein, when the one or more elastic bands are coupled to the first and second anchor members, the elastic assembly does not resist the movement of the sliding cartridge along the elongated shaft.