Training apparatus
AssigneeInnovative Baseball Concepts, Ltd.
InventorStephen Ross
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A training apparatus for training a user's grip and strength. A rod element is disposed through a female tube that is disposed at a first end of the rod. The rod extends through a male tube that is inserted into at least a portion of the female tube. A grommet is disposed on the rod, inside the female tube, and abutting the male tube. A fastening means couple to the first end of the rod, mitigating movement of the grommet toward the first end. A tensioner is rotatably attached to a second end of the rod, wherein when the tensioner is rotated clockwise it presses the male tube forward against the grommet, which is compressed between the male tube and fastening means, expanding inside the female tube. The grommet pressing against the inside of the female tube provides a desired resistance for a user rotating an attached training member.
Claims20
A training apparatus comprising:
- a centrally disposed rod comprising a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis;
- a first tube housing at least a portion of the rod, the first tube extending from the first end of the rod along the longitudinal axis of the rod, and the first tube comprising an inner bearing surface on an inner wall, wherein the inner wall is located proximate the first end of the rod;
- a second tube housing at least a portion of the rod, the second tube extending along the longitudinal axis of the rod from the second end of the rod, wherein at least a portion of the second tube is disposed inside the first tube and the first tube and the second tube are elongate tubes;
- a selectably compressible grommet disposed within the first tube and on the rod at the first end, wherein the grommet operably contacts the inner wall of the first tube and an outer bearing end of the second tube disposed inside the first tube;
- a tensioner element comprising a body that is engaged with the second end of the rod and is in contact with the second tube, wherein the tensioner element is configured such that when it is rotated in a first direction the grommet is compressed between the outer bearing end on the second tube and the first end of the rod, resulting in radial expansion of the grommet away from the longitudinal axis of the rod and toward the inner bearing surface of the first tube, wherein the wall of the first tube applies a normal force against the grommet directed radially inward and the outer bearing end of the second tube applies force along the longitudinal axis of the rod to compress the grommet.
A training apparatus comprising:
- a central rod element comprising a first end and a second end;
- a female tube extending along an axis of the central rod element and located at the first end of the central rod element;
- a male tube comprising a first bearing surface proximate the first end of the central rod element and extending along the axis of the central rod element at least partially between the first end of the central rod element and the second end of the central rod element wherein the male tube is inserted into at least a portion of the female tube;
- a grommet at the first end of the central rod element and disposed inside the female tube, wherein the grommet operably at least partially contacts an interior portion of the female tube;
- a compression element on the first end of the central rod element, wherein the compression element is at least partially fastened to the central rod element;
- a bearing at the second end of the central rod element, wherein the bearing at least partially contacts an interior portion of the male tube;
- and
- a tensioner rotatably attached to the second end of the central rod element and in contact with the bearing, wherein the tensioner is rotated in a first direction thereby compressing the grommet between the male tube and the compression element, resulting in compression of the grommet against an inside wall of the female tube and an outer end of the male tube.
A method of using a training apparatus, wherein the training apparatus comprises a centrally disposed rod comprising a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis;
- a first elongate tube housing at least a portion of the rod, the first elongate tube extending from the first end of the rod along the longitudinal axis of the rod, and the first elongate tube comprising an inner bearing surface on an inner wall, wherein the inner wall is located proximate the first end;
- a second elongate tube housing at least a portion of the rod, the second elongate tube extending along the longitudinal axis from the second end of the rod, wherein at least a portion of the second elongate tube is disposed inside the first elongate tube;
- a selectably compressible grommet disposed on the rod at the first end and inside the first elongate tube, wherein the grommet operably contacts the inner wall of the first elongate tube;
- and a tensioner element comprising a body that is engaged with the second end of the rod and in contact with the second elongate tube, wherein the tensioner element is configured such that when it is rotated in a first direction the grommet is compressed between the second elongate tube and the first elongate tube, resulting in radial expansion of the grommet away from the longitudinal axis of the rod and toward the inner bearing surface of the first elongate tube, the method comprising:
- rotating the tensioner element in the first direction thereby increasing an amount of friction between the grommet and the inner bearing surface;
- coupling a training member to a first end of the first elongate tube;
- and
- rotating the training member with a first hand while holding the second elongate tube with a second hand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.