Ball for use in teaching pitching and throwing skills
AssigneeVelocity Gravity Spin Innovations LLC
InventorKENNETH RICHARD FOUNTAIN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ball for use in teaching proper throwing or pitching techniques in baseball or softball is disclosed. The ball provides an internal mechanism by way of a snap device or a channel having a shiftable weighted material to provide both an audible and visible indication of when a proper wrist snap release of the ball has occurred. The internal mechanisms disclosed can be incorporated into newly manufactured baseballs or softballs or placed into preexisting balls.
Claims20
A ball for use in teaching a proper release position for pitching or throwing by providing an audible indication of an improper ball release with a visual indication of a flightpath of the ball comprising:
- a ball core having an outer covering attached thereto;
- a generally vertically-oriented passageway positioned along an axis of the ball core having a first end and extending through a portion of the ball core to a second end;
- a generally horizontally-oriented passageway having opposing first and second end regions, the horizontally-oriented passageway intersecting the generally vertically-oriented passageway proximate the first end;
- and,
- a shiftable weighted material located within the generally vertically-oriented passageway;
- wherein the shiftable weighted material can pass between the generally-vertically oriented passageway and the horizontally-oriented passageway based on the motion of the ball.
A ball for use in teaching a proper release position for pitching or throwing comprising:
- a ball core having an outer covering attached thereto;
- a generally T-shaped passageway positioned within the ball core comprising:
- a generally vertically-oriented passageway having a first end and extending through a portion of the ball core to a second end;
- and
- a generally horizontally-oriented passageway having opposing first and second end regions, the horizontally-oriented passageway intersecting the generally vertically-oriented passageway proximate the first end;
- a shiftable weighted material located within the generally T-shaped passageway where the shiftable weighted material passes between the generally-vertically oriented passageway and the horizontally-oriented passageway depending on the release position of the ball.
A method of manufacturing a ball having an audible indicating device for providing an indication of an improper throwing motion by a user comprising:
- accessing a ball core;
- forming a cap portion by cutting off a portion of the ball core;
- cutting a generally vertically-oriented passageway into the ball core along an axis and a generally horizontally-oriented passageway into the ball core and cap portion, where the generally horizontally-oriented passageway intersects the generally vertically-oriented passageway;
- placing a predetermined amount of shiftable weighted material into the generally vertically-oriented passageway;
- securing the cap portion to the ball core;
- and,
- covering the ball core and cap portion with an outer covering.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.