# US 2014/0194228 A1 · Instruction Pitch Baseball

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- Number: US 2014/0194228 A1
- Document ID: US20140194228A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/735,398
- Filed: 2013-01-07
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07
- Inventors: Henry A. Fifield
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194228A1

## CPC

- A63B 69/0002: {for baseball}
- A63B 43/008: {with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours (illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06)}
- A63B 2069/0006: {for pitching}
- A63B 2071/0694: {Visual indication, e.g. Indicia}
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

An instructional device for the teaching of gripping a baseball for a predetermined throwing action of a delivered pitch includes a sphere of two identical figure-eight shaped cover pieces with a continuous seam stitching along with a plurality of locations imprinted on the cover pieces adapted to receive the placement of a user's index finger, middle finger and thumb in grasping the ball to subsequently hurl it with the characteristics of a Four-seam Fastball, Two-seamed Fastball, Slider, Split-finger Fastball or other thrown pitches.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An instructional device for the teaching of the gripping of a ball for a predetermined throwing action, comprising:
a sphere of two identical figure-eight-shaped cover pieces with a continuous seam stitching; and
a plurality of locations imprinted at predefined positions along the cover pieces adapted for receiving the placement of a user's index finger, middle finger and thumb in grasping the ball;
with the plurality of locations being positioned to give to a subsequent throwing of the ball the characteristics of a predetermined pitch to be hurled in a baseball or softball game.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The instructional device of claim 1 wherein said cover pieces are composed of a cowhide, leather or horsehide manufacture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The instructional device of claim 1 wherein said cover pieces overlie a cushioned core of one of cork, rubber or a mixture thereof manufacture.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The instructional device of claim 3 wherein said continuous seam stitching is of a waxed wool or cotton thread manufacture.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The instructional device of claim 1 wherein said imprinted locations consist of depictions of an index finger, a middle finger and a thumb of a user's hand.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The instructional device of claim 1 wherein said imprinted locations are positioned to receive placements of a user's index finger, middle finger and thumb to give to a subsequent throwing of the ball the characteristics of one of a Four-seam Fastball, a Two-seam Fastball, a Slider and a Split-finger Fastball hurled pitch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The instructional device of claim 1 wherein said imprinted locations are positioned to receive placements of a user's index finger, middle finger and thumb to give to a a subsequent throwing of the ball the characteristics of one of a Four-seam Fastball, a Two-seam Fastball, a Slider and a Split-finger Fastball hurled pitch; and
wherein said cover pieces overlie a cushioned core of one of cork, rubber or a mixture thereof manufacture, wherein said continuous seam stitching is of a waxed wool or cotton a thread manufacture, and wherein said imprinted locations consist of depictions of an index finger, a middle finger and a thumb of a user's hand.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The instructional device of claim 7 wherein said imprinted locations consist of depictions of an index finger, a middle finger, and a thumb of a user's right hand.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The instructional device of claim 7 wherein said imprinted locations consist of depictions of an index finger, a middle finger, and a thumb of a user's left hand.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The instructional device of claim 7 wherein said cover pieces are composed of a cowhide, leather or horsehide manufacture.

### Claim 11

A kit for an instructional device for the teaching of the gripping of a ball for a predetermined throwing action, comprising:
a sphere of two identical figure-eight-shaped cover pieces with a continuous seam stitching;
a plurality of locations imprinted at predefined positions along the cover pieces adapted for receiving the placement of a user's index finger, middle finger and thumb in grasping the ball;
with the plurality of locations being positioned to give to a subsequent throwing of the ball the characteristics of a predetermined pitch to be hurled in a baseball or softball game; and
a package for said sphere also including one of written, audio, or video supplementary material describing the rudiments of a manner of gripping the ball and hurling it in said baseball or softball game.