US20130225336A1

US20130225336A1 - Method and apparatus for teaching the throwing of a curveball without injury

Info

Publication number: US20130225336A1
Application number: US13/778,758
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward R. Harvey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-28
Filing date: 2013-02-27
Publication date: 2013-08-29

Abstract

Training devices of the present disclosure may be mounted to a user's hand, wrist and/or forearm, and be used to prevent or substantially restrict motion of the hand or wrist in one or more defined degrees or ranges. The devices may include planar elements that may be joined with a linkage that permits the movement or rotation of the hand and/or wrist within the one or more defined degrees or ranges. The devices may further be strapped, attached or otherwise mounted to a user's hand, wrist and/or forearm using one or more straps or like features. In a preferred embodiment, the training device may be worn by a baseball pitcher, and used to physically guide the pitcher through the proper motion for throwing a curveball.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/604,154, filed Feb. 28, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing appropriate training instructions in athletic activities. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for teaching the throwing of an object in specified manner, such as the throwing of a baseball in order to achieve a breaking movement of the baseball, and reducing the risk of injury thereby.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the sport of baseball, the throwing of a breaking ball, such as a curveball, by a baseball pitcher provides a strategic advantage in that the thrown ball breaks or moves in an unpredictable manner as it approaches a hitter. When a curveball is properly thrown, the pitcher's fingers are positioned atop the ball, and the pitcher's wrist is substantially collinear with the user's forearm, until the release point. In order to cause a desired rotation to the ball, the pitcher will snap his or her arm and wrist downward at the release point and impart a tumbling, topspin onto the ball, which will cause the ball to drop and/or curve as it approaches a hitter, depending on the extent of the rotation imparted upon the ball and other environmental factors. Thus, the proper form for throwing a curveball causes a flexion across the radial collateral ligament (RCL) to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow joint.
When a curveball is improperly thrown, however, a pitcher's fingers may be positioned on the side of the ball, and the pitcher's wrist may be cocked backward and/or supinated at the release point. While supinating the wrist can create the desired rotational motion on the ball, the supination can also cause stresses to the ulnar collateral ligament. The throwing of a curveball with improper form risks injury to the elbow, wrist, or elsewhere throughout the pitcher's arm.
It is an object of the present disclosure to overcome one or more of the drawbacks and/or disadvantages of the prior art described above.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The methods and apparatuses of the present disclosure are intended to reduce the risk of injury to throwers of curveballs, particularly in younger baseball players, who may be learning to throw curveballs for the first time. Some apparatuses of the present disclosure restrict or prevent the supination of the wrist, and force a pitcher to keep his or her wrist straight while throwing a curveball, with his or her fingers atop the ball, at the release point. By restricting the hinging and/or rotation of the wrist, the apparatuses of the present disclosure may therefore ensure that the flexion extends across the radial collateral ligament to the ulnar collateral ligament, and reduces the risk of injury thereby.
The bones, ligaments and muscles of the human wrist and forearm may be manipulated or moved within three primary ranges of motion. First, a wrist may be cocked from side to side in a waving manner, i.e., between a radial deviation of the wrist, such that the thumb of the relevant hand moves closer to the forearm, and an ulnar deviation of the wrist, such that the thumb of the relevant hand moves away from the forearm. Second, a wrist may be hinged forward and backward, i.e., between a palmar flexion of the wrist, or a forward hinging, and a dorsiflexion of the wrist, or a backward hinging. Third, the bones of the forearm may rotate or twist, thereby causing a pronation of the wrist, i.e., a clockwise rotation of the left forearm or a counterclockwise rotation of the right forearm, or a supination of the wrist, i.e., a counterclockwise rotation of the left forearm or a clockwise rotation of the right forearm.
The present disclosure is directed to methods or apparatuses for restricting the movement of the wrist or forearm to one or more of the degrees of movement thereof. For example, in a preferred embodiment, one apparatus of the present disclosure may permit a wrist to cock within a range between a radial deviation and an ulnar deviation, but may substantially restrict or prevent the wrist from hinging forward or backward, or substantially restrict or prevent the bones of the forearm from rotating the wrist in one or more directions of rotation.
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus is worn on a user's arm in such a manner that the apparatus limits the extent of hinging and/or rotation of the user's wrist, such as within a single plane. The apparatus may comprise at least two structural pieces that are mounted to one another by a rotatable linkage, such as a rivet, that enables the structural pieces to rotate with respect to one another. One of the structural pieces may be fixed to a back side, or posterior, of a user's hand (the “hand piece”), while another of the structural pieces may be fixed to a back side, or posterior, of the user's forearm (the “forearm section”), using straps or other known fixing means.
In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus according to the present disclosure includes two structural pieces, with each of the structural pieces including a mounting section or extension and a linking section or extension. In such embodiments, the mounting section may include straps or other features for mounting the apparatus to the user, and the linking section may be used to join with a linking section of another structural piece to form a rotatable linkage. For example, one apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a hand piece and a forearm section joined to one another with a rivet to form a rotatable, substantially planar connection, and both the hand piece and the forearm section may include straps for fixing the respective pieces to a hand and forearm, respectively, of a user, such as a baseball pitcher. Where such an apparatus is worn during the throwing of a baseball, rotation is permitted within the plane defined by the planar connection, i.e., between a radial deviation of the wrist and an ulnar deviation of the wrist.
According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the hand piece and the forearm section may be of any suitable shape or form. For example, the hand piece and the forearm section may be substantially flat, substantially or partially arcuate, or custom-shaped to conform to the wrist or the forearm of a particular user. Additionally, the hand piece and the forearm section may have holes or other features for receiving fixing means, such as straps or other like features. The hand piece and the forearm section may be joined by any form of linkage that prevents or restricts motion in one or more degrees, such as a rotatable linkage that permits rotation to about a point and within a single plane but prevents motion or rotation in other directions or planes. Other forms of linkages, including rotatable and translatable linkages, may also be used in accordance with the present disclosure.
When an apparatus according to the present disclosure is worn on a user's hand and forearm, the apparatus may restrict the extent or degree to which a wrist may hinge or otherwise rotate. In a currently preferred embodiment, the rotatable linkage within the planar connection between the two structural pieces limits the rotation of the user's wrist to a single plane with respect to the user's forearm. In another preferred embodiment, the rotatable linkage includes a low-friction separator, such as a washer, between the two structural pieces within the planar connection. The washer may be formed of nylon or any other type of material that provides a low-friction surface between the two structural pieces at the rotatable linkage, and permits the structural pieces to rotate with respect to one another in a low-friction environment.
In another preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, a user's hand may be strapped to the mounting section of the hand piece, and is aligned substantially co-planar or parallel to a plane of the forearm section, such that the user's wrist may not supinate or hinge forward or backward during the act of throwing. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the apparatus may permit limited movement within one or more restricted degrees or ranges of motion. For example, a plane of the mounting section of the hand piece may be angled in the direction of the posterior of the hand, i.e., hinged backward, by up to about four degrees, by forming an angle between the mounting section of the hand piece and the linking section of the hand piece.
The apparatuses of the present disclosure may be worn and utilized by a pitcher independent of the pitcher's arm angle or release point during the act of throwing a curveball. For example, one apparatus of the present disclosure may be worn and utilized by a pitcher who throws “sidearm,” “over the top,” or with a three-quarters delivery (e.g., either high or low). An apparatus of the present disclosure may prevent a pitcher's wrist from supinating to an undesired degree and may force the pitcher to throw a curveball with proper form, thus restricting the extent of hinging or rotation of the pitcher's wrist while maintaining his or her fingers atop the ball, regardless of the pitcher's arm angle.
Accordingly, the methods and apparatuses of the present disclosure may be utilized as training tools for pitchers, particularly younger pitchers, who wish to learn to throw curveballs with proper form and with a reduced risk of injury.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DISCLOSURE

FIG. 1A is a front view of a training device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a cross-section view of the training device of FIG. 1A taken along the section line A-A of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a front view of a component of a training device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a cross-section view of the component of FIG. 2A taken along the section line B-B of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a front view of a component of a training device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a cross-section view of the component of FIG. 3A taken along the section line C-C of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a view of one embodiment of a training device according to the present disclosure, wherein the training device is worn on a left hand of a user thereof.

FIG. 4B is a view of one embodiment of a training device according to the present disclosure, wherein the training device is worn on a right hand of a user thereof.

FIG. 5A is a front view of a training device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a cross-section view of the training device of FIG. 5A taken along the section line D-D of FIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, one training device 10 according to the present disclosure is shown. Referring to FIG. 1A, the training device 10 includes a hand piece 12 and a forearm section 14 joined by a rotational linkage 20 (e.g., a rivet). The hand piece 12 includes a linking extension 13 for joining the hand piece 12 to the forearm section 14, and a hand strap 32 for mounting the hand piece 12 to an upper portion of a user's hand, i.e., substantially about the metacarpal bones of the hand. In the embodiment of the training device 10 shown in FIG. 1A, the hand strap 32 of the hand piece 12 is formed of two parts (e.g., strips or bands) such that one end of each part is fixed to the hand piece 12 through an eyelet 16, and another end of each part may be joined together when mounting the hand piece 12 to a user.
The forearm section 14 includes a linking extension 15 for joining the forearm section 14 to the hand piece 12, as well as a hand strap 32 and a forearm strap 30 for mounting the forearm section 14 to a user's forearm and/or wrist. The hand strap 32 of the forearm section 14 may be used to mount the forearm section 14 to a lower portion of a user's hand and/or wrist. In the embodiment of the training device 10 shown in FIG. 1A, the hand strap 32 of the forearm section 14 is formed of two parts (e.g., strips or bands), such that one end of each part is fixed to the forearm section 14 through an eyelet 16, and another end of each part may be joined together when mounting the forearm section 14 to a user.
The forearm strap 30 may be used to mount the forearm section 14 to an upper portion of the user's forearm, i.e., substantially about the radius and ulna bones. In the embodiment of the training device 10 shown in FIG. 1A, the forearm strap 30 is formed of two parts (e.g., strips or bands) such that one end of each part is fixed to an edge of the forearm section 14, and another end of each part may be joined together when mounting the forearm section 14 to a user. Additionally, the forearm section 14 also includes one or more rounded stubs 18, which may act as a barrier to the forearm strap 30 about the forearm section 14, and may restrict the forearm strap 30 from sliding beyond an end of the forearm section 14.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a cross-section view of the training device of FIG. 1A taken along the section line A-A is shown. As is shown in FIG. 1B, the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 are formed in planes that are substantially parallel to one another. The linking extensions 13, 15 and the rotational linkage 20 of the training device 10 of FIGS. 1A and 1B form a planar connection that permits the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 to rotate with respect to one another within a common plane defined by the linking extensions 13, 15. Additionally, the rotational linkage 20 is shown as passing through a hole 26 in the linking extension 15 of the forearm section 14 and a hole 28 in the linking extension 13 of the hand piece 12, such that the hole 26 and the hole 28 are substantially coaligned about an axis.
Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, views of the forearm section 14 of the training device 10 of FIGS. 1A and 1B are shown. Referring to FIG. 2A, the linking extension 15 of the forearm section 14 has a substantially octagonal shape and includes the eyelets 16 and the hole 26. Additionally, at the end of the forearm section 14 opposite the linking extension 15, rounded stubs 18 are provided to act as a barrier for restricting a forearm strap 30 about the forearm section 14. Referring to FIG. 2B, a cross-section view of the forearm section 14 of FIG. 2A taken along the section line B-B is shown as including the hole 26 at the extension 15.
Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, views of the hand piece 12 of the training device 10 of FIGS. 1A and 1B are shown. The linking extension 13 of the hand piece 12 has a substantially tapered shape and includes the eyelets 16 and the hole 28.
The hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 may be formed from any appropriate material that is sufficiently rigid and durable to withstand the rigors of the arm motions required for throwing of a curveball, which may reach velocities of up to one hundred miles per hour (100 mph) or more, yet light enough to avoid unnaturally disrupting a weight balance of a ball within a pitcher's hand. Preferred materials for forming the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 may include steel (e.g., hot-rolled or cold-rolled) or alloys including steel, wood, aluminum, plastics and/or composite materials (e.g., wood-plastic composites, metal-plastic composites, composites of multiple types of plastics). Additionally, a washer 22 or other form of low-friction separator may be positioned between the linking extension 13 of the hand piece 12 and the linking extension 15 of the forearm section 14, and another washer 24 or other form of low-friction separator may be positioned between an end of the rotational linkage 20 and the hand piece 12, to alleviate some or all of the effects of friction that may be generated as the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 rotate with respect to one another. By reducing the friction between the rotating elements, the throwing of a curveball by a user who is wearing the training device 10 more closely simulates the actual throwing of a curveball without the device. Preferred materials for the low-friction separators may include nylon, vinyl, polymers or steels.
The components of the training device 10 of FIGS. 1A-1B, 2A-2B and 3A-3B may have any suitable dimensions, which may be provided generally for multiple users or tailored to the measurements or particular features of a specific user. For example, according to one embodiment, the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 may be approximately one-eighth of an inch (⅛″) thick, and have lengths of approximately five inches to six inches (5″-6″). The hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 may further have widths of approximately one and three-quarters inches to two and one-half inches (1.75″-2.50″), as well. The holes 26, 28 may have any dimension that may sufficiently accommodate a rotational linkage 20 therein, such as a diameter of approximately one-quarter inch (0.25″). Likewise, the linking extensions 13, 15 of the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 may further have any shapes or dimensions, and are not limited to the tapered shape of the linking extension 13 shown in FIGS. 1A and 3A or the substantially octagonal shape of the linking extension shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A.
Moreover, the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 may be mounted to a user in any manner and using any materials, including but not limited to the forearm strap 30 or the hand strap 32 shown in FIGS. 1A-1 B, 2A-2B and 3A-3B. Such mounting apparatuses may take the form of sleeves, gloves or any other like features for mounting the training device 10 to a user's hand, wrist and/or forearm, and may be formed from solid or meshed materials having appropriate levels of flexibility and durability. Some mounting features of the present disclosure may include straps or sleeves formed or stitched from Velcro fabrics, or featuring fingerless or palmless gloves, belts or buckles, adhesive tapes or glues, or any other like features that may be utilized to mount one or more of the elements of the training device 10 to a user but will not substantially impair the throwing of a baseball by a user who is wearing a training device 10 of the present disclosure.
The rotational linkages 20 that join the hand piece 12 to the forearm section 14 may take any form, as well. Preferably, the rotational linkage 20 may be a rivet having a stub head and an upset head. However, any form of linkage may be utilized in accordance with the present disclosure, including nuts and bolts, screws or shafts that will not substantially impair the throwing of a baseball by a user who is wearing a training device 10 of the present disclosure. Moreover, such linkages may permit rotation of the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 about a single point or axis, such as the rotational linkage 20 of FIGS. 1A and 1B, or may permit other forms of relative movement between the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14, such as sliding or translating within a channel, or a combination of rotation and translation, in accordance with the present disclosure. Thus, while the training device 10 substantially restricts motion of a wrist to rotation within a plane and about an axis defined by the planar connection of the linking extension 13 and the linking extension 15, any form of linkage or connection that permits rotation or motion in any degree or range may be utilized in accordance with the systems and methods of the present disclosure.
Some embodiments of the present disclosure may be worn on either arm of a user. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, one training device 10 of the present disclosure is shown. Referring to FIG. 4A, the training device 10 is shown as mounted to a left hand 1A, a left forearm 2A and a left wrist 3A of a user. The hand strap 32 of the hand piece 12 is shown as mounted substantially about the metacarpal bones of the left hand 1A, between distal fingers 5A and a thumb 6A of the left hand 1A. The hand strap 32 of the forearm section 14 is shown as mounted substantially about the junctions of the pisiform, triquetrum, lunate and scaphoid bones of the left hand 1A and the left wrist 1A. The forearm strap 30 of the forearm section 14 is shown as mounted substantially about the radius and ulna of the left forearm 2A. Referring to FIG. 4B, the training device 10 is shown as mounted to a right hand 1B, a right forearm 2B and a right wrist 3B of the user in a similar manner.
Accordingly, as is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the training device 10 may permit the hands 1A, 1B and/or wrists 3A, 3B to rotate within a plane defined by the connection between the linking extension 13 and the linking extension 15, i.e., between a radial deviation of the wrists 3A, 3B, such that the thumbs 6A, 6B of the hands 1A, 1B move closer to the forearms 2A, 2B, and an ulnar deviation of the wrists 3A, 3B, such that the thumbs 6A, 6B of the hands 1A, 1B move away from the forearms 2A, 2B, within a plane that is coplanar or substantially parallel to the plane defined by the connection between the linking extension 13 and the linking extension 15. The training device 10 may be worn and used by a left-handed pitcher or a right-handed pitcher, as necessary.
The training devices of the present disclosure may further define one or more planes in which a hand and wrist may rotate by defining one or more angles of a connection between the respective linking sections, or between a mounting section and a corresponding linking section. Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, one training device 10 according to the present disclosure is shown. Referring to FIG. 5B, the hand piece 12 defines an angle a with respect to the linking extension 13. Thus, where the training device 10 of FIGS. 5A and 5B is worn by a user, the linking extension 13 and the linking extension 15 may rotate within a plane defined by the planar connection between the extensions 13, 15, while allowing a user's hand to rotate within a plane defined by the angle a with respect to the linking extension 13.
It should be understood that, unless otherwise explicitly or implicitly indicated herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodiment described herein. Also, it should also be understood that the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale.
For example, any form of strap or mounting features may be used to attach or mount a training device of the present disclosure to a user's body. Additionally, the straps or mounting features may be joined or fixed to one or more components of the training device by any means.
Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, but do not require, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
As may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, numerous changes and modifications may be made to the above-described and other embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims. Accordingly, this detailed description of currently preferred embodiments is to be taken in an illustrative, as opposed to a limiting sense.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various other additions and omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A device for teaching throwing a curveball without injury comprising:

a hand piece;

a hand strap adapted for mounting the hand piece to a posterior of a human hand;

a forearm section;

a forearm strap adapted for mounting the forearm section to a posterior of a human forearm;

a rotatable connection between the hand piece and the forearm section,

wherein the rotatable connection defines an axis, and

wherein the rotatable connection permits a relative rotation between the hand piece and the forearm section about the axis.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the rotatable connection comprises a rivet defining the axis, wherein the rivet extends through a hole in the hand piece, a hole in the forearm section and a hole of a low-friction separator.

3. An athletic training device comprising:

a first element comprising a first linking extension and a first strap for mounting the first element to a hand of a human;

a second element comprising a second linking extension and a second strap for mounting the second element to a portion of a forearm of the human; and

a rotational linkage defining a planar connection between the first linking extension and the second linking extension,

wherein the first element and the second element are adapted to rotate with respect to one another about an axis defined by the rotational linkage.

4. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein the athletic training device is adapted to substantially permit motion of the hand of the human within a range defined by a radial deviation of a wrist of the arm of the human and an ulnar deviation of the wrist of the arm of the human.

5. The athletic training device of claim 4, wherein the athletic training device is adapted to substantially restrict motion of the hand of the human to the range defined by the radial deviation and the ulnar deviation.

6. The athletic training device of claim 4, wherein the athletic training device is adapted to substantially prevent at least one of a supination of the wrist or a pronation of the wrist.

7. The athletic training device of claim 4, wherein the athletic training device is adapted to substantially prevent the hand of the human from rotating about an axis defined by the forearm of the human.

8. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein the first strap comprises at least one strip for mounting the first element about the hand.

9. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein the second strap comprises at least one strip for mounting the second element about the forearm.

10. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein the second element further comprises a third strap for mounting the second element about at least one of the hand of the human or a wrist of the human.

11. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein the first strap comprises two parts,

wherein each of the parts has a first end connected to the first element and a second free end, and

wherein the first element is adapted for mounting to the hand by connecting the second free ends of the two parts around the hand.

12. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein the rotational linkage comprises a rivet extending between a first hole of the first linking extension and a second hole in the second linking extension, and

wherein the first hole and the second hole are substantially coaligned about the axis.

13. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first element or the second element is formed of a metal.

14. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first element or the second element is formed of a composite material.

15. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein the first element lies substantially within a first plane,

wherein the second element lies substantially within a second plane, and

wherein the first plane and the second plane are substantially parallel to one another.

16. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein the first element further comprises a first mounting extension, and

wherein the first mounting extension defines a non-zero angle with respect to the first linking extension.

17. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein the first element further comprises a first mounting extension, and

wherein the first mounting extension defines a substantially arcuate shape for conforming to a posterior of the hand.

18. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein the second element further comprises a second mounting extension, and

wherein the second mounting extension defines a substantially arcuate shape for conforming to a posterior of the forearm.

19. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein the planar connection further comprises a low-friction separator between the first linking extension and the second linking extension.

20. A training method comprising:

identifying an athletic activity involving relative motion between a hand and a forearm in a plurality of degrees;

identifying at least one of the plurality of degrees as associated with a risk of injury;

providing a device having a hand element connected to a forearm element;

mounting the hand element to the hand; and

mounting the forearm element to the forearm,

wherein the device is adapted to substantially prevent relative motion of the hand and the wrist in the at least one of the plurality of degrees.