Batter's finger-worn variable-density control-pad

Abstract

A baseball batter's improved grip enhancing Pow'rPad™ device providing therapeutic vibration sting-absorption, which in critically configured for use upon one's upper / batting-hand, while primarily employing the forefinger but optionally including the adjacent middle-finger for positioning stability. The user's two fingers are fully inserted (with or without a conventional batting-glove) through a pair of intimately fitting spaced apart holes provided into a resiliently flexile preferably frothed-neoprene roll-stock material, clad on both sides with reinforcing nylon / stretch-fabric. An integral bolster cushion portion is arranged distally opposite the finger-holes, formed via a circular-wrap of the pad material around an extruded-core of resilient material. This constitutes the primary performance enhancing feature, whereby both ‘advanced bat positioning’, and advantageous ‘rebound-effect’ is provided; —enabling the batter to hit a ball further with greater control. The insert-cushion can be selectively changed, thereby offering variable compliance characteristics according to individual user preference; thus encouraging a more aggressive bat-swing action by dispelling any subconscious trepidation over dreaded debilitating hand-injury shock-trauma.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of Invention[0002]This invention relates to hand worn grip assist means for athletes, and particularly relates to resilient pads specifically protective of a baseball batter's hand-web region; affording enhanced control of batting performance.[0003]2. Relevant Prior-Art[0004]Background research discovery provides some prior patent-art regarded as germane to this disclosure, chronologically for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,043 (filed: July 1982 by P. R. LoMedico) sets forth DirectProtect®, a popular light-weight cushioning-pad which is made of flexible molded-rubber. It is adapted to encircle a batter's thumb by provision of a single approximate ¾-inch diameter hole (surrounded by a larger wire reinforcement-ring formed integrally into the pad's foam material), and configured as a 1-piece structure in combination with a contiguous tongue like portion extending radially therefrom, as is said to thereby overlap and protect the ‘metacarpal phalan...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]Accordingly, owing the thickness of the now abbreviated bolster, my Mk-II embodiment is uniquely able to advantageously offset the longitudinal-axis of the bat approximately 1-degree to 3-degrees (given the bat is gripped in an otherwise normal manner of usage) as measured relative to a reference-line extending at a right-angle from the batter's forearm at the wrist; which is tantamount to a lead-time effectively advancing the position of the batter's stroke, providing significantly improved mechanical-leverage for greater bat swing-speed.

[0015]C.) Another object of this invention disclosure is to set forth an improved Pow'rPad® according to afore said items-A / B wherein a further viable performance phenomenon was discovered involving my Mk-II embodiment, whereby dependent upon the compliance and shore-durometer (firmness vrs: softness) characteristic of the insert-cushion, the impacted ball can actually linger in contact upon the bat-barrel a small fraction of a second longer (ie: measured in milli-seconds), during which dwell-time duration, the bolster member lodged betwixt the bat-handle and the base of the forefinger (and against the base of the middle-finger as well, depending upon the length of insert-cushion employed) becomes slightly compressed, then instantaneously rebounds with thus stored energy transference upon the upper bat-handle upon impact with the ball during progression of the batter's swing. The ‘rebounding-effect’ of my bolster member thereby serving somewhat akin to the increased altitude achieved by a swimmer high-jumping from a diving-board having a resilient rubber spring-pad positioned thereunder at the fulcrum-point, —imparting a novel thrust-modulating energizing action; —which I have found via independently-conducted scientifically controlled robotic / batting-machine tests, can potentially (dependent upon the compliance characteristic of the bolster, relative to the weight and swing-speed of the bat, and velocity of the thrown ball) send the ball further owing to increased post-impact velocity.

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, a further object of this disclosure is to set forth an improved device aiding in absorption of dreaded bat-sting RSI-syndrome, which is known to cause even professional baseball players to unconsciously ‘flinch’ in anticipation of the stinging-pain they have recently experienced; —an affliction that can cause a fractional-second hesitation, which is detrimental to their reaction-time, —thereby adversely effecting batting-performance.

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