Pitch Training Device Centered Resistance Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pitch training devices lack effective attachment mechanisms that connect to the center of a baseball, providing stable and centered resistance, which is essential for improving pitching quality, speed, and body mechanics, as existing devices often shift weight off-center and have flexible attachments that fail to transfer resistance effectively.
Innovation Solution
A pitch training device featuring a rotating connection point with a scissor extender, omnidirectional wheels, and spherical sleeves that connect to a baseball simulator, allowing for a stable and centered attachment of resistance, enabling proper body motion mechanics training.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If existing pitch training devices use surface attachment or off-center weight placement, then device simplicity is maintained, but the center of mass shifts off-center causing improper resistance application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary attachment mechanism consisting of a rod with a ball joint connection that bridges the weight and the baseball simulator. This intermediary structure allows the weight to be suspended from the center of the baseball simulator rather than attached to the surface, ensuring the center of mass remains aligned with the center of the ball while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system is segmented into distinct components: a rod element, a ball joint connection, and a suspension mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the rod provides structural support, the ball joint enables rotational freedom, and the suspension maintains center alignment - while collectively solving the center of mass alignment problem without complicating manufacturing.
2Ease of operation
If existing devices use flexible attachments to connect the ball, then ease of operation is improved, but the mechanical force of resistance cannot be transferred effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the attachment from flexible (strings, rods with flexibility) to rigid (solid rod with ball joint). This parameter change enables effective force transfer while maintaining ease of operation through the ball joint's rotational capability, which provides the necessary flexibility for pitching motion without compromising mechanical force transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball joint connection utilizes a spherical interface that allows rotational movement in multiple directions. This spherical geometry provides the flexibility needed for natural pitching motion while maintaining a rigid connection that efficiently transfers the mechanical force of resistance from the weight to the user's pitching action.
3Weight of moving object
If weight is added to baseball training devices, then strengthening and rehabilitation benefits are improved, but the weight shifts off-center away from the actual center of the ball
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a counterbalancing suspension system where the weight is hung from the center of the baseball simulator rather than being attached to the exterior. This creates a counterweight effect that maintains the center of mass at the geometric center of the ball, preventing off-center shifts while still providing the desired resistance for strengthening and rehabilitation training.
Data Source
AI summary
The Nadel Pitch Training Device is a pitch training device or apparatus in the form of an linearly extending attachment having a rotating connection point for connection to a baseball simulator that is attached to a three-dimensional resistance means for the purpose of providing strengthening, rehabilitation, and/or correct body motion mechanics training to improve pitching quality, speed, strength, and body mechanics that enables training, exercising, and rehabilitation of proper body motion mechanics for improving the act of pitching and increasing the performance (speed and/or accuracy) of the act by enabling weighted ball training wherein the weight of the ball is connected to and maintained in the center of the ball and the center of mass of the weight is maintained in the center (physical, geometric, and/or dimensional) of the ball.