Pivoting Hitting Device With Dampener For Follow-Through
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hitting practice devices, such as batting tees and bag drills, do not allow players to follow through with their swing after making contact, leading to muscle strain and limited repetition due to the weight and rigidity of the equipment.
Innovation Solution
A pivoting hitting practice device with a pad and impact dampener that absorbs the initial impact, enabling players to continue their swing and follow through, featuring a base plate that pivots relative to a stabilization plate, with optional weights or resistance bands for strength training and a stopper to prevent excessive pivoting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional punching bag is used for hitting practice, then the player can practice hitting form, but the player cannot follow through with the swing due to the weight and rigidity of the bag
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the base plate pivotable relative to the stabilization plate through a hinge connection. This allows the base plate to rotate and pivot during the swing motion, enabling the player to follow through completely without being restricted by a heavy, rigid structure. The pivoting mechanism transforms the static, heavy bag into a dynamic system that moves with the swing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the base into two separate plates: a base plate that can pivot and a stabilization plate that remains stationary or minimally moves. This segmentation allows the functional part (base plate) to move freely for follow-through while the stabilizing part (stabilization plate) maintains ground contact, solving the contradiction between weight and follow-through capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a heavy hitting device is used to provide stability, then the device remains stable during use, but the player experiences muscle strain from repeated swings
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting base plate reduces the harmful jarring impacts that cause muscle strain by allowing the base to rotate and pivot during the swing. This dynamic movement absorbs the impact energy and eliminates the sudden stopping force that occurs with rigid, heavy devices, thereby reducing muscle strain and injury risk while maintaining stability through the hinge connection.
3Ease of operation
If the base plate is made fixed to provide stability, then the device is stable, but the player cannot complete the swing motion
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge connection creates a dynamic stability system where the base plate can pivot freely during the swing motion while the stabilization plate maintains ground contact for stability. This allows the swing motion to be completed without compromising overall device stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge acts as an intermediary mechanism between the base plate and stabilization plate, allowing controlled movement and pivoting while maintaining the structural connection and stability of the overall device.
4Ease of operation
If impact absorption is added to the device, then the player can follow through without strain, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The impact absorption function is achieved through the simple dynamic pivoting motion of the base plate itself, rather than adding separate absorption mechanisms. The hinge connection and weight distribution create natural impact absorption through the pivoting action, keeping the device structure relatively simple while enabling follow-through without strain.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables players to practice full swings without straining their muscles, allowing for multiple repetitions and improved form evaluation by pausing the swing for analysis and correction, while reducing the risk of injury from jarring impacts.
Implementation Method 1
A pad and dampener can absorb all or most of the initial impact of a hit, pausing the batter's swing for analysis
Implementation Method 2
the impact dampener being capable of storing mechanical energy
Implementation Method 3
the base plate and the stabilization plate are connected by the hinge, such that the base plate may pivot with respect to stabilization plate
Data Source
AI summary
A hitting practice device allows a batter to swing the bat, make contact with the device, and then to follow-through with the swing while maintaining contact with the device. In embodiments, the hitting practice device includes a pivoting base, a post connected to the base, a pad attached at the upper portion of the post, and a stopper that prevents the base from pivoting beyond a recovery angle. In other embodiments, the base includes a base plate and stabilization plate connected by a hinge. In embodiments, a pad and dampener absorb most of the initial impact of the hit, pausing the swing for analysis. The pivoting base then allows the batter to continue, follow-through and complete the swing.