GB2424840A

GB2424840A - Stance training device

Info

Publication number: GB2424840A
Application number: GB0606461A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Henderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-01
Filing date: 2006-03-31
Publication date: 2006-10-11
Also published as: GB0606461D0; GB0506634D0

Abstract

A training device for golf and other sports activities, in which a frame or support surface 1 is provided with an arm member 10 which contacts and maintains the movement of the user's head 12 substantially parallel to the frame or support surface during the users golf swing or other activity, the arm 10 movable out of the way when a predetermined action occurs during the activity. A sensor may be provided such that when an infrared beam is broken, by say a golf club during a swing, the arm 10 is pivoted to a position out of the way of the golfers swing.

Description

I

Training device The invention to which this application relates is a training device for helping a person to align his stance correctly for performing a particular activity.

Although the following description refers almost exclusively to use of a device to align a golfer's stance, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention can be used in other sports such as tennis, football, baseball, and the like.

In the game of golf, the stance of the golfer when taking a shot is considered to be critical. For example, a golfer may aim for a target by placing their feet approximately in line with the target.

Common errors include not positioning the feet parallel to the S ** line of target, looking up before striking the ball and/or S incorrect movements of parts of the body during the swing of the golf club. : S.. *SS*

Novices often take lessons from professionals so that they can learn how to avoid such errors. With practice, the correct stance and movements become automatic as the golfer develops muscle memory. However, professionals are often expensive, the number of professionals may be limited on a course, and they may not always be available at the time and/or place a golfer wishes to practice.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device which conditions a person into using the correct stance and movement for striking the ball.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a training device for performing an activity, said device including a member associated with a frame or supporting surface, wherein said member is provided with a portion for contact with the head and/or adjacent part of the anatomy of a user to improve the user's stance and/or movement when the user performs an activity.

In one embodiment, the member is a pivotally mounted arm which is movable between a first, extended position substantially perpendicular to the frame or supporting surface, and a second, stored position where the distal end of the arm is moved towards the frame or supporting surface.

In one embodiment the member and/or portion is capable of movement substantially parallel to the frame or supporting surface, for maintaining the relative position of the golfer's head *..SSS with respect to the frame.

Typically the activity is sports training such as but not limited to swinging a club, bat or other striking means. : *.SS Typically the position of the arm on the frame and/or the portion on the arm is adjustable. * : In one embodiment the portion is slidably mounted on the arm.

In a further embodiment the portion is mounted on the arm via runners.

In one embodiment the arm is provided with pivoting means.

Typically the pivoting means is a hinged member pivotally connected to the frame at one end and the arm at the other end.

In one embodiment the frame is provided with retraction means for moving the arm between the extended and stored positions.

In one embodiment the retraction means comprises any or any combination of cables, springs, coils, cogs, rotors, motors and/or the like. For example the retention means could be a cable connected to the hinged member and a sprung coil In the stored position, the arm does not interfere with the golfer's swing which describes an arc around the golfer. If the arm did not move to a stored position, the golfer may hit the arm with the golf club during his swing.

In one embodiment, the frame is provided with a base.

Typically the base and/or frame is provided with sensing means.

In one embodiment the sensing means is any or any combination of movement sensors, acoustic sensors, optical sensors, S.* * * mechanical sensors, and/or the like.

Typically the arm is moved to the stored position when the sensing means senses a specified condition. Typically the arm is moved by the cable acting on the hinged member. I... S * *SS

Typically the specified condition is movement of a golf club or * : other striking means in a specific direction and/or striking of a ball.

In one embodiment locating means are provided to allow the position of the sensing means and/or golf ball to be adjusted.

Typically moving the ball left or right parallel to the user's feet changes the expected flight distance of the ball. The sensing means can be positioned in different places on the frame relative to the user and/or ball to suit the circumstances.

In one embodiment the base is provided with one or more foot guides for aligning the user's feet parallel to the frame. Typically the foot guides include two substantially parallel members, spaced apart and substantially perpendicular to the frame.

Typically the foot guides include a third member associated with the other two members. Typically each end of the third member is positionable along the two parallel members, and is thus angularly adjustable with respect to the frame.

Typically location means are provided to allow the position of the foot guides on the base to be adjusted. This allows the device to be adjusted to the appropriate spacing between a user's feet, and the third member allows the angle at which the user stands relative to the frame to be adjusted.

Typically the foot guides block the sensing means such that * movement of the user cannot be sensed, while allowing movement of the golf club or other swing means to be sensed.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described S. wherein: - *SS* Figure 1 illustrates a training device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention (a) from the side; (b) from the top; (c) from above.

Figure 2 illustrates the arm portion of the training device in more detail, from the side.

Figure 3 illustrates the sensing means of the training device from the side.

With reference to Figures la-c, there is illustrated a training device with a vertical frame 1 acting as a supporting surface.

I'he frame is supported by stabilising brackets 5, and a base 2 connected to the frame 1. An arm member 10 is connected to the frame 1 at one end, the other end being provided with a portion in the form of a head piece 3. The arm 10 can be adjusted in height by fixing it to the frame 1 via positioning means in the form of holes 18. The arm 10 is pivotally mounted on the frame 1 and is connected to pivoting means 4 which when actuated, folds to pivot the arm 10. The distance between the head piece 3 and the frame 1 can also be adjusted by fixing it to different holes 20 in the arm.

The head piece is placed on the head 12 of the user 14, in this case a golfer, and limits the movement of the head 12 thereby improving muscle memory. The head piece 3 is mounted on horizontal parallel runners 16 to permit the normal head movement found in a golf shot, as indicated by arrows 6.

S *0**

The frame 1 and arm 10 are made of a light strong polymer. The head piece 3 is made from a soft rubber material which is comfortable to wear by the user 14. **SS *5S5

The base is also provided with foot guides for aligning the user's feet with the frame, in the form of two short members 22 *: spanned by an elongate third member 8 mounted thereon. The position of the elongate third member 8 on each of the short members can be adjusted as indicated by arrows 24 to adjust the angle of the elongate third member 8 with respect to the frame 1.

The position of the short members 22 can also be adjusted with respect to the base 2 by fixing in different location means in the form of holes 26. The user places their feet against the elongate third member 8 when taking a shot at a golf ball 30 with a golf club 32.

The golf ball 30 can be placed in a range of positions, directly on the base 2, or with the aid of a tee in a range of holes (not shown).

One or more sensing means in the form of infrared sensors 7 are provided at or near the base of the frame 1, directed towards the elongate member 8, and across the path of the golf swing. When the infrared beam generated by the sensors 7 is broken by the golf club, the arm 10 is pivoted to a position adjacent the stand 1 such that is Out of the way of the golf club 32 as the golfer 14 swings. The infrared beam is blocked by the elongate member 8 to prevent movement of the user's feet or other parts of the body being sensed erroneously.

With reference to Figure 2, the arm and pivoting means is illustrated in greater detail. The arm 10 is pivotally connected to a hole 18 in the frame 1 via pivot 34. l'he pivoting means comprises a hinged member 4 pivotally connected to the frame 1 at one end 38 and the distal end of the arm 10 at the other end 40. A cable 36 is connected to the hinged member 4 and extends **SS into the frame I via a pulley or runner 42 to a central coil 44. **IS

When the sensors 7 are activated by the user, the central coil 44..

retracts the cable 42, pulling the hinged member towards the frame 1 thereby pivoting the atm 10 upwards, as indicated by arrow 48, moving the arm 10 out of the way of the golf swing.

Thus movement of the golfer's head is restricted through most of the swing until the sensor is triggered, at around the same point the golfer sttikes the ball, and to avoid hitting the arm 10 with golf club 32 during the follow-through swing, the arm is pivoted out of the way.

To reset the device, the user can pull the arm 10 back down to the horizontal position.

With reference to Figure 3, the sensing means is provided as an array of sensors 7 to ensure the sensors 7 to do not initiate movement of the arm 10 on the back swing but only on the down swing. Providing the sensing means as an array of sensors allows the direction of swing to bee determined. As secondary sensor 46 is provided under the tee which initiates movement of the arm 10 if the sensor array 7 does not initiate movement of the arm 10.

Thus in use, a golfer places a ball on a tee at an appropriate position on the base, and takes position by placing his feet against the foot members and head under the head piece. The foot members are typically adjusted to a distance apart that matches the shoulder-width of the user. The golfer is thus positioned in the correct initial stance.

I..... *S*

Using a golf club, the golfer starts his backswing and then swings forward. During this movement the head piece moves substantially parallel to the frame of the device, thereby maintaining the movement of the golfer's head in a straight line to ensure the ball travels in the desired direction. The presence of the headpiece also prevents the golfer from looking up too soon before striking the ball, which can cause him to miss-hit the ball. The correct stance is thus maintained throughout the swing.

As the golfer begins to follow though on the swing, the arm is pivoted upwards so as to avoid the upswing of the golf club. To start the process again, the golfer simply pulls the arm back down to reset the device.

It is contemplated that the apparatus can be used in a similar fashion for sports other than golf. For example, minor modifications could be made to the device to allow the same to be used as a training device for tennis, wherein movement of the user's head is maintained in a substantially straight line as the user swings a racquet. There may also be activities in which the movement of the head-piece member and/or arm can be modified to dcfinc a curved path as appropriate to training of such activities.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention also includes further additional modifications made to the device which does not effect the overall functioning of the device. a a a * a..

* ** t I... a a...

Claims

Claims 1. A training device for performing an activity, said device

including a member associated with a frame or supporting surface, wherein said member is provided with a portion for contact with the head and/or adjacent part of the anatomy of a user to improve the user's stance and/or movement when the user performs the activity.

2 A training device according to claim 1 wherein the member is an arm mounted on the frame or supporting surface via pivoting means.

3 A training device according to claim 1 wherein the member is movable between a first, extended position substantially perpendicular to the frame or supporting surface, and a second, stored position where the distal end of the S.' member is moved away from the user. S..

4 A training device according to claim 3 wherein retraction

S

means are provided to move the member between extended and stored positions.

A training device according to claim 4 wherein the retraction means is any or any combination of cables, springs, coils, cogs, rotors, motors.

6 A training device according to claim 1 wherein the activity comprises the swinging or other use of a striking means.

7 A training device according to claim 1 wherein positioning means are provided to allow the position of the member to be adjusted relative to the frame or supporting surface.

8 A training device according to claim I wherein the position of the portion is adjustable relative to the member and/or frame or supporting surface.

9 A training device according to claim 8 wherein the portion is slidably mounted on the member.

A training device according to claim 8 wherein the portion is mounted on the member via runners.

11 A training device according to claim 1 wherein the member and/or portion is capable of movement substantially parallel to the frame or supporting surface.

12 A training device according to claim 1 wherein sensing means are provided. *.S. S*

13 A training device according to claim 12 wherein the sensing means are any or any combination of movement sensors, acoustic sensors, optical sensors and/or mechanical sensors.

14 A training device according to claim 1 wherein at least one end of the member is moved away from the user when the sensing means senses a specified condition.

A training device according to claim 14 wherein the specified condition is movement of a golf club or other striking means in a specific direction and/or striking of a ball.

16 A training device according to claim 15 wherein locating means are provided to allow the position of the sensing means and/or ball to be adjusted.

17 A training device according to claim 1 wherein one or more foot guides are provided for aligning the user's feet parallel to the frame or supporting surface.

18 A training device according to claim 17 wherein location means are provided to allow the position of the foot guides relative to the frame or supporting surface to be adjusted.

19 A training device according to claim 17 wherein the foot guides include two substantially parallel foot members, spaced apart and substantially perpendicular to the frame.

A training device according to claim 19 wherein the foot guides include a third foot member associated with the other two foot members, and each end of the third foot member is positionabic along the other two members to allow angular adjustment of the third foot member with * . ** respect to the frame or supporting surface. *

21 A training device according to claim 17 wherein sensing.* means are provided, and the foot guides block the sensing means such that movement of the user cannot be sensed.

22 A training device substantially as described hereinabove with reference to the accompanying drawings.