WO1996014113A1

WO1996014113A1 - A sports aid

Info

Publication number: WO1996014113A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/002558
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Roberts
Original assignee: Martin Roberts
Priority date: 1994-11-03
Filing date: 1995-11-01
Publication date: 1996-05-17
Also published as: AU3751495A

Abstract

A golf aid having a first member (102) adapted for securement to a golf club (122) and a resiliently deformable second member (120) which second member is adapted for simultaneous securement to the said first member and to a substantially fixed part of the user's clothing. The first member typically alters the weighting of the golf club and the second member provides an elasticated connection between the hip of the user and the golf club handle. The invention may also be adapted for use with other stroke play implements such as tennis, squash, badminton, fly fishing, baseball, cricket etc.

Description

ft SPORTS ftIP

The present invention relates to a sports aid and, in particular, a sports aid which assists the swing and release of the stroke playing instrument through the ball. The invention is particularly suitable for golf players but other sportsmen can also benefit from the use of the aid.

The swing action of the golfer is vital to his performance. This performance is not only affected by the speed of the hands on the forward swing but also by the twisting of the hips and the release of the club through the ball. One of the objects of the present invention is to assist these movements to provide an improved swing action.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf club aid comprising; a first member adapted for securement to a golf club and a resiliently deformable second member which second member is adapted for simultaneous securement to the said first member and a substantially fixed part of the user's clothing.

Preferably, the first member is a weighted extension to the handle of the golf club and the second member is an elasticated cord. However, the first member may not be weighted or, alternatively, the first member may be permanently incorporated into the handle of a stroke play instrument.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golf aid comprising a weighted member adapted for securement to a golf club handle to alter the weighting thereof.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf aid comprising a resiliently deformable member adapted to extend between and for securement to a golf club and a substantially fixed part of the user's clothing. Preferably the weighted member is a weighted extension to the handle of the golf club and the resiliently deformable member is an elasticated cord.

The first member may be adapted for securement to a golf club by having a lug protruding from one end thereof, which lug is adapted to be received in an accommodating aperture in the top of the golf club handle. The first member is typically of a similar diameter to that of a golf club handle. The first member may be adapted for securement to an elasticated cord by having a hole passing therethrough through which the cord may be threaded. Thus, the manner in which the cord is adapted to be secured to the first member is by virtue of the diameter of the cord which is suitable for threading through the accommodating hole in the said first member. The elasticated cord may be then adapted to be secured to the user's clothing by way of a hook which is adapted to engage with the belt brace or loop on the user's trousers.

The invention may also be adapted for other sports thus, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sports aid for assisting stroke play comprising a first member adapted for securement to a stroke playing instrument and a resiliently deformable second member which is adapted to be secured to the said first member and a substantially fixed part of the user's clothing.

Suitable stroke playing instruments could include: tennis, squash or badminton rackets; cricket bats; fishing rods or other instruments which would benefit from the invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sports aid comprising a resiliently deformable member adapted to extend between the user's hand during stroke play and a substantially fixed part of the user's clothing. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side x-sectional view of a securing device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the securing device of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a cord attachment in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a golfer with the aid attached to a golf club handle and the belt loop of the golfer's trousers;

Figure 5 shows an exploded view of a weighted golfing aid prior to fitting in the end of a golf club handle, and

Figure 6 shows the belt loop fitting end of the resiliently deformable member prior to fitting to the belt loop.

Referring to figure 1 and 2, a securing device 102 comprises a cylindrical cowling 104 and a gripping neck 106 which is partially housed within the cowling 104. The gripping neck 106 depends from a screw threaded shank 108 about which the cowling 104 threadedly engages by way of a threaded hole centrally disposed in the top of the cowling. As the hole 116 is located about the axis of the cowling 104, rotation of the cowling causes it to slideably rotate over the gripping neck 106 resulting in relative axial movement of the cowling with respect to the gripping neck. Depending on the direction of rotation the cowling may thus advance toward or retreat away from the rim of the gripping neck.

The gripping neck 106 comprises four downwardly and outwardly depending resiliently deformable arms 110 (a - d) which are each separated by slots 112 (a - d). As the advancing cowling slides over the wider arms it acts to force the arms toward each other, closing the gap formed by the slots and narrowing the neck of the grip.

In practice, the grip is located on the end of a club 122 with the cowling retracted so that the neck is in its widest configuration. Once the neck has been placed over the end of the club, the cowling may be rotated forward over the neck forcing the neck to narrow and grip the end of the club. Advantageously, once the neck has gripped the club it possesses sufficient frictional resistance to rotation to remain stationery while the cowling is tightened thereover.

The head 114 of the shank 108 protrudes, in use, through the hole 116 in the cowling 104 and has an eye 118 through which an elasticated cord 120 is threaded .

Referring to figure 3, the elasticated cord 120 is secured, in use, to the user's clothing (not shown) by means of a hook 124 fitted with a one way flap 126. The flap deforms inwardly allowing the user's belt loop to be secured therein and thus, the elasticated cord is secured both to the end of the club and the user allowing the elasticated cord to act during the swing of the user as is described below.

A clip 128 secures the free end 130 of the elasticated cord 120 so that the cord is formed into a loop between the clip 128 and the eye 118. The clip allows the length of the loop to be varied to vary the restraining force applied during the swing action to suit the user's requirements. Adjustment will also be necessary to accord with the distance between the hip of the user and the end of the club.

Referring to figures 4, 5 and 6 a golf club handle 2 is fitted with a weighted extension 4 which weighted extension is inserted into an aperture 6, formed in the end of a golf club handle, by way of a lug 8 protruding from the bottom end of and co-axial with the extension 4. The lug is designed to be of a diameter which is a tight fit with the diameter of the hole 6. The lug has a head 10 at one end and a shank 12 extending from the head, the shank being of a smaller diameter than the head where the shank meets the head. The extension shown comprises two co-axial, co¬ extensive cylindrical bodies, an upper body 14 and a lower body 16. The shank 12 passes through the lower body along the basis thereof and has an upper threaded portion which extends into the lower side of the upper body 14 for fixed securement therein. The lower body 16 has an actual hole (not shown) passing therethrough which is tapped to receive the said threaded portion of the shank. Thus rotation of the upper body 14 causes rotative movement of the shank and lug head 10 toward or away from the lower body 16 depending upon the direction of rotation of the head 14. The upper and lower body 14 and 16 are substantially solid, cylindrical members with diameters which are designed to closely mimic that of the golf club handle so as to provide a smooth transition between the handle and the extension.

The extension 4 is secured in the grip handle by inserting the lug head 10 in the hole 6 when the upper body 14 is sufficiently rotated to provide a suitable space between the upper overhanging abutment 18 of the head and the lower face of the lower body 16. Upon forcing the head into the hole 6, the resiliently deformable edges of the upper face of the golf handle are disposed so that the head cannot be easily removed from the grip handle due to abutting engagement of the head abutment 18 and the interior side of the end of the grip handle. The upper body 14 is then rotated in the direction which brings the lug head 10 towards the lower body 16 and rotation is continued until the lug head 10, the upper surface of the grip handle and the lower body 16 are in close fitting contact. The said contact thus secures the extension of the grip handle in a substantially co-axial arrangement of the grip handle, the lower body and the upper body. In a further embodiment, it is envisaged that the lug head diameter will be substantially the same as the diameter of the hole such as 6 and the abutting engagement of the lower end of the lower body 16 against the upper surface of the grip handle and the lug head abutment against the lower surface will cause "a squeeze effect" so that the surface deforms and extends inwardly, thus effectively lowering the diameter of the hole 6 and causing the lug head to abut thereagainst while the lower body is abuttingly engaged therewith.

Referring to figure 4, the top of the extended member 4 is fitted with an eye 20 through which an elasticated cord 22 is threaded at one end thereof and secured to a hook 24 at the other end thereof. Both ends of the cord are secured is the hook so that the cord is in a doubled over arrangement. The hook is then secured to a belt loop 26 on the user's trousers. The loose ends of the elongate elasticated cord are secured together by a tubular hollow clamp (not shown) the clamp is of a diameter which does not easily permit removal of the cord from the hook 24 during use.

In addition to an eye 20 fitted to the end of the extension member 4, other securing means may be employed. For instance, the lower or upper body 14, 16 may be provided with a hole which passes therethrough and through which the cord may be threaded. Such an arrangement avoids the necessity of an additional eye at the end of the extension member and provides greater simplicity of manufacture as well as a more attractive product.

The embodiment described incorporate both the weighted extension and the elasticated connection to the hip of the user. However, embodiments may provide either the extension or the elasticated cord separately. In the latter case, the elasticated cord could be secured directly to the golf handle.

In use, when the golfer swings back the club, the elasticated cord stretches creating tension and a pulling action on the hands at the top of the swing. In addition, a turning tension will be applied to the hip of the user due to the securement to the belt loop of the elasticated cord. On commencement of the down swing, the rubber cord releases the hip of the user and assists in the pulling of the hands. The release through the ball is assisted by the weight of the extension member which slows the hands down and assists the right hand release of the club (assuming a right handed user) through the shot.

The hook may be secured to either hip of the user depending whether assistance is required in correcting hooked or sliced shots. If the hook is fixed to the forwardmost hip the pull of the cord assists in the prevention of slicing of the ball whereas placing the hook on the rear hip causes the rear hip to be brought through by the user's swing thus preventing hooking of the shot. Alternatively, the user may attach the aid to both hips simultaneously giving dual correction and a more controlled guidance.

A golf aid has been described but it is envisaged that the invention may be used in sports such as tennis, squash, badminton or other sports where stroke play is employed. The aid would be particularly suitable as a coaching tool in such sports. As with the golf aid, the general sports aid will be attached to the end of the respective racket, club, bat, etc.

Claims

C MMS

1. A sport aid comprising a first member adapted for securement to a stroke play implement and a resiliently deformable second member which second member is adapted for extension between and simultaneous securement to the said first member and a substantially fixed part of the user's clothing.

2. A sport aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first member is a weighted extension to the handle of the stroke play implement.

3. A sport aid as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the second member is an elasticated cord.

4. A sport aid comprising a weighted member adapted for securement to a stroke play implement handle to alter the weighting thereof.

5. A sport aid comprising a resiliently deformable member adapted to extend between and for securement to a stroke play implement and to a substantially fixed part of the user's clothing.

6. A sport aid as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first member is a weighted extension to the handle of the stroke play implement.

7. A sport aid as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resiliently deformable member is an elasticated cord.

8. A sport aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first member is adapted for securement to a golf club by having a grip to be placed over the end of the club.

9. A sport aid as claimed in claim 8, wherein the grip comprises a deformable gripping member and a sleeve wherein advancement of the sleeve over the gripping member causes the latter to contract and thus tighten its grip.

10. A sport aid as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first member is adapted for securement to the elasticated cord by having a hole passing therethrough through which the cord may be threaded.

11. A sport aid as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elasticated cord is adapted to be secured to the first member by virtue of the diameter of the cord which is suitable by threading through an accommodating hole in the said first member.

12. A sport aid as claimed in claim 3 wherein the elasticated cord is adapted to be secured to the user's clothing by way of a hook which is adapted to engage with the belt space or hook on the user's trousers.

13. A sport aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first member forms an integral part of the handle of the stroke play instrument.

14. A sport aid as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first member is a hole in the handle of the stroke play instrumen .

15. A sport aid substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to figures 1 to 3.

16. A sport aid substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to figures 4 to 6.

17. A golf aid comprising a first member adapted for securement to a golf club and a resiliently deformable second member which second member is adapted for extension between and simultaneous securement to the said first member and a substantially fixed part of the user's clothing.

18. A golf aid as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first member is a weighted extension to the handle of the golf club.

19. A gold aid as claimed in claims 17 or 18, wherein the second member is an elasticated cord.

20. A golf aid comprising a weighted member adapted for securement to a golf club handle to alter the weighting thereof.

21. A golf aid comprising a resiliently deformable member adapted to extend between and for securement to a golf club and to a substantially fixed part of the user's clothing.

22. A golf aid as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first member is a weighted extension to the handle of the golf club.

23. A golf aid as claimed in claim 21, wherein the resiliently deformable member is an elasticated cord.

24. A golf aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first member is adapted for securement to a golf club by having a grip to be placed over the end of the club.

25. A golf aid as claimed in claim 24, wherein the grip comprises a deformable gripping member and a sleeve wherein advancement of the sleeve over the gripping member causes the latter to contract and thus tighten its grip.

26. A golf aid as claimed in claim 19 wherein the first member is adapted for securement to the elasticated cord by having a hole passing therethrough through which the cord may be threaded.

27. A golf aid as claimed in claim 19, wherein the elasticated cord is adapted to be secured to the first member by virtue of the diameter of the cord which is suitable by threading through an accommodating hole in the said first member.

28. A golf aid as claimed in claim 19 wherein the elasticated cord is adapted to be secured to the user's clothing by way of a hook which is adapted to engage with the belt space or hook on the user's trousers.

29. A golf aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first member forms an integral part of the handle of the stroke play instrument.

30. A golf aid as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first member is a hole in the handle of the stroke play instrument.

31. A golf aid substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to figures 1 to 3.

32. A golf aid substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to figures 4 to 6.