Athletic swing training device and method
First Claim
1. In an athletic swing timing training device including an athletic striking implement having a grip portion, an impact portion for striking a playing object and a flexible shaft interconnecting said grip and impact portions, the improvement comprising:
- indicating means actuatable to stroboscopically illuminate said implement to visually freeze its apparent position; and
sensing means carried by said implement for detecting flexural movement of said shaft and actuating said indicating means when said shaft completes a predetermined pattern of flexural movement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An athletic swing timing training device and method are disclosed for an athletic striking implement having a flexible shaft. The device includes indicating components for stroboscopically illuminating the implement to visually freeze the apparent position of the implement relative to the object to be struck and relative to the arms and body of the user, and a sensor carried by the implement for actuating the indicating components when the shaft completes a predetermined pattern of flexural movement. The device is particularly well suited for practicing a golf swing.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. In an athletic swing timing training device including an athletic striking implement having a grip portion, an impact portion for striking a playing object and a flexible shaft interconnecting said grip and impact portions, the improvement comprising:
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indicating means actuatable to stroboscopically illuminate said implement to visually freeze its apparent position; and sensing means carried by said implement for detecting flexural movement of said shaft and actuating said indicating means when said shaft completes a predetermined pattern of flexural movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a golf swing training device including a golf club having a grip, a head for striking a ball at rest at an impact point and a flexible shaft interconnecting said grip and head, and switching means carried by said club and responsive to club motion to actuate an indicating means at a critical point in the swing of said club to foster proper timing of the swing, the improvement comprising:
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switch mounting means rigidly secured to said grip and extending along said shaft; a first switch contact carried by said mounting means adjacent the free end thereof; and a second switch contact coupled to said shaft and movable therewith between alternate positions of engagement with and disengagement from said first contact in response to the flexing movements of said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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- 32. In a golf swing training device including a golf club having a grip, a head for striking a ball at rest at an impact point and a flexible shaft interconnecting said grip and head, and switching means carried by said club and responsive to club motion to actuate an indicating means at a critical point in the swing of said club to foster proper timing of the swing, the improvement comprising a golfer-engageable discriminator switch in series with said switching means and selectively operable to prevent said switching means from actuating said indicating means during waggling and other transient movements of said club.
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35. A sensor for detecting flexural movement of the shaft of an athletic striking implement having a grip portion, an impact portion for sriking a playing object and a flexible shaft interconnecting said grip and impact portions, said sensor comprising:
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a substantially rigid elongated mounting member adapted to be secured near one of its ends to said grip portion and extend therefrom along said shaft; and a pair of engageable electrical switch contacts carried at the free end of said mounting member, one of said contacts adapted to be coupled to said shaft and movable into and out of engagement with the other contact in response to the flexing movements of said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A training method for fostering proper timing of the swing of an athletic striking implement having a grip portion, an impact portion for striking a playing object and a flexible shaft interconnecting said grip and impact portions, said method comprising the steps of:
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swinging said implement in normal playing fashion such that said shaft undergoes a predetermined pattern of flexural movement; detecting the flexural movement of said shaft during said swing; and actuating an indicating means to stroboscopically illuminate said implement upon detecting the completion of said pattern of movement to visually freeze the apparent position of said implement, thereby indicating any departure from a correctly timed swing. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A golf training method for fostering proper timing of the swing of a golf club having a grip, a head for striking a ball at rest at an impact point, and a flexible shaft interconnecting said grip and head, said method comprising the steps of:
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swinging said club in normal playing fashion with an initial backswing to raise said club, and a subsequent downswing toward and through said impact point to initially bend said shaft rearwardly away from said impact point and then straighten said shaft; detecting the flexural movement of said shaft; and actuating an indicating means to stroboscopically illuminate said club upon detecting substantial straightening of said shaft to visually freeze the apparent position of said club relative to the impact point, thereby indicating any departure from a correctly timed swing. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification