Lead arm wrist position training device

• US 5,509,809 A
• Filed: 10/19/1994
• Issued: 04/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haile S. Clay
• Original Assignee: Haile S. Clay
• Inventors: Clay, Haile S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US08/326,067
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 273/266, 273/29 A, 273/35 R, 273/183.1, 273/187.2, 273/187.5, 273/188 R, 273/188 R, 273/189 R, 273/190 A, 273/62, 273/213, 434/252
• US Class Current: 434/252
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/146 Golf gloves

Abstract

The present invention is a golf training device that will help the golfer train himself to maintain the proper arm and wrist position. This invention consists of a glove which is modified by the addition of a pocket to the back of the glove. In this pocket fits an electronic attachment with a sensory mechanism. This sensing mechanism will sense arm and wrist positions and compare these positions to predetermined ones registered in the electronic circuit. If the golfer'"'"'s body members repeat the predetermined positions a signal will alert the golfer that the proper position has been achieved.

Claims

1. A sport training device attachable to the human hand and wrist comprising in combination:

a) glove means attachable to a human hand and wrist;

b) sizing means for adjusting said glove means to fit said human hand and wrist;

c) sensing means including an electronic circuit attached to said glove means for sensing angular movement between the human arm and wrist by detecting the position of the wrist in a swing plane substantially parallel to a predetermined plane, said electronic circuit including a first elevation sensitive sensor and a second elevation sensitive sensor, said second elevation sensitive sensor being positioned relative to said first elevation sensitive sensor such that when said first elevation sensitive sensor and said second elevation sensitive sensor are both positioned in a reference plane, the wrist is positioned in said swing plane and said first elevation sensitive sensor and said second elevation sensitive sensor complete said electronic circuit;

d) signaling means for providing a signal when said first elevation sensitive sensor and said second elevation sensitive sensor are both substantially positioned in said reference plane to signal the positioning of the wrist in said swing plane; and

e) a power source for energizing said sensing means and signal means.

2. A sport training device as recited in claim 1 wherein said attachment means is a modified glove attachable to the human hand and wrist.

3. A sport training device as recited in claim 1 wherein said glove means is not gender specific and is adjustable for all sizes.

4. A device of claim 1 wherein the angular movements capable of being sensed by the sensing means are those created between the wrist, rotation of the forearm and elevation of the arm relative to the shoulder joint.

5. The sport training device as recited in claim 1 in which said first elevation sensitive sensor and said second elevation sensitive sensor are elevation sensitive switches.

6. A sport training device mountable to a glove for training an athlete to use the proper swing, said training device comprising:

a) a pair of sensors configured for sensing the positioning of the arm of said athlete in a swing plane defined by said proper swing, said sensors being positioned and oriented relative to one another such that when both of said sensors are positioned in a first plane, the wrist wearing said glove is positioned in a second plane substantially parallel to said swing plane;

b) a signal device coupled to said sensors, said signal device providing a signal when both of said sensors are substantially positioned in said first plane; and

c) a power source for energizing said sensors and said signal device.

7. The sport training device as recited in claim 6 in which said sensors are elevation sensitive switches.

8. The sport training device as recited in claim 6, and further comprising a glove coupled to said training device.

11. The sport training device as recited in claim 6 in which said sensors are positioned such that when both of said sensors are substantially positioned in said first plane, the wrist of said athlete is held at a first angle relative to the arm of said athlete, the arm is pivoted to a second angle about the longitudinal axis of the arm, and the arm is oriented at a third angle relative to the shoulders of said athlete.

9. A method of training a golfer to use the proper golf swing comprising the steps of:

positioning an attachment body on the lead arm of said golfer,

mounting a sensor assembly to said attachment body, said sensor assembly having a pair of elevation sensitive sensors and a signal device coupled to said sensors to provide a signal when both of said sensors are substantially positioned in a reference plane, said sensor assembly being oriented relative to said attachment body such that when the wrist of said lead arm is located in a selected plane during the golf swing, said elevation sensitive sensors are positioned in said reference plane and said signal device provides a signal for said golfer; and

activating a power source to supply power to said sensor assembly.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 in which said attachment body is a glove and in which said positioning step comprises positioning said glove on the hand of said lead arm and said mounting step comprises mounting said sensor assembly to said glove.