Angle activated training device for golfers

• US 6,001,023 A
• Filed: 09/23/1997
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gunther H. Steen, Richard D. Sanchez
• Original Assignee: Gunther H. Steen, Richard D. Sanchez
• Inventors: Sanchez, Richard D., Steen, Gunther H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US08/935,431
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 473/224, 473/217, 473/270, 473/223
• US Class Current: 473/217
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/367 Detection of balance between both feet, i.e. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3635 with sound-emitting source

Abstract

The angle activated training device, in one embodiment, is worn on the backside of a golfer'"'"'s rearward shoe. In another embodiment, the training device is mounted onto the shaft of a golf club. The shoe device includes a compact container no larger than the backside of a golfer'"'"'s shoe. The container is mounted on to the shoe via a clip-on mechanism. The container includes, in its interior, a power source, a control switch, an alarm consisting of either a vibratory alarm or an audible alarm and an angle activated switch. Since these items are electrically coupled together, when the control switch is closed, a vibratory or an audible alarm is issued when the backside of a golfer'"'"'s shoe is in horizontal position at a final finish position of a golfer'"'"'s strike. The angle activated training device mounted on the shaft of a golf club includes the same electrical components but the alarm is issued when the club passes through one of at least two horizontal positions when the club is properly swung by a golfer. In another embodiment, the angle activated device on the shaft of a golf club issued alarms when the device passes through each of two predetermined angular positions of the club.

Claims

1. An angle activated training device for golfers to be worn on a backside of a golfer'"'"'s rearward shoe comprising:

a compact container no larger than said backside of said golfer'"'"'s shoe;

a clip-on mechanism, attached to said container, said clip-on mechanism adapted to removably affix said container to said backside of said golfer'"'"'s rearward shoe; and

,

a power source, a control switch, an alarm consisting of one of a vibratory alarm and an audible alarm, and an angle activated switch, all electrically coupled together and mounted in said container and forming means for generating an alarm directed to said golfer indicating a horizontal position of said backside of said golfer'"'"'s rearward shoe at a finish position of a golfer'"'"'s stroke.

2. An angle activated training device for golfers as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for generating said alarm includes said vibratory alarm such that the alarm directed to said golfer is silent.

3. An angle activated training device for golfers as claimed in claim 2 wherein said angle activated switch is a mercury switch, said mercury switch being open when said container is in a vertical position while disposed on the backside of said golfer'"'"'s rearward shoe, said mercury switch being closed when said container is horizontally disposed and said backside of said golfer'"'"'s rearward shoe is in said horizontal position at said finish position of said golfer'"'"'s stroke.

4. An angle activated training device for golfers as claimed in claim 1 wherein said angle activated switch is a mercury switch, said mercury switch being open when said container is in a vertical position while disposed on the backside of said golfer'"'"'s rearward shoe, said mercury switch being closed when said container is horizontally disposed and said backside of said golfer'"'"'s rearward shoe is in said horizontal position at said finish position of said golfer'"'"'s stroke.