Constant force golf swing training device, method of swing plane training and internet operation thereof
First Claim
1. A golf swing plane training device for a golfer user comprising in operative combination:
- a) an anchor assembly,b) a constant force unit (CFU) assembly mounted via a pivot to said anchor and having a tether,i) said CFU is anchored to a support at a height above the highest extent of a golfer'"'"'s hands at the top of a back swing,ii) said anchor and CFU pivot permitting pivoting of said CFU around a vertical axis during the performance by said user of a golf training swing;
iii) said constant force unit comprises a reverse-wound ribbon spring assembly selectable to have a non-straining force doing both the back swing and down swing in the range of less than about 20 lbs force during extension an retrac-tion, said assembly including a supply reel and an output reel mounted on an axle, said ribbon spring being wound one way in said supply reel with an outer end attached to said output reel axle for winding the opposite way around the output reel axle to provide smooth, truly constant force, contion-ous play out and rewind of said tether through-out the entire golf swing;
c) a tether comprising a line attached at one end to said CFU and having a length selected to provide a full golf swing from at least the top of a back swing through a down swing to an address position;
d) a handle unit attachable to the other end of said line for gasping by a user, said handle comprising;
i) a two-handed, contoured grip of a golf club without either the shaft or head of said club, andii) an axially oriented, pivoting shank extending from an out-board end of said handle, said shaft including a distal end having an element to which said tether is attached, and said pivoting shank is configured to direct force from said tether to substantially the center of said said gripiii) said constant force unit and said axial handle shank, as they pivot during a golf swing, providing an upward and backward substantially constant force pull substantially on the center of said grip of said handle during both said back swing and during the entire down swing to said address position, a proper swing plane being a path of handle swing of least perceived resis-tance; and
e) said golfer user positioning him/her-self with respect to said anchored CFU to provide an upward and backward substantially constant force pull directed substantially to the center of user'"'"'s two handed grip on said contoured handle during said back swing to assist in full extension of the lead arm during said back swing, and substantially constant force during the entire down swing to said address position to promote lead shoulder dominance and arm muscle memory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Golf swing training device having constant resistive and rewind forces throughout the swings. An anchor positions a constant force unit, supplies a tether to a special contoured handle and is used indoor or out, preferably at a driving range or golf course. The CFU is preferably hung from a door top by a bracket or anchored to a free-standing pole. Kiosks may be located at driving ranges and golf courses for automated, coin or credit-card operation, or attendant operation, and may be linked to local or remote Internet-enabled computer control and monitoring centers. The use of constant force trains the body to learn perfect planar swing muscle memory by pulling the user into a fully-extended back swing position and to be lead side dominant in the down swing. A “perfect” club swing plane is developed with the force acting at or near the interlock by use of the special handles.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A golf swing plane training device for a golfer user comprising in operative combination:
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a) an anchor assembly, b) a constant force unit (CFU) assembly mounted via a pivot to said anchor and having a tether, i) said CFU is anchored to a support at a height above the highest extent of a golfer'"'"'s hands at the top of a back swing, ii) said anchor and CFU pivot permitting pivoting of said CFU around a vertical axis during the performance by said user of a golf training swing; iii) said constant force unit comprises a reverse-wound ribbon spring assembly selectable to have a non-straining force doing both the back swing and down swing in the range of less than about 20 lbs force during extension an retrac-tion, said assembly including a supply reel and an output reel mounted on an axle, said ribbon spring being wound one way in said supply reel with an outer end attached to said output reel axle for winding the opposite way around the output reel axle to provide smooth, truly constant force, contion-ous play out and rewind of said tether through-out the entire golf swing; c) a tether comprising a line attached at one end to said CFU and having a length selected to provide a full golf swing from at least the top of a back swing through a down swing to an address position; d) a handle unit attachable to the other end of said line for gasping by a user, said handle comprising; i) a two-handed, contoured grip of a golf club without either the shaft or head of said club, and ii) an axially oriented, pivoting shank extending from an out-board end of said handle, said shaft including a distal end having an element to which said tether is attached, and said pivoting shank is configured to direct force from said tether to substantially the center of said said grip iii) said constant force unit and said axial handle shank, as they pivot during a golf swing, providing an upward and backward substantially constant force pull substantially on the center of said grip of said handle during both said back swing and during the entire down swing to said address position, a proper swing plane being a path of handle swing of least perceived resis-tance; and e) said golfer user positioning him/her-self with respect to said anchored CFU to provide an upward and backward substantially constant force pull directed substantially to the center of user'"'"'s two handed grip on said contoured handle during said back swing to assist in full extension of the lead arm during said back swing, and substantially constant force during the entire down swing to said address position to promote lead shoulder dominance and arm muscle memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A golf swing plane training method for a golfer trainee comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a constant force unit; i) pivotally anchored to a support at an elevated position located at a height above the highest extent of a golfer-trainee'"'"'s hands at the of a back swing, said anchor permitting pivoting of said constant force unit around a vertical axis during the performance by said trainee of golf swing, ii) said constant force unit including a tether and a handle at the end of the tether, iii) said handle comprising a two-handed, contoured grip of a golf club without the shaft or head of said club and an axially oriented pivoting shaft extending from an out-board end of said handle, said shaft including an outer end having an element to which said tether is attached, and said pivoting shaft is configured to direct force from said tether to substantially the center of said said qrip, and iv) said constant force unit comprises a reverse-wound ribbon spring assembly having a supply reel portion and an output reel mounted on an axle, said ribbon spring being wound one way in said supply reel with an outer end attached to said output reel axle for winding the opposite way around the output reel axle to provide smooth, truly constant force, continuous play out and rewind of said tether throughout the entire golf swing; b) positioning said trainee in a proper golf address stance with respect to said constant force unit; c) said trainee is positioned in a golf stance suited to the handedness of the trainee to grip said handle in a proper two-handed golf grip; d) performing by said trainee of at least one of a back swing, a down swing to an address position and a follow through swing; e) applying a constant force of less than about 20 lbs from said constant force unit to said handle while said trainee performs said swing, said constant force unit and said axial handle shaft as they pivot during a golf swing, providing an upward and backward substantially constant force pull substantially on the center of said grip of said handle during both said back swing to assist in full extension of the lead arm during said back swing, and during the entire down swing to said address position; and f) repeating by said golf trainee a path of least perceived resistance in said swing under said constant force a plurality of times continuously with smooth play out and rewind of said tether and under said constant force without strain during both the back swing and the don swing to assist in developing muscle memory of a proper golf swing plane and to assist in training the lead side to be dominant during at least the down swing. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification