Golf backswing training aid and alert

• US 9,254,430 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony Lasala
• Original Assignee: Anthony Lasala
• Inventors: LaSala, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W
• Application Number:
  US14/244,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20150283448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 473/207
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

A golf training aid is provided that teaches a golfer the proper motion of the lead knee during a backswing by providing the golfer with a positive feedback alert. A motion sensor detects a predetermined optimal position of the lead knee and a positive feedback alert is produced when the predetermined optimal position is achieve. The positive feedback alert may be an audible, visual, and/or tactile alert to notify a user that the predetermined optimal position is achieved.

Claims

1. A golf training aid, comprising:

a support;

an alerting device mounted on the support comprising a motion sensor and a positive feedback device; and

an attachment device configured to attach the golf training aid to a leg of a user;

wherein the motion sensor is configured to detect a motion of a user'"'"'s knee during a golf swing by the user, and when a predetermined position of the user'"'"'s knee is reached, activate the positive feedback device and generate a positive feedback alert for the user.

2. The golf training aid of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises at least one of a tilt switch, a gyro-inertial sensor, an opto-kinetic system, and an accelerometer.

3. The golf training aid of claim 1, wherein the positive feedback device is electrically activatable, and the alerting device further comprises an electrical power source placeable into electrical communication with the positive feedback device when the predetermined position is reached, thereby providing electrical current to, and activating, the positive feedback device to generate the positive feedback alert.

4. The golf training aid of claim 1, wherein the attachment device comprises a strap having a first end attached to the support and a second end selectively attachable to the support.

5. The golf training aid of claim 1, further comprising a pivot support pivotally mounting the motion sensor to the support, wherein the motion sensor is selectively adjustable on the pivot support between a first position in which the motion sensor does not activate the positive feedback device when the user'"'"'s knee reaches the predetermined position and a second position in which the motion sensor activates the positive feedback device when the user'"'"'s knee reaches the predetermined position.

6. The golf training aid of claim 5, wherein the pivot support is configured to maintain the motion sensor in the second position during movement of the user'"'"'s leg during a golf swing.

7. The golf training aid of claim 1, wherein the alerting device comprises an electrical circuit including an electrical power source and configured to be in an electrically open state when the user'"'"'s knee is not in the predetermined position, and in an electrically closed state when the user'"'"'s knee is in the predetermined position, thereby delivering electrical power to and activating the positive feedback device.

8. The golf training aid of claim 1, wherein the positive feedback alert is at least one of an audible alert, a visual alert, and a tactile alert.

9. The golf training aid of claim 1, wherein the positive feedback alert is not activated when the alerting device fails to detect the predetermined position.

10. A method for golf training, comprising:

removably attaching a golf training aid onto the leg of a user, wherein the golf training aid comprises a support, an alerting device mounted on the support comprising a motion sensor and a positive feedback device, and an attachment device configured to attach the golf training aid to a leg of a user, wherein the motion sensor is configured to detect a motion of a user'"'"'s knee during a golf swing by the user, and when a predetermined position of the user'"'"'s knee is reached, activate the positive feedback device and generate a positive feedback alert to the user; and

generating a positive feedback alert with the positive feedback device when the user'"'"'s leg reaches the predetermined position to alert the user thereof.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the positive feedback device is electrically activatable and the alerting device further comprises an electrical power source placeable into electrical communication with the positive feedback device when the predetermined position is reached, and wherein the alerting step further includes

placing the electrical power source into electrical communication with the positive feedback device;

providing electrical current to the positive feedback device;

activating the positive feedback device; and

generating the positive feedback alert.

12. The method of claim 11 including providing electrical power to the positive feedback device only when the predetermined position is achieved.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the generating step comprises generating at least one of an audible alert, a visual alert, and a tactile alert.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the golf training aid comprises a pivot support pivotally mounting the motion sensor to the support, the motion sensor is selectively adjustable on the pivot support between a first position in which the motion sensor does not activate the positive feedback device when the user'"'"'s knee reaches the predetermined position and a second position in which the motion sensor activates the positive feedback device when the user'"'"'s knee reaches the predetermined position, and the method further comprises, after the attaching step, adjusting the motion sensor on the pivot support to the second position.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising maintaining the motion sensor in the second position during movement of the user'"'"'s leg during a golf swing.

16. A golf training aid comprising:

an alerting device comprising first means for detecting a motion of a user'"'"'s knee during a golf swing by the user, for detecting when a predetermined position of the user'"'"'s knee has been reached, and for activating second means of the golf training aid for generating a positive feedback alert for the user when the first means detects that the predetermined position of the user'"'"'s knee has been reached;

third means for supporting the first and second means mounted thereon; and

fourth means for removably attaching the golf training aid to a leg of the user.

17. The golf training aid of claim 16, wherein the first means is a motion sensor, the second means is a positive feedback device, the third means is a support, and the fourth means is an attachment device.

18. The golf training aid of claim 16, further comprising fifth means for delivering electrical power to the second means when the first means detects the predetermined position.

19. The golf training aid of claim 17, wherein the fifth means is an electrical circuit including an electrical power source.

20. The golf training aid of claim 16, further comprising sixth means for pivotally mounting the first means to the third means, and for selectively adjusting the first means on the sixth means between a first position in which the first means does not activate the second means when the user'"'"'s knee reaches the predetermined position and a second position in which the first means activates the second means when the user'"'"'s knee reaches the predetermined position.

21. The golf training aid of claim 20, wherein the sixth means is a pivot support.

22. The golf training aid of claim 20, wherein the sixth means further includes seventh means for maintaining the sixth means in the second position during movement of the user'"'"'s leg during a golf swing.