HK1083321B - Golf exercise device - Google Patents

Description

Golf training device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to golf exercise devices, and more particularly, to a golf exercise device that can be adjusted to accommodate users of various sizes and is designed to simulate and lift a golf swing by aerobically and/or anaerobically strengthening the large rolling muscles of the body, including the upper thighs, torso and abdomen, and shoulders, which are most used in performing the golf swing and which are trained to swing with the appropriate muscles.

Background

Conventional training and exercise machines, such as Nautilus or other weight or endurance type systems, are often used to strengthen the muscles of the body. For example, the abdominal muscles are strengthened by a sit-up or a specialized abdominal strengthening machine. Also, the chest and shoulder muscles are reinforced by various chest and shoulder presses. Also, leg presses may be used to strengthen the thigh muscles. These types of machines are readily available at gyms and homes. While these machines may be effective in providing weight resistance and strength training, muscles cannot be trained or strengthened in a manner similar to a golf swing.

There are other specialized devices that are adapted to enhance the golf swing. Such devices include weighted golf clubs or golf club devices having a fan or some other form of air resistance. However, these devices offer only limited resistance, primarily for strengthening the hand and forearm; they do not have the equivalent strengthening advantages of a machine that rotates with such important large rotary muscles in the correct golf swing.

Accordingly, there remains a need for a device that simultaneously guides the user through the proper golf swing and strengthens the large rotary muscles used in performing the proper golf swing.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that can guide a user through a proper golf swing and exercise the user in the proper golf swing.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a training apparatus, comprising:

a frame;

a yoke assembly secured to the frame, the yoke assembly comprising:

a yoke configured in a training orientation;

a support arm secured to the yoke at a revolute joint, the support arm having a support arm axis of rotation;

a flywheel secured to the support arm; and

a resistance device secured to the flywheel, the resistance device comprising a resistance;

wherein a force applied to the yoke causes rotation of the yoke about the axis of rotation of the support arm and further causes rotation of the flywheel, which in turn causes movement of the resistance member relative to the applied force.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device in which the trajectory and movement of the user's body during the correct golf swing is facilitated by progressive resistance training of the muscles used during the correct golf swing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for aerobically and/or anaerobically strengthening the large rotary muscles of the body, including the upper thighs, torso and abdomen, and shoulders, most used in performing a golf swing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that can be oriented and adjusted not only to simulate the position of a user's body during a "correct" golf swing, but also to accommodate the position and size of other users' bodies.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device that provides multiple degree of freedom adjustment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that provides a user with variable resistance during a simulated golf swing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that can guide the user through the proper swing mechanics by requiring a large amount of muscular power to rotate the device against a variable weight resistance.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to refer to like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a left side perspective view of a golf training device configured for a right-hand swing according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of a golf training device configured for a right-hand swing according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a golf training device configured for a right-hand swing according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a golf training device configured for a right-hand swing according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a left perspective view of a golf exercise device with a yoke in a forward hand position configured for a right-hand swing showing a user within the frame according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a front wheel yoke support arm assembly set in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a front wheel yoke support arm assembly set in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a golf training device configured for a left-hand swing according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a left perspective view of a golf training device configured for a right-hand swing according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a left perspective view of a golf training device configured for a right-hand swing according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a left perspective view of a golf training device configured for a right-hand swing according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a left perspective view of a golf training device configured for a right-hand swing according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to fig. 1-12. Any particular size, angular orientation, or configuration shown in the figures is intended to represent preferred embodiments herein and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of golf exercise device 1 includes a frame 10 supporting a yoke 20. Yoke 20 is rotatably connected to frame 10 by flywheel 30 and support arm 40. Preferably, the yoke 20 has a center of rotation that is aligned with the ideal position of the golfer's spine during the golf swing, and a 360 degree revolute joint 50 at the base of the support arm 40.

When the golfer's body twists about its center of rotation, i.e., when the golfer performs a simulated golf swing and accordingly twists his body about the "fixed spine", the yoke 20 twists and rotates the joint 50, the joint 50 rotates the support arm 40, the support arm 40 rotates the flywheel 30, and the flywheel 30 lifts the resistance device 60 connected to the flywheel 30 by the cable 70, the first pulley 80, and the second pulley 82. In this embodiment, the resistance 60 comprises a weight stack assembly. By varying the amount of weight on the resistance device 60, the difficulty of the twisting motion can be varied to provide progressively increasing resistance and strength training.

Other embodiments of the present invention configured for a right-hand swing are shown in fig. 2-5 and 9-12, including schematic illustrations of golf practice devices with the addition of a user performing a right-hand swing, representative sets of components being shown in fig. 6-7. Also included is a schematic diagram of the present invention configured for a left-handed swing as shown in fig. 8.

The location and orientation of the user of the golf exercise device is important in the training and strengthening aspects of the present invention. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the position and orientation of the spine of a right-handed golfer during a golf swing is about 30 degrees to vertical (i.e., leaning forward by about 30 degrees to vertical as reflected by angle "θ" in side view 2) and about 10 degrees to roll (i.e., leaning by about 10 degrees or to the left of vertical as reflected by angle "α" in front view 3). In such an embodiment, the axis of rotation of support arm 40 is at a position where θ equals about 30 degrees and α equals about 10 degrees.

However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume other angular positions and orientations and that such are considered to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the golf exercise device allows the height and angular orientation of the center of rotation of the yoke to be adjusted to accommodate different body types and sizes of golfers. Also, for a left-handed golfer, the body position of the user is apparently symmetrical to that of a right-handed golfer, as shown in FIG. 8. In this way, golf exercise device 1 may be adjusted from a right-handed training configuration to a left-handed training configuration, or vice versa. This is also advantageous because some fitness physiologists believe it is desirable to strengthen the muscle in the opposite direction of the original muscle.

The adjustability of the disclosed invention provides the ability to change the position and orientation of the device in multiple degrees of freedom. These degrees of freedom include, but are not limited to: the height of the position of the yoke; forward pitch of the yoke center of rotation (i.e., angle θ in fig. 2); the rearward inclination of the center of rotation of the yoke 20 (i.e., angle α in fig. 3); and the rotation angle of the support arm 40 about the yoke rotation center (i.e., the angle β in fig. 1). Support arm 40 may be adjustable within guide support 90 to accommodate users of golf exercise devices of different heights and sizes. In some embodiments, support arm 40 may be adjustable with a series of spaced apart holes therein (as shown in fig. 6) through which fixing pins may be inserted to lock in place at a desired height. In other embodiments, other temporary locking means may be used, such as locking rings, detents that mate with spring tension bearings, bolt washer and nut configurations, screws and threaded holes, or other suitable means for maintaining the support arm at a desired height during use of the Gaulter exercise device.

The components included in the various preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to fig. 1-12.

As shown in FIG. 1, golf exercise device 1 includes a frame 10 (or "support structure") having a wide base for providing structural support and stability to the remaining components of golf exercise device 1, as well as for providing stability to the golfer during performance of a golf swing. The frame 10 includes a floor-mounted base and a number of vertical, horizontal and inclined structural support members, as will be further illustrated in fig. 1-5 and 8. The width and spacing of the support members are preferably selected to allow rotational movement of the yoke 20 (discussed later) and to allow easy ingress and egress by a user.

Other configurations of the frame 10 that allow freedom of movement of the golfer during the golf swing are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the golf exercise device may be supported from above (i.e., a breaker plate mounting system) or mounted on a side wall or other support structure (i.e., a wall-mounted system), so long as it has sufficient structural rigidity to minimize the flexibility or movement of the support structure, which may interfere with the performance of a proper golf swing. Fig. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which the frame 110 is configured to be mounted on the side walls of other structures. The support bracket 112 may be used to secure the frame 110 to a wall or other surface. Alternatively, fig. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which the frame 210 is configured to be supported from above, for example from a ceiling. Support brackets 212 may be used to secure frame 210 to a ceiling.

The various frames of the different embodiments of the golf exercise device may be attached to the floor, wall, or ceiling by various means including welding, bolts or screws and/or inserting the frame into a set of slots or channels designed to hold the frame in place. It should also be appreciated that in some embodiments, the golf exercise device may be free standing and mobile. Thus, the golf exercise device may be moved to various locations within a gym or training field. In some embodiments, the width and weight of the frame 10 prevents the exercise device 1 from moving during use.

In another embodiment, frame 10 may be modified to add wheels or other transportability devices so that golf exercise device 1 may be easily transported to a golf range or other sport location. This would allow the user to use golf exercise device 1 to get the feel of a proper golf swing and then be able to hit a real golf hole immediately with real golf equipment. Fig. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which wheels 14 are attached to frame 10 so that golf exercise device 1 can be easily moved from one location to another. It should be understood that the wheels 14 may be configured to: prior to use of golf exercise device 1, a brake or locking mechanism may be used to prevent their use.

In order to properly simulate a preferred golf swing, golf exercise device 1 utilizes flywheel 30 as a pivoting structure to guide the user's body into the proper position for a modern golf swing. As shown in FIG. 5, flywheel 30 is configured to allow rotation of yoke 20 about the axis of the user's spine during use of golf exercise device 1 by the user who will perform a golf swing. That is, in order to obtain a preferred angular orientation for a proper golf swing, the user's spine should tilt forward about 30 degrees from the waist (i.e., the angle θ is about 30 degrees as shown in fig. 2) and tilt about 10 degrees (i.e., the angle α is about 10 degrees as shown in fig. 3). By rotating such an azimuth, an optimal golf swing may be achieved, in doing so, by using golf exercise device 1, the user's body remains in proper positional alignment because the hips cannot advance forward of the body due to the user's restraint by yoke 20. In this way, during the simulated swing, the body can only rotate golf exercise device 1 sequentially, and all of the muscles used to perform the proper swing are used, and thus, these muscles are strengthened.

As shown in fig. 1, the flywheel 30 is connected to the frame 10 by a support arm 40, and the support arm 40 is slidably connected to an uppermost horizontal support bar 100 at the top of the frame 10 via a guide support 90. The orientation of the support arm 40 coincides with the center or axis of rotation of the flywheel 30. By raising or lowering the support arms 40, the height of the flywheel 30 can be adjusted to accommodate golfers of different sizes, but the flywheel 30 is always supported by the frame 10 in a manner that allows free rotation during performance of the golf swing.

The flywheel 30 is easily rotatable in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction using the rotary joint 50 and is able to transition from a right position for a right-handed golfer to a left position for a left-handed golfer. The configuration of golf training device 1 for a left-handed golfer is shown in fig. 8. The mechanism and multiple degree of freedom adjustment capability for the left hand position is the same as described above for the right hand position. Also, golf exercise device 1 may be used to provide resistance to backswing or to provide resistance during a swing. This is achieved by switching the direction of rotation of the flywheel 30 from clockwise to counter-clockwise (or vice versa) using the revolute joint 50.

If desired, other means for effecting rotational motion about the user's spine may be used, including the use of an elliptical or non-circular flywheel, to provide variable but controlled resistance at different positions of the swing. Fig. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which the flywheel 130 is generally elliptical in shape.

As shown in FIG. 1, the resistance device 60 is connected to the flywheel 30 via a cable 70 (as described above), the cable 70 spanning a first pulley 80 and a second pulley 82, such that when the flywheel 30 rotates (in response to the user rotating the yoke 20 during performance of a golf swing), the resistance device 60 is raised or lowered in response to the golf swing. Adjusting the amount of resistance selected on the resistance device 60 allows the user to provide more or less resistance during pendulum training.

Other means for providing resistance training to the user may be employed and are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. These include the use of hydraulic, electromechanical, elastic or other types of variable resistance. Fig. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention wherein resistance 160 may be one of a hydraulic machine, an electromechanical mechanism, and an elastic machine.

Yoke 20 is rotatably connected to flywheel 30 by joint 50 and support arm 40. Yoke 20 is sized to fit around the shoulders of a user, preferably being held in place during normal operation of the user's hands, which are naturally held in a forward position to simulate the mechanism of a proper golf swing. As shown in fig. 5, yoke 20 is in a hand-forward position. Other configurations and hand positions are possible and are included within the scope of the disclosed invention. Although the user's hands grasp the yoke 20, the large rotary muscles of the upper torso and thighs actually play a role in performing the golf swing, as these muscles are the means to cause the golf exercise device 1 to rotate, as opposed to the muscles of the forearms that play a role in using conventional golf swing training devices. A joint 50 is provided between the yoke 20 and the flywheel 30 to allow adjustment of the yoke 20 to accommodate 360 degrees of rotation so that resistance can be applied to the golf swing in either a right-handed or left-handed configuration as well as during a backswing or swing.

In addition to the angular degrees of freedom θ and α and the height adjustment degree of freedom shown in fig. 2 and 3, respectively, one embodiment of the present invention allows adjustment of the angular position of the flywheel 30 about its center of rotation, which coincides with the lengthwise axis of the support arm 40. This degree of freedom is denoted by β in fig. 2.

The golf exercise device may also be used by a user sitting on a stool or other resting device (not shown) for supporting the user's body so that the upper torso and its associated muscles remain free to rotate while performing a golf swing. This will allow the trunk and shoulder muscles to be isolated, since the upper thigh muscles are inactive in this state.

The golf exercise device of the present invention may also be coupled to a conventional video recording/monitoring system that acts as a training aid and/or provides the user with the ability to view his swing in real time. In addition, the golf exercise device may also include analog, digital or wireless recording/monitoring equipment for tracking the weight used in the exercise, and a range of motion sensor for monitoring progress over time. These recording means may also be used in conjunction with one or more conventional pressure or weight sensors under one or both feet to enable the user to monitor and visually detect the weight distribution on each leg throughout the stages of a golf swing. Also, the yoke may be improved by adding golf clubs or simulated golf club grips to provide a more vacuous feel to the user during training.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many embodiments and adaptations other than those described herein may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. While the invention has been described in detail with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the disclosure is only illustrative and representative of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims (20)

1. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a yoke assembly secured to the frame, the yoke assembly comprising:

a yoke configured in a training orientation;

a support arm secured to the yoke at a revolute joint, the support arm having a support arm axis of rotation;

a flywheel secured to the support arm; and

a resistance device secured to the flywheel, the resistance device comprising a resistance;

wherein a force applied to the yoke causes rotation of the yoke about the axis of rotation of the support arm and further causes rotation of the flywheel, which in turn causes movement of the resistance member relative to the applied force.

2. The training device of claim 1, wherein the training orientation comprises a forward tilt and a backward tilt.

3. The training device of claim 2, wherein the forward inclination is 30 degrees.

4. The training device of claim 2, wherein the backward tilt is 10 degrees.

5. The training device of claim 1, wherein the training orientation is adjustable along two axes.

6. The training device of claim 1, wherein the support arm is adjustable to a training height of a user.

7. The training device of claim 1, wherein the yoke assembly further comprises a guide bearing to which the support arm is slidably secured.

8. The training device of claim 7, wherein the frame further comprises a horizontal support bar.

9. The training device of claim 8, wherein the guide support is slidably secured to the horizontal support bar.

10. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the resistance device includes a cable having a first end and a second end, the first end being secured to the flywheel and the second end being secured to the resistance member, the cable being disposed on a pulley assembly for movement in the exercise device.

11. The training device of claim 1, wherein the resistance comprises a weight stack assembly.

12. The training device of claim 1, wherein the resistance comprises a hydraulic cylinder.

13. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the resistance comprises an elastic band assembly.

14. The training device of claim 1, wherein the resistance comprises an electromechanical device.

15. The training device of claim 1, wherein the flywheel is circular.

16. The training device of claim 1, wherein the flywheel is non-circular.

17. The training device of claim 11, wherein the flywheel is elliptical.

18. The training device of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of wheels.

19. The training device of claim 1, wherein the frame is configured to be secured to a vertical surface.

20. The training device of claim 1, wherein the frame is configured to be secured to a horizontal surface.