US20120010013A1

US20120010013A1 - Swing assistant device

Info

Publication number: US20120010013A1
Application number: US13/134,724
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin E. Fellows; Robert Martzloff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-19
Filing date: 2011-06-15
Publication date: 2012-01-12

Abstract

The Swing Assistant is made up of a lightweight ABS material and consists of 3-pieces which when extended form a “T” shaped design. When all three pieces are extended, the Swing Assistant forms a pattern for placement of 6 ordinary golf tees. When the tees are placed as instructed, the six tees form a swing path which the golfer swings through. The subject invention is the use of the compact “T” shaped design which requires nothing artificial to attach to the golfer's club or body to effectively improve a golfers' iron swing.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This subject non-provisional patent application claims the benefit of application No. 61/397,946 file Jun. 19, 2010.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mastery of the game of golf is dependent upon achieving a proper golf club swing; specifically the iron swing. The entire golf club swing is important, including the backswing the downswing and the follow-through. Various golf swing training devices have been proposed to guide the swing of the user's golf club in order to train the user in proper technique. An Example of such known apparatus includes U.S. Pat. No. D407,773.
U.S. Pat. No. D407,773 is comprised of a mat, an angled path area bordered with a thin vertical stick-like boundary. The stick-like border reacts as the dub is swung through the pathway to give the golfer feedback. This device does not however provide measurable feedback. The present invention uses golf tees which are laid out using the present invention as a pattern for the swing path. As the golfer swings through the path, disruption of the tees; further, the degree of disruption of the tees, tells the golfer not only what direction his club was going, but to what degree. The pattern laid out by the Swing Assistant, tells the golfer exactly where and when his swing went off course; a push, pull, hook or slice. Further understanding of the nature and object of the present invention, reference should be made to the detailed description taken in consideration with the accompanying drawings.
Other golf swing apparatus attach to a golfer's body. Specifically U.S. Pat. No. 7,658;681 which attaches to the golfer arm for training a golfer not to bend their arm while swinging a golf club. it is unnatural to restrict one's body. The Subject invention uses a visual aid to allow the golfer to calculate themselves how their arms, back, legs, and other related body parts should be positioned to get the best golf swing. The Swing Assistant shows the golfer the effect of their swing motions without inhibiting their natural movements. This allows the golfer to adjust as their needs require improving their swing.
Other prior art proposed as a swing training device, U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,388, is comprised of a ball suspended by a cord from a handle or from the shaft of a golf club to teach the proper golf swing; the control of the suspended ball necessitating concentration upon the utilization of centrifugal forces.
Another device; U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,545, is comprised of a circular track made of tubular metal and clamping brackets which is cumbersome, and difficult to set up and use by the average golfer.
These devices, do not promote a natural turf for a golfer to practice a proper swing with their own club, which has no attachments to affect their natural swing, and also has a compact design to allow practice at the driving range or other remote location which is easy to use, and provides a visual aid using hand-eye coordination to correct common swing flaws. Such a device is highly desirable where it is compact low in cost and easy to operate for the average golfer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To further enhance the art of golf for the average golfer, the subject invention serves as a pattern to create a practice swing path. The Swing Assistant is made up of a lightweight ABS material, using injection mold process, and consists of 3-pieces. Each piece is approximately 6″ in length, attached together, one on top of the other, at one end. By using the Swing Assistant as a pattern and 6 ordinary golf tees placed as instructed, the six tees form a swing path which the golfer swings through. The subject invention is the use of the compact “T” shaped design which requires nothing artificial to attach to the golfer's club or body.
The Swing Assistant does riot require bulky equipment set up. The Swing Assistant requires only the foldable Swing Assistant, as a pattern, which is 1-½″ wide×6″ long and ½″ thick when folded and 6 ordinary golf tees. The Swing Assistant creates the pattern using 6 ordinary tees on the natural turf a golfer would be playing on to not affect the natural swing of the golfer nor requires any attachments to the golfer's club which would also affect the natural swing.
When the golfer swings through the swing path created by the 6 tees, the golfer can immediately see by the tees that he hits, the direction the tees go, or any damage to the tees, what common flaw; push, pull, hook or slice, the golfer committed in his swing. The tees can be replaced quickly to allow for repetitive practice and for muscle memory to set in to train the golfer for a proper golf swing. The Swing Assistant can be used by every level of golfer, whether learning to golf for the first time or retraining muscles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the partially folded Swing Assistant with the parts labeled for clarity.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the moveable leg detail.

FIG. 3 is a plan detail of the fixed leg detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Swing Assistant is made up of a lightweight ABS material and consists of 3-pieces, each approximately 6″ in length, attached laid one on top of the other attached together at one end. One of the extensions is fixed in place at the attached end while the other two are movable, The two moveable extensions swing away from the fixed extension to form the shape of a “T”. The Swing Assistant is placed on the ground with the “T” shape in the plan view readable as a “T” by the golfer when looking at it on the ground, Four golf tees are placed in the ground; one at the base of the “T”, one at either end of the top of the “T” and in between the two top tees. Remove the Swing Assistant and turn it over, with the top of the “T” now in line with the previously plated bottom tee. Place two more tees aligned with the middle bottom tee, placed at either end of the “T” shape now on the bottom. The six tees form a swing path which the golfer swings through.

Claims

1. A swing assistant that is compact, made of ABS material, and when used as instructed forms a pattern for 6 ordinary golf tees to lay out a swing path which gives the golfer a visual aid to the effectiveness of their swing comprising of:

a. A 6″ long×1-½″ wide×½″thick lightweight ABS material

b. A 6″ long×1-½″ wide×½″ thick lightweight ABS material which is designed to be used as a pattern for placement of 6 ordinary golf tees

c. A 6″ long×1-½″ wide×½″ thick lightweight ABS material which is designed to be used as a pattern for placement of 6 ordinary golf tees, when placed as instructed, form a swing path

2. A swing assistant that is compact, made of ABS material, and when used as instructed forms a pattern for 6 ordinary golf tees to lay out a swing path will show the golfer instantly and to what degree their swing was off by the movement of the any of the 6 tees.