WO2020148700A2

WO2020148700A2 - Sport training aid

Info

Publication number: WO2020148700A2
Application number: PCT/IB2020/050346
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rian Stewart Turner; Jurgen Kurtz HEITZ
Original assignee: Rian Stewart Turner; Heitz Jurgen Kurtz
Priority date: 2019-01-16
Filing date: 2020-01-16
Publication date: 2020-07-23
Also published as: WO2020148700A3

Abstract

A sport training method includes providing a base (12) in the vicinity of an intended travel path of a club and supporting a target (14) from the base (12) in the travel path. The target (14) is supported above the base (12) by a stem (16) that is pivotally attached to the base (12) to allow the target to pivot relative to the base. The club is moved along the travel path in a first direction and strikes the target (14) and pivots it to a position in which it is clear of the travel path. The club is then moved in a second direction along the travel path, generally opposite to the first direction, without interference from the target (14).

Description

SPORT TRAINING AID

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to sport training aids. In particular, the invention relates to a method and device for assisting in the training of a sportsman to hit a ball. The invention can be used in relation to many sports, but has particular application for golf. The invention is described herein with reference only to golf, for the sake of brevity, but this is not an indication that the invention is limited to golf.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In sports where balls are to be struck with clubs (or like objects, such as bats), the performance of the sports participant is often strongly dependent on the motion of the club in anticipation of the motion leading to impact or striking the ball. In golf, for example, the player needs a good backswing in order to play a downswing and ultimately, a good stroke.

Various techniques have been developed to assist sportsman in learning a good swing, and these techniques often involve providing obstacles that the player should avoid while playing a stroke, e.g. the obstacles could be pins between which the club should pass on the backswing and/or downswing. However, these obstacles’ presence near the path of the club frequently present a mental or physical hindrance to the player while playing the stroke, e.g. during the downswing in golf, when a player may hesitate (even subconsciously), or where minor contact between an obstacle and the club could dramatically interfere with the club’s motion.

The present invention seeks to provide sport training to assists a sportsman in directing a club, or like object, in the movement that precedes the movement to strike the ball, preferably allowing freedom of movement, when the sportsman performs the movement to strike the ball. In golf, in particular, the invention seeks to provide a training aid to assist the golfer in directing a club during the backswing, while allowing the golfer freedom of movement during the downswing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a sport training method, said method comprising:

providing a base in the vicinity of an intended travel path of a club;

supporting a target from the base, said target being at a first position, in the intended travel path of the club;

moving the club in a first direction along the intended travel path;

striking the target with the club while moving the club in the first direction;

pivoting the target to a second position in which it is clear of the intended travel path; and

moving the club in a second direction along the travel path, generally opposite to the first direction, without interference from the target.

The term“club” as used herein includes clubs such as golf clubs, but also includes other sports apparatus for striking balls, such as bats or racquet.

The method may include spacing the target from the base, e.g. the target may be spaced above the base in the first position.

The method may include anchoring the base, e.g. by attaching the base to a substrate with one or more fasteners.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a sport training aid, said sport training aid comprising a base and a target that is pivotally supported from the base; said base being configured to be supported above a substrate in the vicinity of an intended travel path of a club; and said target being configured to pivot relative to the base, between a first position in which the target protrudes at least partly into the intended travel path, and a second position in which the target is clear from the intended travel path.

The sport training aid may include a spacer such as a stem, extending between the base and the target and the stem may be integrally formed with the target and may be pivotally attachable to the base.

The target may protrude from the spacer in at least one direction, e.g. the target may be at least partly dome-shaped and it may be shaped and configured to resemble a ball, at least in part.

The sport training aid may include stop formations that limit pivotal movement of the target between the first position and the second position, respectively.

The sport training aid may include one or more fastener for attaching the base to a substrate. The fastener may be configured to be attached to the substrate and/or to grip the substrate with grip formations and/or friction.

The sport training aid may include one or more stabilisers that can extend along the substrate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how it may be put into effect, the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a top three-dimensional view of a first embodiment of a sport training aid according to the present invention in a cocked condition;

Figure 2 shows a top three-dimensional view of the sport training aid of Figure 1 in a rest condition;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the sport training aid of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows a side view of the sport training aid of Figure 2;

Figure 5 shows a top exploded view of the sport training aid of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 shows a bottom exploded view of the sport training aid of Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 shows a bottom view of the sport training aid of Figure 1 ;

Figure 8 shows a sectional view of the sport training aid of Figure 7, taken at VIII-VIII;

Figure 9 shows a sectional view of the sport training aid of Figure 7, taken at IX-IX; Figure 10 shows a sectional view of the sport training aid of Figure 7, taken at X-X; Figure 1 1 shows a bottom three-dimensional view of a base of a second embodiment of a sport training aid according to the present invention ;

Figure 12 shows an exploded top three-dimensional view of the a sport training aid of Figure 12 in a cocked condition;

Figure 13 shows a bottom three-dimensional view of the sport training aid of Figure 12 ; Figure 14 shows a top three-dimensional view of a third embodiment of a sport training aid according to the present invention in a cocked condition;

Figure 15 shows a top three-dimensional view of the sport training aid of Figure 14 in a rest condition;

Figure 16 shows a top three-dimensional view of a fourth embodiment of a sport training aid according to the present invention in a cocked condition; and Figure 17 shows a three-dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of a target for the sport training aid of Figure 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, a sport training aid according to the present invention, is generally identified by reference number 10 and is referred to as“device”, for brevity. Different embodiments of the device 10 are identified by suffixes, but features that are common between different embodiments are identified by the same reference numbers and no suffixes are added if the features are substantially identical between different embodiments. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, features described in respect of one embodiment, also form part of other embodiments of the invention that are described subsequently - unless it is clear from the context, that a particular feature is absent in a subsequently described embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 to 10, the device 10.1 includes a base 12 and a target 14 that is pivotally supported from the base by a spacer or stem 16.

The base 12 is generally disc-shaped, with a rounded, semi-triangular outline, but it can have any suitable shape, as long as it provides sufficient stability while it supports the device 10.1 above a substrate, such as a mat or grass, and as long as it does not protrude into the intended travel path of a club (see below). The base 12 defines a number of apertures 18 through which fasteners such as anchor pins (not shown), e.g. golf tee pins or the like, can pass, to anchor the base to a substrate.

The apertures 18 can also be used to secure a cover to the underside of the base, or for other uses.

In some embodiments, the base 12 could have provision for receiving weights, or other features such as batteries or electronics, that can serve as a ballast to assist in keeping the base in position.

The target 14 and stem 16 shown in Figures 1 to 10 are integrally formed and the target protrudes from the stem in a front direction. In the illustrated example, the target 16 has a hollow, domed shape that is convex towards the front and since the illustrated device 10.1 is intended to be used in golf training, the front of the target is preferably shaped and dimensioned to resemble a golf ball. However, the shape of the target need not be part-spherical.

In other embodiments of the invention, the target 14 can be shaped in ways appropriate to other sports, e.g. it can resemble a different ball or the like. The target can also be enhanced with features such as providing perforations to reduce weight and inertia, providing light sources on the target or inside it, such as LEDs, which could be configured to emit different forms of light, e.g. different colours, lighting different parts of the target, pulsing light emissions, or the like. The target 14 need not be made of a single material and in a preferred embodiment, the target is co-moulded with a tough polymeric core and with a soft elastomer such as rubber extending around its periphery - at least in some places (e.g. the target is rubberised), to improve the tactile experience when the target is hit with a club, or the like. Similarly, the base 12 could be rubberised, if desired.

The length of the stem 16 can vary, according to preferences or use of the device and different combinations of stems and targets 16,14 could be used interchangeable with a common base 12. For example, different lengths of stems 16 would be used with different golf clubs.

The base 12 defines a central aperture 26 and lateral clips 28 are defined on opposing sides of the aperture. Short cylindrical pins 30 protrude laterally from the end of the stem 16 that is opposite from the target 14. The pins 30 are complemental to the clips 28 and are received in the clips in a clipping manner, but the pins and clips are preferably dimensioned with sufficient play to allow the pins to rotate freely relative to the clips, so that the target 14 and stem 16 can pivot freely relative to the base 12 about a common cylinder axis of the pins 30.

The base 12 includes a first stop formation in the form of a protuberance 32 that extends into the aperture 26. When the target 14 is pivoted to its first or cocked position, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the stem 16 extends upwards and is preferably slanted slightly forwards - e.g. at an angle of about 10 degrees from the vertical (although the angle could be a smaller or larger acute angle), so that the stem rests against the protuberance under gravity and is held against the protuberance further by the weight of the target 14.

The target 14 and stem 16 can pivot about the pins 30 from the cocked position to a second or rest position shown in Figures 2 and 4, in which the stem is slanted backwards and rests against a second stop formation in the form of a corner 34 along the periphery of the aperture 26. When the target 14 and stem 16 are in their rest position, the target is at a lower elevation than in its cocked position and the stem preferably extends at an acute angle relative to the general plane of the base, e.g. at an angle of about 30 degrees - although the angle could be more or less.

The device 10.1 can be provided with an accessory for measuring distance, e.g. a reel 20 which defines a groove 22 into which a cord can be rolled, so that the cord can pass through an aperture 21 to be used for alignment and/or distance measurement (see below). The reel 20 is attached to the base 12 by clipping it onto complementary clip formations 24 and/or into an aperture 1 8, with sufficient play to allow the reel to rotate around the clip formations.

In use, a golfer uses the device 10.1 to assist him or her in moving a club along an intended travel path (referred to as“travel path”, herein below, for brevity) during the backswing. The user positions the device 10.1 such that the base 1 2 extends near the travel path and in the illustrated example, the base would be positioned below the travel path, with the front, domed side of the target 14 facing forward, in the direction of a golf ball that the user is aiming to strike with the club.

The base 12 is preferably secured to the substrate on which it is supported, with fasteners such as anchor pins passed through the apertures 18 or by clipping the clip formations 24 onto an adaptor that is attachable to the substrate, or in any other way.

The target 14 is pivoted forwards and upwards to its cocked position and this can conveniently be done by passing a head of the club underneath the target and lifting it up - thus avoiding any need for the user to bend down. When in its cocked position, the target 14 is preferably in the travel path.

The user then uses his or her club in the conventional manner to strike the ball. However, during the backswing, the user aims to strike the target 14 with the back of the club. If the user strikes the target 14 thus, it confirms that the club did travel along the travel path during the backswing and this serves as a confirmatory training aid to the user. In addition, by providing a target for which the user can aim on the backswing, the user is encouraged to swing his or her club correctly along the travel path.

When the club strikes the target 14 during the backswing, the impact from the club causes the target and stem 16 to pivot backwards from the cocked position to the rest position and when the club is moved along the travel path in the opposite direction, in the downswing, the target is well clear of the travel path and thus poses no obstacle or distraction to the player and the club moves past the target.

The device 10.1 remains in position and the user can repeatedly lift the target 14 with his/her club head to its cocked position, before playing each stroke.

If similar devices are to be used for other sports, e.g. for cricket, the device would be shaped and dimensioned differently, but would operate on the same principles, to support a target that the player can strike with a cricket bat on the backswing, but which will, on impact, pivot clear of the bat’s travel path before the user swings the bat towards the ball.

The device 10.1 could be improved further with angle indicators such as lines or markers on the top of the base 12, to assist a user in aligning the device 10.1 - especially if used with a cord extending from the reel 20 through the aperture 21 . The base 12 could include a laser pointer that could also assist in lining it up and/or confirming the distance of the device 10.1 from the placement of the ball. Further, the target 14 could include illumination means such as internal LEDs, or other indicators, that indicate where a golf club struck the target.

The device 10.1 has been described herein above for use during the backswing, but it can also be used during the forward swing, allowing a user to practice hitting the target 14, instead of a ball, or hitting the target in addition to hitting the ball.

Referring to Figures 1 1 to 13, a second embodiment of the device 10.2 is shown, which includes all the features of the device shown in Figures 1 to 10, with a few additional features.

The base 12 defines two additional apertures 36, adjacent two of the apertures 18, which can be used to anchor the base to a substrate by way of pins or the like, passed through the apertures into the substrate. Flowever, the device 10.2 also includes elongate stabilisers 38 that each include a hollow cylindrical boss 40 that can be received inside one of the apertures 18,36. When the stabilisers 38 have been installed, they can extend along the top of the substrate on which the base 12 is placed to provide additional stability to the base 12 so that it is less likely to be knocked over. The stabilisers 38 also increase the surface area of the device 10.2 that is in frictional contact with the substrate, thus reducing the likelihood that the device will slide along the substrate.

The frictional contact of the base 12 and the stabilisers 38 against the substrate is further enhanced with small spikes 42 that protrude from the undersides of the stabilisers and along the periphery of the base 12. The spikes 42 can grip or penetrate the substrate and could be substituted or supplemented with other grip enhancing formations and/or weights can be placed onto the base 12 or the stabilisers 38, or which can be clipped onto the underside of the base 12.

Referring to Figures 14 and 15, the third embodiment of the device 10.3 is identical to the first embodiment (shown in Figures 1 to 10), except that the stem 16 is articulated with an additional pivot point 44. The lower part 46 of the stem 16, below the pivot point 44, is longer than the upper part 48 - which is integrally formed with the target. The position of the pivot point 44 along the stem 16 can be varied in other embodiments, e.g. the upper part 48 can be so short that the target is effectively pivotally attached to the stem. There could also be more pivot points 44 in the stem 16.

The additional pivot point 44 allows the target 14 to pivot to a lower position in its rest position, to reduce the likelihood that the target would protrude into the travel path. In some embodiments, an additional pivot point 44 could also provide better stability for the target 14 and stem and could allow them to dissipate stronger impacts exerted on the target.

Referring to Figure 16, the fourth embodiment of the device 10.4 has an identical appearance to the first embodiment (shown in Figures 1 to 10), except that the target 14 has a slightly different appearance and the base 12 is shaped differently. Flowever, the main additional feature of the device 10.4, is that the base 12 houses electronics comprising a sensor and/or tracking system. Various different configurations are possible, but the common feature between them is that they use contactless sensing to determine the presence of the club head in a particular position, or to track the movement of the club head. This can be done optically, by electromagnetism, by capacitance.

In one configuration of this embodiment, the electronics includes a sensor that is configured to determine whether or not the club head passes through a particular point above the base 12 and if the club head passes through the particular point, then the user is notified, e.g. by an illuminated LED, or an audible alert. This feature could be used to supplement the target 14, but could also be used as a substitute for the target, by positioning the device 10.4 so that the travel path passes through the position that is monitored by the sensor. If the user’s club head travels along the correct travel path and is detected by the sensor, the user is notified. The sensor thus serves as a virtual target and has the benefit of not causing no tactile feedback to the user.

In other embodiments, the movement of the club head above the base 12 could be tracked in two or three dimensions, which would provide the user with useful information on aspects of his or her game that require improvement.

Referring to Fig 17, an alternative embodiment of the target 14 is shown which can be used in any of the embodiments of the invention described above (although the target is only shown in Figure 17 with a solid stem 16 and not a pivoted stem).

The target shown in Figure 17 is perforated with sizeable holes 50 defined in its part- spherical wall. The perforation of the target 14 reduces its weight, which reduces the impact (tactile feedback) when the club head hits the target. This is particularly beneficial when the target 14 is placed in the forward swing travel path.

Claims

1. A sport training method, said method comprising:

providing a base in the vicinity of an intended travel path of a club; supporting a target from the base, said target being at a first position, in the intended travel path of the club;

moving the club in a first direction along the intended travel path; striking the target with the club while moving the club in the first direction; pivoting the target to a second position in which it is clear of the intended travel path; and

2. The method according to claim 1 , which includes spacing the target from the base

3. The method according to claim 2, which includes spacing the target above the base in the first position.

4. The method according to claim 1 , which includes anchoring the base.

5. The method according to claim 4, which includes attaching the base to a substrate with at least one fasteners.

6. A sport training aid comprising a base and a target that is pivotally supported from the base; said base being configured to be supported above a substrate in the vicinity of an intended travel path of a club; and said target being configured to pivot relative to the base, between a first position in which the target protrudes at least partly into the intended travel path, and a second position in which the target is clear from the intended travel path.

7. The sport training aid according to claim 6, which includes a spacer extending between the base and the target.

8. The sport training aid according to claim 7, wherein the spacer is pivotally attachable to the base.

9. The sport training aid according to claim 7, wherein the target protrudes from the spacer in at least one direction.

10. The sport training aid according to claim 9, wherein the target is at least partly dome-shaped.

1 1. The sport training aid according to claim 6, which includes at least one stop formation that is configured to limit pivotal movement of the target between the first position and the second position.

12. The sport training aid according to claim 6, which includes at least one fastener that is configured for attaching the base to the substrate.

13. The sport training aid according to claim 12, wherein the fastener is be configured to be attached to the substrate.

14. The sport training aid according to claim 12, wherein the fastener is configured to grip the substrate.

15. The sport training aid according to claim 6, which includes at least one stabiliser that is configured to extend along the substrate.