DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to devices for improving a golfer's swing, and more particularly, to devices to help eliminate a golfer's leading arm for detaching during the follow through of a golf swing. BACKGROUND ART The essence of a good golf score is a good golf swing. With a good swing, comes more efficient movement, that is, less energy wasted on unnecessary movement, and more energy focused on proper contact between the golf club head and golf ball. With a good swing comes greater distance and straighter flight to a struck golf ball, characteristics sought by most golfers. A golf swing can be dissected into distinct parts: (1) the back swing; (2) the downward swing; and (3) the follow through. For sake of discussion, I will consider a right handed golfer. For a right handed golfer, the left side of the body is considered the leading side (e.g. leading arm, leading shoulder) while the right side of the body is considered the trailing side (e.g. the trailing shoulder, the trailing arm). With this designation, in the back swing, the golfer raises the club over the trailing shoulder, twisting his body clockwise to the trailing side thus storing body energy for the coming downswing, and shifting the golfer's weight to the trailing leg. In the downswing, the club is brought down from the trailing shoulder and into contact with the golf ball. During the downswing, the golfer's body "untwists", transforming the stored body energy into club head speed, and shifting the golfer's weight from the trailing leg to the center of the golfer's body. The follow through portion of the golf swing begins at the point of club-ball contact, and ends with the club raised over the leading shoulder. During the follow through, the golfer's weight is shifted from the center of the golfer's body to the leading leg, the golfer's body twists counterclockwise toward the leading side, and the golfer's wrists "turn over. " By "turn over" it is meant the counterclockwise twisting of the wrists which should occur after striking the ball, which results in the turning of the club head face from a position perpendicular to the ground to a position facing the ground (the wrists also "turn over" on the downswing, but for the sake of clarity, "turn over" will refer only to the wrist movement occurring on the

7/07433

2 follow through). Preferably, the travel path of the golfer's arms and golf club during the golf swing remain in a single plane, the desired strike plane.

After the initial ball-club contact, the ball remains in contact with the club head for a short duration of time during the follow through portion of the golf swing. Consequently, the position of the club head face during the follow through portion will have a substantial impact upon the flight of the ball, either straight, slice or hook. The position of the club head face during contact with the ball will also have substantial impact upon the spin the ball has coming off the club head, and thus will impact the distance of the ball's travel. During the follow through, the golfer's leading elbow and leading biceps area should be positioned adjacent to the golfer's leading side, preferably with the leading biceps area in almost continuous contact with the leading chest side of the golfer's body. Further, the golfer's leading wrist should travel in an upward arc-shaped path in the strike plane and centered on the golfer's chest. When this leading elbow position and arc path for the leading wrist are established, the golfer's wrist will more readily

"turn-over" and the golfer's weight will more readily shift from the center of the golfer's body to the leading leg, resulting in a straighter ball flight path. A common mistake during the follow through is to have the leading arm "detach" from the golfer's body, that is that the leading elbow becomes substantially separated from leading side of the body. This "detachment" (sometimes called a disconnect, or a flying left elbow) usually results in a weak shot as energy is improperly expended: the shifting of the golfer's weight to the leading leg is adversely effected and the wrist fail to turn over, or turn over too late. Furthermore, a poor shot usually results as the ball is generally sliced because the club head face is left open or facing away from the golfer. Several devices to help improve a golfer's swing have been devised, such as that shown in U. S. patents nos. 5,397, 122; 5,188,365; 5, 149,099; 4,892,317; 4,691 ,924; 3,679,215; and British patents nos. 20,463 and 180,599. Most of these patents employ a series of bands attached to one or both arms in an attempt to restrict the position of the elbows during the golf swing. For instance, 5,397, 122 shows a device having a waist loop encircling a golfer's waist, with two loops attached thereto, one to encircle the leading biceps area and attached to the leading side of the waist loop, the other to encircle the following biceps

area and attached to the following side of the waist loop. This device operated to prevent detachment of the leading arm during the back swing, and of the trailing arm during the follow through.

Patent No. 5, 188,365 also shows a device having a waist loop encircling a golfer's waist, with two loops attached thereto, one to encircle the leading wrist area and attached to the leading side of the waist loop, the other to encircle the following biceps area and attached to the following side of the waist loop. The loop attached to the leading wrist has a third loop attached thereto, connecting the leading wrist area with the leading knee area. The device primarily is used to prevent the detachment of the following elbow during the back swing and downswing.

Patent No. 5,149,099 shows a complex device having a loop circling around the back of a golfer's neck with the front part of the loop held by the golfer's hands, the neck loop is further connected to a second loop encircling the golfer's waist or chest. This device apparently functions to assist a golfer's swing by coordinating the relative movements of both arms during the golf swing.

Patent No. 3,679,214 also shows a complex device having a series of loops attached to a waist loop, including a trailing shoulder loop, and a trailing forearm loop attached to the leading side of the waist loop. This device is concerned with controlling the trailing elbow during the golf swing. British Patent 20,463 also shows a waist loop with two elbow loops attached to each other and the waist loop. The two elbow loops are for attaching near a golfer's elbows. This device "ties" both of a golfer's elbows together, so that the separation between the two elbows is maintained during the entire swing, apparently improving a golfer's swing. Chest loop devices with a single leading arm biceps area loop tethered to the chest loop are shown in U. S. Patent Nos. 4,892,317; 4,691,924 and British Patent No. 180,599. These devices try to prevent the detachment of the leading elbow during the follow through by tethering the leading arm biceps area to the golfer's leading side, thus restricting the ability of the leading elbow to move away from the body. However, to keep the leading elbow adjacent to the leading side, the tether must be kept short, thus adversely impacting the movement of the leading arm on the back

swing and the downswing. Further, these devices do not guide the leading wrist into an arc-like path during the follow through. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for improving a golfer's follow through swing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which allows a golfer to concentrate on improving his back swing and downward stroke.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for which can be used by left and right hand golfers to improve a golfer's golf swing. The above objectives are accomplished by providing a device having a chest loop adapted for encircling the chest area of a golfer. Connecting to the chest loop is a biceps loop, adapted to encircle a golfer's leading arm biceps area. The biceps loop generally is connected to the waist loop by a leading tether. Also connecting to the chest loop is a forearm loop, which is adapted to encircle the leading arm forearm area. Generally, the biceps loop and forearm loop connect to opposite sides of the waist loop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure la is a perspective of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure lb is a perspective of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure lc is another embodiment of the invention. Figure 2a through figure 2d show the device in use on a right-handed golfer during various stages of a golf swing.

Figure 3 shows the device with finger loops instead of the forearm loop.

Figure 4 shows the device with a leading hand glove in place of the forearm loop. MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. la shows an embodiment of the present invention. Shown is chest loop 10. Chest loop 10, as shown, is sized to be positioned on the torso area of a golfer, such as by encircling; however, chest loop 10 could be a harness positionable on the chest area of a golfer, but not encircling the golfer's chest area. Preferably, the chest loop 10 will be positionable on the torso near the chest sternum area. As shown, chest loop 10 is a belt-like strip or band, preferably constructed of an elastic material. Chest loop 10 may be a continuous member, or may have a first end 1 and a second end 2,

as shown in FIG. lb. Chest loop 10 may include a chest fitting member 11 for fitting the chest loop 10 to a variety of chest sizes. For instance, chest fitting member 11 could be two D or O shaped rings, or similar structure, attached to the first end 1 of chest loop, though which the second end 2 of the chest loop 10 is threaded through, adjusted to the desired size, and then back threaded through the loops and then cinched down. Alternatively, chest fitting member 11 may simply be the ability to tie the two ends of the chest loop 10 together. In another embodiment, chest fitting member 11 may be a first member 12 positioned on the chest loop 10 near the first end 1 and a second member 13 positioned near the second end 2 of the chest loop 10 where the first and second members are matingly engagable and once engaged, are releasable. For instance, first member 12 could be a piece of loop fabric 14 and second member 13 could be a piece of hook fabric 15 placed upon chest loop 10 to form a Velcro-type adjustable fastener, as shown. Alternatively, first member 11 could be a belt buckle, and second member 13 a series of holes near the second end 2. First 12 and second members 13 could be engagable male and female interlocking and releasable clips, or any other type of two piece releasable interlocking device, such as a series of snaps.

Connecting to the chest loop 10 is a biceps loop 20. Biceps loop 20 is attachable to the biceps area on the golfer's leading arm; as shown, biceps loop 20 attaches to the leading arm by encircling the golfer's biceps area on the leading arm, generally that area between the elbow and armpit. While encircling the biceps area is preferred, it is only necessary the biceps loop 20 be attachable to the biceps area of the leading arm, such as by pinning or clipping the loop to the sleeve of golfer's shirt/blouse near the biceps area. Preferably, biceps loop 20 is constructed of an elastic material. Biceps loop 20 may be a continuous band as shown if FIG. la, or may have two ends as shown in FIG. lb, or a single end. The invention may also have a biceps fitting member 21 for fitting the biceps loop 20 to a variety of biceps area sizes. Clearly, the type of fitting members as described for the chest fitting member 11 could also function as a biceps fitting member 21. Preferably, the biceps fitting member 21 are matingly engagable and releasable pieces of hook 23 and loop 24 fabric, as shown in FIG. lb.

Biceps loop 20 may be directly connected to chest loop 10, or may be attached to chest loop 10 with a biceps tether 30. Biceps tether 30 can be a single strip or constructed of interconnecting strips of material; preferably the biceps tether 30 is constructed of elastic materials. If the biceps loop 20 is constructed of elastic material, biceps tether 30 may not be necessary.

Connecting to the chest loop 10 is a forearm loop 40. Forearm loop 40 is attachable to a golfer's leading arm forearm area, generally that area between the hand and the elbow. Preferably, the forearm loop 40 is a loop adapted to encircle the golfer's forearm area on the leading arm, but other means of attaching to the forearm area are possible. Preferably, forearm loop 40 is constructed of an elastic material.

If forearm loop 40 is a loop, the loop may be a continuous band as shown if FIG. la, or may have two ends, or a single end (shown in FIG. lb). The invention may also have a forearm fitting member 41 to fit the forearm loop 41 to a variety of forearm area sizes. Clearly, the type of fitting members as described for the chest fitting member 11 could also function as a forearm fitting member 21.

Forearm loop 40 may be directly connected to chest loop 10, or preferably may be connected to chest loop 10 with a forearm tether 42. Forearm tether 42 can be a single strip or constructed of interconnecting strips of material; preferably the forearm tether 42 is constructed of elastic materials. As shown in FIG. IB, forearm loop 40 consists of a single band of material connected adjustable by means of slide fastener 43.

Forearm tether 42 is an extension of forearm loop 40, and is connected to chest loop 10 by threading through D ring 44 attached to chest loop 10. Forearm tether 42 is adjustable by means of slide fastener 45.

As diagramed in FIG. la, closed chest loop 10 defines a circle 1 having 360 degrees. The connection point of biceps loop 20 and forearm loop 40 with chest loop

10 define an arc on that circle, and the angle subtended by that arc is shown as a in FIG. la. It is preferable that the subtended angle a be in the range of approximately 90 degrees to approximately 180 degree. It is believed that the device will provide the most benefit when the biceps loop 20 and forearm loop 40 on opposite sides of the circle, that is, when α is approximately 180 degrees.

It has been found that manufacturing the forearm tether 42, forearm loop 40 and biceps loop 20 out of 2 inch wide elastic webbing generates sufficient resistance to resist the leading arm from detaching when the webbing is doubled over. For convenience of manufacture, the chest loop 10 may also be manufactured out of doubled 2 inch elastic webbing. Because biceps loop 20 is made of elastic material, biceps tether 30 is not necessary.

An alternative embodiment is shown in FIGs. 3 and 4. Shown in FIG. 3 is the device with at least one leading hand finger loop 90; shown in FIG. 3 are two finger loops 90. Finger loops 90 may be used in place of forearm loop 40. The finger loop 90 is adapted to attach to at least one finger on the leading hand; by "attach to at least one finger" is meant that the finger loop 90 attaches to at least one finger, but can attach to more fingers; for instance, a loop which encircles the four fingers but not the thumb, by encircling the palm area of the leading arm hand, is "attached to at least one finger" , or encircling two fingers, say the ring finger and middle finger of the leading arm hand, as with the device shown in FIG. 3, or any other configuration of fingers on the leading hand falls within the scope of a "finger loop adapted to attach to at least one finger". In this sense, "attaching" includes encircling, partial encircling, and simply positionable.

Alternatively, finger loop 90 may attach to the shaft of the golf club, preferably near the grip of the club. If the finger loop(s) are attached to the golf club shaft or the finger(s) of the leading hand, the device will operate as intended to keep the leading arm from detaching during the follow through portion of a golf swing. Finger loop 90 may also be a glove member, as shown in FIG. 4. However, if finger loop 90 is a glove, the device must be manufactured in right and left handed models. The following description employs an embodiment of the invention having both a biceps tether 30 and a forearm tether 42. Use of this particular embodiment is not intended as a restriction on the scope of the invention. In use, when the chest loop 10 encircles a golfer's chest area, it is preferred that biceps loop 20 be attached to chest loop 10 near armpit of leading arm. Consequently, length of biceps tether 30 should be great enough to have minimal impact on the movement of the leading arm biceps

97/07 33

8 area when the golfer undertakes the back swing. Generally, a length of in the range of 2 to 6 inches should suffice.

The forearm tether's 42 length will depend upon where the forearm tether 42 attaches to the chest loop 10. The desired length of the forearm tether 42, for the device to have substantially no impact upon the golfer's backswing, should be that length which, when the golfer is addressing the ball, leaves little or no slack in the forearm tether 42. In this fashion, when the golfer begins his back swing, the device will have no or little effect on that back swing. This occurs because neither tether is under substantial tension. Clearly, the device will restrict the range of movement of the leading arm during the backstroke in any configuration: the biceps loop 20 will tend to keep the biceps area of the leading arm close to the body and the forearm tether 42 in combination with forearm loop 40 will restrict the range of movement of the golfer's leading arm during the backstroke to a range of the length of the tether 42, or a stretched tether 42, if made of elastic material.

An alternative length of forearm tether 42 is a length which places some tension upon the forearm tether 42 when golfer is in a position of addressing the ball. If tension is to be exerted by forearm tether 42, tether 42 should be made of elastic material. For instance, when forearm tether 42 is made from two inch doubled elastic webbing, a length of forearm tether 42 and forearm loop 40 of about 11 inches

(measured while relaxed, from beginning of forearm tether 42 to Vz length of forearm loop 42) has been found adequate, when forearm tether 42 is attached at 180 degrees from biceps tether. When such a length is used, the device will potentially have an impact upon the backswing and downswing poπion of the golfer's swing as follows. With the forearm tether 42 under tension, the golfer's leading arm feels a pull or resistance from the forearm tether 42. If the golfer, during the backstroke or downstroke, maintains a proper swing, keeping the leading arm fairly straight and unbent, the tether 42 will continue to exert force on the leading arm during the backstroke or downstroke. If however, the golfer improperly bends his elbow of the leading arm during the backstroke (or downswing), the forces exerted by the forearm tether 42 will diminish or disappear. Consequently, the device can be used to inform

the golfer when he is improperly bending the leading arm, and thus can develop muscle memory for a better backswing, and downswing. In this fashion, the device can be used to train the golfer to attain and maintain a proper backstroke, commonly referred to as a "one piece takeaway. " After contacting the golf ball and beginning the follow through portion of the swing, the device: (1) keeps the leading biceps area in close proximity to the leading side of the golfer's body through the action of the biceps loop 20 and biceps tether 30; and (2) the action of the forearm loop 40 and forearm tether 42 helps guide the leading forearm area through an approximately arc-shaped path which is centered upon the golfer's chest and in the strike plane. Because the device restricts the leading arm and particularly the leading forearm, the device assists in helping the golfer's wrists "turn over" which helps assist in transferring the golfer's weight from his body center to this leading leg. This assistance in "turning over" the golfer's wrists occurs even when the leading arm is subject to forces from the forearm tether 42 -the following arm, not subject to forces from the forearm tether 42 will push through the leading arm resulting in wrist turn over. A single biceps loop 20 without the forearm loop 40 would not be as effective in assisting the proper wrist turnover or proper weight shifting.

To assist in tailoring the device to a given golfer, the device may have one or two tether fitting members 50 for adjusting the length of either the forearm tether 42 or biceps tether 30. For instance, a tether fitting member 50 could be a compression type hinged snap 60 attached to the chest loop 10 with the forearm tether 42 threaded through the snap 60. To adjust the forearm tether 42, the snap 60 is opened, the forearm tether 42 positioned in the snap 60 until the desired length is achieved, and the snap 60 is closed, grasping and locking the forearm tether 42 in place. Alternatively, the snap 60 could be attached to the forearm loop 40 instead of the chest loop 10.

Clearly, the type of fitting members as previously described for the chest fitting member 11 could also function as a tether fitting member 50.

As indicated above, the device assists the golfer's follow through swing by helping to resist detachment of the elbow of the leading arm and assist in proper wrist turn over and weight shifting. However, the device does not prevent poor or bad shots.

With the device in place, a poor back swing or downswing will still result in a poor shot. But because the device assists in the follow through, the golfer can avoid

focusing on proper techniques for the follow through and concentrate on improving his back swing and downswing. The device helps isolate the follow through portion of the golf swing and consequently, a golfer can use the device to either: (1) have the device provide muscle memory for a proper follow through (that is, conditioning the body to the "feel" of a proper follow through); or (2) enable the golfer to ignore his follow through and concentrate on improving his back swing and downswing. If the device is constructed so that the forearm tether 42 is under tension when the golfer is addressing the ball, the device also assists the golfer by informing the golfer when a proper backswing has not been achieved; thus, the golfer can develop a feel for the proper backstroke.

There are, of course, many alternate embodiments and modifications of the invention disclosed herein which are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. As disclosed above, the essence of the method of improving a golf swing is to exert a force on the biceps area of leading arm of the golfer toward the torso area of the golfer through use of a first tension means connectable between the torso of the golfer and the biceps area of the leading arm of the golfer, and to exert a force on the forearm area of the golfer's leading arm generally directed toward the torso area of the golfer through the use of a second tension means connected between the forearm area, hand area (including fingers) of the leading arm and torso of the golfer, or between the golf club shaft and torso area of the golfer.