FIELD QF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a sports practice assembly which may be used in relation to golf, football, baseball and other sports wherein a bat, club, or racquet is used to hit a moving or stationary ball. More specifically, the invention relates to a sports practice assembly adapted to guide the relative movement between the head and rotating shoulders of a sportsman during the swinging action of hitting a ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A principal failure of beginners when learning the sports such as golf, football and baseball is the inability of the beginner to maintain his head in substantially the correct position during swinging of a baseball bat or golfing club, or when the beginner is preparing to kick a football. There is a general tendency in relation to beginners or novices to raise the head during a golfing swing or baseball swing or when preparing to kick a football which results in a poor strike and the ball or football taking off in an errant flight.

Without being bound by theory, it is believed that an effective swing requires the head to remain centered on the top of the spine, the extension of which is the neck, throughout the swing as the shoulders and torso rotate. The first cervical vertebra, the atlas, allows nodding up and down movement of the head. The second cervical vertebra, the axis, allows the head to rotate about the neck from side to side. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that nodding or bobbing movement of the head during a swing, specifically a golf swing, leads to inconsistent strikes as the spine angle changes during the nodding/bobbing of the head. The head must, however be allowed to rotate, via the axis, as the shoulders and the spine rotates. in regard to any sport which requires good co-ordination between hand and eye it is essential that good contact is made between the bat, club, racquet and the ball or when the foot is kicking the ball. Reference may be made to US Patent 5713804 which refers exclusively to a baseball practice apparatus wherein such apparatus includes a shirt in which is installed a flexible magnet within a tunnel to form a magnetic track which runs from the right front shoulder to the left front shoulder in an elliptical fashion. There is also provided a baseball batting helmet with a chin strap attached thereto which contains a magnetic sensor which contacts the magnetic track continuously as the sensor travels from the right shoulder to the left shoulder as the batter swings at the ball. There is also provided an alarm which notifies the batter of his position when he swings at the ball and an electrical power suppiy and means for connecting the power suppiy to the alarm and magnetic sensor.

However a particular problem with this baseball practice apparatus was that during the swing the magnetic track could often be moved from its desired elliptical curve during movement of the shirt and thus the location of the magnetic track was not constant. The practice apparatus was also unduly complicated in structure requiring the power supply, alarm and connection means between the power supply, alarm and magnetic sensor.

Reference may also be made to US Patent 4762325 which refers to a golf practice device which includes a cap having a support directly attached thereto and a ball and socket mount and a pair of spaced parallel reference elements to which was attached a slide rail to which was attached the ball and socket mount. Again this device was complicated |n structure and required setting of reference marks attached to each of the reference elements which was unduly complicated to operate. The device was also inefficient in that the support was directly attached to the cap and sudden or involuntary head movement could reduce efficiency of operation. Reference also may be made to US Patent 4826165 which concerns a training device for hitting a baseball having a shoulder harness with a chin holder attached thereto in a manner to allow for movement of the chin holder on a plane from the right shoulder to the left shoulder in elliptical fashion. This device was restricted primarily to baseball and required the production of a shoulder harness that was expensive in manufacture. The device also did not include an efficient restraint between the chin and chin holder.

US Patent 5174564 refers to a golf practice device which has a chin strap system incorporating a chin cup and a pair of transverse straps which each have diverging strap sections with snaps that are fixed to opposing sides of a helmet. From the chin cup extends a vertical strap which is a force and transmission element to which are attached a pair of attachable straps which are each provided with buckles which can be connected to clothing and in particular belt loops of the user. This device was complicated in structure and the use of the force and transmission element when connected to each of the adjustable straps often did not provide a smooth translation to the golf swing of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The sports practice assembly of the invention includes:

(i) headwear having one or more supporting strap(s);

(if) a chin support attached to said one or more supporting strap(s);

P) a wearable body support that includes a rail arranged between the

shoulders of a user, in use;

(IV) a movable member mounted to the rail and movable along the rail; and

(v) an attachment mechanism for releasably attaching the chin support to the movable member mounted to the rail. The body support may include a pair of shoulder projections wherein the rail is attached to each shoulder projection and is spaced from and non-supported by a remaining part of said body support. The body support may include a chest plate adapted to be worn against the chest, in use, and the rail is may be attached to the chest plate in a configuration wherein at least a centra! section of the rail, located between opposite end regions of the rail, is spaced from a planar exterior surface of the chest plate. The chin support may be reieasably engaged to the movable member. In one form, the movable member may be a slider body, hook or carriage which slidably engages the rail which is suitably arcuate in shape. The attachment mechanism may comprise a first magnet held by the chin support and a second magnet held by the moveable member.

The chin support suitably is a socket body having a peripheral wall surrounding an open interior, hollow or socket for retaining the chin in use. The socket body may have an ova! shape in plan view although this may be circular if desired. In a variation of this the socket body may be replaced by a plate-like body. In an event the socket body or plate-like body may have retention means such as a pair of straps on either side or end of the chin support or more preferably a pair of U shaped straps which are attached to a cap or helmet or other suitable headwear worn by the user. Each of the U shaped straps may have a single strap adjustably attached to the chin support such as a buckle or ratchet arrangement. In another possible arrangement there may be provided a single strap between the headwear and the chin support.

Each shoulder projection may be formed by a bracket or attachment body which engages with an associated end of the rail which is preferably a slide rail. Each shoulder projection may be suitably elevated above the planar exterior surface of the chest plate. The body support may provide the slide rail with sufficient support at each end. Each bracket or attachment body may be integral with or releasably attached to the body support. The body support may suitably include the chest plate or body plate which is located against the chest or breast of the user.

The body support may also be provided with suitable body retention means such as a body harness which in one form may adopt a pair of rearward!y extending straps which are each attached to the chest plate adjacent each top corner thereof and proximal to an adjoining bracket or attachment body which supports or mounts the slide rail. There also may be provided a waist strap which is attached to an adjacent lower end of each rearwardly extending strap and also attached to the chest plate suitably at a lower corner thereof . The waist strap may also be provided with a re!easable attachment intermediate the attachment locations of each downwardly extending strap to the waist strap.

The body support may include a vest to which the chest plate is fixed.

The head wear may include one of a helmet, a head strap and a head band. The sports practice assembly of claim may include a buttocks belt connected to the body support, specifically the waist strap or vest of the body support, by straps or the like. The straps may be adjustable in length to pull the buttocks belt closer to the body support. The size of the buttocks belt may be adjustable. The buttocks belt may also be of any suitable width depending on required comfort and security of fit. The buttocks belt may also be of, or contain, an elastomeric material so that is can be stretched when worn for firmness of fit.

The movable member may be slidabl mounted to the slide rail and to this extent may include an aperture in a carriage or slider body through which the slide rail extends. Alternatively the carriage or slider body may be mounted to the slide rail through a slide track arrangement wherein part of the carriage or slider body may be

accommodated in a guide track or channel of the slide rail. The carriage may have wheels or bearings or the like, engageabte in an associated track, which cou!d also include bearings or wheels or the like, and the term "slidabie" as used herein encompasses this option. Both the first and second magnets may each be attached to the chin support and carriage respectively and this may be by reteasabte engagement wherein each of the first and second magnets are mounted in a suitable support socket or attachment bracket of the carriage and chin support respectively. It is of course appropriate that the south pole of one magnet will be attracted to the north pole of the other magnet.

There also may be provided locking means to lock the carriage in position on the side rail when required and in one form this may be accomplished by a clip or ball and socket arrangement or by male-female interaction. Preferably however the locking means is a cam lock arrangement which may be manually activated by a thumb or finger wherein the cam lock abuts the slide rail when in the locked position and is clear of the side rail in the release position by engagement of one cam surface of the cam lock or carriage with an abutting surface. Suitably the cam lock is pivotally attached to the carriage in this regard. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1 shows a detailed perspective view of the sports practice assembly of the invention;

FIG 2 is a similar view to what is shown in FIG 1 but taken from a different orientation; FIG 3 is a detailed view of the connection assembly used for connecting adjacent body straps of the practice assembly shown in FIGS 1-2;

FIG 4 is a front view of the practice apparatus shown in FIGS 1-2;

FIG 5 is a section through fine A-A shown in FIG 4 and showing a cam lock to lock the chin piece to the slide rail;

FIG 6 is a similar view to FIG 5 showing locking of the cam lock; FIG 7 is a perspective view of a golfer addressing the golf bali with a golf club in an elevated position or at the top of his swing wearing the practice assembly of the invention;

FiG 8 is a similar view to FIG 7 but showing use of the practice assembiy from a different orientation to that shown in FIG 7;

FiG 9 is a detailed view of the practice assembly wherein the golfer has the same stance as shown in FIG 7;

FiG 10 is a similar view to FIG 9 but showing the golfer in position after completion of the golf swing;

FiG 1 1 shows the practice assembly of the invention when applied to kicking a football;

FIG 12 is a similar view to FIG 1 1 and showing the footballer about to kick a football;

FIG 13 shows a detailed perspective view of the footballer shown in FiGS 11 and 12 wearing the practice assembly of the invention;

FIG 14 is a similar view to FIG 12 but showing a perspective view of the footballer;

FiG 15 shows a detailed perspective view of another embodiment of the sports practice assembiy of Figure 1 , wherein the headwear includes a head strap;

FiG 16 shows a detailed perspective view of yet another embodiment of the sports practice assembiy of Figure 1 , wherein the headwear includes another embodiment of a head strap;

FIG 17 shows a front view of a golfer at address using another embodiment of a sports practice assembly including a buttocks belt;

FIG IS shows to a rear view of the golfer shown in FIG 17;

FiG 19 shows a perspective view of the sports or golf practice assembiy of FiG 1 ; FIG 20 shows an exploded perspective view illustrating the releasabie connection means between the buttocks belt and the body support;

FIG 21 shows the adjustable connection between the buttocks belt and the body support;

FIG 22 shows to a similar view as shown in FIG 18 from a different angle; and

FIG 23 shows a perspective rear view of the sports practice assembly of FiG 17; FIG 24 shows a perspective rear view of another embodiment of the sports practice assembly of FIG 17; and FIG 25 shows a detailed perspective view of yet another embodiment of the sports practice assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference may now be made to preferred embodiments of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings in FIGS 1 -2 there is shown a sports practice assembly 10 which includes headwear in the form of cap 1 1 having visor 12. The cap 1 1 has attached thereto on each side a U-shaped strap 13 which is attached at 14 and 15 by the use of any convenient attachment mechanism such as by stitching, buckles, press studs, attachment bracket, or the like (not shown). Each U-shaped strap 13 is attached to a single downwardly extending supporting strap 16 suitably by stitching and the like. Each supporting strap 16 is adjustably attached by buckle 17 to a chin support or chin retention member 18. The chin support 18 essentially is a socket body 19 defining a hollow having a peripheral wall 20 for supporting, receiving and retaining a chin of a user as shown in FIGS 9-10 or FIG 3. The chin support 18 is also provided with a first magnet 21. The chin support 18 also has a foam inlay 22 best shown in FIG 2.

The practice assembiy 10 also includes a wearable body support 80 including a chest plate 23 or breast plate which abuts the breast or chest of a user as shown in FIGS 9- 10 and FIG 13. The chest plate 23 has a generally planar exterior surface 86. The chest plate 23 is provided with a pair of end brackets or shoulder projections 24 attached to each top corner 25 of chest plate 23. The shoulder projections 24 are elevated or raised above the planar exterior surface 86.

Each end bracket 24 supports an opposite end region of a slide rail or guide 26 so that the slide rail 26 is arranged between the shoulders of a user, in use. The slide rail 26 extends at least partially between the shoulders of the user along a curved path. There is also provided a moveable member in the form of a carriage or slider body 27 which is slidably connected to the slide rail 28 as shown in FIGS 5-6. Slider body 27 is also provided with a cam lock 28 and a support pin 29 as shown in FIG 5.

The slide rail 26 is generally arcuate with its opposite ends received in the shoulder projections 24. The section of the rail 26 extending between the shoulder projections is free from the chest plate 23. The slide rail 26 may have a length, between the projections and along the rail 26, of between about 400mm and 600mm, for example 500mm. A central section of the slide rail 26 is elevated or spaced from planar exterior surface 86 of the chest plate 23. The spacing between the central section of the slide rail 26 and the planar exterior surface 86 of the chest plate 23 may be between about 60mm and 100mm, for example 80mm as indicated by distance dimension "x" from the centre of the slide rail 26 as shown in FIG 4. The width of the chest plate 23, measured between the outside edges of the respective shoulder projections 24 may be between about 300mm and 500mm, for example 390mm. It will be appreciated that these dimensions can be used to provide guidance for scaling down the assembly to suit children of different ages, if necessary. In other words, the relationships between the dimensions described above can be used to scale the dimensions upwardly or downwardly. The body support 80 includes a body harness 82 for positioning the chest p!ate 23 against the chest of a wearer. The body harness 82 includes a pair of shoulder straps 30 which are connected to an adjacent end bracket 24 by any suitable means such as those already described in regard to the attachment of each U-shaped strap 13 to cap 11 . The body harness 82 is connected to the chest plate 23 at a lower or bottom region of the chest plate 23. This can serve to secure the chest plate 23 and thus the slide rail or guide 26 from excessive movement, which would be counter-productive. For example, the body harness 82 includes a pair of body or waist straps 32 which are each attached to a respective bottom corner of chest plate 23 by buckles 33, There is also provided a connection assembly 34 for connection of each body strap 32 shown in detail in FIG 3 wherein a pair of resilient tongues 35 of one component 36 of connection assembly 34 engage in an associated slot 38 of another component 39 after extending through an open end 40 of component 39. Each strap 32 is attached to an adjacent end part 41 of components 36 and 39. Each tongue 35 is separated by spacer bar 42 which also extends through open end 40 of component 39. The connection assembly 34 is conventional in nature and is described in US Patent 5558382.

The chest plate 23 is also provided with a foam backing 43 and has a structure formed by interconnecting ribs 44 and 45 as shown in FIG 2. The carriage 27 is also provided with a second magnet 46 which engages with first magnet 21 in use as shown in FIGS 5-6 and FIG 13. The first magnet 21 and second magnet 46 together comprise an attachment mechanism for releasably attaching the chin support 18 to the carriage 27. The magnets 21 , 46 abut each other, in use, to locate, retain or attach the carriage 27 in a releasable manner to the chin support 18.

!n use, as shown in FIG 4, movement of the chin support 18 can take place along slide rail 26 as shown by the arrow in full outline in FIGS 9-10 with each magnet 21 and 46 in contact with each other as shown in FIGS 5-6. The limit of travel of the chin support 18 and carriage 27 is provided by end brackets 24 which function as stops as also shown in FIG 4. The chin support 18 is attached to the carriage 27 so as to prevent, or at least inhibit, nodding or bobbing of the head as the shoulders rotate relative to the head. That is to say that the practice assembly 10 guides the head during the swinging action to not nod or bob about the atlas, but only rotate about the axis as the shoulders and the spine rotate through the swing. During this action, the strength of the magnets 21 , 46 serve to retain the user's head against lifting, nodding or bobbing.

However, it will be appreciated that the magnets 21 , 46 will separate if a certain amount of separating force is applied. It follows that a user or wearer can break away from the guided position without the need to release components from each other manually. This can be appropriate during a coaching or practicing session where the user or wearer needs to observe something or to communicate with something. The user also knows that if the magnets 21 , 46 break apart during the course of executing a swing, he or she is excessively nodding or bobbing. Different strength magnets 21 , 46 may be used depending on the skill of the user, A novice may require very strong magnets to keep his/her head guided along the path of the slide rail 26 without the magnets 21 , 46 breaking apart. Similarly, a more experienced user may require weaker magnets 21 , 26 which still break apart from each other if the user does not execute the stroke well.

Thus, the magnets are selected with characteristics that facilitate the functionality described above. FIG 5 is a view along line A-A of FIG 4 and shows an aperture 47 in the carriage 27 for passage of the slide rail 26 as well as the cam lock 28 and the support pin 29. In FIG 6 the cam lock 28 is shown in the locked position wherein a projection 48 bears against the slide rail 26 to lock movement of the carriage 27 in a desired position along the slide rail 26. The chin support 18 can thus be attached to the carriage 27 substantially without sliding. However, the cam lock 28 can be manually disengaged from the locked position shown in FIG 6 by movement of the cam Sock 28 by a thumb or finger so that it reaches the position shown in FIG 5. In FIG 5, the projection 48 is clear of the slide rail 26 as shown. The cam lock 28 pivots about a pivot axis defined by the support pin 29 and the cam surface 49 abuts an abutment 50 in the locked position as shown in FIG 6. in the unlocked condition the carnage 27 is free to slide along the slide rail 26 along the arcuate path of the slide rail 26 and also to pivot about the slide rail 26. The carriage 27 is pivotally mounted on the slide rail 26 so that the magnet 46 of the carriage 27 aligns with the magnet 21 of the chin support 18 with adjacent faces of the magnets 46, 21 in flat engagement against each other, providing a positive location of the chin support 18 with the carriage 27.

In F!G 6 there is also shown the chin support 18 and the foam inlay 22. The chin support 18 has a relatively vertical part 18A and angled part 18B to accommodate a chin 54 and a face 55. The magnet 21 is attached to the chin support 18 by a bracket 56. In FIGS 7-8 use of the practice assembly 10 is shown for example by a golfer 51 wherein the golfer 51 has his eyes or gaze fixedly on a golf ball 52 so that the golfer 51 is inhibited from lifting or nodding his head by the engagement of magnets 21 and 46 as described above thereby avoiding any sudden or involuntary head movement. Thus one of the generally accepted major problems in golf, especially for

inexperienced golfers when they "periscope" or lift their head on contact being made between golf club 53 and ball 52, is substantially avoided. The magnets 21 and 46 are appropriately selected for this function. The golfer 51 retains his gaze on the golf ball 52 as shown by the line 54 in phantom in FIG 8. The golfer 51 is positively guided by the chin support 18 following the slide rail 28 to allow rotation of the head relative to the shoulders only without allowing nodding of the head.

In FIGS 9-10 there is shown the golfer 51 at the top of his or her downswing and the bottom of his or her downswing respectively. It will be noted that the carriage 27 in the position shown in FIG 9 is located adjacent end bracket 24A and movement of the carriage 27 along slide rail 26 to reach the position shown in FIG 10 ends with carriage 27 being located adjacent end bracket 24B. This means that substantially the entire length of the arcuate slide rail 26 can be utilized so that the golfer 51 can maintain a correct position when addressing the ball 52 without lifting or nodding his/her head.

FIGS 1 1 -14 show use of practice assembly 10 when applied to a footballer 57 and in this regard the carriage 27 is retained in an approximately central position of arcuate guide rail 26. This means that the footballer 57 has a fixed gaze at a football 58 as shown by the line 59 in phantom shown in FIG 14 so that the eyes of the footballer 51 are riveted on the football 58 and this has the additional advantage of maintaining concentration when the footballer 57 kicks the football 58. The golfe 51 can also maintain full concentration on the golf ball 52 during his/her downswing. Cam lock 28 is also operational in the locked position to maintain carriage 27 in the approximately central position. FIG 15 shows a practice assembly 100, which is the similar to the practice assembly 10, the only difference being the headwear which is in the form of a head strap 102. With reference to the preceding drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. The use of common reference numerals is for

convenience only and is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, it is to be understood that components described in the preceding drawings can be combined with components of the assembly 100, where practical. The head strap 102 includes supporting straps in the form of free end portions 104 which thread through slots in opposite sides of the chin retention member 18 to fix the head strap 102 to the chin support 18. The free end portions 104 bifurcate towards th rear of the head strap 102 to provide two strap portions 106 which wrap around the head of the wearer, in use. The head strap 1.02 includes at least one buckle 108 along one of the free end portions to adjust the size of the head strap 102 and tighten the head strap 102 with the chin of the wearer held in the chin support or retention member 18.

FIG 16 shows a practice assembly 1 10, which is similar to the practice assembly 10, the only difference being that a head band 1 12 substitutes for the cap 1 1. With reference to the preceding drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. The use of common reference numerals is for

convenience only and is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, it is to be understood that components described in the preceding drawings can be combined with components of the assembly 100, where practical.

The U-shaped straps 13 are attached to the head band 112 suitably by stitching or the like. The head band 1 12 includes a buckle 1 14 to adjust the size of the head band 1 12 and to tighten the head band 1 12 with the chin of the wearer held in the chin support or retention member 18. it therefore will be appreciated that the sports practice assembly 10 of the invention is versatile in operation, being applicable to a variety of different sports, but is effective in operation and simple in structure. The sports practice assembly 10, via attachment of the chin support 18 to the carriage 27, keeps the wearer's head in a position wherein the head does not nod or bob while the head rotates relative to the shoulders during a swing.

Reference may now be made to FIGS 17-23 which describe a different embodiment of the invention to that shown in FIGS 1 -14. With reference to the preceding drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. The use of common reference numerals is for convenience only and is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, it is to be understood that components described in the preceding drawings can be combined with components of this embodiment, where practical.

This different embodiment refers to inclusion of a belt or strap which surrounds the hips and buttocks of the user and which is releasably secured to the body support of the sports practice assembly of the invention. The buttocks belt extends below the buttocks and helps the user maintain the correct spine angle at address to the vertical. This spine angle may be for example 25° - 35° to the vertical. It is a generally accepted problem at address or when the user is taking a correct stance before he/she initiates his/her golf swing that he/she may jerk upwardly. It is also generally understood that this is a common fault with novice golfers or people who are just starting to learn the game. If this happens the correct spine angle will change and this will clearly detract from the quality or correctness of the golf swing.

The buttocks belt may be releasably attached to the chest plate or body harness by one or more upwardly extending belts which may be releasably attached to the body support by a releasable connection 34 as shown in FIG 3 for example, where two belts 61 , 62 are used. However a buckle connection could be used and it is preferred that whatever releasable connection is used that such releasable connection be adjustable. FIGS 17-25 show the addition of a buttocks belt 60 to the sports practice assembly 10 of the invention. The buttocks belt 60 is releasably connected to the body support 80 by the straps 61 and 62. The body support 80 includes a wearable neoprene vest 84 to which the chest plate 23 is affixed, The vest 84 has adjustable shoulder straps 74 for adjusting the height at which the chest piate 23 is held relative to the body. The assembly 10 optionally includes elastic back straps 72 shown in broken lines in FIG 18 and FIG 19. The back straps 72 extend between the rear of the buttocks bel 60 and the rear of the vest 84. it will be noted that the belt 60 is worn by the golfer below or against his/her buttocks 63 in FIG 18 and around his/her groin or crotch 64 in FIG 15. The buttocks belt 60 includes two thigh straps 70 which keeps the belt 60 from riding up. The thigh straps 70 may be adjustable in length. The buttocks belt 60 further includes a buckle 69 to adjust the girth of the belt 60. The buttocks belt 60 can be of a variety of widths. For example, the buttocks belt 60 can be dimensioned substantially to cover the buttocks from the hips down. The buttocks belt 60 can be of any suitable material. For example, the buttocks belt 60 can be of, or can include, an elastomeric material for a snug or firm fit. The fit and/or the thigh straps 70 of the buttocks belt 60 can provide a secure anchor for the straps 61 , 62, thus helping to secure the rail 26 against excessive movement.

FIG 19 shows the sports practice assembly 10 wherein the body support 50 is connected to the belt 60 by the straps 61 and 62 which are releasably connected to the vest 84 at 64 and 65. In this regard use is made of a releasable connection 34 already shown in FIG 3 for each body strap 61 and 62. In this regard a component 39 (FIG 20) is fixedly attached to the body support 80 and the straps 61 and 62 engage with the buckle 33 so as to provide an adjustable connection between components 36 and 39 which is shown by the arrows in FiG 21.

It is to be noted that the straps 61 , 62 can be independently adjusted to suit the physiological characteristics of the golfer. Thus, where the straps 61 , 62 are elastic, they can be adjusted to provide even tension when the golfer starts his/her golf swing with one shoulder higher than the other. Alternatively, tension can be set up in one strap 61. 61 _f as opposed to the other as a corrective measure. It is well known that golfers set up in different ways depending on their physiology. The independently adjustable straps 61 , 61 , particularly if elastic, provide a way of accommodating the different physiologies and set ups of golfers.

FIG 22 shows by the incorporation of buttocks belt 60 that the golfer can maintain his correct spine angl as shown by line A~B relative to the li e C-D corresponding to the trailing thigh of the golfer. The arc 66 equates to the swing of the golfer and thus a spine angle can foe maintained. The golfer's head is further prevented from bobbing, and thereby changing the spine angle, by the chin support 18 being connected to the carriage 27 as discussed with reference to FIGS 1-15. FIG 23 shows the vest 84 being adjustable such as by a connection at 67. That can be a Velcro (trade mark} connection. The buttocks belt 60 may also be adjustable as shown at 68. That can also be by a Velcro (trade mark} connection.

In the embodiment of FIG 24 it will be noted that the chest plate 23 does not have a foam backing, but rather has a smooth planar interior surface. The neoprene of the vest 84 can provide a cushioning function.

References may now be made to FIG 25 which describe a different embodiment of the sports practice assembly 10 to that shown in FIGS 1 -24. With reference to the preceding drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. The use of common reference numerals is for convenience only and is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, it is to be understood that components described in the preceding drawings can be combined with components of this embodiment, where practical.

FIG 25 shows a detailed perspective view of another embodiment of the sports practice assembly 10. The assembly 10 of FIG 25 comprises the wearable body support 80 of FIGS 1 -14 and the buttocks belt 60 of FIGS 17-22. The buttocks belt 80 is releasably connected to the body support 80 by straps 61 , 62 and optional back straps 72 shown in broken lines. The straps 61., 62 are length adjustable and may be elasticized. The straps 61 , 62 connect to the waist strap 32 of the body harness 82.

The chest plate 23 may have a narrower Y-shaped profile in front plan view than the profile shown in FIGS 1 -24. FIG 25 shows an alternative embodiment (in broken lines) of the chest plate 23.1 with a Y-shaped profile. it therefore will be appreciated from the foregoing that the golf practice assembly 10 by incorporation of buttocks belt 60 will assist in enabling the golfer to not only maintain his/her spine at the correct angle but will also help to maintain a fixed head position which is essential to develop an effective golf swing. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that by virtue of having a body support 80 which supports the slide rail 26 through the abovementioned shoulder projections 24, the sports practice assembly 10 is more efficient and of simpler structure when compared to the prior art discussed above. Thus the body support 80 and attached slide rail 26 is worn externally of the clothing of the user and there is no requirement for a specially modified shirt as described in US Patent 5713804 wherein a slide track is located adjacent an inner surface of the modified shirt. The sports practice assembly 10 does not require a flexible or elliptically shaped magnet defining a path as described in US Patent 5713804, but rather a much smaller magnet 46 which is allowed to travel along the path of the side rail 26 in the carriage 27. Furthermore, the magnets 46, 21 of the sports practice assembly 10 are, in use during the swing, stuck with their faces flat against each other, providing positive location or attachment of the chin support 18 to the carriage 27 to guide the movement of the relative movement of the head during the swing. The practice assembly 10 guides the head during the swinging action to not nod or bob about the atlas, but only rotate about the axis as the shoulders and the spine rotate through the swing. Throughout the specification, including the claims, where the context permits, the term "comprising" and variants thereof such as "comprise" or "comprises" are to be interpreted as including the stated integer or integers without necessarily excluding any other integers. Use of words that indicate orientation or direction of travel is not to be considered limiting. Thus, words such as "front", "back", "rear", "side", "up", down", "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "forwards", "backwards", "towards" and synonyms, antonyms and derivatives thereof have been selected for convenience only and refer only to an "in use" orientation or direction. It is to be understood that the termi ology employed above is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The described embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practised with various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Various substantially and specifically practical and useful exemplary embodiments of the claimed subject matter, are described herein, textually and/or graphically, including the best mode, if any, known to the inventor for carrying out the claimed subject matter. Variations (e.g., modifications and/or enhancements) of one or more embodiments described herein might become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this application. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the claimed subject matter to be practiced other than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, as permitted by law, the claimed subject matter includes and covers ail equivalents of the claimed subject matter and all improvements to the claimed subject matter. Moreover, every combination of the above described elements, activities, and all possible variations thereof are encompassed by the claimed subject matter unless otherwise clearly indicated herein, clearly and specifically disclaimed, or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate one or more embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of any claimed subject matter unless otherwise stated. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed subject matter as essential to the practice of the claimed subject matter.

Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via explicit definition, assertion, or argument, or clearly contradicted by context, with respect to any claim, whether of this application and/or any claim of any application claiming priority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise: a. there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular described o

illustrated characteristic, function, activity, or element, any particular sequence of activities, o any particular interrelationship of elements; b. no characteristic, function, activity, or element is "essential"; c. any elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated; d. any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entitles, and/or any activity can be performed in multiple jurisdictions; and e. any activity or element can be specifically excluded, the sequence of

activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of elements can vary.

The use of the terms "a", "an", "said", "the", and/or similar referents in the context of describing various embodiments (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having,"

"including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted.

Moreover, when any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value and each separate subrange defined by such separate values is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. For example, if a range of 1 to 10 is described, that range includes all values

therebetween, such as for example, 1 .1 , 2,5, 3.335, 5, 6.179, 8.9999, etc, and Includes all subranges therebetween, such as for example, 1 to 3.65, 2.8 to 8, 14, 1.93 to 9, etc.

Accordingly, every portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, other than the claims themselves, is to be regarded as iilustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and the scope of subject matter protected by any patent that issues based on this application is defined only by the claims of that patent.