APPARATUS FOR MOVEMENT PRACTICE

Field of Technology

The present technology relates to an apparatus for movement practice.

Background to the Technology

Certain sports like golf, hockey and football require sportspersons to practise certain movements. Practising a movement involves striking an object, such as a ball or a puck, repeatedly.

Every time an object is struck, it will proceed to move in the direction in which force is imparted to the object until another force is exerted on the object. The object may slow down and ultimately stop due to frictional force. Otherwise, the object may strike against a body, such as a wall or a net, which may either absorb the inertial force of the moving object or alter the direction of motion of the object. In any case, the sportsperson would be required to retrieve the object every time they strike it.

This involves excessive use of energy and time of the sportsperson. Alternatively, a human, robot or other machine will have to retrieve the object every time the sportsperson strikes it.

Object of the Technology

It is an object of the technology to provide an improved apparatus for movement practice.

Alternatively, it is an object of the present technology to provide an apparatus for movement practice in which an object can be retrieved easily after being struck.

Alternatively, it is an object of the present technology to provide an apparatus for golf practice.

Alternatively, it is an object of the present technology to provide an apparatus for movement practice which can be easily transported. Alternatively, it is an object of the present technology to provide an apparatus for movement practice which is easy to store.

Alternatively, it is an object of the present technology to provide an apparatus for movement practice which can be easily setup.

Alternatively, it is an object of the present technology to provide an apparatus for movement practice which can be easily taken down.

Alternatively, it is an object of the present technology to provide an apparatus for movement practice which is durable.

Alternatively, it is an object of the present technology to provide an apparatus for movement practice which is resistant to damage from elements of the weather, such as sunlight, moisture, rain, etc.

Alternatively, it is an object of the present technology to provide an apparatus for movement practice which requires little maintenance.

Alternatively, it is an object of the present technology to provide an apparatus for movement practice which is adjustable to suit the sizing preferences of a user of the apparatus.

Alternatively, it is an object of the present technology to provide an apparatus for movement practice which requires limited space.

Alternatively, it is an object of the technology to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Summary of the Technology

According to a first aspect of the technology, there is provided an apparatus for movement practice, the apparatus comprising: an object which is configured to be struck by a user; a support that is configured to secure the apparatus in a location to be used; and a tether which connects the object to the support; wherein the object is configured to move freely on being struck by the user until movement of the object is restricted and/or stopped by the tether.

According to another aspect of the technology, there is provided an apparatus for movement practice, the apparatus comprising: an object which includes at least one recess; a support that is configured to secure the apparatus in a location to be used; a tether which connects the object to the support; wherein a portion of the tether is disposed in the at least one recess, and further wherein an adhesive secures the portion of the tether in the at least one recess.

According to another aspect of the technology, there is provided apparatus for movement practice, the apparatus comprising: an object; a support that is configured to secure the apparatus in a location to be used; a tether which connects the object to the support, wherein the tether includes an attachment portion which connects the tether to the object, and further wherein the apparatus includes a sleeve which protects the attachment portion.

According to another aspect of the technology, there is provided an apparatus for movement practice, the apparatus comprising: a support that is configured to secure the apparatus in a location to be used; wherein the support includes a head and an anchor, and further wherein the head is configured to swivel with respect to the anchor in use; and an object connected to the head.

According to another aspect of the technology, there is provided an apparatus for movement practice, the apparatus comprising: a support which is configured to secure the apparatus in a location to be used, wherein the support includes a first component and a second component which can be assembled together and/or disassembled; an object which is connected to the support by a tether .

According to another aspect of the technology, there is provided an apparatus for movement practice, the apparatus comprising: an object which is configured to be struck by a user in use; a support which is configured to secure the apparatus in a location to be used; a tether which connects the object to the support; and a holder which is configured to secure the object when the apparatus is not in use.

According to another aspect of the technology, there is provided an apparatus for movement practice, the apparatus comprising: an object which is configured to be struck by a user in use; a support which is configured to secure the apparatus in a location to be used; a tether which connects the object to the support; and a spool structure around which the tether can be wound when the apparatus is not in use.

According to another aspect of the technology, there is provided an apparatus for movement practice, the apparatus comprising: an object which is configured to be struck by a user; a support which is configured to secure the apparatus in a location to be used, wherein the object is configured to be tethered to the support; and a sensor which is configured to measure one or more parameters of motion of the object in use.

In preferred forms, the present technology relates to apparatus that are configured to assist a user to practice a movement for a sport. Reference will be made herein as such. However, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present invention. According to a preferred aspect of the technology, the apparatus may be configured for use in golf training.

Throughout the present specification, reference to the term "object” should be understood as referring to an item which is configured to be hit by a user of the apparatus. When hit, the object is able to move away from the support and / or head.

According to an aspect of the technology, the object may be a ball e.g. a golf ball.

According to an aspect of the technology, the object may be made from rubber and/or surlyn and/or poly-urethene.

According to an alternative aspect of the technology, the object may be a puck.

According to an aspect of the technology, the object may be permanently connected to the tether.

According to another aspect of the technology, the object may be removably connected to the tether.

According to a preferred aspect of the technology, the object may be connected to the tether through one or more adhesives.

According to an aspect of the technology, the adhesive(s) may have one or more properties of UV stability and water resistance for outdoor use of the apparatus. Alternatively, or in addition, the adhesive may be moisture resistant in a temperature range of -40 °C to 100 °C.

According to an aspect of the technology, the adhesive(s) may be shock resistant to ensure bonding between the tether and the object despite the object being struck repeatedly in use.

According to an aspect of the technology, the adhesive(s) may include an acrylic gel hybrid two- part glue. According to an aspect of the technology, the object may be snap-fit and/or friction-fit to the tether.

According to an aspect of the technology, a knot may be made at the end of the tether and inserted into the object.

According to a preferred aspect of the technology, a knot may be made at the end of the tether which forms the attachment portion. The attachment portion, including the knot, may then be treated with a glue activator. A hole or recess may be drilled into the object, adhesive may be injected into the recess, and the attachment portion with the knot may be pushed into the recess and held in position for a time duration which is required to secure the bond between the tether and the object. The recess in the object may be shaped and sized to accommodate the diameter of the tether and the knot.

According to an aspect of the technology, the recess which receives the tether may have a diameter of substantially 1 mm to 7 mm. The recess may have a depth of substantially 10 mm to substantially 30 mm. In one embodiment, the preferred dimensions of the recess may be 4 mm diameter and/or 22 mm depth.

Throughout the present specification, reference to the term "tether" should be understood as referring to a non-rigid connector which is used to connect the object directly or indirectly to the support. According to an aspect of the technology, the tether may be one or more of a cord, a chain, a wire, an elastic rope, etc.

According to an aspect of the technology, the tether may be UV resistant and/or water resistant to allow the apparatus to be used outdoors without much damage to the tether.

According to an aspect of the technology, the tether may be formed from a material which is substantially non-elastic. According to another aspect of the technology, the tether may be formed from a material which is elastic.

Throughout the present specification, reference to the term "sleeve" should be understood as meaning a component which is configured to at least partially surround a portion of the tether to reduce or prevent wear and tear of the tether in use.

According to an aspect of the technology, the sleeve may be made of one or more materials which may be configured to resist wear and tear on application of friction. For instance, the sleeve may be made of a plastic material, metal, wood, fibre and/or composite material. Alternatively, the sleeve may be made of substantially thick fibres.

According to an aspect of the technology, at least a portion of the sleeve may be disposed in the recess. The advantage of this is that the tether may be better protected from wear and tear from the edges of the recess.

According to a preferred aspect of the technology, the portion of the sleeve which may be received by the recess may be relatively rigid. The advantage of this is that the sleeve can be assembled with the object with relative ease.

According to another aspect of the technology, one or more portions of the sleeve may be made of a relatively soft and/or pliable material.

According to a preferred aspect of the technology, an end of the tether, which forms the attachment portion, may be provided with a sleeve which is configured to be inserted into the recess of the object and retained in position through one or more adhesives.

According to another preferred aspect of the technology, the end of the tether, which forms the attachment portion, and which has provided to it a sleeve, may be configured to be inserted into the recess of the object and retained in position through snap-fit and/or friction fit. According to an aspect of the technology, the tether includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may include the attachment portion. The second portion may be configured to be connected to the head of the support. The first portion and the second portion may be separated by a length of the tether.

According to an aspect of the technology, the sleeve may be configured to fit over a region of the first portion which is proximate to the attachment portion.

According to an aspect of the technology, the sleeve may include a front end and a rear end. The front end of the sleeve may be configured to fit over at least a part of the attachment portion and the rear end of the sleeve may be configured to fit over the region of the first portion which is proximate to the attachment portion.

According to an aspect of the technology, the front end of the sleeve may be positioned inside the recess of the golf ball and the rear end may be positioned outside the recess of the golf ball and proximate to the golf ball.

According to an aspect of the technology, the sleeve may be formed of a heat shrink material.

According to an aspect of the technology, a heat shrink sleeve is slipped over the attachment portion of the tether and it shrinks over the first portion of the tether to be attached to the tether when heat is applied.

According to an aspect of the technology, the heat shrink sleeve may have a double-walled structure with an internal adhesive lining the sleeve to adhere to the tether when the sleeve shrinks over the attachment portion when heat is applied.

According to an aspect of the technology, the heat shrink sleeve may further have an external adhesive lining with glue that bonds the sleeve to the object on application of heat. According to an aspect of the technology, the sleeve is configured to be located proximal to the knot of the tether. The sleeve preferably has a smaller cross-sectional diameter than the knot, thereby, resisting the tether from being pulled out through the sleeve.

According to an aspect of the technology, a primer may be applied to the attachment portion of the tether, the inside of the recess of the object and/or the inner and outer sides of the sleeve to prepare the surfaces for an effective adhesive bond.

According to an aspect of the technology, the primer may be a glue activator.

According to an aspect of the technology, the knot is made on attachment portion, the attachment portion (with the knot) and the inner side of the heat shrink sleeve are treated with the primer, the heat shrink sleeve is slipped over the knot and positioned proximal to the attachment portion, heat is applied to the heat shrink sleeve which causes it to attach to the tether. Then, the outer side of the heat shrink sleeve and the recess of the object is treated with the primer, adhesive is injected into the recess and at least a part of the first portion of the tether is inserted into the recess until the knot is inserted into a substantially inner portion of the recess. Then, the object and the at least a part of the first portion are held in position for a certain period of time until the glue on the external adhesive lining forms a bond between the first portion and the recess. This period of time will depend on the adhesive being used but may be approximately 24 hours, for example.

According to an aspect of the technology, the tether may be attached directly to the support.

According to an alternative aspect of the technology, the tether may be attached via a coupling component to the support.

According to an aspect of the technology, the apparatus may further comprise an elastic component which is connected between the tether and the support. The elastic component may absorb force from the tether as it is tensioned by movement of a ball away from the support in use. Absorbing the force can help to stabilise the apparatus of the present technology and can, for instance, prevent it shaking around or loosening in the ground on repeated use. Yet a further advantage may be that dissipation of energy by the elastic component reduces the tendency of the object to return to its original position under speed which may create an injury hazard for a person.

According to an aspect of the technology, the elastic component may be oriented in a direction that is substantially different to the direction in which a user strikes the object. In addition to energy dissipation, the elastic component alters the direction of return motion of the object due to the impact of the directional components of the deformative and restorative forces. This prevents the object from returning to the point at which the user struck it.

According to an aspect of the technology, the elastic component may be a spring.

Alternatively, the elastic component could be a bungee cord or other suitable arrangement. In yet a further alternative embodiment, the elastic component may be provided by the tether being manufactured from an elastic material.

According to an aspect of the technology, the tether may be made of a material which is relatively non-elastic compared to elasticity of the elastic component.

According to an aspect of the technology, the support may include a connection point at which the tether is attached to the support.

According to a preferred aspect of the technology, the connection point may be a hole. In one form, the tether may be looped through the hole and tied in place. In another form, the tether may include a clip which is configured to secure the tether to the hole.

According to an aspect of the technology, an end of the elastic component may be secured to the connection point, and another end of the elastic component may be secured to the tether.

According to another aspect of the technology, the connection point may include one or more indents. In one form, the tether may include a spring clip which may be configured to secure the tether to the support by securing itself with the one or more indents. According to an aspect of the technology, the connection point may be a slot. In one form, the tether may include a key which may be configured to be inserted into the slot to secure the tether.

According to another aspect of the technology, the frame may comprise a first side end and a second side end which are connected by an upper end.

According to an aspect of the technology, the frame may be substantially quadrilateral comprising a first side end, a second side end, an upper end and a lower end.

According to an aspect of the technology, the tether may be wound around the first side end and/or the second side end.

According to an aspect of the technology, the tether may be wound between the first side end and the second side end.

According to an aspect of the technology, the first side end and/or the second side end may be shaped and/or oriented to accommodate the volume of the tether when wound. In one form, the first side end and/or the second side end may be slanted inwards. In another form of this aspect, the first side end and/or the second side end may have at least one portion(s) which may be shaped inwardly.

According to an alternative aspect of the technology, the tether may be wound between the second side end of the frame and a side end of the holder.

According to an aspect of the technology, the connection point may be attached to the first side end.

According to another aspect of the technology, the connection point may be integrally formed with the first side end. According to an aspect of the technology, the second side end of the frame may include an opening through which the tether passes through in use. In one form of this aspect, the opening may be a hole. In another form of this aspect, the opening may be a C-shaped indentation in the frame. The above discussion is only exemplary and that the opening may have other shapes without deviating from the scope of the present technology.

The advantage of the opening is that the reactionary force exerted by the tether, when the object is struck by the user, is distributed between the connection point and the opening. The distribution of reactionary force ensures that the connection point does not remain the sole point of failure. This, in turn, prevents accelerated wear and tear, or damage of the tether at the attachment portion of the tether.

According to an aspect of the technology, a cushion component may be provided in the opening to reduce frictional damage to the tether. The cushion component may be made of a smooth material that reduces friction between the opening and the tether.

According to a preferred aspect of the technology, the elastic component may be disposed between the connection point and the opening. The advantage of this arrangement is that the elastic component may be better supported in a pre-determined orientation between the connection point and the opening. This may improve the elastic component's ability to absorb the jolt of tensioning the tether. In addition, it may protect the elastic component, and reduce the overall dimensions of the apparatus.

According to an aspect of the technology, the anchor is configured to be anchored to the ground to secure the apparatus in a location to be used. For example, the anchor may include a stake that can be driven into the ground. The apparatus may include at least one engagement portion which may facilitate the anchor to be driven into ground by a user's foot and / or hand.

According to an aspect of the technology, the upper end of the frame may provide at least a part of the engagement portion. The engagement portion provides corrugation or enhanced frictional grip for a user's hands or shoes. The engagement portion allows the user to drive an anchor into a location, for instance the ground, using their feet. This improves the ease with which the apparatus can be fixed to a location.

According to an aspect of the technology, the frame may be configured to swivel with respect to the ground in use.

According to an aspect of the technology, the holder may include one or more gripping components which are configured to secure the object. In one form of this aspect, the gripping portions may include friction pads to secure the object. In another form of this aspect, the gripping portions may include vacuum pads to secure the object. In another form of this aspect, the one or more gripping portions may be configured to secure the object through snap-fit.

According to an aspect of the technology, the holder may include an upper end and a lower end.

According to a preferred aspect of the technology, a first gripping component may be provided to the upper end and a second gripping component may be provided to the lower end.

According to an aspect of the technology, the lower end of the holder and the lower end of the frame may be configured to be in-line with each other.

According to an aspect of the technology, the upper end of the holder and the upper end of the frame may be configured to be in-line with each other.

According to an aspect of the technology, at least a portion of the engagement portion may be provided on the upper end of the holder. In one form of this aspect, the engagement portion may be provided on the upper end of the holder and the upper end of the frame.

Throughout the present specification, reference to the term "head” should be understood as meaning one or more components of the support which is/are configured to be attached to the object through the tether. According to an aspect of the technology, the head may be assembled by a user from a plurality of sub-components.

According to another aspect of the technology, the head may be a single component which cannot be disassembled by a user.

According to a preferred aspect of the technology, the elastic element may be included in the head of the support.

According to an aspect of the technology, the head may include the engagement portion.

According to a preferred aspect of the technology, the engagement portion may be provided on a top edge of the head when the apparatus is in use.

According to an aspect of the technology, the head may include the connection point.

According to a preferred aspect of the technology, the head may include the frame.

According to an aspect of the technology, the frame and the holder may be arranged in line to form the head. In one form of this aspect, the first side end may be configured to provide the connection point and the holder. The connection point may be configured to face towards a first direction and the holder may be configured to face towards a second direction. The first direction may be substantially opposite to the second direction.

According to an aspect of the technology, the head or frame of the support may be made from a material which provides desired values of strength, rigidity and impact resistance. For example, the material may be a polymer of glass reinforced nylon. The ratio of glass to nylon may range from substantially 0:100 to substantially 40: 60. At 0:100, the nylon is unfilled and does not include any glass. The percentage of glass may also be greater than 20%. In one embodiment, the preferred ratio of glass to nylon may be substantially 15:85. According to another aspect of the technology, the head or frame of the support may be made from one or more of polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, etc. These materials may alternatively be glass- filled polymers.

Throughout the present specification, reference to the term "anchor" should be understood as meaning one or more components which are configured to secure the support to a location in use.

According to an aspect of the technology, the anchor may include a stake that can be driven into the ground.

According to an aspect of the technology, the stake may be substantially perpendicular to the engagement portion. This is to ensure that all the force applied by a user is directed at driving the anchor into the location, and no component of the force is wasted.

According to an aspect of the technology, the anchor may include a pointed end. The pointed end allows the anchor to be driven easily into the ground by easing penetration.

According to an aspect of the technology, the joining system may include a swivel nut which facilitates the head to swivel with respect to the anchor.

According to another aspect of the technology, the joining system may include a housing which may be configured to receive an end of the anchor. In one form of this aspect, the anchor may be configured to rotate substantially freely within the housing. In another form of this aspect, resistance of rotation of the anchor within the housing may be configured to be controlled. The control may be achieved through mechanical or electrical means.

According to one aspect of the technology, the frame, the housing, and the holder may be formed together as a single component. This may reduce manufacturing costs. According to another aspect of the technology, the frame, the housing and the holder may be detachably attached to each other. This allows easy storage and transportation as the user can assemble and disassemble the head.

Throughout the present specification, reference to the terms "first component” and "second component” should be understood as meaning any of the components of the apparatus.

In preferred forms, the first component may be a head of an apparatus as described herein, and the second component may be an anchor as described herein. Reference will be made herein as such.

Throughout the present specification, reference to the term "sensor” should be understood as meaning a component which is configured to sense, measure and/or detect a physical or chemical property.

According to an aspect of the technology, the sensor may be a strain gauge.

According to a preferred aspect of the technology, the sensor may be piezoelectric strain gauge.

According to another aspect, the object may be a smart device, preferably having one or more sensors. The object may be configured to record and/or relay data related to the motion and spatial location of the object.

According to an aspect of the technology, data from the sensor and/or the object may be displayed on a screen.

According to another aspect of the technology, data from the sensor and/or the object may be transmitted to a computing device such as a mobile phone, computer, etc.

According to a preferred aspect of the technology, data from the sensor and/or the object may be transmitted, analysed and/or presented through a computer application. According to one aspect of the technology, there may be provided an apparatus for golf practice. The apparatus may comprise a golf ball which comprises a recess. The apparatus may further comprise an anchor that is configured to secure the apparatus in a location to be used. The apparatus may further comprise a head which is attached to the anchor. The apparatus may further comprise a tether which comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may be separated from the second portion by a length of the tether. The apparatus may further comprise a sleeve. The first portion of the tether may comprise an attachment portion. The attachment portion may be configured to be inserted into the recess of the golf ball to connect the golf ball to the tether. The attachment portion may comprise a knot which is configured to be inserted into the recess in the golf ball. The second portion of the tether may be configured to be connected to the head. The sleeve may comprise a front end and a rear end. The front end of the sleeve may be configured to fit over at least a part of the attachment portion and the rear end of the sleeve may be configured to fit over a region of the first portion which is proximate to the attachment portion. In use the front end of the sleeve may be positioned inside the recess of the golf ball and the rear end may be positioned outside the recess of the golf ball.

According to one aspect of the technology, there may be provided an apparatus for movement practice. The apparatus may comprise an object which is configured to be struck by a user in use. The apparatus may further comprise a support which comprises a head and an anchor. The apparatus may further comprise a tether which is configured to connect the object to the head. The anchor may be configured to be anchored to the ground to secure the apparatus in a location to be used. The head may be configured to swivel with respect to the anchor when the object is struck by the user in use. The head may further comprise a holder which may be configured to secure the object when the apparatus is not in use. The head may further comprise a spool structure around which the tether may be configured to be wound when the apparatus is not in use.

According to one aspect of the technology, there may be provided an apparatus for movement practice. The apparatus may comprise a support which is configured to secure the apparatus in a location to be used. The support may comprise a connection point and an opening which is distant from the connection point. The apparatus may further comprise an object which is configured to be struck by a user. The apparatus may further comprise a tether which comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion of the tether may be separated by at least a length of the tether. The first portion may be configured to be connected to the object. The apparatus may further comprise an elastic component which comprises a first end and a second end. The first end of the elastic component may be configured to be connected to the second portion of the tether. The second end of the elastic component may be configured to be connected to the support at the connection point. The elastic component may be disposed between the connection point and the opening in use. The tether extending from the second portion may be configured to pass through the opening of the support. The object may be configured to move freely on being struck by the user until movement of the object is restricted and/or stopped by the tether and/or the elastic component.

Embodiments of the apparatus may offer several advantages. Firstly, the amount of space required for the apparatus may be only as far as the length of the tether at maximum extension. In comparison, larger spaces may be required if nets or other obstructions are used to contain objects, such as balls, within a limited area. Secondly, the apparatus may provide an inexpensive alternative to nets or other available options which require a significant amount of material and complexity of construction. Thirdly, the apparatus may be easy to assemble and disassemble. It may not require significant expertise, time or labour to set-up the apparatus and to dismantle it. Therefore, there may be no need to have a dedicated space, such as a practice net, for the apparatus. Fourthly, the apparatus may allow the user to strike the same object repeatedly. This has two advantages - multiple objects needn't be used by a user through a practice session, and the user needn't travel to the object to collect it.

The apparatus may be particularly useful for hobby golfers who may be of advanced age which prevents them from fetching a ball every time they practice a shot. Moreover, the apparatus allows them to quickly set-up and practice shots in their backyard without having to invest in a session at a golf course.

The description of the specification is not an exhaustive list of all possible variations of components for the apparatus which can be substituted by a person skilled in the art with the advantage of the present specification. Accordingly, the discussion herein should not be seen as limiting on the scope of the present technology.

Further aspects of the technology, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following description which provides at least one example of a practical application of the technology.

Brief Description of the Drawings

One or more embodiments of the technology will be described below by way of example only, and without intending to be limiting, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology in an in use configuration;

Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 through the section B-B' shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 through the section A-A' shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6A is a top view and a cross-sectional view of the ball connected to the tether with a knot, the cross-sectional view being through section C-C'.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology in a compact configuration; Figure 8 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a top view of the apparatus of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a bottom view of the apparatus of Figure 7;

Figure 11 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure 7.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Technology

In Use Configuration

Referring first to Figures 1 to 6, which show an apparatus for movement practice 1000 in the form of a golf practice apparatus. Figures 1 to 6 show the apparatus 1000 in use.

The apparatus 1000 comprises a head 1400, an anchor 1800, a tether 1200, an elastic component 1204, and a ball 1100.

The head 1400 and the anchor 1800 are secured to each other. The ball 1100 is connected to the head 1400 by the tether 1200 and the elastic component 1204.

The anchor 1800 can be used to secure the apparatus 1000 in place. The head 1400 may have an engagement portion 1470 to facilitate the user easily fixing the apparatus 1000 in place. For instance, as illustrated the engagement portion 1470 includes corrugations which prevent slipping of a user's hand and/or foot when pressing down on the anchor 1800.

A user may strike the ball 1100 to practice a shot. Every time the ball 1100 is struck, it travels with the speed and direction of the force imparted by the user striking the ball 1100. The tether 1200 extends with the ball 1100 until it is completely straightened. When the tether 1200 is straightened it stops the ball 1100 moving away from the anchor 1800. The user may use the tether to retrieve the ball 1100 and repeat the process to practice their golf swing. Therefore, the need for a user to have to walk long distances to retrieve a ball is eliminated. In addition, the apparatus 1000 may enable a user to practice their golf swing in relatively smaller areas, where golf balls could not otherwise be hit without risk of injury or causing damage.

The elastic component 1204 can assist with stopping a golf ball as it travels away from the head 1400. For instance, the elastic component 1204 can absorb the shock and jolt that occurs when the tether reaches its maximum length. This in turn may prevent the head 1400 shaking/ rocking, which could loosen the anchor in the ground.

One end 1206 of the tether 1200 (which forms an attachment portion) is connected to the ball 1100, and another end 1208 (or a second portion of the tether 1200) is connected to the elastic component 1204 on one end of the elastic component 1204. The other end of the elastic component 1204 is attached to the head 1400 at a connection point 1460 which in the illustrated embodiments is a hole through which the other end of the elastic component 1204 is hooked in use. As shown in the Figs., the end 1206 and the end 1208 are separated by a length of the tether 1200. The end 1206 may be considered to form a first portion of the tether 1200.

The end 1206 is at least partially surrounded by a sleeve 1202, and it is inserted into a recess 1102 in the ball 1100. The sleeve 1202 includes a front end 1202a and a read end 1202b. The front end 1202a is positioned inside the recess 1102 in use and the rear end 1202b lies outside the recess 1102. This is perhaps best seen in Figure 4.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated by Figure 6A, the end 1206 of the tether 1200, which may form the attachment portion, includes a knot 1210. In this embodiment, the first portion of the tether 1200 includes the end 1206 with the knot 1210 and the sleeve 1202.

The sleeve 1202 may be a heat shrink sleeve with a double-walled structure having an internal adhesive lining and an external adhesive lining. The heat shrink sleeve 1202 may be configured to have a larger diameter before being exposed to heat such that the sleeve 1202 can be slipped on to the tether 1200 on end 1206 after passing the knot 1210 through the sleeve 1202. Once the knot 1210 is passed through the sleeve 1202, the sleeve 1202 is positioned close to the knot 1210 and exposed to heat such that the diameter of the sleeve 1202 shrinks and the inner adhesive lining forms a bond between the sleeve 1202 and the tether 1200. The diameter of the sleeve 1202 after exposure to heat may be smaller than the diameter of the knot 1210, thereby ensuring that the sleeve 1202 does not slip over the knot 1210 after the sleeve 1202 is attached to the tether 1200.

Then, the end 1206 (with the knot 1210 and the sleeve 1202) is inserted into the recess 1102 until the knot 1210 is positioned at the innermost region 1102a of the recess 1102. Then, the ball 1100 and the end 1206 of the tether 1200 are held in position for a certain period of time until the glue on the external adhesive lining forms a bond between the end 1206 and the recess 1102. This period of time will depend on the adhesive being used but may be approximately 24 hours, for example.

Alternatively, or in addition, the end 1206, with the knot 1210 and the sleeve 1202, may be treated with a glue activator and/or a primer before being inserted into the recess 1102 and adhesive may be injected into the recess 1102 to form a bond between the ball 1100 and the end 1206 of the tether 1200.

The sleeve 1202 is preferably secured inside the recess of the ball 1100 using one or more adhesives as described above. Alternatively, a screw or other attachment means could also be used to secure the tether 1200 to the ball 1100.

The head 1400 comprises a frame 1410, a holder 1430 and a housing 1450 which are all integrally formed together as a single component. Alternatively, the frame 1410, the holder 1430 and/or the housing 1450 may be attached to each other, for instance through welding. In another alternative embodiment (not shown in the illustrated embodiments), the frame 1410, the holder 1430 and/or the housing 1450 may be detachably attached to each other and the user may be able to assemble and/or disassemble the sub-components of the head 1400.

The frame 1410 further includes a first side end 1412, a second side end 1414, an upper end 1416 and a lower end 1418. The tether 1200 is attached to the elastic component 1204 and passes through an opening 1420 in the second side end 1414 of the frame 1410. As shown in the Figures, the elastic component 1204 lies substantially horizontal in use due to the tether 1200 passing through the opening 1420.

The opening 1420 may be lined with a cushion component (not illustrated) or formed from a low friction material component, or otherwise shaped to reduce abrasion of the tether 1200. This may improve wear performance of the tether 1200.

The frame 1410 and the holder 1430 are located on opposite sides of the housing 1450. The holder 1430 includes an upper end 1432, a lower end 1434 and a side end 1440. The upper end 1432 and the lower end 1434 include a first gripping surface 1436 and a second gripping surface 1438 respectively. The first gripping surface 1436 and the second gripping surface 1438 are used to hold the ball in place when the apparatus 1000 is to be stored. This is shown in Figures 7 to 11 and described in further detail below.

The anchor 1800 includes a first end 1820 and a pointed end 1810. The first end 1820 is configured to be inserted into the housing 1450 when the apparatus 1000 is assembled together.

The anchor 1800 may be rigidly attached to a swivel nut 1610. The anchor 1800 further includes a knob 1830 and an O-ring 1840, which is shown in Figures 7 to 10. The anchor 1800 may be configured to be snap-fitted to the apparatus 1000 by inserting the first end 1820 through the housing 1450 until the anchor 1800 clicks into position with respect to the housing 1450. The O- ring 1840 is located between the knob 1830 and the swivel nut 1610, preferably closer to the knob 1830 in use. The O-ring 1840 stops the anchor 1800 from accidentally disengaging from the housing 1450 and it prevents the knob 1830 passing through the channel in the housing 1450.

The O-ring 1840 may preferably be made of an elastic material, and dimensions so that it can be slipped into position between the knob 1830 and the anchor.

The pointed end 1810 can be pushed into ground to fix the apparatus 1000 in a location. The upper end 1416 of the frame 1410 and the upper end 1432 of the holder 1430 are in-line with each other. The engagement portion 1470 includes a frame strip 1472 and a holder strip 1474 which are located on the upper end 1416 and the upper end 1432 respectively.

The frame strip 1472 and the holder strip 1474 are substantially of equal length and they are located substantially equidistantly on either side of the housing 1450. This encourages the user to apply force directly over the housing 1450. This may allow better direction of force to the anchor 1800.

The first end 1820 of the anchor 1800 is inserted into the housing 1450 of the head 1400 and secured using the swivel nut 1610. The anchor 1800 is configured to rotate freely in the housing 1450 and the swivel nut 1610 allows that with minimal interference. This arrangement allows the head 1400 to swivel when the user strikes the ball 1100.

Storage Configuration

Referring now to Figures 7 to 11 which show the apparatus 1000 when disassembled and arranged compactly for storage.

The apparatus 1000 can be removed from the ground by pulling upwards on the head 1400, preferably by grabbing the housing 1450 and/or by holding the lower end 1480 of the head 1400and pulling upwards.

The first end 1820 of the anchor 1800 may be pulled and/or pushed out of the housing 1450 to disassemble the head 1400 and the anchor 1800.

The anchor 1800 can be secured to the head 1400 again in a relatively compact configuration to provide a storage configuration for the apparatus 1000. As shown in the Figures, the lower end 1418 includes a first block component 1480 and the lower end 1434 includes a second block component 1482. Each of the first block component 1480 and the second block component 1482 include apertures 1484 which are in-line with each other. The apertures 1484 are dimensioned to allow the anchor 1800 to be pressed through the apertures 1484.

The tether 1200 can be wound around the second side end 1414 of the frame 1410 and the side end 1440 of the holder 1430, as shown in Figure 7. In the illustrated embodiments, the second side end 1414 and the side end 1440 form the spool structure. Then the ball 1100 is pushed in between the first gripping surface 1436 and the second gripping surface 1438 of the holder 1430, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

The elastic component 1204 fits within the frame 1410, and is dimensioned so that it does not substantively hinder the tether 1200 being wound around the second side end 1414 and the side end 1440.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications cited above and below, if any, are herein incorporated by reference.

Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour in any country in the world.

The technology may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the technology and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be included within the present technology.

It will also be appreciated that various features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein may be combined to form yet further embodiments of the technology. These further forms of the technology are intended as being envisaged within the scope of the technology.