Abstract:
Embodiments of swing angle retention and head movement prevention are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]    Various embodiments described herein relate generally to aiding a user to maintain a body position when swinging one or more arms, including systems, and methods used in maintaining a person&#39;s spinal angle or head position when swinging one or more arms. 
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
       [0002]    It may be desirable for a person to maintain a body position including a spinal angle or head position when swinging one or more arms, the present invention provides such a system and method. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0003]      FIG. 1A  is a simplified isometric diagram of a personal body position guide system including a base according to various embodiments. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1B  is a is a simplified isometric diagram of a personal body position guide module coupled to structure according to various embodiments. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1C  is a simplified left side diagram of the personal body position guide system of  FIG. 1A  according to various embodiments. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1C  is a simplified left side diagram of the personal body position guide system of  FIG. 1A  according to various embodiments. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1D  is a simplified right side diagram of the personal body position guide system of  FIG. 1A  according to various embodiments. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1E  is a simplified left side diagram of the personal body position guide module of  FIG. 1B  according to various embodiments. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1F  is a simplified right side diagram of the personal body position guide module of  FIG. 1B  according to various embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1G  is a simplified top diagram of the personal body position guide system of  FIG. 1A  according to various embodiments. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 2A-2C  is a simplified front side diagram of the personal body position guide system of  FIG. 1A  showing a user in various positions during a swing according to various embodiments. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3A-3C  is a simplified back side diagram of the personal body position guide system of  FIG. 1A  showing a user in various positions during a swing according to various embodiments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a simplified back side diagram of the personal body position guide system of  FIG. 1A  having different guide configuration according to various embodiments. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  is a simplified top diagram of a guide of the personal body position guide system of  FIG. 1A  according to various embodiments. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  is a simplified side diagram of a guide of the personal body position guide system of  FIG. 1A  and monitoring system according to various embodiments. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6A-6B  are flow diagrams body position guide system processing algorithms according to various embodiments. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an article according to various embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]      FIG. 1A  is a simplified isometric diagram and  FIG. 1G  is a top diagram of a personal body position guide system  10  including a base module  20  and vertical extension module  30  including a base according to various embodiments. The personal body position guide (PBPG) system  10  may include a horizontal module  40 , angle module  60 , and guide module  64 . The guide module  64  is coupled to the angle module  60  in an embodiment. The angle module  60  may be slideably coupled to the horizontal module  40 . In an embodiment the angle module  60  includes an extension  62  that is frictionally coupled to one or more semi-enclosing connectors  54  of the horizontal extension module  40 . The horizontal extension module  40  may include an angularly adjustable coupling  50 . The coupling  50  may be angularly coupled to the horizontal extension module  46  and the semi-enclosing connectors  54 . 
         [0019]    The coupling  50  may include a user controllable knob that alternatively permits and limits angularly movement of the connectors  54  relative to the horizontal module  40 . Accordingly the angle module  60  including the guide  64  may be angularly adjusted relative to the horizontal extension module  40 . In an embodiment the horizontal extension module  40  including a telescopic internal extension  42  whose extension may be alternatively enabled and limited via one or more user controllable knobs  44 . The knobs  44 ,  52  may create a compression force to limit movement and may engage teeth, indentations, and/or slots to limit movement. The horizontal extension  40  may include a offset  46  between the angle module  60  and the extension  40  to enable desired angularly movement of the angle extension  60  relative to the horizontal extension module  40 . In an embodiment the offset  46  may be at least partially radial. 
         [0020]    The vertical extension module  30  may include a telescopic section  32  and a horizontal extension module  40  coupling  38 . A user controllable knob  34  may alternatively enable and limit extension of the telescopic section  32 . The knob  34  may create a compression force to limit movement and may engage teeth, indentations, and/or slots  36  to limit movement of the telescopic extension  32 . The vertical extension module  30  may be coupled to a base module  20  or other stable interface including a floor via a coupling (not shown). The base module  20  may include a cavity  23  that be filled with a material via a lockable cap  21  where the material may include sand and water. The base module  20  may include a vertical extension coupling recess  25  and one more angled supports  24  coupling the vertical extension module  30  to the base  20  at one or more locations. The base module  20  may also include a wheel  22  to aid in the movement of the base  20 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 1B  is a is a simplified isometric diagram of the personal body position guide (PBPG) system  10  coupled to supportable structure  70  according to various embodiments. The BDPG system  10  may be supportively coupled to the structure  70  via a releasable coupling  72 . The structure may be a wall, overhang or other PBPG system  10  supportable structure  70 .  FIG. 1C  is a simplified left side diagram and  FIG. 1D  is a simplified right side diagram of the PBPG system of  FIG. 1A  according to various embodiments with a user  80  positioned in the system  10 .  FIG. 1E  is a simplified left side diagram and  FIG. 1F  is a simplified right side diagram of the PBPG system of  FIG. 1B  according to various embodiments with a user  80  positioned in the system  10 . 
         [0022]    In  FIGS. 1C to 1F  the system  10  extension module  60  guide  64  via the vertical extension adjustment knob  34 , horizontal adjustment knobs  44 , angularly adjustment knob  52 , and slides  54  may be operatively placed adjacent or in direct contact with the user&#39;s head  82 . The user  80  may configure the guide  64  or another user may configure the guide  64  via the vertical extension adjustment knob  34 , horizontal adjustment knobs  44 , angularly adjustment knob  52 , and slides  54  as the user  80  sets in at least one desired body position. In an embodiment the body position is the user&#39;s spinal angle to be maintained as the user moves or swings one or more arms about their spine. In an embodiment the plane of the guide  64  may be set to approximately parallel to the desired body position. 
         [0023]    Further, the user may hold an object to be swung via one or more arms including a baseball bat or golf club. In such an embodiment the guide  64  plane may be set approximately parallel to the user&#39;s spinal angle at address (prior to swinging) and may be close or in direct contact with the user&#39;s head  82 . Further the PBPG system  10  combination of horizontal extension module  40 , angular coupling module  50  and slideable angle extension module  60  may enable the user to perform a full swing or one or more arms engaged to a golf club or baseball bat and strike a golf ball or baseball when maintaining the user&#39;s desired body position, in an embodiment their spinal angle during a portion of the swing. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 2A-2C  are simplified front side diagrams of the personal body position guide system of  FIG. 1A  showing a user in various positions during a swing according to various embodiments and  FIGS. 3A-3C  are simplified back side diagrams of the personal body position guide system of  FIG. 1A  showing the user in various positions during a swing according to various embodiments. As shown in  FIGS. 2A-3C , a user employing the PBPG  10  to maintain their spine angle during a swing may slide relative to the PBPG  10  center while maintaining desired contact or distance from the user&#39;s head  82  and the guide  64  behind the user&#39;s head  82 . The guide&#39;s width  64  is about 4 to 12 inches in an embodiment to enable a user to complete a swing when attempting to maintain at least one body position. In an embodiment the body position is the user&#39;s spinal angle to be maintained as the user moves or swings one or more arms about their spine and the guide  64  may be set to be approximately parallel to the desired body position. 
         [0025]    Further, the user may hold an object to be swung via one or more arms including a baseball bat or golf club. In such an embodiment the guide  64  plane may be set approximately parallel to the user&#39;s spinal angle at address (prior to swinging) and may be close or in direct contact with the user&#39;s head  82 . Further the PBPG system  10  combination of horizontal extension module  40 , angular coupling module  50  and slideable angle extension module  60  may enable the user to perform a full swing or one or more arms engaged to a golf club or baseball bat and strike a golf ball or baseball while maintaining the user&#39;s desired body position, in an embodiment their spinal angle during a portion of the swing. In an embodiment the system  10  enables a user  80  to start at a centered position ( FIG. 2A ,  3 A), slide their head back ( FIG. 2B , #B) during a back swing, and slide their head forward ( FIG. 2C ,  3 C) during the forward swing and follow through while maintaining a desired spinal angle. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a simplified back side diagram of the personal body position guide system  10  of  FIG. 1A  having different guide  64  configuration according to various embodiments. In  FIG. 4  the guide  64  may be rotated 90 degrees to have a plane substantially parallel to the horizontal extension module  40  long axis. A user  80  may place their head  82  in contact or near the rotated guide  64  to practice a swing where they desired to prevent or limit lateral head movement such as during a putting stroke. 
         [0027]    To provide additional feedback or enable a user to practice by themselves or without a mirror to monitor their effective contact or relative proximity of their back of head  82  to the guide  64 , an guide  100  may include an LEDs  122 , photoreceptor  124 , a power supply  112 , a controller  114 , and an antenna  116 . In an embodiment the LED  32 A may be configured to emit energy of a first particular frequency range and the photoreceptor  124  may be configured to detect energy of the first particular frequency range. The controller  114  via the antenna  116  may be configured to generate a signal to the LED  122  and detect signals generated by the photoreceptor  124 . The controller  114  may generate a user detectable response based on these signals as a function of a user&#39;s  80  proximity to the guide  100 . The controller  114  may also communicate signal(s) to another controller that may store, display, analyze, or indicate the user&#39;s  80  proximity to the guide during use (such as during a swing). As shown in  FIG. 5B , a guide monitoring system  130  may control several LEDs  122  and monitor the signal generated by several photoreceptors  124  where the signals are communicated to the controller  114  via one or more electrical connections  106 . The controller  114  may include a user selectable switch  126  and a timer  128 . Upon switch activation  126 , the controller may operate for a predetermined time interval via the timer  128 . 
         [0028]    In an embodiment the invention may employ the algorithm  140  shown in  FIG. 6A  to employ the PBPG  10  to help a user  80  maintain a desired body position during an arm swing. A user, instructor, or other person may initially direct the user&#39;s  80  back of head  82  toward the system  10  guide  64  (activity  142 ). A user, instructor, or other person may configure the system  10  guide  64  to engage a user&#39;s back of head  82  (activity  144 ). A user may then swing at least one arm to practice a desired movement while the user is visually monitored by an instructor, another person, or the user (via a video recorder, mirror, or other device) (activity  146 ). When the user  80  fails to maintain the desired body position during a desired movement (such as their spine angle whiling swinging a golf club) (activity  147 ), the instructor or another person, or recording equipment may provide feedback (activity  148 ) to help the user  80  correct or achieve the desired body position during a swing. The instructor or another person, or recording equipment may provide positive feedback when the user  80  maintains the desired body position during a swing. 
         [0029]    In a further embodiment the invention may employ the algorithm  150  shown in  FIG. 6B  to employ the PBPG  10  to help a user  80  maintain a desired body position during an activity such as an arm swing. A user, instructor, or other person may initially direct the user&#39;s  80  back of head  82  toward the system  10  guide  64  (activity  152 ). A user, instructor, or other person may configure the system  10  guide  64  to engage a user&#39;s back of head  82  (activity  154 ). A user may then perform a desired activity such as swinging at least one arm to practice a desired movement while the user is electronically monitored such as by the guide  100 , system  130  (activity  156 ). When the user  80  fails to maintain the desired body position during a desired activity (such as their spine angle whiling swinging a golf club) (activity  157 ), an electronic feedback via one or more devices ( FIG. 7 ) may provide feedback (activity  158 ) to help a user  80  correct or achieve the desired body position during an activity. The system  100 ,  130  may provide positive feedback when a user  80  maintains the desired body position during an activity. 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an article  180  according to various embodiments. The article  180  shown in  FIG. 7  may be used in various embodiments as a part of a system  10  where the article  180  may be any computing device including a personal data assistant, cellular telephone, laptop computer, or desktop computer. The article  180  may include a central processing unit (CPU)  182 , a random access memory (RAM)  184 , a read only memory (ROM″)  206 , a display  188 , a user input device  212 , a transceiver application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)  216 , a digital to analog (D/A) and analog to digital (A/D) convertor  215 , a microphone  208 , a speaker  202 , and an antenna  204 . The CPU  182  may include a timer module  214  and a switch module  213 . 
         [0031]    The ROM  206  is coupled to the CPU  182  and may store the program instructions to be executed by the CPU  182 . The RAM  184  is coupled to the CPU  182  and may store temporary program data, overhead information, and the queues  198  including user  80  guide proximity information. The user input device  212  may comprise an input device such as a keypad, touch pad screen, track ball or other similar input device that allows the user to navigate through menus in order to operate the article  180 . The display  188  may be an output device such as a CRT, LCD, LED or other lighting apparatus that enables the user to read, view, or hear user detectable signals. 
         [0032]    The microphone  208  and speaker  202  may be incorporated into the device  180 . The microphone  208  and speaker  202  may also be separated from the device  180 . Received data may be transmitted to the CPU  182  via a bus  196  where the data may include signals for an LED  122 . The transceiver ASIC  216  may include an instruction set necessary to communicate data, screens, or signals. The ASIC  216  may be coupled to the antenna  204  to communicate wireless messages, pages, and signal information within the signal. When a message is received by the transceiver ASIC  216 , its corresponding data may be transferred to the CPU  182  via the serial bus  196 . The data can include wireless protocol, overhead information, and data to be processed by the device  180  in accordance with the methods described herein. 
         [0033]    The D/A and A/D convertor  215  may be coupled to one or more optical modules to generate a signal to be used to energize one of the optical modules (such as the LED  122 , photoreceptor  124 ). Any of the components previously described can be implemented in a number of ways, including embodiments in software. Any of the components previously described can be implemented in a number of ways, including embodiments in software. Thus, the LEDs  122 , controllers  114 , switch  126 , and timers  128  may all be characterized as “modules” herein. The modules may include hardware circuitry, single or multi-processor circuits, memory circuits, software program modules and objects, firmware, and combinations thereof, as desired by the architect of the system  10 ,  100 , and  130  and as appropriate for particular implementations of various embodiments. 
         [0034]    The apparatus and systems of various embodiments may be useful in applications other than a sales architecture configuration. They are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. 
         [0035]    Applications that may include the novel apparatus and systems of various embodiments include electronic circuitry used in high-speed computers, communication and signal processing circuitry, modems, single or multi-processor modules, single or multiple embedded processors, data switches, and application-specific modules, including multilayer, multi-chip modules. Such apparatus and systems may further be included as sub-components within a variety of electronic systems, such as televisions, cellular telephones, personal computers (e.g., laptop computers, desktop computers, handheld computers, tablet computers, etc.), workstations, radios, video players, audio players (e.g., mp3 players), vehicles, medical devices (e.g., heart monitor, blood pressure monitor, etc.) and others. Some embodiments may include a number of methods. 
         [0036]    It may be possible to execute the activities described herein in an order other than the order described. Various activities described with respect to the methods identified herein can be executed in repetitive, serial, or parallel fashion. 
         [0037]    A software program may be launched from a computer-readable medium in a computer-based system to execute functions defined in the software program. Various programming languages may be employed to create software programs designed to implement and perform the methods disclosed herein. The programs may be structured in an object-orientated format using an object-oriented language such as Java or C++. Alternatively, the programs may be structured in a procedure-orientated format using a procedural language, such as assembly or C. The software components may communicate using a number of mechanisms well known to those skilled in the art, such as application program interfaces or inter-process communication techniques, including remote procedure calls. The teachings of various embodiments are not limited to any particular programming language or environment. 
         [0038]    The accompanying drawings that form a part hereof show, by way of illustration and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. The embodiments illustrated are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed herein. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived there-from, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This Detailed Description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
         [0039]    Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein individually or collectively by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept, if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. 
         [0040]    The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted to require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may be found in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.