Abstract:
Provided is a device for aiding an awareness of a golfer of a bend at an elbow of a leading arm of the golfer during a golf swing. The device comprises a forearm engaging surface operable to engage a forearm of the golfer, an upper arm contacting surface operable to reversibly connect an upper arm of the golfer; and a body connecting the forearm engaging surface to the upper arm contacting surface. The body is operable, when the forearm engaging surface is engaged with the forearm of the golfer, to move the upper arm contacting surface such that when the elbow of the leading arm of the golfer is straight, the upper arm contacting surface is in contact with the upper arm of the golfer and when the bend at the elbow is present the upper arm contacting surface is not in contact with the upper arm of the golfer.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention is a training device and more specifically a device for training a golfer to be aware of a shape of their arm during a golf swing. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The Straight Arm is a sleeve-like device that maintains a generally straight shape to an arm and is marketed as a golf training aid. The device was available to be viewed at the following URLs on Dec. 12, 2012: 
         [0003]    1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7L-goGXXlc 
         [0004]    2) http://www.herringtoncatalog.com/g651.html 
         [0005]    3) http://straightarm.net/testimonials/ 
         [0006]    The Tac Tic Arm Aid is a device attached to the elbow joint of a golfer such that as the elbow joint is moved between a straight position and a bent position the device makes a noise, thereby notifying the golfer of the change in the shape of the elbow joint. The device was available to be viewed at the following URL on Dec. 12, 2012: 
         [0007]    1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L4WZjI9syU 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The present invention is based, at least in part, on the relative displacement of a plane generally parallel to the forearm from a plane generally parallel to the back of the upper arm and providing a body that is operable to connect the forearm to the back of the upper arm of a person only when the elbow joint is not bent. 
         [0009]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device for aiding an awareness of a golfer of a bend at an elbow of a leading arm of the golfer during a golf swing, the device comprising: a) a forearm engaging surface operable to engage a forearm of the golfer; b) an upper arm contacting surface operable to reversibly connect with an upper arm of the golfer; and c) a body connecting the forearm engaging surface to the upper arm contacting surface, the body operable when the forearm engaging surface is engaged with the forearm of the golfer to move the upper arm contacting surface such that when the elbow of the leading arm of the golfer is straight the upper arm contacting surface is in contact with the upper arm of the golfer and when the bend at the elbow is present the upper arm contacting surface is not in contact with the upper arm of the golfer. 
         [0010]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the body maintains an upper arm contacting surface plane at a distance of from about 0.5 inches to about 1.5 inches from a forearm engaging surface plane. 
         [0011]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the body maintains an upper arm contacting surface plane at a distance of from about 0.8 inches to about 1.3 inches from a forearm engaging surface plane. 
         [0012]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the body maintains an upper arm contacting surface plane at a distance of about 1 inch from a forearm engaging surface plane. 
         [0013]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the device further comprises an extender. 
         [0014]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the extender is operable to maintain an upper arm contacting surface plane at any distance of from about 0.5 inches to about 3 inches from a forearm engaging surface plane. 
         [0015]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the extender is operable to maintain an upper arm contacting surface plane at any distance of from about 0.5 inches to about 2 inches from a forearm engaging surface plane. 
         [0016]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the extender is operable to maintain an upper arm contacting surface plane at any distance of from about 1 inch to about 2 inches from a forearm engaging surface plane. 
         [0017]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the upper arm contacting surface is shaped to enhance comfort when contacting the upper arm of the golfer. 
         [0018]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the upper arm contacting surface is a rounded surface. 
         [0019]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the forearm engaging surface is shaped to enhance contact between the forearm of the golfer and the forearm engaging surface. 
         [0020]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the forearm engaging surface is generally concave. 
         [0021]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the body comprises an attachment means for attaching the device to the forearm of the golfer. 
         [0022]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the attachment means is at least one space defined by the body operable to receive a webbing. 
         [0023]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein further comprising a webbing operable to engage the body and operable to wrap around the forearm of the golfer thereby engaging the forearm engaging surface with the forearm of the golfer. 
         [0024]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the webbing is adjustable such that it is operable to wrap around forearms of different sizes. 
         [0025]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the attachment means is an article of clothing. 
         [0026]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the device is integrated into the article of clothing such that the forearm engaging surface, the upper arm contacting surface and the body are not visible when being worn by the golfer. 
         [0027]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the article of clothing is a shirt, a sweater or a jacket. 
         [0028]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device for aiding an awareness of a golfer of a bend at an elbow of a leading arm of the golfer during a golf swing, the device comprising: a) a forearm engaging surface operable to engage to a forearm of the golfer and having a concave shape to enhance contact between the forearm of the golfer and the forearm engaging surface; b) an upper arm contacting surface operable to reversibly contact with an upper arm of the golfer and having a rounded shape to enhance comfort when contacting the upper arm of the golfer; and c) a body defining a first space and a second space, the first and second spaces operable to receive a webbing, the body connecting the forearm engaging surface to the upper arm contacting surface such that an upper arm contacting surface plane is maintained at a distance of from about 0.9 inches to about 1.1 inches from a forearm engaging surface plane and the body is operable when the forearm engaging surface is engaged with the forearm of the golfer to move the upper arm contacting surface such that when the elbow of the leading arm of the golfer is straight the upper arm contacting surface is in contact with the upper arm of the golfer and when the bend at the elbow is present the upper arm contacting surface is not in contact with the upper arm of the golfer. 
         [0029]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein further comprising a webbing operable to engage the body at the first and second spaces defined by the body and operable to wrap around the forearm of the golfer thereby engaging the forearm engaging surface with the forearm of the golfer. 
         [0030]    In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a device described herein wherein the webbing is adjustable such that it is operable to wrap around forearms of different sizes. 
         [0031]    Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]    In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  is a top view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the invention as set out in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at  10 . A body  20  connects a forearm engaging surface  30  and an upper arm contacting surface  40 . For clarity, both the forearm engaging surface  30  and the upper arm contacting surface  40  are on the underside of the first embodiment of the invention and hence not visible in  FIG. 1 . The body  20  operates best when it is made from a rigid and/or stiff material as well as lightweight material. Absolute rigidity and/or stiffness is not required and some flexibility in the material may aid comfort for a golfer, however, the body  20  must not flex appreciably due to gravity. Further, lightweight materials are not required, but may improve the comfort of the device when being used by the golfer. Preferred materials include, but are not limited to, plastics and polycarbonate materials. Spaces  50 , when present, are defined by the body  20  and are operable to receive a webbing or other attachment mechanism so as to secure the embodiment to an arm of the golfer. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a line  60  defines a middle section of the body  20  and the lines  70  indicate the area of the upper arm contacting surface  40 . For clarity,  FIG. 2  is a top view of the first embodiment of the invention and hence the upper arm contacting surface is not visible in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , an upper arm contacting surface plane  80  is represented by a dotted line, which plane is perpendicular to the surface of the page. In one embodiment, when the embodiment is oriented as shown in  FIG. 3 , the upper arm contacting surface plane  80  may be defined by a horizontal plane that extends between lines  70  (see  FIG. 2 ) and comprises those lines together with the lowest point of the embodiment. In the same embodiment, when the embodiment is oriented as shown in  FIG. 3 , a forearm engaging surface plane  90  may be defined by a horizontal plane, perpendicular to the surface of the page, that comprises both the line  60  (see  FIG. 2 ) and a portion of the forearm engaging surface  30  that exists at line  60 , which portion is shown in  FIG. 4  at point  100 . As the embodiment is rotated, so does the upper arm contacting surface plane  80  and the forearm engaging surface plane  90  rotate similarly. These two planes  80  and  90  are maintained at a fixed position relative to each other by the body  20 . Generally, the two planes  80  and  90  are maintained at a fixed distance that is selected from a range of from about 0.5 inches to about 2.0 inches. In some embodiments, the two planes  80  and  90  are maintained at a distance of from about 0.5 inches to about 2 inches. In other embodiments, the two planes  80  and  90  are maintained at a distance of from about 0.5 inches to about 1.5 inches from each other. In other embodiments, the two planes  80  and  90  are maintained at a distance of from about 1.0 inch to about 2.0 inches from each other. In other embodiments, the two planes  80  and  90  are maintained at a distance of from about 0.8 inches to about 1.3 inches from each other. In other embodiments still, the two planes  80  and  90  are maintained at a distance of from about 0.9 inches to about 1.1 inches from each other. In other embodiments still, the two planes  80  and  90  are maintained at a distance of about 1 inch from each other. 
         [0040]    The shape of the body  20  is not of particular importance provided that the planes  80  and  90  are kept within the fixed relative distances from each other as described herein. It is convenient if the body is kept smaller so that there is less likelihood of the invention interfering with the golfer in a manner that is not related to making the golfer aware of the straightening and/or bending of the leading arm of the golfer. A gradual, sloping shape of the body  20  that generally follows the contour of the golfer&#39;s arm is often a convenient shape for the body  20 , but it is not absolutely necessary. Another convenient shape for the body is a generally curved shape, but it is not absolutely necessary. The body  20  may be angular and/or irregularly shaped, if desired, so long as planes  80  and  90  are kept spatially relative to each other as described above. 
         [0041]    Further, the shape of the body  20  with respect to the forearm engaging surface  30  is also not critical. Often it is convenient to have the body  20  shaped so that it generally follows the contour of the golfer&#39;s arm, as shown in  FIG. 4 . In some embodiments, the body  20  may be flat on both sides. In some embodiments, the body  20  may be flat on the top side and curved on the underside where the forearm engaging surface  30  is. In some embodiments, the body  20  may be flat on both sides. In some embodiments, the body  20  may be curved on both sides. 
         [0042]    In some embodiments, the forearm engaging surface  30  may be shaped to enhance contact between the forearm of the golfer and the forearm engaging surface  30 . This may be achieved by making the forearm engaging surface  30  generally concave or having a rounded shape that generally follows the curve of the golfer&#39;s arm with respect to the circumference of the forearm of the golfer. With respect to the longitudinal direction of the forearm engaging surface  30  (i.e. the direction which is generally in line with the bones of the forearm of the golfer when the embodiment is worn by the golfer), the shape is generally linear so that as the elbow joint of the golfer is bent or straightened, the forearm of the golfer is able to impart a force to the forearm engaging surface  30 , such that the upper arm contacting surface  40  is moved via a translation of the force from the forearm of the golfer. 
         [0043]    The upper arm contacting surface  40  may be shaped to enhance comfort when contacting the upper arm of the golfer or may be flat. In some embodiments, the upper arm contacting surface  40  is a rounded surface. 
         [0044]    In other embodiments, the upper arm contacting surface  40  together with a portion of the body  20  may be covered by an extender. The extender may be made of rubber or any other suitable material, such as malleable plastic with a texture or shape which can be felt on the back of the arm. The extender may be shaped similarly to the portion of the body  20  that maintains the fixed relative distance between planes  80  and  90 . When an extender is present, the upper arm contacting surface  40 , is covered by the extender and is replaced by an upper arm contacting surface on the extender. Use of the extender makes it possible for the golfer to change the relative distance between planes  80  and  90 . 
         [0045]    The body  20 , with surfaces  30  and  40 , must be attached to the forearm of the golfer in order to be operated. The body  20  may be attached to the forearm of the golfer by an attachment means. A suitable attachment means will be an attachment device that secures the forearm engaging surface  30  to the forearm of the golfer at a portion of the forearm that is just beneath the elbow and is generally closer to the ulna bone than the radius bone so that forearm engaging surface is positioned on the underside of the forearm if the palm is facing upwards and the arm is straight and extended. The precise location of the body on the forearm is not absolutely critical and some moderate movement of the device on the forearm is suitable for comfortable use of the invention, though less movement is preferable. Suitable attachments means include, but are not limited to: i) at least one space defined by the body operable to receive a webbing; ii) two spaces defined by the body, each space operable to receive a webbing; and iii) an article of clothing, such as a shirt, a sweater, a jacket, a glove or a tube of material. 
         [0046]    In embodiments comprising at least one space, or two spaces, defined by the body, the space(s) operable to receive a webbing, the webbing may pass though the space(s) and around at least a portion of the body  20  so that it is then able to secure the body  20  to the webbing and the webbing may then be wrapped around the forearm of the golfer to secure both the webbing and the body  20  to the forearm of the golfer at the position described above. The webbing may be adjustable such that it is operable to wrap around forearms of different sizes. 
         [0047]    In some embodiments, the body  20  may be secured to the golfer by an article of clothing, such as a tight fitting shirt, sweater, jacket, or extra long glove. The article of clothing may be modified to comprise additional attachment devices for securing the body  20  to the article of clothing. Further, the article of clothing may be a customized sleeve of material that slips on over the golfer&#39;s arm and comprises the body  20  as an integrated part of the sleeve of material. In some embodiments, the article of clothing may conceal the invention from view and hence interfere with the direct connection of the surfaces  30  and  40  with the skin of the golfer. Such interference will not prevent use of the invention as described herein and some embodiments may be used over top of an article of clothing such as, but not limited to, a shirt, sweater or jacket, which article of clothing may or may not be specially adapted for use with the present invention. 
         [0048]    When an embodiment of the invention is attached to the forearm of the golfer, as described above, the body  20  will be positioned such that the forearm engaging surface  30  is in constant engagement with the forearm of the golfer, regardless of the position of the golfer&#39;s arm. If the arm to which the embodiment is attached is bent at the elbow, the upper arm contacting surface  40  will not contact the upper arm (of the same arm) of the golfer. If the arm is straight (e.g. there is no bend in the elbow present), then the upper arm contacting surface  40  is in contact with the upper arm of the golfer and the golfer is able to feel the upper arm contacting surface  40  on their upper arm. When the golfer bends their arm at the elbow from a straight position to a bent position, then the upper arm contacting surface  40  is moved away from the upper arm of the golfer by the body  20 . The more bending that occurs at the elbow, the farther away the upper arm contacting surface  40  is moved from the upper arm of the golfer. When the golfer straightens their elbow joint from a bent position to a straight position, the body  20  will move the upper arm contacting surface  40  closer to the upper arm of the golfer until the arm is straight and when the arm is straight, the upper arm contacting surface  40  will be in contact with the golfer&#39;s upper arm. This contact with the golfer&#39;s upper arm serves to remind the golfer that their arm is straight. Further, the golfer is able to sense a lift-off of the upper arm engaging surface  40  from the back of the upper arm when the elbow joint of the golfer is moved from a straight position to a bent position. The upper arm is sensitive and the golfer may be able to notice a change in pressure when the device is moved from a strong connection with the upper arm, which occurs with a very straight elbow joint, to a weaker connection with the upper arm, which occurs with a generally straight and/or almost straight elbow joint, to no connection with the upper arm, which occurs with a bent elbow joint. 
         [0049]    In other embodiments, when the extender is covering the upper arm contacting surface  40  with a portion of the body  20 , the extender is operable to permit the user to adjust the relative distance between the planes  80  and  90 . This variability permits the device to accommodate more arm sizes and shapes. The extender may be made from a material that facilitates different amounts of pressure to be applied to the back of the arm so as to provide more or less comfort and/or pressure to the back of the arm when the arm is bare, or to apply more pressure in order to facilitate the wearing of clothing that may lessen or impede the golfer&#39;s ability to sense the upper arm contacting surface  40 . The extender may have a variety of different textures to make the comfort of the pressure on the back of the golfer&#39;s upper arm more enjoyable. These properties of the extender relate to the upper arm contacting surface on the extender and the extender covering the upper arm contacting surface  40 . The extender may also be adapted to be able to be inserted onto the body  20  such that it extends the body  20  by a particular, fixed distance or such that it can be used to extend the body  20  by a variable distance to be determined by the golfer. 
       EXAMPLES 
       [0050]    The following examples are illustrative of some of the embodiments of the invention described herein. These examples do not limit the spirit or scope of the invention in any way. 
       Example 1 
       [0051]    A product in accordance with the invention described herein is available for viewing and purchase at www.golfstr.com. 
         [0052]    Although various embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein, many adaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention in accordance with the common general knowledge of those skilled in this art. Such modifications include the substitution of known equivalents for any aspect of the invention in order to achieve the same result in substantially the same way. Numeric ranges are inclusive of the numbers defining the range. Furthermore, numeric ranges are provided so that the range of values is recited in addition to the individual values within the recited range being specifically recited in the absence of the range. The word “comprising” is used herein as an open-ended term, substantially equivalent to the phrase “including, but not limited to”, and the word “comprises” has a corresponding meaning. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a thing” includes more than one such thing. Citation of references herein is not an admission that such references are prior art to the present invention. Furthermore, material appearing in the background section of the specification is not an admission that such material is prior art to the invention. Any priority document(s) are incorporated herein by reference as if each individual priority document were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference herein and as though fully set forth herein. The invention includes all embodiments and variations substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the examples and drawings.