Golf swing training device

An adjustable tether for joining the upper arms of a golfer together to coordinate the relative motion of the arms of the golfer during his swing. The arm joining tether comprises first and second generally Y-shaped flexible straps each having a stem portion which is bifurcated so as to terminate in branch portions which may be joined by suitable fasteners to form arm engaging loops. The stem portions may also be joined by a suitable two-element separable fastener and when in use, the joined stem portions span the chest of the user. It has been found that mating hook and loop type fasteners are ideally suited for joining the Y-shaped flexible strap members, one to the other, and in coupling the branch portions of each to form the aforesaid arm engaging loops. Further, each of the individual Y-shaped strap members is marked with a suitable graduated marking to facilitate the sizing of the device to golfers of different physical size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a restraint which is useful during golf practice 
for training the golfer to coordinate the relative movement of his arms 
during his stroke, and more specifically to an adjustable strap 
arrangement which can be formed into two arm engaging loops separated by a 
chest spanning band, the loops being adapted to surround the upper arms of 
the user. 
In the Davis Pat. No. 1,655,092 there is described a device designed for a 
related purpose, i.e., to restrain the relative motion between the two 
arms of a golfer during his swing in such a fashion that the golfer's 
elbows are maintained at a substantially constant spacing during both the 
downstroke and the follow through. In the device of the Davis Patent, 
first and second loops adapted to engage the arm are formed from a 
flexible strap and slide members are provided for adjusting the relative 
size of the loop. A hook and eye configuration is used to join portions of 
the two loops together proximate the center of the user's chest when the 
loops are placed about his upper arms. A buckle arrangement is also 
included for permitting one of the arm engaging loops to be adjusted in 
size and for providing additional strap length to accommodate users of 
differing chest span. 
The present invention is considered to be an improvement over the device 
described in the Davis Patent. Specifically, the restraint device of the 
present invention is designed to facilitate its use on persons of 
differing physical size with a minimum of time and effort needed to adjust 
the restraint to the particular user. Then too, by eliminating the need 
for buckles and other metal fasteners, the device can be used without 
suffering irritation of the skin and/or the risk of damage to the clothing 
of the user. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is 
provided a restraint device for use in improving a golfer's swing, 
especially during practice. The restraint device comprises first and 
second Y-shaped flexible straps each having a stem portion of a 
predetermined length which is bifurcated to form first and second branch 
portions. These branch portions are provided with mating elements of a 
Velcro-type hook and loop fastener one element of which is disposed on the 
outer surface of the branch and the opposed fastener element being affixed 
to the inside surface of the associated branch. Hence, when the two 
elements of the Velcro fastener are joined one to the other, a loop is 
formed at one end of the stem. The stem portions of each of the Y-shaped 
members are further provided with a two element separable fastener of the 
Velcro type so that when the stem portions are fastened together the loops 
extend in opposite directions. Further, to facilitate the sizing of the 
restraint device, one branch and the stem of each of the Y-shaped members 
is provided with graduated markings. As such, the user can readily set the 
loop sizes and stem overlap to his or her own physical size. Because the 
need for metal fasteners, buckles, etc. are eliminated, the restraint 
device of the present invention is more comfortable to use over prolonged 
periods. Further, the absence of metal fasteners or size adjusting devices 
reduces the chance of snagging and tearing of the golfer's clothing during 
use. 
OBJECTS 
It is accordingly the principal object of the present invention to provide 
a new and improved golf swing training device. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a golf swing training device 
which comprises a restraining system for maintaining the relative spacing 
between the elbows of a golfer during his stroke. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a golf swing training 
device wherein the arm restraining members are readily adjustable to 
accommodate different users. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a arm restraint for use 
by golfers in which the need for metal buckles and related type joining 
devices is obviated. 
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become 
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed 
description of a preferred embodiment, especially when considered in light 
of the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a first generally Y-shaped 
flexible strap member 10 and a somewhat similar strap member 12. The strap 
members 10 and 12 may be formed from any suitable flexible material, 
cotton webbing, leather, or suitable plastic being preferred. 
As is shown in FIG. 1, the Y-shaped flexible members can be formed from a 
continuous length of suitable material of a predetermined width dimension 
by folding the material at the points identified by numerals 14, 16 and 18 
respectively. That is, one free end of the strip identified by numeral 20 
is folded first at point 14 and routed to end 16 where it is again folded 
back upon itself and extends to the end 18 where the strap is again folded 
upon itself and then routed against the course of the strap previously 
referred to as being between the points 20 and 14 and terminating at 
another free end 22. Thus, the individual strap members each comprise a 
stem portion 24 which is bifurcated at the point 14 so as to form two 
branches 26 and 28. 
The two layers of strap material forming the stem 24 may be fastened 
together with a suitable adhesive or by stitching. Similarly, the courses 
of strap material defining the branches 26 and 28 may also be bound one to 
the other in the same manner. 
Affixed to the outer surface 30 of the branch 28 is a first element 32 of a 
two-element separable fastener. The other element 34 of the two-element 
fastener is secured to the inside surface 36 of the branch 26. 
The separable fastener element employed in the preferred embodiment is the 
mating hook and loop type fastener sold under the trademark Velcro. That 
is, the element 32 affixed to the outer surface of the branch 28 may 
comprise the hook fabric whereas the portion 34 affixed to the inside 
surface of the branch 26 may be the loop fabric. Attached to the side 
surface of the stem 24 to which the hook fabric 32 is attached is a 
corresponding segment of that fabric and in FIG. 1 it is identified by 
numeral 38. 
The member 12 is substantially identical in its construction to the member 
10 except that the stem portion 40 thereof has affixed to it the mating 
type of Velcro material used with the segment 38 affixed to the stem of 
the member 10. Similarly, the same type of fastener material as is used on 
the stem 40 is attached to the outside surface of the branch 42 of the 
member 12. Then, the opposite type of fastener fabric from that used on 
branch 42 is affixed to the inside surface of the branch 44. 
It should also be noted in FIG. 1 that the outside surfaces of the strap 
members 10 and 12 are marked with graduation lines 46 along one branch and 
the stem thereof. As will be explained more fully, these graduations or 
markings assist the user in preparing the restraint to fit his own 
particular physique. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown by means of a perspective view the 
manner in which the piece parts 10 and 12 of FIG. 1 are attached one to 
the other to form to the other so as to implement the golfer's arm 
restraint of the present invention. Member 10 in FIG. 1 is rotated 
180.degree. about a longitudinal axis passing through its stem portion 24 
and brought into engagement with the stem portion 40 of the member 10. The 
hook elements of the Velcro fastener thus become entangled with the loop 
fabric on the stem of the member 12 holding the two pieces together. 
Similarly, the branches 42 and 44 of the member 12 are overlapped so that 
the two mating Velcro fastener elements affixed to them become coupled. In 
a like fashion, the branches 26 and 28 of the member 10 are overlapped so 
that the fastener member 32 becomes attached to the member 34. When so 
arranged, the interconnected branches form arm engaging loops 48 and 50. 
In use, a golfer slips his two arms through the loops 48 and 50 until the 
loops engage the wearer's arms above the elbows. The degree of overlap 
between the stem portions 24 and 40 may be adjusted to comfortable fit 
persons of differing chest expanse. Similarly, the size of the loops 48 
and 50 may be readily adjusted to fit around differing upper arm sizes. 
Once comfortably positioned, the wearer may note the sizes as identified by 
the numbered indicia 46 formed on the separable members and can rapidly 
preassemble the restraint to fit himself after it has been used by another 
golfer. 
The present invention is particularly well suited for use at public driving 
ranges where a golfer may go to improve his form by hitting a large number 
of balls in rather quick succession. By wearing the restraint device of 
the present invention, after a number of swings, he will develop a 
tendency to maintain his arms, especially his elbows, in a predetermined 
orientation even after the restraint has been removed. In effect, then, 
the apparatus of the present invention permits the golfer to get his swing 
"in the groove", so to speak. 
Because the present invention may be fabricated from a variety of different 
materials and because the positioning of the elements of the two-element 
separable fasteners can be oriented in different manners while still 
achieving substantially the same end result, it should be understood that 
the scope of the invention is to be determined from the following claims.