Alignment device for sports

An alignment device is disclosed for use in sports such as golfing which includes a generally planar breast plate adapted and configured to be worn adjacent the golfer's chest, an elongated shaft supported by the breast plate and extending laterally therefrom for visually aligning oneself with a distant target on a golf course when addressing a golf ball, and a harness assembly associated with the breast plate for securing the breast plate adjacent the golfer's chest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The subject invention is related to an alignment device for sports such as 
golf, tennis and baseball, and more particularly, to a device for visually 
aligning oneself with a distant target on a golf course when addressing a 
golf ball. 
2. Background of the Related Art 
The prior art abounds with devices for improving one's golf swing and 
stance when addressing a golf ball. Some of these devices merely include 
an elongated staff or rod designed to be held in a particular manner by a 
golfer and used to attain proper hip rotation during a golf swing, as 
disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,109,244 to Trifaro et at. and 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,528 to McCardle, Jr. Other devices, such as those 
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,595,583 to Oppenheimer and U.S. Pat. No. 
4,758,000 to Cox include elaborate and cumbersome apparatus which are 
attached to a golfer in such a manner so as to position the golfer in a 
proper stance and control the actual path of the golfer's swing. 
Less elaborate devices which are designed to be worn more comfortably by a 
golfer to practice a golf swing are also known. Examples of such devices 
include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,325 to Yuhara, U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,662,640 to Grander, U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,099 to Radakovich. These 
devices include various harness assemblies designed to be worn by a golfer 
to correct and/or control the golfer's swing. 
Although many of the above-identified prior art patents disclose practice 
devices which are likely to aide in improving one's golf swing, none are 
configured to enhance the ability of a golfer to properly align their 
upper body and shoulders with a distant target on a golf course upon 
addressing a golf ball. Such a device would enable a golfer to direct a 
golf ball more accurately toward a desired target. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The subject invention is generally directed to an alignment device for 
athletes, and in particular, to a body alignment device for a golfer which 
includes a generally planar breast plate adapted and configured to be worn 
adjacent the golfer's chest, an elongated shaft supported by the breast 
plate and extending laterally therefrom within the plane defined by the 
breast plate for visually aligning one's upper body with a distant target 
on a golf course when addressing a golf ball, and a harness assembly 
operatively connected to the breast plate for securing the breast plate 
adjacent the golfer's chest in such a manner so that the elongated shaft 
is substantially parallel with the golfer's shoulders. 
It is envisioned that the elongated shaft may be fixedly or detachably 
mounted to the breast plate, or constructed to include a plurality of 
telescoping shaft segments. Preferably, the harness assembly includes a 
plurality of adjustable straps including at least one strap configured to 
extend about the golfer's upper torso, and at least one strap configured 
to extend about the golfer's shoulders. The harness straps may be 
constructed of woven nylon or a similar material, and lightweight buckles 
may be used for length adjustment. 
In a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, the alignment device 
further includes a pair of substantially rigid downwardly angled alignment 
struts which depend from the elongated shaft in the plane defined by the 
breast plate for advantageously maintaining the golfer's arms in an 
outstretched locked position during putting and/or chipping. The alignment 
struts may be mounted to pivot and/or translate axially with respect to 
the elongated shaft. In addition, an engagement cuff may be disposed 
adjacent a terminal end of each alignment strut for receiving and 
retaining the golfer's wrists. 
Further features of the unique alignment device of the subject invention 
will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the 
art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the 
drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify 
similar structural elements of the subject invention, an alignment device 
constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subject 
invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by 
reference numeral 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the alignment device 10 is 
intended to facilitate visual alignment of one's shoulders with a distant 
target, such as the flag pole 15 identifying the location of a hole on a 
golf course, when addressing a golf ball 17. In practice, when the 
golfer's shoulders are properly aligned with a target, the path of the 
golfer's club 19 during a golf swing will be such that the path of the 
golf ball, once struck, is also in line with the target. It envisioned 
that the alignment device 10 of the subject invention could be used for 
sports other than golf, wherein athletes are benefited by properly 
aligning their upper bodies with a target area, such as, for example, 
tennis or baseball. 
Referring now to FIG. 1, in brief, alignment device 10 includes a breast 
plate 12 adapted and configured to be worn adjacent a golfer's chest, an 
elongated shaft 14 supported by the breast plate 12 for facilitating 
visual alignment with a distant target on the golf course, and a harness 
assembly 16 for securing the breast plate 12 adjacent the golfer's chest 
in such a manner so that the elongate shaft 14 is parallel with the 
golfer's shoulders. 
The breast plate 12 is generally planar in configuration and is preferably 
fabricated from a light weight substantially rigid plastic material. The 
elongated shaft 14 is generally tubular in configuration and is supported 
adjacent the exterior surface of breast plate 12 by a support fixture 18. 
Preferably, the shaft is constructed from a light weight plastic material 
and is detachably mounted to the breast plate so that it may be disengaged 
from the support fastener for storage purposes. Alteratively, as shown for 
example in FIG. 3 and discussed in greater detail hereinbelow, the 
elongated shaft may be constructed from a plurality of telescoping 
segments which may be extended during use and retracted for storage. 
Moreover, during use, a golfer may selectively extend either or both sides 
of the telescoping shaft to facilitate visual alignment with a distant 
target. 
With continued reference to FIG. 1, the harness assembly 16 includes a 
plurality of adjustable straps including a torso strap 22 which is 
dimensioned and configured to extend about the upper body or torso of the 
golfer and two shoulder straps 24a and 24b which extends across the chest 
and back of the golfer. The harness straps are preferably fabricated from 
a light weight woven material, such as, for example, nylon. A pair of 
spaced apart slots 26a and 26b are formed adjacent the upper edge of 
breast plate 12 to receive the forward terminal ends of shoulder straps 
24a and 24b, and a junction pad 30 is provided to interlock the rearward 
terminal end of each of the shoulder straps adjacent the golfers back. 
Conventional light weight plastic adjustable clasps and buckles 28a and 
28b are associated with each of the terminal ends of torso strap 22 and 
the lower side edges of breast plate 12 to facilitate securement and 
length adjustment of the torso strap. The harness assembly 16 is 
constructed to be easily removable and comfortable when worn. Moreover, 
the harness assembly 16 and the alignment device 10 as a whole are 
constructed to allow normal movement and mobility during a golf swing. 
Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that alternative 
harnessing arrangements may be employed with the alignment device of the 
subject invention. 
Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated another alignment device 
constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subject 
invention and designated generally by reference numeral 100. Alignment 
device 100 is substantially similar to the alignment device 10 described 
hereinabove in that it includes a generally planar substantially rigid 
breast plate 112, an elongated tubular shaft 114, and a light weight 
adjustable harness assembly 116. However, alignment device 100 further 
includes a pair of downwardly depending alignment struts 140a and 140b 
which extend from elongated shaft 112 for maintaining a golfer's arms in 
an outstretched position during putting and/or chipping. 
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the elongated shaft 114 of alignment device 100 
is fixedly mounted to the exterior surface of breast plate 112 and 
includes a pair of opposed telescoping axially adjustable sections 114a 
and 114b which are provided to accommodate athletes of different size. 
Selectively adjustable threaded fasteners 120a and 120b are positioned 
adjacent the opposed ends of shaft 114 for bearing against the axially 
adjustable sections 114a and 114b to maintain each in a desired axial 
orientation with respect to shaft 114. Alignment struts 140a and 140b are 
pivotably mounted adjacent the terminal ends of shaft sections 114a and 
114b, respectively, and are adapted and configured to maintain a golfer's 
arms in an outstretched locked position when chipping or putting, as 
illustrated in FIG. 4. In doing so, a preferred pendulum-like stroke may 
be achieved. As shown, the connection between the alignment struts and the 
shaft sections is that of a ball and socket joint. However, other 
conventional connective mechanisms affording pivotal movement between two 
structures may be employed. 
As best seen in FIG. 3, struts 140a and 140b include telescoping adjustable 
sections 142a and 142b, respectively, which are provided to accommodate 
the various arm lengths of golfers. Selectively adjustable threaded 
fasteners 144a and 144b are respectively associated with telescoping 
sections 142a and 142b for maintaining the telescoping section in a 
desired lengthwise position. Arcuate wrist engaging cuffs 146a and 146b, 
which are best seen in FIG. 5, are associated with the distal ends of 
strut sections 142a and 142b, respectively, for receiving and releasably 
retaining the golfer's wrists during utilization of the device. 
Although the alignment device of the subject invention has been described 
with respect to several preferred embodiments, it is apparent that 
modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the 
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
Moreover, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the 
subject invention can be utilized in sports other than golf, where proper 
upper body alignment is essential to the activity, such as, for example, 
tennis and baseball.