Golf swing simulation apparatus

Abstract: Apparatus for guiding a simulated golf swing consists of a golf club handle (10) fixed at one end of a mechanical linkage whose other end can be fixed to a wall. The handle (10) is fixed, so as to be rotatable about its own axis, to a crank of the linkage. The crank is connected in turn to an elongate arm (20) pivoted at the fixing location so as to guide the swing in a basic arc. A central pivot (30) of the crank permits the user's wrists to flex during the swing. The handle (10) carries a projecting pointer (109) which moves over an index plate (107) fixed to the adjacent connector (32) on the crank. The index plate (107) has stop lugs (212) to limit the rotation of the handle (10) by abutting the turning pointer (109). A scale (208) on the index plate (107) enables a suitable address position to be selected. By thus controlling and indicating the handle's rotation it becomes possible to school the user's wrist movements and thereby improve the alignment of the club face during the swing.

Description: This invention concerns equipment for guiding a swinging movement to help practise a golf swing. Golf swing simulators are known. Broadly, they comprise means for mounting the simulator device in fixed relation to some stationary support (usually a wall), a handle portion, and a mechanical swing-guiding linkage connecting the handle portion to the mounting means to guide a swinging movement of the handle portion relative to the mounting means in simulation of a golf swing, typically in a single plane. GB-A-2039221 proposed a linkage having the handle portion connected to a crank on the end of an arm pivoted to the mounting means. The swing of the arm around the mount provides the basic swing, while flexing of the user's wrists is accommodated by a pivot in the crank. My GB-A-2081107 described adjustment mechanisms for the mount and linkage. The present proposals are preferably implemented in the context of the linkages I proposed previously, but are not necessarily limited to that context since other forms of linkage may be possible. In a guided swing the natural movement of a user's arms rotates the user's grip relative to the adjacent component of the guide mechanism as the swing proceeds. To accommodate this, the handle portion of the known simulator has been rotatable about its own longitudinal axis. What I now propose is to include in the simulator a monitor arrangement responsive during the swing to the degree of rotation of the handle portion around its own longitudinal grip axis, and in particular capable of determining a degree of such rotation relative to the adjacent handle connector component of the linkage, by interaction with that connector component. The invention is set out in claim 1. The monitoring arrangement provides for mechanical engagement between these components, e.g. by respective radially overlapping or meshing members which can interact to determine the rotation. It restrains or controls the rotation by providing one or more rotation limiters or stops. For example a radial projection on the handle portion may meet a stop abutment on the handle connector. Such a limiter/stop may be adjustable. Means may be provided for predetermining an angle between a predetermined start position and a stop position. Additionally the monitoring arrangement may record, gauge, measure, indicate or signal a degree of rotation occurring during the swing in a mode directly verifiable by the user, by means of interaction between the handle portion and the handle connector. Either of the handle and connector components may have at least one index marker, graded scale or other positional indicator to show rotational alignment, e.g. by comparison with a marker on the other component. The practical significance of this is as follows. Existing simulation mechanisms can school the swing into a plane, while accommodating those rotational grip movements required for a natural swing. But, I note that these movements are themselves important to a good swing. A swing that is both accurate and efficient requires the club head at impact to be travelling precisely along the target line with the club face leading edge square to that line. The condition of the club head face is dictated throughout the swing by the hands and it is essential when addressing the ball before commencing the swing that the hands are correctly set on the handle grip relative to the club head face. It is especially important that, at the top of the back swing, the condition of the hands (and consequently of the club head face) is correct relative to the swing plane to ensure that the leading edge of the club head face returns square to the swing path at impact. My proposal therefore opens the way to schooling of these grip rotation movements within the context of a guided swing. I now describe embodiments in which these concepts are reduced to practice, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view showing a general disposition of parts in a golf swing simulation device; Figure 2 is a more detailed side view of a handle region of the device, with some modifications; Figure 3 is an axial cross-section through a handle arrangement at III-III of Fig.4; Figure 4 is an end view of the handle arrangement, along the arrow "A" of Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a corresponding end view of a second version of handle arrangement. Figs. 1 and 2, from my GB-A-2039221 and GB-A-2081107, disclose a complete simulator device in which my new concepts can be implemented. A golf simulator device has a handle 10 representing that of a golf club, an attachment 14 vertically adjustably mounted to a slide 15 to be fixed to a wall, and an angularly adjustable part 16 mounted to the bracket 14 about a horizontal pin 18 which extends parallel to the wall. The angularly adjustable part 16 is connected to the handle 10 by an arm 20 and a pivoted crank having a handle connector 32. The head 24 of the arm 20 is journalled to the part 16 to rotate about an axis 26 making an angle α with the horizontal, adjustable at the pivot 18. The other end of the arm 20 is connected to an inner link 23 of the crank. The inner link 23 is connected to an outer link 22 at a pivot 30 allowing free rotation about an axis 28. The outer link 22 is journalled at the handle connector 32 to the lower end of the handle 10 so that the handle 10 is rotatable relative to the link 22 about its own longitudinal axis 34. The crank has an angle adjuster, provided in the Fig. 1 version by an extra element 21 connected in the inner link at an adjustment pivot 36. This provides three rotational modes A,B,C about the axes 26,28 and 34 respectively, and four adjustments D,E,F,G at the slide 15, the pivot 18, in the effective length of the arm 20 and at the pivot 36. The basic swing is provided by rotational mode A, cocking of the hands is provided for by rotational mode B, and rotation of the handle about its own axis during the swing by rotational mode C. Fig. 2 shows an improved crank adjustment as in GB-A-2081107. The inner link 23 is connected to the pivot 30 through an arcuate guide plate element 131. The plate element 131 has an arcuate slot 132 clamped adjustably by means of adjustment screws 133 to the inner link 23, which itself is longitudinally adjustably mounted on the free end portion of the arm 20 by clamping screws 130. The arcuate slot 132 provides a curve of adjustment of the crank angle centred at a point X lying on the handle, enabling the lie angle of the handle 10 to be adjusted without upsetting the geometry elsewhere. A club shaft 140 with a head and/or a direction indicator 35 may be fitted to the projecting handle stem 141. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show rotation monitor arrangements 100 embodying the concept now put forward, and used in combination with the Fig. 1/Fig. 2 device. A handle assembly 10 has a straight rigid round bar 101, surrounded by a grip layer 102 which here is a conventional rubber golf club grip. The bar 101 is connected to the outer end of the crank so as to be rotatable about its own axis. This connection uses a sleeve 32 at the end of the link 22, with a pin 103 journalled rotatably in the sleeve by bearing bushes. The pin's head 105 traps it in the sleeve and is urged outwardly by a spring 116. The other end of the pin 103 fits into a mouth bore 117 of the bar 101 and has a screw portion 104 which fixes into a smaller inner bore 118. A positional visual index is provided on the upper face of the crank sleeve 32, facing along the handle. The pin 103 projects through this, with a thrust washer 111 against the end of the bar 101 to assure, with the pin spring 116, restrained rotatability of the bar 101 around its own axis. In this embodiment the positional index is on a metal plate 107 screwed onto the face of the sleeve 32, and having left- and right-hand limit or stop lugs 112 projecting up at one edge as seen in Fig. 4. A scale 108 provided on the face of the index plate 107, e.g. as an adhered transparency, shows on its left and right sides an "ADDRESS" marker 115 and graduations between the address marker and the respective limit lug 112. A limit adjustment screw 113 in a threaded through-hole of the lug 112 is adjustable to project out to a varying degree across the face of the plate 107. A radial finger 109 is fixed on the end of the bar 101, as a separate metal component slid on the bar and secured by bonding and a securing pin or screw 110. The finger 109 can serve one or both of two functions. A first is as a pointer to indicate on the scale 108 the rotational position of the handle 10 relative to the link 22. The second function is as a stop component cooperating with the lug 112 or its limit adjustment screw 113. The lug 112 or its adjustment screw 113 define a stop position beyond which the grip 10 cannot rotate. The left- and right-hand scales and lugs are of course to enable use by both right- and left-handed users. To assemble this handle device onto a simulator mechanism the grip 102 is fitted on the bar 101 and the finger 109 secured to the bar end. The plate 107 with its scale is fitted on the crank sleeve 32 and the pin 103 slid through the sleeve from the other side, with the bearings 106 in place and through the thrust washer 111, into the mouth 117 of the bar 101 to fix it in place. The screw portion 104 may be bonded into its thread. The user lines up the finger 109 with the "ADDRESS" marker 115 on the scale 108 (the mild friction established by the spring 116 helps maintain this position initially), before each practice swing. For each user a particular angle of rotation corresponds to a desired hand position at the top of the backswing, and the limit screw 113 is adjusted accordingly. The adjusted lug 112 then prevents rotation past that position in use and therefore schools the user's movements in the grip-rotational respect as well as in the swing. The monitoring interaction prevents excessive rotation and may also signal to the user that the desired rotation has been achieved. It will be appreciated that the type of scale shown, and the lug/finger engagement used, are just single examples among many possibilities. Figure 5 shows a simpler and potentially more robust construction using a plain lug 212, without an adjuster screw, providing instead a selectable start position using appropriate scale markings 208. Note that it is also possible to provide the monitor components separately and adapt the handle assembly of an existing simulator to achieve the same effect. A kit of handle assembly components for incorporating such a monitor arrangement, as well as a method of doing that, are independent aspects herein.

Claims: Golf swing simulation apparatus for guiding a simulated golf swing, comprising a handle portion (10) defining a grip axis, a mechanical swing-guiding linkage having a handle connector (32) at which it is connected to the handle portion (10) so as to permit rotation of the handle portion (10) relative to said linkage, about the grip axis, and a mounting arrangement (15) to mount the mechanical linkage on a stationary support; said linkage being constructed to guide movement of the handle portion (10) in a predetermined swing arc relative to the mounting arrangement (15), and the handle portion (10) and handle connector (32) comprising a grip rotation monitoring arrangement (100) characterised in that the grip rotation monitoring arrangement (100) comprises respective engagement members (109,112) on each of the handle portion and handle connector, said engagement members overlapping radially with one another to provide a stop (112) preventing said rotation of the handle portion (10) past a predetermined stop position in relation to the handle connector (32) during the swing, by mechanical interaction between the handle portion and handle connector. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the grip rotation monitoring arrangement (100) comprises an adjuster (113) to adjust the predetermined stop position. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 comprising an indicator (109) giving a visual indication of the relative rotational alignment of the handle portion (10) and the handle connector (32). Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the indicator comprises a graded scale (108) on one of the handle portion (10) and handle connector (32) and a marker (109) on the other, for the marker to indicate said alignment on said scale. Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the indicator (109, 108) has a positional index (115) defining an address alignment for the start of the simulated swing. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the grip rotation monitoring arrangement comprises a radially-projecting member (109) on the handle portion (10); a stop abutment (112) on the handle connector (32), positioned to abut the radially-projecting member (109) on the handle portion and thereby predetermine said stop position past which the handle portion (10)cannot be rotated; and at least one positional index (108,115) on the handle connector (32), arranged such that the position of the handle portion's radially-projecting member (109) relative to said index provides a visual indication of the rotational alignment of the handle portion (10) and the handle connector (32). Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the mechanical swing-guiding linkage comprises an elongate arm (20) connected at one end to the mounting arrangement (15) to pivot about a first axis adjacent the mounting arrangement, whereby the other end of the arm (20) moves in a circular arc around said first axis during the simulated swing; a crank having an inner end (23) fixed to said other end of the elongate arm (20), an outer end (22) having the handle connector (32), and a crank pivot (30) between said inner and outer ends of the crank defining a second axis which is spaced from said first axis and about which the handle portion (10) is rotatable relative to the elongate arm (20) during the simulated swing to accommodate flexing of a user's wrists.

Inventors: RICHARDS RALPH HENRY ARTHUR, RICHARDS, RALPH HENRY ARTHUR
Applicants: RICHARDS RALPH HENRY ARTHUR, RICHARDS, RALPH HENRY ARTHUR
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A63B69
IPC codes: A63B69, G09B9