SPORTS TRAINING AID

Abstract: The sports training aid includes an arm attachment (2) having a metal plate in a secure fastened plate pocket (3A) of a sleeve (4) with straps (5A, 5B, 5C, 5D). A pair of shafts (6A and 6B) extend from the plate (3). Attached to the ends of the shafts (6A, 6B) is an arm rest in the form of generally rectangular plate (7) which is substantially C-shaped in cross section. A strut (8) between the shafts (6A, 6B) gives rigidity to the structure. The arm attachment device and arm rest (7) taper towards each other, e.g. at an angle of about 30 degrees. The arm attachment device, arm rest and shafts (6A, 6B) and strut (8) lie generally in the same plane. The sports training aid may include an extendible shaft or shafts and the sports training aid may have means to adjust the angle of the arm attachment relative to the arm rest.

Description: SPORTS TRAINING AID The present invention relates to a sports training aid, and more particularly to a training aid to assist in "shooting" balls in games like basket ball. Shooting a ball into a net, in games like basket ball, requires a degree of skill. In order to deliver the best directional control and power, the hands and arms need to be in the correct position. It is an object of the present invention to provide an aid to train the arms and hands into the correct position. According to the present invention there is provided a sports training aid comprising an arm attachment device for attachment to the arm between the hand and elbow, a shaft extending from the arm attachment device, and an arm rest connected to the shaft end remote from the arm attachment device, said arm attachment device and arm rest being tapered towards each other. Preferably the arm attachment device, arm rest and shaft all lie substantially in the same plane. The arm rest may be substantially C-shaped over a proportion of its length. The arm rest may be generally rectangular in shape but C-Shaped in cross section. The shaft may be extendible in length as by being telescopic. One or more additional shafts may be provided connecting the arm rest to the arm attachment device, which additional shaft/s may also be extendible in length. The arm attachment device may be in the form of a metal plate with one or more straps to secure it to the arm of a user. The strap may be in the form of a sleeve connected to the plate. In a further embodiment of the invention means may be provided to adjust the angle of the arm attachment device relative to the arm rest. The angle of the attachment device relative to the arm rest may be between 20 and 40 degrees, e.g. 25 to 30 degrees such as 30 degrees. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a sports training aid according to the present invention. Referring to the drawing, a training aid 1 has an arm attachment device 2 having a metal plate 3 in a Velcro- secured plate pocket 3A in a sleeve 4 provided with straps 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D made, in this embodiment, from Velcro (trade mark). A pair of shafts 6A, 6B extend from the plate 3. Attached to the end of the shafts 6A, 6B is an arm rest in the form of generally rectangular plate 7 which is substantially C-shaped in cross section. A strut 8 between the shafts 6A, 6B helps to give rigidity to the structure. The arm attachment device and arm rest 7 taper toward each other, e.g. at an angle of about 30 degrees. The arm attachment device, arm rest 7, shafts 6A, 6B and strut 8 lie generally in the same plane. In use of the aid shown, the arm attachment device is secured to the non-shooting left arm of the user by wrapping the sleeve 4 around the left arm between the hand and the elbow and securing the sleeve to the arm using the straps 5A-5D. The shafts should be normal to the hand of the non-shooting arm. The aid is then raised up so that the top shaft 6A is in line with the eyes and parallel with and spaced from the face. The shooting right arm, with the ball supported on a flat palm of the hand, is then brought up to engage in the arm rest with the fingers pointing generally towards the shoulders. The hand of the non-shooting arm supports the side of the ball. This is the optimum position of the hands/arms. In this position the arms taper inwards towards the hands. The shafts and strut allow visibility through the aid. The aid shown is obviously designed for a right-handed person. It could be altered to suit a left-handed person. The aid of the invention may be made of any suitable material, such a metal, e.g. aluminium, or moulded from plastics. Instead of the arm rest being rectangular and C-shaped, the arm rest may be substantially C-shaped over a proportion of its length such as a number of C-shaped brackets mounted on a common spine. The shaft/s may be extendible in length as by being telescopic so that the aid can be used by persons of different body size. The arm attachment device may be secured to the arm by means other than that described, e.g. by straps extending off the metal plate which itself may be generally C-shaped. Means may be provided to adjust the angle of the arm attachment device relative to the arm rest. The angle of the attachment device relative to the arm rest may be between 20 and 40 degrees, e.g. 25 to 35 degrees and preferably 30 degrees. Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A sports training aid to assist in "shooting" balls including an arm attachment device for attachment to the arm between the arm and the elbow, a shaft extending from the arm attachment device, and an arm rest connected to the shaft end remote from the arm attachment device, said arm attachment device and arm rest being tapered towards each other. 2. A sports training aid as claimed in claim 1, in which the arm rest is substantially C-shaped over a proportion of its length. 3. A sports training aid as claimed in claim 1 , in which the arm rest is generally rectangular in shape but C-shaped in cross-section. 4. A sports training aid as claimed in any preceding claim, in which one or more additional shafts are provided connecting the arm rest to the arm attachment device. 5. A sports training aid as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each shaft is extendible in length. 6. A sports training aid as claimed in claim 5, in which the or each shaft is telescopic. 7. A sports training aid as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the arm attachment device is in the form of a metal plate with one or more straps to secure it to the arm of a user. 8. A sports training aid as claimed in Claim 7, where the strap is in the form of a sleeve connected to the plate. 9. A sports training aid as claimed in any preceding claim, in which means are provided to adjust the angle of the arm attachment device relative to the arm rest. 10. A sports training aid as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the frame is made of metal or moulded plastics.

Inventors: WAGHORN PHILIP JAMES, WAGHORN, PHILIP, JAMES
Applicants: WAGHORN PHILIP JAMES, WAGHORN, PHILIP, JAMES
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A63B69
IPC codes: A63B69