Patent Publication Number: US-9839829-B2

Title: Tennis swing training system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates to tennis training devices, in particular to devices which train a person in the proper form of the forehand and backhand swing. 
     Traditionally, developing the proper form to make contact with the ball in a consistent, successful manner has required a tennis student to take many hours of expensive lessons; in the past, it has been a requirement that a coach or teacher be available to assist the student in developing proper form by physically guiding them in the proper swing, and serving as a model for the student. Even with such coaching, it is often difficult for the student to “feel” what a successful swing feels like in practice. Successful tennis players at the highest levels of performance solve this problem by spending thousands of hours practicing and developing an innate, unconscious response to the serve (“muscle memory”). Such practice sessions, both due to time and money considerations, are out of reach of all but the most dedicated players. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a tennis training device that assists users in developing their tennis swing that is not so limited. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The tennis training systems described herein solve the problem of having a student mirror or mimic a teacher in the development of a forehand and backhand swing. It allows the student to develop their muscle memory (or reflexive response) by following a set path that never varies from use to use, and which is guided by a three dimensional track designed by a tennis professional. 
     The system may be comprised one or more of the following three main component parts: a weighted stand or base that holds the training track apparatus, the training track apparatus itself, which is comprised of interlocking pipes or tubes, and a tennis racket handle with a spring-loaded clip on the end that is attached to the training track. 
     The training track may be made out of custom molded PVC piping. Each track, e.g., forehand and/or backhand track, may be comprised of several, e.g., four, pieces of molded piping, the ends of which interlock to form the track. The first piece of the track, which may be vertical, fits into an opening on the top of the base. The pieces of the track may be keyed for easy alignment. The base, currently comprised of a platform divided by three vertical dividers, each resulting compartment holding a weight, keeps the apparatus stable and immobile during use. 
     The handle for the device may be comprised of a normal tennis racket base with the racket head/netting removed. Connected to the top of the handle is a spring-loaded metal post with a hinge that pivots. Attached to the pivoting post is a molded C shaped plastic or resin head. Five rotating plastic beads may sit on each side or “horn” of the head, and are secured by the shaped ends of the head. 
     After the training track is assembled and mounted on the base, the tennis student snaps the plastic head of the handle onto the track piping at a point close to where it mounts to the base. The student may then move the racket handle along the track piping, aided by the rotating plastic beads, which allow a smooth movement, and the pivoting neck of the handle, which allows the student&#39;s movement to be natural and unconstrained spatially by the rigidity of the handle. The student can quickly move the racket handle, guided by the head now attached to the training assembly, across the assembly piping and eventually off the end of the training track. This motion mimics in every way a successful forehand or backhand swing (depending on which track is being used). By repeating this process regularly, the student trains his or her muscle memory to the proper form of the desired swing such that, in future play, the movement is instinctive and fluid, and can be executed without the need for conscious adjustment. 
     The device could be expanded by the development of other training tracks for swings beyond a forehand and backhand stroke. 
     In at least one aspect, a tennis training system is provided that includes a track assembly that comprises a track coupled to a base, and a handle assembly that comprises a clip that removably attaches the handle assembly to the track in a sliding engagement. 
     In at least one embodiment, the track comprises a plurality of interlocking tubular sections. 
     In at least one embodiment, the plurality of interlocking tubular sections comprise at least one straight section and at least one curved section. 
     In at least one embodiment, the at least one curved section comprises one or more compound curves. 
     In at least one embodiment, the tennis training system includes a first straight section telescopically coupled to the base, a second curved section coupled to the first straight section, a third straight section coupled to the second curved section, and a fourth curved section, the second curved section comprising a plurality of curves that change direction of the clip attached from a rearward direction toward a forward direction. 
     In at least one embodiment, the second curved section changes from the rearward direction to the forward direction at a horizontal distance of about 36″-44″. 
     In at least one embodiment, the second curved section causes the clip to drop from the rearward direction to the forward direction at a vertical distance of about 24″-34″. 
     In at least one embodiment, the handle assembly comprises a racket handle and wherein the clip is pivotally coupled to the racket handle. 
     In at least one embodiment, the clip comprises a plurality of roller bearings disposed between the track and the clip when the clip is attached to the track. 
     In at least one embodiment, the track comprises a plurality of interlocking tubular sections and wherein the clip has a semicircular shaped head with a diameter greater than a diameter of the tubular sections and an opening in the semicircular shape smaller than the diameter of the tubular sections. 
     In at least one embodiment, the semicircular head comprises a plurality of horn shaped end. 
     In at least one embodiment, the handle assembly comprises a pivot post and wherein the clip is pivotally attached to the pivot post via a pivot pin, the clip pivotal about the axis of the pivot pin. 
     In at least one embodiment, the handle assembly comprises a spring retaining washer and a spring, and wherein the pivot post comprises a spring seat and the clip comprises a spring interface, and wherein the spring is maintained in compression on the pivot post between the spring seat and the spring washer, and wherein the clip spring interface abuts against the spring washer, the spring interface shaped to cause the sprint to compress the spring further as the clip pivots about the pivot pin, thereby resisting pivoting from an upright position. 
     In another aspect, a tennis training system is provided that includes a track assembly that comprises a track coupled to a base, the track comprising a plurality of interlocking tubular sections; and a handle assembly that comprises a racket handle, a clip having a spring interface, a pivot post having a spring seat, a pivot pin, a spring retaining washer, and a spring, wherein the clip is pivotally coupled to the racket handle via the pivot post, the clip is removably attachable to the track in a sliding engagement, and wherein the spring is maintained in compression on the pivot post between the spring seat and the spring washer, and wherein the spring interface abuts against the spring washer, the spring interface shaped to cause the sprint to compress the spring further as the clip pivots about the pivot pin, thereby resisting pivoting from an upright position. 
     Additional aspects of the present invention will be apparent in view of the description which follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a training track in accordance with one embodiment of the training systems disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a training track in accordance with one embodiment of the training systems disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of a training track in accordance with one embodiment of the training systems disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a training handle in accordance with one embodiment of the training systems disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a training handle in accordance with one embodiment of the training systems disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a training handle in accordance with one embodiment of the training systems disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a training handle in accordance with one embodiment of the training systems disclosed herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , the tennis training system, according to at least one embodiment of the systems disclosed herein, includes training track assembly  100  and a removably attachable handle assembly  200 . The training track assembly  100  includes a weighted stand or base  104  that holds the tubular track  102 . The tubular track  102  is preferably made from a plurality of interlocking tubes preformed in a desired shape. The handle assembly  200  includes a racket handle  202  with a clip  204  on the end that is attached to the training track. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the track assembly includes a base  104 . The base is preferably weighted to resist tipping of the assembly in use. The weighting may be provided with a plurality of containers that may be filled with a weighty material, i.e., a material having a specific gravity of one or greater, such as water, sand, etc. Extending from the base is a first tubular section  106  that is telescopically coupled to the base. The first tubular section is preferably a straight section. The first tubular section  106  may then be removably coupled to a second tubular section  108 . The second tubular section  108  is preferably composed of one or more compound curves. The second tubular section  108  may then be connected to a third tubular section  110  followed by a connection to a fourth tubular section  112 . The third section  110  may be a straight section and may be telescopic as well for adjustability. Finally, the fourth section includes at least one curve and/or compound curve. The preferred dimensions of the track assembly  100  are provided in table A below. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 A - Total Height 
                 42″-60″ 
               
               
                   
                 B - Base Width 
                 16″-22″ 
               
               
                   
                 C- Base Width 
                 16″-22″ 
               
               
                   
                 D - Rearward Lateral 
                  8″-16″ 
               
               
                   
                 Deviation 
               
               
                   
                 E - Forward Lateral 
                 2″-6″ 
               
               
                   
                 Deviation 
               
               
                   
                 F - Rearward Horizontal 
                 36″-44″ 
               
               
                   
                 Deviation 
               
               
                   
                 G - Rearward Vertical 
                  6″-14″ 
               
               
                   
                 Deflection Point 
               
               
                   
                 H - Rearward Vertical 
                 24″-34″ 
               
               
                   
                 Deviation 
               
               
                   
                 I - Rearward Horizontal 
                 20″-28″ 
               
               
                   
                 Deflection Point 
               
               
                   
                 J - Base Height 
                 20″-28″ 
               
               
                   
                 K - Base Truss Height 
                 14″-22″ 
               
               
                   
                 L - Base Truss Thickness 
                 1″-2″ 
               
               
                   
                 M - Tubular Diameter 
                 1.5″-2.5″ 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , the handle assembly  200  includes a racket handle  202  with a clip  204  on the distal end of the handle, which clip  204  is removably attachable to the training track, i.e., the tubular sections  106 - 112 . The clip  204  is further slidable along all or at least some of the training track tubular sections  106 - 112 . Slidability may be enhanced with a plurality of tubular bearings  208 . The clip  204  may have a semi circular shaped head with a diameter greater than that of the tubular sections  106 - 112 . The clip head further has an opening therein smaller than the diameter of the tubular sections  106 - 112  to resist from being detached from tubular sections  106 - 112 . In this regard, each of the “horns”  210  of the head may be sufficiently elastic for the horns  210  to be pulled apart for attachment and detachment to/from the tubular sections  106 - 112  with some resistance (e.g., 2-10 lbs. of tension). 
     The clip  204  may be spring loaded and therefore biased to return to the straight or upright position, as shown in  FIG. 7 . In this regard, the clip  204  would be pivotally coupled to the handle  202  either directly or indirectly (as shown). The pivotal relationship may be achieved with a pivot pin  212  that attaches the clip head to pivot post  218 . In this instance, the clip  204  pivots about the axis of pivot pin  212 . Spring loading may be achieved with a pivot post  218  that has a spring seat  226  and a spring retaining washer  214 , with a spring  216  there between maintained in compression. That is, the clip head, when assembled with pin  212 , presses against washer  214  with sufficient force to maintain spring  216  in compression. The interface between the clip head and the washer  214  is shaped such that pivoting of the clip  214  causes the spring  216  to compress further, thereby resisting pivoting and biasing the clip  204  to return to the upright position. The post  218  may be attached to the handle with a housing  222 , which is further attached to the handle  202  with screws or other attachment means (such as rivets, nails, adhesive, etc.). In this instance, the post  218  may be attached to the housing  222  to allow the post  218  to rotate axially about the axis of post  218  and/or the hosing  222 . Finally, the post  218  may be secured against lateral movement with circlip  224 . 
     While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, from a reading of the disclosure, that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention.