Patent Publication Number: US-7896762-B2

Title: Grip trainer for racquet sports

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/796,897 filed on May 3, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to training apparatus for sports and, more particularly, to a grip trainer for positioning a user&#39;s hand on a sports racquet, such as a tennis racquet, to aid in proper hand placement upon the handle of the racquet. 
     2. Related Art 
     Persons learning a new racquet sport often have trouble mastering the proper techniques that must be acquired before tennis, badminton, racquetball, and the like can be played with ease and confidence. In particular, tennis players often have trouble learning a variety of grips needed to make certain strokes. Some of these grips include, but are not limited to, the forehand grip, the backhand grip, the serving grip, etc. The manner in which a tennis ball is served or returned, however, depends not only upon the form of the grip used but also upon whether the player&#39;s hand slips before or when the ball is hit. These problems can be exacerbated in younger players, for example, who also have a tendency to “choke up” on the racquet as they play, i.e., their hand positions tend to move upwards along the racquet handle toward the racquet strings. This is disadvantageous because a player loses power and control the more he or she “chokes up.” Additionally, tennis players of all ages may over-rotate their hand. In the case of a right-handed player, this means that the player&#39;s hand and wrist tend to slip toward the right. A left-handed player&#39;s hand and wrist tend to slip toward the left. Over-rotation of the hand leads to improper stroke technique (forehand, backhand, serve, etc.), which reduces the players&#39; ability to hit powerful, controlled shots. 
     Various training devices have been developed to teach players how to properly grip a tennis racquet. For example, the Grip Doctor Training Aid™ marketed and sold by Mansion Grove house and Mansion Select™ of Austin, Tex. is a two part system that purports to fit all hand sizes and attach to almost any tennis racquet handle. The first part of the system is a flexible piece of material configured at one end to slip over a player&#39;s index finder and configured at the opposite end to attach to the player&#39;s wrist. A strip of Velcro™ is attached to the portion of the flexible material that substantially covers the player&#39;s palm. The second part of the system is a piece of Velcro™ that is fixedly secured (smooth side down) to the racquet handle. The hooked/looped surface of this second piece of Velcro™ faces outwardly and removably engages the looped/hooked surface of the strip of Velcro™ attached to the player&#39;s palm. However, the Grip Doctor Training Aid™ is cumbersome to wear and may be uncomfortable to use. Additionally, there is no guarantee the player will grip the handle properly when the tennis racquet is picked up. Readjusting the player&#39;s hand once the racquet handle is grasped is cumbersome because the Velcro™ pieces have to be separated and then reconnected. 
     German Patent No. DE 3202194 A1 to Tiso discloses a pair of L-shaped brackets that are fixedly attached to opposite sides of a tennis racquet handle. Each L-shaped bracket has a generally flat upright portion and a generally flat base portion. The base portion of each L-shaped bracket is fastened to the tennis racquet handle using screws. For forehand play, the player grips the racquet by placing the inside of their thumb adjacent a first one of the pair of L-shaped brackets. For backhand play, the player grips the racquet by placing a second one of the pair of L-shaped brackets between their index and middle fingers. However, in this patent, the brackets are screwed into the handle of the racquet, which in practice may devalue or deface the racquet. Moreover, this type of structure is not easily adjustable, because a player would need tools and a significant amount of time to adjust, remove, or install the brackets. Another disadvantage is that the thin edges of the generally flat upright portions of the L-shaped brackets may chafe the player&#39;s hand during play. Yet another disadvantage with this bracket design is that it is not likely to be useful for serving. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,072,311 to Bertucci, discloses an index finger positioning device for tennis racquet handles. The positioning device is generally of an obtuse triangular construction having rounded ends and sides. It is tapered from its base to its apex, and is to be installed with its long side positioned generally transversely of the major axis of the racquet handle to separate the index finger from the remaining fingers. The positioning device is bonded or otherwise secured to a flexible mount strap having, for example, pressure sensitive adhesive at the ends thereof so that the strap may be wrapped about the racquet handle and secured at the proper point. The purpose of this device appears to be more of a performance-enhancing apparatus than an instructional teaching aid. For example, the positioning device separates the index finger from the remaining fingers for increased drive in forehand and backhand strokes, but the positioning device is not used at all during serves. Instead, in preparation for a serve, the racquet is rotated 180 degrees to permit conventional grasping of the racquet handle without interference of the positioning device. Consequently, a player may benefit from increased drive using forehand and backhand grips, but may hold the racquet improperly during a serve and thereby experience decreased drive and/or control. Moreover, this device may not be effective to prevent over-rotation of the hand common with beginners. 
     Thus, there is a need for an improved grip trainer for racquet sports, such as tennis, squash, badminton, or the like, that is easily and removably attachable to a racquet handle, readily prevents over-rotation of the hand, can be used to teach a player the proper grip for at least, but not limited to, backhand play, forehand play, and serving, and is particularly adapted for use as a teaching aid for young children. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention meets the foregoing needs and avoids the drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art by providing a grip trainer for positioning a user&#39;s hand on a sports racquet. A grip trainer constructed according to the principles of the invention may include a base configured to be removably attachable to the sports racquet handle in a plurality of different positions corresponding to different grips related to the sport for which the racquet is designed for use. The grip trainer of the invention may also include a finger positioning device that includes a generally cylindrical projection extending upwardly from the base and is configured to position the user&#39;s hand on the racquet handle in one of the plurality of positions. 
     Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth in the following detailed description, drawings, and claims, including methods of using the invention to coach tennis. Although numerous implementations and examples of the invention are set forth herein—including in this “Summary of the Invention” section—the examples and implementations described herein are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification to illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. Together with the detailed description, the drawings serve to explain the principles of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detain than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention and the various ways in which it may be practiced. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a grip trainer constructed according to the principles of the invention in which a finger positioning device is threadably attached to a wide, removable strap designed to fit around the handle of a tennis racquet; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the grip trainer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the grip trainer of  FIGS. 1 and 2  removably attached to a handle of a tennis racquet; 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a grip trainer constructed according to the principles of the invention in which an embodiment of a finger positioning device is attached to a thin, removable strap by a rivet; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the grip trainer of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the grip trainer of  FIGS. 4 and 5  removably attached to a handle of a tennis racquet; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a right-handed grip using a grip trainer constructed according to the principles of the invention showing placement of the index and middle fingers about a projection of the grip trainer; and 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the right-handed grip of  FIG. 7  showing a manner of removably attaching the grip trainer to a tennis racquet handle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and manufacturing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals may represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       FIGS. 1-8  herein illustrate various embodiments of a grip trainer of the invention that includes a finger positioning device and may be removably attached to a handle of a tennis racquet to teach proper hand position, preferably for at least serving, backhand play, and forehand play. Embodiments of the grip trainer of the invention are configured to prevent a player from “choking up” on the racquet during play and/or to prevent over-rotation of the player&#39;s hand. The grip trainer preferably is configured as a single piece, is easily and removably attached at a desired position on a racquet handle without the use of screws or hand tools, and does not to slip along the racquet handle once the grip trainer has been attached. 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a first embodiment of a grip trainer  100  constructed according to the principles of the invention.  FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the grip trainer  100 .  FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the grip trainer  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the grip trainer  100  removably attached to a tennis racquet handle  118 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the grip trainer  100  includes a strip of material  102  that may be wrapped around a tennis racquet handle  118 . The strip  102  has a first end  104  and a second opposite end  106 , with respective portions  108 ,  110  of a fastening mechanism disposed at each end for securing the strip to the handle. 
     The finger positioning device is formed by a generally cylindrical hollow projection  112  attached to a central region of the top surface  102 A of the strip  102 , e.g., by a top connector  114  at the top of the finger projection  112 , and a bottom connector  116  attached to a central region of the bottom surface  102 B of the strip  102 , and/or connected to the top connector  114  such that the finger projection  112  is sandwiched between top and bottom connectors  114  and  116  with the central portion of the strip  102  firmly connected between bottom connector  116  and the bottom of the finger projection  112 . In this manner, the finger projection  112  is fixedly attached and extends upwardly from the strip  102 , preferably at an angle approximately 90°. 
     The top connector  114  is illustratively shown as a threaded cap and the bottom connector  116  is illustratively shown as a screw. The threaded cap  114  may include a closed outer top surface and a generally cylindrical, hollow base, the interior bore of which (not shown) preferably is threaded to receive a corresponding thread formed on an outer surface of the screw  116 . Either or both the top connector  114  and the bottom connector  116  may extend into a hollow bore of the finger projection  112 . Additionally, the top connector  114  may be integrally formed with the finger projection  112 , and/or the interior of the hollow bore of the finger projection  112  may be threaded to receive a corresponding thread formed on an outer surface of the bottom connector  116 . 
     The grip trainer  100  of  FIGS. 1-3  may be assembled by positioning the hollow finger projection  112 , with an integrally or non-integrally formed threaded connector  114 , over an opening in the strip  102 , and then inserting a screw  116  through the strip  102  to rotatably engage and firmly tighten the screw to the top connector  114 . While  FIGS. 1-3  show a threaded engagement, any suitable attachment member may be used to fixedly attach the finger projection  112  to the strip  102 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 4-6  and described subsequently, a rivet may be used. 
     Any suitable material may be used for the strip  102 , which may vary in width and length depending on the type of sport being played and/or the exterior dimension of the racquet handle to which the grip trainer  100  is removably attached. By way of example and not limitation, the strip  102  may vary in width from about ⅜ inch to about 3 inches and in length from about 5 inches to about 8 inches. A stiffener  130  may be disposed between a portion of the strip  102  and the finger projection  112 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the stiffener  130  may be included in an area of the strip  102  that contacts the bottom of the finger projection  112 . The bottom side of the strip  102  may be textured and/or coated with a non-slip layer to increase frictional forces between the bottom side of the strip  102  and the racquet handle  118 . 
     The fastener portion  108  attached to the first end  104  of the top surface  102 A of the strip  102  removably engages fastener portion  110  attached to the second end  106 . In  FIGS. 1-3 , fastener portions  108  and  110  are illustratively shown as hook-and-loop (Velcro) fasteners, but any suitable type of fastener known to a skilled artisan may be used. If hook-and-loop fasteners are used, the fastener portion  110  may be formed on the bottom surface  102 B of the strip  102  at or near the end  106 . In such an embodiment, the top surface of the fastener portion  108  may include a plurality of loops, and the bottom surface of the fastener portion  110  may include a corresponding plurality of hooks that removably engage the loops of fastener portion  108  when the fastener portions  108  and  110  are aligned and pressed together, as is known in the art. 
     The finger projection  112  may be formed of plastic, a polymer material, metal, other suitable material or combinations thereof. The outer surface of the finger projection  112  may be a smooth non-deformable material, a textured non-deformable material, a smooth deformable material, or a textured deformable material. “Deformable” describes a material that deforms under pressure exerted by one of more of the player&#39;s fingers. “Non-deformable” describes a material that does not deform under pressure exerted by one or more of the player&#39;s fingers. The outer surface of the finger projection  112  may have one or more finger contours formed therein (or attached thereto). 
     In  FIGS. 1-3 , the finger projection  112  is illustratively shown as a generally cylindrical, hollow, plastic spacer of the type commonly available in hardware stores. However, the finger projection  112  may be formed of any suitable material (or combination of materials) having any suitable shape. The dimensions of the finger projection  112  may vary depending on at least such factors as the age of the player using the grip trainer  100 , the dimension of the outer surface of the racquet handle being used, and/or the type of sport being played, etc. Typically, younger players will use a projection  112  that has a smaller outer diameter than a projection  112  that is configured for use by adult players. By way of example and not limitation, the finger projection  112  may have an outer circumference in the range of about ¼ inch to about ⅝ inch, and a length in the range of about ⅝ inch to about 1 ¼ inches. As previously mentioned, the interior of the finger projection  112  may include a hollow bore that is either smooth or threaded to facilitate connection to strip  102 . 
       FIGS. 4-6  illustrate a second embodiment of a grip trainer  200  constructed according to the principles of the invention that differs from the first embodiment illustratively shown in  FIGS. 1-3  in several respects. First, in the second embodiment, the finger projection  112  is secured fixedly to the strip  102  with a rivet having an expanded top end  114 A and a head  116 A. The finger projection  112  may be connected to the strip  102  in this embodiment by inserting a free end  114 A of the rivet through an opening in the strip  102  and through the hollow bore of the finger projection  112  such that the free end  114 A protrudes beyond outward end of the finger projection  112 . The free end  114 A of the rivet is then flattened to fixedly attach the finger projection  112  to the flexible strip  102 . Secondly, the width of the strip  102  is narrower than that shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ; preferably it is only slightly wider than the diameter (or outer profile, if non-circular) of the finger projection  112 . Third, the fastener portion  108  extends entirely across the first end  104  of the flexible strip  102 . The other elements, materials, features, and workings of the second grip trainer  200  may be substantially similar to those described with reference to the first embodiment  100 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the grip trainer  100 ,  200  of the invention may be removably attached to the racquet handle  118  by first placing the strip  102  against the racquet handle  118 . During placement of the strip  102 , the racquet handle  118  may be grasped in the player&#39;s hand and the finger projection  112  may be held between the player&#39;s index and middle fingers. The player may then use his/her free hand to position the fastener portion  110  of the strip  102  above the fastener portion  108  such that the strip  102  is taut against the racquet handle  118 . Once fasteners portions  110  and  108  are aligned, the player attaches them to each other by applying compressive pressure to the top surface of the end  106 , which urges the fastener  110  towards the fastener  108 . The grip trainer  100  may be removed by grasping an edge of the end  106  and pulling to disengage the fastener portion  110  from the fastener portion  108 . Of course, a teaching professional may also assist in positioning the grip trainer  200  on the racquet handle  118  in a proper position. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are perspective views illustrating how the grip trainer of  FIGS. 1-3  or the grip trainer of  FIGS. 4-6  may be grasped during use.  FIG. 7  is a side view showing an illustrative grip of a tennis racquet handle  118  and placement of the finger projection  112  between the index finger  124  and middle finger  126 .  FIG. 8  is a top view showing the overlapping of ends  106  and  104 , as described above, and the placement of thumb  128  along a side of the racquet handle  118  that is opposite the side of the racquet handle  118  from which the finger projection  112  outwardly projects. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the player grasps the racquet handle  118  with a hand  120  so that the grip trainer&#39;s finger projection  112  rests between the index finger  124  and the middle finger  126  and abuts the web  128  that bridges between the index finger  124  and the middle finger  126 . In this manner, the finger projection  112  prevents the hand  120  from moving up or down the longitudinal axis of the racquet handle  118 . Additionally, the finger projection  112  virtually eliminates over-rotation of the hand because abutment of the web  128  against the finger projection  112  prevents the hand  120  from slipping to the right. Unlike conventional gripping devices, a grip trainer constructed according to the principles of the invention may be used for serving, backhand play, and forehand play. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the outer surface of the racquet handle  118  may include alignment marks at different positions so that the grip trainer  100 ,  200  can be easily, quickly, and correctly placed for backhand play, forehand play, and serving. In another embodiment of the invention, the finger projection  112  may be integrally formed with the strip  102 . 
     While the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The examples given above are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the invention. For example, while the grip trainer invention has been described in relation to tennis racquets, it may also be used in other racquet sports such as squash, racquet-ball, badminton, and the like.