Patent Publication Number: US-10315088-B2

Title: Training device for habit formation limiting arm movement over a predetermined range of motions

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/965,769 filed on Feb. 7, 2014 which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the field of training devices for habit formation limiting arm or leg movement over a predetermined range of motion, and more particularly as applied to sports such as a basketball shooting or dibbling training aid, soccer, baseball, tennis, or golf. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Basketball is a common sport played by youths and adults the world over and especially in the United States. Most people learn the game from other friends without the help of a coach or a trainer. Consequently, bad habits and poor techniques are picked up. As with any activity or sport, the longer and more often a person uses bad technique, the harder it is to learn good habits. 
     Players need to learn proper technique and need to know when they are using proper technique and when they are not. Especially where shooting is concerned, players need to learn all the fine points of shooting since small mistakes can have the worst consequences. Therefore, players need a reminder of good technique before or during every shot until the proper technique becomes a habit. Repeated practice of the proper techniques is necessary. 
     When proper technique is used over and over, the correct group of muscles and nerves develop and work together to shoot the ball correctly creating consistency and reproducible results. With repeated practice, the muscles are exercised and are thus strengthened. The nerves, muscles, and mind all work together to make good technique a learned skill. This is referred to as ‘neuromuscular memory’. 
     Proper positioning of the hands, arms, shoulders and body before a shot are critical and are also part of good form and proper technique, as well. 
     In a preferred method for executing a one hand push shot, the opposite hand is used as a pre-release stabilizer or guide and the forearm of the shooting arm is kept parallel to the center line of the body during the shooting motion. The centerline of the body is an imaginary line dividing the player vertically down the middle of his or her body. When the forearm of the shooting is not aligned with the centerline when shooting, the basketball has the tendency to stray from its proper shooting trajectory. This tendency causes a decrease in the percentage of shots that fall through the hoop. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,743 by Stephen et al for BASKETBALL PRACTICE AID which issued on Jun. 23, 1998 teaches a brace which includes a form fitting right angle bracket which is held on either the upper arm or the forearm near the inside of the elbow by a strap with some sort of fastener such as hook and loop material. The arm can freely move and bend at any position where the angle formed by the forearm and upper arm is greater than 90 degrees. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,695 by Mahal et al for TRAINING DEVICE FOR BASKETBALL PLAYERS FOR DEVELOPING PROPER SHOOTING TECHNIQUE which issued on Feb. 2, 1999 teaches two hinged brackets which are strapped on both sides of a player&#39;s primary shooting arm at the forearm and the upper arm. The hinges are located coaxially with the elbow. The hinged brackets include a stop in the hinges which prevent the brackets and thus the player&#39;s arm from bending to any angle less than 90 degrees. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A training device for limiting limb movement over a predetermined range of motion providing habit formation for activities such as sports requiring memory of arm or leg movement. to shoot or dribble a ball, kick a ball, swing a bat, a racket, or a golf club. Upon application to the sport of basketball, the training device can be used to initiate and develop proper shooting technique for basketball players. The device includes a resilient spacer means such as a block or ball disposed within a pocket in a strap which fits snugly around the players forearm and upper arm. The spacer means and pocket are oriented in a position to permit limited pivotal movement of the elbow which is prevented from pivoting beyond the point at which the forearm forms a selected angle with the upper arm. The forearm is allowed pivot with respect to the upper arm over a predetermined range of motion whereby the forearm is prevented from pivoting beyond the point at which it forms a selected angle with the upper arm. The strap is adjusted by a user to restrict the angle to which the elbow can be bent on the backward movement of the arm to about 90 degrees; however, forward movement of the arm during a shot is not restricted. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a basketball shooting training aid comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of an attachment strap, a pocket strap, and a blocking device. The attachment strap includes a buckle at a first end and hook and loop material on the top side thereof at a second end. The attachment strap comprises non-stretchable material and is in the range of 12 to 20 inches long and in the range of one to three inches wide. The attachment strap has about a one and one-half inch length of hook material at the second end of the strap and loop material covering the top side of the attachment strap from about one and one-half inches from the second end to about seven inches from the first end of the attachment strap. The pocket strap is fixedly attached to the top surface of the attachment strap at a position between a point about two and one half inches from the first end of the attachment strap to a point about seven inches from the first end of the attachment strap. The pocket strap is in the range of two to four inches wide, in the range of ten to twelve inches long and is perpendicular to the attachment strap. The pocket strap has hook material on the top surface near a first end thereof and loop material on the bottom surface near a second end thereof. The blocking device is held within the pocket strap and is preferably a resilient ball such as a tennis ball. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a basketball shooting training aid which causes a player to position his forearm arm in the correct angle relative to the upper arm by providing a positive stop which prevents the arm from bending at less than a 90° angle. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a basketball shooting training aid which remains in position on a player&#39;s arm as constant reminder during every shot to maintain proper form. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a basketball shooting training aid which is adjustable for any size forearm. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a basketball shooting training aid which has a pocket which firmly holds a selected object which acts as a barrier to prevent the bending of the shooting arm to less than a selected angle. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a basketball shooting training aid which is comfortable to wear and light-weight. 
     It is an object of the present invention to control the relative position between the upper arm and forearm of the shooting arm of a user; 
     It is an object of the present invention to restricts the bending of the elbow of the shooting arm to an angle of 90 degrees between the upper arm and the forearm. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a spacer means comprising a hollow or solid: bladder, ball, egg or ovoid shaped member, cube, square, roll, or other compressible spacer means. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a strap comprised of a flexible but longitudinally unyielding material comprises of leather, neoprene, a woven synthetic material, a neoprene or foam rubber material between sandwiched between thin sheets of tougher material such as nylon or lycra/spandex material ranging from 1 mm to 8 mm in thickness, and combinations thereof. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the views wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the basketball shooting training device attached to the forearm of a player; 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the basketball shooting training device with the removable attachment strap unrolled and lying flat showing the D-ring fastening means, hook and loop fasteners, pocket means and spacer means comprising a compressible air filled ball of a selected size therein; 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the basketball shooting training device with the attachment strap unrolled, with the spacer means showing the ball as a spacer means with the pocket device open showing the hook and loop fasteners on the inner surface of one end of the pocket strap for cooperative engagement with hook and loop fasteners on the mating surface of the distal flap adjacent the portion of the strap surrounding the compressible ball lying in the pocket; 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the basketball shooting training device of  FIG. 3  showing the attachment strap unrolled and with the spacer means pocket device in an open position; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a compressible ball which is used as a spacer means; 
         FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of a rectangular, ovoid, roll, or cube shaped compressible spacer means; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a player wearing the basketball shooting training device with the elbow bent and the forearm pulled back toward the upper arm showing the orientation of the compressible spacer means defining a ball resting opposite the player&#39;s elbow; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear right side view of a player shown in phantom lines wearing the basketball shooting training device wherein the spacer means is contacting the forearm and upper arm of the player and the ball is lifted to the shooting position; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of a golfer wearing the basketball shooting training device worn by a golfer to limit movement of the forearm and upper arm preventing bending of the arm during the back swing; 
         FIG. 10  is a cutaway end view of the basketball shooting training device of  FIG. 1  showing the compressible spacer means disposed within the pocket means removably affixed to the forearm strap; 
         FIG. 11  is an end view of the basketball shooting training device of  FIG. 1  showing the fastening means as D ring and hook and loop fasteners with the strap extending through a loop formed at a base of the pocket; 
         FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the basketball shooting training device with the attachment strap unrolled and showing the generally medial positioned pocket affixed thereto; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the spacer means (ball) and the device pocket device open showing the wider center portion and narrower side edges forming a pocket; 
         FIG. 14  is a cutaway perspective side view showing a double backed neoprene or foam rubber material sandwiched between two protective fabric outer layers; 
         FIG. 15  is a cutaway end view of the basketball shooting training device of  FIG. 1  showing the fastening means as D ring and hook and loop fasteners with the strap extending through a loop formed at a base of the pocket and showing a double backed neoprene or foam rubber material sandwiched between two protective fabric outer layers; 
         FIG. 16  is a side perspective view of a players forearm raised in a vertical position with the basketball shooting training device attached at the lower forearm at the inside of the elbow. 
         FIG. 17  is a front view of a players forearm lowered in a horizontal position with the basketball shooting training device attached at the lower forearm at the inside of the elbow shown in the lowered ball dribbling position; 
         FIG. 18  is a front view of the training device; 
         FIG. 19  is a top perspective view of the basketball shooting training device with the attachment strap unrolled and showing the generally medial positioned pocket affixed thereto and a bag of viscous silicone material contained within the pocket; 
         FIG. 20  is a side perspective view of a players forearm raised in a vertical position with the basketball shooting training device attached at the lower forearm at the inside of the elbow wherein the strap comprises a porous material; 
         FIG. 21  is a side view of a players forearm lowered in a horizontal position with the basketball shooting training device attached at the lower forearm at the inside of the elbow wherein the pocket comprises a porous material; 
         FIG. 22  is a front perspective view of the basketball shooting training device with a spacer means (ball) held tightly with hook and loop material with the belt fastened; and 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the spacer means (ball) and the device pocket device open showing the wider center portion and narrower side edges forming a pocket. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a training device for habit formation limiting arm movement over a predetermined range of motion providing a basketball shooting training device  10  which is attached to either the forearm or the upper arm of a basketball player to prevent the player from bending his or her arm to an selected angle. 
     As shown in the figures, an attachment strap  12  is fastened around a selected position on the arm of a player. Attached to an upper surface of the strap  12  is a pocket  20  into which has been fastened a spacer means  30  which is preferably a ball such as a tennis ball. An alternative embodiment of the training device includes a rectangular or cube shaped spacer means  40  such as that shown in  FIG. 6 . With the training device  10  attached to either the forearm  6  or the upper arm  4  at a position near the inside of the elbow, the player is prevented from bending the arm to a selected limiting angle. The position of the training device on the arm determines the selected limiting angle. The preferred limiting angle is 90° but other angles are possible according to the placement of the training device  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the training device preferably includes attachment strap  12  including an a buckle  18  comprising a rectangular loop or D ring at one end, and hook and loop fastening means at the opposite end of the attachment strap  12 . The strap  12  is 12 to 20 inches long, about one and one-half to three inches wide and preferably un-stretchable. It can be seen that hook material covers the top surface of the strap  12  near the end for a length of about two inches and loop material covers the top surface of the strap  12  from about two inches from the end to about six or seven inches from the buckle  18  at the other end. The strap  12  is device on and wrapped around the arm with the hook and loop side facing outwards. The hook and/or loop portion  14  is fed through the buckle  18 , the strap  12  is drawn tight and the hook and/or loop portion  14  of the strap  12  is then pressed against the hook and/or loop portion  16  of the strap  12 . 
     A spacer means pocket  20  comprises a pocket strap  21  attached to the same side of the strap  12  as the hook and loop fasteners and at a right angle to the attachment strap. The pocket strap  21  is three to five inches wide, ten to twelve inches long, and is preferably sewn with stitching  32  to the attachment strap  12 . The pocket strap  21  includes hook and loop fasteners attached at respective ends of the strap  21 . Other means of attaching the pocket strap  21  to the attachment strap  12  include adhesives, rivets and lacing, or a loop  34  extending between a layer of material  66  holding the spacer means and the outer strap covering for sliding cooperative engagement with the removable strap  12 . 
     At one end of the bottom surface of the strap  21  is the hook material  24  on the top side. At the other end of the strap  21  is the loop material  22  on the bottom side. With this configuration, the spacer means  30  is placed on the pocket strap  21  over the area where the pocket strap  21  is attached to the attachment strap  12 . The end of the pocket strap  21  with the loop material  22  is brought up over the surface of the spacer means  30  and the other end of the pocket strap with the hook material is brought over the other side of the spacer means  30 , thus covering the spacer means. The hook material  24  is pressed onto the loop material  22 , thereby fastening the pocket  20  tightly closed. The spacer means is preferably a resilient ball  30  such as a tennis ball. Alternatively, the spacer means is a resilient block  40  which is rectangular or cubic in shape. 
     It is understood that hook material and loop material may be interchanged with one another since interchanging of these two still results in two surfaces which will be removably attach to one another. It is preferable, however, that the resulting attachment of the two pieces of material does not result in hook material facing outwards, which would then cause catching of debris and uncomfortable scratching of the hook material against a player&#39;s skin. 
     Preferred materials for the attachment strap and the pocket strap include a nylon, polypropylene or other synthetic woven material, and may include lining material such as foam rubber, neoprene, vinyl, leather or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 21 , the strap and/or pocket can be formed of porous, breathable material  56 .  FIG. 22  shows the pocket material comprising strips of material  58  which may be elastomeric to stretch around the compressible spacer means and hold it into position. 
     A preferred material of composition for the strap and pocket of the present invention is a neoprene or foam rubber material  70  sandwiched between thin sheets of tougher material such as nylon or lycra/spandex material ranging from 1 mm to 8 mm in thickness. The double backed neoprene or form rubber material sandwiched between two protective fabric outer layers  72  greatly increase the tear-resistance of the material while maximizing the softness, compressibility and flexibility of the material. 
     More particularly, the basketball shooting training device comprises or consists of an removable and adjustable strap for securing to the forearm of user. Pocket means attaches to the adjustable strap, the pocket means is positioned between a forearm portion of the user and an upper arm portion of the user adjacent the user&#39;s elbow. A spacer means of a selected size and shape disposed within the pocket means. The basketball shooting training device restricts the angle to which the forearm and the upper arm can be bent at the elbow on backward movement of the arm of the user. The pocket means comprises at least a strip of material selected from the group consisting of a nylon woven material, a polypropylene woven material, a synthetic woven materials, a foam rubber, a neoprene, a vinyl, and a leather. The spacer means comprises a compressible material such as a fluid or air filled ball or bladder. As shown in  FIG. 19 , the compressible material is selected from the group consisting of an blastomeric material, a polymer, a container or bag of viscoelastic liquid silicone  60 , a non-Newtonian fluid, a viscous liquid, a rubber material, a fibrous material, a tennis ball, a racquet ball, and combinations thereof. The removable and adjustable strap includes means of fastening selected from the group consisting of at least a section of hook and loop fasteners, a buckle, a stretchable material, a section of stretchable material, buttons, snaps, adhesive material, and combinations thereof. The pocket comprises a strap sized and shaped for cooperative engagement with the spacer means, the strap having a first edge portion  50  and a second edge portion  54  of a slightly smaller diameter that a wider center portion  52  defining the pocket. The pocket comprises releaseably retains the spacer means therein, the pocket including means of fastening selected from the group consisting of at least a section of hook and loop fasteners, a buckle, a stretchable material, a section of stretchable material, buttons, snaps, adhesive material, and combinations thereof. The pocket including means of orientation comprising at least one opening normal to strap defining a loop for cooperative engagement with the strap. The removable and adjustable strap further comprises a D-ring attached to a distal end of the strap by attachment means selected from the group consisting of sewn stitches and hook and loop material for cooperative engagement with an opposing end portion of the removable and adjustable strap. In one preferred embodiment, the removable and adjustable strap and pocket means comprise a neoprene or foam rubber material sandwiched between a pair of thin sheets of synthetic material selected from the group consisting of a polyester, a nylon, a lycra/spandex material and combinations thereon ranging from 1 mm to 8 mm in thickness. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a training device for habit formation limiting limb movement over a predetermined range of motion providing a basketball shooting training device  10  which is attached to either the forearm or the upper arm of a basketball player to prevent the player from bending his or her arm to an selected angle. 
     The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modification will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made upon departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, this invention is not intended to be limited by the specific exemplification presented herein above. Rather, what is intended to be covered is within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.