Patent Publication Number: US-7914390-B2

Title: Portable sports swing training device and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C §119(e) to provisional application No. 61/031439, filed on Feb. 26, 2008 entitled Portable Swing Exerciser. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is generally directed to a muscle training and development device. More particularly, the device may be used to train and develop muscles involved in various sports swings using a racket, club, bat and the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There are a number of devices available that seek to develop and/or train the muscles used in almost any sport or physical activity, including the muscles employed in golf, tennis and baseball swings. Almost all of the existing swing training devices are designed to work within the context of a sweeping arm motion that attempts to imitate an actual swing. The structure and function of the actual devices, however, vary widely. Many do not address the issue of developing the muscles utilized during the swing and further ignore the need to assist with stretching and flexibility. All of these are problematic for various reasons and none has become widely used. 
     For example, most of the patents describing sport-related swing developing devices focus on golf and apply a swing resistance that remains in a fixed location during the swing. This fails to orient the resistance in an effective direction throughout the swing, as can be seen from U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,229,002; 4,135,714; 4,253,663; 3,462,156 and 3,966,203. 
     A few other patents, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,050,874 and 5,284,464 suggest a swing resistance mounted on a central pivot so that the resistance follows a circular arc as the swing proceeds. This also is less than optimum, because a golf swing differs significantly from a circular arc. 
     Another U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,344 suggests a more complex movement of a swing resistance, but this requires a cumbersome and complex machine. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a muscle training, development, stretching and warming device for sports swings. The device comprises a handle connected with an adjustable mounting device via a tensioning element of variable resistance. The tension element of a higher resistance may be substituted for a lower resistance tension element to increase the force required to swing. Further, the handle allows for adjusting the length of the resistance arm to further manipulate the force required to be provided by the user. The mounting device may be moved vertically to adjust the angle of the resistance relative to the swing plane of the user. 
     An object of the invention is to provide a portable sports swing training device. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a portable sports swing training device with adjustable resistance and resistance angle. 
     The figures and the detailed description which follow more particularly exemplify these and other embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are as follows. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is illustrates one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of one embodiment of a handle of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of one embodiment of a door clip and tensioning element of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a door clip of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of one embodiment of a handle of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7A  is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7B  is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, INCLUDING THE BEST MODE 
     While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     With specific reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The sports swing training device  10  comprises a handle  20  connected to at least one tension element  30  that is adjustably fixed to the handle  20  and removably fixed to a door clip  40  that is adjustably fixed to a door D. 
     As illustrated by  FIG. 3 , one embodiment of the handle  20  comprises an proximal end  22  and a distal end  24 , a grip portion  25  and a resistance portion  26 . The user grips the grip portion  25  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The resistance portion  26  comprises an access aperture  28 , slot  27  and at least one retention aperture  29  therethrough. Access aperture  28 , slot  27  and the at least one retention aperture  29  are in sliding communication with each other to facilitate installation and retention of the tension element(s)  30 , and adjustment of the tension element(s)  30  therein. 
     One embodiment of the door clip  40  is illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  FIG. 4  provides a side view of the door clip  40  engaged on the bottom of door D. A u-channel U is provided to allow the door clip  40  to slidingly engage door D, with door D engaged within u-channel U. A lip  42  is provided on one side of door clip  40 , at the top T of the u-channel U and roughly perpendicular with the adjacent side S of u-channel U. As best illustrated by viewing  FIGS. 4 and 5  in combination, a tension element aperture  44  is provided through lip  42 . The tension element aperture  44  comprises an enlarged access portion  46  having a surface area and a retention portion  48  having a surface area smaller than the surface are of enlarged access portion  46 , the access portion  46  and the retention portion  48  further allowing sliding communication therebetween. 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 4 , tension element  30  may comprise opposing enlarged ends  32  that are enlarged relative to the middle shaft  34  and is preferably symmetrical in profile, thus comprising enlarged ends  32  on each end of tension element  30  with middle shaft  34  therebetween. Tension element  30  is composed of a material that resistively stretches when subjected to a longitudinal force such as that applied in the present invention. Such a tension element  30  is well known in the art. Middle shaft  34  will comprise a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of opposing enlarged ends  32 . Thus, the enlarged ends  32  may fit within both the access portion  46  of tension element aperture  44  on lip  42  of door clip  40  as well as within access aperture  28  of handle  20 . Sliding the middle shaft  34  portion of tension element  30  into the smaller retention portion  48  results in the enlarged end  32  engagingly retained within retention portion  48 , thus removably fixing enlarged end  32  of tension element  30  to door clip  40  which is, in turn, removably attached to door D. 
     Similarly, the opposite enlarged end  32  of tension element  30  may be engaged with the handle  20  by passing enlarged end  32  into and through access aperture  28 . The middle shaft  34  portion of tension element  30  may then slide through slot  27  until the desired retention aperture  29  is encountered. Each retention aperture  29  is located a different distance from the input load point where the user&#39;s hands grip the handle  20 . Thus, each retention aperture  29  comprises a different resistance arm length resulting in a different resistance for the user. The enlarged end  32  of tension element  30  is larger than retention aperture  29  so as to engagingly retain the enlarged end  32  within retention aperture  29 , thereby removably fixing the enlarged end  32  of tension element  30  within retention aperture  29  and to handle  20 . As suggested by  FIG. 3 , one or more retention apertures  29  may be provided, each one providing more or less resistance during the swing training exercise as will be discussed further infra. At this point in the installation process, the tension element  30  is now adjustably fixed to both the door clip  40  and to the handle  20  and, as the Figures suggest, and as illustrated by the force directional arrows, tension element  30  provides a resistance force R away from the handle  20  and toward door clip  40  and door D along the taut tension element  30  at angle α as it is stretched by the user during operation and use. Angle α generally comprises the angle below the taut, stretched tension element  30  and the door D, or the extended line of the door D as in  FIG. 1 . 
     The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , comprises the door clip  40  attached to the bottom of door D. This allows the user to engage follow-through muscles in a swing that may be used in a sports swing, e.g., golf, tennis or baseball swing. The at least one tension element  30  provides resistance as the user moves through early swing movement and follows through. In this embodiment, the at least one tension element  30  does not provide resistance to either the user&#39;s initial back swing in a golf swing or the early swing curvature following the back swing. The at least one tension element  30  engages and resists at an angle α roughly equivalent to that encountered in the swing&#39;s engagement with, e.g., a golf ball, and continues to provide resistance through the full follow through of the swing. 
     Returning now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention is illustrated in the context of a right-handed swing. The right-handed swing posture is defined herein as the posture wherein the user&#39;s right hand RH is below the left hand LH on the handle  20 , i.e., the left hand LH being closer than the right hand RH to the proximal end  22  and the right hand RH being closer than the left hand LH to the distal end  24 . In addition, the user&#39;s right shoulder RS is oriented closer to the door than the user&#39;s left shoulder LS, wherein the user&#39;s shoulders RS and LS are roughly perpendicular to the door D prior to initiation of a training swing. 
     The inventive swing trainer in all embodiments applies equally to a left-handed swing, defined herein as the posture wherein the user&#39;s left hand LH is below the right hand RH on the handle  20 , i.e., the right hand RH being closer than the left hand LH to the proximal end  22  and the left hand LH being closer than the right hand RH to the distal end  24 . In addition, the user&#39;s left shoulder LS is closer to the door D than the user&#39;s right shoulder RS, wherein the user&#39;s shoulders RS and LS are roughly perpendicular to the door D prior to initiation of a training swing. All embodiments described herein, and equivalents thereof, of the present invention are equally applicable to a right-handed or left-handed swing. Thus, the right-handed swing will be used to illustrate and describe the present invention. The skilled artisan will recognize immediately the application of the described embodiments to a left-handed swing. 
     Further,  FIG. 1  illustrates the door clip  40  being installed and located below the user&#39;s hands. This configuration and orientation allows, as described supra, to work on follow-through muscles during, e.g., a golf swing by developing/training these muscles and/or stretching and/or warming them prior to developing/training and/or actually playing the game itself. The user with a right-handed swing may, however reorient him or herself relative to the swing trainer  10  in an orientation opposite that of  FIG. 1  by simply turning to facing in the opposite direction so that the user&#39;s left shoulder LS is closer to the door D than the user&#39;s right shoulder RS. In this configuration, the user may work on the right-handed swing muscles involved in the early backswing of, e.g., a golf swing, with the resistance coming from an angle α and below the user&#39;s hands. 
     Significantly, the door clip  40  may be moved to any point around the perimeter of the door D, thus enabling the user to work on virtually all parts of any sports swing. For example,  FIG. 2  illustrates the door clip  40  engaged with the top of door D and above the user&#39;s hands during a right-handed swing, in particular the early swing portion of a right-handed swing. This configuration allows the user with a right-handed swing to work on early swing muscles when swinging downwardly as in, e.g., a golf swing. The at least one tension element  30  does not necessarily engage on the user&#39;s backswing, in the case of a golf swing, but does engage as the user&#39;s hands descend through the downswing, again as in the case of a golf swing. 
     As should now be clear to the skilled artisan, the user may reorient him or herself in the illustrated configuration of  FIG. 2  so that the user with a right-handed swing is oriented with his or her left shoulder LS closer to the door than the right shoulder RS and both shoulders LS, RS roughly perpendicular to door D before initiating the portion of the swing to be trained. In this configuration, i.e., door clip  40  above the user&#39;s hands and left shoulder LS closer to door than right shoulder RS, the user may work on another aspect of the swing, e.g., the initial backswing in a golf swing with the resistance coming from an angle α above the user&#39;s hands instead of from below the user&#39;s hands as in  FIG. 1 . 
     The swing trainer  10  may be configured so that door clip  40  is located along the side perimeter of door D at any point between the bottom location of door clip  40  shown in  FIG. 1  and the top location of door clip  40  shown in  FIG. 2 . This configurability and flexibility of the swing trainer  10  allows the user to train swing muscles from virtually any angle during any portion of the swing and for virtually any type of sports swing. For example, one configuration of swing trainer  10  that may be used for baseball and/or tennis swings may comprise placement of the door clip  40  at progressive locations beginning with a location just above the user&#39;s knees, or lower, to just above the user&#39;s chest, or higher. One such exemplary location is illustrated in  FIG. 2  as element  40 A, with angle α A . As described above, the user may work on a forward swing, as in a baseball swing as well as on a backswing, as in a tennis swing, from virtually any angle α. 
     Moreover, as should be apparent at this point, the present invention may also be used to target and stretch and/or warm the swing muscles using the techniques described above and employing virtually any angle α. 
     Further, the resistance of the swing trainer  10  may be modified.  FIG. 6  illustrates some of the potential configurations of the present invention and the resulting variation of resistance arm length. 
     Generally speaking, the swinging of a sports club, e.g., a golf club, tennis racket or a baseball bat, employs a class  3  lever to gain mechanical advantage.  FIG. 6  depicts the elements of such a lever, i.e., the fulcrum or rotational axis of the lever, the input load point, i.e, the position of the user&#39;s hands on the grip portion  25  and the output load resistance point located along the resistance portion  26 . 
     In the present invention, the fulcrum may typically be at the end of the grip portion  25 , although the user may move his/her hands up or down on the grip to cause the fulcrum or rotational axis of the lever to move up or down on the grip portion  25 . The fulcrum is so indicated in  FIG. 6  as at the tip of the triangle illustrated at the end of grip portion  25 . Further, the input load point is the point at which the user&#39;s hands apply pressure, most typically near the end of grip portion  25 , thus resulting in the fulcrum or rotational axis of the lever being located at the very end of grip portion  25 . 
     Further, the present invention comprises the ability to position the at least one tension element  30  at varying positions along the resistance portion  26 , by connecting the tension element(s)  30  with one of the at least one retention apertures  29 . Thus, the load, i.e., the resistance R provided by the at least one tension element  30 , may be adjustably positioned along resistance portion  26 . 
     Thus, in mechanical advantage terms, assuming the input load point, i.e., the user&#39;s hand position and the amount of resistance R provided by the at least one tension element  30  remain constant, the force applied by the user at the input load point varies in a directly proportional manner with the increasing length of the resistance arm. Thus, as illustrated, RA 1  is the shortest resistance arm and requires the least force to be applied by the user. In other words, the handle  20  is easiest to move against the at least one tension element  30  at resistance arm length RA 1 . RA 2  and RA 3  provide successively longer resistance arms and proportionally greater force is required to be applied by the user at the input load point, i.e., the swing through is made successively more difficult at resistance arm lengths RA 2  and RA 3 . It is contemplated that, as the user gains in strength, that the resistance arm lengths may be increased to further strength gains. 
     Changing the resistance arm length is just one possible way to adjust the resistance encountered by the user during a swing using the swing trainer  10 . Other methods may comprise keeping the resistance arm a constant length, but substituting in successively more, or less, resistant tension element(s)  30 . It is contemplated that the at least one tension element  30  may comprise two, three or more tension elements  30 , each having an increasing resistance. The skilled artisan will readily recognize the various configurations that may now be used to modify the resistance force encountered by the user; each such configuration is within the scope of the present invention. 
     Finally, turning now to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , an alternate mounting mechanism for the swing trainer  10  is provided. The door clip  40  described above is replaced in this embodiment with a strap mounting element  60  that may be fixed to virtually any fixed structure that the mounting element  60  may engage. Strap mounting element comprises a flexible strap  62  in adjustable fixed communication with connecting element  64 . Connecting element  64  comprises a flexible strap aperture  66 , a tension element access aperture  68  and a retention aperture  69 . The apertures  68 ,  69  are provided, as illustrated, to retain one end of enlarged end  32  of tension element  30  as described above. Strap  62  adjustably and fixedly attaches to a fixed structure, e.g., fencing, via a looping in the strap  62  and the flexible strap aperture  62 , the swing trainer  10  is further attached to the fencing or other fixed structure at the desired angle and the swing trainer is then ready for operation as provided supra. This alternative mounting mechanism increases the portability and utility of the swing trainer  10  by allowing by attachment and use virtually anywhere there is a fixed structure. For example, and without limitation, fencing, a bumper, trailer hitch, light post and the like may be used to connect the swing trainer  10  and allow the user to stretch, warm up and/or train swing muscles. 
     The present invention should not be considered limited to the particular examples described above, but rather should be understood to cover all aspects of the invention. Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerous structures to which the present invention may be applicable will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art to which the present invention is directed upon review of the present specification.