Training Aid
A training aid comprises first and second spaced, substantially inextensible, divergent guide lines (10, 12) lying in a substantially common plane, each substantially inextensible line being fixed at a first end (14, 16) and tensioned at a second end of elastically deformable tensioning means (18, 20), a reciprocating element (22) through opposite ends of which the substantially inextensible lines pass and projectile (28) attached to the reciprocating element.
The present invention relates to training aids and in particular to training aids for use in practicing the striking of projectiles.
Training aids are known in the prior art for practising the striking of projectiles. Sometimes a projectile (e.g. a tennis ball) is fired from a machine towards a user, which the user then strikes. The machine can store a quantity of projectiles so that it can repeatedly fire them towards the user. The user thereby develops his or her technique by repetitively practising a particular stroke. There are many disadvantages associated with such systems, such as having to retrieve the projectiles after a certain number of “strokes” in order to re-stock the machine, having to provide motive power to operate the machine and having to practice in accordance with the machine's timed operation, rather than when the user is ready.
An alternative means of practising is to repetitively strike a number of projectiles, as is common practice at golf “driving ranges”. However, again the projectiles need to be retrieved and returned to the user—unless an infinite supply of balls is available.
Training aids have therefore been developed that enable a single projectile to be used by automatically returning it to a desired rest position after each stroke. Examples in the prior art include UK patent GB2350568 and international patent application WO 02/41955, both of which relate to projectiles mounted on a reciprocating element that is adapted to slide along a pair of spaced-apart and non-parallel elastic lines. The reciprocating element “pinches” the lines together as it slides along them thereby causing the lines to extend elastically. The stored elastic energy in the lines is used to return the reciprocating element to a desired rest position.
These inventions have a number of drawbacks including, amongst others, problems associated with maintaining consistent line tension.
The present invention aims to provide an improved training aid and method of operation of the same.
A first aspect of the invention provides a training aid comprising first and second spaced-apart, substantially inextensible divergent guide lines but lying in a substantially common plane, each substantially inextensible line being fixed at a first end, and tensioned at a second end by elastically distortable tensioning means, and a reciprocating element, through opposite ends of which, the substantially inextensible lines pass, and to which a projectile is attached.
Thus, striking the object causes the reciprocating element to slide along the substantially inextensible lines and to displace them in their substantially common plane thereby causing the tensioning means to distort and cause a retarding force to be imparted to the reciprocating element by the tension in the substantially inextensible lines, the tension being such that it imparts a retarding force to the reciprocating element to urge it to return towards or to a rest position at or near the fixed ends of the guide lines.
A second aspect of the invention provides a method of urging a struck object to return to a rest position, the object being connected to a reciprocating element through ends of which a pair of substantially co-planar, spaced apart divergent substantially inextensible guide lines pass, the substantially inextensible lines being biased in the substantially common plane of the lines by distortable tensioning means such that moving the reciprocating element in the direction of the lines causes the lines to be pinched together or parted and the distortable tensioning means to impart a bias to the lines in the opposite sense to the pinching or parting action, wherein the imparted bias causes the reciprocating element to be urged in the opposite direction in which it was struck.
A third aspect of the invention provides a training aid capable of urging a projectile towards or to return to a rest position after having been struck and restraining means for inhibiting the rebound of the projectile away from the rest position, wherein the restraining means comprises means for dissipating energy from the projectile as it moves into the vicinity of the rest position as it is urged towards or returned thereto.
The projectile of the invention may be of any type, although it is envisaged that a ball, for example, but without limitation to, a golf ball may be provided.
The lines can be fixed at one end using a hook and eye arrangement or a pulley for easy connection and disconnection. The hook and eye arrangement, where provided, may comprise a snap hook and/or a loop formed in the line using a swaged ferrule.
The elastically distortable tensioning means, may be of any suitable type, such as a spring or a resiliently deformable member. The tension in the elastically distortable tensioning means is preferably adjustable by the user.
The tensioning means may accordingly, comprise a spring to which the line or lines are connected. A pulley may be provided to connect the line or lines to the spring to reduce friction therebetween. The tension in the spring may be adjustable by the provision of a pre-tensioner in the form of a screw-threaded connection or a rack connection that can be extended or shortened to increase the tension in the spring. The spring may be interchangeable with springs of differing Hooke constants. Additionally or alternatively, the spring may be pre-compressible by the insertion of spacers between the spring and an abutment surface therefor.
Where the elastically distortable tensioning means comprises a resiliently deformable member, which, where provided, may comprise a length of elasticated cord or a resilient support member. Where a resilient support member is provided, it may comprise one or more flexible rods, to which the lines are connected. The rod may be manufactured of any resilient material, although spring steel or carbon/glass fibre reinforced polymers are envisaged as suitable materials. The angle of the rod or rods, where provided may be adjustable to pre-tension the lines to a desired tension.
The reciprocating element preferably has spaced-apart connection means, e.g. apertures, hooks or other formations, to which the substantially inextensible lines are slidably connected. Preferably, the connection means are located substantially at opposite ends of the reciprocating element. The rest position preferably corresponds to a position whereby the separation of the substantially inextensible lines substantially corresponds with the spacing of the spaced apart connection means.
The reciprocating element may comprise a substantially inextensible bar or tube (e.g. a plastics or steel tube) preferably having apertures at either end thereof through which the substantially inextensible lines are threaded.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reciprocating element comprises a pair of connectors through which each of the substantially inextensible lines pass. The reciprocating element may be a length of cord. The connectors, where provided, may be swivels to accommodate twisting of the cord. The cord is preferably relatively inextensible, although a slight elasticity is desirable for shock absorbing purposes. In a most preferred embodiment, the cord, where provided is manufactured of a polyurethane or other similar material.
The projectile, e.g. a golf ball, is connected to the reciprocating element, either by having an aperture therein through which the reciprocating element passes or being tethered thereto by a tethering cord. Where the former method of connection is employed, the projectile may be slidable along the reciprocating element, although it is preferred that the projectile is fixed.
A support frame may be provided for maintaining the substantially inextensible lines in a desired relationship to one another and the user. The support frame may comprise a U-shaped member and a leg extending therefrom. The support frame, where provided, may be adapted for securement to a surface. The support frame may be anchorable into soft ground (e.g. grass) using one or more spikes (e.g. tent pegs) driven through apertures provided in the support frame into the soft ground. Additionally or alternatively, the support frame may be glued, nailed, bolted, riveted screwed or otherwise mechanically secured to a surface.
The substantially inextensible lines may be anchored into a tee plate. The tee plate may be connected to a footplate on which the user stands. The tee and footplates may also be anchorable or securable to a surface. The footplate, where provided, may have an interchangeable surface thereon, which can be interchanged to suit the requirements of the user. The interchangeable surface may comprise a piece of natural turf or man-made grass to simulate a fairway. Alternatively, a rubber mat, sand, dirt, wood or a water-filled tray, etc., may be provided to simulate other conditions.
A restraining means may be provided to prevent or inhibit recoil of the reciprocating element away from the desired rest position after each stroke. The restraining means may comprise a resilient flap adapted to interfere with, and hence dissipate kinetic energy from the reciprocating element and/or projectile.
Alternatively, the restraining means may comprise a magnet adapted to attract a metallic reciprocating element.
The “optimal” rest position of the reciprocating element may be adjustable by adjusting the position of the restraining means to suit the user.
A slidable element may be provided on one or more of the substantially inextensible lines to indicate the furthest extent of travel of the reciprocating element during use. A scale may be provided (e.g. graduations on one or more of the lines) to provide an indication of the equivalent distance a “free” projectile would have travelled given the same impact. The scale, may provide an indication of an equivalent driving yardage.
For practice apparatus of the type having a spaced apart divergent guide lines lying in a substantially common plane, each line being fixed at a first end and tensioned at a second end, and a reciprocating element slidable along the lines and to which a projectile is attached, it may be useful to be able to monitor how the projectile has been struck. In particular it may be useful to know whether the projectile has been struck straight or to either side. It may also be useful to know the strength with which the projectile has been struck and possibly to be able to evaluate the distance it would have travelled, if not restrained by its attachment to the reciprocating element.
Accordingly another aspect of the invention provides a training aid comprising a pair of spaced, non-parallel guide lines but lying in common plane, a reciprocating element slidable along the lines and carrying a projectile, wherein striking the projectile urges the reciprocating element along the lines draws the lines towards each other to generate a returning force to return the reciprocating element to its start position, characterized by means for monitoring direction and/or power of the strike on the projectile.
The means for monitoring direction and/or power may comprise means for measuring the extent and/or direction of movement of an apparatus component acted upon by deviation of a guide line.
The means for monitoring the direction of a struck projectile relative to a desired direction may be provided by having the guide lines connected to pivotable members, so that if the projectile is struck to one side of the desired direction line the guide lines and hence the pivotable members will be seen to move to one side or the other.
The apparatus component may be a pulley or a combination of pulleys rotatable as a result of deviation of the guide lines. Ends of the guide lines may extend round a pulley or may be linked to a line round a pulley. The pulley may be fixed or may be movable but contained to return to a rest position, such as by spring means or the like. The or each pulley may be provided with an encoder to provide a signal indicative of the extent and/or direction of movement of the pulley. The encoder may provide an indication of rotational movement or linear movement of the pulley.
The apparatus of this aspect of the invention preferably also includes display means for showing the results from the encoders. The results from the encoders are preferably associated with means for calibrating the results. Thus, for example, using the apparatus for practising golf it may be possible to ascertain deviation and the direction of deviation of a golf shot from a desired direction and possibly also the distance the golf ball would have travelled under normal conditions.
The apparatus of this aspect of the invention may also be an apparatus according to any of the previous aspects of the invention.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;
Turning now to
The upper part of
Because the lines 10 & 12 are substantially inextensible, the length of line ABDE must be the same as line FGIJ. However, “pinching” the lines 10 & 12, as indicated by arrows Q & R, causes the effective length of line FGI to be greater than ABD. To compensate for this, the distortable tensioning means 18 & 20 distort (i.e. extend) from length CD to length HI.
Kinetic energy imparted to the projectile 28 upon striking is dissipated as potential energy in distorting the distortable tensioning means 18 & 20. The potential energy stored in the distortable tensioning means 18 & 20 is then released back into the lines 10 & 12 when the reciprocating element 22 comes to rest, thereby reversing the “pinching” forces Q & R. The reciprocating element 22 is thus driven back towards a rest position, in the opposite direction to arrow P enabling the cycle to be repeated.
The lines 10 & 12 are anchored 14 & 16 into a tee plate 40. The tee plate is connected to a footplate 42 on which the user (not shown) stands. The tee and footplates 40 & 42 are also anchored 44 into soft ground using spikes (e.g. tent pegs) driven through apertures therein (not shown for clarity). The footplate 42 has an interchangeable surface 46 thereon, which can be interchanged to suit the requirements of the user. For example, a piece of turf or man-made grass could be used to simulate a fairway or a rubber mat may be used to simulate a tee. Other surfaces 46 could also be used, e.g. sand, dirt, wood, a water-filled tray, etc., to simulate whatever conditions the user desires.
The frame 52 is manufactured of box-section metal (e.g. steel) and is adapted for permanent (but removable) installation by way of bolts 60 tapped into the floor. The apparatus can thereby be installed, e.g. in an indoor driving range. The provision of an interchangeable surface 46 can add to the realism of the apparatus, (especially where a section of real turf is used on an indoor located apparatus).
The resilient beam 82 is arranged to flex to accommodate the effective length change of the inextensible lines 10 & 12 as the reciprocating element 22 slides therealong. It is envisaged that the resilient beam 82 could be manufactured of any suitable resilient material, although plastics (for example, but without limitation to fibre reinforced polymer) or metals (for example, but without limitation to spring steel) may be preferred.
In
Slidable along the lines is a relatively inextensible reciprocating element 108 to which is attached a golf ball 110, although it could be some other projectile.
As in previously described embodiments, when the golf ball in the vicinity of the first fixed ends is struck in practising a golf shot, the golf ball and the reciprocating element are driven towards the other ends of the lines 100, 102. Because the reciprocating element is relatively inextensible, the lines are drawn together and this generates a force to return the reciprocating element towards the first fixed ends of the lines 100, 102.
Additionally, as the pivot points A and B are at a constant separation any deviation in the flight of the projectile from a straight line midway between the lines 100, 102 will cause the lines to deviate to one side or the other and hence the 105 and 107 will pivot A1 and B1, which will show the direction of deviation. As shown in
To monitor whether the path of travel of the struck projectile is straight or deviates to me side or the other, the ends of the guide lines remote from the start position are attached to corners A and B of a triangular frame 112. The triangular frame is pivotally mounted at its other corner at 114. The frame has an extension 116 from its pivot point connected to a spring 118.
If the projectile is struck off line, such as with a hook or a slice, the reciprocating element will tend to pull the guide lines to one side or the other. This will cause the triangular frame 112 to move to one side or the other about the pivot point 114. The pivot point can be provided with an encoder to detect the direction of deviation of the projectile (golf ball) from a desired direction of travel and the extent of such deviation. The results from the encoder may be displayed on suitable display means and with calibration can provide a realistic indication of the travel of the projectile. The spring 118 serves to urge the framework and hence the guide lines back to their start position and also provides resistance to the deviation of the guide lines as the reciprocating member travels along them after striking of the golf ball.
Turning to
The lines 202 and 204 carry the usual reciprocating element in sliding fashion, the element having a ball attached thereto as shown in earlier described embodiments. When the ball is struck the reciprocating element moves along the lines drawing them together, which pivots the bars 206 and 208 pulling their respective ends X and Y towards each other. Their opposite ends Z′ and Y′ consequently move apart and the ends of the wire 212 move oppositely pulling the movable pulley C towards the fixed pulleys against the action of the spring 214.
The pulleys A and B are provided with rotary encoders and suitable electrical circuitry to provide indications of their extents of rotation. Addition of the rotational movement of the pulleys A and B provides an indicating of the power of the strike on the ball and subtraction of the rotational movement of the pulleys A and B will indicate the direction and degree of deviation of movement of the ball from a straight line path between the guide lines. The power and direction information may be displayed on a suitable device and the device calibrated in order to provide realistic distance and deviation information.
Alternatively, the pulley C may be provided with both linear and rotational encoders. The linear encoder will measure the distance the pulley moves when the ball is struck and that will give an indication of power of the stroke. By calibration the power indication may be turned into a realistic distance of travel assuming that the ball had been struck without encumbrance of the apparatus itself.
The rotational encoder can provide an indication of whether there has been any sideways deviation imparted to the ball on being struck as well as the extent of such deviation.
Claims
1. A training aid comprising first and second spaced, substantially inextensible divergent guide lines lying in a substantially common plane, each substantially inextensible line being fixed at a first end and tensioned at a second end by elastically deformable tensioning means, a reciprocating element through opposite ends of which the substantially inextensible lines pass and a projectile attached to the reciprocating element.
2. A training aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inextensible lines are tensioned such that when the reciprocating element moves away from the fixed ends thereof on striking off the projectile, the lines exert a retarding force on the reciprocating element and then a returning force.
3. A training aid as claimed in claim 2, having restraining means for inhibiting rebound of the projectile away from a rest position.
4. A training aid as claimed in claim 3, wherein the restraining means for dissipating energy from the projectile as its moves into the vicinity of the rest position.
5. (canceled)
6. A training aid as claimed in claim 5 claim 1, wherein the projectile is a golf ball.
7. A training aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lines are fixed at one end using a hook and eye arrangement.
8. A training aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lines are fixed at one end using a pulley arrangement.
9. A training aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastically deformable tensioning means comprises a spring.
10. (canceled)
11. A training aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tension is in the elastically deformable tensioning means is adjustable.
12. A training aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide lines are connected to the elastically deformable tensioning means via pulleys.
13. (canceled)
14. A training aid as claimed in claim 13, wherein the resilient support member comprises one of more flexible rods made of a selected one of spring steel or carbon/glass fibre reinforced plastics.
15. (canceled)
16. A training aid as claimed in claim 14, wherein the angle of the or each rod is adjustable to pretension the guide lines.
17. A training aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reciprocating element comprises a substantially inextensible bar or tube having an aperture at each end, through which a guide line passes.
18. (canceled)
19. A training aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reciprocating element is a length of cord.
20. A training aid as claimed in claim 1 including a support frame for maintaining the inextensible lines in a desired relationship to one another and the user.
21. A training aid as claimed in claim 20, wherein the support fame comprises a u-shaped member and a leg extending therefrom.
22. A training aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide line are anchored to a tee plate connected to a foot plate.
23. (canceled)
24. A training aid as claimed in claim 4, wherein the restraining means comprises a resilient flap adapted to interfere with the projectile.
25. A training aid as claimed in claim 4, wherein the restraining means comprises a magnet adapted to attract a metallic reciprocating element.
26. A training aid as claimed in claim 1 having slidable element on one or both of the guide lines to indicate extent of travel of the reciprocating element.
27. A training aid capable of urging a projectile attached to a reciprocating element on a pair of guide lines towards or to return to a rest position after having been struck and restraining means for inhibiting rebound of the projectile away from the rest position, wherein the restraining means comprises means for dissipating energy from the projectile as it moves into the vicinity of the rest position.
28. A training aid as claimed in claim 27 having means for monitoring at least one of direction and/or and power of a strike on the projectile.
29. A training aid comprising a pair of spaced, divergent guide lines in a common plane, a reciprocating element slidable along the lines and carrying a projectile, wherein striking the projectile urges the reciprocating element along the lines draws the lines towards each other to generate a returning force to return the reciprocating element to its start position.
30. A training aid as claimed in claim 28, wherein the means for monitoring at least one of direction and/or and power comprises means for measuring at least one of extent and direction of movement of a component of the training aid acted upon by deviation of a guide line.
31. A training aid as claimed in claim 30, wherein said component is a pivotable member.
32. (canceled)
33. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 28, 2005
Publication Date: Feb 17, 2011
Inventor: Bruce Graham Westmoreland (Gwynedd)
Application Number: 11/587,603
International Classification: A63B 69/36 (20060101);