Golfer's audio aid swing trainer

Abstract

The Golfer's Audio Aid Swing Trainer is a training device that delivers prerecorded audio messages and signals designed to aid golfers in their tempo timing and rhythm during full swing and putting and also aids them in avoiding inappropriate head, shoulder and hip movements during full swing. These audio messages and signals can be erased by the user or their golf instructor enabling playback of a more customized message or signal to better match their optimal swing. The device attaches to the back strap of the golfer's cap or belt and when predetermined movements of the user's head, shoulder or hip occur a positional switch is activated and it in turn actuates the recorder to emit the message or signal that had been pre-selected via a selection switch. The device can also be used as a training aid in sports other than golf by attaching the audio aid to the limb of the user and have them throwing a baseball, a football or kicking a soccer ball or football.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to a training device that aids the golfer's tempo timing and rhythm for their full swing and putting strokes and in addition assists them in avoiding inappropriate head, shoulder and hip movements during full swing.

2. Description of Prior Art

Many golfers, particularly beginners, find it extremely difficult to develop the correct tempo timing and rhythm that results in an optimal golf swing. In addition they frequently have difficulty in controlling their head movement and dropping or dipping their shoulder and hip (rt. shoulder and hip for rt. handed golfers and left for left handed golfers) while swinging a golf club. Any excessive head movement, shoulder and hip drop or dipping, as well as poor tempo timing and rhythm, usually results in a missed or poorly hit ball. As a consequence, there has been a plethora of golf aids developed in an attempt to address these problems. These aids for the most part have either been too cumbersome, too costly or simply ineffective to be acceptable to the majority of golfers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,729,200 to Hines is a golf training device that detects any undesirable head movement of the player during his or her golf swing. It accomplishes this by having a flexible cord wound around a reel that is attached to a head peace worn by the golfer. The free end of the cord is secured to the golf ball by an adhesive. Any excessive head movement prior to ball strike results in displacement of the ball whereas in the absence of any excessive head movement contact may be made between the club and ball so that the ball will be released from the cord and assume its normal flight. The reel placed on the visor of the golfer's cap may be something of an encumbrance to some players. However, the major disadvantage of this device is the extreme care that must be required to make sure that the exact length and tension of the cord attached to the ball is precisely reproduced at each set up in order to detect any head movement prior to ball strike. This undoubtedly increases significantly the golfer's set up time in addressing the ball after each shot making the device somewhat impractical for most players. U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,830 to Hines provides an audio signal to a user indicative of the user's head and shoulders achieving a predetermined relative orientation. In one embodiment a sensing wire or electrode is secured to the cap or head band of the user and when that electrode makes contact with a shoulder supported sensing wire an audible signal is activated. It's not likely that many golfers are going to want to wear a vertical sensing wire attached to their shoulder at either a driving range or golf course. An alternative embodiment utilizes a reed switch connected to the cap or head band which activates an audible signal when it moves past magnetic devices secured to the user's collar or shoulder. This device does provide auditory feedback that enables the user to perceive the relative position of their shoulder to their head principally at the top of their back swing and at the completion of their follow through. Though, this is of some benefit as a training aid it fails to detect undesired head movement that may occur during the remaining duration of their golf swing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,166 to Emerson is a golf training device that activates an audible alarm if the golfer's head moves during their golf swing before the ball is struck. A microphone which is attached to the golfer's cap and aimed at the golf ball to be struck picks up the sound of the golf club striking the ball and actuates an inhibitor switch which prevents the alarm from being sounded. Though the microphone serves a critical function in this training device it could be something of an encumbrance by being attached to the very end of the player's visor. U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,870 to Bedney is another golf device designed to detect head motion. It attempts to accomplish this by attaching a rigid elongated rod to a golfer's head band. The terminal end of the rod is bent downward thereby providing visibility of that end to the golfer to indicate motion of his or her head when swinging the golf club. Considering the length of the rod its likely to be too much of an encumbrance for most golfers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,902 to Federowicz provides the means for detecting head motion in the form of an audible signal indicating to the golfer that their head is beginning to rotate in the direction that the golf ball is being hit. This device by attaching to the side of the user's ear represents the least encumbrance of all of the patents cited thus far. However, it does very much resemble a hearing aid and as such may deter some golfers from using it. U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,084 to Marsh utilizes infrared sensors and transmitters along with a reflector attached to the distal end of the golf club to measure and display tempo and club head speed. To determine tempo, a measurement is made of the time interval between the time the club head is drawn away from the ball to the time immediately prior to impact with the ball. Club head speed is measured as the club head passes between two infrared beams. Both measurements are displayed on an LCD screen. Though these measurements are of importance to the golfer this system does not provide simultaneous feedback to aid the golfer in achieving his or her optimal golf swing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,887 to Baldwin is a device that is worn on the golfer's head and provides a visual guide which aids a user to strike a golf ball in a predetermined manner. The fact that it comprises an elongated frame that extends down from both sides of the user's head makes it quite an encumbrance and not likely to be acceptable to most if not all golfer's on the driving range or golf course. U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,344 to Smith is a golf training aid that gives the golfer a multi sensory experience by providing sound, smell and a visual means of how the club struck the ball at impact. This is accomplished by attaching small explosive cap strips to the club head. The golfer can visually determine where the ball impacted the club head by removing the strips after the shots have been taken. The golfer also hears the explosion at the time of impact and also experiences the olfactory response from the cap exploding. Though, this invention provides the golfer with multi sensory feedback it is not likely to be used on a driving range where others nearby may not appreciate the sounds or smells being emitted from such a device. U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,245 to Mullarky is a laser beam device that is attached to the brim of the golfer's hat and is adjusted to project the laser light onto the golf ball. It enables the golfer to easily ascertain whether there is unwanted head movement during the golf swing. This invention is commendable but it only addresses one fault, unwanted head movement whereas the invention presented in this application takes into account tempo timing and rhythm for the full swing and putting strokes plus shoulder and hip dipping as well as unwanted head movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a re-recordable audio delivery message system related to golf as well as other sports. The device attaches to the back strap of a golfer's cap as well as their belt and enables the individual golfer to elicit pre-recorded embedded audio messages or signals. It also provides the means by which a golf instructor can erase the embedded messages and record his or her own messages that can then be played back aiding the golfer in eliciting their optimal full swing or putting stroke. The tempo timer and rhythm full swing audio message favored by some golf instructors is a multi syllable name while for putting it's just the numerals one and two or the tick tock recording of a metronome. Playback for either of these messages is elicited by activating a positional switch with slight rotation of the head opposite in direction of the target line. In addition to these two audio messages a third message may be employed that aids the golfer in avoiding excessive head movement during his or her swing. It can be in the form of a recorded verbal beep or the actual sound of a beeper. Playback for this third message is elicited by activating the positional switch when the head rotates in the direction of the target line before or right at ball strike. This golf aid is comprised of batteries, an off and on switch, a positional switch, a selection switch, a speaker, a printed circuit board and a recorder. All of these contents are housed in a small round plastic case. On the back of the plastic case is a clip on mount that allows the device to be secured to the back strap of the golfer's cap and/or their belt. The swivel connect between the case and the plastic clip on allows for clockwise or counter clockwise rotation as well as angular displacement of the case enabling precise adjustments of the positional switch so that a predetermined head movement causes it to actuate the playback recording at the most appropriate time. In addition to golf this audio aid can be easily adopted to be used in a number of other sports. By attaching an adjusting the audio aid to a strap around an arm or a leg the audio signal or message can be actuated when the limb reaches a predetermined position that for example augments a more perfect throw of a baseball or a football or a more perfect kick of a soccer ball or football.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Objects and advantages of the present invention are:

• (a) to provide an inexpensive small, compact and unobtrusive golf aid for the purpose of helping a golfer develop the correct tempo timing and rhythm for their full swing.
• (b) to provide an inexpensive small, compact and unobtrusive golf aid for the purpose of helping a golfer develop the correct tempo timing and rhythm for their putting stroke
• (c) to provide an inexpensive small, compact and unobtrusive golf aid for the purpose of aiding the golfer in avoiding inappropriate head movement during their full swing which so often results in a miss hit ball.
• (d) to provide a choice of audio messages for the tempo timing and rhythm which enables the instructor and/or the individual golfer to record and playback the audio message that best matches his or her optimal golf swing.
• (e) to provide an audio signal that alerts the golfer to the fact that he or she has moved their head inappropriately either prior to or right at ball strike.
• (f) to provide an audio signal that alerts the golfer to the fact that he or she has moved their shoulder and or hip inappropriately causing chunking which occurs when the club head strikes the ground behind the golf ball.
• (g) to provide an inconspicuous golf aid that can be easily attached and detached from the back strap of the golfer's cap.
• (h) to provide a golf aid that can be carried in the golfer's pocket or golf bag and used for practicing in a variety of locations such as the driving range, the golf course or one's own living room or back yard.
• (i) to provide an audio training aid that can be utilized in a variety of sport activities such as throwing a ball in baseball, throwing a pass in football and kicking a soccer ball in soccer.

Additional objects and advantages of this small and unobtrusive golf device will be made apparent from the ensuing description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the golf aid attached to the back strap of a golfer's cap

FIG. 2 is a combined frontal and side view of the golf aid.

FIG. 3 is a combined posterior and side view of the golf aid.

FIG. 4 is a full side view of the golf aid.

FIG. 5 is a full side view of the golf aid showing the plastic rod swivel/tilt connect between the plastic clip-on and the golf aid case.

FIG. 6 is an inside view of the golf aid.

FIG. 7 is a simplifide diagram of the golf aid.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the golf aid

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

• 1. Golf aid case
• 2. Back strap of golf cap
• 3. Plastic clip-on
• 4. Plastic speaker cover
• 5. a. Plastic stop for rt. handed golfer
  • b. Plastic stop for left handed golfer
• 6. Swivel stop (clockwise for 5a; counter clockwise for 5b)
• 7. Plastic rod swivel/tilt connect
• 8. Batteries (a,b,c,d)
• 9. Microphone
• 10. Record or erase button
• 11. On/off switch for playback of recorded message
• 12. Positional switch
• 13. Micro controller chip
• 14. LED Recording light
• 15. Speaker
• 16. Selection switch

DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1 TO 7

Referring to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7. FIG. 1 shows the golf aid case 1 attached to the back strap 2 of the golfer's cap. FIG. 2 includes the plastic clip-on 3 and the speaker cover 4. It also shows the plastic stops 5a and 5b for the rt. handed and left handed golfers respectively as well as the selection switch 16. Another embodiment is the swivel connect 7 which holds the golf aid case and the plastic clip-on piece together. FIG. 5 shows the plastic rod swivel/tilt connect 7 between the golf aid case land the plastic clip-on 3 that allows for fine one handed adjustments in rotation and angular tilt of the golf case 1 while attached to the back strap 2 of the golfer's cap. This enables the golfer to obtain the exact amount of head rotation that they want to actuate the positional switch 12. It is this predetermined head movement that then elicits the prerecorded audio message or signal. The full swing tempo timing and rhythm as well as the putting stroke audio messages are actuated by a slight head rotation to the right (for the rt. handed golfer and just the reverse for the left handed golfer). The audio message for avoiding excessive head movement during full swing is actuated by rotating the head to the left (for the rt. handed golfer and just the reverse for the left handed golfer). FIG. 6 reveals the following contents of the golf aid case 1; batteries 8(a,b,c,d), a microphone 9, a record or erase button 10, an on/off switch 11, a positional switch 12, a micro controller chip 13, and an LED recording light 14. The speaker 15, micro controller (memory) chip 13, positional switch 12 and batteries 8 are included in the diagram shown in FIG. 7.

Claims

1. An audio aid swing trainer comprising a case, means for attaching said case direct or indirectly to a user's body, a swivel connect connecting said means for attaching is a clip between said means for attaching said case, said case containing means for for recording and playing at least one audio message or signal, a positional switch for activating said at least one audio message or signal at a predetermined position, means and a selector switch for selecting the message or signal to be activated.

2. The audio aid swing trainer device of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching is a clip for attaching said case to the back strap of a golfer's cap or belt.

3. The audio aid swing trainer device of claim 1 wherein said case contains a clip for attaching said case to a strap wrapped around a non-golfer user's arm or leg.

4. The audio aid swing trainer device of claim 1 wherein said case contains means for separately recording and playing at least one or two audio messages and at least one to two audio signals and the positional switch contains means for separately activating at least three of said messages.

5. The audio aid swing trainer device of claim 1 wherein said audio message is a two to seven syllable name actuated via said positional switch when the head rotates in the direction opposite to which the ball is to be hit.

6. The audio swing trainer device of claim 1 containing said means for emitting an audible signal wherein said signal is a beep actuated via said positional switch when the head rotates in the direction to which the ball is hit prior to ball strike during full swing.

7. The audio aid swing trainer device of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching is a clip to a golfer's belt containing said means for emitting an audible signal wherein said signal is a beep actuated via said positional switch when the golfer's shoulder and or hip dips down during full swing.

8. The audio aid swing trainer device of claim 1 wherein said audible signal is a metronome tick, tock sound or instead an audible voice message comprised of numbers one, two.

9. The audio aid swing trainer device of claim 1 and 5 wherein said audio message is the two to seven syllable name is erased and replaced with the golfer's or golf instructor's favorite swing thought such as “relax” or “rip it,” etc.

10. The audio aid swing trainer device of claim 1 wherein said case, a clip for attaching said case to a strap around the upper or lower limb of a non-golfing user emits an audible or voice message at a pre-determined position of the limb while performing a particular physical or athletic movement such as throwing a baseball, a football or kicking a soccer ball or a football.