Racket Grip Reference Point Trainer

Abstract

An attachment to the handle of a racket that tactically indicates to a player whether his/her hand has properly gripped the handle of a racket for a desired tennis stroke (e.g., forehand, backhand, etc.). The attachment is a band composed of rubber or a similar elastic material positioned around of the racket handle positioned such that the outer edge of the player's hand and smallest finger of the hand (also known as the “pinky” finger) rest on top of the band. The band further includes two “ridges” circumferentially equidistant from each other on the circular wrap, each protruding from the exterior the band to provide a surface against which the end of the player's finger will abut to provide a tactile stopping point for the player's hand when rotating the racket handle so as to achieve consistent hand placement for a designated grip as the player transitions from one grip to another during play.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/384,910, filed 8 Sep. 2016.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB)

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tennis is a very popular sport played around the world by people of all ages. In order to become a skilled tennis player, it is necessary to learn a variety of tennis racket grip types. Different grips are typically used for various types of tennis strokes, such as forehands, backhands, volleys, serves, etc. The type of tennis racket grip used directly affects and controls the angle of the racket during the player's stroke, which, in turn, controls the direction and spin of the tennis ball during play.

The term “grip” is used to define both the covered handle portion of the tennis racket, and the manner in which the player wraps one or both hands about the racket handle to hold onto the racket during play. How the player holds the racket determines the angle of the racket face and defines how the strings of the racket contact the tennis ball during a swing or stroke. Further, it is critically important for players to grip the racket consistently for each of these strokes so as to create consistent contact points and angles between the racket and the ball. Better consistency helps to improve a player's performance.

This invention relates to training devices designed to be applied to rackets, such as tennis rackets, and similar sporting objects having or not having strings used to strike a ball, such as paddles, mallets, etc. to ensure that the player has properly gripped the handle thereof for a designated stroke to obtain the proper angle of the racket face when contacting the ball. More particularly, this invention relates to a tactile tennis trainer that provides a tactual indication to the tennis player when the handle of the tennis racket is properly gripped and oriented for the desired grip associated with a certain type of stroke during play.

Many training aids that exist today are designed to decrease the time needed for a player to become proficient in the game of tennis. These aids attempt to help players improve their swinging motion or to teach players how to properly grip the racket. Unfortunately, many of these devices involving accessories for the hand, wrist and forearm are generally usable for training only and are not feasibly used during normal tennis match play where the player must utilize alternating strokes and rotate the racket to different positions frequently and repeatedly. Such training devices available today involve bands, straps or other materials that extend from the racket to the player's arm, which are cumbersome or unfeasible for normal play. Other devices are items that attach directly to the racket grip but protrude significantly and obstructively from the racket grip, inhibiting a player's ability to rotate the racket grip in an unencumbered manner. Other devices secure the hand in one place firmly against the grip, also making them unfeasible as they inhibit free rotation of the grip. Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus that overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the prior art devices and provides an improvement that is a significant contribution to the training device art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a training device that eliminates the need for visually inspecting whether the player has properly gripped the handle for the desired grip associated with a certain type of stroke.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis racket trainer that provides a tactual indication to the tennis player as to whether the handle of the tennis racket is properly gripped and oriented for the designated grip associated with a certain type of forehand, backhand, volley or other type of stroke. Further, the invention has two points of tactile indication so that the player may use either side of the tennis racket during play and achieve the same result to locate the proper grip.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a removable accessory for the handle of the racket that may be applied without tools or defacement of the handle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis trainer that does not interfere with the stroking of the tennis racket during normal play.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis trainer that may be used with any desired grip position that the player prefers (e.g., positioned to provide tactile indication to the player for a “continental” grip, “eastern” grip, “western” grip, etc., some of the common grips used by tennis players today).

Another object of this invention is to provide a grip training device that is easily attached to existing tennis rackets and then removed therefrom after the player has become sufficiently proficient at the game and therefore no longer needs the assistance of the grip training device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a grip training device that is economically manufactured and is sufficiently durable to withstand the rigors of game play.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a compact smooth attachment not having a bulky configuration with hard or sharp edges that could cause injury to a player.

The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description describing the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a removable tactile tennis trainer that is circumferentially applied at or near the bottom of the handle of a tennis racket or similar handle portion of a sporting device (e.g., paddle, mallet, etc.). The grip training device functions to provide a dual-point tactual indication to the tennis player as to whether the tennis player has properly gripped the handle of the tennis racket for the desired stroke. More particularly, the tennis trainer comprises a band with two ridges located equidistant from each other, each protruding from the exterior surface of the band and acting as a tactile physical stop for the end of a player's finger as the racket is rotated among various types of grips used during play. The circular band may be positioned around the tennis racket handle so that the ridges are located directly across from each other (i.e., 180 degrees apart) at any point on any of the bevels of the racket handle. This dual-positioning and equidistant spacing allows for the trainer to be utilized for that designated grip when either side of the racket is being used during play.

An object of this invention to provide an apparatus that overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the prior art devices and provides an improvement that is a significant contribution to the training device art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a training device that eliminates the need for visually inspecting whether the player has properly gripped the handle for the desired grip associated with a certain type of stroke.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis racket trainer that provides a tactual indication to the tennis player as to whether the handle of the tennis racket is properly gripped and oriented for the desired grip associated with a certain type of stroke. Further, the invention has two points of tactile indication so that the player may use either side of the tennis racket during play and achieve the same result to locate the proper grip.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a removable attachment for the handle of a tennis racket that may be applied without tools or defacement of the handle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis racket trainer that provides a tactual indication to the tennis player as to whether the handle of the tennis racket is properly gripped and oriented for the desired grip associated with a designated type of stroke.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis trainer which does not interfere with the stroking of the tennis racket during normal play.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis trainer that may be used with any desired grip position that the player prefers (e.g., positioned for a “continental” grip, “eastern” grip, “western” grip, etc.)

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis trainer which may easily attached to existing tennis rackets and then removed therefrom after the tennis player has become sufficiently proficient at the game and therefore no longer needs the assistance of the tennis trainer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis trainer which is economically manufactured and is sufficiently durable to withstand the rigors of the game of tennis.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a compact smooth attachment not having a bulky configuration with hard or sharp edges that could cause injury to a player.

The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description describing the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, one should reference the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are an illustrations of the invention installed on or near the bottom portion of the handle of a tennis racket;

FIG. 2 is a closer view of FIG. 1 and illustrates an example of the proper positioning of the invention on the handle and shows the ridges of the device protruding further from the exterior surface of the band and positioned opposite each other on the handle;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the bottom of the handle of the racket (also called the “end-cap”) and illustrates the invention applied above the end-cap; the ridges of the invention are shown protruding from the exterior surface of the device; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration from the bottom of the racket showing a person's hand gripping the racket with the invention applied to the racket handle; the end of the pinky finger of the hand is abutting one of the two ridges of the invention to demonstrate placement to use the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a view of a tennis racket 10 with the invention shown as applied on the racket handle 12 on or near the bottommost end (also called end-cap) 14 of the handle 12. Basically, the invention is composed of a band 16 of varying widths, thicknesses and diameters that is made of elastic material such as rubber, silicone or similar materials and can be easily applied and removed from the racket by stretching and applying over the end-cap 14 of the racket handle 12.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, included on the band 16 at two points equidistant from each other on the circular band are “ridges” 18 that protrude from the exterior surface of the band and act as a tactile physical stop for a player's pinky finger 20 as the racket is rotated among various types of grips during play. When the invention is applied and the hand grips the racket handle, the pinky finger 20 and the outer edge of the hand 22 (specifically, the region including the Musculus abductor digiti minimi muscle of the hand) lay on top of the invention, and the end of the pinky finger abuts to one of the two ridges 18. The band 16 may be positioned around the tennis racket handle so that the ridges 18 are located directly across from each other at any point on any of the handle's bevels 26, which are the generally flat sides of the industry-standard octagonal-shaped racket handle. The ability to rotate the device to be situated in any position around the racket handle allows the invention to be utilized for any type of designated grip that the player desires, and the dual-positioning of the ridges equidistant from each other on the band 16 allows for utilization if the device when either side of the tennis racket is being used during play.

The circular, elastic band 16 is typically produced by conventional extrusion or injection molding techniques with tooling designed to accommodate many varieties of sizes, textures and colors depending on user preferences. The band 16 is produced in different diameter sizes to generally fit standard-sized tennis racket handle grip sizes produced in the industry for rackets used by children and adults. The band 16 must be small enough in diameter to ensure that it creates a tight fit over handle so as to not rotate or slide during the rigors of play. The “ridges” 18 are designed to be thick enough and of sufficient height from the exterior of the band 16 that they can still be felt by the player when a standard “overwrap” grip is applied over the invention.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Now that the invention has been described,

Claims

1. A grip training device for tennis rackets or other sporting objects for use by players to position the hand at a designated point on the racket handle when gripped, with said device comprising; a band or wrap produced from relatively elastic materials in varying widths and diameters that encircles the handle of a tennis racket or other sporting objects, with said band containing two externally protruding ridges located circumferentially equidistant from each other with each ridge used by the player to abut the end of the finger during play to establish a tactile point of reference for desired hand positioning when gripping the racket;