Patent Application
20250153028
Golf is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit a ball into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible. Generally, players use two hands to hold a club while stroking the ball. As such, it can be difficult for players that have limited use of one arm (e.g., due to amputation, nerve damage, stroke, deformation) to play golf.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, a golf assist device is disclosed. The golf assist device includes a support assembly adapted to be supported on shoulders of a person and a strap assembly removably coupled to the support assembly. The strap assembly includes a strap configured to extend across a torso of the person and connector adapted to be engaged with a handle of a club and held by the person.
Referring to
As shown, the first belt 108 includes a first end portion 132 extending through the first opening 122 and arranged surrounding the first arm 114 and connected to the first arm 114, and a second end portion 134 extending through the second opening 124 and arranged surrounding the second arm 116 and connected to the second arm 116. Accordingly, the first belt 108 defines a loop shaped configuration having a first cavity 136 to receive a first shoulder of the person. In one embodiment, the first end portion 132 and/or the second end portion 134 are connected to the frame 106 to enable a variation in a size of the first cavity 136. For example, a buckle may be arranged at the first end portion 132 or the second end portion 134 to facilitate variation in the size of the first cavity 136. In one embodiment, a length of belt 108 is adjustable between 12 and 48 inches to accommodate various sizes of shoulders.
Similarly, the second belt 110 includes a first end portion 138 extending through the third opening 126 and arranged surrounding the third arm 118 and connected to the third arm 118, and a second end portion 140 extending through the fourth opening 128 and arranged surrounding the fourth arm 120 and connected to the fourth arm 120. Accordingly, the second belt 110 defines a loop shaped configuration having a second cavity 142 to receive a second shoulder of the person. In one embodiment, the first end portion 138 and/or the second end portion 140 are connected to the frame 106 to enable a variation in a size of the second cavity 142. For example, a buckle may be arranged at the first end portion 138 or the second end portion 140 to facilitate variation in the size of the second cavity 142. In one embodiment, a length of belt 110 is adjustable between 12 and 48 inches to accommodate various sizes of shoulders. The frame 106 is arranged on the back of the person when the belts 108, 110 are supported on the shoulders of the person.
The support assembly 102 further includes a connector 144 coupled to the first belt 108 to enable the removable engagement of the strap assembly 104 with the support assembly 102. As shown, the connector 144 includes a ring 146 attached to the first belt 108 and a pocket or loop structure 148 coupled to the ring 146.
As shown, the strap assembly 104 includes a strap 150 adapted to extend proximate a shoulder of the person, across a torso of the person and to a hand connected to an opposite shoulder of the person. The strap 150 includes a first end 152 and a second end 154. In the embodiment illustrated, a first connecting structure (e.g., a hook) 156 is arranged at the first end 152, and a second connecting structure (e.g., a looped cord) 158 is arranged at the second end 154 of the strap 150. As shown, the first connection structure 156 is removably arranged inside the pocket structure 148 of the connector 144 to connect the strap assembly 104 with the support assembly 102. Further, the second connection structure 158 is removably coupled to the strap 150 and configured to be arranged surrounding a handle of the club. During use, the second connection structure 158 is held or grasped between the hand of the person and the handle of the club to provide support for swinging a club. In one embodiment, a length of the second connection structure 158 is adjustable. In a further embodiment, the second connection structure 158 can be formed of an elastic or resilient cord. A length of the strap 150 from first end 152 to second end 154, in one embodiment, is approximately between 8 and 26 inches to accommodate various sizes of torsos. In one embodiment, a length of strap 150 (as measured from connection to belt 108 to a tip end of second connection structure 158) is less than a length of belt 108 (as measured from end 132 to end 134) or belt 110 (as measured from end 138 to end 140). In further embodiments, the length of strap 150 is approximately equal to (e.g., within +/−5%, 10%, 15%) a length of belt 108 or 110. In yet further embodiments, the length of strap 150 is less than at least 1.25, at least 1.5 and at least 1.75 times a length of belt 108 or belt 110. In further embodiments, the length of strap 150 is approximately 1 to 2 times the length of belt 108 or 110.
Second connecting structure 158 is removably engaged/coupled with the strap 150. To facilitate the removable engagement of the second connecting structure 158 with the strap 150 and the removable engagement of the second connecting structure 158 with the club, the second connecting structure 158 includes a first loop 162 and a second loop 160 separated from the first loop 162 by a knot. During use, the first loop 162 is engaged with the club, while the second loop 160 is removably engaged with a clip 164 connected with the strap assembly 104. As shown, the clip 164 is attached to the second end 154 of the strap 150.
To swing a club using device 100, the person engages the strap assembly 104 with the first belt 108 by inserting the first connecting structure 156 inside the pocket structure 148 of the connector 144. Thereafter, the person wears the device 100 by inserting the first shoulder inside the first cavity 136 and the second shoulder inside the second cavity 142. As a result, the first belt 108 is supported on the first shoulder and the second belt 110 is supported on the second shoulder with the frame 106 resting on the back of the person as illustrated in
Various embodiments of the invention have been described above for purposes of illustrating the details thereof and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The details and features of the disclosed embodiment[s] are not intended to be limiting, as many variations and modifications will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be interpreted broadly and to include all variations and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
