BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements.
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a golf-training balance board consistent with one embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are bottom perspective views of the golf-training balance board of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the golf-training balance board of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a user standing on the golf-training balance board of FIG. 1, with the balance board resting on a ground surface in a balanced position;
FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a user standing on the golf-training balance board of FIG. 1, with the user beginning to lean or otherwise shift the user's weight forward;
FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a user standing on the golf-training balance board of FIG. 1, with the user continuing to lean or otherwise shift the user's weight forward;
FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of a user standing on the golf-training balance board of FIG. 1, with the user leaning or otherwise shifting the user's weight rearward;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a user using the golf-training balance board of FIG. 1 at the address phase of the golf swing;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a user using the golf-training balance board of FIG. 1 at the follow-through phase of the golf swing;
FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of a golf-training balance board consistent with a first alternative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of a golf-training balance board consistent with a second alternative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of a golf-training balance board consistent with a third alternative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a side perspective view of a golf-training balance board consistent with a fourth alternative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a side perspective view of a golf-training balance board consistent with a fifth alternative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a bottom perspective view of a golf-training balance board consistent with a sixth alternative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view of a golf-training balance board consistent with a fifth alternative embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 18 is a graph illustrating weight distribution for a golf-training balance board consistent with embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1-4 illustrate views of an exemplary golf-training balance board 100 consistent with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of balance board 100. As shown, balance board 100 includes a body 111 that has an elongated, generally planar upper surface 101 adjacent to a pair of opposing elongated parallel planar sides 102 and a pair of opposing arcuate convex sides 103. Upper surface 101 has a modified rectangular profile defined by the interface between (i) upper surface 101 and (ii) both planar sides 102 and convex sides 103.
Upper surface 101 of body 111 also has a plurality of grooves 104 formed therein, over the majority of upper surface 101, defining a pair of non-slip regions 105 on which a user stands while using balance board 100, with one foot in each of non-slip regions 105. As shown, each non-slip region 105 includes two sets of parallel grooves 104, each set of grooves 104 formed in a different orientation. Thus, when a user stands on balance board 100 with the user's shoes contacting non-slip regions 105, grooves 104 of two different directions abut each of the user's shoes, to provide additional non-slip functionality.
Body 111 also has an aperture defining a carrying handle 106 formed therein, near one of elongated parallel planar sides 102.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate bottom perspective views of balance board 100, and FIG. 4 illustrates an end view of balance board 100. As shown, body 111 has a lower surface 107 having substantially the same modified rectangular profile as that of upper surface 101, since the profile of lower surface 107 is defined by the interface between (i) lower surface 107 and (ii) both planar sides 102 and convex sides 103. Lower surface 107 has a plurality of recesses 108 formed therein and arranged to maintain sufficient structural support for balance board 100, while reducing the overall weight of balance board 100 to facilitate portability and reduce manufacturing cost. Lower surface 107 also has a pair of parallel elongated rockers 109 formed thereon, which protrude from lower surface 107 near a central portion thereof and are arranged to be substantially parallel to parallel planar sides 102. Each rocker 109 has a curvilinear form, such as a truncated cylindrical form, with a substantially semicircular cross-section.
In one embodiment, body 111 has a thickness of approximately 1.38 inches, a width of approximately 10.83 inches at the widest portion of body 111, and a length of approximately 32.09 inches, and each rocker 109 is approximately 29.89 inches in length, approximately 0.86 inches in height, and approximately 2.11 inches wide, and rockers 109 are spaced approximately 0.5 inches apart from each other.
FIG. 5 illustrates a side perspective view of balance board 100 resting on a ground surface 110 in a balanced position, such that both rockers 109 contact ground surface 110, with a user standing on balance board 100. The position of balance board 100 shown in FIG. 5 is the balanced position that the user should attempt to maintain during use of balance board 100 for golf-swing training.
FIG. 6 illustrates the result of the user in FIG. 5 beginning to lean or otherwise shift the user's weight forward (i.e., towards the user's toes). As shown, balance board 100 begins to rotate on one rocker 109 in a counter-clockwise direction, while the other rocker 109 lifts completely off of ground surface 110, causing balance board 100 to begin to tilt forward. At this point, the user may be able to perceive the beginning of the forward-pivoting motion of balance board 100 as feedback, indicating that the user should shift the user's weight more rearward (i.e., towards the user's heels) to return to the balanced position shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 illustrates the result of the user in FIG. 6 continuing to lean or otherwise shift the user's weight forward, instead of returning to the balanced position shown in FIG. 5. As shown, balance board 100 continues to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction until lower surface 107 and/or planar side 102 contacts ground surface 110, which stops the rotation of balance board 100. At this point, the user is able to perceive as feedback that balance board 100 has pivoted forward (and the user's toes might even rise from and lose contact with balance board 100, as shown), indicating that the user should shift the user's weight more rearward to return to the balanced position shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 8 illustrates the result of the user in FIG. 5 leaning or otherwise shifting the user's weight rearward. As shown, balance board 100 rotates on one rocker 109 in a clockwise direction, while the other rocker 109 lifts completely off of ground surface 110, causing balance board 100 to begin to tilt rearward, until lower surface 107 and/or planar side 102 contacts ground surface 110, which stops the rotation of balance board 100. At this point, the user is able to perceive as feedback that balance board 100 has pivoted rearward (and the user's heels might even rise from and lose contact with balance board 100, as shown), indicating that the user should shift the user's weight more forward to return to the balanced position shown in FIG. 5.
During golf-swing training, balance board 100 can be used during all five phases of the swing: address, backswing, downswing, impact, and follow-through. To begin, the user places balance board 100 on a ground surface, such that elongated parallel planar sides 102 (and hence, rockers 109) are aligned with the target (e.g., the hole), such that planar sides 102 are parallel to the intended direction of travel of the ball. Although the following description includes the use of a ball, it should be recognized that balance board 100 can be used by a golfer to practice his or her swing either with or without hitting a ball. If a ball is used, then the ball can be placed either on a tee or directly on the ground. Since, due to its thickness and the height of rockers 109, balance board 100 may raise the height of the golfer slightly above the ground, a golfer using balance board 100 might compensate for the additional height, e.g., by (i) increasing the distance between the ball and the ground during practice with balance board 100 (e.g., using a tee of sufficient height), (ii) decreasing the distance between the ball and the golfer during practice with balance board 100, or (iii) recognizing the additional height during practice with balance board 100 and compensating manually during practice without balance board 100 or during actual game play.
FIG. 9 illustrates the use of balance board 100 at the address phase. The user stands on balance board 100 in an ordinary stance, with the user's club extended, to address the ball. In this stance, the user's body weight should be evenly distributed on both feet, and the user's knees should be relaxed or flexed to center the user's body weight over the user's feet. If the user's body weight is not properly centered (i.e., toe-to-heel) over the user's feet, balance board 100 will pivot either forward or rearward to indicate to the user that an adjustment should be made.
For a right-hand user, during the backswing (not shown), the club is drawn back to its highest point in the swing, and, although the user's body weight is shifted to the right foot, the user's weight should still remain centered over the user's feet, rather than forward or rearward, and balance board 100 will pivot either forward or rearward to indicate to the user that an adjustment should be made in this regard.
During the downswing (not shown), the right-handed user's weight is shifted to the left foot, while the user's knees, hips, and trunk all rotate together to the left. As during the address and backswing, the user's weight should still remain centered over the user's feet, rather than forward or rearward, and balance board 100 will pivot either forward or rearward to indicate to the user that an adjustment should be made in this regard.
During impact with the ball, the right-handed user's wrists and hands complete the acceleration of the club head as the club head makes contact with the ball, and the user's wrists unhinge in a whip-like motion as the user's right hand rotates over the left after the ball is hit. During this process, although the user's body weight shifts to the left, the user's weight should still remain centered over the user's feet, rather than forward or rearward, and balance board 100 will pivot either forward or rearward to indicate to the user that an adjustment should be made in this regard.
FIG. 10 illustrates the use of balance board 100 during the follow-through phase of the swing. After striking the ball, the club gradually decelerates during the follow-through. The right-handed user's body rotates to the left around the spine, the user's wrists rotate about each other to create a roll-over motion of the hands, and the user's hips and shoulders continue to rotate until the user's body is facing the target. During this process, the spine hyperextends, and the user's body weight completely shifts to the left side. Once again, although the user rotates to face the target, with the user's body weight shifting to the left, the user's weight should still remain centered over the user's feet, rather than forward or rearward, and balance board 100 will pivot either forward or rearward to indicate to the user that an adjustment should be made in this regard.
Using balance board 100, the user can choose to practice only one phase of the swing, more than one phase, or all phases of the swing, depending on the skill level of the user. The eventual goal of training using balance board 100 is for balance board 100 to remain in a balanced position, e.g., as shown in FIG. 5, during all five phases of the swing. Once the user has properly trained using balance board 100, the user will have developed and recognized the proper feel for a correct swing.
FIGS. 11-17 illustrate exemplary golf-training balance boards consistent with alternative embodiments of the present invention, which employ rockers having alternative numbers, configurations, curvatures, and/or cross sections.
FIG. 11 shows balance board 1100, which is similar to balance board 100 (of FIG. 1), except that only a single rocker 1109 is used. In this embodiment, maintaining a balanced position is more difficult and may involve a higher skill level for the user than balance board 100, because single-rocker balance board 1100 is less stable than dual-rocker balance board 100 and does not remain balanced as easily when resting on the ground.
FIG. 12 shows balance board 1200, which uses a single rocker 1209 and is similar to balance board 1100 (of FIG. 1), except that maintaining a balanced position is less difficult, because, as with balance board 100 (of FIG. 1), balance board 1200 easily remains balanced by itself when resting on the ground, due to the flat contour of the ground-contacting portion of rocker 1209.
FIG. 13 shows balance board 1300, which uses a single rocker 1309 and is similar to balance board 1100 (of FIG. 1). In this embodiment, maintaining a balanced position is even more difficult, because balance board 1300 cannot remain balanced by itself when resting on the ground, and further, because the pivoting of balance board 1300 is not gradual as in the cases of balance boards 100 (of FIG. 1), 1100, and 1200 (of FIG. 12), due to the triangular cross-section of rocker 1309.
FIG. 14 shows balance board 1400, which uses dual rockers 1409 and is similar to balance board 100 (of FIG. 1), except that rockers 1409 have a triangular cross-section. In this embodiment, maintaining a balanced position is of substantially the same difficulty as with balance board 100, because the contact of both rockers 1409 with the ground causes balance board 1400 to be relatively stable in a balanced position. However, once the user's weight begins to shift forward or rearward, it is more difficult for the user to return to a balanced position, because the pivoting of balance board 1400 is not gradual as in the cases of balance boards 100, 1100 (of FIG. 1), and 1200 (of FIG. 12).
FIG. 15 shows balance board 1500, which uses dual rockers 1509 and is similar to balance board 100 (of FIG. 1), except that maintaining a balanced position may be slightly less difficult, because, balance board 1500 easily remains balanced by itself when resting on the ground, due to the flat contour of the ground-contacting portions of rocker 1509.
FIG. 16 shows balance board 1600, which is similar to balance board 100 (of FIG. 1), except that balance board 1600 uses two sets of two rockers 1609, instead of a single set of rockers 109. The arrangement of balance board 1600 reduces weight and manufacturing cost and illustrates that it is not necessary to have a single pair of elongated rockers or a single elongated rocker spanning the length of a balance board.
FIG. 17 shows balance board 1700, which is similar to balance board 1600 (of FIG. 16), except that balance board 1700 uses rockers that are generally cylindrical and peg-like in form, with the face of the cylinders generally parallel to body 1711. This arrangement demonstrates that the ground-contacting surfaces of rockers in a golf-training balance board consistent with embodiments of the present invention can have a variety of different shapes, so long as there are four points of contact between the rocker(s) and a ground surface when weight is evenly distributed on the board, which points define the vertices of a rectilinear region of contact.
In FIG. 17, the free ends of each of the four rockers 1709 contact the ground and constitute the four points of contact that define region of contact 1750 (shown in dashed lines). In FIG. 16, each of the four rockers 1609 has at least one point of contact with the ground, and the four points of contact define region of contact 1650 (although the region of contact is not shown in FIG. 14, the four rockers 1409 define a region of contact in a similar manner to rockers 1609 of FIG. 16). In FIG. 2, each of the two rockers 109 has at least two points of contact, one at each end (i.e., the left and right ends) of the rocker, which define region of contact 150 (although the region of contact is not shown in FIG. 14, the two rockers 1409 of FIG. 14 define a region of contact in a similar manner to rockers 109 of FIG. 2, and the same is true for rockers 1509 of FIG. 15). In FIG. 12, the single rocker 1209 has at least four points of contact that define a rectilinear region of contact, which is the same as the contiguous rectilinear region at which rocker 1209 interfaces with a ground surface when in a balanced position. It is specifically noted, however, that the term “region of contact” does not necessarily mean a contiguous region at which the rocker(s) contact a ground surface at all locations within the region (as in FIG. 12) and can also include a region bounded by only four points that actually contact the ground surface (e.g., as in FIG. 17), two lines that actually contact the ground surface (e.g., as in FIG. 2), and so forth.
When a user stands on a balance board consistent with embodiments of the invention, the user's feet should overhang the region of contact, i.e., the toe-to-heel distance is greater than the distance between points of contact along the width of the board. Thus, a balance board consistent with embodiments of the present invention may be sized differently, and the rockers may be located differently, to accommodate users of different foot lengths. For example, children and other golfers with shorter foot lengths may be better suited with the rockers closer together, creating a region of contact having a reduced area.
FIG. 18 is a weight-distribution graph for a golf-training balance board consistent with embodiments of the present invention. The horizontal axis represents the length of the body from left to right, and the vertical axis represents the width of the body from front to rear. If, when a user stands on the board, weight is distributed evenly along both axes (as represented by origin 1800 of the graph), then the board is balanced. The board is also balanced if the user's weight is distributed front-to-rear within a given zone of stability (represented by shaded area 1810), regardless of how weight is distributed left-to-right. However, if the user's weight shifts forward beyond a given forward threshold (represented by dashed line 1820), then instability results, causing the board to tilt forward. Likewise, if the user's weight shifts rearward beyond a given rear threshold (represented by dashed line 1830), then instability results, causing the board to tilt rearward.
Thresholds 1820 and 1830 correspond with and are dependent on the locations of the rockers on the underside of the board. Having the rockers closer together along the width of the board reduces the area of the zone of stability, and thresholds 1820 and 1830 will be closer together. Likewise, having the rockers farther apart along the width of the board increases the area of the zone of stability, and thresholds 1820 and 1830 will be farther apart. In the balance boards of FIGS. 1 and 11-17, stability along the length of the board, i.e., from left to right, is always maintained, since the rockers inhibit the board from tilting left to right. This left-to-right stability is achieved by having the rockers disposed at or substantially near the left and right ends of the length of the board's body (e.g., at or near convex sides 103 of FIG. 1). Thus, the board is stable enough for a golfer to shift his or her weight from the golfer's left foot to the golfer's right foot and vice-versa, as naturally occurs during the swinging of a club, yet the board still permits the forward and rearward tilting that provides feedback to the golfer if the golfer improperly leans forward or rearward so that his or her weight is shifted outside the zone of stability.
In other words, the body of the board is supported in a balanced orientation if (a) the balance board is positioned with the (one or more) rockers in contact with a substantially horizontal ground surface and (b) force is applied (1) equally or unequally to the front and rear portions of the body up to a force-differential threshold value and (2) equally or unequally to the left and right portions of the body. The body is not supported in the balanced orientation if (a) the balance board is placed with at least one of the (one or more) rockers in contact with the substantially horizontal ground surface and (b) force is applied (1) unequally to the front and rear portions of the body greater than the force-differential threshold value and (2) equally or unequally to the left and right portions of the body.
A balance board consistent with embodiments of the present invention may be sized differently, and the rockers may be located differently, to accommodate users of different weights. For example, lighter golfers, such as some women and children, may be better suited with the rockers closer together, creating a zone of stability having a reduced area.
A golf-training balance board consistent with embodiments of the present invention is desirably constructed of a rigid material that can withstand the weight of a user and, in a preferred embodiment, is constructed from one or more molded plastics, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and/or polyurethane. Other suitable materials may include, e.g., other plastics, wood, metal, ceramic, stone, fiberglass, glass, concrete, brick, cement block, and combinations of any of the foregoing materials.
It should be understood that a golf-training balance board consistent with embodiments of the present invention can be used by both left-handed and right-handed golfers alike. Such a balance board can be used to train a golfer to align his or her golf swing along a certain axis or plane and to assist a golfer in balancing his or her golf swing. A golf-training balance board consistent with embodiments of the present invention also permits a golfer to practice his or her swing either with or without hitting a golf ball and can be used on a variety of indoor and outdoor surfaces, including grass, artificial turf, dirt, sand, clay, wood, rubber, and concrete. A golf-training balance board consistent with embodiments of the present invention can also be used for balance training with chipping, pitching, and putting clubs and is suitable for use on a golf course, not only on the fairway and greens, but also in sand traps and other hazard areas.
Advantageously, a golf-training balance board consistent with embodiments of the present invention permits a golfer to receive instant feedback based on the feel of his or her swing, while the club is being swung. Thus, once the balance board is placed on the ground and aligned with a target, the golfer does not need to lift his or her head to look in any particular direction, as in the case of prior-art devices that rely on a golfer's own visual acuity, and can keep his or head in a proper position facing down, fixed on the ball.
An exemplary method for practicing a golf swing consistent with one embodiment of the present invention involves the user standing on a balance board and performing at least a portion of the golf swing while standing on the balance board. If the user performs the portion of the golf swing while maintaining the user's front-to-rear weight distribution within a threshold range, then the balance board maintains a balanced orientation. If the user performs the portion of the golf swing without maintaining the user's front-to-rear weight distribution within the threshold range, then the balance board tilts either forward or rearward to indicate to the user that the user's front-to-rear weight distribution is outside the threshold range.
An exemplary method for teaching a golf swing to a user involves having the user stand on a balance board and having the user perform at least a portion of the golf swing while standing on the balance board. If the user performs the portion of the golf swing while maintaining the user's front-to-rear weight distribution within a threshold range, then the balance board maintains a balanced orientation. If the user performs the portion of the golf swing without maintaining the user's front-to-rear weight distribution within the threshold range, then the balance board tilts either forward or rearward to indicate to the user that the user's front-to-rear weight distribution is outside the threshold range.
In alternative embodiments of balance board 100, a carrying handle could be formed near a different one of elongated parallel planar sides 102 (or at some other location), or handles could be formed near both of elongated parallel planar sides 102.
A balance board consistent with embodiments of the present invention, as described herein, may have utility for applications and physical activities other than golf, and the use of such a balance board should not be construed as limited to golf-swing training.
It should be understood that the steps of the exemplary methods set forth herein are not necessarily required to be performed in the order described, and the order of the steps of such methods should be understood to be merely exemplary. Likewise, additional steps may be included in such methods, and certain steps may be omitted or combined, in methods consistent with various embodiments of the present invention.
Although the elements in the following method claims are recited in a particular sequence with corresponding labeling, unless the claim recitations otherwise imply a particular sequence for implementing some or all of those elements, those elements are not necessarily intended to be limited to being implemented in that particular sequence.
Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiments. The same applies to the term “implementation.”
It should be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.
Patent Application
20080020856
