Patent Application
20240335719
The present teachings generally relate to a training aid, and more particularly, a training aid adapted for rackets used in recreational sports.
Recreational sports utilizing a racket have become increasingly popular in recent time. Such sports may include tennis, pickleball, racquetball, squash, badminton, and other similar sports. In each case, a user may often be required to swing a racket and make contact with a ball or secondary object to play the sport properly.
Often, users of the various rackets may have improper swing technique, resulting in accidental mishits or inaccurate play. As a result, users may be unable to sufficiently play the recreational sport at a desired skill level. Similarly, both new and seasoned players of such sports may often have a desired to practice and form better technique for a variety of swing motions, such as a forehand swing, backhand swing, and serve. However, without potentially expensive training by a certified instruction that may require extensive practice time, users are often left with no economical way to improve.
Thus, there remains a need for a more economical swing training. What is needed is a training aid that may be utilized with a racket to maintain a desired swing path for the user. Additionally, there remains a need for a training aid that may help maintain a desired swing path for the user without obstructing a swinging motion of the user. Thus, what is needed is a training aid that may be secured to a user's body without obstructing and restricting arm movement. Furthermore, there remains a need for a swing training aid that may be easily adapted for users of varying skill levels. As such, what is needed is an interchangeable training aid adapted to maintain various swing paths depending on the user's desired swing technique requiring training.
The present teachings meet one or more of the present needs by providing a training aid configured to control a swing path of a racket swung by a user. The training aid may include a body surface configured to contact a body of the user. The training aid may include an arm surface configured to contact an arm of the user. The arm surface may be connected to the body surface by a chamfered edge therebetween. The training aid may be configured to be secured to the body of the user to maintain a position of the training aid during user.
An angle formed between the body surface and the arm surface may be in a range of about 45 degrees to about 60 degrees and the training aid may be configured for a forehand swing. An angle formed between the body surface and the arm surface may be in a range of about 20 degrees to about 35 degrees and the training aid may be configured for a backhand swing.
A first end of the body surface and a first end of the arm surface may be connected by the chamfered edge, and a second end of the body surface may be connected to a second end of the arm surface by a bottom surface that is a substantially planar surface. The body surface and the arm surface may both be substantially planar surfaces.
The training aid may be configured to be secured to a body of the user by a body strap extending around a torso of the user. The training aid may include a patch that mechanically engages the body strap. The patch and the body strap may include complimentary hook and loop fasteners to engage one another. The patch may be located along the body surface of the training.
The body strap may include a training aid strap that is wrapped around at least a portion of the training aid to secure the training aid to the body of the user via the body strap. The training aid may include a slot or a channel that receives a portion of the body strap. The slot or the channel may include a contact surface that contacts the portion of the body strap, whereby the contact surface may be substantially parallel to the body surface. The training aid may include a channel located within confines of the training aid formed by an outer perimeter of the training aid, whereby the channel may be free of contact with the body surface, the arm surface, and the bottom surface.
The training aid may include a slot extending inwardly from the bottom surface towards a central region of the training aid. The slot may be free of contact with the body surface and the arm surface. The slot may include a notch, and the contact surface may be located within the notch.
A width of the training aid strap may be less than a width of the body strip. Additionally, the training aid may be moisture resistant, moisture wicking, or both. The body surface, the arm surface, and the bottom surface may be interconnected by one or more faces of the training aid. The one or more faces of the training aid may be substantially planar surfaces that are adapted to be free of contact with the user during use of the training aid.
The present teachings meet one or more of the present needs by providing: a more economical swing training; a training aid that may be utilized with a racket to maintain a desired swing path for the user; a training aid that may help maintain a desired swing path for the user without obstructing a swinging motion of the user; a training aid that may be secured to a user's body without obstructing and restricting arm movement; a swing training aid that may be easily adapted for users of varying skill levels; an interchangeable training aid adapted to maintain various swing paths depending on the user's desired swing technique requiring training; or a combination thereof.
The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles, and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply the teachings in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodiments of the present teachings as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as will be gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into this written description.
The present teachings generally relate to a training aid. In particular, the training aid may be configured to establish proper form of a user's swing during use. The training aid may be configured for use with recreational sports' rackets, such as but not limited to, tennis, racquetball, squash, badminton, pickleball, or a combination thereof. Advantageously, the training aid may be adapted to engage a user's body so that a swing path formed between the user's arm and the user's torso may be dictated by a shape of the training aid.
The training aid may be configured to be positioned between a user's torso and a user's arm. For example, the training aid may be secured to a user's torso along their ribcage or side so that the user's arm may rest along the training aid. In other words, the training aid may prevent the user's arm from naturally resting along the side of the user and contact both the user's arm and the user's torso to maintain a gap therebetween. Such a gap may maintain the proper swing path of the user when utilizing the training aid with a racket.
The training aid may vary in size and/or shape depending on the type of swing being trained. For example, the training aid may be designed specifically for a forehand, backhand, serve, or a combination thereof. As a result, the training aid may provide a training system in which various training aids may be interchangeable to provide different proper swing paths for each of the swing types. To provide such variance, the training aids may form different angles between the user's arm and torso.
The training aid may include a body surface and an arm surface. The body surface may be configured to contact the body (e.g., torso) of the user. The arm surface may be configured to contact the arm of the user. As a result, the body surface and the arm surface may form an angle to dictate positioning of the user's arm during use. The angle formed between the arm surface and the body surface may be about 20 degrees or more, about 45 degrees or more, or about 60 degrees or more. The angle formed between the arm surface and the body surface may be about 115 degrees or less, about 80 degrees or less, or about 65 degrees or less. However, the angle may be modified based upon the user. For example, the training aid may vary in dimensions for a youth size and an adult size.
As discussed above, the angle formed between the arm surface and the body surface may dictate a proper swing path for a variety of swing techniques (e.g., forehand, backhand, serve, volley, etc.). As a result, certain angles or angle ranges between the arm surface and the body surface may correspond to specific swing techniques. For example, a forehand may utilize a training aid having a range of about 45 degrees to about 60 degrees while a backhand may utilize a training aid having a range of about 20 degrees to about 35 degrees between the arm surface and the body surface. Similarly, a serve may utilize a training aid having a range of about 75 degrees to about 110 degrees between the arm surface and the body surface. However, such ranges may vary for different swing techniques, different user statures (e.g., youth versus adult), or both.
The training aid may be hollow or it may solid. The training aid may be formed by a plurality of surfaces (e.g., body surface, arm surface, etc.), including one or more faces connecting the surfaces. While some surfaces of the training aid may be configured to contact a user, such as the body surface and the arm surface, other surfaces may be configured to be free of contact with the user. For example, a bottom surface of the training aid may extend substantially between the body and the arm of a user while being free of contact with the user. The bottom surface may form a surface that is substantially parallel to the ground before or during use of the training aid. However, such positioning is not limiting.
The training aid may be compressible to provide forgiveness during use. That is, while an angle may be dictated by the training aid for a user's swing, the training aid may at least partially compress to vary that angle within a desired range to provide a less rigid training structure. However, in some instances, the training aid may be substantially rigid to prevent such compression and further restrict an angle of swing of the user.
The training aid may be made from any suitable material. For example, the training aid may be a composite material, a polymer, a foam, or a combination thereof. The training aid may be a high-density foam, a closed cell foam, a charcoal foam, a polyurethane foam, a latex foam, or a combination thereof. The training aid may be rubberized. However, it should be noted that the training aid may be made from a variety of materials. It is envisioned that the material selected may be lightweight to secure to a user without significant encumbrance.
The training aid may be antimicrobial. The training aid may be antifungal. The training aid may be moisture resistance. The training aid may be ultraviolet (UV) resistant. The training aid may be adapted for use during physical assertion. Accordingly, the training aid may be anti-abrasive in regions of contact between the user and the training aid.
The training aid may be configured to be secured to a user's body. Training aid may be strapped to the user's body using one or more straps, one or more belts, one or more cords, one or more ropes, or a combination thereof. Similarly, the training aid may be strapped to a user's arm in certain configurations. The training aid may be used in conjunction with one or more attachment mechanisms that aid with securing the training aid to the user. The attachment mechanisms may be a strap, belt, vest, other article of clothing, loop, buckle, or a combination thereof that is initially secured to the user. As a result, the training aid may then be secured to the attachment mechanism, either directly or indirectly, for proper positioning on the user.
To facilitate such attachment, the training aid may include one or more features that allow for mechanical attachment to the attachment means located on the user. It is envisioned that attachment may be removably done between the attachment means and the training aid. However, in certain configurations, the training aid may be fixed to the attachment means so that, when the attachment means are secured to the user, the training is also secured to the user.
The one or more features of the training aid that may couple to the attachment means may be a patch, fastener, loop, finger, clasp, other mechanical fastener, or a combination thereof. For example, the training aid may include a region that includes a hook and loop fastener that corresponds to a hook and loop fastener region along a strap wrapped around a user.
The training aid may also include one or more slots, notches, grooves, holes, or a combination thereof that receive a portion of the attachment means for securing the training aid to the user. Such slots, notches, grooves, holes, or a combination thereof may be positioned anywhere along the training aid to ensure proper positioning of the training aid once secured to the user. As such, it may be gleaned from the present teachings that a variety of attachment techniques may be utilized to position the training aid in an ideal position along the user's body. Additionally, such positioning may be adjustable to accommodate users of different stature (e.g., height, weight, physique, body shape, etc.).
The training aid may include one or more images or stamps disposed on a surface of the training aid. The images or stamps may be visual instructions or examples, textual instructions or examples, or both. As a result, the training aid may advantageously incorporate operating instructions or sample techniques directly into the training aid itself without the need for additional literature.
Turning now to the figures,
The training aid 10 may include a body surface 12. The body surface 12 may be adapted to contact the body of a user, such as along their torso. The body surface 12 may also be connected to an arm surface 14. The arm surface 14 may be adapted to contact a portion of a user's arm during use of the training aid 10. As a result, it is envisioned that the training aid 10 may be positioned between under the arm of the user used for swinging the racket so that the training aid 10 is sandwiched between the arm and the torso of the user. As a result, an angle formed by the body surface 12 and the arm surface 14 may control an angle between the arm and torso of the user. Thus, the training aid 10 may beneficially maintain a constant, optimal angle between the arm and the torso of the user to ensure proper form when swinging the racket. It should also be noted that the angle between the body surface 12 and the arm surface 14 may be adjusted to meet various ideal angles depending on the swing, as discussed in further detail below.
The body surface 12 and the arm 14 surface may each be a substantially planar surface interconnected by a chamfered edge 18. For example, a first end of the body surface 12 and a first end of the arm surface 14 may be connected by the chamfered edge 18, whereby the chamfered edge 18 may have any desired radius or radii of curvature to ensure comfortable engagement between the user and the training aid 10. For example, the chamfered edge 18 may eliminate an otherwise pointed corner connecting the body surface 12 and the arm surface 14 to avoid unwanted or uncomfortable contact between such a pointed corner and a user.
Similarly, an opposing second end of the body surface 12 and an opposing second end of the arm surface 14 may be connected by a bottom surface 16 of the training aid 10. As can be seen in
The body surface 12, the arm surface 14, and the bottom surface 16 may form an outer perimeter of the training aid 10. Similarly, one or more faces 54 of the training aid may extend between the body surface 12, the arm surface 14, and the bottom surface 16 to establish an overall shape and outer surface of the training aid 10. The one or more faces 54 may be substantially planar or may include curvature. However, it is envisioned that the one or more faces 54 may be free of contact with the user during use of the training aid 10.
Additionally, the training aid 10 may include a slot 20 extending inwardly into the confines of the training aid 10. The slot 20 may extend from, and include an opening along, the bottom surface 16. The slot 20 may include a notch 22 located therein. The notch 22 may include a contact surface 24 adapted to receive and engage a strap, whereby the strap may facilitate securing the training aid 10 a user's body (see, e.g.,
The training aid 10 may also include a slot 20 extending entirely through the thickness of the training aid 10 between the faces 56. As mentioned above, the slot 20 may extend inwardly from the bottom surface 20 and include a notch 22 adapted to maintain a position of a strap extending through the slot and engaging a contact surface 24 located therein.
As shown in
As discussed in further detail herein, the training aid 10 is configured to be secured to a user's body in a manner so that the body surface 12 of the training aid 10 abuts or makes contact with the user's body. To ensure proper form of a user's swing with a racket, the body surface 12 may abut a torso of the user near or along their ribcage underneath the armpit of the user. As a result, when the body surface 12 is in contact with the torso of the user, an underside of the user's arm may be in contact with the arm surface 14 of the training aid. As a result, an angle between the body surface 12 and the arm surface 14 may dictate an angle between the user's body and the user's arm during swinging. Therefore, the training aid 10 may maintain a consistent and desired swing path or swing plane of the user.
To ensure that the training aid 10 stays in proper position during use, the training aid 10 may include a slot 20 located along the bottom surface 16 of the training aid 10. The slot 20 may extend inwardly towards a central region of the training aid 10 through a thickness of the training aid 10. The slot 20 may be configured to be coupled to a training aid strap 36 and a body strap 30.
More specifically, the training aid 10 may be secured to a user's body with the training aid strap 36 and the body strap 30. The body strap 30 may be configured to wrap at least partially around a user's torso. To accommodate such use, the body strap 30 may include a first surface 32 having an engaging surface 44 located thereon. The engaging surface 44 may be any fastening means, such as a mechanical fastening means (e.g., hook and loop fastener) that maintains a position of the body strap 30 on the user once secured. For example, the first surface 32 may form an outer surface of the body strap 30 so that, once wrapped around a user, a tab located on an opposing second surface (e.g., interior surface) of the body strap 30 may engage the engaging surface 44 to maintain the position of the body strap 30 along the user.
Similarly, before or after the body strap 30 is secured to the user, the training aid strap 36 may be configured to be fed through the slot 20 of the training 10 to secure the training aid 10 to the body strap 30. The training aid strap 36 may include a first training aid strap 36A and a second training aid strap 36B connected to the body strap 30 at a connection portion 42 therebetween. The connection portion 42 may be a sewn region between the training aid strap 36 and the body strap 30, may be an adhered region therebetween, or may be another coupling means. However, it should also be noted that while the connecting portion 42 is shown to be positioned within the engaging surface 44 of the body strap 30, the connecting portion 42 could be located anywhere along the body strap 30.
The first training aid strap 36A and the second training aid strap 36B may each include an engaging surface 48 located on a first surface 38 (e.g., exterior surface) of the training aid straps 36A, 36B. The engaging surface 48 of the training aid straps 36A, 36B may be similar to the engaging surface 44 of the body strap 30 of may utilize an alternative connecting means. In either case, one or both of the training aid straps 36A, 36B may be routed through the slot 20 of the training aid 10 and secured to one another to maintain a position of the training aid 10 relative to the body strap 30 and thus also relative to the user's body.
The second surface may include a retention feature 52. The retention feature 52 may vary in dimensions, pattern, shape, or a combination thereof. The retention feature 52 may be adapted to maintain a position of the body strap 30 when secured to the user. The retention feature 52 may provide a friction surface or adhesive surface that may prevent unwanted slippage or sliding of the body strap 30 along the user's body during use. All or a portion of the second surface 34 may include the retention feature 52. For example, as shown in
The body strap 30 may also be connected to a training aid strap 36 having a first training aid strap 36A and a second training aid strap 36. While a first and second training aid strap 36A, 36B have been discussed in detail, it is contemplated that the training aid strap 36 may be a single strap having two attachable pieces. For example, a single training aid strap may be sewn or attached to the body strap 30 in a manner that segments the training aid strap 36 into two portions.
The training aid straps 36A, 36B may each include a retention feature 52 on a second surface 40 (e.g., interior surface) of the training aid straps 36A, 36B. The retention feature 52 may be the same or different than the retention feature 52 of the body strap 30. Furthermore, one or both of the training aid straps 36A, 36B may include a tab 50 that is adapted to engage the engaging surface located on the opposing first surface (e.g., exterior surface) of the training aid straps 36A. 36B. That is, when the training aid straps 36A, 36B are wrapped or otherwise routed through the slot 20 of the training aid, the tabs 50 may contact the engaging surface of the training aid straps 36A, 36B to maintain a position of the training aid relative to the body strap 30 and thus the user's body.
It should also be noted that a width of the body strap (WBS) may be greater than a width of the training aid straps (WTS). However, such dimensions may vary based upon the specific training aid utilized and the size of the user. In other words, the body straps 30 may be interchangeable to accommodate different users (e.g., adults, children, taller users, shorter users, etc.) to ensure a proper positioning of the training aid.
Additionally, the body strap 30 and the training aid straps 36A, 36B may be moisture resistant, to further prevent slippage of the training aid during use. For example, the retention feature 52 located along the training aid straps 36A, 36B and the body strap 30 may maintain a desired friction with the user's body even if the user is to perspire during training. Similarly, the body strap 30 and the training aid straps 36A, 36B may be moisture repellant, moisture wicking, or both.
The training aid 10 may be configured to be secured to a user's body in a manner so that the body surface 12 of the training aid 10 abuts or makes contact with the user's body. When the body surface 12 is in contact with the user's body, the arm surface 14 of the training aid may contact and at least partially support the user's arm, thereby guiding the user to maintain proper form during a training.
The training aid 10 may be configured for use with a strap 30. While the strap illustrated in
Additionally, the training aid 10 may include a secondary arm strap 54 configured to be secured to a dominant arm of the user. For example, if a user were to train a swing technique of a backhand, the arm strap 54 would be secured around the user's dominant arm (e.g., around a bicep of the user) in a similar manner of securement to the body strap 30. The arm strap 54 may be connected to a ring 56 or other attachment portion of the body strap 30 by a cable 58 and a clip 60 connected to the cable 58. The cable 58 may be any cable or cord, however it is envisioned that a resistance band or other elastic band may be well suited. As a result, the arm strap 54 may dictate a position of the user's arm in connection with further body positioning of the user dictated by the training aid 10. Therefore, a user may receive further swing feedback from the training aid 10 when utilized with the secondary arm strap 54.
Advantageously, the training aid 10 may be configured for use with or without the strap 30. That is, in certain training scenarios, a user may desire that the training 10 be secured to the user for continuous swing path training. However, in other scenarios, a user may position the training 10 between the user's arm and body (e.g., using the arm surface 14 and the body surface 12 of the training aid 10) without the strap 30. As a result, the training aid 10 may be frictionally and/or compressibly secured in position initially and may be released from contact with the user during or after a user swings.
Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time, and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. are expressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner.
Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately” in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of at least the specified endpoints.
The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes. The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified, and such other elements, ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of the elements, ingredients, components or steps. By use of the term “may” herein, it is intended that any described attributes that “may” be included are optional.
Unless otherwise stated, a teaching with the term “about” or “approximately” in combination with a numerical amount encompasses a teaching of the recited amount, as well as approximations of that recited amount. By way of example, a teaching of “about 100” encompasses a teaching of 100+/−15.
Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps.
It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for all purposes. The omission in the following claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be regarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter.
