FIELD
The present disclosure is in the field of athletic training devices and, more specifically, is directed to a set of resistance bands worn while swinging a club to center the body and utilize muscles of predominant importance.
BACKGROUND
The sport of golf is well-known and there are a number of different products available to help improve the quality of a player's swing and stance and grip. Many of the devices are not wearable while playing golf and require straps that attach to the club or the ground or a wall. Many of the devices focus on a specific area, such as the arms, or the back, or the legs, but do not involve the whole body. A product is needed that can be worn while practicing or playing a round of golf to center the body and strengthen and focus the muscles useful for a productive swing.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure, and embodiments provided herein, discloses a system and device for improving a golfer's swing by strengthening and focusing prominent muscles used to swing a club and develop muscle memory. The disclosed sport training device includes a lower pair of resistance bands, each of the resistance bands attached at a first end to a belt positioned around the waist of a user and at a second end to an ankle portion at an ankle of the user. An upper pair of resistance bands is attached at a first end to a shoulder portion at each shoulder of the user, at a second end to a leg portion that attaches proximate to each knee of the user and at a middle portion to the belt. A primary pair of resistance bands is attached at a first end at the shoulder portion, at a second end at the ankle portion and at a middle portion to the belt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an illustration of the sport training device on the frame of an individual, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of the lower pair of resistance bands of the sports training device illustrated in FIG. 1, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 3 is an illustration of the upper pair of resistance bands of the sports training device illustrated in FIG. 1, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 is an illustration of the primary pair of resistance bands of the sports training device illustrated in FIG. 1, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 is an illustration of a shoulder harness as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 6 is an illustration of the primary pair of resistance bands of the sports training device illustrated in FIG. 4 with a slightly modified orientation, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
The figures are not drawn to scale. The figures describe one embodiment of the present disclosure and are not intended to be limiting. Other embodiments within the scope of the claim requirements are contemplated. Nothing in the specification is intended to restrict the scope of the claims beyond the broadest reasonable interpretation of the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is an illustration of the sport training device 10 on the frame of an individual, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The sport training device 10 includes a lower pair of resistance bands 12, each of the lower resistance bands 12 is attached at a first end 14 to a belt 16 positioned around the waist of a user 100 and at a second end 18 to an ankle portion 20 at an ankle of the user 100. An upper pair of resistance bands 30 is attached at a first end 32 to a shoulder portion 34 at each shoulder of the user 100, at a second end 36 to a leg portion 38 that attaches proximate to each knee of the user 100 and at a middle portion 40 to the belt 16. A primary pair of resistance bands 50 is attached at a first end 52 at the shoulder portion 34, at a second end 54 at the ankle portion 20 and at a middle portion 56 to the belt 16.
FIG. 2-4 illustrate elements each of the pairs of resistance bands 12, 30, 50 individually. The bands are intended to be able to work cooperatively. It is contemplated that the resistance bands 12, 30, 50 are integrally joined in the sports training device 10. It is also contemplated that the resistance bands 12, 30, 50 may be attachable/separable for ease of wearing and removing the bands 12, 30, 50. The sport training device 10 may be functional in either contemplated construction. Specifically, the lower pair of resistance bands 12 may be used without the second and primary pair of resistance bands 30, 50 with specific benefit. The lower pair of resistance bands 12 may be used independently or with the other pairs of resistance bands 30, 50 to primarily strengthen the pelvis. The upper pair of resistance bands 30 may be used independently or with the other pairs of resistance bands 12, 50 to primarily strengthen the spine and back. The primary pair of resistance bands 50 may be used independently or with the other pairs of resistance bands 12, 30 to primarily strengthen the muscles about the ribs. The resistance bands 12, 30, 50 may be made of different materials and provide different levels of tension. All of the resistance bands 12, 30, 50 are elastic, flexible and washable.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of the lower pair of resistance bands of the sports training device illustrated in FIG. 1, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Each of the lower resistance bands 12 is attached at a first end 14 to a belt 16 positioned around the waist of a user 100 and at a second end 18 to an ankle portion 20 at an ankle of the user 100. The first end 14 of the resistance bands 12 may be removably attached to the belt 16 with a fastener, clasp, or other attachment device known to those having ordinarily skill in the art. The first end 14 of the resistance bands 12, as an example, may have a metal ring stitched in place and the metal ring may be received by a carabiner fixed to the belt 16. The first end 14 of the resistance bands 12 may be fixed to the belt 16 with stitching. The second end 18 of the lower resistance bands 12 is attached to an ankle portion 20. The ankle portion 20 holds the second end 18 proximate to the ankle of a user 100. The ankle portion 20 may be a stirrup that receives a foot and is worn over a shoe or within a shoe. The ankle portion 20 and the belt 16 must be reasonably secured in place to maintain the lower resistance bands 12 with a degree of tension. The lower resistance bands 12 are positioned along the backs of a user's legs from a position proximate to the tailbone to the ankles.
FIG. 3 is an illustration of the upper pair of resistance bands 30 of the sports training device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The upper pair of resistance bands 30 is attached at a first end 32 to a shoulder portion 34 at each shoulder of the user 100. A second end 36 of the upper pair of resistance bands 30 is attached to a leg portion 38 that attaches proximate to each knee of the user 100 and at a middle portion 40 to the belt 16. Attaching the upper pair of resistance bands 30 at the belt 16 allows tension to be applied in slightly different directions between the belt 16 and the leg portion 38 and between the belt 16 and the shoulder portion 34, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The upper pair of resistance bands 30 is oriented vertically from the leg portion 38 to the belt 16 and then the bands 30 cross diagonally from the belt 16 to the shoulder portion 32.
The shoulder portion 34 may be loops 35 through which the arms are inserted to secure the shoulder portion 34 snugly on the shoulder. The leg portion 38 may be a tightly secured garter or similar element that can maintain position on the thigh or just below the knee and allows tension to be applied between the belt 16 and the leg portion 38. The leg portion 38 may have an adjustable opening to accommodate different size legs. The tension in the upper pair of resistance bands 30 between the leg portion 38 and the belt 16 and between the shoulder portion 34 and the belt 16 may help prevent the belt 16 from sliding up or down the torso. The upper pair of resistance bands 30 may be removably attached to the belt 16.
FIG. 4 is an illustration of the primary pair of resistance bands 50 of the sports training device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The primary pair of resistance bands 50 is attached at a first end 52 at the shoulder portion 34, at a second end 54 at the ankle portion 20 and at a middle portion 56 to the belt 16. The shoulder portion 34 may be removably attached to one or both of the upper pair of resistance bands 30 and the primary pair of resistance bands 50. The shoulder portion 34 may be permanently attached to both pairs of resistance bands 30, 50. Removability of the resistance bands 30, 50 from the shoulder portion 34 may be desired for ease of putting on and removing the sports training device 10. The ankle portion 20 may be removably attached to one or both of the lower pair of resistance bands 12 and the primary pair of resistance bands 50. The ankle portion 20 may be permanently attached to both pairs of resistance bands 20, 50. Removability of the resistance bands 20, 50 from the ankle portion 20 may be desired for ease of putting on and removing the sports training device 10.
The primary pair of resistance bands 50 may attach to the leg portion 38. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the primary pair of resistance bands 50 may include multiple changes in direction. The primary pair of resistance bands 50 may begin from the interior of the ankle, across the front of the lower leg to the outside of the thigh. If attached at the leg portion 38, the resistance bands 50 may then change direction slightly by proceeding straight up the outside of the leg to the belt 16. From above the hips on the belt 16, the resistance bands 50 may then proceed diagonally across the front of the body, wrapping around the back and crossing again before arriving at the shoulder portion 34.
The belt 16 may be removably attached or permanently attached to one or all of the bands 12, 30, 50. Removability may be desired for ease of putting on and removing the sports training device 10. The first, second, and primary pairs of resistance bands 12, 30, 50 may have multiple connection points for connecting the resistance bands 12, 30, 50 to the belt 16. Multiple connection points may allow for adjustment of the tension in the resistance bands 12, 30, 50 and accommodation of different sizes of an individual. Connection points at the shoulder portion 34, leg portion 38, and ankle portion 20 may be similarly adjustable. Making the connection points adjustable would allow the user to make use of one pair of resistance bands without having to use the other two pairs of resistance bands. For instance, the shoulder portion 34 may be used with the upper pair of resistance bands 30 or with the primary pair of resistance bands 50 or both of those pairs of resistance bands 30, 50.
The sports training device 10 may be built into athletic apparel to allow for aesthetically tactful wearing. Building the upper half of the sports training device 10 into a pullover and pants may help avoid tangling the bands 12, 30, 50. The second and primary pairs of resistance bands 30, 50 may not be integral units. Specifically, the upper pair of resistance bands 30 may each be two band segments that join at the belt 16. Similarly, the primary pair of resistance bands 50 may comprise two pairs of band segments that join at the belt 16. The shoulder portions 34 may be built into the pullover while the belt 16, leg portion 38, and ankle portion 20 may be built into the pants.
FIG. 5 is an illustration of a shoulder harness 34 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The shoulder harness 34 may include loops 35 of material through which the arms are inserted to secure the shoulder portion 34 snugly on the shoulder. Each loop 35 has a back side and a front side. At least one strap 37 is attached to the back side of the loops 35. Two shoulder clasps 60 are attached to the front side of the loops 35. The shoulder clasps 60 may fasten to the upper pair of resistance bands 30 or the primary pair of resistance bands 50 or both. The shoulder clasps 60 may be rings of metal stitched into the shoulder harness 34 and able to receive an end of one of the resistance bands 30, 50. The resistance bands 30, 50 may have hook and loop material at the ends 32, 52 to insert through the shoulder clasps 60 and fold back to attach to itself, as is known in the art. The ends 32, 52 of the bands 30, 50 may have a carabiner or other type of attachment mechanism known in the art for attaching to a clasp. The shoulder clasps 60 may each be multiple rings of metal that engage the resistance bands 30, 50 as the bands are folded through the multiple rings, as is known to those having ordinary skill in the art. These and other attachment mechanisms known in the art are contemplated herein and considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
FIG. 6 is an illustration of the primary pair of resistance bands of the sports training device illustrated in FIG. 4 with a slightly modified orientation, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As compared to FIG. 4, it should be observed that the primary resistance bands 50 do not extend across the back of the user, but cross only at a front of the user before attaching at a front of the shoulder harness 34. The primary pair of resistance bands 50 is engaged at a first end 52 at the shoulder harness 34, at a second end 54 at the ankle portion 20 and at a middle portion 56 to the belt 16. The shoulder harness 34 may be removably attached to one or both of the upper pair of resistance bands 30 and the primary pair of resistance bands 50 using the shoulder clasps 60. The shoulder harness 34 may be permanently attached to both pairs of resistance bands 30, 50. Removability of the resistance bands 30, 50 from the shoulder portion 34 may be desired for ease of putting on and removing the sports training device 10. The ankle portion 20 may be removably attached to one or both of the lower pair of resistance bands 12 and the primary pair of resistance bands 50 using the ankle clasps 66. The second ends 18, 54 of the bands 12, 50 may be designed for removable engagement with the ankle clasps 66 similar to the shoulder clasps 60. The ankle portion 20 may be permanently attached to both pairs of resistance bands 20, 50. Removability of the resistance bands 20, 50 from the ankle portion 20 may be desired for ease of putting on and removing the sports training device 10.
The primary pair of resistance bands 50 may attach to the leg portion 38. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the primary pair of resistance bands 50 may include multiple changes in direction. The primary pair of resistance bands 50 may begin from the interior of the ankle, across the front of the lower leg to the outside of the thigh. If attached at the leg portion 38, the resistance bands 50 may then change direction slightly by proceeding straight up the outside of the leg to the belt 16. From above the hips on the belt 16, the resistance bands 50 may then proceed diagonally across the front of the body, wrapping around the back and crossing again before arriving at the shoulder portion 34.
The belt 16 may be removably attached or permanently attached to one or all of the bands 12, 30, 50. Removability may be desired for ease of putting on and removing the sports training device 10. The belt 16 may have multiple belt clasps 62 to allow the resistance bands 12, 30, 50 to engage with the belt slidably or in a removably fixed attachment. The lower, upper, and primary pairs of resistance bands 12, 30, 50 may have multiple connection points for connecting the resistance bands 12, 30, 50 to the belt 16. Multiple connection points may allow for adjustment of the tension in the resistance bands 12, 30, 50 and accommodation of different sizes of an individual. Connection points at the shoulder harness 34, leg portion 38, and ankle portion 20 may be similarly adjustable. The leg portion 38 may include leg clasps 64 to allow the resistance bands 12, 30, 50 to engage with the belt slidably or in a removably fixed attachment. Making the connection points adjustable would allow the user to make use of one pair of resistance bands without having to use the other two pairs of resistance bands. For instance, the shoulder portion 34 may be used with the upper pair of resistance bands 30 or with the primary pair of resistance bands 50 or both of those pairs of resistance bands 30, 50.
Patent Application
20230310923
