FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to golf accessories and training devices. More specifically, the present invention is a wrist-training device for a golf swing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Average golfers are not able to achieve an inside club path with a shallow angle of attack and strike the ball with forward shaft lean. The reason average golfers are not able to do this is because average golfers have not developed the correct movement in the lead wrist, which is the left wrist for right-handed golfers. All professional and highly skilled golfers start with a lead wrist that has a significant dorsiflexion of 30 degrees, which is commonly referred to as a cupped-and-ulnar deviation. During the backswing, the lead wrist moves to a radial deviation and flattens to 0 degrees of dorsiflexion, commonly referred to as “flat.” During the downswing, as the golfer reaches the delivery position, the hands are in front of the trail thigh, which is the right thigh for right-handed golfers, the lead wrist has returned to ulnar deviation but now has slight to moderate palmar flexion, ranging between 10 degrees and 30 degrees, which is commonly referred to as “bowed.” Some devices have been provided in order to restrict the left wrist or right wrist, depending on the hand-dominance of the golfer, from “cupping.” Other devices provide feedback when the left wrist is “cupped.” However, these devices do not train the golfer to transition from the “cupped” form at address to a “bowed” form in the delivery position. The “cupped” form is necessary for a full swing arch, and the “bowed” form is necessary for hitting the ball with forward shaft lean.
It is therefore and objective of the present invention to provide a device which trains the golfer to transition from a correct address position where the wrist is in a “cupped” form to a correct delivery position where the wrist is in a “bowed” form. Anatomically, if the wrist is in a position of ulnar deviation, the Triquetrum and Pisiform bones of the wrist move toward the Ulna bone in the forearm. If the wrist is also “flat” or “bowed”, the fleshy pad on the base of the palm gets closer to a wrist strap which moves with the Ulna and Radius bones in the forearm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in a released configuration, wherein a cover is engaged with a lateral wall for a housing.
FIG. 2 is a front side view of the present invention in the released configuration, wherein the cover is engaged with the lateral wall.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention in the released configuration, wherein the cover is separated from the housing.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention in a primed configuration, wherein the cover is engaged with the lateral wall.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention in the primed configuration, wherein the cover separated from the housing.
DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a wrist-training device for a golf swing. The present invention trains the golfer to transition from a correct address position, where the lead wrist is in a cupped form, to a correct delivery position, where the lead wrist is a bowed form. Anatomically, if the wrist is in a position of ulnar deviation, the Triquetrum and Pisiform bones of the wrist move toward the Ulna bone in the forearm. If the wrist is also “flat” or “bowed,” the fleshy pad on the base of the palm pushes closer to towards the present invention which moves with the Ulna and Radius bones in the forearm. In order for the present invention to alert the user of a proper bowed form, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing 1, a trigger assembly 7, and a click-alert assembly 18, seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5. The housing 1 contains and upholds both the trigger assembly 7 and the click-alert assembly 18 against a wrist of the user. The trigger assembly 7 activates the click-alert assembly 18 upon achievement of a correct delivery position. The click-alert assembly 18 produces a sound in order to alert the user of proper form throughout a golf swing. The present invention comprises a compact structure as the housing 1 comprises a lateral wall 2, a base plate 3, and a trigger-receiving channel 4. The lateral wall 2 surrounds the base plate 3 and protects both the trigger assembly 7 and the click-alert assembly 18. The base plate 3 upholds the trigger assembly 7 and the click-alert assembly 18 against the wrist of the user. The trigger-receiving channel 4 allows the trigger assembly 7 to traverse through the lateral wall 2 while preserving the structural integrity of the lateral wall 2. The trigger assembly 7 comprises an actuation plate 8 and a release lever 9. Upon the execution of proper form by the user, the base of the palm activates the trigger assembly 7 with the actuation plate 8, and the release lever 9 activates the click-alert assembly 18. The click-alert assembly 18 comprises a striking latch 19, a first magnet 20, and a second magnet 21. The click-alert assembly 18 is engaged with the striking latch 19, and the sound produced with the click-alert with the first magnet 20 and the second magnet 21.
The overall configuration of the aforementioned components allows the click-alert assembly 18 to be activated by the trigger assembly 7, and the click-alert assembly 18 to be reset. The housing 1 is defined as the base plate 3 is positioned adjacent the lateral wall 2, and the lateral wall 2 is perimetrically fixed with the base plate 3, seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 5. The trigger-receiving channel 4 traverses into the lateral wall 2. The actuation plate 8 is therefore accessible by the base of a palm of a user from the exterior of the housing 1. The actuation plate 8 is slidably engaged into the trigger-receiving channel 4, securing the position of the actuation plate 8 into and out of the housing 1. Moreover, a linear motion of the actuation plate 8 with the housing 1 is defined with the trigger-receiving channel 4. The trigger assembly 7 and the click-alert assembly 18 are contained within the housing 1 as the release lever 9 and the striking latch 19 are positioned within the housing 1. More specifically, the release lever 9 is rotatably mounted onto the base plate 3 about a lever pivot point 12, and the striking latch 19 is rotatably mounted onto the base plate 3 about a latch pivot point 22. This arrangement allows for a continuous and simultaneous engagement of the trigger assembly 7 and the click-alert assembly 18. Moreover, the first magnet 20 is laterally fixed with the striking latch 19, offset from the latch pivot point 22. The first magnet 20 therefore only engages with the second magnet 21 upon the rotation of the striking latch 19. The second magnet 21 is fixed within the housing 1, offset from the latch pivot point 22 and the lever pivot point 12, thereby producing a notable sound between the engagement of the first magnet 20 with the second magnet 21. The continuous and simultaneous engagement of both the trigger assembly 7 and the click-alert assembly 18 is preserved as the lever pivot point 12 and the second magnet 21 are positioned adjacent to the trigger-receiving channel 4. Furthermore, the latch pivot point 22 is positioned offset from the trigger-receiving channel 4. The trigger assembly 7 is operatively coupled with the click-alert assembly 18, wherein the trigger assembly 7 is used to prime and release the click-alert assembly 18. More specifically, the click-alert assembly 18 only produces a sound upon the engagement of the trigger assembly 7.
Until wrist of the user performs the correct form, the trigger assembly 7 and the click-alert assembly 18 are in a primed configuration, seen in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. While in the primed configuration, the release lever 9 is engaged with the striking latch 19, and the first magnet 20 is positioned offset with the second magnet 21. The release lever 9 there stops the natural rotation of the striking latch 19 until the release lever 9 rotates about the lever pivot point 12. Once the base of the palm presses against the actuation plate 8, the trigger assembly 7 and the click-alert assembly 18 are in a released configuration. While in the released configuration, the release lever 9 is disengaged with the striking latch 19, and the first magnet 20 is magnetically coupled with the second magnet 21. The release lever 9 rotates about the lever pivot point 12 and the striking latch 19 is therefore released to naturally rotate about the latch pivot point 22. Furthermore, the magnetic coupling between the first magnet 20 and the second magnet 21 increases the force with which the first magnet 20 snaps with the second magnet 21, producing a notable sound upon correct form.
Extra force is not required during the transition between the address position and the delivery position in order to activate the trigger assembly 7 as the trigger assembly 7 may further comprise a trigger tab 13, seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5. The trigger tab 13 allows the base of a palm of a user to press the actuation plate 8 upon proper form. The trigger tab 13 is accessible by the base of the palm as the trigger tab 13 is externally positioned with the housing 1. More specifically, the trigger tab 13 is fixed perpendicular and adjacent with the actuation plate 8 and is oriented away from the base plate 3. This arrangement positioned the trigger tab 13 directly beneath the base of the palm, facilitating the engagement of the trigger assembly 7 once proper form is achieved.
In order for the present invention to be reset from the released configuration to the primed configuration, the trigger assembly 7 may further comprise a stopper tab 14 and a spring 15, and the release lever 9 may comprise a first arm 10 and a second arm 11, seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. The stopper tab 14 engages the release lever 9, and the spring 15 resets the trigger assembly 7. The rotation of the release lever 9 about the lever pivot engages first arm 10 and the second arm 11. The stopper tab 14 and the spring 15 are positioned within the housing 1, so that the linear motion within the trigger-receiving channel 4 is able to engage with the release lever 9, also positioned within the housing 1. The trigger assembly 7 is activated with the sliding motion of the actuation plate 8 as the stopper tab 14 is fixed onto the actuation plate 8. The spring 15 is positioned adjacent and parallel with the trigger-receiving channel 4, thereby securing the position of the spring 15 within the housing 1. Moreover, the spring 15 is able to extend and retract while continuously pressing against the release lever 9 and the stopper tab 14 in this arrangement. The release lever 9 is simultaneously engaged by the stopper tab 14 and activates the click-alert assembly 18 as the lever pivot point 12 is positioned in between the first arm 10 and the second arm 11. More specifically, the first arm 10 is oriented away from the trigger-receiving channel 4, and the second arm 11 is positioned between a free end 16 of the spring 15 and the stopper tab 14. The spring 15 to allows the present invention to transition between the primed configuration and the released configuration as the fixed end 17 of the spring 15 is positioned opposite the free end 16 about the spring 15. The fixed end 17 is mounted into the lateral wall 2.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing 1 may further comprise a cover plate 5 and a guiding slot 6, seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4. The cover plate 5 encloses the housing 1, effectively shielding both the trigger assembly 7 and the click-alert assembly 18. The guiding lot provides access to the click-alert assembly 18. The click-alert assembly 18 further comprises a reset tab 23. The reset tab 23 provides a manual control for the user to reset the present invention from the released configuration to the primed configuration. In order for the housing 1 to be fully enclosed, the cover plate 5 is positioned adjacent with the lateral wall 2, opposite the base plate 3, and the lateral wall 2 is perimetrically attached with the cover plate 5. The cover plate 5 preferably snaps with the lateral wall 2 so that the cover plate 5 is easily attached and removed by the user. The click-alert assembly 18 is accessible through the cover plate 5 while the cover plate 5 is connected with the lateral wall 2 as the guiding slot 6 traverses through the cover plate 5. The guiding slot 6 is configured to follow an arch-shaped path, wherein the arch-shaped path is centered around the latch pivot point 22. This arrangement corresponds to the rotation of the striking latch 19 about the latch pivot point 22. The striking latch 19 is easily maneuverable with the reset tab 23 as the reset tab 23 is laterally connected with the striking latch 19, offset from the latch pivot point 22. Moreover, the reset tab 23 traverses through the guiding slot 6 and is slidably engaged along the guiding slot 6. This arrangement allows the striking latch 19 to rotate about the latch pivot point 22 with the reset tab 23 past the release lever 9. The release lever 9 then presses against the striking latch 19, and the present invention is reset to the primed configuration.
A desired position of the present invention against the base of a palm of the user is secured as the present invention may further comprise a first loop 24, a second loop 25, and a length-adjustable strap 26, seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5. The first loop 24 and the second loop 25 connect the length-adjustable strap 26 with the housing 1. The length-adjustable strap 26 serves as a universal fastener for a wrist of a variety of users. The length-adjustable strap 26 may be, but is not limited to, a looped strap with a slider and an elastic band. The length-adjustable strap 26 is able to loop around a wrist of the user as the first loop 24 is positioned opposite the second loop 25 about the lateral wall 2. Furthermore, the first loop 24 and the second loop 25 are externally fixed with the housing 1, positioning the length-adjustable strap 26 outside of the housing 1 as well. For a comfortable and flexible attachment of the housing 1 against the wrist with the length-adjustable fastener, the first end 27 of the length-adjustable strap 26 is tethered through the first loop 24. Likewise, a second end 28 of the length-adjustable strap 26 is positioned opposite the first end 27, and the second end 28 is tethered through the second loop 25.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Patent Application
20210046370
