US1418637A - Device for use in playing golf - Google Patents

Description

V. S. FLOOD.

DEVICE FOR USE IN PLAYING GOLF.

APPLICATION FILED MAR! 23, 1920.

1,418,637., P tentedJune 6, 1922.

Phi/5 after/nu 8 Zz (62% DEVICE FOR USE IN PLAYING GOLF.

Specipcation of Letters Patent. Patented June 5, 1922.

Application flled March 23', 1920. Serial No. 368,092.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VALENTINE S ILOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, county of Hartford, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Use in Playing Golf, fully described and=represented in the following speclfication and the accompanying drawlngs, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to devlces for use in la in olf. V

I n a golf stroke, in order to obtain the best results as regards direction and distance, the driving power should be applied in a straight line 1n the direction of the desired line of flight; that 1s, a l1ne straight forward through the ball. Man players have a tendencyto permit a su deli backward break or flexing of the left wrist (assuming a right-handed player) at or about the moment of impact between the club and the ball. When such a wrlst action occurs, the line of the driving power is not straight forward but is a curve in a direction around the left leg. As a result the stroke is sliced and gives a short ball.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide. means for restrictlng the wrist movement thereby to prevent any sudden backward flexing of the wrist joint.

With this general object in view the 1nvention consists in the combinations, arrangement of parts and details of construction which will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawing and then more particularly pointed out.

In the drawing: 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, in position for use.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device removed; and

Figure 8 is a similar View, with parts broken away and'removed, of a modification.

Referring to the drawing, there is provided means for restricting the movement of the players wrist thereby to prevent a sudden, substantially backward flexing of provided a brace 11 of suflicient length to extend well beyond the Wrist joint on either side. This brace is formed of a flat band of steel so as to be stiff and slightly resilient, and it .is slightly curved, as shown,-to conform roughly with the configuration of the hand and arm. As will be seen from the drawing, the hand engaging portion of the brace lies all on one side of its hand engaging surface. That is to say, no part thereof extends around toward the front of the hand and the wrist is free to flex edge- VVlSe.

11 in position for use. Although capable of various constructions, in the embodiment illustrated, riveted to the brace 11 are two straps 12 having buckles 13. With such securing means the brace is readily strapped to the players arm or wrist in some such manner as shown in Fig. 1.

In the use of the device described, as the player makes his stroke, there is sufficient inherent resiliency in the brace to permit any slight natural play of the wrist. But any sudden backward flexing of the wrist joint is prevented by the brace 11 against which the back of the hand abuts. On the upswing, the wrist can flex edgewise because the brace is of a form to freely permit such wrist movement. With the device described, therefore, the driving power is held in the proper directional line at the moment of impact and is maintained after the ball is hit instead of up to the ball only. As a result sliced strokes and shortened strokes are prevented.

, It is to be understood that the same device is a plicable toeither right handed or left han ed players. It has been described in connection with a right handed player. For a left handed player, the brace is secured to the rightarm instead of the left.

Figure 3 illustrates a modification in which contact of metal with the arm is prevented. In the particular form shown as an example, riveted together, as at 14, are a leather pad 15 and a steel plate 16. This combined device is secured to the players arm by straps 17 in the manner described in connection with the first form. The leather pad 15 is formed to be fairly stifl and somewhat resilient and it is reinforced and held to its duty by the steel plate 16. In other respects the combined device shown in Figure '3 is like the first form described.

That is to say, it extends across the back of the wrist, permits normal play of the wrist, permits edgewise flexing of the wrist at the end of the stroke, but prevents any sudden backward flexing of the wrist in the manner already described.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for use in playing 01f, comprising a brace for preventing sucfilen backward breaking of the wrist joint, means for securing said brace in a position for use with a portion extending back of the wrist along the players arm and a portion extend ing forward of the wrist alon the back of the players hand, sald secon named porewes? tion of the brace all lying on one. side of the hand engaging surface of the brace,

whereby sidewise flexing of the wrist is permitted.

2. A device for use in playing golf, comprising a stiff and slightly resilient brace to extend across the back of the players wrist to prevent a sudden backward flexing of the wrist joint, and means for securing said brace to the players arm 01' Wrist in position for use.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

VALENTINE SWIFT FLOQlD.

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