US3408078A - Golfer's head movement restraining device - Google Patents

Description

1968 D. FALERNI ETAL 3,408,078

GOLFERS HEAD MOVEMENT RESTRAINING DEVICE Filed Sept. 23, 1965 INVENTORS JACK FALERNI BY DOROTHY FALERNI WWW/9w ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Olfice 3,408,078 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 3,408,078 GOLFERS HEAD MOVEMENT RESTRAINING DEVICE Dorothy Falerni and Jack Falerni, both of 2150 Wallace Ave., Bronx, N. 10462 Filed Sept. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 489,661 8 Claims. (Cl. 273-190) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE A golf practice aid for restraining movement of the head of a golfer, said aid having a selectively extensible strut member secured to a base member by a universal joint, and a head engaging assembly secured to the upper end of the strut member by a universal joint.

This invention relates to the art of golf practice aids, more particularly to a device serving to train a golfer to watch the ball during the swing, and to maintain a desired stance during the swing.

In the playing of golf, it has been found that desired accuracy in swinging the golf club to effect desired movement of the ball can be most readily obtained by main taining a stance during the swing in which the head is kept stationary with the eyes of the player directed at the ball during the swing. Though this instruction is given to most golfers, compliance with the instruction is often difiicult of attainment. Accordingly, a variety of devices have been evolved designed to train the golfer in keeping his head stationary during the swing with his eyes directed at the ball. Previously evolved devices have, however, been of a complex cumbersome nature, relatively costly in production, difficult to move, and requiring adjustments such that the use of the device substantially minimized the pleasures of playing golf. Since in the playing of golf, the golfer moves about a rather extensive area, it would be desirable that any training aid be subject to ready movement over the golf course with the golfer, requiring minimum effort in positioning the device for use, and offering minimal interference wth the golfer in his playing or movement about the golf course. Additionally, any training aid for use in teaching a leisure sport such as golf should be relatively inexpensive, and of a type permitting use by different players playing together.

It is with the problems and desiderata in mind, that the present golf swing training aid has been evolved providing a training aid of a simple, light-weight struc ture adapted for positioning at any point as desired by the user, and further permitting adjustment so that the device may be used by users with different body builds with minimum effort.

It is accordingly among the primary objects of this invention to provide an improved golf training and adapted for use in training a golfer to assume a proper stance during swinging, maintaining the head in a relatively fixed position with the eyes directed at the ball.

A further object of the invention is to provide a golf training aid which may readily be fabricated of an inexpensive nature so as to permit the utilization of the aid by the vast number of people now playing golf.

A further object of the invention is to provide a golf training aid which may be readily carried about the golf course without proving an undue burden to the golfer.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a golf training aid which lends itself to ready adjustment so that players having different body dimensions may all use the aid while playing together.

These and other objects of the invention which will become hereafter apparent are achieved by forming a training aid with a telescoping guide strut. The guide strut is preferably formed in two parts with a lower hollow cylindrical body portion telescopingly accommodating an upper extensible portion. The lower end of the guide strut is connected by means of a universal pivot to an anchoring plate which is relatively heavier than the guide strut, and is of a weight such as to maintain the lower pivot end of the guide strut in a relatively fixed position during the normal golf swing. At the upper end of the guide strut, coupled thereto by means of a universal pivot is an adjustable head band adapted for positioning about the head of a user.

Among the features of the invention is the fact that the structure has relatively few components thereby permitting simple fabrication and economic manufacture, and additionally the components are of such light weight as not to present an undue burden in carrying the structure from place on the golf course.

A further feature of the invention resides in the construction of the telescoping strut so that the training device may be collapsed to permit its ready portability with a golf bag.

The specific details of the invention, and their mode of functioning Will be made most manifest and particularly pointed out in clear, concise, and exact terms in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the golfers training aid in use; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the head band of the aid; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the details of the universal pivot connection of the lower end of the guide strut to the anchoring plate; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing the connection between the head band and the universal pivot; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the mode of connection between the guide strut and the anchoring plate; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective detail view of another mode of securement of the training device to an anchoring plate.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in the various figures will be taken to designate like parts.

As seen in the drawings, the golf training aid 10 com prises a guide strut 11 having a lower body portion 12 having an extensible portion 13 telescoping within the body portion 12, as best seen in FIG. 3. It is found desirable to fabricate the body portion 12 and extensible portion 13 of elongate tubular material, preferably of a light-weight nature. Aluminum tube stock is found particularly desirable. As understood by those skilled in the art, the tube stock selected is of a type such as to provide an ID. for the lower body portion 12 which will slidably accommodate the OD. of the telescoping portion 13. Arranged at the upper end of body portion 12 is a collar 15 fixedly secured to the upper end of the lower body portion 12. A threaded aperture extends through the collar 15 from the exterior rim of the collar to the interior of the body portion 12, and a thumb screw 17 is threadedly engaged in this aperture so that upon tightening of the thumb screw the leading end of the screw will engage the extensible telescoping portion 13 of guide strut 11.

An anchoring member 20 is provided for securement to the lower end of strut 11. This anchoring member may take a variety of forms, and is here illustrated as a circular plate 20 which is fabricated of a material having sufficient weight so as to hold down the lower end of strut 11 when secured thereto. Plate 20 is preferably provided with a plurality of spaced threaded apertures 22, as best seen in FIG. in which threaded studs 23 of spikes 24 may be -detachably engaged.

A universal joint 30, is arranged between the lower end of strut 11, and anchoring plate 20. This universal joint in the illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention comprises post 31 having base 32 formed integrally therewith and adapted for securement to anchoring plate 20 by means of attaching screw 33, as best seen in FIG. 5. Spaced cars 34 and 35 are formed at the upper end of the post 31. A pivot pin 36 extends transversely between cars 34 and 35, with pin 36 rotatably mounted between ears 34 and 35, and held in position between the ears, either by upsetting the ends of the pin 36 or employing headed fastening members such as machine screws or the like. An eared stud 37 is fixed in the lower end of the tube forming lower body portion 12 of strut 11 with pin 38 of the eared strut 37 extending rotatably through pin 36 to form a universal joint. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of different types of universal joints may be provided between the anchoring plate 20 and the strut 11, such as a ball joint, or the like. The only consideration in joining the strut 11 to the anchoring plate 20 is that the strut enjoy universal movement with respect to the plate.

Secured to the upper end of the strut 11, at the telescoping portion 13 is a head engaging assembly 40, as best seen in FIG. 2. Head engaging assembly 40 comprises a head band 41, preferably formed of relatively resilient material such as strip plastic or spring steel. Head band 41 is provided with an end loop 42 fixed to an underlying end 43 of the band. A clamping element 45 in the form of a knurled nut which engages a machine screw extending through loop 42 is provided for tightening the loop 42 to clamp the overlying portion of the head band 41 passing therethrough. The portion of head band 41 overlying end 43 is provided with a loop 46 and a slot 47 through which the bolt of clamping member 45 passes. A sweat band 50 formed of an absorbent porous material such as polyurethane foam, felt, or the like, is secured to the forward edge of the head band (to the right as viewed in FIG. 2), and a cross strap 52 is secured to the head band 41, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The head engaging assembly 40 is secured by means of universal joint 55 to the upper extensible telescoping portion 13 of strut 11. Universal joint 55 may be made in a variety of forms, however, in the illustrated embodiment it is formed substantially identical to coupling 30. As best seen in FIG. 4 coupling joint 55 comprises post 56 having flanged support plate 57 intended for abutment with head band 41. Trunnions 58 and 59 on the free end of post 56 pivotally support a pivot pin 60. A similar trunnioned post 61 is secured to the upper end of strut 11 with the trunnions pivotally secured with respect to the pin 60 so as to obtain desired universal movement.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, a hooked member 70, as shown in FIG. 3, is provided on Strut 11 to permit the training aid to be hung for storage.

Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 it is desirable to provide a pin 72 upstanding from the base 20 which is provided at its upper end with a spring clip 73 between the jaws of which the strut may be engaged to support the strut in an upstanding position when not in use.

In FIG. 6, an arrangement is shown for a permanently installed base member 75 to which the strut 11 may be secured, Base member 75 is formed of concrete embedded in the ground with a threaded stud 76 upstanding therefrom, adapted for threaded engagement with post '31.

Operation In use the aforedescribed golf training aid 10 may be employed in almost any situation in which the golfer finds himself in a position to either play or practice golf. Due to the lightweight nature of the structure, and its ready adjustability to accommodate differently sized golfers, the training aid may either be carried by the golfer along with his golf bag, or permanently set up at a training position such as at a driving range or the like. The spikes 24 may be removed and replaced by a friction pad of rubber or the like, for use in the house.

The telescoping nature of the strut is such as to permit collapse of the golfers aid to a length permitting ready carrying of the aid along with a golf bag.

Thereafter, when it is desired to use the aid, the anchoring base member 20 is set up slightly in front of the tee from which the ball will be driven, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The strut 11 is extended by withdrawing telescoping rod 13 from lower body portion 12, and tightening of the thumb screw 17 when the telescoping portion has been extended a distance approximately at an eye level with that of the golfer. The head band 41 is adjusted to accommodate the head of the wearer, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and the golfer dons the head band assuming the position illustrated in FIG. 1.

Thereafter, in swinging at the golf ball, the practice aid serves to maintain the head of the golfer in a position such that the golfers eyes are maintained directed at the golf ball, and the head of the golfer is restrained from free movement. Though the head piece 40 moves from side to side giving the golfer freedom in his backswing and follow through, lifting of the head is prevented.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration and elucidation, and not by way of limitation and it is desired to protect all embodiments of the herein disclosed inventive concept within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A golf practice aid comprising: a selectively extensible rigid strut member; a head engaging assembly at the upper end of said strut member; a universal pivot connection between the upper end of said strut member and said head engaging assembly; and a universal pivot connection at the lower end of said strut member for connection to a base.

2. A golf practice aid as in claim 1 in which said strut member comprises: a hollow lower body portion and an upper extensible portion telescopically extensible from said lower body portion.

3. A golf practice aid as in claim 1 in which said head engaging assembly comprises: a head band having overlapping ends which are relatively adjustable with respect to each other to selectively vary the diameter of the area encompassed by said head band; and a cross strap is extended across said head band.

4. A golf practice aid as in claim 1 in which said universal pivot connection at the lower end of said strut is coupled to a base plate.

5. A golf practice aid as in claim 4 in which said base plate is provided with a threaded aperture; and a spike having a threaded stud is positioned in the aperture of said base plate with said spike extending down therefrom.

6. A golf practice aid as in claim 1 in which said universal pivot connection at the lower end of said strut is coupled to a stud embedded in a concrete mass in the ground.

7. A golfers training aid comprising: an anchoring base member; a guide strut secured to said anchoring member; a universal joint between said guide strut and said anchoring member; a head engaging assembly secured to the upper end of the said guide strut; a universal joint between said head engaging assembly and the upper 5 6 end of said guide strut, said head engaging assembly References Cited adapted for securement to the head of a golfer, whereby UNITED STATES PATENTS the golfer is free to swing at a ball, with his head being maintained in a position preventing lifting of the head 352g 7; 575 53? d thk fth 1f 0th I16 EZ11 e eepmg o e go as eyes n e 5 1,980,101 11/1934 Schneider.

8. A golfers training aid as in claim 7 in which said strut comprises a lower body portion; and an upper ex- RICHARD PINKHAM Pnmary Examiner tensible telescoping portion. GEORGE J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner.

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