LEG POSITIONING AND TRAINING DEVICE FOR GOLFERS

DISPOSITIF DE POSITIONNEMENT DES JAMBES ET D'ENTRAINEMENT POUR GOLFEURS

English Abstract

A leg positioning and training device for a golfer is disclosed. The device is characterized by the structure including platform having a foot base plate rotatably mounted thereon for the golfer's rear foot, wherein the foot base plate is adjustable in two planes. The foot base plate includes a segment that extends upwardly from the base plate in receiving relation to the user's foot and ankle, and this segment is angularly adjustable with respect to a plane that is substantially normal to the foot base plate. A strain gauge is operatively attached to that segment for receiving and measuring force applied by the user, and a display indicator is provided in operative connection to the strain gauge, whereby the user may see a representation of the force applied thereto during a golf swing.

French Abstract

Le présent extrait concerne un dispositif de positionnement des jambes et d'entraînement pour golfeur. Ce dispositif se caractérise par la structure comprenant une plate-forme comportant un socle pour pied monté pivotant dessus pour le pied arrière du golfeur, dans laquelle le socle pour pied est réglable dans deux plans. Le socle pour pied comprend un segment qui s'étend vers le haut depuis le socle en fonction de la réception du pied et de la cheville de l'utilisateur, et ce segment est réglable angulairement par rapport à un plan qui est sensiblement normal au socle pour pied. Une jauge de contrainte est fixée de manière opérationnelle à ce segment pour recevoir et mesurer la force appliquée par l'utilisateur, et un afficheur est prévu en liaison opérationnelle avec la jauge de contrainte, l'utilisateur peut ainsi voir une représentation de la force appliquée dessus pendant un élan de golf.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:
1. A leg positioning and training device for golfers,
said device comprising: a platform comprising a top surface and
a bottom surface; a foot base plate rotatably mounted to said
top surface of said platform; an ankle support attached to said
foot base plate, said ankle support comprising a segment
extending upwardly from said foot base plate, said segment of
said ankle support being angularly adjustable with respect to a
plane substantially normal to said top surface of said platform;
a strain gauge operatively attached to said segment of said
ankle support whereby force applied to said segment of said
ankle support may be detected; and an indicator operatively
connected to said strain gauge, said indicator being disposed on
said top surface of said platform such that said indicator is
visible to a user of said device, whereby an indication of force
applied to said segment of said ankle support by the user may be
observed.
2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said segment of said
ankle support comprises an inner surface and an outer surface,
said strain gauge being disposed on said outer surface of said
segment of said ankle support whereby said strain gauge detects
force applied to said inner surface of said segment of said
ankle support.
3. A device as in claim 2 further comprising a foot
base plate lock disposed on said top surface of said platform in
engaging relation to said foot base plate, whereby said foot
base plate may be fixed to prevent rotation thereof with respect
to said top surface of said platform.
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4. A device as in claim 3 wherein said foot base plate
lock is releaseable.
5. A device as in claim 4 wherein said platform is a
rectangle.
6. A device as in claim 5 further comprising at least
one aperture formed through said platform in spaced apart
relation to an edge of said rectangle.
7. A device as in claim 5 wherein said foot base plate
is mounted to said top surface of said platform substantially
adjacent one of the shorter sides of said rectangle.
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Description

CA 02490276 2004-12-15
LEG POSITIONING AND TRAINING DEVICE FOR GOLFERS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a leg positioning and
training device useful for golfers in achieving proper weight
shift during a golf swing. The device of this invention
comprises a platform having a rotatable foot base plate attached
thereto. Extending upwardly from the foot base plate, and
angularly adjustable with regard to a plane normal to the foot
base plate, is an ankle support. The foot base plate and the
ankle support receive the back foot and ankle of the golfer as
he or she stands to address the ball. Operatively attached to
the ankle support is a strain gauge that is responsive to
pressure applied to the ankle support by the golfer during the
course of the golf swing. The strain gauge is operatively
connected to an indicator that is mounted on the platform such
that it is visible to the golfer during and after the golf
swing. By calibrating the strain gauge to a series of a lights
on the indicator, one may observe the relative amount of
pressure applied to the ankle support during the golf swing, and
make necessary adjustments so that weight shift is appropriate
for properly striking the golf ball.
Description of the Prior Art
Given the extreme popularity of the game of golf,
worldwide, one can easily find literally hundreds, if not

CA 02490276 2004-12-15
thousands, of golf training aids that are promoted as being
useful in teaching a golfer a correct swing and in training the
golfer to repeat a proper swing. Such devices are readily
available in retail stores and pro-shops, and a large number of
the prior art devices are taught in prior patent literature.
Some devices are actually worn by the golfer, while others might
be described as almost a "cage" in which the golfer stands while
practicing and perfecting the golf swing.
Notwithstanding the large number of such devices that are
known in the prior art, there remains a need for a device that
is simple, easily transported, durable, and capable of providing
virtually instantaneous feedback to the user.
The present invention particularly addresses proper
positioning of the golfer's rear foot and leg, while providing
an immediate, visible indication of weight shift onto that back
leg during the golf swing. If the weight shift is excessive, a
visible indicator provides this information to the golfer so
that correction can be made. If the weight shift is appropriate
for a proper golf swing, an immediate visible indicator to that
effect is displayed, whereby the golfer can continue his or her
practice swings in order to perfect proper weight shift.
SU1~1ARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a leg positioning and
training device for golfers and comprises a platform having a
top surface and a bottom surface. A foot base plate is
rotatably mounted to the top surface of the platform, and an
ankle support is attached to the foot base plate. The ankle
support includes a segment extending upwardly from the foot base
plate, and that segment is angularly adjustable with respect to
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a plane that is substantially normal to the top surface of the
platform. A strain gauge is operatively attached to that
upstanding segment of the ankle support such that force applied
thereto by the golfer will be detected and measured by the
strain gauge. An indicator is operatively connected to the
strain gauge and positioned on the top surface of the platform
so that is visible to a user of the device. The indicator
includes a plurality of lights, one or mare of which will be
illuminated depending upon the force applied to the strain gauge
through the upstanding segment of the ankle support.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of
construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts
which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set
forth and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention, reference should be had to the following detailed
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the leg positioning and
training device of this invention.
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1.
FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig.
1.
FIGURE 4 is a right side elevation of the device shown in
Fig. 2.
FIGURE 5 is a left side elevation of the device shown in
Fig. 2.
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FIGURE 6 is a bottom side elevation of the device shown in
Fig. 2.
FIGURE 7 is a top side elevation of the device shown in
Fig. 2.
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts
throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the view of Fig.l, the leg positioning and
training device of this invention is generally indicated as 10.
Device 10 comprises a platform, generally indicated as 12, that
is substantially rectangular in shape and includes a top surface
14 and a bottom surface 16. Rotatably attached to top surface
14, as by pivot pin 18 is a foot base plate 20. An ankle
support, generally indicated as 22, is attached to foot base
plate 20 and includes a segment 24 that extends upwardly from
foot base plate 20. Also visible in the view of Fig. 1 are
handholds 26 for convenience in transporting device 10, an
indicator 28 which will be described in greater detail below,
and a foot base plate lock 30 which will also be described in
greater detail below.
Turning to the views of Figs. 2 and 3, Fig. 2 provides a
top plan view of device 10, and Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of
device 10, showing bottom surface 16. In Fig. 2, rotation of
foot base plate 20 around pivot pin 18 is indicated by double
headed arrow A. In that view one can also see that foot base
plate lock 30 comprises, in this preferred embodiment, a lock
tab 32 that is releaseably engageable with lock detents formed
on a segment of foot base plate 20 in operative relation to lock
tab 32. Depressing lock tab 32 permits rotation of foot base
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plate 20 as indicated by arrow A, and releasing lock tab 32 will
effectively "lock" foot base plate 20 into position by
engagement of lock tab 32 with one or more of the lock detents
34.
Considering the views of both Figs. 1 and 2, one can also
see that segment 24 of ankle support 22 includes an inner
surface 36 and an outer surface 38. While not shown in the
drawings, it is to be understood that the user's rear foot would
be placed on foot base plate 20 such that portions of the foot
and ankle would be into contact with inner surface 36 of ankle
support 22.
Turning to the views of Figs. 4 - 7, side views and end
views of device 10 are provided. Considering, first, the end
view of Fig. 7, device 10 further comprises means whereby
segment 24 of ankle support 22 may be angularly adjusted with
respect to a plane that is substantially normal to top surface
14 of platform 12. This angular adjustment is indicated by
double headed arrow B in the views of Figs. 4 and 5. The
adjustment is accomplished by rotating adjustment knob 40
causing a screw (not shown) attached to knob 40 to press against
or move away from strip 42 which extends along the height of
outer surface 38 as shown in Fig. 7, thereby resulting in
angular movement of ankle support 22 as indicated by arrow B.
This adjustment, like the rotatable adjustment provided around
pivot pin 18, insures a correct engagement of the user's foot
with a base plate 20 and ankle support 22.
Also visible in the view of Fig. 7 is strain gauge 44.
Strain gauge 44 is preferably mounted to strip 42 on the outer
surface 38 of ankle support 22 for receiving and measuring force
applied to ankle support 22 by the user of device 10 in the
course of making a golf swing. This force is translated to
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strain gauge 44 by pressure applied by the user's foot and ankle
to inner surface 36 of ankle support 22 as the golf swing is
made. Strain gauge 44 may be selected from any of a variety of
such instruments as are well known and readily available in the
marketplace.
The output of strain gauge 44 is transmitted through
conductors (not shown) to indicator 28. As shown in the view of
Fig. 2, indicator 28 is disposed on top surface 14 of platform
12 such that indicator 28 is readily visible to a user of device
10 as the golf swing is practiced. Indicator 28 preferably
comprises a plurality of indicator lights 46. Circuitry is
provided such that at least one light 46 will be illuminated
when the user is properly positioned on device 10 with his or
her rear foot properly positioned on base plate 20 and adjacent
ankle support 22. In the course of the golf swing, weight will
shift to the user's rear foot, causing pressure to inner surface
36. This pressure is sensed by strain gauge 44 and a signal is
transmitted to indicator 28, causing one or more additional
lights 46 to be illuminated. In the preferred embodiment, a
first series of lights 46 are preferably green, and a second
series of lights 46 are yellow. One or more of the lights 46
may be red. In use, weight shift during the golf swing
sufficient to illuminate green lights is indicative of proper
weight shift during the golf swing. Illumination of one or more
yellow lights, while indicating a greater weight shift, may
still be considered acceptable. Too much weight shift,
resulting in even more pressure on inner surface 36, would be
indicated as unacceptable by the illumination of one or more red
lights. Of course, it is to be understood that the scope of
this invention is not to be limited to any particular number of
lights, nor their color. Rather, the structure of the device of
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this invention is intended to provide relatively instant
feedback to the user about his or her swing balance, weight
shift, and leg movement. In this preferred embodiment, after
each swing, indicator lights 46 remain lit for sufficient time
for the user to observe their status and the weight shift
characteristics of the swing, as measured by strain gauge 44.
Circuitry is provided whereby indicator 28 and strain gauge 44
will then reset for the next swing. Device 10 may be battery-
operated, or connected directly to a source of electricity. The
electrical connections and circuitry are state-of-the-art, and
readily available. Most frequently, the preferred embodiment
would be battery-operated to enhance the portability and utility
of device 10.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above,
among those made apparent from the preceding description, are
efficiently attained, and, since certain changes may be made in
the above article without departing from the scope of the
invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above
description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are
intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of
the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope
of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said
to fall there between.
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Representative Drawing