GB2324043A - Elbow/knee restraint - Google Patents

Abstract

A limb restraining device comprises a tubular structure for wearing over an elbow/knee for resiliently resisting the bending of the elbow/knee. The device can be used for keeping the leading arm of a golfer at a set angle, eg straight, during the swing, or can also be used in other sports, eg worn over a knee to keep it at a set angle whilst skiing. Preferably the device has a restraining means (14 fig 1) made of a resiliently flexible plastics material which provides the resistance to the bending of the elbow/knee. The restraining means may be straight or angled to keep the elbow/knee at a specified, preferred angle, may be removable and may be more flexible towards its opposite ends, eg by tapering or reduced thickness, to be more comfortable during the follow through of a golf swing. The tubular structure may be elasticated and attached to the arm by engagement of hook and pile fastening material (10,18 fig 1).

Description

Sportsman's Training Device The present invention relates to a device for use by a sportsman when training for specific activities.

For example in the game of golf, a player needs considerable practice to develop his skills for driving a ball.

In particular, the player needs to adopt a correct stance and also to maintain the elbow of his leading arm at a certain angle when swinging the club to strike the ball: considerable practice is necessary to train the player to keep the elbow of his arm at the appropriate angle.

I have now devised a simple device which a golfer may use in order that he may train himself to keep the elbow of his leading arm at an appropriate angle when driving a ball. The device may be used by players of other sports, where it is similarly desirable to keep one or more limbs (i.e. arms or legs) at particular angles.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention there is provided a sportsman's training aid which comprises a tubular structure for wearing on an arm over the elbow or on a leg over the knee, and arranged to resiliently resist bending movement of said arm or leg.

The device may be arranged to give resistance to the user bending his arm from being straight: it may be appropriate for many golfer's to maintain their leading arm straight when striking the ball. Alternatively, the device may be arranged for the user to hold his leading arm at a selected, small angle of bend: the device may therefore be arranged to resist bending the arm from a given angle of bend. Preferably the device enables the user to select an angle of bend of his arm which he finds appropriate (whether for comfort or otherwise). The device allows the user to bend his arm further, which he may wish to do during the follow-through, so that their is no risk that the device will injure or hurt the user.

Preferably the tubular structure of the device comprises an elasticated material, so that it firmly embraces the arm or leg on which it is worn, and restraining means for resiliently resisting bending movement of the tubular structure. Preferably the restraining means is arranged to extend around part only of the circumference of the tubular structure: preferably, in use, the device is applied with the restraining means positioned against the inside of the elbow or knee.

Preferably the tubular structure comprises a piece of sheet material which is arranged to be wrapped around the arm or leg and its opposite ends fastened together. Preferably respective overlapping portions of said opposite ends are provided with pieces of hook-and-pile fastening material so that the device may be readily applied to and adjusted upon the arm or leg.

Preferably one end of the piece of sheet material is divided longitudinally by one or more slits, the plurality of projecting portions thus formed each being provided with a piece of hook-and-pile fastening material. Each projecting portion may therefore be adjusted individually to customise the fit of the device along its length.

Preferably the restraining means comprises a member of resiliently flexible plastics material, which is fixed to or incorporated in the tubular structure. For example, the tubular structure may comprise inner and outer layers, between which the resiliently flexible member is disposed. Preferably the latter member is more flexible towards its opposite ends, for example by tapering in width and/or thickness towards its ends.

The restraining means is preferably curved to fit around the arm or leg and may be formed with a bend intermediate its ends, to impart a bend to the device, if it is desired that the user should adopt a bend in his arm or leg.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a training device for use by a golfer; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the training device fitted to a golfer's arm.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a training device is shown comprising a sheet 2 of flexible elastomeric material, formed at one end with a plurality of projecting portions 4,6,8, each of which is provided with a piece 10 of hook-and-pile fastening material. The opposite end of the sheet comprises a folded portion 12 which is stitched along its opposite side edges to form a pocket having an open edge 16 and into which a restraining member 14 of resilient plastics sheet material is inserted.

The material of the sheet 2 is flexible and elastically stretchable is all directions. The material of the restraining member resiliently resists bending.

The folded end portion 12 of the sheet 2 is provided on its outer surface with a piece 18 of hook-and-pile fastening material so that, when the sheet is wrapped around a person's arm 20 (as shown in Figure 2), its projecting portions 4,6,8 may be overlapped onto the fastening piece 18 to secure the sheet 2 as a sleeve around the arm.

The device is preferably secured to the arm by first attaching the centre fastening portion 6 to its opposite fastening piece 18. Each of the remaining fastening portions 4 and 8 is then attached in turn and then the fastening portions are adjusted as required, by successively releasing them and reapplying them.

The device is arranged so that it may be fitted to the arm as shown with the restraining member 14 extending along the inside of the arm.

In use, the restraining member 14 tends to maintain the person's arm at a substantially straight angle: any bending movement that the wearer might make of his arm is resiliently resisted. However, the device does not hold the arm rigid, and does not therefore prevent the user bending his arm when he wishes to. In particular, whilst it is appropriate for the user to maintain his arm straight during the swing to strike the ball, thereafter (during the follow-through) the user will normally wish to bend his arm: the device will resiliently deform to allow this, therefore without risk of injuring or hurting the user.

For some users, it may be desirable (whether for comfort or otherwise) to maintain the arm bent through a small angle during the swing to strike the ball. The device can be used in these cases also: the device allows the user to bend his arm to the desired angle; the restraining member 14 will bend along a transverse line intermediate its ends, coincident with the inside of the elbow. If the user bends his elbow further, he will experience increased resistance: this acts to remind the user to hold his arm at the angle of bend which he has chosen, throughout the swing to strike the ball; thereafter, on the follow-through, the user may bend his arm tighter as desired.

Thus, where the device is used by a golfer to improve his swing, the golfer's leading arm is restrained from departing from the chosen angle: this helps the player to train and enables him to reach a level of skill at which, without the need to wear the device, he naturally keeps his arm at the angle which is appropriate for him.

It will be appreciated that the device is suitable for use by sportsmen other than golfers. For example, the device may be used by skiers, worn on the legs over the knees, to train the wearer to maintain an appropriate knee angle.

Claims (10)

1) A sportsman's training aid which comprises a tubular structure for wearing on an arm over the elbow or on a leg over the knee, and arranged to resiliently resist bending movement of said arm or leg.

2) A training aid as claimed in claim 1, in which said tubular structure comprises an elasticated material so that it embraces the arm or leg on which it is worn, and restraining means for resiliently resisting bending movement of the arm or leg.

3) A training aid as claimed in claim 2, in which said restraining means extends around part only of the circumference of said tubular structure.

4) A training aid as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which said restraining means comprises a member of resiliently flexible plastics material.

5) A training aid as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, in which said restraining means is curved to fit around the arm or leg.

6) A training aid as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, in which said restraining means is formed with a bend intermediate opposite ends of the tubular structure, to impart a bend in said structure.

7) A training aid as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said tubular structure comprises a member of sheet material which is arranged to be wrapped around the arm or leg and its opposite ends then fastened together.

8) A training aid as claimed in claim 7, further comprising fastening means of hook-and-pile type for fastening together said opposite ends of said member of sheet material.

9) A training aid as claimed in claim 7 or 8, in which one of said opposite ends of the member of sheet material is divided by one or more slits to provide a plurality of projecting portions which are provided with respective fastening means.

10) A sportsman's training aid substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.