US1703375A - Golf instructing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb.26,1'929." 1,703,375

A. c. VOLK GOLF INSTRUCTING APPARATUS- Filed Nov- 15, 1927 s sheets-sum 1 Feb. 26, 1929.

, 1,703,375 A. c. VOLK GOLF .INSTRUCTING APPARATUS Filed Nov-15, 1927 SSheets-Sheet 2 7/1/114 r1114 'IIIl/A VII/II fill/4 WVEA/me Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES;

imam vet-x en nti'turn, mivmsora.

Gena insrneornve APPARATUS.

Application med November 15,1927; Serial No. 233,448; a

My invention has reference generally to ex ercising apparatus and particularly, although not necessarily, I to apparatus for instructing golf players in theseiene'e of the golf swing.

A comn'ion fault in the golf swing and one which strongly contributes to slicing, topping, sclaiiing, and nistiniing is t vie in'lproper pivoting of the body inrcla tion to the movement of the on the downwardswing. i articularly in the run swingas with a wooden club or a mid-iron, the natural tendency at the top the swing is to turn the body si innltaneously with downward movement of the This results in the hands leading the club head in respect to the ball, producing some or all of tie faults previously mentioned. I

it is a purpese of my invention to provide an apparatus capable of being readily applied to the bodyand operating to restrain pivoting of the body in a golf swing in a manner to delay body pivotingatthe topv of the swing monientarliy an just long enough to causethe arms to initiate the down swing independentlyof the body, that is to say, in advance of any turning movement of he body whence theproper relation is assumed of the arms, body, and club head tothe perfect striking of the ball. A

I will describe only oneforin of golf instructing apparatus embodying inven tion andwill then point out the novel features in claims.

in. the aecon'ipanyingdrawings: I

owing iniperspective one i cting apparatus embody- "ion in applied position to the v and ready for use; T i

belt

2 a detail perspective View of .the nbodied 111 the apparatus shown in control mechanism embodied in the apparatus with the supportingrods therefor insec- .tion;

v In itspresent embodiment, my apparatus Ellis an enlarged top plan view oftlie comprises a support adapted to beattached to man or othervertical structure, and which includes upper andlower brackets and 16,

' anda pair of rods :17 the ends of which are received 1n sockets 18 and 19 on the brackets 15 and 16, respectively, whereby the rods are supported in upright and parallel spaced position. A casing 20 is mounted on therods 1'? for vertica adjustment by the provision of ears 21 slidableon the rods and capable of being locked in fixed position thereon by means of set screws 22 (Fig. 3). Thecasing 20 is preferably of the form shown in Fig. 3, with its fiatfside open but nori'nal'ly closed by a cover plate 23 secured in place by screws 24-.

The casing 2O is provided centrally with bearings 25 inwhich is iournaled a shaft 26, and secured to this shaft is asheave27 provided on its periphery with two separate and dist nct annular grooves 28 and 29 in which cords 30 andBl, respectively, are trained with their inner ends secured in pockets 32' and-33, respectively, by means ofscrews 34, all as clearly shown in Fig. 4-. The opposite ends of the cor'ds are extended from the "casing through openings 35 in the cover plate 23, tieir outer: extremities being provided with rings 36 adapted to be engaged by snap hooks 37 secured to the ends of tangential extensions 38 of a belt 39. ,In the use of my invention as a golf instructing apparatus, the belt 39 is applied to the body, as illustrated in F jg. 1, and by reason of its construction it would be manifest that it may be adjusted to embrace the body with sufficient security to prevent :hfeumferential move nenfl theeroi on the body so that it wi'llturn with any pivotal movement of-the body. p p h As shown in li ies. 3 ands the upper end of the shatt'itl has tisredthereto a ratchet wheel. 41( ene 'ap'ed by a paw teeth 42 ant, 433. It is es teeth 4-2 and 43 be roundedas illu strated, and

that the teeth of the ratchet wheel iO be such that the intervening recesses begrounded to receive the teeth ended. The' pawl is provide-cl with a reduced extension 4% as clearly illustrated -in F gzfi', which is disposed within the bifurcated end ota link 46,;21 pivot pin 4.? being extended through the link end 45 and the rediiced portion dab-and thus providing a' pivotal support, forfthe pawl. -The portion 44 is so reduced as to provide lips 4-8 along one edge of th pawl to ,engage 'the bifurcated end 45 an l'imitth pivotal m vem nter the pawl in one direction and to the position shown in Fig. 3. A spring all) is associated with the pawl and pivot pin to yieldably urge the pawl to the position shown in Fig. 8. The link lti in turn is pivotally mounted on the bifurcated end 50 of a rod 51, a. pin 52 being extended through the meeting ends of the link and rod to pivotally connect the two and into a slot 53 in the upper side of the casing as illustrated in Fig. at. A spring 5% is mounted on the pin 52 and is associated *ith the rod 51 andlink d6 so to yieldabiy urge the latter toward the ratchet wheel ll) in order to maintain the pawl. ill in engage ment with the ratchet wheel. The rod 51 is movable longitudinally within the sleeve 55, cast integral with the casing 20 and closed at its opposite ends by screw plugs 5'6 and provided with openings tl'irough which the rod 51 is extended. The rod is provided with a collar 58, and interposed betwee the collar and the plug 57 is an expansible spring 59 which operates to urge the rod inwardly toward the ratchet wheel. The tension of this spring in respect to the rod 51 can be varied by an adjustment of the plug A washer 60 of rubber or other suitable mateial is mounted on the rod 51 so as to be interposed between the collar 58 and the plug 56 for the purpose of reducing wear and preventing injury to the collar and plug when the rod is driven inwardly by the spring 59. The rod is secured against any turning movement within the sleeve by reason of the pin 52 and the slot 53. Thus, the link 46 and the pawl ll are maintained in proper operative relation to the ratchet wheel 40.

An ear 6.1 is formed on the upper side of the casing 20, and threaded in this car is a setscrew 62 having a lock nut 63 for securing the screw in any adjusted posi tiou. This screw is designed to limit movement of the link 46 in a clockwise direction about the pin 52 2s a center, and by reason of its adjustment the movement of the link can be varied as desired for a purpose to be descrioed hereinafter.

In practice, the belt 89 is applicail to the body, preferably at apoint just above the hips, as illustrated in Fig. i, it being necessary that the belt be adjusted sufiicicntly tight to prevent movement thereof on the body so that any turning movement body will impart a corresponding movement to the belt. Vlith the extensions 38 attached to the cords and 31, the operator moves away from the casing 20 a distance sufiicient to remove any slack from the cords so that the latter are extended horizontally from the casing, all as illustrated in Fig. 1. in the proper execution of the golf swing, the body pivot-s or turns to the right on the upswing ot the club and to the left on the downswing, the left pivot exceeding in movement of (if LOG the right to complete the follow-through. l Vith the belt 39 applied as described, itwill be clear that under the pivotal movement of the body on'the upswing of the club, the belt is actuated or turned circumferentially to exert a pull on the extension 38 which is mitted to the cord 30 thereby unwinding the cord from the sheave 2'? and thus rotating" the latter in a clockwise direct-ion as when viewed in 7. Simu taneously, the other extension 88 is moved rearwardly and the cord 31 wound upon the sheave an amount corresponding to the unwinding of the cord 30.

At the beginning of the aforesaid turning movement of the sheave 27, the control de vice is the position illustrated in 7 wherein the tooth d3 of the pawl 41 is in en gagement with the ratchet wheel 40. With rotation 01" the sheave the ratchet wheel is likewise rotated in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow, and by reason of the mounting and positioning of the pawl 41, it rides freely over the teeth of the ratchet wheel so as not to restrict rotation of the latter or the sheave 27. Thus, body pivoting during the upswing of the club is not restricted by the apparatus. Upon reaching the top of the swing pivoting of the body is reversed so as to rotate the belt 39 in the op posits direction to that rotated during the uaswing. As a consequence, a pull is now exerted on the cord 31 thereby rotating the sheave 27 and. the ratchet wheel in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in 8. By reason of the tangential position of the pawl 41 such rotative move ment of the ratchet wheel is opposed by the pawl, but yieldingly so, and because or the mounting of the pawl. Under the pull er;- erted on the cord 31 the ratchet wheel moves the pawl from the tangential position shown in Fig. 'i to the radial position shown in .lig. 8. "lhis longitudinal movement oi the pawl is transmitted through the link l6 to the rod 51 moving the latter outwardly through the cylinder to the position illustrated in Fig. 8. Such movement is yielding ly opposed by the spring 59, and consequently the pull exerted on the cord 31 must be suilicient to overcome the tension of the spring before the sheave canirespond to'permit unwinding of the cord 31. The requisite pull is suflicient to restrain or delay reverse pivoting oi the body or the operator at the instant oi initiating the downswing so that the arms are permitted to initiate the downswing in advance of any turning movement of the body. However, this checking in body pivoting is only momentary as, in order to properly execute the downswing, it is neces-' sary that the body pivot to the left, but in a trailing order with respect to the downswing of the arms. "lhe' release of the ratchet wheel from the iii moaeva r influenee of the pawl and the consequent release of the cord 31 to remove any f'urth'er restraint to pivotal movement "ofthe body of the operator is 'eifectedby continued retation of the ratchet wheel to swing the pawl from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9. By reference to these figures it willbe seen that the link $6 is in contact with the screw 62thus transferring the pivot point of the pawl from the pin 52 to the pin 47. As a consequence, by eontinued rotation of the ratchet wheel after the link has engaged the screw the ratchet wheel will the teeth of the ratchet wheel'and thus offers nofurther hindrance tothe rotation of the sheave so that the cord 31 is now free to be unwound from the sheave and the operators bodyjfree to perform the reversep'ivot to complete the golf swing.

Under continued rotation of the ratchet wheel the pawl operates to swing the link 46 to the aligned position shown in Fig. 11 in respect to the rod 51, and it is to be noted that the curvature of the adjacent side of the pawl is such as to permit the teeth of the ratchet wheel to slide freely thereover.. I-n this new position of the pawl the tooth 42 thereof is now in engagement with the teeth of th is rotated in a reverse direction itnwill'o'pen ate to restore the pawl and the link to the normal position shown in Fig. 7. The manner in which this movement of the pawl is effected will be clear from a consideration of 12.

Assuming that the golf swing has been completed and it is desired .to repeat the swing in order that'the operator may be ined in'thc momentary chechingof the repivot to allow the arms to initiate'the (lm nswing, the clubis returned to an ad-' dressing position with respect to the ball, restoring the cords 30 and 81 to nor: an positionand in so doing rotating the sl ave in a clockwise direction to restore the control device to normal position. apparatus is ready for a second operationto control the body pivoting in the manner de- "scribed. This momentary checking in the body pivoting accomplishes the particular.

result sought in this adaptation of my apparatus, and by the repeated use o'f'the apparatus a golf player may teach himself the art of delaying body pivoting until the arms have initiated the'downswing, and thereby eliminate some of the many-disastrous res ults possible in the driving of a golf ball.

Adjustment of the spring 59 permits the mediately fo e ratchet wheel so that whenv the latter Thus the pulling force required to rotate thesheav'e' and more t e 'co-i'itr'o'l device to released posi tion to be va wl'iile'the screw 62 in controlling the throw aofcan vary the duration of the "-n o. or rest-mining 'actionin respect to the body pivotg in order to compensate for different defective characteristicsin the swing of golf players. It will be understood that by feeding the screw (52 ii'l'w'ar'dly in the direction of the link throw of the latter from the normal position shown in Fig. 7 to a position cor-r pending to that shown in Fig. 9, the distance to he traveled by he link will of necessity be si'iortened so tl'iat the time re quired to move the pawl li'to the released position shown in Fig. will becorrespmid ingly shortened by reason of the factthat iin ll'o-wing movement of the link into engagement with the screw that pawl is sprung to released position under tinned movement ofthe ratchet wheel and the expansive action of the spring 59. Conversely, adjustn'ientof thes'crew outwardly increases the throw of the link and conse= quently prolongs the checking or restraining period. r -A djust1nent o" the belt permits the apparatus to beappliedto players having different waist n1ea'sureinents, and by virtue 'of the verseal adjustability of the casing on the rods 17, the apparatus can be adapted to players of different heights. 1

Although. I have herein shown and described only one form of golf instructing apparatusembodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may-be made herein without departingfrom the spirit of'the invention and ried'to suit a particular operator, I

of the character destrain the body against movement in one direction andthen airinit the body to movein' tl'iatdirection. I p r I 2. An apparatus .of the character described comprising means adapted for attach-Y merit to'the body, and mechanism operatively connected to said means to permit freedom of movement or the body in one direction and ,to, restrain the body against J movement in anotherdirection; V

3. A-n apparatus of the character described comprising means adaptal for attachment tothe body, and mechanism operatively connected to said means to permit freedom of movementof the body in one direction'and' momentarily restrain the body. against movementin a reverse direction.

4:. A golf instructing apparatus comprising; meansa'dapted for attachment to the body to turn therewith, and mechanism op'e ratively connected to said means to yieldingly restrain the body against turning movement in one direct-ion.

A golf instructing apparatus comprising means adapted for attachment to the body to turn therewith, and mechanism operatively connected to said means to permit freedom of turning movement of the body in one direction and to yieldingly restrain the body against turning movement in reverse direction.

6. A golf instructing apparatus compris- 1 ug means adapted for attachment to the body to turn therewith, and mechanism operatively oonrmeted to said means to momentarily restrain. the body against turning moven'ient in one direction.

7. A golf instructing apparatus comprising means adapted for attaclm'ient to the body to turn therewith, and mechanism operatively connected to said means to permit freedom of turning movement of the body in one di rection and momentarily restraining the body against turning movenr it in a reverse direction.

8. A golf instructing apparatus comprising means adapted for attachment to the body so as to be moved by and with the body when pivoting as in swinging a golf club, and niiecl'ianism operatively connected to said means for yieldably restraining the body against pivoting at the top of the swing until downward swinging movement of the arms has been initiated.

9. A golf instructing apparatus compriing means adapted for attachment to the body so to be moved by and with the body when pivoting as in swinging a golf club, mechanism 'operatively connected to said means for yieldably restraining the body against pivoting at the top of the swing until dowmvard swinging movement of the arms has been initiated, and means to) ading the mechanism to vary its restraining action.

10. In an apparat .s of the character described, a member mounted for rotation, means for rotating the member in either direction, and means operating to yieldingly restrain the, member against rotation in one direction, the last means being adjustable to vary the torque required to cause it'to yield and permit rotation of the member in said direction.

11. In an apparatus ot. the character described, a member mounted for rotation, means for rotating the member in either dire tion, a ratchet wheel fixed to the member for rotation therewitl'i, and a pawl urged into engagement with said wheel in a manner to yicldably restrain the wheel against rotation in one direction. 7 r

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a member mounted for rotation means for rotating the member in either direction, a ratchet wheel fixed to the member for rotation therewith, a pawl pivoted to occupy one position in which it opposes movement of the wheel in one direction and an other position in which the wheel is free to rotate, means for urging the pawl tothe rection, means operating to yicldingly re- Sl1* illl the member against rotation in one.

dnection for a portion of its moven'l'ent in said direction, and adjustable means controlling the last means in a manner to control the action of said restraining means in respect to said wheel.

1st. An apparatus of the character described comprising a su 1 )ort, mechanism vertically adjustable on the support and including a sheave rotatable in either direction, cords trained in opposite directions about the sheave, a belt to which the cords are connected tangentially and at ditlerent points so that when the belt in applied to the body movement of the latter in either direction and in the plane of the belt will produce rotation of the sheave in one direction or theother, and means operating to yieldably restrain the sheave against rotation in one direction.

15(111 an apparatus '01: the character described, a member mounted for rotation, means for rotating the member in either direction, a ratchet wheel fixed to the member for rotation therewith, a rod, a link pivoted on the rod, a pawl pivoted on the link to occupy one extreme position in which it is aligned with the l; and another extreme position in which it is at an angle to the link, said pawl being yieldably urged to the lastmentioned position and in either. position engaging said ratchet wheehand means tor urging said rod in such direction that the pawl will be maintained in engagement with the ratchet wheeland rotation of the latter yieldingly restrained as long" as the-pawl occupies the last-mentioned position.

16. In an apparatus as embodied in claim 15 wherein adjustablemeans provided at controlling movement of the link in the manner and for the purpose described. I

1?. In an apparatus of the character described, a member mounted for rotation, means for rotating the member inv either di rection, and means operating to restrain the member against rotation in one direction for a portion of its movement in said direction.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, a member mounted for rotation,

means for rotating the member in either direetion and means operating to restrain the member against rotation in one direction for a portion of its movement in said direction, and then oniclriv releasing the member to permit unrestrained movement of the remainder of its movement.-

19. A golf instructing appara us comprising means adapted for attaclnnent to the body so as to moved byand with the body when pivoting as in swinging a golf club, and mechanism operatively connected to said means for yieidably restraining the body against pivoting at the top oi the swing until downward swinging movement of the arms has been initiated, said mechanism including means operable by the first means for restoring the mechanism to normal position upon movement of the body to an addressing position so that when repeating the golf,

swing the mechanism will again act to yieldingly restram the bodyagamst plvoting until downward swinging movement of the arms has been initiated. a

pivoting as in swinging a golf club, meel1a-,

nism operatively connected to said means for yieldabiy restraining the body against pivot- 1ng at the top of the swing until downward swinging l'ilUsCll'lOIli? or the arms has been initiated and means for ad usting the mechanism to vary its restraining action, sald. mechanism including means operable by the first a means -tor restoring the mechanism to normal position upon movement of the body to an addressing position so that when repeating the golf swing the mechanism Will again act to yieidingly restrain the body against pivoting until downward swinging movement of the arm has been initlated.

' ANDREW o. VOLK.

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