Tennis stroke training device

Claim 2

For use in training (device for use by) a player (in stroking with) the combination of a (tennis) racket having a handle, comprising a cuff member including means for strapping the same around at least a portion of the forearm of a player and extension means interconnecting the handle of the tennis racket and said cuff member to rigidly hold said handle and cuff member in a predetermined angular relationship lying in a plane defined by the forearm and racket handle, said extension means including means for permitting (to afford) twisting of said handle within a predetermined angle of rotation about an axis extending the length of said handle so that the player can move said racket through the limited extent required for changing from backhand position to forehand position.

Claim 3

A training device as in claim 1, in which said extension means includes a pair of elongated, rigid rods having first ends secured to said cuff member and second ends extending therefrom generally in the direction of length of said forearm, and said means for permitting (to afford) the twisting of the handle includes a mounting assembly attached to the end of the handle and bearing means housed in said mounting assembly to rotatably couple the second ends of said rods with the handle.

Claim 4

A training device as in claim 2, in which said rods are disposed in substantially parallel, laterally spaced-apart relationship in the vicinity of said cuff member, and are curved intermediate said first and second ends (with said second ends thereof formed into bight portions adjacent said bearing means) to define said predetermined angular relationship.

Claim 5

A training device as in claim 2, in which said rods are laterally spaced apart a predetermined dimension to cause contact between the rods at the extreme limits of twisting of the handle to define said predetermined angle of rotation.

Claim 6

A training device as in claim 2, in which said bearing means includes a pair of (diametrically disposed) bearings carried in (on) said mounting assembly (handle), each of said bearings being laterally displaced from the longitudinal axis of said handle and couple with a second end of a respective rod for relative rotation therewith as said handle is rotated about its axis. (about an axis extending longitudinally of said handle.)

Claim 7

A training device as in claim 2, in which said cuff means includes means cooperating with the first ends of said rods to yieldably resist twisting of said rods about their longitudinal axis.

Claim 8

A training device as in claim 6, in which said rods are laterally spaced apart a predetermined dimension to cause contact between said rods at the extreme limits of twisting of the handle to define said predetermined angle or rotation.

Claim 9

For use in training a tennis player, the combination of a tennis racket having a handle, a cuff member adapted to be strapped about at least a portion of the forearm of said player, and extension means interconnecting said handle and cuff means to rigidly hold the same in a predetermined angular relationship lying in a plane defined by said forearm and handle, said extension means including means to afford twisting of said handle within a predetermined angle of rotation about an axis extending the length of said handle.

Claim 10

For use in training a tennis player, the combination of a tennis racket having a handle, a cuff member adapted to be strapped about at least a portion of the forearm of said player, and extension means interconnecting said handle and cuff means to rigidly hold the same in a predetermined angular relationship lying in a plane defined by said forearm and handle, said extension means including means to afford twisting of said handle within a predetermined angle of rotation about an axis extending the length of said handle.

Claim 11

A training device for use by a player in stroking with a racket having a handle comprising, a cuff member including means for strapping the same around the forearm of a player, extension means including a pair of elongated rigid rods having first ends secured to cuff member and second ends extending therefrom generally in the direction of the length of said forearm, and a mounting assembly adapted to be rigidly attached to the end of the handle and including bearing means housed in said mounting assembly and attached to second ends of said rods to rotatably couple the second ends thereof within said mounting assembly, said rods being curved intermediate their first and second ends to define a predetermined angular relationship between said cuff member and said mounting assembly, which determines the angular relationship between the players arm and the handle, said rods being laterally spaced apart at predetermined dimension to cause contact between the rods at the extreme limits of twisting of the mounting assembly to thereby define a predetermined angle of rotation so that the player can move said racket from backhand position to forehand position.

Claim 12

A training device for use by a player in stroking with a racket having a handle comprising, a cuff member including means for strapping the same around the forearm of a player, extension means including a pair of elongated rigid rods having first ends secured to cuff member and second ends extending therefrom generally in the direction of the length of said forearm, and a mounting assembly adapted to be rigidly attached to the end of the handle and including bearing means housed in said mounting assembly and attached to second ends of said rods to rotatably couple the second ends thereof within said mounting assembly, said rods being curved intermediate their first and second ends to define a predetermined angular relationship between said cuff member and said mounting assembly, which determines the angular relationship between the players arm and the handle, said rods being laterally spaced apart at predetermined dimension to cause contact between the rods at the extreme limits of twisting of the mounting assembly to thereby define a predetermined angle of rotation so that the player can move said racket from backhand position to forehand position.

Claim 13

A training device for use by a player in stoking with a racket having a handle comprising, a cuff member including means for strapping the same around the forearm of a player, extension means including a pair of elongated rigid rods having first ends secured to cuff member and second ends extending therefrom generally in the direction of the length of said forearm, and a mounting assembly adapted to be rigidly attached to the end of the handle and including bearing means housed in said mounting assembly and attached to second ends of said rods rotatably couple the second ends thereof within said mounting assembly, said bearing means including a pair of bearings carried in said mounting assembly, each of said bearings being laterally displaced from the longitudinal axis of said handle and coupled with a second end of a respective rod for relative rotation therewith as said handle is rotated about its axis, said rods being curved intermediate their first and second ends to define the predetermined angular relationship between said cuff member and said mounting assEmbly, which determines the angular relationship between the player''s arm and the handle.

Claim 14

A training device for use by a player in stoking with a racket having a handle comprising, a cuff member including means for strapping the same around the forearm of a player, extension means including a pair of elongated rigid rods having first ends secured to cuff member and second ends extending therefrom generally in the direction of the length of said forearm, and a mounting assembly adapted to be rigidly attached to the end of the handle and including bearing means housed in said mounting assembly and attached to second ends of said rods rotatably couple the second ends thereof within said mounting assembly, said bearing means including a pair of bearings carried in said mounting assembly, each of said bearings being laterally displaced from the longitudinal axis of said handle and coupled with a second end of a respective rod for relative rotation therewith as said handle is rotated about its axis, said rods being curved intermediate their first and second ends to define the predetermined angular relationship between said cuff member and said mounting assEmbly, which determines the angular relationship between the player''s arm and the handle.

Claim 15

A training device as in claim 10, in which said rods are laterally spaced apart a predetermined dimension to cause contact between said rods at the extreme limits of twisting of the handle to define said predetermined angle of rotation.