DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to apparatus for use in training to reduce or prevent head movement.

BACKGROUND ART Keeping the head still is a factor in many areas in life none more so than in sports. Existing devices for detecting and preventing head movement tend to impede the trainees view of the object of the training session (i. e. the ball in golf) leading to an unnatural feeling. Other devices-for example as disclosed in GB 2137101-may restrict head movement too much, particularly during the preparatory parts of a golf swing, whilst other arrangements intended to allow head movement during the final,'follow-through'part of a golf swing may be complex and consequently expensive to manufacture. The

present invention has as an objective an amelioration of these disadvantages.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides in a first aspect an apparatus for use in training to reduce or prevent head movement, the apparatus comprising: an anchor (1,8) for attachment to the ground, a wall or the like; and a head engagement member (3; 12; 20; 25) rigidly attached to and spaced from said anchor (1,8) and configured to reduce or prevent head movement both upwards and backwards and forwards, but to allow head movement from side to side.

As a result of the spaced connection between the head engagement member and anchor, the natural stance or position of the trainee is not affected by the training device and allows full unobstructed movement of the body.

Furthermore, the rigid nature of the connection helps reduce or prevent head movement. However, whilst head movement is prevented both upwards and backwards and forwards, movement from side to side-which is an important element of the technique of some successful golfers-is not prevented. Such an arrangement is distinct from the device of GB 2137101 which prevents movement both vertically and to one side.

Thus with the training device in place at the required height, the trainee positions his head against

the underside of the headrest and can commence practice, knowing that if his head dips feeling will be lost from the headrest. If, however, the trainee tries to lift the head the arm and headrest will prevent this. Similarly, if the trainee sways either forwards or backwards, this motion will be felt on the trainee's scalp.

In a preferred arrangement, the head engagement member is adapted to engage the scalp of a respective head and may be shaped to fit the profile of the scalp as outlined by the median line of the head. In particular, the head engagement member may be an arcuate beam of length greater than its width.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for use in training to reduce or prevent head movement, the apparatus comprising: an anchor (1,8) for attachment to the ground, a wall or the like; and a head engagement member (3; 12; 20; 25) rigidly attached to and spaced from said anchor (1,8), wherein the head engagement member (12) is held relative to anchor (1,8) by a release device (15) adapted to release the head engagement member (12) when subject to force above a predetermined threshold.

Not only does such an arrangement allow follow- through motion of the head, it has the advantage of simplicity over follow-through mechanisms triggered by ball movement of the kind disclosed for example in US

3325169 and US 3770280. Advantageously, the release device includes one or more magnets, which may be permanent magnets. Means for disabling the release device may also be included.

Both aspects of the invention may be used together.

Furthermore, in both aspects of the invention, the head engagement member is preferably height-adjustably mounted on the anchor. To this end, the arm may be pivotally attached to the anchor and may further be supported by a support arm pivotally attached at one end to the anchor and slidably attached at said other end to said arm such that sliding movement of said support arm along the arm adjusts the height of the head engagement member. Locking means for securing the head engagement member at a chosen height may also be included, particularly for locking the support arm relative to the arm. A scale, advantageously located on the arm, can facilitate consistent repositioning of the head engagement member at a chosen height.

As regards the head engagement member itself, this may be adjustably attached to the arm such that it can be adjusted to fit against the head at a desired angle.

Depending on the application, the head engagement member may also include means-which may comprise rubber-for increasing friction between said member and a respective head.

To facilitate storage of the device, the anchor may be made up of a base member releasably engageable in a bracket adapted for permanent attachment to the ground, a wall or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a training device according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figures 2A and 2B are front and edge profile views of a base unit of the training device of figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the wall bracket of the training device of figure 1; Figure 4 is a detail view of the locking slider and scale of the training device of figure 1; Figure 5 is a detail view of the headrest of the training device of figure 1; Figure 6 is a view of an alternative headrest arrangement; Figure 7 is a view of a third headrest arrangement ; Figure 8 is a view of a fourth headrest arrangement.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Figure 1 is a perspective view of a training device according to a first embodiment of the invention. A head engagement member 3, discussed below with regard to

figures 5 to 8, is adapted to engage the scalp of a respective head and may be shaped to fit the profile of the scalp. Member 3 is rigidly attached to and laterally spaced from a base plate 1 by means of a laterally- extending arm 2, the base plate being detachably secured to a wall (not shown) by means of a wall bracket 8.

Height adjustment of member 3 is achieved by loosening wing nut 6 of support arm slider 7, thereby allowing arm 2 to pivot at one end about base plate spindle 9. Support arm 4, which is also pivoted at one end about base plate spindle 10, slides along the arm until the desired headrest height is reached, whence wing nut 6 is tightened, thereby locking arms 2 and 4 relative to one another and the position of headrest 3 relative to wall bracket 8. As shown in figure 2, a scale 5 may be mounted on the arm so as to facilitate repeatable positioning of the slider 7 which is pivoted to support arm 4 at 17.

Details of base plate 1 and spindles 9 and 10 are shown in figure 2A, whilst figure 2B illustrates a protrusion or bump 11 which may be located on the rear surface of the base plate so as to engage with the wall bracket and thereby prevent any play between bracket and base unit when installed. Figure 4 shows detail of wall bracket 8: holes 18 allow permanent attachment of the bracket by means of screws or the like to a suitable

vertical surface. Stoppers 19 ensure that the base unit 1 can be repeatably positioned within the bracket at the same height. This in combination with scale 5 ensures that the same headrest height relative to the ground can be achieved for each training session. When not in use, the training device can be detached from the wall bracket and stored.

Figure 5 is a detail view of a first embodiment of a headrest 3 which is fixed to arm 2. The headrest has an underside against which the trainee positions his head, the front of the head pointing towards arm 2 as viewed in figure 5. In this position, the head is prevented from moving upwards, forwards or backwards. However, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the headrest does not prevent head movement from side to side, achieved in this embodiment by a head engagement member that extends predominantly in a vertical plane.

However, some uses may require the head to be held firm and to this end a rubber coating may be applied to the underside of the headrest.

Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of a headrest 12 in accordance with a second aspect of the invention and pivoted to the arm 2 by means of hinge 12'. View A shows detail of the hinge area when open and as observed from the direction of arrow X: it will be seen that the headrest incorporates at least one permanent magnet 15

the strength of which resists light upward pressure but gives way under moderate pressure. The ability to release the head from its fixed position enables, for example, golfers to complete their swing. View B shows detail of the hinge area when shut and as seen from the direction of arrow X: if desired, a locking pin 14 can be slid into hole 16 to secure the headrest and arm relative to one another, thereby ensuring that the magnets 15 do not give way with upward pressure. When not in use the locking pin 14 is stored in a dummy locking hole 13 on the arm.

Figure 7 shows further embodiment of a hinged headrest 20 that is linked to the arm 2 by means of a bolt and wing nut 21. This enables the headrest 20 to be adjusted to fit against the head at the desired angle.

In the embodiment of figure 8, headrest 25 is both hinged as in figure 6 and linked as in Figure 7.

The different options for the headrest outlined above allow for different uses of the training device.

As mentioned above, with the training device in place at the required height, the trainee positions his head against the underside of the headrest. The trainee can then practice knowing that if the head dips feeling will be lost from the headrest. If, however, the trainee tries to lift the head the arm and headrest will prevent this. If the trainee sways either forwards or backwards

or from side to side this motion will be felt on the trainee's scalp.

The device can be used to practice a number of sports where a still head is an important feature of the game. Examples of such sports are: 1. Golf-an important factor in golf is the act of keeping the head substantially still throughout the golf swing.

2. Baseball-keeping the head still whilst swinging a baseball bat helps to maximise impact with the ball.

3. Cricket, Tennis, Badminton, Squash, Shooting.