Boxing and martial arts fight, trainer, and game system and method

• US 8,079,938 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2010
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XFit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nexersys Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Terry G., Shah, Redza
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US12/917,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20110111924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 482 83- 90, 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/027 using player's own weight, e.g. on a platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0636 3D visualisation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/10 Combat sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/102 Boxing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/106 Karate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/22 mounted on, or suspended from, a fixed support
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/32 : with indicating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 : Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports

Abstract

A boxing or martial arts training and/or exercise device includes one or more punching pads locationally displaced and supported on a frame. Respective pads are positioned in support on the frame for punching and kicking. Each pad communicatively connects to one or more impact sensor. Each impact sensor communicatively connects to a control unit. The control unit is communicatively connected to a display. The impact sensor detects touches and taps to the pad and signals the control unit of the detection. Responsive to the detection, the control unit directs sequences shown in the display according to a fighting sequence, a training sequence, or other sequence. The control unit includes a user interface for selection among sequences, as well as for selection of various menu items for the respective types of sequences.

Claims

1. An interactive boxing apparatus, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of arms, each arm of the plurality of arms distinctly connected to the frame and outwardly extends from the frame;

a plurality of individual pads, each individual pad of the plurality of individual pads exclusively connected to a distinct one of the arms, each arm having at least one pad distinctly connected to the arm;

a plurality of impact sensors, each impact sensor of the plurality of impact sensors exclusively communicatively connected to a distinct one of the individual pad, each individual pad having at least one impact sensor distinctly connected to the individual pad;

a control unit communicatively connected to each impact sensor of the plurality of impact sensors; and

a display connected to the control unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker connected to the controller;

wherein the controller controls the speaker to output audible commands for boxing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a fighter avatar graphically depicted in the display;

wherein the controller controls the speaker to output audible commands for boxing and controls the display to output the fighter avatar for boxing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the impact sensors is a multi-axis detector, capable of detecting movement in more than one axis of motion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the arm is capable of moving in more than one axis of motion upon boxing impact to at least one pad connected to the at least one of the arm.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit, responsive to contact to at least one of the individual pad, as detected by the respective of impact sensor connected to the individual pad, accordingly controls the display and the speaker.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

an audio and visual instruction output by the display and the speaker, selected from the group of;

a training sequence and an avatar fighting sequence;

wherein the control unit, responsive to contact to at least one of the individual pad, controls the media display and the speaker to output the instruction.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display is connected to the frame and thereby positioned at about head height of a user of the apparatus.

9. An interactive boxing apparatus, comprising:

a movement resistive punch pad;

a movement sensor communicatively connected to the punch pad, for detecting any movement of the punch pad;

a processor connected to the movement sensor, responsive to detection by the movement sensor of movement of the punch pad;

a module communicatively connected to the processor, controlled by the processor, responsive to movement of the punch pad on detection by the movement sensor;

a media display communicatively connected to the processor, the processor directs output by the media display in response to control of the module by the processor;

a speaker communicatively connected to the processor, the processor directs output by the speaker in response to control of the module by the processor; and

a user instruction output by either the speaker, the media display, and the speaker and the media display, in combination;

wherein the module, as controlled by the processor, responds to movement of the punch pad by initiating the user instruction.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the movement sensor is a multi-axis detector, capable of detecting movement of the punch pad in more than one axis of motion.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a fighter avatar graphically depicted in the media display;

wherein the controller controls the speaker to output audible commands for boxing and controls the media display to output the fighter avatar for boxing.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the movement sensor detects multi-axis motion of the movement resistive punch pad.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

an arm connected to the punch pad, wherein the arm provides movement resistance to the punch pad;

a frame connected to the arm, the frame retains the arm positioning the punch pad for proper boxing technique.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the arm is capable of moving in more than one axis of motion upon boxing impact to the punch pad.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the module under control of the processor, responsive to contact to the punch pad, as detected by the movement sensor connected to the punch pad, accordingly controls the media display and the speaker.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

an instruction output by the media display and the speaker, selected from the group of;

a training sequence and an avatar fighting sequence;

wherein the module under control of the processor, controls the media display and the speaker in response to the movement sensor detecting contact to the punch pad, to output the instruction.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein

the arm is pivotally connected to the frame and biased to resist pivoting unless forcefully overcome by punching;

and

the arm includes a first segment pivotally connected to the frame and a second segment longitudinally connected to the first segment opposite the frame;

wherein the second segment is slidably connected to the first segment and biased to resist compressing in slidable connection to the first segment unless forcefully overcome by punching.

18. A method of boxing, comprising the steps of:

outputting a media item on a display, the media item identifies a distinct pad from among a plurality of pads, each pad, respectively, connected to a unique sensor, respectively, exclusively for the pad;

detecting a punch to the distinct pad by the unique sensor of the distinct pad;

signaling a controller by the unique sensor of the distinct pad in response to the step of detecting; and

controlling the media item on the display by the controller in response to the step of signaling.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

outputting an audio command on a speaker, the audio command provides an instruction relating to the punch pad; and

controlling the audio command on the speaker in response to the step of signaling.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the audio command is selected from the group of:

a training sequence and an avatar fighting sequence.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the steps of outputting the media item and outputting the audio command selectively respond to contact to the punch pad, based on whether contact is made within a predetermined time limit and whether contact is not made within a predetermined time limit.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of outputting the media item displays in the display, in response to contact to the punch pad, a force of the contact, a time delay of the contact from either of the audio command, the media item, and combination of these, and a running count of contacts to the punch pad made within the time delay.

23. A method of boxing, comprising the steps of:

providing a frame, a series of arms connected to the frame and outwardly extending from the frame, one or more pad connected to respective ones of the series of arms, an impact sensor communicatively connected to each pad, a control unit communicatively connected to the impact sensor, and a display connected to the control unit;

outputting a media item on the display, the media item selecting a distinct pad from among the one or more pad, each pad, respectively, connected to a unique sensor, respectively, exclusively for the pad;

detecting movement of the distinct pad and an identity of the distinct pad so moved;

signaling a controller by the impact sensor with the identity of the distinct pad so moved; and

controlling the media item on the display by the controller in response to the step of signaling;

wherein the media item in the step of outputting selectively corresponds to the steps of detecting, signaling, and controlling for boxing instruction.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

outputting an audio command on a speaker, the audio command provides an instruction relating to the distinct pad; and

controlling the audio command on the speaker in response to the step of signaling.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the audio command is selected from the group of:

a training sequence, an avatar fighting sequence, and a customized sequence.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the steps of outputting the media item and outputting the audio command selectively respond to contact to the distinct pad, based on whether contact is made within a predetermined time limit and whether contact is not made within a predetermined time limit.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of outputting the media item displays in the display, in response to contact to the distinct pad, a force of the contact, a time delay of the contact from either of the audio command, the media item, and combination of these, and a running count of contacts to the distinct pad made within the time delay for the plurality of pads.