Safety circuit for a martial arts practice dummy

• US 8,388,503 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2011
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James R. Schmitt, Joseph E. Buzzanco, Lawrence A. Slomski
• Original Assignee: James R. Schmitt, Joseph E. Buzzanco, Lawrence A. Slomski
• Inventors: Buzzanco, Joseph E., Slomski, Lawrence A, Schmitt, James R
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome w
• Application Number:
  US13/246,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 482/83, 482/90, 482/4
• US Class Current: 482/83
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0081 Stopping the operation of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0087 of the piston-cylinder type using hydraulic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0083
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/10 Combat sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/215 Anthropomorphic devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/24 mounted on, or suspended from, a movable support
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/34 Tackling, blocking or grappling dummies, e.g. boxing or wrestling or American- football dummies

Abstract

Several embodiments of martial arts practice assemblies are described involving variations spanning from apparatus permitting movement along a single translational axis and about a single rotational axis to an embodiment mounted on a robotic arm enabling translation in all three axial directions and about all three rotational axes. A dual-lockout circuit requiring simultaneous activation by an operator and a user is used to activate the pneumatic system powering the assembly.

Claims

1. An activation circuit for use in energizing a practice dummy for martial arts and the like, said activation circuit comprising

a) a key switch for energizing said activating circuit;

b) a first enabling switch positioned on a control panel for activation by an operator;

c) a second enabling switch which must be simultaneously activated with said first enabling switch to energize said activation circuit, said second enabling switch being remotely positioned from said first switch whereby a second individual must be present to enable simultaneous activation of said first and second enabling switches;

d) a first solenoid operating a normally closed valve in a fluid circuit, said first solenoid operative by said simultaneous activation to move said normally closed valve to an open position.

2. The activation circuit of claim 1 wherein operation of said key switch triggers broadcast of a prerecorded warning/disclaimer message.

3. The activation circuit of claim 1 further comprising a second solenoid operating a normally open valve in said fluid circuit, said second solenoid operated by said simultaneous activation to move said normally open valve to a closed position.

4. An activation circuit for use in energizing a practice dummy for martial arts and the like, said activation circuit comprising

a) a key switch for energizing said activating circuit;

b) a first enabling switch positioned on a control panel for activation by an operator;

c) a second enabling switch which must be simultaneously activated with said first enabling switch a second step to energize said activation circuit, and thereby energizing said practice dummy said second enabling switch being remotely positioned from said first switch whereby a second individual must be present to enable simultaneous activation of said first and second enabling switches;

d) a first actuator operating a normally closed switch in a circuit, said first actuator operative by said simultaneous activation to move said normally closed switch to an open position.