Striking practice device

• US 6,280,351 B1
• Filed: 01/14/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 1638232 Ontario Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sparmate Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Wong, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US09/482,342
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 124/41.1, 733/790--37, 482/83, 482/84, 482/86, 482/900, 473/421-423, 473/429, 473/417-418, 473/415, 473/462, 473/479, 273/368, 273/403, 273/404, 273/408, 273/359, 273/367, 273/369-371, 273/374-376, 273/378, 273/390, 273/386, 273/387, 273/407, 177/184-187, 177/190, 177/195, 177/197, 89/420.1, 89/440.1, 89/440.2
• US Class Current: 473/422
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/10 Combat sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/322 to instruct user where to strike

Abstract

A practice device comprising a plurality of striking targets arranged about a frame in an overall configuration which approximates the shape of an opponent. The targets are individually articulated to the frame, so that each individual target reacts independently in response to a strike. The targets are each in communication with a common force sensor, through a load transfer shaft movable relative to the frame and bearing on a force sensor such as a load cell, which provides feedback to the athlete regarding the force of each strike.

Claims

1. A practice device, comprising

a frame,

a load transfer shaft movable relative to the frame,

a plurality of striking targets supported on the frame, each striking target being operably affixed to a load transfer arm movable relative to the frame and affixed to the load transfer shaft, and

a force sensor in operative communication with the load transfer shaft, for providing an indication of a striking force,

wherein the striking force applied to a target is transferred through the load transfer arm and moves the load transfer shaft to alter a resting force of the load transfer shaft on the force sensor.

2. The practice device of claim 1 in which a plurality of striking targets are pivotably mounted to the frame by at least one sway arm hinged to a striking target near one end of the sway arm and hinged to the frame near an opposite end of the sway arm.

3. The practice device of claim 2 in which each striking target is provided with a pair of sway arms on each side of the striking target.

4. The practice device of claim 1 in which the load transfer arm is affixed to the opposite end of the sway arm.

5. The practice device of claim 1 in which the load transfer arm is affixed to a shoulder plate axially fixed to the load transfer shaft.

6. The practice device of claim 5 in which the load transfer arm is affixed to the shoulder plate by a resilient member.

7. The practice device of claim 1 in which the frame is provided with at least two sides.

8. The practice device of claim 7 in which the frame comprises a plurality of channel-shaped sections.

9. The practice device of claim 8 in which the frame comprises a front section and opposing side sections.

10. The practice device of claim 3 in which the striking target comprises a mounting plate having side flanges, and the sway arms are affixed to the side flanges.

11. The practice device of claim 1 comprising a striking surface adapted to be mounted on the striking target.

12. The practice device of claim 1 comprising an extension plate adapted to be hingedly mounted to the frame and to transfer a striking force against the extension plate to a striking target.

13. The practice device of claim 12 in which an extension bar affixed to the extension plate bears against the striking target.

14. The practice device of claim 1 in which a sensor for sensing a motion of the striking target is associated with the striking target, to provide an indication of a striking target that has been struck.

15. The practice device of claim 1 comprising a striking surface adapted to be mounted on the striking target.