Preset, non-serviceable tip assembly system for fencing
The invention is a non-serviceable tip assembly system used in the weapon assembly of weapons or swords utilized in the sport of fencing which is preset to comply with all rules and regulations governing competitive specifications as set forth by the Federation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) and United States Fencing Association (USFA) and is compatible with common fencing weapon assemblies. This system comprises components such as an adapter collar, a non-serviceable barrel and a self-locking point which may be incorporated into common tip assemblies.
This application claims benefit of our provisional application, No. 60/553,988 filed on Mar. 18, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONThe Sport of Fencing
Fencing is a sport where two opponents face off and compete against one another using hand-held weapons or swords. Within the sport of fencing there are three distinct games defined by the type of sword or weapon used in the game. The three weapons, Foil (
Governing Bodies
The international sport of fencing is regulated by an organization called the Federation Internationale D'Escrime (FIE); a governing body based in Europe which sets forth rules by which the sport of fencing, all fencers and competitions must abide. In the United States there is a similar, but subordinate governing body which sets forth regulations for fencing in this country called the Unites States Fencing Association (USFA). The USFA, although independent of the FIE takes direction from the rules and regulations set forth by the FIE to aid in consistency in compliance in a global sense. Rules set forth by these organizations specify such aspects of the sport of fencing that include but are not limited to the physical size and shape of the equipment used in the sport, the material the equipment is comprised of, how points are awarded during a bout and much more.
Scoring a Valid Touché
During a bout (or single game between two fencers) points are scored by making contact between one competitor's weapon and his/her opponent's body. A valid contact by which a point is awarded to a fencer depends on several aspects of the game including but not limited to 1) how the contact is made 2) where the contact is made on the opponent's body. This valid area of potential contact (called “Valid Target Area”) depends on which weapon is being used (or which game is being played). In the game of Sabre, a valid point (or touché) is scored when any part of the blade portion (
The Scoring System
Today's currently produced fencing weapons incorporate electromechanical scoring mechanisms to aid in determining valid points or touchés and the overall winner of a bout. In the foil and epee, a push-button with extending wires is incorporated at the far end of the weapon (
The Tip Assembly
With the point weapons, Foil and Epee, the push-button which is incorporated at the end of the weapon must be depressed against an opponent within the valid target area to score a valid touch. The push button at the end of the weapons is also referred to as a “tip assembly” (
When the point of the tip assembly is fully depressed within the assembly the metal contacts of the contact cup (
The Screws
To retain the point (and subsequently all other tip assembly components) inside the barrel, opposing screws are inserted through slots, holes or apertures in the sides of the barrel (
The screws also enable the assembly to be serviced. Servicing the assembly may include but is not limited to making adjustments to the compression spring or contact spring/mechanism. These adjustments allow fencers to alter their tip assembly to be more or less sensitive, resulting in weapons operating at differing specifications.
Compression Spring
The compression spring (
Contact Spring (mechanism)
The contact mechanism (a conventional spring in the Epee) (
Contact Cup
In common tip assemblies, the contact cup is seated within the barrel with the bottom of the barrel affixed beneath it (not shown). The wires from the contact cup extend down trough the bottom of the barrel and are typically glued into place in a trough of the blade. This configuration makes it impossible to remove the barrel from the blade without destroying or severing the wires which are glues below. When removing the barrel, a new contact cup and wire assembly must be purchased.
Penalties
At the beginning of each bout a fencer is required to present him/herself to the director. The director inspects various pieces of equipment for safety and regulatory compliance. Of the pieces of equipment, the director will devote a portion of time to the weapon the fencer will be using. This weapon must pass several visual and operational tests before the weapon is allowed on the piste (or fencing area).
One test is to visually inspect if the tip assembly contains the correct number of screws or fasteners in the barrel which will retain the point. If screws or fasteners are determined to be missing a penalty will be awarded.
The next two tests inspect the operation of the tip assembly. The first of these tests the compression spring for compliance while the second will test the contact spring (or mechanism) setting for the correct, minimal amount of spacing.
If a weapon fails any of the above tests a penalty will be awarded to the fencer's opponent. In the worst case where a weapon does not pass the initial tests and all subsequent weapons presented fail these tests, a fencer could potentially lose the bout on these technical fouls before competing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is a non-serviceable tip assembly system used in the weapon assembly of weapons or swords utilized in the sport of fencing which is preset to comply with all rules and regulations governing competitive specifications as set forth by the Federation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) and United States Fencing Association (USFA) and is compatible with common fencing weapon assemblies. This system comprises components such as an adapter collar, a non-serviceable barrel and a self-locking point which may be incorporated into common tip assemblies.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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- 1.1. shows a weapon assembly
- 1.2. shows the body cord and other interconnects (as one line)
- 1.3. is the scoring machine
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- 2.1. is the Foil weapon assembly and
- 2.1.1. is the grip
- 2.1.2. is the bell guard
- 2.1.3. is the socket which is connected to the body cord
- 2.1.4. is the blade
- 2.1.5. is the tip assembly
- 2.2. is the Epee weapon assembly and
- 2.2.1. is the grip
- 2.2.2. is bell guard
- 2.2.3. is the socket which is connected to the body cord
- 2.2.4. is the blade
- 2.2.5. is the tip assembly
- 2.3. is the Sabre weapon assembly and
- 2.3.1. is the grip
- 2.3.2. is the bell guard
- 2.3.3. is the socket which is connected to the body cord
- 2.3.4. is the blade
- 2.1. is the Foil weapon assembly and
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- 3.1. the point
- 3.2. the barrel
- 3.3. the contact cup with wires
- 3.4. the compression spring
- 3.5. the contact spring
- 3.6. the screws
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- 4.1. is the scoring surface
- 4.2. is the contact mechanism mount
- 4.3. are the tapped holed for the screws
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- 5.1. are the service apertures
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- 6.1. are the contacts
- 6.2. are the wires
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- 7.1. is the compression spring
- 7.2. is the contact spring
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- 8.1. is a self-locking point
- 8.2. is a non-serviceable barrel
- 8.3. is the contact cup with wires
- 8.4. is the compression spring
- 8.5. is the contact spring
- 8.6. is an adaptor collar
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- 9.1. is the scoring surface
- 9.2. is the contact mechanism mount
- 9.3. is the locking mechanism
- 9.4. is an abutment surface
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- 10.1. is a sealed cylinder with no servicing apertures
- 10.2. is a spring retainer feature to retain the compression spring within the sub-assembly
- 10.3. is a locking mechanism for mating with the self-locking mechanism of the self-locking point
- 10.4. is where a locking mechanism for the adaptor collar would be which is NOT SHOWN
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- 11.1. is the threads for mating with the threads of the blade
- 11.2. is where a locking mechanism for the barrel would be which is NOT SHOWN
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- 12.1. are the unlocking features
- 12.2. is the attachment feature
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- 13.1. is a cross-section of a common tip assembly configuration
- 13.2. is a cross-section of a self-locking point in a common barrel of a common tip assembly configuration
- 13.3. is a cross-section of a non-serviceable tip assembly configuration
- 13.4. shows the screws against the apertures in a common type assembly configuration
- 13.5. shows the self-locking features against apertures in a common type assembly configuration
- 13.6. shows the self-locking features against locking mechanism feature in non-serviceable barrel configuration
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- 14.1. is a non-serviceable tip assembly not assembled with the collar, but retaining the compression spring and all other internal components
- 14.2. is the spring retainer feature
- 14.3. is an adaptor collar
- 14.4. is the contact cup in the adaptor collar
This non-serviceable tip assembly system comprises:
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- an adaptor collar for mounting the barrel to the blade of the weapon;
- a non-serviceable fencing barrel which prohibits the servicing of the components contained within the assembly;
- a fencing point with an integrated, self-locking mechanism; and
- a tool used to remove the self-locking point from fencing barrels which are serviceable
The system is assembled as per
The adaptor collar may be a hollow cylinder with integrated threads (
The non-serviceable barrel may be a hollow cylinder with radial surfaces sealed (
The self-locking point is a fencing point which incorporates a self-locking mechanism. It is appreciated that this point must have a scoring surface (
It is appreciated that the self-locking mechanism may consist of a single feature, multiple features or a system of components. For example one embodiment of this mechanism, would be comprised of a plurality of sufficiently large protrusions (
Once the point is fully inserted into the barrel and the protrusions aligned with the slots in the barrel the protrusions extend back to their normal position to obstruct the point from being removed from the barrel. The locking protrusions must then be depressed externally by a device of another design to remove the point.
The self-locking point which is incorporated in this system may also be used in common tip assemblies. These tip assemblies are typically serviceable by means of apertures in the circumferential surfaces of the common barrel typically used to insert screws to retain the point. A tool described herein is used to remove the self-locking point from a common, serviceable barrel. This tool incorporates a plurality of features (
Claims
1. A preset, non-serviceable tip assembly system comprising:
- a self-locking fencing point;
- a non-serviceable fencing barrel;
- an adaptor collar; and
- a removal tool device.
2. The system from claim 1 wherein the said system is not user-serviceable to adjust internal settings.
3. The system from claim 1 wherein all internal adjustments are set to comply with the metrics set forth by the FIE and USFA.
4. A fencing point which includes a self-locking mechanism.
5. The point from claim 4 wherein the said self-locking mechanism is incorporated into the point.
6. The point from claim 4 wherein the said self-locking mechanism includes a singular or plurality of retractable, extendable or movable features or protrusions which facilitate the locking action.
7. The point from claim 4 wherein the said self-locking mechanism incorporates a surface which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the major axis of symmetry of the tip assembly to aid in unlocking said locking features during assembly.
8. The point from claim 4 wherein the said point incorporates a singular or plurality of components to electrically connect the scoring surface of the point to a contact mechanism.
9. The point in claim 4 is compatible with common fencing barrels.
10. A non-serviceable barrel comprising:
- a sealed cylinder;
- a singular or plurality of integrated locking features or receptacles to retain a self-locking point;
- a locking mechanism to affix the barrel to an adaptor collar; and
- a singular or plurality of spring retaining features to retain a compression spring within the barrel.
11. A barrel from claim 10 wherein said cylinder is sealed to prohibit servicing the interior components contained within the tip assembly.
12. A barrel from claim 10 wherein said locking features are incorporated into the barrel.
13. A barrel from claim 10 wherein said locking mechanism is incorporated into the barrel.
14. A barrel from claim 10 wherein said spring retaining features are incorporated into the barrel.
15. An adaptor collar comprising:
- a singular or plurality of retaining features to retain the contact cup in a fixed location;
- a thread feature to affix the collar to the blade; and
- a locking mechanism to affix a barrel to the adaptor collar.
16. A collar from claim 15 wherein said retaining features are integrated into the collar.
17. A collar from claim 15 wherein said thread feature is compatible with common blades.
18. A collar from claim 15 wherein said locking mechanism is incorporated into the adaptor collar.
19. A removal tool comprising:
- a singular or plurality of unlocking features that aid in unlocking the self-locking mechanism of a self-locking point; and
- a singular or plurality of attachment features that aid in affixing this tool to fasteners, lanyards or ropes.
20. The tool from claim 19 wherein the said unlocking features facilitate the unlocking action to unlock a self-locking point.
21. The tool from claim 19 wherein said attachment features may be open or closed.
22. The tool from claim 19 wherein said attachment features are used to affix to fasteners, locking or non-locking hooks, loops, lanyards, strings or ropes.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 18, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 21, 2006
Inventors: David Abbondanzio (Syracuse, NY), Matthew Abbondanzio (Dallas, TX)
Application Number: 11/083,682
International Classification: A63B 69/02 (20060101); A63B 69/00 (20060101);