Portable martial arts practice dummy
The present invention relates to a portal martial arts practice dummy and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to practice dummy for kung fu. The dummy comprises a body and support means, detachably mounted to the body, for detachably securing the body to a floor or a base and supporting the body for use. Said support means comprise a plurality of members which are detachably secured to each other, the body and/or the base, and the basis is hollow for receiving the plurality of detached member storage.
Latest Patents:
- PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS OF AMORPHOUS SOLID DISPERSIONS AND METHODS OF PREPARATION THEREOF
- AEROPONICS CONTAINER AND AEROPONICS SYSTEM
- DISPLAY SUBSTRATE AND DISPLAY DEVICE
- DISPLAY APPARATUS, DISPLAY MODULE, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DISPLAY APPARATUS
- DISPLAY PANEL, MANUFACTURING METHOD, AND MOBILE TERMINAL
The present invention relates to a portable martial arts practice dummy and, more particularly but not exclusively, to a practice dummy for kung fu.
Prior art practice dummies for allowing martial arts enthusiasts to practice a martial art are known. One example is known as a “mok jong” dummy. (Mok jong means “wooden man” in Chinese). A mok jong dummy typically comprises a cylindrical body formed of solid wood having radial projections, also formed of solid wood. The cylindrical body is approximately the same size as an adult human. The projections correspond to arms and legs. Martial arts enthusiasts use mok jong dummies to practice and refine their technique. Prior art mok jong dummies are typically firmly secured to a wall to enable the dummy to resist forces imposed on it by a martial arts enthusiast.
Another known type of mok jong dummy is one in which the cylindrical body is attached to a metal post which in turn is attached to a base. The base is formed from a sheet of plywood. When using the practice dummy, a martial arts enthusiast stands on the base, the weight of the enthusiast firmly secures the base against a floor on which the base is supported. Thus, when the enthusiast kicks or punches the body, the body (via the attachment means) is securely held in position by the base.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe present invention provides several improvements over known prior art dummies.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable martial arts practice dummy comprising:
a body; and
support means, detachably mounted to the body, for detachably securing the body to a floor or a base and supporting the body for use, said support means comprising a plurality of members which are detachably secured to each other, the body and/or the base and wherein the body is hollow for receiving the plurality of detached members for storage.
An advantage of the invention is that the body is connected to the frame members, and the frame members are connected together. The frame members are detachable and storable in the body for easier portability. This arrangement prevents the lateral movement of the body on the assembled frame when the body is struck, without the use of external pegs or other mechanical attachments to the frame members.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base is collapsible.
An advantage of the collapsible base is that it may be readily collapsed, thereby enhancing the portability of the practice dummy. For example, the folding base may be folded and transported in the cargo portion of a hatch-back car.
Preferably the collapsible base comprises two or more panels and the two or more panels are hinged together by a hinge comprising webbing.
The use of webbing is preferable to the use of a conventional, interdigitated hinge as the webbing does not project onto a floor on which the folding base is mounted. Preferably, the webbing comprises plastic webbing such as woven nylon tape.
In another embodiment, there is provided a limb for a martial arts practice dummy, the limb (arm or leg) comprising a cylindrical shank having an end portion.
An advantage of the limb is that where it enters the body, the limb retains the maximum generally circular cross-section, minimising stress concentrations. Limbs known in the prior art change from a circular cross-section to a less substantial square cross-section where they enter the body. This change of shape can lead to undesirable stress concentrations.
The practice dummy preferably has leather punch pads.
An advantage of leather punch pads is that they are readily compatible with human skin and prevent a user of the dummy from sustaining excessive damage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings of which:
General
When using the practice dummy, a user (not shown) stands on the folding base 100 and kicks or punches the body 110. A user can also practice martial arts moves against the arms 111, 112 and the leg 113.
The folding base 100 is preferably formed of 18 mm/21 mm thick plywood.
The body 110 is formed from a cylindrical plastic pipe and has a diameter of approximately 22 cm and a length of approximately 1.2 metres. The body 110 is held by the frame 120 between about 15 cm and 55 cm clear of the folding base 100 (the height of the body above the floor being adjustable by means of the attachment to the frame). As the body 110 is formed from a (hollow) cylinder it is relatively lightweight. In contrast, prior art dummies are typically formed from a solid wooden cylinder and thus are much heavier than the body 110 shown at
When the user kicks or punches the body 110, the frame 120 transfers the impact forces from the body 110 to the folding base 100. The folding base 100 is securely held against a floor (not shown) by the user's weight. The folding base 100 is not attached to the floor but rests on the floor and is pressed against the floor by the user's weight. Friction (facilitated by a non-slip underside of the folding base 100) between the folding base 100 arid the floor holds the folding base 100 in place.
The body 110 shown at
Frame
The frame 120 is formed from round and square section extruded aluminium tubing. The frame 120 comprises an upper pair of frame horizontals 121a and a lower pair of frame horizontals 121b formed from oak or other resilient wood. The frame horizontals of the upper pair 121a meet inside the body 110 above the upper arms 111a, 111b whereas the frame horizontals of the lower pair 121b meet inside the body 110 above the leg 113. The frame horizontals 121a, 121b are securely attached to two frame uprights 122 which are mounted upstandingly from the folding base 100. As is discussed later in more detail, the frame uprights 122 have threaded projections (not shown by
The frame 120 also comprises a pair of rear triangulation supports 123 which provide a diagonal cross-brace for the frame uprights 122. The rear triangulation supports 123 are, from the point of view of a user of the practice dummy, behind the body 110. A pair of lateral triangulation supports 124 brace the frame uprights 122 in a direction generally perpendicular to the bracing provided by the rear triangulation supports 123. Each of the lateral translation supports 124 is connected to a respective frame upright 122 at approximately the mid-point of the respective frame upright and is joined at the other end to the folding base 100. Thus the lateral triangulation supports 124 slope downwards from the frame uprights 122 to the folding base 100.
Folding Base
The frame uprights 122 extend approximately 1.6 m high from the folding base 100. The frame uprights 122 are parallel and perpendicular to the base.
As shown in more detail in
As shown in more detail at
Each of the mounting points CC that make up the first and second lines comprises a threaded metal anchor 350 mounted in respective recesses on the underside of the folding base 100. The use of recessed anchors 350 avoids projections on the underside of the folding base 100, which could scratch or otherwise damage the floor.
Base Panel Hinges
The web hinges DD are shown in more detail by
An advantage of using a nylon web instead of a conventional interdigitated hinge is that no portion of the hinge projects beyond either the top surface of the folding base 100 or the bottom surface thereof. An advantage of a folding base 100 with no projections is that the folding base 100 will not scratch a floor upon which it is resting, nor are there any projections which could injure a user's foot.
Body
Mid Arm
The way in which the mid arm 112 is mounted to the body 110 will now be discussed with reference to
The mid arm 112 has a length of approximately 55 cm. End A is provided with a tapered hole 1600 into which a retaining peg (not shown) may be fitted. Superimposed on the top view in phantom lines are the inner and outer cylindrical surfaces of the body 110. The outer cylindrical surface of the body 110 is represented by phantom circle 1610 whereas the inner cylindrical surface of the body 110 is represented by the phantom circle 1611.
Where the rectangular end A meets the circular portion of the mid arm 112, the mid arm 112 has a pair of curved portions 1601 which have the same radius of curvature as the interior of the body 110. Where the mid-arm 112 is mounted to the body 110, the curved portion 1601 abuts against the interior of the body 110. A retaining peg (not shown) is inserted into the tapered hole 1600 so that the retaining peg prevents the removal of the arm from the body 110 when pulled. The mid arm 112 has a cylindrical axis 1620.
Mid Arm Fixing
Returning to
Upper Arms and Fixing
The upper arms 111a, 111b are similar to the mid-arm 112 and will not be discussed in detail. The upper arms 111 each have a tapered hole 1700, a cylindrical axis 1720 and a single curved portion 1701. For each of the upper arms 111a, 111b, the curved portion 1701 has the same radius of curvature as the interior of the body 110. A difference between the upper arms 111 and the mid-arm 112 is that each of the upper arms 111 has only a single curved portion 1701.
As with the mid-arm 112, the upper arms 111 have a generally rectangular end A and a circular, generally frustoconial, end B towards which the upper-arms 111 taper slightly.
As can be seen by comparing the top and side views of the upper arms 111 with the top and side views of the mid-arm 112, the generally rectangular end A meets the circular portion of the upper arm 111 at two different locations along the cylindrical axis 1720. On one face of the generally rectangular end A, the generally rectangular end A meets the circular portion of the upper arm 111 at the curved portion 1701. On the other face of the generally rectangular end A the rectangular profile is extended and meets the circular portion of the upper arm 111 at an angled face 1750. As can be seen from the top view of
In other words, compared to
End Sections
Each end section 600 is provided with a pair of steel pins G at one end and with a spring-loaded plunger H at the other end. The body 110 has a pair of apertures F′ at the top and bottom of the rear for receiving the pins G. The top and bottom of the front of the body 110 are also provided with apertures F for receiving the plunger H. A spring I urges the plunger H outwards. A retaining screw J limits the range of the plunger in its hole.
To mount an end section 600 to the body 110, the end section 600 is first positioned so that the pins G engage the apertures F′ in the body 110, whilst pushing the plunger H so that it no longer projects from the end section 600 and allowing the end section 600 to drop to its mounted position. When the plunger H is aligned with the aperture F, plunger H projects outwards from the end section 600 by the force of the spring I, and engages with the aperture F. Removal of the end section 600 is the opposite of the mounting procedure above. By pushing the plunger H inward so that it no longer projects from the end section 600, and using an upward motion, the plunger H no longer engages with the aperture F. The upward motion allows the end section 600 to be lifted off as the plunger H projects outwards from the end section 600 by the force of the spring I, and prevents it from settling back to its mounted position.
Each foam insert 701, 702 and 703 is discoidal having a diameter of approximately 20 cm and a thickness of approximately 5 cm. The top and base foam inserts 701 and 703 are provided with holes A, B, C, which extend 4 cm deep into the 5 cm thickness of the inserts. Mid foam insert 702 is provided with apertures A, B, B′, C and D.
As can be seen from
Finally, the holes and apertures C in the foam inserts of 701, 702 and 703 allow the frame horizontals 121 to be stored. The holes and apertures C are rectangular and thus allow the four members (which together make up the upper pair of frame horizontals 121a and the lower pair 121b to be stored parallel with each other.
Note that in this embodiment of the practice dummy the arms 111 and 112 have approximately the same length as the members that make up the frame horizontals 121. This provides the advantage that three foam inserts 701, 702, 703 can be used to hold all the parts which are to be stowed within body 110.
Body Internal Horizontal Joiner
As can be seen from
The use of a body internal horizontal joiner 800 allows frame horizontals 121 having a relatively short length to be used; if the joiners 800 were not used then instead of using four frame horizontals members of length 60 cm each, two members each of length 120 cm would be required. Relatively short frame horizontals provide the advantage of enhanced portability.
Frame Horizontal Members
In this embodiment, the member 1000 has a length of 60 cm, a thickness of 2 cm and a width of 4.5 cm. At one end of the member 1000 there is a semi-circular channel 1001, which is provided for receiving a U-bolt. At the other end of the member 1000 there is provided a threaded steel insert 1002 for receiving a wing bolt 900. At the same end there is provided a camber which is used as a key to orient the frame member in the joiner. In this embodiment the members 1000 are formed from a resilient wood, such as oak.
Attachment of Members to the Frame Upright
An advantage of the channel is that it prevents the frame horizontals from moving relative to the frame uprights during use.
Leg
As can be seen, when the leg 113 is assembled the lower leg 113b fits flush against the retainer plate 1202 of the upper leg 113a. To assemble the leg 113, the bolt 1200 is coupled with the elongate nut 1201 and the lower leg 113b is rotated relative to the upper leg 113a until the lower leg 113a bears against the retainer plate 1202.
Retainer Plate
Lower Leg
In this embodiment, torsional motion of the bolt 1200 relative to the lower leg 113b is substantially prevented by a steel pin 1401, which passes diametrically through the lower leg 113b and also diametrically through the bolt 1200. The steel pin 1401 has a diameter of 3 mm and a length of 60 mm. A hole for the steel 1401 can either be drilled into the bolt 1200 before the bolt 1200 is mounted into the lower leg 113b or after the bolt 1200 has been embedded in the lower leg 113b.
Upper Leg
The retainer plate 1202, the hexagonal recess 1204 and elongate nut 1201 are provided at end B. As shown, at end B the upper leg 113a terminates in a plane which intersects the longitudinal axis 1520 at an angle of 35°. The outer surface of the retainer plate 1202 lies in the same plane.
The upper leg 113a has a diameter of about 7.5 cm and a length of about 58 cm.
The upper leg 113a is cylindrical apart from the generally rectangular end A. Where the generally rectangular end A meets the cylindrical body of the upper leg 113a, there are defined a pair of shoulders 1505. The shoulders 1505 are co-planer; the plane intersects the longitudinal axis 1520 at an angle of 10°. Referring momentarily to
Various modifications may be made to the practice dummy illustrated at FIGS. 1 to 17.
In one alternative, instead of using a frame 120 to secure the body 110 to the folding base 100, a metal post may be used. The body 110 is secured to the metal post and the metal post, in turn, secured to the folding base 100. Preferably, the metal post has a foot so that impact forces transmitted from the body 110 to the metal post can be spread over the area of the foot. Preferably, four fastenings, for example, bolts, are used to secure the foot to the folding base 100. In another alternative, two posts are used and four frame horizontal members 1000 are secured to the two posts in order to support the body 110.
In another alternative embodiment, instead of a folding base 100, the base is a single sheet of plywood. A single sheet of plywood has the advantage of reduced cost and easier fabrication. Of course, such a non-folding base has a disadvantage that it cannot be so readily transported (considering the substantial size required for proper execution of the various exercises prescribed for kung fu).
In another embodiment, a base 100 is not used. Instead, a floor having suitable mounting points (for example the floor of a gym which has been modified by the addition of suitable mounting points) is used and the frame 120 connects the body 110 to the floor.
The leg 113 was described as being made up of a lower part 113b and an upper part 113a. In an alternative embodiment, a unitary leg is used instead. Such a unitary leg offers the advantage of reduced manufacturing costs but suffers from a disadvantage that it cannot be dissembled and is therefore not as readily transportable as the leg 113 described earlier.
The upper arms 111a, 111b, the mid arm 112 and the leg 113 were each described as having a generally rectangular end for engagement into a corresponding rectangular aperture at the rear of the body 110. Correspondingly, the front of the body 110 had generally circular (or in the case of the leg 113, circular but drilled at an angle not perpendicular to the body, due to the inclination of the leg 113) mounting apertures. The portions of the upper arms 111, mid arm 112 and leg 113 that pass diametrically through the body 110 had a cylindrical shape. In an alternative embodiment, one or more of the upper arms 111, mid arm 112 and leg 113 may be mounted to the body 110 using generally rectangular apertures at both the front and rear of the body 110. However, it is preferred that the arms 110, 112 and 113 retain a generally cylindrical shape as they enter the body 110 in order to maximise their strength. In the embodiment described above, the transition between the generally cylindrical shape and generally rectangular shape occurred at the rear of the body 110. A disadvantage of the transition occurring at the front of the body 110 is that, due to the transition, stress resulting from impact forces will be increased, thereby detrimentally increasing the risk that the arms 111, 112 or leg 113, will fracture or be otherwise damaged during use. In the case of the arms 111, 112, another advantage of a generally cylindrical shape, both protruding from the body 110 and extending diametrically through the body 110, is that circular apertures (which are easier to machine than generally rectangular apertures) are required at the front of the body 110.
The arms 111, 112 and leg 113 were described in conjunction with a portable martial arts practice dummy. In alternative embodiments, the arms 111, 112 and/or the leg 113 may be used in conjunction with conventional, non-able practice dummies.
Claims
1. A portable martial arts practice dummy comprising:
- a body; and
- support means, detachably mounted to the body, for detachably securing the body to a floor or a base and supporting the body for use, said support means comprising a plurality of members which are detachably secured to each other, the body and/or the base and wherein the body is hollow for receiving the plurality of detached members for storage.
2. A dummy as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a base.
3. A dummy according to claim 2, wherein the base comprises two or more panels and wherein the base is collapsible.
4. A dummy according to claim 3, wherein the panels are connected by one or more hinges.
5. A dummy according to claim 4, wherein the one or more hinges comprise web hinges.
6. A dummy according to claim 3, comprising a base support for securing the panels together in a plane.
7. A dummy according to claim 6, wherein the base support is a front base support, and further comprising a rear base support.
8. A dummy according to claim 2, wherein the base comprises mounting points for securing the support to the base.
9. A dummy according to claim 2, wherein the support means comprises a frame horizontal, wherein the body comprises frame horizontal apertures for the frame horizontal, and wherein the body is detachably mounted to the frame horizontal by virtue of the frame horizontal passing through the frame horizontal apertures.
10. A dummy according to claim 9, wherein the frame horizontal comprises a pair of frame horizontal members.
11. A dummy according to claim 10,
- wherein the support means comprises a joiner received within the body,
- wherein the pair of frame horizontal members are detachably connected by the joiner, and
- wherein the joiner has a dimension preventing it from escaping the body through the frame horizontal apertures, so that when the frame horizontal members are connected by the joiner, the joiner is captively received within the body, I thus restricting movement of the body relative to the frame horizontal members.
12. A dummy according to claim 11, wherein the joiner has first and second ends, and wherein the joiner is dimensioned so that when the frame horizontal members are connected by the joiner, the first and second ends of the joiner are substantially in contact with the body, thus substantially preventing movement of the body relative to the frame horizontal members.
13. A dummy according to claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a frame.
14. A dummy according to claim 13, wherein the frame comprises a pair of frame uprights upstanding from the base.
15. A dummy according to claim 14, wherein the frame comprises: a pair of rear triangulation supports bracing the frame uprights to the base in a first plane; a pair of lateral triangulation supports bracing the frame uprights to the base in a second plane; and a pair of frame horizontals connecting the body to the frame uprights.
16. A dummy according to claim 1, comprising a limb.
17. A dummy according to claim 16, wherein the limb is detachably mounted to the body.
18. A dummy according to claim 16, wherein the limb comprises a generally cylindrical shank having first and second ends.
19. A dummy according to claim 18, wherein the limb is frustoconical towards the first end, and wherein the limb narrows towards the first end.
20. A dummy according to claim 18, wherein the shank is cylindrical.
21. A dummy according to claim 18, wherein the body comprises a recess for receiving the second end of the limb so that the limb is mounted to the body when the second end is received by the recess.
22. A dummy according to claim 21, wherein the recess is dimensioned so that the recess receives a portion of the shank when the limb is mounted to the body.
23. A dummy according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a tubular portion.
24. A dummy according to claim 23, wherein substantially the entire body is tubular.
25. A dummy according to claim 23, wherein a first aperture and a second aperture are defined in the body for mounting the limb, wherein the first aperture has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the shank, and wherein the second aperture has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the second end.
26. A dummy according to claim 25, wherein the first and second apertures are diametrically opposite each other.
27. A dummy according to claim 25, wherein the second end of the limb has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the shank.
28. A dummy according to claim 27, wherein the second end of the limb is generally rectangular, and wherein the second aperture is generally rectangular.
29. A dummy according to claim 27, wherein the second end of the limb comprises a recess for detachably receiving a dowel so that when the dowel is engaged in the recess then the body is captively held between the shank and the dowel.
30. A dummy according to claim 29, wherein the recess comprises an aperture.
31. A dummy according to claim 28, wherein the arrangement of the recess, second end and shank is such that when the dowel is engaged in the recess then relative motion between the limb and the body is limited.
32. A dummy according to claim 16, wherein the dummy comprises a leg, a mid arm, and two upper arms.
33. A dummy according to claim 23, comprising one or more support members located in a tubular portion of the body, wherein at least one of (i) one or more recesses and (ii) one or more apertures are provided in each of the one or more support members, wherein the recesses and apertures allow items to be stored inside the tubular portion.
34. A dummy according to claim 33, wherein the one or more support members comprise foam rubber/plastic.
35. A dummy according to claim 33, comprising a base support member, a mid support member, and a top support member.
36. A dummy according to claim 23, further comprising an end section, wherein the end section is detachably mounted to the tubular portion to close off the tubular portion.
37. A dummy according to claim 36, wherein the end section has a releasable latch for securing the end section to the tubular portion.
38. A dummy according to claim 1, comprising a leather punch pad.
39. A no-portable martial arts practice dummy comprising a body in combination with the features recited by claim 2.
40. A practice dummy as hereinbefore described and/or with reference to the accompanying Figures.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 4, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 21, 2007
Applicant: (Tokyo)
Inventor: Malcolm Macnab (Tokyo)
Application Number: 10/591,314
International Classification: A63B 69/34 (20060101);