Training dummy assembly for doing stand-up drills and ground drills

Abstract

A training dummy assembly includes a base, a column, a tensioning mechanism, a dummy. The base rests on the ground. The column is pivotally coupled to the base. The tensioning mechanism resiliently couples the base to the column. The dummy has a shape of a torso with head and is formed out of foam with an outer latex skin. The torso of the dummy is mechanically coupled to the column.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a training dummy assembly used in practicing mixed martial arts including Jiu-Jitsu and more particularly to a training dummy for use in not only stand-up drills, but also ground drills.

2. Description of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,621 teaches a punching aid which includes a base, a column and a pad. The column is provided above the base. The pad is attached onto the column. A flexible rubber pillar has a first end and includes a securing mechanism for securing the flexible rubber pillar between the base and the column to provide a flexibility to the column relative to the base. The securing mechanism includes a first coupler provided on the first end of the flexible rubber pillar. A second coupler is provided on the base and includes a locking mechanism for locking the second coupler and the first coupler together.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,960 teaches a training dummy in human form that mimics realistic human movements and reactions to forces extended onto the dummy by a user. The training dummy includes a torso having at least one upper arm attachment point with an XY & Z axis, at least one upper arm fastened to the torso at least one upper arm attachment point and capable of rotating about the X axis and pivoting about the XY & Z axis of the upper arm attachment point. A returning means securely attached to the dummy for returning the upper arm and torso back to their initial positions after having a twisting, restraining, or striking force exerted upon the dummy. A counterbalancing means attached to the torso for counterbalancing a force applied to the dummy. The dummy is suspended from the counterbalancing means which tends to return the dummy to an upright position if the dummy is taken down to the floor. A covering forms a skin-like or clothing-like cover over the dummy. Movement of an element of the dummy is generally resisted by the covering, which tends to return the element to its original position.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,909,370 teaches a boxing dummy for use in the training of boxers. The dummy has a torso, legs, arms and head built upon a framework to simulate a boxer. The dummy includes a base adapted to rest upon a floor.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,315 teaches a self defense training device for use in self defense training, as in karate. The self defense training device includes a life-like articulated training dummy supported in an upright position on a post. The dummy has the appearance, configuration, size and feel of a man. The dummy is supported in an upright position by a flexible vertical post.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,230 teaches a martial arts training device which includes a movable mannequin 16 having a human appearance. A structure is for supporting the mannequin in a generally upright position from a floor.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,328 teaches a grappling dummy which is useful as a mock opponent for exercise or practice for athletes training for competitive martial art or wrestling purposes, as well as for practicing self-defense moves. The dummy is given a life size stature of five foot ten inches (178 cm), but a relatively diminutive weight of about forty pounds (18 kg). By giving the grappling dummy such a relatively diminutive weight, it happens to just “feel” right to the user who is practicing or exercising with the dummy. To preserve strength and toughness but conserve on weight, the dummy is produced substantially from soft materials including paper (as newspaper and computer paper, in some uses it is shredded, in others not), the plastic film of waste grocery sacks, burlap (in some uses in sack format, in others plain cloth), garden hose, braided nylon rope, poly strapping, cellophane tape, and duct tape. The sum total of hard elements can be limited to just eight pieces of pine 2.times.2's (eg., 5 cm on a side), and used just in the upper and lower arms and legs of the dummy. The dummy is entirely held together by lashing or knotting of the burlap or rope or poly strapping, or by either forms of the tape. The joints are “stiff” in the sense that a force must be applied sufficient to overcome their stiffness, but after the force falls off the joints “freeze” in place. The grappling dummy is useful for exercise or practice for athletes training for competitive martial art or wrestling purposes, as well as for practicing self-defense moves. The dummy 10 has a “skin” of duct tape, the outermost layer of which is wound around the form of the dummy as in a spiral “mummy” like wrap. The dummy is “topless” and “barefoot” and is dressed only in hospital pants for modesty's sake as a form of exercise clothing. In use the grappling dummy serves as a mock opponent for a user to practice his exercise routine. The user is addressing the dummy in a side clinch stance. The legs of the dummy provide sufficient resistance to prop up not only the dummy but also some fractional amount of the weight of the user, who is shown leaning onto the dummy. The user can practice a choke on the dummy from the guard position. This position is also a test position after production, to check if the neck is secured sufficiently against pulling out. In fact, the other extremities of the dummy 10 are comparably tested for strength against pulling out, and this includes the upper arm from the shoulder, the lower arm from the upper arm, the hand from the lower arm, the upper leg from the torso, the lower leg from the upper leg, the foot from the lower leg, and so on. A torso for the grappling dummy includes two burlap sacks stuffed firmly with shredded paper, and wrapped in cellophane tape 43 and duct tape on top of that. The torso is much like a conventional punching bag found in boxing gyms. That is, it has a fabric liner filled tightly with a soft stuffing.

In the art of self defense, such as karate, judo and jiu jitsu, the classical approach has been to practice self defense techniques with a training partner, using either no body contact at all or some degree of contact, such as full contact, but with a range of padding accessories worn by both partners in order to protect both partners against injury. If no partner is available, then one usually practices on either a stuffed hanging canvass bag or a stuffed dummy.

Many of the above training dummy assemblies optimizes self defense practice for stand-up position drills in that an individual can practice actually hitting the dummy as hard as possible in all the desired body locations so as to instantly “inflict” what would be a mortal or disabling blow to an actual person. However, none of the above training dummy assemblies optimizes self defense practice for ground position drills in which an individual may train with a stuffed dummy weighing one hundred pounds of dead weight but he is not practicing his ground position skills in a realistic manner. What is also needed is a grappling dummy assembly that allows the individual to practice his ground position skills in a realistic manner.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,932 teaches a martial arts Gi includes a flexible fabric garment adapted to be worn by a user, where said garment has a plurality of flexible target indicia on an outwardly exposed outer surface of said garment. The garment when so worn covers at least the torso and may cover the limbs of a user.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,933 teaches a karate belt having a body to which is fixed a tying strap. The body of the karate belt is secured to the waist of a user independent of the tying strap. The tying strap remains free so that the user can practice tying a predetermined knot without being impeded or distracted by the need to simultaneously hold the belt about the user's waist while attempting to tie the knot. The belt includes an elongated strap of sufficient length to fit around a user's waist with first and second ends and a front side and a rear side, a first fastener on the front side of the first end and a second fastener on the rear side of the second end, the fasteners being inter-engageable to secure the first end to the second end, and a tying strap of the same material as the elongated strap attached at a central portion thereof to the front side of the second end of the elongated strap, the tying strap having a length adapted to be tied into a karate knot, whereby a user can secure the belt around the user's waist by the fasteners and tie and untie the tying strap into a karate knot without a need to support the belt. The elongated strap and tying strap are made entirely of a karate belt cloth. The first and second fasteners are hook-and-loop fasteners.

In the study of the martial arts, each student typically wears a robe that is held closed by a belt positioned around the student's waist and tied by a special knot. The knot is a part of the tradition in the study of the martial arts and is complex and difficult to tie. Normally, a student will learn to tie the knot by wrapping the belt around his or her waist and attempt to tie the complex knot while simultaneously holding the belt in place around the waist. Many students, especially young children, find it especially difficult, if not impossible, to tie the ends of the belt in the complex knot while simultaneously holding the belt about their waist, resulting in a substantial amount of time spent on practicing tying the knot instead of the martial art techniques. Therefore, it is desirable to have a belt that can be secured about the student's waist while leaving the free ends of the belt available so that the student can practice tying the knot without having to simultaneously hold the position of the belt.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,600 teaches a martial arts belt which has a pre-tied knot. The martial arts belt is secured with hook and loop fastening material. The martial arts belt includes a belt portion and a knot portion which are fixedly attached to one another. The belt portion has a length sufficient to encircle the waist of a wearer twice. The knot portion is a facsimile of the knot in a hand-tied belt which includes a centrally positioned knot and a first end portion and a second end portion depending freely from the knot. The knot portion is fixedly attached to the front surface of the belt portion proximate to the first end of the belt portion. The martial arts belt includes at least one securement to fasten the belt around the waist of a wearer. The securement can include mated portions of hook and loop fastening material. When worn, the belt of the present invention has the appearance of a martial arts belt which has been hand-tied in the traditional manner. The traditional martial arts jacket is secured by tying and knotting an obi, which is a belt or sash worn around the waist. In the philosophy of the martial arts, the obi is not considered to be mere securement mechanism, but has many symbolic meanings. The color of the obi has great significance. Traditionally, in karate, a beginner would be given a white obi, which in time would become soiled from handling and use until it turned brown, and would become progressively darker until it turned black. Hence, the tradition of the three primary belt colors, white, brown and black, to designate the stages of learning.

Another symbolic aspect of the obi is the manner in which it is worn. One interpretation holds that when properly worn, the obi encircles the hara or tanden, which is the center of a person. The hara, a point about three inches below the navel, is thought in Zen Buddhism to be the center of the self, and symbolically the center of the cosmos, and chi, or the life force. The knot of the obi usually touches the hara. The length of both sides of the belt from the knot to the end must be equal, which is said to symbolize the equal development of man and body.

In order to tie the correct traditional knot in the belt, a precise series of steps must be followed. First the belt is folded in half with the ends together to exactly locate the center. The center is placed on the stomach. Both ends are wrapped around the waist and crossed in the back. The ends are brought around to the front, and the end in the right hand is crossed over the end in the left hand. The wearer then switches hands on the belt ends and the end in the left hand is slipped under both pieces of belt on the wearer's waist. After tightening the belt, the wearer takes the end in the left hand and holds it in front of the body, and the end in the right hand is bent over the left. Then the end in the left hand is bent over the right hand end, up and through the knot, and the knot is tightened. The left and right hand ends should be equal in length.

An instructional course in the martial arts begins with a lesson on the proper way to tie the belt. For an instructor teaching martial arts classes to children, especially large classes, certain practical problems can arise with regard to the tying of the belt. Young children can find the proper belt tying technique difficult to master. Many instructors find that a significant portion of the entire allotted class time can be consumed before each child is able to tie the knot correctly.

Another problem with the belt is that the rigidity and width of the belt material can make it difficult to tighten the knot to a great degree. Consequently, the knot may become unraveled. Having the belt become loosened and untied during a match can create a dangerous situation because the participants may trip over the belt. It is desirable to provide a martial arts belt means to quickly achieve the appearance of traditional martial arts attire by providing a self-fastening belt having a pre-formed knot which creates a facsimile of a traditionally tied belt.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,996,855 teaches a martial arts belt which is sized to fit around a user's waist has a strap with a pair of strap sections. Each strap section has a fastening end and a tie end. The strap sections join together at a juncture located between the fastening end and the tie end of each strap section. The strap sections each have between the juncture and the fastening end of each strap section, posterior fastening devices for fastening the strap sections together behind a user's waist. Portions between the juncture and the tie end of each of the strap sections are tied into an anterior knot having dependent tails. An insignia patch can be removably secured at one of the tails for later removal or repositioning. The loose jacket (gi, dogi, or dobak) worn by martial arts participants is cinched by a traditional cloth belt tied with a specified knot. The training and customs of martial arts requires the participant to wrap this belt around the waist once or twice before tying the belt in the traditional knot. For novices, especially children, properly tying the traditional knot is difficult. Classroom training is often disrupted when a knot comes undone either normally or because of improper tying. When training a class of children, an instructor is continually interrupted by the need to help students retie their knots. Participants tolerate this inconvenience since such customs and traditions are considered an important part of the ethic, discipline and training in the martial arts.

The inventors hereby incorporate all of the above referenced patents into this specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a training dummy assembly which includes a base, a column and a dummy. The base rests on the ground. The column mechanically couples the dummy to the base. The dummy has a shape of a torso with head and is formed out of foam with an outer latex skin.

In a first aspect of the present invention the column is pivotally coupled to the base. An adjustable bungi cord resiliently couples the column to the base.

In a second aspect of the present invention the torso has a pair of shoulders and a pair of arms. Each arm has a weighted hand and is pivotally coupled to one of the shoulders of the torso. Each arm is free floating and weighted so that when the dummy is either upright or horizontal the weighted hands will cause the arms to continually swing downward for various arm-lock techniques.

In a third aspect of the present invention each arm includes an upper limb and a lower limb, a hinge which forms an elbow and includes a mechanism coupled to the hinge. The mechanism has a knob so that a user can either tighten or loosen the hinge in order to adjust tightness of the hinge for practicing various arm-lock techniques.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention the arms are attached to the shoulders of the torso by a tense bungi cord that is situated along an inner tube stretched from shoulder to shoulder to hooks each of which is fastened to one of the upper limbs.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention the training dummy assembly can be used in the practice of mixed martial arts including jiu-jitsu for use in not only stand-up drive, but also ground drills.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention the training dummy assembly saves space, time and money with two workout bags in one.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention the use of the training dummy assembly eliminates the user's need to stumble or adjust into place a heavy dummy on top of the user to practice his ground-fighting skills and to strictly focus on his technique with this mobile yet stationary opponent as opposed to trying to balance a 100 lbs of dead mannequin weight on top of him.

In an eighth aspect of the present invention the training dummy assembly allows a user who studies Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Karate or Mixed Martial Arts to simply adjust either the adjustable bungi cord or the locking (leveling) position pin and go from Punching and Kicking to Chokes, Armbars, Kimuras, Triangles and Guillotines.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention the training dummy assembly can be utilized for doing either Stand-Up Position Drills or Ground Position Drills using either an Adjustable Level Positioner or an adjustable bungi cord thereby providing additional realistic mobility.

In a tenth aspect of the present invention the height of the training dummy assembly can be adjusted from 5′6″ to 6′4″.

In an eleventh aspect of the present invention the torso of the training dummy assembly can be turned around for taking-the-back situations.

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention the training dummy assembly has a controllable tilt and resistant ability so it can lean forward and down for real stand-up & resistant Guillotine chokes or Knees to the body.

In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention the training dummy assembly the base may be filled with either water or sand.

In a fourteenth aspect of the present invention the training dummy assembly the base may also be anchored by 45 lbs plate that is disposed in a plate slot.

Other aspects and many of the attendant advantages will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description and considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference symbols designate like parts throughout the figures.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,621.

FIG. 2 is a second figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,621.

FIG. 3 is a first figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,960.

FIG. 4 is a second figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,960.

FIG. 5 is a third figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,960.

FIG. 6 is a figure from U.S. Pat. No. 2,909,370.

FIG. 7 is a figure from U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,315.

FIG. 8 is a figure from U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,230.

FIG. 9 is a figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,932.

FIG. 10 is a first figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,328.

FIG. 11 is a second figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,328.

FIG. 12 is a third figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,328.

FIG. 13 is a first figure from U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,933.

FIG. 14 is a second figure from U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,933.

FIG. 15 is a third figure from U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,933.

FIG. 16 is a fourth figure from U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,933.

FIG. 17 is a fifth figure from U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,933.

FIG. 18 is a sixth figure from U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,933.

FIG. 19 is a first figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,600.

FIG. 20 is a second figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,600.

FIG. 21 is a third figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,600.

FIG. 22 is a fourth figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,600.

FIG. 23 is a fifth figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,600.

FIG. 24 is a first figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,996,855.

FIG. 25 is a second figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,996,855.

FIG. 26 is a third figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,996,855.

FIG. 27 is a fourth figure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,996,855.

FIG. 28 is schematic silhouette drawing of the training dummy assembly in the stand-up position according to the present invention.

FIG. 29 is schematic silhouette drawing of the training dummy assembly of FIG. 28 in the ground position.

FIG. 30 is a torso with a head of training dummy assembly of FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 is a perspective drawing of the shoulder connection of the torso of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a tensioning mechanism of the training dummy assembly of FIG. 28

FIG. 33 is a perspective drawing in partial cross-section of a base of the training dummy assembly of FIG. 28.

FIG. 34 is a perspective drawing of the base of the training dummy assembly of FIG. 28.

FIG. 35 is a perspective drawing of the training dummy assembly of FIG. 28 in the stand-up position.

FIG. 36 is a perspective drawing of the training dummy assembly of FIG. 28 in the ground position.

FIG. 29 is schematic silhouette drawing of the training dummy assembly of FIG. 28 in the ground position.

FIG. 37 is a first photograph of a martial arts belt according to the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a second photograph of the martial arts belt of FIG. 38.

FIG. 39 is a third photograph of the martial arts belt of FIG. 38.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 28 in conjunction with FIG. 29 a training dummy assembly 110 includes a base 111, a column 112, a dummy 113 and a tensioning mechanism 114. The base 111 rests on the ground. The column 112 pivotally coupled the dummy 113 to the base 111. The tensioning mechanism 114 resiliently couples the dummy 113 to the base 111.

Referring to FIG. 30 the dummy 113 has a shape of a torso 130 with head 131 and is formed out of foam with an outer latex skin. The torso 130 has a pair of shoulders 132 and a pair of arms 133. Each arm 133 has a weighted hand 134 and is pivotally coupled to one of the shoulders 132 of the torso 130. Each arm 133 is free floating and weighted so that when the dummy 113 is either upright or horizontal the weighted hands will cause the arms 133 to continually swing downward for various arm-lock techniques. Each arm 133 includes an upper limb 135 and a lower limb 136, a hinge 137 which forms an elbow and includes a mechanism 138 coupled to the hinge 137. The mechanism 137 has a knob 139 so that a user can either tighten or loosen the hinge 137 in order to adjust tightness of the hinge 137 for practicing various arm-lock techniques.

Referring to FIG. 31 in conjunction with FIG. 30 a shoulder mechanism 140 pivotally and resiliently couples the arms 133 to the shoulders 132 of the torso 130. The shoulder mechanism 140 includes a first bungi cord 141, an inner tube 142 and a pair of hooks 143. The first bungi cord 141 is situated along the inner tube 142 and is stretched from shoulder to shoulder to the hooks 143 each of which is fastened to one of the upper limbs 135.

Referring to FIG. 32 in conjunction with FIG. 30 the tensioning mechanism 114 includes a second bungi cord 151, a pair of hooks 152, a first loop mount 153 and a plurality of second loop mounts 154. The first loop mount 153 is mechanically coupled to the torso 130 of the dummy 113. The second loops mounts 154 are mechanically coupled to the base 113.

Referring to FIG. 33 in conjunction with FIG. 34 the base 113 may be filled with either water or sand and may also have an optional 45 lbs plate which is inserted into a slot. A lower Main Body Shaft, which is a rectangular tubular section, inserts sideways down into the base 113 via the top opening. Sliding the shaft down will place it at the bottom flooring where a simple twist will position it in place. Inserting the Locking Rod secures the Shaft.

Referring to FIG. 35 in conjunction with FIG. 36 the training dummy assembly 110 can be used in the practice of mixed martial arts including jiu-jitsu for use in not only stand-up drive, but also ground drills. The training dummy assembly saves space, time and money with two workout bags in one. The use of the training dummy assembly eliminates the user's need to stumble or adjust into place a heavy dummy on top of the user to practice his ground-fighting skills and to strictly focus on his technique with this mobile yet stationary opponent as opposed to trying to balance a 100 lbs of dead mannequin weight on top of him. The training dummy assembly allows a user who studies Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Karate or Mixed Martial Arts to simply adjust the locking (leveling) position pin (and/or the adjustable bungi cord) and go from Punching and Kicking to Chokes, Armbars, Kimuras, Triangles and Guillotines. The training dummy assembly can be utilized for Stand Up or Ground Position Drills with Adjustable Level Position (and/or bungi cord tension). The height of the training dummy assembly can be adjusted from 5′6″ to 6′4″. The torso of the training dummy assembly can be turned around for taking-the-back situations. The training dummy assembly has a controllable tilt and resistant ability so it can lean forward and down for real stand-up & resistant Guillotine chokes or Knees to the body. The training dummy assembly the base may be filled with either water or sand. The training dummy assembly the base may also be anchored by 45 lbs plate that is disposed in a plate slot.

Alternative embodiments include using a “Spring Mechanism” at the base to tilt the dummy, using a “Handle or Crank Lever” on the side of base with tilt control, an “Electric Motor” with a pulley and pegs inserted into attached Holes along the Support Base to manually adjust the tilt.

Referring to FIG. 37 in conjunction with FIG. 38 and FIG. 39 a martial arts belt 210 includes a belt 211 and a pair of Velcro fastener assemblies 212. The belt 211 is long enough to encircle the waist of a student which is sized to fit around a user's twice and to leave enough length to tie a traditional martial arts knot in order to form an inner loop and an outer loop. Each Velcro fastener assembly 212 includes a loop fastener 213 and a hook fastener 214. Each loop fastener 213 is attached to one of the external side of the inner loops of the belt 211 and each hook fastener 214 is attached to one of the internal side of the outer loops of the belt 211 side. Each loop fastener 213 is aligned with one of the hook fasteners 214.

From the foregoing it can be seen that a training dummy assembly for use in not only stand-up drill, but also ground drills has been described. It should be noted that the sketches are not drawn to scale and that distances of and between the figures are not to be considered significant.

Accordingly it is intended that the foregoing disclosure and showing made in the drawing shall be considered only as an illustration of the principle of the present invention.

Claims

1. A training dummy assembly comprising:

a. a base which rests on the ground;

b. a column pivotally coupled to said base;

c. a tensioning mechanism resiliently coupling said base to said column; and

d. a dummy having a shape of a torso with head and being formed out of foam with an outer latex skin wherein said torso of said dummy is mechanically coupled to said column.

2. A training dummy according to claim 1 wherein said torso has a pair of shoulders and a pair of arms each of which has a weighted hand and each of which is pivotally coupled to one of said shoulders of said torso whereby each of said arms is free floating and weighted so that when said dummy is either upright or horizontal said weighted hands will cause the arms to continually swing downward for various arm-lock techniques.

3. A training dummy according to claim 3 each of said arms includes an upper limb and a lower limb, a hinge which forms an elbow and includes a mechanism coupled to said hinge and having a knob so that a user can either tighten or loosen said hinge in order to adjust tightness of said hinge for practicing various arm-lock techniques.

4. A training dummy according to claim 2 wherein said arms are attached to said shoulders of said torso by a tense bungi cord that is situated along an inner tube stretched from shoulder to shoulder to hooks each of which is fastened to one of said upper limbs.