Method and apparatus for training a shooter of a firearm
An apparatus for training a shooter includes a mock weapon (handgun or rifle) which is composed of a material intended to make it heavier than a normal weapon for strength training and includes sights so that the user can train his or her eyes and in order to strengthen the muscles used during manipulation and use of a weapon without fatigue and with less tremor. This apparatus may also include a hinge mechanism for improving the user's ability to squeeze the trigger without imparting an angular force that could otherwise diminish accuracy.
This application takes priority from U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/365,315 filed Jul. 17, 2010.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention comprises an apparatus for training a shooter of a firearm by increasing the strength of the muscles involved in shooting. The preferred embodiment employs free weights in the shape of a weapon (pistol and rifle) and springs for hand or index finger triggering for strength training, thereby preventing fatigue and subsequent tremor. It is also an object of this invention to train the user against side to side movement of the weapon when the user pulls the trigger which results if the trigger is pulled with a force that has a vector component to the sides as opposed to directly backward along the axis of the barrel. It is also an object of this invention to improve hand-eye coordination utilizing sights.
2. Prior Art
One of the attributes every marksman needs to acquire in order to improve his accuracy in shooting a target using a pistol or rifle is the ability to control and minimize tremor. Another is keeping his eye on the target through the sight while handling a weapon. It is a well-known fact that improving muscle strength decreases tremor.
Bilodeau M., et al. in “Strength Training Can Improve Steadiness In Persons With Essential Tremor”. Muscle Nerve. 2000 May; 23(5): 771-8, shows that strength training can decrease the magnitude of tremor.
Keogh J. K., et al. in “Strength And Coordination Training Are Both Effective In Reducing The Postural Tremor Amplitude Of Older Adults”. J Aging Phys. Act. 2010 January; 18(1): 43-60, show the same.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,162 issued to Parsons on Sep. 19, 1995 describes a mock training weapon made of a cast urethane material, lighter than a real weapon provided for law enforcement to enhance their training exercises.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,500 issued to Keenan, et al on Jun. 3, 2003 describes a handheld training pistol designed to train the user to anticipate the transition from double-action to single-action.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,507 issued to Rod, et al on Sep. 21, 1999 describes a process for training a shooter of firearms with sights comprising the steps of providing a remotely controlled trigger actuator for a firearm.
There is no prior art known to the applicant which is designed to train a marksman to squeeze the trigger directly along the axis of the barrel. Otherwise the firearm will pull to the side when the trigger is pulled and the bullet will miss the target.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention comprises a set of mock training pistols and rifles with sights and of different weights. It is intended for strength training the muscles involved in the act of shooting and thus decreasing physiological tremor during shooting. The sights on the mock weapons also help to improve hand-eye coordination, train the eye to focus at the sights and the target, and help the user measure and control his/her tremor while handling the heavy mock weapon by looking through the sights as in a real weapon, but while exercising. The user can further improve the strength of his/her grip, forearm muscles, and flexion of index finger (pulling a trigger) while keeping his hand steady, and his eye fixed on the target through the sights. It can also be used for strength training of the muscles of the shoulders involved in shooting i.e., with arm forward extension and abduction. Improving the muscles involved in the act of shooting a firearm will improve shooting accuracy by decreasing the physiological tremor and improving hand eye coordination and the ability to accommodate and fix the focus of the eye accurately on the target. In one modification of this design, the trigger mechanism may be attached to the body of the firearm via a hinge with adjustable resistance against the torque that is sufficient to rotate the trigger mechanism away from alignment with the axis of the barrel if the user does not pull the trigger directly along the barrel axis. This feature trains the user to pull the trigger straight and in line with the barrel. As the user becomes more proficient, he or she can decrease the resistance and practice with a lower torque threshold before the trigger mechanism rotates out of line during the trigger squeeze. Other versions of this type of torque-related exercise apparatus are also disclosed including a ball-detent pistol embodiment, a trigger-only hinge version, a trigger and barrel hinge version and a non-pistol version which employs a multi-finger spring mechanism affixed to a hinged-based palm member. Actual rotation of the trigger mechanism is not required in one embodiment in which a sensor measures the torque and sets off an alarm if it exceeds a selected threshold.
The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be more fully understood herein after as a result of a detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which:
Referring to the accompanying drawings, and
The second such distinction between the mock pistol 10 of
The mock pistol 33 of
Another hinge-based embodiment is shown in
It will now be apparent that the present invention comprises a novel training and conditioning apparatus for gun enthusiasts. Mock weapons have the size and shape of real guns but are heavier for exercising muscles used for shooting to minimize tremor. A particularly unique feature is a hinge mechanism for training shooters to pull a trigger without imparting any non-axial force that could otherwise cause an inaccuracy in the shooting event.
Claims
1. A mock pistol shaped to emulate a real pistol and weighted to exceed the weight of a real pistol for use as an exercise apparatus for exercising muscles used by a shooter of the real pistol.
2. The mock pistol of claim 1 further comprising a spring-loaded moveable trigger.
3. The mock pistol of claim 2 wherein said moveable trigger comprises an adjustable spring for varying the force required to pull said trigger.
4. The mock pistol of claim 2 wherein said trigger is a one-finger trigger.
5. The mock pistol of claim 2 wherein said trigger is a multi-finger trigger.
6. The mock pistol of claim 1 wherein said pistol comprises a simulated gun handle and a simulated gun barrel, said pistol further comprising a hinge mechanism having two parts that are rotatable, one relative to the other, one such part connected to said handle, the other such part connected to said barrel, said pistol also having a simulated trigger connected to one such part of said hinge mechanism for causing relative movement between said parts and between said barrel and said handle upon non-axial torque being applied to said trigger.
7. The mock pistol of claim 6 further comprising an adjustment device for controlling said two parts of said hinge mechanism for varying the amount of non-axial torque causing relative movement between said parts.
8. A mock rifle shaped to emulate a real rifle and weighted to exceed the weight of a real rifle for use as an exercise apparatus for exercising muscles used by a shooter of the real rifle.
9. The mock rifle of claim 8 further comprising a spring-loaded moveable trigger.
10. The mock rifle of claim 9 wherein said moveable trigger comprises an adjustable spring for varying the force required to pull said trigger.
11. The mock rifle of claim 9 wherein said trigger is a one-finger trigger.
12. The mock rifle of claim 9 wherein said trigger is a multi-finger trigger.
13. The mock rifle of claim 8 further comprising target aiming sights of a real rifle for practicing eye focusing during exercise with said mock rifle.
14. A mock pistol comprising:
- a simulated gun handle;
- a simulated gun barrel;
- a simulated gun trigger;
- a hinge mechanism connecting said simulated gun handle to said simulated gun barrel, said simulated gun trigger being connected to said hinge mechanism for tending to rotate said barrel relative to said handle in the event that said trigger is pulled at a non-zero angle relative to said barrel whereby torque is imparted to said hinge mechanism.
15. The mock pistol recited in claim 14 wherein said hinge mechanism is adjustable for varying the magnitude of torque required to cause actual rotation of said barrel relative to said handle.
16. The mock pistol recited in claim 14 comprising a sensor for measuring said torque whether or not said actual rotation occurs.
17. The mock pistol recited in claim 16 further comprising an alarm for alerting a shooter when said sensor measures a torque that exceeds a selected threshold.
18. A shooter's exercise apparatus comprising a trigger-like device simulating a trigger of a real weapon, said apparatus having two portions that may rotate, one relative to the other, in the event that the trigger-like device is pulled while inadvertently applying torque, said rotation being indicative of a poorly directed pull of said trigger-like device.
19. The apparatus recited in claim 18 further comprising an adjustment device for varying the magnitude of torque applied to said trigger-like device which is sufficient to initiate said rotation.
20. The apparatus recited in claim 18 further comprising an electronic sensor for measuring and displaying said torque.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 25, 2011
Publication Date: Jan 19, 2012
Inventor: Farhad M. Limonadi (Rancho Mirage, CA)
Application Number: 12/931,137
International Classification: A63B 23/16 (20060101);