Abstract:
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&#39;s ability to squeeze the trigger without imparting an angular force that could otherwise diminish accuracy.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application takes priority from U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/365,315 filed Jul. 17, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    2. Prior Art 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    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. 
         [0007]    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. 
         [0008]    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. 
         [0009]    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. 
         [0010]    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. 
         [0011]    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 INVENTION 
       [0012]    The 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. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    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: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a mock pistol with sights and trigger; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the mock pistol with sights and a spring-loaded trigger training mechanism; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the mock pistol with sights and another spring-loaded trigger mechanism; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3   a  is an enlarged view of the spring-loaded trigger mechanism of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the mock pistol with sights and spring-loaded handgrip mechanism; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the mock pistol with spring trigger mechanism that is attached to the body of the pistol via an adjustable torque mechanism; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side view similar to  FIG. 5  but showing a handgrip mechanism and another torque adjustment mechanism; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a top view showing the range of torque-induced angular offset between the handle and barrel of the firearm of  FIGS. 5 and 6 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a partially hidden side view of a ball-detent mock pistol embodiment of a torque-based exercise apparatus; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are enlarged cutaway views of a single ball-detent of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  during and after torque-induced rotation; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a view of a mock pistol trigger and barrel version of a hinge-type torque-related exercise apparatus; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a view of a mock pistol trigger version of a hinge-type torque-related exercise apparatus; 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a non-pistol version of a torque-related exercise apparatus employing a multi-finger spring mechanism affixed to a hinge-based palm member; and 
           [0028]      FIGS. 15 and 16  respectively illustrate the form of exercise movements that are preferred for use with heavier mock pistols and rifles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    Referring to the accompanying drawings, and  FIGS. 1 and 2  specifically, it will be seen that a mock pistol  10  has what appears to be standard pistol components including a handle  12 , a barrel  14 , a body  15 , front sight  16 , rear sight  18 , trigger  20  and trigger guard  22 . However, pistol  10  is not a true replica of a real pistol for two reasons. One such distinction is that it is configured to weigh up to two to three times as much as a real pistol of equal size and shape. This additional weight makes it advantageous for use as an exercise device for a pistol shooter by allowing the toning effect of the extra weight on the very same muscles in the hand, arm and shoulder that are used by shooters in handling conventional weight pistols. The extra weight may be provided in several different ways including the use of denser materials or ballast in the handle  12  and barrel  14 . 
         [0030]    The second such distinction between the mock pistol  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and a real pistol of comparable size and shape, is a spring-loaded trigger  20  which is attached to a rotary spring device  24  shown in  FIG. 2 . Spring-loaded trigger  20  permits exercise of the trigger or index finger, as well as the muscles of the hand, forearm, upper arm and shoulder used during shooting. In other respects, the mock pistol  10  is relatively true in appearance including the provision of sights  16  and  18  which permit eye-focusing practice. 
         [0031]    The mock pistol  33  of  FIGS. 3 and 3   a  provides an alternative trigger finger exercise mechanism. In this embodiment, the trigger  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is replaced with a spring-loaded compression device  26  having a built-in adjustable helical spring  28  shown in  FIG. 3   a . This alternative configuration concentrates the trigger pull force in a more localized fashion on the proper pad area of the index finger, thereby further preparing the shooter for a steady and straight trigger pull motion when using a functional pistol. Another alternative embodiment designed to exercise the shooter&#39;s trigger pulling function, is shown in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment of a mock pistol  35 , trigger  20  is replaced with a multi-finger pull mechanism  30  and trigger guard  22  is omitted. Mechanism  30  is designed to permit a shooter to exercise several fingers of the trigger-pulling hand instead of only the trigger finger. This mechanism  30  is also spring-biased to permit a significant degree of resistance in exercising at least the two or three middle fingers of the trigger hand, as well as associated muscles of the hand, forearm, arm and shoulder. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate alternative embodiments of an additional unique feature of the present invention.  FIG. 5  shows an embodiment in which a spring-loaded trigger  40  is affixed to one part  48  of a hinge-like device mounted in the handle  12  and barrel  14 . The lower portion  46  is affixed to an interior wall of the handle and the upper part  48  is affixed to the barrel  14 . A knurled knob  50  and a lower cap  45  are threadably interconnected by a bolt  44 . The knob  50  is readily adjustable to control the degree of frictional engagement between hinge parts  46  and  48 . A shooter can initially adjust knob  50  so that neither part can move relative to the other. In this mode, the shooter&#39;s failure to pull trigger  40  straight back against spring  41 , parallel to the axis of the barrel  14 , will create angular force vectors, but they will not be sufficient in magnitude to rotate upper part  48  through trigger stem  42 . However, as the shooter loosens knob  50 , the two parts  46  and  48  will be less frictionally engaged and thereby allow rotation of the upper part  48  relative to the lower part  46 . Control of knob  50 , acting through bolt  44  and cap  45 , is designed to provide anywhere from a locking engagement between parts  46  and  48  to a virtually frictionless relation where part  48  is entirely free to rotate relative to part  46 . In the latter configuration, virtually any angular vector force produced during the shooter&#39;s squeezing of trigger  40  against spring  41 , will be transferred through stem  42  to upper hinge part  48 . As a result, barrel  14  will rotate angularly relative to handle  12  in one direction or the other as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0033]    Another hinge-based embodiment is shown in  FIG. 6 . This embodiment employs multi-finger trigger  52  spring-loaded by helical spring  53  and connected by a stem  54  to an adjustable hinge mechanism  55 . The hinge mechanism  55  employs a lower part  58  affixed to the handle  12  and an upper part  56  affixed to barrel  14 . In addition, a range of adjustable breakaway torque is established by wing nut  60  and bolt  62 . This embodiment therefore also provides training for reducing or entirely eliminating angular torque which will, depending upon the tightness of wing nut  60  and bolt  62 , produce the offset shown in  FIG. 7  unless the trigger pull direction is precisely aligned with the axis of the barrel. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 8 through 11  show a ball-detent version  80  of a torque-based mock pistol exercise apparatus. Version  80  comprises a barrel  82 , a handle  84 , and a plurality of spring biased ball-detents  86  with helical springs  88 . A wing nut  90  mounted to a threaded shaft  92  permits tightening and loosening of the interface between barrel  82  and handle  84  to permit variation of the torque threshold for permitting spring-loaded trigger  85  to produce angular motion between the barrel and the handle with non-axis directed force producing torque. 
         [0035]      FIG. 12  shows another version of a torque-induced exercise device  93  which employs a barrel  94 , a handle  96  and a spring-loaded trigger  95 . Handle  96  has an axial member  98  which extends into barrel  94  and may be tightened and loosened by wing nut  99 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 13  shows still another torque-based version of an exercise device  100  wherein integral barrel  102  and handle  104  can be twisted relative to trigger guard  106  and spring-loaded trigger  108  and relative to hinge  110 . A knurled knob  112  controls torque level to permit such twisting depending on trigger force and torque angle. Finally,  FIG. 14  shows a non-pistol version  120  of a torque-based device wherein a multi-finger trigger like device  122  is connected to a spring  124  which, in turn, is connected to a hinge-based handle-like device  126 . A knob  128  connected to spring  124  is mounted to a threaded shaft  132  to which an adjusting head  130  is attached for varying the torque threshold for developing torque-free motion of the finger-like device. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate a shooter exercising with pistol  10  and rifle  70  mock weapons, respectively. The extra weight of mock weapons  10  and  70  compared to their respective real counterparts, permits respective shooters to build and tone the muscles of the hand, arm and shoulder and to practice focusing via the gun sights to improve hand-eye coordination. It will be understood that to best exploit the mock weapons of  FIGS. 15 and 16 , each is preferably provided as a set of weighted pistols  10 , or a set of weighted rifles  70  to permit a shooter to gradually increase the mock gun weight as he or she exercises over a period of time. Such increase in mock pistol or rifle weight over time, serves to gradually increase the strength of muscles and reduce or eliminate the tremor of those muscles which commonly interferes with the accuracy of the shooter. The same gradual effect is found in the adjustability of the hinge or detent mechanism of the embodiments of  FIG. 5 through 14 , which trains shooters to limit the non-axial movement of a trigger pull. 
         [0038]    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.