Abstract:
A dummy for use in teaching and training martial arts and self-defense principles includes a suspended from an overhead support center core member, the core member being filled with heavy blow impact absorbing material, the core member being enclosed with and serving as mounting for a suit, the suit being configured in the shape of a human body, having arms and legs, these being filled with impact absorbing material, a upper torso part of the suit and a suit nether region being filled with padding to bulk up the suit to provide it with enhanced human body look, the suit upper torso part being wrapped tightly encircling the within disposed core member and being secured in such tightly wrapped condition to prevent slippage or sliding of the suit on the core member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a dummy for use in teaching individuals principles of martial arts and self-defense as well as a method for fabricating said dummy. In particular, the invention relates to a dummy which in anatomical appearance bears a resemblance to a human. This enables that users have more realistic learning and practice sessions due to the improved and secure attachment of the dummy to a supporting core enabling the dummy to withstand blows of realistic force and speed. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    It is known to use various forms of dummies for the purpose of teaching martial arts and self-defense as well as for student practice. 
         [0005]    One device commonly used as a dummy is a heavy training bag of the type used by boxers for training. While a heavy bag is fairly heavy in weight and has a fairly solid impact absorbing structure it has some acceptability attraction for teaching or practicing martial arts with the bag. A big shortcoming though is that the bag does not offer a certain realism of what an opponent will look like in a real life situation. Representative of an attempt to make a heavy bag more realistic of a human is Publication WO 9852655. The device is a heavy bag provided with a number of straps on the bag and each carrying a number of stick arms or legs. Such appearance is not realistic in appearance or function. 
         [0006]    Recognition of the shortcoming noted above has resulted in some effort to provide dummy constructions, which are more realistic of humans. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,011 is an example of a construction of a device made to incorporate a heavy bag with additional structure to produce a realistic human looking dummy, The device attaches a pad partly around the circumference of a heavy bag. The pad contains a target showing of part of a human, e.g., a persons head and chest, the target being a two dimensional figure. Legs and arms protrude from the target. There is no three dimensional appearance of a structure corresponding to a human body wherein arms extend from the top at sides of a torso, or of legs extending down from a simulated human body nether region. In other words there is no human torso appearance with arms and legs attached at torso locations as exist in real people. The device simply looks like a heavy bag with a pad at a front side and arms and legs projecting from an unreal location relative to the heavy bag. 
         [0008]    The last-mentioned device, as well as others of known dummy devices, bear evidence that no one has recognized that properly utilizing arms and legs in combination with a heavy bag can provide a most convincing human appearing dummy for suitable high impact and high-energy training. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, it is desirable that such a dummy construction wherein a heavy bag is used along with other structure to present a configuration of a closely resembling that of a real human body be provided along with a method for fabricating the dummy. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a dummy for use in teaching and training individuals principles of martial arts and self-defense that embodies features making it most realistic of the appearance of a human body and capable of withstanding the energy expended on it during live training without breakdown. 
         [0011]    Another aspect is to provide a dummy for use in teaching and training individuals principles of martial arts and self-defense, which is inexpensive and easy to make. 
         [0012]    Another aspect is to provide a dummy for use in teaching and training individuals principles of martial arts and self-defense which heightens training by providing a realism attendant therewith not heretofore available when using such type of dummy. 
         [0013]    A further aspect is to provide a dummy for use in teaching and training individuals principles of martial arts and self-defense which embodies a heavy training bag in its structure thereby allowing user delivery of high impact blows against the dummy creating a reaction for the user paralleling which he can expect when involved in a self-defense or combat situation. 
         [0014]    An additional aspect is to provide a method for fabricating the dummy. 
         [0015]    In a further aspect of the present invention it is considered that additional fixtures or fixing points may be various positioned about the usable surface of the dummy thereby allowing users to attach training tools to more realistically represent a combat environment. 
         [0016]    In accordance with these and other aspects of the invention, the dummy includes a core member, this advantageously but not essentially, being a heavy training bag of the type common to gymnasiums and commonly used by boxers in training. An advantage of the heavy bag is that it can absorb high impact blows. The heavy bag is suspended so it can swing from an overhead support. One manner of suspension is with a suspender means such as plural chains lengths attached securely to the top of the bag and these in turn are attached to a bracket fixed to an overhead structure such as a beam. 
         [0017]    A suit of a flexible material is provided to be mounted on the core member. The suit is configured in shape as that of a human body. The suit has a top part and a bottom part. The top part defines a human torso upper portion having front and back sides, and a top side. A pair of arms is carried at opposite sides of the top part. The bottom part defines a human nether region, and a pair of legs extends down from the nether region. The bottom part has an at least a partly encircling waist piece defining an entry opening to the nether region. The upper torso front side is a solid panel area while the rear side is normally closed but can be is opened when access is needed for mounting the suit to the core member. As being an open or closed area depends on whether or not right and left side rear side panel parts are folded partly overlapped one with the other in closing position, or are opened outwardly to the sides of the torso upper portion in rear side open position. 
         [0018]    Impact absorbing material such as a foam fill interior areas of upper and lower lengths of said arms and legs. To mount the suit on the core member, the suit is oriented such that a lower length section of the core member is received through the entry opening and locates in the nether region with a top of the core member located proximally slightly above the torso upper member top side. The panel parts are folded to the rear side of the upper torso and manipulated to wrap the upper torso portion in a tightened embrace about the core member. Means are carried on the panel parts to affect a stopping of the tightened condition preventing any loosening thereof on the core member. 
         [0019]    To prevent any vertical slipping down of the suit top part on the core member as when the dummy is being used and blows are struck and forces exerted on the dummy in teaching/training use, means are provided for supporting the top part of the suit from the core suspender means. Also to prevent a slipping or pull down of the suit bottom part on the core member, means are provided to securely affix the bottom part to the top part. 
         [0020]    To bulk out the torso upper portion, a padding filler is embodied in the upper portion and in the nether region as well. The effect is to enhance the appearance of the upper torso configuration as being that of a human torso and to specifically provide a training apparatus that simulates—under training impacts—the response and “feel” of a human opponent. 
         [0021]    The suit can be provided with the top and bottom parts being individual members like a coat and trousers are separates. Preferably, the suit is provided as a component in which the top and bottom part are contiguous members of a single structure. 
         [0022]    The invention also provides a method for fabricating a dummy for use in teaching and training individuals principles of martial arts and self-defense. The method comprises supporting a heavy training bag from an overhead support with a bag support member which is connected to said overhead support and to an upper part of said training bag. A suit of a flexible material which is configured in shape of a human body, and has a top part and a bottom part is provided. The top part defines a human torso upper portion front and back sides, and a top side, with a pair of arms being carried at opposite sides of said top part. 
         [0023]    The suit bottom defines a human nether region and a pair of legs extend downwardly from said nether region, the bottom part including an at least parti-encircling (partially encircling or partially enclosing) waist piece defining an entry opening to said nether region. The front side of said torso upper portion is a solid panel area, the back side of said torso upper portion being comprised of left and right panel parts which can be swung open from the rear side or folded down to close that side, parts of side margins of the panel parts overlap when moved to close the rear side. 
         [0024]    The suit is mounted on the core member by opening the torso back side and orienting the suit such that a lower length section of said training bag is received through said entry opening and located within the nether region and a top of said training bag locates proximally slightly above said top side of said torso upper side. The upper torso backside is closed by folding the panel parts one against a other while pulling one panel part relative to the other part to tighten the front and rear upper torso sides tightly against the training bag. To prevent loosening of that tightened condition consequent a subsequent use of the dummy, the panel parts are stopped with cooperating stopping members carried on each panel part. The suit bottom part is strapped to the suit top part to prevent any pull down of the suit bottom from the top part consequent a use of the dummy. Also, the suit top part is affixed to the bag support member to prevent any slide down of the suit on the training bag during a use of the dummy. 
         [0025]    These and other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate the same elements. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of the dummy depicting the manner of supporting the core member from an overhead support, and of supporting the suit from the core member support; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the dummy depicting the manner in which the panel parts of the upper torso portion are closed and one partly overlapped on the other, and the one drawn tightened relative to the other for wrapping the suit upper part against the outside surface of the core member; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  a rear elevation view of the dummy but with the rear side open, the, the panel parts being outward of the core member with the arms omitted for sake of clarity of depiction of remaining structure, the suit embodiment being one wherein the suit top and bottom parts are of contiguous construction; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a enlarged fragmentary section view of the composite structure makeup of the suit flexible material; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary section view of upper and lower lengths of an arm depicting the filling contained therein as well as a joint, which joins the two arm lengths 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary section view on upper and lower lengths of a leg depicting the filling contained therein as well as a joint, which joins the two leg lengths; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged fragmentary view of a strap type securing means employed to hold the suit top in tightly wrapped embrace of the core member, the strap being affixed to the outer side of one panel part and the cooperating securing means being affixed on the outer side of the other panel part; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a support strap means used to support the suit top part from the core member overhead support suspension means; 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of an embodiment wherein the suit top and bottom parts are separate components; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a transverse section of the dummy showing the manner of tight wrapping of the torso about the core member. 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is a longitudinal section of the dummy showing the manner of the tight wrapping and securing straps about the core member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0037]    Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom, up, down, over, above, and below may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The words “connect,” “couple,” and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through mediate elements or devices. 
         [0038]    The dummy of the present invention is intended primarily for use in teaching and training in the martial arts and self-defense. For that reason, the dummy is relatively heavy and rugged to take into account the blow-impact magnitudes and speeds delivered thereto by a user with arms, knees, leg kicks, head-butts and others as can employed in the aforementioned disciplines. Because the dummy is intended for heavy-duty use, it easily can be employed in other sports training such as for boxing, wrestling, grappling etc. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , dummy  10  embodies a center or core component  12  on which is mounted a suit  14  made in the configuration of a human body so the dummy presents to the user a realism of what an encounter with real life opponent will involve thereby optimizing the useful and practical know-how the user will acquire. The core component  12 , which could be a known boxing heavy bag type, will be suspended from an over head support such as a ceiling  15 , the support being effected with a bracket or fixture  16  attached to heavy ceiling structure. 
         [0040]    A number of suspender elements such as chain lengths  18  are carried by the fixture  16 . The chain lengths  18  are securely affixed to an upper part location of the core member as at  24 . 
         [0041]    To mount the suit  14  in place on the core member  12 , the suit is manipulated to pass a lower end length section of the core member through an opening in the bounded receiving nether region  26  of a bottom part  28  of the suit  14  ( FIG. 3  and  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0042]    It is noted in the present discussion that nether region  26  of bottom part  28  provides a continuous surrounding receiving form for receiving and securing a bottom portion of core member  12 , as is best shown in sectional view  FIG. 11  (core member  12  being slidably encased within continuous bottom part  28 , and nether region  26 , so as to allow force transfer as will be discussed. 
         [0043]    Legs  50 ,  52  depend from the bottom part of the suit. To hold the suit  14  suspended draped on and about the core member  12 , a number of strap lengths  22  are affixed to an upper location on suit  14 , and each carries at its tip end one or more hooks  20  or snap-links (not shown), the hooks  20  being hooked into lower ones of the links in the chain lengths  18  to support the suit securely mounted about the core member to resist the severe downward forces generated during extreme training (for example by kicking leg members  50 ,  52 . Referring now in more detail,  FIG. 8  shows the strap length  22  and hooks  20  in perspective view. 
         [0044]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the suit  14  has a top part  30 , the top part defining a human torso upper portion having a torso front side  32  and a rear side  34  and a top side  36  from which emerge left and right arms  38 ,  40 . 
         [0045]    The top part front side  32  is a full closure or covering element as shown in  FIG. 1 . The top part rear side as shown in  FIG. 2 , is made up of left and right openable/closable side panel parts  44 ,  46 . The openable rear side provides, inter alia, access to suit  14  for inserting the core member  12  into the suit when mounting the suit on the core member. A lower panel part margin  42  demarks not only the lowermost reach of the panel parts, but also a location at the suit front side where the suit top part and bottom part are embodied as a contiguous structure. This is in contrast to the embodiment of suit depicted in  FIG. 9  to be described later below, and wherein the suit has top and bottom parts, which are not contiguous. 
         [0046]    Also noted on the exterior or suit  14  are a plurality of fixing regions  100 ,  100 A. Fixing regions  100  as employed herein as means for securing training aids, such as rubber knife member  101  shown joined by Velcro to the left hand of suit  14 , in a position allowing a user to train in police-type dis-arming grappling tactics. The present invention envisions that fixing regions  100 ,  100 A may be adaptively constructed and positioned according to a perceived manufacturer&#39;s need, including construction from; Velcro, Velcro strap assemblies, buckles, adhesive patches, snap-stud members, and other like systems those of skill in the physical training arts may employ. As a second example, it should be understood, that central fixing region  100 A may include a number of regions (Velcro, buckle, and physical strap) so as to removably position a kicking target for leg training along the center mass of suit  14 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , when the lower length section of the core member  12  has been received in the continuously bounding nether region  26 , the panel parts  44 , 46  will be folded from the open  FIG. 3  position inward wrap around of the outer surface of the core member  12 . The Terminal end overlap areas  48  of the panel parts  44 ,  46  will preferably overlap one with the other for added strength, but this is not mandatory as can bee seen for example in  FIG. 10  where panel parts  44 ,  46  do not overlap. The top overlapping area proximate terminal ends  48 ,  48  will then by means of fastener straps  50  be pulled tightly relative to the overlapped areas  48  thereby to tighten the embrace with which the upper torso portion holds the core member  12 . The straps  50  then are secured with securing members  52  (for example a latch or catch mechanism not shown or as may be suggested below). 
         [0048]    In one form and as shown in  FIG. 7 , this securing means will be that of a VELCRO® fastening, the cooperating fabrics of which are carried respectively on the straps  50  and the securing members  52 . The straps  50  also can embody an elastic material so that the strap can be stretched in reach if necessary to engage securing members  52 . Other fastener types could be used. For example, the fasteners could be a strap on one panel part, and a buckle on the other. To provide that there be no pull down of the legs  50 ,  52 , relative to the suit part and especially at the rear side thereof to secure the legs  50 ,  52  against unintended downward tension, fastening means comprising a strap  54  on an upper part of a leg  50 , 52 , and a cooperating securing member  56  carried on a lower part of the panel parts  44 , 46  can be used to transfer lengthwise or longitudinal/downward tension from legs  50 ,  52  to body member  32  and thence to transfer support straps  22  to prevent disturbing the position of suit  10  relative to core support  12 . 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIG. 10  shows the tight embrace of the core member when the fastener straps  50  are pulled tight and secured to the securing members  52 , the depicted fastening being with VELCRO® fastening. 
         [0050]    A feature is that both the upper and lower lengths of the arms and legs of the dummy are filled with a filler material such as a foam  70 . The filler allows the arms to absorb impact blows. Other types of impact absorbing materials can be used as well. Also, the arms and legs have a pivot joint member  60  connecting the upper and lower lengths of each so that a pivoting of the arm and leg lower member relative to the upper member is possible. Other means to enable the pivoting function are known and can be used. Additionally, means for repositionably positioning joint member  60  (for example opposed toothed gears or screw thread) allows the arms and legs of the dummy to be bent and retained-bent into realistic positions for training aids. For example, joint member  60  in one leg member may be bent to simulate a knee-strike or a block. A counter for such a knee-strike is to stomp straight downwardly on the top of the rising knee. This stomping motion provides great stress on the knee/body connection that was the cause of all earlier design failures only overcome by the construction of the present invention. 
         [0051]    Another alternative feature of the present invention, is that to bulk up the dummy upper torso region as well as the nether region, the flexible material of the suit covering these regions is made of a composite material construction that may be adapted to a desired form. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the suit  14  has an outer layer  62  of a durable material such as a canvas. An inner material layer  64  will preferably be of a softer material but one which has a texture or surface coating (for example with an elastomeric material) that allows good gripping therewith of the outer surface of the core member  12  with which is in-wrapped contact. Sandwiched between outer and inner layers  62 ,  64  is a layer  66  of a filler material padding which could be a foam, rags, hemp fibers, fluid membranes or pouches, or any one of a number of materials known to those skilled in the physical training arts to be useful for the purpose intended. The filler material layer thickness can be and is intended to be varied to correspond with contour areas such as the abdomen, nether region etc. so as to provide a more realistic training environment. 
         [0052]    The dummy has the advantages of being easy and inexpensive to make. It is made in size corresponding to that a large class of human size so that the prospect of training with and against a human is duplicated, particularly a large opponent-sized human. Of particular advantage is that it is possible to utilize a heavy bag in the guise of a true human appearing dummy, wherein that dummy provides a realistic “feel” to training blows without injuring the trainee, thereby allowing “full force” training to occur without damaging the training equipment. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , an alternative dummy construction  110  is an embodiment wherein a suit  114  is comprised as a suit top part  130 , and a suit bottom part  128  which are made as separate components. The components are thus provided in the manner of a suit coat (with a neither region) and a pair of trousers. In this embodiment, straps  154  and securing members  156  would be used on both the front and rear sides to prevent pull down of the legs from the torso during use. The prior noted structure elements of dummy  10  are the same in this embodiment with the same advantages. An encircling upper margin  78  of the trousers is denoted in as a dashed line, the nether region  26  being space below and slightly above this margin so that a securing overlap construction is ensured to allow strike-force transfer during the use. 
         [0054]    For example, in considering the alternative construction of  FIG. 9 , also review  FIG. 11 , wherein the nether region and encircling bottom design shown at  28 ,  26  would be maintained for suit  14  bottom, with an overlap covering the entire encircling and continuous bottom construction so that fixing means  154 ,  156  secure legs  50 ,  52  firmly in place. 
         [0055]    In an alternative aspect of the present invention, it is also envisioned, that the suit may be constructed to slidably receive (in contrast to the present design) a supporting core component  12  that is supported from a floor-support-surface. Thus for example, a floor-standing training bag may be fitted with an adapted suit for training purposes without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
         [0056]    Another alternative aspect of the present invention, is that suit  14 , either alone or in conjunction with core component  12  may be employed on a floor-support or training area without suspension from a support  16 . In this configuration, suit  14  will be used to provide a realistic grappling training scenario and provide sufficient weight and mass to make ground-based-training techniques difficult to master. 
         [0057]    In the claims, means- or step-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described or suggested herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, for example, although a nail, a screw, and a bolt may not be structural equivalents in that a nail relies on friction between a wooden part and a cylindraceous surface, a screw&#39;s helical surface positively engages the wooden part, and a bolt&#39;s head and nut compress opposite sides of a wooden part, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail, a screw, and a bolt may be readily understood by those skilled in the art as equivalent structures. 
         [0058]    Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes, modifications, and adaptations may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.