Abstract:
A multi-station martial arts practice device with multiple practice board supports with differing board orientations and a base non-permanent installation in a practice facility.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of The Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to athletic training devices.  
         [0003]     2. Background Information  
         [0004]     Martial arts training and skills retention require frequent and time-consuming practice. Many martial arts disciplines require the successful demonstration of the breaking of boards, or the like, by hands, feet, or both. The ability to demonstrate this technique comes only with extensive, repetitive practice.  
         [0005]     Regrettably, “board practice” tends to require involvement of at least one other person (one who holds the board), and, as a practical matter, two other persons. This is a problem because such people are not always available. Even if others are available, holding boards while another repeatedly breaks them is the concept of fun for but a few.  
         [0006]     Some effort has gone into providing for solo board practice. For example, the following U.S. patents reveal devices which are designed to hold boards during martial arts practice: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,662,630; 4,757,989; 4,889,334; 4,973,045; 5,415,371; 5,476,433; 5,665,035; 5,277,679; 5,863,279; 6,149,553. Each of these approaches are deficient in at least one of two primary respects: (1) they are designed to hold only one board, on one position; and/or (2) they are not designed to adequately absorb inadvertent impact to the device itself.  
         [0007]     The significance of the first noted deficiency is fairly evident. Board-breaking exercises in martial arts involve, as previously mentioned, actions by both foot and hand. In addition, the position of the to-be-broken board may be different for either. A device which holds merely one board, even if it is adjustable for differing positions or orientations, slows progress considerably. This, in turn, actually proves to be a disincentive to practice, particularly for youth.  
         [0008]     As for the second noted deficiency, one should note that practice, particularly in training, will involve less than perfect execution, perhaps much of the time. Quite simply, the practicing individual may simply miss the board entirely, and strike the holding device itself (particularly for kicking exercises, where fine control is a later developed attribute. Clearly, injury to the trainee by inadvertent contact with the board holding device is to be avoided.  
         [0009]     Despite the referenced measures to provide opportunities for solo martial arts practice, there still exist deficiencies and resulting needs in this area.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved martial arts training device.  
         [0011]     It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved martial arts training device, particularly useful for solo practice of board breaking exercises.  
         [0012]     It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved martial arts training device, particularly useful for solo practice of board breaking exercises, which afford simultaneous practice opportunities involving boards held at differing positions or orientations.  
         [0013]     It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved martial arts training device, particularly useful for solo practice of board breaking exercise, which device is designed to absorb some degree of impact to the holding device itself, such as in the event of inadvertent striking of the device during practice.  
         [0014]     In satisfaction of these and other related objectives, Applicant&#39;s present invention provides an improved martial arts training device, particularly for use in board breaking exercises. The device, depending on the particular embodiment, includes board mounting means for holding a plurality of boards in like or differing positions or orientations. In addition, the device includes a shock-absorbing support structure which allows some degree of shock absorption when/if the device itself is impacted during practice or training. Further still, the device, by its design, lends itself to portability, requiring no permanent installation or structural requirements or modifications to a facility in which the device is to be used. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of a multi-station martial arts training device of the present invention  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the device of  FIG. 1 , wherein the base/pedestal unit is separated from the board support assembly.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the multi-station martial arts training device of the present invention is identified generally by the reference number  10 .  
         [0019]     Device  10  includes a base/pedestal unit  14  and a board support assembly  16 .  
         [0020]     Base/pedestal unit  14  includes a base member  18  which, in the preferred embodiment, is a hollow structure with filling orifice  20  through which water or sand may be introduced into base member  18  to provide weight and stability. Conversely, such filling material may be removed from base member  18  when device  10  is to be moved from one location to another.  
         [0021]     Base member  18  includes a flat resting surface for resting on a floor surface during use of device  10 .  
         [0022]     Base/pedestal unit  14  includes a support column  22  which extends along the extended axial center line of base member  18 , opposite its flat resting surface. Support column  22  is sized and shaped for telescopic reception into recess  24  of board support assembly  16 .  
         [0023]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the transition from base member  18  and support column  22 , is of a a bellows-like construction, so that support column  22  can “give” in response to impact of support column  22  (or, in actuality, to board support assembly  16  which, in use of the present invention) will engage support column  22 ). It should be noted, however, that even a non-corrugated juncture will not render the present invention substantially less “forgiving” of impact, a there is no rigid engagement between device  10  and any floor or wall surface. Of further note is the fact that alternative shock-absorption designs may be incorporated into the present invention, including alternatives to the corrugated transition structure, and may include (as additions or alternatives), for example, a slightly rounded floor surface for base/pedestal unit  14 .  
         [0024]     Further still, support column  22  may be made detachable from base member  18 , such as by threaded or bayonet mount configurations (not shown in the drawings), particularly in view of shipping considerations.  
         [0025]     Board support assembly  16  is, in the preferred embodiment, formed of molded plastic. This addresses concerns of manufacturing expense, as well as safety and weight (for facilitating portability). It should be understood, however, that alternative embodiment in which any of the cited components are made of metal, for example, would certainly fall within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0026]     Board support assembly  16  includes, in the preferred embodiment, four stations  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32 . Each station is formed substantially by arms or projections  34  which extend outwardly from the central core of board support assembly  16 . Of course, units with fewer or greater numbers of stations may be manufactured, however, it is believed that the present four station model is optimal.  
         [0027]     Station  26  includes board support means  27  for holding a board  38  in position for executing an ax kick (horizontally oriented with the intended break line being oriented as if the shaft of an arrow pointing at the user).  
         [0028]     Station  28  includes board support means  29  for holding a board  38  in position for front kicks or palm heal strikes (vertically oriented with the intended break line being substantially parallel with the plane of a floor surface on which device  10  rests).  
         [0029]     Station  30  includes board support means  31  for holding a board  38  in position for a front kick or upward elbow strike (slanted downward relative to a floor surface).  
         [0030]     Station  32  includes board support means  33  for holding a board  38  in position for side or round kicks (vertically oriented with the intended break line being substantially perpendicular to the plane of a floor surface on which device  10  rests).  
         [0031]     In each instance, board support means  27 ,  29 ,  31  and  33  are, in one embodiment of the present invention, in the form of rails with end stops on the same respective end of each pair of rails, the rails being configured for sliding engagement with boards  38 . In such an embodiment, board support means  27  are attached to projections  34  through interaction of integrally molded features, through mechanical engagement of nuts, bolts, etc., or in any other conventional manner a fabricator sees fit. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may involve, instead of separate, attached rails, detachable elastic straps which hold boards in-place or yieldable tabs or other integrally molded recesses or engagement features with which practice boards  38  are engaged.  
         [0032]     Each board support means may support a practice board  38  is a respectively unique orientation or position, or any two or more stations may duplicate the board orientation or position of another station, depending on the manufacturer&#39;s preferences. The preferred embodiment, however, does involve stations, each with respectively unique positions as previously described. Of further note is the fact that any one station may also include two boards, one on its outer face (as depicted for stations  28 ,  30  and  32 ), and another on a top surface (such as depicted for station  26 ). This will enable the elimination of one station from the product design, without sacrificing the number of board orientations provided by any one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0033]     Use of device  10  is straightforward. Practice boards  38  are placed at such stations as are appropriate for the moves which a user chooses to practice. Boards  38  are slid into position as shown, and the maneuver is practiced. Upon breaking one or all boards  38 , they are reassembled and replaced for further practice or training.  
         [0034]     Because of the inherent shock-absorbing characteristics of device  10 , accidental impact by a user of any portion of device  10  adjacent to boards  30  is much less likely to render injury than such a misstep with presently available units as discussed above.  
         [0035]     Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.