Abstract:
The fencing sword comprises a handle, a guard, and a short shaft in place of the blade. Weights may be added/removed from the shaft to adjust the weight of the fencing sword. The weights can additionally be added/removed from other fencing swords having different handle designs from other forms of fencing. In some embodiments, a laser pointer is mounted to or near the shaft. The laser may register on a target mimicking scoring a touch in a bout and can be used to train a user&#39;s accuracy.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to a fencing sword used for fencing practice. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a fencing sword having a shortened blade with adjustable weights. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Fencing is a sport in which two competitors fight using swords, winning points by making contact with an opponent. There are three forms of modern fencing, foil, epée, and sabre, each of which has its own sword style and set of rules. Fencers typically practice using a full sized fencing sword which requires a great deal of room to maneuver. Further, fencing swords typically come in different weights and there is no easy way to adjust the weight during training without having multiple swords to choose from. Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a fencing sword that can be used for practice while also being adjustable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The fencing sword comprises a handle, a guard, and a short shaft in place of the blade. Weights may be added/removed from the shaft to adjust the weight of the fencing sword. The weights can additionally be added/removed from other fencing swords having different handle designs from other forms of fencing. In some embodiments, a laser pointer is mounted to or near the shaft. The laser may register on a target mimicking scoring a touch in a bout and can be used to train a user&#39;s accuracy. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIGS. 1-3  depict views of the fencing sword having a foil grip. 
           [0005]      FIG. 4  depicts a fencing sword having a saber grip. 
           [0006]      FIG. 5  depicts a fencing sword having a foil grip. 
           [0007]      FIG. 6  depicts a fencing sword having an epée grip. 
           [0008]      FIG. 7  depicts a fencing sword having a laser pointer attachment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 8  depicts a fencing sword having marked adjustable weights. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , the fencing sword  100  generally comprises grip  102 , guard  104 , and blade  106 . The fencing sword  100  is shown here in an exploded view for clarity. Grip  102  can be any standard grip for a fencing sword. Grip  102  depicted in  FIG. 1  is a standard foil grip. Other embodiments will be described later. Similarly, guard  104  may be any standard guard design commonly used in fencing swords such as foils, epées, and sabres. Guard  104  depicts in  FIG. 1  is a bell guard. 
         [0011]    Blade  106  comprises shaft  108 , bolt  110 , weights  112 , and fastener  114 . A distal end of blade  106  is threaded to allow fastener  114  to secure weights  116  between bolt  110  and fastener  114 . In this embodiment, the weights  112  are circular rings with a central bore approximately the same diameter as the thickness of shaft  108 . The number of weights  112  can be varied by simply adding or removing them from shaft  108 . In other embodiments, the shaft  108  and central bore of the weights  112  may have another shape, such as a square or rectangular, to prevent rotation or movement of weights  112  during training. 
         [0012]    Weights  112  serve to stabilize fencing sword  100  and allow it to mimic the weight of a normal fencing sword. As previously discussed, different fencing swords can be mimicked by adding or removing weights  112  to reflect the weight of the desired fencing swords. Further, additional weights  112  can be added to increase the effort needed to wield fencing sword  100 , thereby increasing the strength of the fencer. The fencing sword  100  can also be particularly useful for children learning fencing because weights  112  can gradually be added as a child advances or ages. The fencing sword  100  also provides a lower cost practice option because various grips  102  and weights  112  can be sold separately or together in a single package. 
         [0013]    Weights  112  may be placed anywhere from guard  104  to the tip of shaft  108 . The further away that weights  112  are placed from guard  104 , the more effect the weights have on fencing sword  100  and a fencer&#39;s ability to control it. In a preferred embodiment, the overall length of fencing sword  100  is shorter than 15 inches, but preferably less than 12 inches. This allows fencing sword  100  to be used in more constrained environments than a typical fencing sword. Also, since fencing sword  100  is much shorter than a typical fencing sword, it is much easier to transport during travel and is not subject to security restrictions, such as the ban of weapons aboard airplanes. 
         [0014]      FIGS. 2 and 3  depict how weights  112  can be added or removed from shaft  108 . First, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , the desired number of weights  112  are added to the threaded portion of shaft  108 . The fastener  114  is then threaded onto shaft  108  to secure the weights  112  as depicted in  FIG. 3 . Fencing sword  100  provides a much more compact sword which can be used for practice. And, as previously described, the fencing sword  100  is more suitable for travel than a typical fencing sword which can be awkward to transport. 
         [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts an alternate embodiment of fencing sword  100  having a different grip  102 . In this embodiment, grip  102  is a standard saber grip and guard  104  is part of grip  102 . This embodiment demonstrates how the same set of weights  112  can be used with multiple embodiments having different grips  102  and guards  104 . As another example,  FIG. 5  depicts a fencing sword  100  having a slightly different foil grip  102  and  FIG. 6  depicts a epée grip  102 . The fencing sword  100  also has a larger bell guard  104  as is common on epee fencing swords. 
         [0016]      FIG. 7  depicts an alternate embodiment of fencing sword  100  in which a laser pointer  702  is located at a distal end of shaft  108 . The laser pointer  702  is preferably aligned with a common axis of shaft  108  and can be used to register on a target mimicking scoring a touch in a bout. This can help during training to enhance a user&#39;s accuracy. The laser pointer  702  can be attached to the end of shaft  108  using different connection techniques such as via a threaded connection (screwing into an interior of the shaft  108  or over a threaded exterior). 
         [0017]      FIG. 8  depicts an alternate embodiment of fencing sword  100  in which weights  112  are differently sized and weighted. As depicted, weights  112  may also be marked with identifiers  802  to indicate the weight (e.g., in grams, ounces, etc. of weight  112 . Preferably, weights  112  are formed from a heavy/dense material such as a metal. Weights  112  and shaft  108  may also be of any shape (square, rectangular, hexagonal, etc.) as long as the shape is complimentary to allow weights  112  to be added or removed. Weights  112  may also be color coded or marked so that the fencer can easily ascertain the total weight of weights  112  on shaft  108 . 
         [0018]    Additionally, securing mechanism  114  is preferably a durable metal or plastic piece because it must secure weights  112  during quick movement by the fencer wielding fencing sword  100 . In another embodiment, weights  112  can be secured to shaft  108  using other methods including clipping or screwing directly onto shaft  108 . For example, as depicted in  FIG. 8 , the weights  112  have internal threads so they can be screwed onto shaft  108 . In some embodiments, the entirety of blade  106  may be replaced and the different blades  106  take the places of weights  112 . In such an embodiment, blade  106  would be attached directly to guard  104  (e.g., via a screw fit). Thus, fencing sword  100  can also be used as an actual fencing sword during competition as well as for training. Further, weights  112  can be secured to shaft  108  or guard  104  using magnets, hook and loop fasteners, a twist lock fit, or any other fasteners.