Patent Publication Number: US-6217490-B1

Title: Martial arts equipment device

Description:
This application claim benefit to Provisional Application 60/089,269 filed Jun. 15, 1998. 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for supporting boards for use in martial arts demonstrations. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the features of martial arts is the breaking of boards. This can be done in practice and also is carried out in exhibition and in competition. The boards have to be supported effectively so that the breaking is effected cleanly. In particular, holding the boards in vertical orientation requires a device which supports the boards so that they are supported against falling and against recoil. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one object of the present invention is a device that holds the boards safely in a position that is appropriate for people of different sizes and height. 
     According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a martial arts equipment device comprises; 
     a frame; 
     the frame having a horizontal base for resting on the ground and a pair of vertical posts upstanding from the base; 
     the vertical posts having a slidable member; 
     the slidable member being arranged for holding one or more parallel boards being placed side by side in a vertical orientation for breaking; 
     wherein the frame includes a collapsible inclined rear posts which supports the vertical posts; 
     the collapsible inclined rear posts being mounted on a hinge; 
     the hinge being located on the horizontal base arranged to support the collapsible inclined rear post; 
     the vertical post being collapsible and mounted on a second hinge; 
     the second hinge being located on the horizontal base for supporting the vertical post. 
     Preferably the frame includes a wheel for movement across the ground. 
     Preferably the frame includes a plurality of cross bars to support the vertical post, the horizontal base and the collapsible inclined rear post, the cross bars being mounted on the vertical post, the horizontal base and the collapsible inclined rear post such that the cross bars are perpendicular to the vertical post, the horizontal base and the collapsible inclined rear post. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a martial arts equipment device comprising; 
     a frame; 
     the frame having a horizontal base for resting on the ground and a pair of vertical posts upstanding from the base; 
     the vertical posts having a slidable member; 
     the slidable member being arranged for holding one or more parallel boards placed side by side in a vertical orientation for breaking; 
     wherein the slideable member has a member for supporting one or more parallel boards placed side by side in a vertical orientation for breaking; 
     the member for supporting one or more boards having a pair of pivotal arms which hold the boards in position; 
     the pivotal arms having an extending member to allow one or more boards to be supported; 
     the member for supporting one or more boards having a pair of rigid support arms with hold the boards in position; 
     the rigid arms having an extending member to allow one or more board to be supported; 
     the rigid arms co-operating with the pivotal arms to clasp the boards; 
     an abutment being fixed to the slidable member and positioned to break the boards; 
     the abutment being located below the pivotal arms for increased support. 
     Preferably the extending members have a cross member in which forms a lip that is formed to hold the boards in position; 
     Preferably the extending members are spring mounted to allow one or more boards to be placed on the slidable member; 
     Preferably the pivotal arms are mounted on a hinge in which is located on the slidable member so that the pivotal arms can be adjusted to allow boards to be inserted onto the rigid arms and held by the pivotal support arms. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is side elevational view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial front view of the present invention. 
     In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A martial arts board breaking device  1  has two parallel main base arms  3  which are positioned on the ground for supporting the device  1 . The base arms are square hollow steel tubes. Located at the rear most end of the base arms  3  are two wheels  5  for movement across the ground and a first cross bar  15 A. The cross bars are square hollow steel tubes. The wheels  5  are held by wheel arms  5 A. A second cross bar  15 B is located at the front end of the base  3  and is parallel to the first cross bar  15 A. 
     Located on the top portion of the rear most end of the base  3  are two pivots  7  and  7 A. The pivot  7  consists of two side plates  9  in which a pin  11  is inserted through. Fixed between the pivot mounts  9  are two parallel support arms  13 . The support arms are square hollow steel tubes. 
     The parallel support arms  13  extend forwardly and upwardly at an angle of approximately 40°. The top end of the parallel support arms  13  is a third cross bar  15 C, extending parallel to the first cross bar  15 A and the second cross bar  15 B, is held by a bracket  17 . The support section  19  is able to fold at the pivot  7  when the top end is separated from the bracket  17  for compact storage. 
     The bracket  17  is mounted a fourth parallel cross bar  15 D on the top end of two parallel front arms  21 . The front arms are square hollow steel tubes. The front arms  21  are mounted on a hinge  23  which is held by the base arms  3 . The front arms  21  extend upward at right angles from the base arms  3  to the support arms  13 . At the bottom end of the front arms  21  is a fifth parallel cross bar  15 E in which the hinge  23  is mounted. 
     The front arms  21  can be folded down for compact storage. 
     When the base arms  3 , the support arms  13  and the front arms  21  are in position they form a right angled triangle. 
     On the outer sides of the front arms are adjustment hole  25  in which two pins  27  are inserted. The pins  27  are inserted through two locks  29  which in turn hold an pair of adjustable slide sleeve  31 . Each sleeve  31  is a square hollow steel tube which is of sufficient size to be able to freely slide upwardly and downwardly on the front arms  21 . 
     Extending parallel in a forward direction from either side of the top end of the sleeve  31  are two pairs of pivotal arms  35 . Each pair of pivotal arms  35  has a pivot pin  37  which in then holds a pivotal board support arm  39 . The pivotal board support arm  39  extends perpendicularly in a forward direction from the front arms  21 . The pivotal board support arms are square hollow steel tubes. A plate  47  extends horizontally to fix to the opposite pivotal support arm. Inserted into the pivotal board support arm  39  is a protruding arm  41  which is of significant size so that the protruding arm  41  can freely slide forward and back in the pivotal board support arm  39 . The protruding arms are square hollow steel tubes. 
     The protruding arms  41  have a front plate  43  which extends horizontally to fix to the opposite protruding arm  41 . Mounted directly in the center of the front plate is a plate adjusting bar  45 . The bar  45  extends rearwardly through the plate  47  and is surrounded by a spring  49 . At the rear end of the bar is a threaded portion  51  in which a nut  53  is screwed on which holds the protruding arm  41  in position. 
     In order to ensure that the board  55  is secure a board stop  57  is fixed in a parallel position to the pivotal arm  39  and attached to the adjustable slide sleeve  31 . 
     Extending parallel in a forward direction from either side of the bottom end of the sleeve  31  are two pairs of main board support arms  59 . The main board support arms  59  are welded in a fixed position parallel to the pivotal arm  39 . The main support arms  59  are square hollow steel tubes. At the forward end of the mains support arms is a back plate  61  which extends horizontally to the opposite arm  59  in order to create support when the board  55  is struck. 
     Inserted into the main support arm  59  is a second protruding arm  41 A which is of significant size so that the protruding arm  41 A can freely slide forward and back in the main board support arm  59 . The protruding arms are square hollow steel tubes. 
     The second protruding arms  41 A have a front plate  43 A which extends horizontally to fix to the opposite second protruding arm  41 A. Mounted directly in the center of the front plate is a second plate adjusting bar  45 A. The second bar  45 A extends rearwardly through the plate  47 A and is surrounded by a second spring  49 A. At the rear end of the bar is a second threaded portion  51 A in which a second nut  53 A is screwed on which holds the protruding arm  41  in position. 
     Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.