Patent Publication Number: US-4583730-A

Title: Martial arts practice device with breakage

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates to a martial arts practice device simulating real conditions at significantly reduced cost. 
     The present invention provides a martial arts practice device for simulating the breaking of boards and the like with an actual break of smaller less costly slats but requiring comparable impact. The cost savings is significant, typically a factor of 10, and enables the practitioner to engage in a full workout. 
     The practice device in accordance with the invention features re-usable impact breakaway means providing actual breakage of throw-away slats. After impact and breakage, the device is reloaded with new slats for the next sequence. 
     The invention features programmable simulation of the breaking of a variably selective number of boards and materials without modifying or otherwise altering the structure of the device. A given number of slats corresponds with a given number of boards desired to be simulated. The breakage simulates actual penetration. 
     The practice device of the invention is further characterized by its versatility and portability. The device may be mounted on a horizontal or vertical surface for hand or foot or other types of impact. The device may also be held by one or more assistants. 
     The invention enables a fully adjustable programmed resistance device that allows the practioner to achieve maximum effectiveness in breaking techniques, by simulating the resistance of various materials such as wood, bricks, tiles, concrete blocks, etc., and hence is a significant advance in training aids. By simple substitution of different slat materials and/or more or less slats, the device can simulate breakage of different constituent materials as well as single or multiple breaks. The device facilitates quick and easy reloading in preparation for the next sequence. 
     A martial arts nonbreakage practice device is shown in co-pending Application Ser. No. 706,033. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a martial arts practice device in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top elevation view of the device in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a martial arts practice device 2 for simulating the breaking of boards and the like with an actual break of smaller less costly slats 4 but requiring comparable impact. A frame 6 is provided by left and right sidewalls 8 and 10 mounted at their lower ends to a bottom wall 12. Hinged arm means 14 is supported on the frame and movable between first and second positions as shown respectively in solid and dashed line in FIG. 1. Hinged arm means 14 is provided by a pair of hinged arms 16 and 18 having distally opposite outer ends 20 and 22 mounted to the frame at the upper ends of left and right sidewalls 8 and 10 by hinges 24 and 26 providing pivot points 28 and 30 whose pivot axes extend horizontally front-back. Hinged arms 16 and 18 have inner ends 32 and 34 facing each other at interface 36 in the noted first position, solid line, defining a substantially flat horizontal plane simulating a normal size board to be broken. Hinged arms 16 and 18 are pivoted downwardly to the second position, dashed line, with the inner ends 32 and 34 moving downwardly and away from each other as shown at arrows 38 and 40. As seen, the hinged arm means is mounted to the frame at a pivot point and has an opposite end swingable in an arc as at 38, 40 about the pivot point between the first and second positions. Slat 4 has a middle section broken as at 42, 44 by the end of the hinged arm means. 
     Mounting means 46 mounts slat 4 along the underside of arms 16 and 18 in the noted horizontal first position such that impact by the martial arts practitioner against the top of the arms with a vertically downward blow breaks slat 4 beneath the arms and drives the arms to the second position shown in dashed line. Mounting means 46 includes first and second retainers 48 and 50 secured by respective bolts 52, 54, and 56, 58, FIGS. 1 and 4, to the undersides of respective first and second arms 16 and 18. At the bottom of the bolts above respective nuts are horizontally front-back extending plates 60 and 62 through which the bolts extend. Left plate 60 has an inner right end 64 extending beneath slat 4, and right plate 62 has an inner left end 66 extending beneath slat 4. The bolts also extend through respective spacers 68 and 70 which have a vertical height substantially the same as or slightly greater than that of slat 4. 
     At the rear, an additional pair of bolts 72 and 74, FIG. 4, extend downwardly through hinged arms 16 and 18 and through respective plates 60 and 62 and are offset slightly inwardly from bolts 52, 54, and 56, 58 to provide end stops limiting rearward insertion of the slats as shown at slat 76, FIG. 4, being stopped against bolts 72 and 74 when inserted horizontally front to back as viewed in FIG. 1. The disclosed plate and retaining structure thus provides a pair of horizontal guide channels for the slats. The slats are fixedly mounted at their distal ends, as shown at 78 and 80 for slat 4, in the first and second retainer means 48 and 50. The top heads of the bolts are recessed in the top surfaces of hinged arms 16 and 18, and the counter sunk holes or the like in such top surfaces of the hinged arms are plugged with epoxy or the like as shown at 82 in FIG. 2 and sanded or otherwise finished to provide a flush surface for impact by the practitioner and to protect the practitioner from jagged edges and the like. 
     A plurality of slats such as 4 and 76 may be stacked in the first and second retainers 48 and 50 to simulate breakage of a number of boards. In the disclosed embodiment, the direction of stacking is horizontally front-back beneath the facing inner ends 32 and 34 of hinged arms 16 and 18 such that the slats break simultaneously in parallel, rather than in series as would occur if the slats were stacked vertically. Arms 16 and 18 provide re-usable impact breakaway means providing actual breakage of throw-away slats. The breakaway means is returnable to the first position after breakage of the slats, for reloading of another slat or slats and repetition of the breakage. Device 2 programmably simulates the breaking of a variably selective number of boards. The number of slats determines the number of boards desired to be simulated and are selectively changeable. The same device 2 accommodates the changing board number simulation without structural modification of device 2. 
     Frame 6 is preferably made of a hard durable material, such as oak. Sidewalls 8 and 10 have a vertical height sufficient to enable the martial arts practitioner to achieve full extension and follow-through after breakage of the slats without being stopped by the bottom wall 12. Cushioning pads may be provided on the upper surfaces of arms 16 and 18 and/or bottom wall 12. Handles 84 and 86 are provided on the outsides of left and right sidewalls 8 and 10 and enable the frame to be held vertically by an assistant for foot impact by the practitioner. 
     It is recognized that various alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.