Patent Publication Number: US-2022214136-A1

Title: Short Tang French Grip System

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Copyright Notice 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the xeroxographic reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to equipment for Olympic fencing weapons, in particular to an advancement in the epee weapon. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Fencing is one of five sports which have been permanent fixtures at the Olympic Games since the first modern Games were held in 1896. 
     Based on sword fighting, fencing demands speed, anticipation, reflexes, and great mental strength. 
     Two competitors, each holding a weapon in one hand, face each other to strike their opponent on a valid target area of the body. There are three different events identified by the weapon type used: foil, epee, and sabre. Weapons, target area and priority rules differ among those events. A conductive floor panel known as a ‘piste’ constitutes the fencing competition surface. 
     Fencing has been featured in every modern Olympic Games since 1896, known as the Games of the I Olympiad, starting with the individual men&#39;s foil and sabre. Women&#39;s individual foil was added at the Paris 1924 Games, women&#39;s individual epee was added at the Atlanta 1996 Games and women&#39;s individual sabre was added at the Athens 2004 Games. Since 2004, all twelve events (foil/epee/sabre, women/men, individual/team) have been included in the Olympic Games. 
     Fencing&#39;s appeal lies in the tactical exchange of two athletes with precise movements and fast-changing duels. The athletes&#39; splendid swordplay at close distances are a thrilling highlight of any match. Dynamic bouts of focused fencers fill the venue with intense action and athleticism. 
     Two of the main differences among sabre, foil, and epee events are an opponent&#39;s target area and the weapon&#39;s scoring area. The valid target area for sabre is an opponent&#39;s torso, arms, and head, for foil it is only the torso, for epee it is the entire body. Since the sabre is primarily a slashing weapon, contact with any part of the blade on an opponent&#39;s permitted target area may result in a point. Since foil and epee weapons are historically “puncture” weapons, only the tip of these weapons may be used to score. As such, there is an electronic button on the tip of these weapons. 
     For foil and epee, the button at the tip of the weapon has thin wires that run along a groove in the blade, through the bell guard assembly and connects to the weapon&#39;s socket. A “body cord” plugs into the weapon&#39;s socket and runs through a tensioning device to an electronic scoring machine. When the button is depressed, simulating a “puncture,” on an opponent&#39;s permitted target area, a tiny electronic signal is sent through the tiny wires to the weapon&#39;s socket, through the body cord to the electronic scoring machine. 
     For epee, a point is awarded when the point of the blade hits any part of an opponent, depressing the button. If both fencers hit at the same time, they are both awarded points. Since the entire body is a valid target for epee competition, matches show a variety of actions as fencers target unexpected parts of their opponent&#39;s body, all the way down to their toes. 
     Electronic scoring has been part of competitive fencing since its first use during the 1896 Olympic Games. Although there are multiple solutions that have been presented in prior art regarding improving efficiency in fencing scoring systems, the utility of these systems has not been seen in advance form where additional advantages and ease of use is presented to the user. Conversely, the user is often inconvenienced by drawbacks that are frequently associated with the typical use of such devices, such as bulkiness, flexibility, lack of durability, and a limited range. 
     The current electronic scoring system is deemed both effective and reliable. However, this system requires the use of tiny fragile wires that run from the electronic button at the tip of the blade to the weapons “socket,” located near the weapon&#39;s handle. The “socket” connects these thin wires to a durable “body cord” that enables electronic signals to be carried to the scoring machine. 
     The risk of severing these thin wires is highest in the bell guard assembly. The bell guard assembly includes the bell guard that protects the fencer&#39;s hand, the socket holder that affixes the socket to the weapon, and the bell guard pad that provides padding against the surface of the bell guard. These thin wires must run through multiple grooves that must be perfectly aligned to prevent being “pinched” or cut when the weapon&#39;s handle is tightened on the blade&#39;s tang by a hex nut. 
     Tightening the various weapon components in perfect alignment is challenging and frequently results in inadvertently cutting the thin wires from the blade tip&#39;s button. Consequently, a fencer rarely changes his fencing handle while either training or competing. 
     In epee competition, there are two broad categories of fencing handles. The most common type is a pistol grip. A pistol grip is a shorter handle allowing the fencer to hold the handle similarly to a pistol handle. The less popular, but longer, French grip resembles a screwdriver handle. Due to its extended length, a French grip is not compatible with the short tang blade used by the pistol grip and requires a long tang blade. To change between a pistol grip and French grip, different blades must be purchased. 
     Unlike the traditional fencing handle systems, the presented, enhanced design is simple, providing the user tremendous flexibility and convenience. The presented invention allows a French grip to be used on a weapon blade with a short tang, designed for use with a pistol grip. Previously, using a French grip required the purchase of a long tang blade. Now, one blade can be used for both French grips and pistol grips. 
     Furthermore, the proposed assembly allows a fencer to easily and quickly replace any variant of French grip without loosening the bell guard assembly. Therefore, the risk of cutting the tiny blade wires is tremendously reduced. 
     None of the previous inventions or patents, taken either singly or in combination, are seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Hence, the inventors of the present invention propose to resolve and surmount existent technical difficulties to eliminate the aforementioned shortcomings of prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     In light of the disadvantages of the prior art, the following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the present invention and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the invention can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole. 
     The primary object of the invention is related to an advancement in an epee French grip to be used on a weapon blade with a short tang. 
     It is also the main objective of the invention to allow a French grip to be used on a weapon blade with a short tang, designed for use with a pistol grip. As per preferred embodiments of the invention, one epee short tang blade can be used for both French grips and pistol grips. 
     It is further the objective of the invention to provide an assembly that allows a fencer to easily and quickly replace a French grip without loosening the entire bell guard assembly and risking blade wire misalignment with wire notches and cutting the wires. 
     It is the further objective of the present invention to provide a simplicity of its design. 
     This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments, so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described features are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  discloses the Shown with basic straight French Grip as per preferred embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  discloses another view with basic straight French grip as per preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. 
     The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, or manner. 
     The sport of Olympic fencing includes three types of weapons/competitions: epee, foil, and sabre. This invention pertains to the epee weapon. Fencers have an option of using an epee weapon with either a pistol grip or a French grip. 
     Typically, to use a French grip, a fencer must buy an epee blade with a long tang, the section of blade that extends into the sword&#39;s grip. Since most fencers begin with a pistol grip, an entirely new blade with a long tang must be purchased to use a French grip. 
     The proposed assembly allows a French grip to be used on a weapon blade with a short tang, designed for use with a pistol grip. As per preferred embodiments of the invention, one blade can be used for both French grips and pistol grips. 
     The grip of an epee handle is assembled by sliding the blade tang through the hole of the bell guard, through the hole of the socket holder, through the hole in the bell guard pad, and through the French grip. The end of the blade tang extends slightly beyond the end of the French grip handle where the pommel is screwed on to the blade tang like a large nut. 
     As the pommel is screwed onto the blade tang, it forces the French grip firmly against the bell guard pad, socket holder and bell guard. As per preferred embodiments of the invention, this is the only thing keeping the weapon assembled and “tight.” Assembly is complicated by the requirement for the blade&#39;s tiny, fragile wires to perfectly fit in the wire notch in the bell guard, socket holder, and the front of the French grip. The blade wires are ultimately connected to the weapon&#39;s socket. The fencer&#39;s body cord also connects to the weapon&#39;s socket, enabling the electronic circuit to be completed. 
     When a pommel is removed, the entire bell guard assembly (bell guard, bell guard pad, and socket holder) becomes loose and misaligned. The slightest misalignment can cause the wire to move out of the tiny wire notches in the bell guard, socket holder, and French grip and become pinched, likely causing the wire to be cut when the pommel is re-tightened to hold the bell guard assembly in place. Most fencers avoid loosening their weapon&#39;s pommel for this reason. 
     Although a French grip is somewhat simple regarding style, there are numerous variations, regarding curvature, length, and weight. Many fencers will frequently use different French grip styles while training. Due to the difficulties of removing the pommel and risk of causing the bell guard assembly to become loose and possibly misaligned (placing the blade wire at risk of being pinched or cut), most fencers will buy completely separate weapons for each of their French grip variations (e.g., straight, curved, light, heavy). 
     The invention as per additional embodiments allows a fencer to easily and quickly replace a French grip without loosening the bell guard assembly and risking blade wire misalignment with wire notches and becoming severely pinched or cut. 
     The French grip system includes a “short tang attachment” that firmly attaches to the short tang by using the same “Allen Socket Hex Nut” and hex key Allen wrench that is used for pistol grips. This “short tang attachment” is forced against the bell guard assembly by tightening the “hex nut” screwed on the end of the short tang. The “short tang attachment” keeps the entire bell guard assembly tightly in place and properly aligned, and it does NOT need to be removed to change French grips. Our “slide-on French grips” are designed to fit over the “short tang attachment” and are held in place by a “locking pin.” The “locking pin” is pushed through aligned holes in the “slide-on French grip” and “short tang attachment.” The “locking pin” is held in place by either “grip tape” or a “rubber sleave.” Since a glove is required safety equipment, fencers apply “grip tape” or use a “rubber sleave” over the handle to improve their grip. Removal of a “slide-on French grip” may be performed by removing the “grip tape” or “rubber sleave” to pull out to the “locking pin.” Once the “locking pin” is removed, the “slide-on French grip” may be slid off the “short tang attachment.” Again, a primary advantage of our French grip system is that the bell guard assembly does not become loose and misaligned, during this simple process. 
     The assembly works in the following way. The French grip system includes a “short tang attachment” that firmly attaches to the short tang by using the same “Allen Socket Hex Nut” that is used for pistol grips. This “short tang attachment” is forced against the bell guard assembly by tightening the “hex nut” screwed on the end of the short tang. The “short tang attachment” keeps the entire bell guard assembly tightly in place and properly aligned, and it does NOT need to be removed to change French grips. 
     The “slide-on French grips” are designed to fit over the “short tang attachment” and are held in place by a “locking pin” that is inserted in the aligned holes of both the “short tang attachment” and a “slide-on French grip.” The “locking pin” is smooth and can be easily removed to allow the current “slide-on French grip” to be easily slid off the “short tang attachment.” A new “slide-on French grip” can be slid on the “short tang attachment” and the “locking pin” can be easily reinserted to firmly hold the “slide-on French grip” in place. The “locking pin” is held in place by the “grip tape” or “rubber sleave” on the fencing handle, used to increase grip. 
     While a specific embodiment has been shown and described, many variations are possible. With time, additional features may be employed. The particular shape or configuration of the platform or the interior configuration may be changed to suit the system or equipment with which it is used. 
     Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.