GB2299950A - Martial arts board holding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Martial arts board holding apparatus comprises ```at least one pair of spaced-apart generally parallel channels opening inwardly towards one another for receiving therein the edge regions of one or more martial arts boards; and ```a support framework, on which said channels are mounted, so as to position a board or boards held therein to provide a target area for receiving a martial arts blow or the like; the arrangement being such that said framework is adjustable about at least two different axes so as to allow positioning of a board or boards retained by the channels in a number of different orientations. The framework may be mounted on a punch bag or punch ball.

Description

MARTIAL ARTS BOARD HOLDING APPARATUS Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for holding martial arts boards so that they can receive a martial arts blow or the like.

Background to the Invention A common and well-known exercise in the practice of several types of martial art is the breaking of one or more boards using a blow from the hand or foot.

Conventionally, this necessitates one or more assistants having to hold the board or boards in position to receive the blow. This, obviously, presents a serious risk of injury to the assistant(s), either from a misguided blow or from the pieces of broken board. Using this conventional method, one is also not able to practise alone.

A number of board-holding devices have been proposed to remove the need for an assistant to manually hold the board(s).

For example, US patent no 4,757,989 (BAUER) discloses a portable martial arts board-holding device which, although angularly adjustable, is only vertically adjustable over a limited range of heights.

US patent no 4,889,334 (PARTLO) discloses a board holding device which reduces the risk of injury to the user by the provision of release means for increasing the board-holding space once the board(s) has been struck to be broken.

US patent no 4,973,045 (HEBERER) describes apparatus for positioning and securing at least one target board at a particular height and angle for the practice of martial arts. The target board seems to be pivotable about a horizontal axis, for example to angle the board downwards, however there is limited adjustability in other planes.

It is desirable to have a device which can hold one or more boards over a full range of heights and orientations. However, none of the devices known to the applicant seem to be fully adjustable and it is thus an object of the present invention to provide a device which is more positionally adjustable than the known devices.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, in its broadest aspect, there is provided martial arts board holding apparatus comprising at least one pair of spaced-apart generally parallel channels opening inwardly towards one another for receiving therein the edge regions of one or more martial arts boards ; and a support framework, on which said channels are mounted, so as to position a board or boards held therein to provide a target area for receiving a martial arts blow or the like; the arrangement being such that said framework is adjustable about at least two different axes so as to allow positioning of a board or boards retained by the channels in a number of different orientations.

Preferably, said support framework is of a two-part construction, a first part having said channels mounted thereon and being pivotally attached to a second part by means of a hinge, the hinge permitting movement about a substantially vertical axis of the first part with respect to the second part through an angle of substantially 90" degrees from a first closed position to a second opened position.

In a preferred form, said support frame is held in its second opened position by means of a stay bar, releasably attached between said first part and said second part.

Advantageously, said first part is rotatable with respect to said second part about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of a board or boards held therein.

More particularly, said first part further comprises a locking means for locking said first part in a desired position after rotation.

In a preferred form at least one of each pair of channels is freely rotatable about its longitudinal axis ie. the axis substantially parallel to the edge of a board held therein.

In a preferred embodiment, said apparatus further comprises a frame suitable for mounting on a wall or the like, said frame comprising a pair of generally parallel rails on which said support framework can be slidably mounted so as to adjust the height of the target area.

In an alternative embodiment, said apparatus further comprises means for mounting said support framework on a punch bag or the like.

Preferably, at least one of each pair of channels is mounted on a pair of arms, the length of the arms being adjustable so as to angle said board or boards away from its/their normal (substantially vertical) orientation.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows front and side views of frame A; Figure 2 shows a front view of frame B; Figure 3 shows a side view of frame B; Figure 4 shows a plan view of frame B; Figure 5 shows a section on the line B-B shown in Figure 2; Figure 6 shows views of a board-supporting channel; Figure 7 shows views of an adjustable arm; Figure 8 shows front, side and plan views of frame C on a reduced scale; Figure 9 shows a front view of frames A, B, C assembled together; Figure 10 shows a side view of frames A, B, C assembled together; Figure 11 shows a plan view of frames A, B, C assembled together; Figure 12 shows a section on the line A-A shown in Figure 9;; Figure 13 shows a front view of the apparatus ready for use (in its closed position); Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the apparatus ready for use (in its closed position); Figure 15 shows a front view of the apparatus ready for use (in its open position); Figure 16 shows a perspective view of the apparatus ready for use (in its open position).

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The apparatus comprises three key parts, each of a welded metal construction and denoted here as frame A, frame B, and frame C. Figures 1 8 show views of each of the frames individually. Figures 9 through 12 show views of the three frames assembled together. Figures 13 through 16 show views of the apparatus ready for use.

Referring to Figure 1, frame A comprises a metal framework with strengthening cross-bars 1 through which is a hole 2 in the cross over region.

A tongue 3 protrudes inwardly from one edge of the frame 1, the tongue 3 having a hole 4 therethrough.

Referring to Figures 2 through 5, frame B is a box-section metal framework.

Support strut 5 has a hole 6 therethrough suitable for alignment with hole 2 of frame A (see below). Two long arms 7 protrude outwardly perpendicular to the plane of strut 5. Elongate members 8 of Shaped cross-section are welded to the two long arms 7 (shown most clearly in Figures 3 and 4) so as to define three channels 9a. Two short arms 10 protrude outwardly perpendicular to the plane of strut 5. Short arms 10 have holes 11 bored therethrough equidistant from one another.

Figure 6 shows views of a board-supporting channel 9b. This is constructed of folded and welded sheet metal formed into an elongate channel of generally U-shaped cross-section. Each of the two "short" walls has a hole 12 therein.

Figure 7 shows an adjustable arm 13, formed from a length of box-section metal and having a tab 14 extending upwardly therefrom. The adjustable arm 13 is intended to be attached to one of the short arms 10 and, therefore, two of these arms 13 are required for the complete apparatus.

The apparatus described thus far forms the "first part" of the complete apparatus as described in the Summary of the Invention.

Figure 8 shows the generally planar frame C which forms the "second part" of the complete apparatus as described in the Summary of the Invention.

On one surface of frame C are four guides 15, of a generally U-shaped crosssection.

Welded to the opposite side of frame C is projection 16, so sized and shaped as to cooperate with tongue 3 when the apparatus is assembled. Frame C also includes two stops 17 and four cylindrical guides 18 all of which project from the same face of frame C as projection 16.

Figure 9 shows the assembled framework. Frame A is releasably attached to frame B by means of bolt 19 which passes through holes 2 and 6. Turnable knob 20 has a screw-threaded shank (not shown) which passes through hole 4, through the hole in projection 16 and is received into a complementary screw-threaded nut (not shown). In this way, frame A is releasably attached to frame C. Hinges 21 are welded between frame A and frame C, as shown most clearly in Figure 11.

Adjustable arms 13 are fixed to short arms 10, using bolts and wing nuts.

Elongate channels 9b are bolted to projections 14 on adjustable arms 13 by bolts and washers 22, in such a way that the channels 9b are freely rotatable about their longitudinal axes.

For use, the support framework as described above is mounted on a wallmountable frame 100, as shown in Figures 13 -16. The frame 100 comprises two generally parallel rails 101 and two generally parallel support struts 102, the rails 101 and struts 102 being generally perpendicular to one another.

Spring loaded clips 103 (see Figure 11) are used to clip the support framework onto the rails 101, the rails 101 being a sliding fit in guides 15.

According to the positioning of the wall-mountable frame 100 and the positioning of the support framework thereon, the apparatus is thus fully height-adjustable.

The area between the pairs of channels 9a, 9b defines the target space. A board 104 is positioned between the frontmost pair of channels, as shown most clearly in Figure 14. Although one board 104 is shown here, it will be appreciated that a board can be positioned between each pair of channels 9a, 9b, thus increasing the difficulty of the board-breaking task. The board 104 shown here is of the known type of reusable "break board", having a line of weakness running generally parallel (in this case) to the longitudinal axes of the channels. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the frontmost faces of channels 9a, 9b can be painted a distinctive colour to more clearly define the target area.

The board in Figures 13 and 14 is shown ready to receive a martial arts blow.

As the board is broken, lower channels 9b (which are freely rotatable) rotate away from the user, thus easily releasing the pieces of broken board.

If a high target area is required, the support frame is moved up to the top region of the frame 100. In such a case, for example, it may be desirable to angle the board 104 down towards the user. The achieve this, the holes 11 in short arms 10 provide a series of available lengths for adjustable arms 13. By increasing the overlap between short arms 10 and adjustable arms 13, the lower channels 9b are movable away from the user, thus having the effect of inclining the board 104 away from the vertical orientation shown in the figures.

To provide further positional adjustment, it is possible to rotate frame B (and hence the target board) with respect to frame A. Loosening of bolt 19 allows 360" rotation of frame B with respect to frame A and re-tightening of bolt 19 fixes frame B in its new orientation. This feature is of particular use with the type of board shown here or indeed any board which has a "grain" or particularly orientated lines of weakness.

A further positional variation is shown in Figures 15 and 16. Owing to the hinges 21 between frame A and frame C, it is possible to position the target board at substantially 90" to the wall on which the support framework is mounted. Loosening of turnable knob 20, releases frame C from frame A allowing the first part of the apparatus (see above for definition) to "swing out" through 90" with respect to the second part of the apparatus (again see above for definition). The support framework is maintained in this opened position by means of a stay bar 105 which is releasably attached between the first and second parts of the apparatus.

It will be appreciated that the invention need not be restricted to the specific embodiment described herein. For example, the apparatus could be adapted to hold more or fewer boards depending upon the number of pairs of channels 9a, 9b that are used.

The holes 11 in short arms 10 need not be equispaced, and their number may be increased or decreased depending upon the degree of adjustability required.

The support framework need not be wall-mounted. The apparatus could be adapted to be mountable on, for example, a free-standing or free-hanging punch bag.

It can thus be seen that the present invention provides versatile martial arts board-holding apparatus which is readily adjustable in both height and about a number of different axes.

Claims (11)

1. Martial arts board holding apparatus comprising at least one pair of spaced-apart generally parallel channels opening inwardly towards one another for receiving therein the edge regions of one or more martial arts boards; and a support framework, on which said channels are mounted, so as to position a board or boards held therein to provide a target area for receiving a martial arts blow or the like; the arrangement being such that said framework is adjustable about at least two different axes so as to allow positioning of a board or boards retained by the channels in a number of different orientations.

2. Martial arts board holding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support framework is of a two-part construction, a first part having said channels mounted thereon and being pivotally attached to the second part by means of a hinge, the hinge permitting movement about a substantially vertical axis of the first part with respect to the second part through an angle of substantially 90" from a first closed position to a second opened position.

3. Martial arts board holding apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said support frame is held in its second opened position by means of a stay bar, releasably attached between said first part and said second part.

4. Martial arts board holding apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said first part is rotatable with respect to said second part about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of a board or boards held therein.

5. Martial arts board holding apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 wherein said first part further comprises a locking means for locking said first part in a desired position after rotation.

6. Martial arts board holding apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein at least one of each pair of channels is freely rotatable about its longitudinal axis i.e the axis substantially parallel to the edge of a board held therein.

7. Martial arts board holding apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said apparatus further comprises a frame suitable for mounting on a wall or the like, said frame comprising a pair of generally parallel rails on which said support framework can be slidably mounted so as to adjust the height of the target area.

8. Martial arts board holding apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for mounting said support framework on a free-hanging punchbag or the like.

9. Martial arts board holding apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for mounting said support framework on a free-standing punchbag or the like.

10. Martial arts board holding apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein at least one of each of pair of channels is mounted on a pair of arms, the length of the arms being adjustable so as to angle said board or boards away from its/their normal (substantially vertical) orientation.

11. Martial arts board holding apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.