US20100210378A1 - Training and Coordination Device - Google Patents

Abstract

A training and coordination device including a projectile member such as a ball or sack secured to an elastic string is described. The first end of the elastic string is attached to a location and the second end is connected to the projectile member. At least an end portion of the elastic string secure to the projectile member comprises multiple strands of an odd number. The multiple strands of the elastic string in conjunction with the elasticity of the string generate a random motion of the sack when the sack moves relative to the string.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates to generally to a training and coordination device and more particularly to a martial arts attack sack with multiple mechanical parts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• In recent years the public has become increasingly aware of the importance of physical fitness. Concurrent with this trend is the increasing popularity and participation in the martial arts, such as karate. In the past training for sports such as martial arts, baseball or practicing for carnival games like bottle toss can be tedious or costly. Studying the martial arts requires extensive and constant exercising not only to learn the different movements but to develop coordination, various muscles and quick reflexes. While several devices have been developed and are currently on the market for use in physical development, such devices do little in aiding one in coordination and quickening his reflexes. Additionally the available devices are not cost effective, are very tedious to carry around and require additional exercises that make the study of the martial arts a difficult and laborious process. It would therefore be highly desirable to develop a cost effective, multifaceted training and coordination device.
SUMMARY
• The present invention includes a training and coordination device and method of improving coordination of a user with the training and coordination device. In one embodiment, the training and coordination device comprises a projectile member and an elastic string. The projectile member may comprise a ball or a sack containing a filling. A loop is attached to a section of the projectile member. The elastic string has a length within the range of 4-15 feet and includes a first end and a second end. The first end may be attached to a fixed location or movably supported and the second end is connected to the loop portion of the projectile member or sack. At least a portion of the elastic string extending up to the second end comprises a multi-strand portion which may be formed by threading the second end of the string through the loop portion and looping it back on itself, knotting it together at a location spaced from the second end to leave a free end portion then attaching the free end portion to the loop to form three strands. Additional strands may be formed by threading back through the loop portion and re-knotting repeatedly until a desired number of strands (odd or even) are formed. In one embodiment, an odd number of strands are provided. The multi-strand portion may alternatively be formed by a plurality of separate strands knotted to the end of the string. The knots and multi-strand portion of the elastic string in conjunction with the elasticity of the string generate a random motion of the sack when the sack moves relative to the string.
• In some embodiments, a method for improving coordination skills of a user with the training and coordination device is described. The method can be implemented as a game or as a training tool. The method starts with a user making a first contact with the training and coordination device. As previously described, the training and coordination device includes a projectile member such as a sack or ball and an elastic string. Making contact with the training and coordination device includes making contact with the sack. The sack is set into a random motion due to the first contact made by the user. The multiple strand end portion and knots of the string in conjunction with the elasticity of the string generate a random motion of the sack when the sack moves relative to the string. Finally, the user moves to make further contact with the sack as it moves away from the point of the first contact where the further contact is made prior to the sack returning to a rest position.
• In yet another embodiment, a method for improving coordination skills of a user with the training and coordination device is described. The method can be implemented as a game or as a training tool. The method starts with a plurality of users assembling around the training and coordination device where the training and coordination device includes a sack and a string. A user of a plurality of users makes a first contact with training and coordination device using at least one allowable predetermined body part and avoiding contact with other body parts. The sack is set into a random motion due to the first contact made by the user. Any of the plurality of users makes contact with the training and coordination device with at least one allowable predetermined body part.
• Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
• FIG. 1 is an example illustration of the unassembled components of one embodiment of the training and coordination device;
• FIG. 2 is an example illustration of the assembled components of the training and coordination device ofFIG. 1 in a rest position;
• FIG. 3 is an example illustration of the assembled components of the training and coordination device in an active position;
• FIGS. 4A through 4F are example illustrations of making contact, avoiding contact and targeting functions of the training and coordination device.
• FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a designated area for interacting with the training and coordination device.
• FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for improving coordination skills of a user with the training and coordination device.
• FIG. 7 is another flow chart of an exemplary method for improving coordination skills of a user with the training and coordination device.
• FIGS. 8A through 8Z include example illustrations of the multiple martial arts maneuvers for making contact with the training and coordination device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• The invention is directed to a training and coordination device and methods of improving the coordination of a user. After reading this description, it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. Although various embodiments of the present invention are described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.
• In the past training for sports such as martial arts, baseball or practicing for carnival games like bottle toss can be tedious or costly. The training and coordination device described herein is a cost effective training device that can be interacted within a single spot and without having to constantly retrieve the training and coordination device. For martial arts training this combines aspeed bag sack20 with a new random factor that keeps you guessing and provides more realistic training. The training and coordination device is small, elastic and hangs from a fixed location such as a ceiling or a tree. The training and coordination device improves martial arts skills by allowing players to practice their skills with full force and little to no risk of damaging themselves or others in the process of practice. The training and coordination device improves upon an ancient version which was a small rock hanging from a piece of silk. The ancient training device of the Shaolin Temple was static not dynamic and was hard on the body, whereas the training and coordination device described herein is active and easy on the hands.
• FIG. 1 is an example illustration of one embodiment of the unassembled components of the training andcoordination device10. In some embodiments the training and coordination device can be implemented for use in a game or for training purposes. The training andcoordination device10 includes aprojectile member20 which may be a ball, a sack, a bean bag, or the like and astring30 such as an elastic string. The projectile member may be a sack or enclosure filled with a suitable filling material or may be any type of ball or other projectile member suitable for impact or throwing by a user. In one embodiment, thesack20 is composed of cloth or woven material but other materials may be used in alternative embodiment such as synthetic fabric materials, plastic, leather, or the like. In one embodiment, sack20 comprises an outer portion or enclosure containing a stuffing. The stuffing may be composed of seeds, beans, small plastic pellets and small wooden pellets, for example. In one embodiment, is asmall loop25 of string, elastic or other suitable material, for example, attached to thesack20 for engaging theelastic string30. Thesmall loop25 of string or elastic can be sewn to the outer portion of the projectile member or sack20. In some embodiments at least a portion of thesack20 is reinforced, with theloop25 of string, elastic or other suitable material attached to the reinforced portion.
• Thestring30 can be made of various materials including polyester, rubber and elastic. In some embodiments, thestring30 is non-elastic. Theelastic string30 creates bounce and adds to the movement towards and away from auser40 illustrated below. In some embodiments, the length of thestring30 is within the range of 4 to 15 feet. The length of thestring30 can vary according to the circumstances for which thestring30 is used. For example, the length of thestring30 can be longer to accommodate multiple users or for attaching to a high ceiling and/or tree. Theelastic string30 includes a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to the fixed location such as a ceiling or a tree. In some embodiments, the training andcoordination device10 can be attached to a mobile location to further enhance the coordination skills of auser40. Alocation loop45 such as a small loop of string, elastic or other suitable material may be attached to the first end for engaging the fixed or mobile location.
• The second end of the training andcoordination device10 is attached directly or indirectly to thesack20 via thesmall loop25 of string or elastic, for example. Astring loop35 such as a small loop of string, elastic or other suitable material may be attached to the second end for engaging thesack20. Thestring30 includes amultiple strand portion15 which extends up to the second end of the string and is attached to theloop25. In one embodiment, multiple strand portion is attached tosmall loop35 which in turn is attached toloop25 as illustrated inFIG. 2. The multiple strands may comprise separate strands which are each knotted at one end to the remainder of the string atjunction18 and knotted toloop35 or directly toloop25 at the other end. Alternatively, the multiple strands may be formed by threading a length of thestring30 throughloop25, bending the length of the string back on itself and knotting it atjunction18 to leave a free end, bending the free end back again and either securing it to theloop25 or threading it through theloop25 and re-knotting it atjunction18 to form additional separate strands. The latter arrangement adds further random motion to the path of the projectile member or sack20 when struck or thrown. In some embodiments, thestring30 is threaded through theloop25 and rethreaded through its own end. The knotting andmulti-strand end portion15 creates randomness and unique reactions when contact is made with the training andcoordination device10. In some embodiments, only anend portion15 of thestring30 is knotted or arranged to form multiple strands, while in others the entire string may be multiple strands. In our embodiment, themulti strand portion15 is about one to two feet in length. There may be an odd number of strands inend portion15 as illustrated while in other embodiments there are an even number of strands. The odd or even number of strings at the second end where thestring30 engages thesack20 makes thesack20 move in an unpredictable way. The elasticity of thestring30 causes thesack20 to move away from a current position in, for example recoil motion, when contact is made with thesack20, thereby contributing to the randomness or unpredictability of thesack20 movement.
• FIG. 2 is an example illustration of the assembled components of the training andcoordination device10 in a rest position. In the assembled state, the training andcoordination device10 includes thesack20 coupled to the second end of thestring30 via thesmall loop25 of string. In the rest position as illustrated inFIG. 2, the training andcoordination device10 is in a substantially vertical position with the first end of thestring30 hanging from a fixed or mobile location, for example, and thesack20 hanging from the second end of thestring30. The training andcoordination device10 is configured to return to its rest position after contact is made with the training andcoordination device10.
• FIG. 3 is an example illustration of the assembled components of the training andcoordination device10 in an active position. The training andcoordination device10 is in an active state when auser40, for example, makes contact with it. Making contact with the training andcoordination device10 generally includes kicking, punching, slapping or throwing thesack20 of the training and coordination thereby setting it off on a random motion as illustrated inFIG. 3, and causing thestring30 to spiral randomly. In the active position thesack20 continues to move rapidly and randomly and eventually settles in a rest position if no further contact is made.
• FIGS. 4A through 4F are example illustrations of making contact, avoiding contact and targeting functions of the training and coordination device.FIG. 4A illustrates auser40 avoiding contact or dodging thesack20 when the training and coordination device. In one implementation theuser40 dodges thesack20 to avoid contact with the rapidly and randomly movingsack20 to improve coordination or to avoid negative points in a game. In one embodiment theuser40 avoids contact with thesack20 after making contact with thesack20 or after adifferent user40 makes contact with thesack20. Auser40 may be eliminated from training or a game when theuser40 exceeds a threshold of negative points.FIG. 4B illustrates auser40 making contact with thesack20 by punching thesack20. In other embodiments theuser40 can make contact with thesack20 by kicking thesack20 or catching thesack20 as illustrated inFIGS. 4C and 4D respectively. The training andcoordination device10 can be utilized for training exercise and games. In one embodiment, a game implementation involvesusers40 making contact or avoiding contact with the ball in an attempt to influence the balls movement in order to create a result (game play) or train a skill (martial arts games such as kung fu games). Some of the simplest games include a “single user toss” or “solo toss.” In this implementation thesingle user40 stands directly below where the training and coordination device is affixed to the ceiling, for example, and throws thesack20 away from theuser40. Thesack20 returns rapidly and randomly and the player catches thesack20 and throws thesack20 again. In other embodiments, thesack20 is tossed toward a target. In this implementation a target point is selected or a target point is elected or hung on a wall. Examples of the targets are illustrated inFIGS. 4E and 4F. InFIG. 4E thesack20 is propelled toward a target hole formed by a rope and inFIG. 4F a target spot is implemented on a wall or a piece of paper. In some embodiments, if theuser40 misses the target, they may take one or more steps forwards or backwards making aiming or throwing of thesack20 towards the target harder or easier. In other embodiments, theuser40 is blindfolded or has their eyes closed during a game or training session. In one embodiment, a game or training session can be initiated by serving the training and coordination device including making contact with thesack20 in a predefined routine, such contacting the sack with the sole of the foot. In some embodiments, thedevice10 may be used in a game or training session with multiple participants or users. In one example, one of the participants stands facing into a circle formed by the participants around the training and coordination device and throws thesack20 over their shoulder and out of the circle whereupon game play starts when a different user orparticipant40 makes contact with thesack20.
• FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a designated area for interacting with the training and coordination device. The game play circle of this illustration includes a game play area with an inner circle thatusers40 can surround and an outer circle indicating the maximum area for implementing the game. In some embodiments, the total length of thestring30 determines the size of the inner and outer circle and subsequently determines the maximum number of users per game. The number of users can be as many as would fit in the game play circle. In some embodiments theuser40 makes contact with thesack20 while outside and/or inside the circumference of the game play circle.
• FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for improving coordination skills of auser40 with the training and coordination device. The method can be implemented as a game or as a training tool. Atblock600 the method starts with auser40 making a first contact with the training andcoordination device10 including asack20 and anelastic string30. Making contact with the training andcoordination device10 includes making contact with thesack20. When the user makes contact with the sack, the elasticity of thestring30 in conjunction with the multiplestrand end portion15 generate a random motion of thesack20 when thesack20 moves relative to thestring30. The process then continues to block610 where thesack20 is set into a random motion due to the first contact made by theuser40. Finally atblock620, theuser40 moves to make further contact with thesack20 as it moves away from the point of the first contact where the further contact is made prior to thesack20 returning to a rest position. In general making contact with thesack20 includes tossing thesack20, tossing thesack20 toward a specific target, catching thesack20, punching thesack20, kicking thesack20, blocking thesack20, striking thesack20, tagging thesack20, serving thesack20 and hitting thesack20. These skills allow users to overcome other users' defenses and advance the user's martial arts skills. In some embodiments theuser40 takes one or more steps forward to make a first or second contact with thesack20. In some embodiments, theuser40 makes a contact with thesack20 and follows up with subsequent contacts as the ball moves away from theuser40. Theuser40 can continue to make contact with thesack20 while staying put or moving forward until theuser40 cannot make contact with thesack20 or maintain a realistic distance from the rest position of the training and coordination device, for example. In some embodiments, theuser40 is situated at a point on the outside of the game play circle or at any point on the circle where theuser40 can reach thesack20. The user makes contact with thesack20 and attempts to avoid being hit by the sack's recoil while keeping thesack20 in front of theuser40. In other embodiments, making contact with the training and coordination device using open hands is prohibited.
• Other specific games or training implementations with the attack sack include the following.
• Dodge: In this implementation, a player stands directly under the ball, throws the ball away from his or her current position and avoid or attempt to avoid being hit by the ball.
  Dodge Advanced: In this implementation a player stands directly underneath a rest position or underneath the point where the ball is attached and throws the ball behind them and attempt to avoid being hit by the ball.
  Ninia Dodge (jedi dodge): In this implementation, the player stands directly underneath a rest position or underneath the point where the ball is attached and with the players eyes closed, throws the ball away from his or her current position and attempt to avoid being hit by the ball.
  Punch Basic: Standing directly underneath a rest position or underneath the point where the ball is attached a player punches the ball and makes contact or attempt to make contact with the ball every time the ball returns while avoiding being hit by the ball. Various types of punches or kicks can be used to make contact with the ball. For example, karate postures, kung fu postures, boxing postures, round house punches, jabs, and hooks.
  Punch Forward: A player begins by standing directly underneath a rest position or underneath the point where the ball is attached and starts to lightly punch the ball. As the ball extends away from the player the player steps forward and attempt to keep the ball in front of the player the entire time.
  Roving Punch: In this implementation, a player begins by punching the ball and then chases the ball or attempt to chase the ball around the room. The goal is to hit the ball as frequently as possible.
  Shaolin Punch (5 animal punch): In this implementation, a player begins by punching or tossing the ball to initiate the swinging of the ball. Using the concept of roving punch, the player tracks and targets the ball using contact postures such as shaolin animal fists to make contact with the ball. Other examples of contact postures include, crane's beak, drunken first, tiger claw, mantis first, monkey's paw, dragon claw and leopard paw.
  Kick it: In this implementation, a player begins by kicking the ball and continues to use foot movements to hit the ball and avoid being tagged (i.e. avoid having the ball making contact with a set of predetermined parts of the players' body)
  Toss and Catch: In this implementation, a player stands directly underneath a rest position or underneath the point where the ball is attached and throws the ball away from the player and catch or attempt to catch the ball on its rebound.
  Target Toss: In this implementation, the player stands directly underneath a rest position or underneath the point where the ball is attached and throws the ball away from the player and attempt to tag a specific spot or mark on a wall or tree and catch the ball on its rebound.
• Other specific games or training implementations with the attack sack include multi player games such as the “Attack Sack Sparring or Competition Attack Sack.” In this implementation, the players stand in a circle or opposite each other (within a play area or court) surrounding the ball. Contact is made with the ball by punching or kicking the ball towards the other players. Making contact with the ball in some predetermined body parts of a player is considered safe. For example, the fingertips up to and including the elbows and tips of toes up to and including the knees are “armored” or safe areas that don't constitute a tag if you are contacted or “hit” or “tagged” by the ball. Any other area of the body that is hit by the ball is a tag. In some implementations the players only move one space in the circle to the right. The game can be initiated with each player having a number of points. Each time the player is hit or tagged the points are reduced accordingly until the player is out of points and subsequently out of the game. Players continue to circulate the court on each occurrence of a tag. Players may move about (though not too far out of their play area) and can use any technique of kicking and punching. Some competition games or rounds of the game (a series of game play ending in someone getting tagged) are limited to only kicking or only crane style or elbows only.
• FIG. 7 is another flow chart of an exemplary method for improving coordination skills ofmultiple users40 with the training and coordination device. The method can be implemented as a game or as a training tool. Atblock700 the method starts with a plurality of users assembling around the training andcoordination device10. The method then continues to block710 where auser40 of a plurality of users makes a first contact with thesack20 at the end of training and coordination device using at least one allowable predetermined body part and avoiding contact with other body parts. Atblock720, thesack20 is set into a random motion due to the first contact made by theuser40. Finally atblock730 any of the plurality of users makes contact with the training and coordination device with at least one allowable predetermined body part. In some embodiments, making contact with the sack with any body part other than an allowable body part comprises an illegal contact for the game, and accounts for a score against theuser40. In some embodiments, the training andcoordination device10 can be served by thelast user40 who made an illegal contact with the training andcoordination device10 using the wrong body part. In some embodiments, multiple body parts are allowed for contract. The allowable predetermined body part may include parts of the user's40 body from the fingertips to the elbows and from the knees to the toes. These parts of the user's40 body can be used to make contact with thesack20. All other parts of the user's40 body are predetermined avoidable or illegal body parts. In other embodiments, auser40 may not receive a negative score if hit by thesack20 after making the initial contact with thesack20 or after thesack20 is contacted by thestring30. On the other hand, auser40 may receive a negative score if hit by thesack20 after adifferent user40 makes contact with thesack20. In some embodiments, when auser40 makes contact with the training and coordination device using the wrong body part, the plurality of users move in a predetermined direction. The predetermined direction is one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction.
• FIGS. 8A through 8Z include example illustrations of the multiple martial arts maneuvers for making contact with the training and coordination device. The maneuvers require making contact with different parts of the user's40 body while theuser40 is positioned in a different martial arts stance. For example,FIG. 8A theuser40 makes contact with thesack20 with a front snap to the shin maneuver.FIG. 8B illustrates a front snap to the lower back maneuver.FIG. 8C illustrates a front heel kick to the shin maneuver.FIG. 8D illustrates a front snap with the heel to the chin maneuver andFIG. 8E illustrates a front snap to the ribs maneuver. Some of the martial maneuvers include crane's beak, tiger's claw, sword hand, roundhouse kick, snap kick, long legged kick.
• Skilled persons can implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the invention.
• The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is to be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and are therefore representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is further understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly limited by nothing other than the appended claims.

Claims (31)

1. A training and coordination device comprising:

a projectile member; and

an elastic string having a first end which is associated with a support and a second end attached to the projectile member, at least an end portion of the string extending up to the second end comprising a multiple strand portion, whereby the multiple strands and the elasticity of the string generate random motion of the projectile member when the projectile member is hit or thrown.

2. The training and coordination device ofclaim 1, wherein the string is made of polyester.

3. The training and coordination device ofclaim 1, wherein the string is made of rubber.

4. The training and coordination device ofclaim 1, further comprising a loop attached to the projectile member.

5. The device ofclaim 4, wherein the string is threaded through the loop.

6. The training and coordination device ofclaim 1, wherein the projectile member has a reinforced top portion.

7. The training and coordination device ofclaim 6, wherein the reinforced top portion comprises a clip to attach the string.

8. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the projectile member comprises a sack containing a filling material.

9. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the multiple strands comprise at least three strands.

10. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the multiple strands comprises comprise an odd number of strands.

11. A method of improving coordination of a user with a training and coordination device, the method comprising:

a user making a first contact with a projectile member at a second end of an elastic string associated at its first end with a support;

the string having a multi-strand end portion extending up to the second end;

setting the projectile member into a random motion due to the first contact made by the user;

as the projectile member travels away from the contact, moving to make further contact with the projectile member prior to the projectile member returning to a rest position.

12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein making contact with the projectile member includes tossing the projectile member.

13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein tossing the projectile member comprises tossing the projectile member toward a specific target

14. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the moving to make further contact comprises taking one or more steps forward and making a second contact with the sack.

15. The method ofclaim 11, wherein making further contacting comprises catching the ball.

16. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising standing directly below where the projectile member is affixed to the support before making a first contact with the ball.

17. The method ofclaim 11, wherein making contact with the projectile member comprises punching the projectile member.

18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the user makes contact with the projectile member and follows up with subsequent contacts as the projectile member moves away from the user.

19. The method ofclaim 11, wherein making contact comprises kicking the projectile member.

20. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the user makes contact with the projectile member while outside the circumference of a marked circle.

21. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the user avoids contact with the projectile member after making contact with the projectile member.

22. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the step of making contact comprises propelling the projectile member towards a target location.

23. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the step of making contact includes one of blocking, kicking, punching, striking, tagging and hitting the ball.

24. A method of improving coordination of users with a training and coordination device, the method comprising:

associating a first end of an elastic string with an overhead support suspending a projectile member secured to a second multi-strand end portion of the string from the support;

a plurality of users assembling around the suspended projectile member;

one of the users making a first contact with the projectile member using at least one allowable predetermined body part and avoiding contact with other, non-allowed body parts;

setting the sack into a random motion due to the first contact made by the user;

any of the plurality of users making a second contact with the projectile member with at least one allowable predetermined body part while avoiding contact with the projectile member by any non-allowed body part.

25. The method ofclaim 24, further comprising computing scores against users which comprise a count for any contact by a non-allowed body part of the user with the projectile member predetermined avoidable body part accounts for a score against the user.

26. The methodclaim 24, wherein making contact with the training and coordination device using open hands is prohibited.

27. The method ofclaim 24, wherein the plurality of users are assembled in a circle around the training and coordination device.

28. The method ofclaim 27, further comprising stopping play when a user contacts the projectile member with a non-allowed body part, followed by the user who contacted the projectile member throwing the projectile member back into play.

29. The method ofclaim 24, wherein the step of making first contact comprises a user of the plurality of users standing facing into a circle formed by the plurality of users around the training and coordination device and throwing the projectile member over their shoulder and out of the circle.

30. The method ofclaim 29, further comprising the plurality of users moving in a predetermined direction each time a user makes contact with the training and coordination device using a non-allowed body part.

31. The method ofclaim 30, wherein the predetermined direction is one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction.

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