Patent Application
20250144497
The invention relates to a backpack, in particular for use as a portable striking target in exercise and training martial arts.
In recent years martial arts have been growing rapidly in popularity, in large part thanks to the rise of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) organizations such as the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships). For most martial art disciplines, learning and training typically takes place in fixed indoor settings, and whether in a specialized dojo with instructors and training partners or in regular public or private gyms, appropriate equipment is always an integral factor, especially for the striking arts (as opposed to grappling arts); common traditional examples include heavy bags for individual training, and focus mitts, Thai pads, and body shields for sparring or training with a partner. The equipment and space they require, and training partners involved in these settings, not to mention financial costs, are high barriers of entry that can make martial arts a difficult and exclusive activity in which to participate. Thus, the aim of this invention is to provide a new portable equipment design that allows individuals to train striking techniques with much more versatility in their training methods.
Although there has been much innovation in the martial arts training equipment field, the current state of the art may not sufficiently lower the many barriers of entry to training in striking martial art disciplines, may not be robust enough for heavy striking use, or may be too limiting in their design. Inventions such as US20190168094A1, EP2291225B1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,678,982B2, 7,244,219B1, US20200038730A1 are well designed and useful for self-training, but all involve relatively large apparatuses, require fixed amounts of space, and are semi-permanent in their intended placement; furthermore, many of them are likely to be quite costly to purchase due to their size, materials, and complexity. Others, like US20150057132A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,214,169B1, and 8,663,073B1, are much more portable and space-efficient, but they may be limited in how they can be used in training, such as being unsuitable for repeated heavy strike training or being unsuitable for certain strike techniques. All three inventions include many parts and joints, some of which are quite small and may fail more easily over time or as a result of heavier impacts. Additionally, they all incorporate smaller striking targets that have some degree of movement, and US20150057132A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,663,073B1 further require a door frame for their setup and use; these factors make training many techniques impractical (e.g., most kicks and knee strikes), and render the inventions only suitable for certain strikes (e.g., straight punches). Finally, there is U.S. Pat. No. 9,814,959B1, which does include portability, flexibility of use, and robustness, all without small and moving parts and joints; however, it does not include features that provide the user with the versatility of multiple functionalities, the paddle target design does not provide sufficient counterforce against heavier impacts, and while portable, its general form was not purposefully designed for highly convenient and ergonomic portability.
To address the shortcomings of the current devices the inventor discloses here a backpack that converts to a mountable striking bag for martial arts training anywhere.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device for martial arts training comprising: a body having an outer casing and interior filled with impact absorbing padding; straps with connectors arrangeable in a backpack configuration to hold a user to a back panel of the outer casing and re-arrangeable in a training configuration to grip around a rigid structure; a plurality of non-slip pads on the back panel of the backpack and/or the straps; and strike areas on a front panel of the backpack body, wherein the impact absorbing materials are arranged adjacent to said strike areas.
One or more inserts may be removably inserted into cavities of the body to increase firmness to said strike areas. The one or more inserts may be made of a firmer, more dense material than the impact absorbing padding.
There may be an internal inflatable bladder. The outer casing may be a durable fabric. There may be an interior storage compartment.
The straps may be hip and shoulder straps. The shoulder and hip straps may comprise elasticated materials to reduce lengths of the straps in the training configuration. The device may comprise one or more additional adjustable straps arranged for fastening around a rigid structure, connected at a top of the body and spaced apart from the hip strap.
The device may comprise compression straps attached to the straps to cinch the straps tight around the user or structure.
The front panel of the body comprises plural faceted surfaces for the strike areas. The impact absorbing padding may comprise layers of materials of differing firmness.
The impact absorbing padding adjacent at least one of the strike areas is of different firmness from other of the strike areas, in order to provide strike areas of different resistance. The strike areas may be demarcated on the casing by visible markings or coloring.
The device may comprise arm loops connected to the back panel of the body, sized to accommodate an arm snugly.
Various objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of various embodiments of the invention.
A martial arts training device is disclosed having a durable padded body in the form of a backpack for use as a portable striking target. The device is outfitted with straps such that it can be worn by the user as a backpack to carry and transport personal items and training gear. The straps can be reconfigured to fasten the device onto structures to provide a secure and stable striking target for training purposes. The striking target can also be worn on the front or arm of a training partner as a body shield and to provide a moving and reactive striking target in paired and group training. The device provides a portable and wearable striking target and can be a practical alternative that lowers the barriers of entry to training striking martial arts by providing a training tool that is both versatile and robust.
With detailed reference to the drawings and their labeled components, the device and its designed uses can be more clearly described and understood. In
The padded portion of device 100 consists of inner filling, enclosed in the outermost compartment of the body, adjacent the intended strike areas of the casing. The inner filling may include resilient materials such as polyurethane, EVA, or other similar foam material for impact absorption and cushioning the user's body when striking the target to prevent injury. The outer shell or casing is a wear-resistant and flexible material, and may comprise leather, vinyl, PVC, or other similar materials. As shown in
In
The device may have optional inserts 132, as shown in
The device may have a haul handle at the top of the body, padding in the shoulder straps, and lumbar support on the rear of the body.
The main body includes an impact absorbent material, which may be formed as a single piece or from multiple sections. A block of the impact absorbent material may be cut away to fit the casing and to form the faceted sides. Alternatively the impact absorbent material may be cast into a mold of the desired shape, including faceted sides. The body may be made from a single material type for consistent strike resistance or from different materials of differing firmness, in order to provide strike areas of different resistance. A strike zone may comprise layers of differing firmness, in order to create a desirable impact absorbance profile. For example, the uttermost layer may be less firm than subsequent inner layers, so that a strike is initially met with a comfortable resistance, which gets progressively firmer for those with strong strikes.
Alternatively the backpack may have compression straps on the outer shell that may be tightened to increase the firmness of the padded portions by pre-compressing them. The compression straps are part of the hip and shoulder straps, which enable them to be cinched down to progressively tighter configurations. This allows the same straps to be used for small people, large people, and structures of various sizes.
Terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “distal”, “proximate,” “below,” “above,” “upper, are used herein for simplicity in describing relative positioning of elements of the conduit or device, as depicted in the drawings or with reference to the surface datum. Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to preferred embodiments and preferred uses thereof, it is not to be so limited since modifications and changes can be made therein which are within the full, intended scope of the invention as understood by those skilled in the art.
