BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to a modular training aid for use in combat, self-defense and law enforcement type training exercises, and more particularly, relates to a lightweight training aid with posable appendages that may be selectively positioned for use during training exercises. The invention additionally relates to a method of using such training aids.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

The customizable training device market has been quickly growing for many sports and martial art enthusiasts. This interest has resulted in many new devices for training in contact sports such as football, Kung Fu, and MMA. Most of these devices include resilient appendages that may receive forceful contact from a user, and then return to an original preset position. Some of these devices even allow the arms to be preset to a finite number of starting positions and use springs to return the arms to those positions after they have been deflection. However, such devices are not configured for use in training that requires longer arms to be positioned behind the back or over the head of the training dummy. For example, during self-defense, security, military or law enforcement training, it is desirable to practice restraining an individual with the use of a training aid. However, to do so longer arms with sufficient range of motion are required to position the arms behind the head or back of the dummy. It is also desirable for the arms of such a training aid to remain in a restrained position while a user practices applying handcuffs or other arm restraints. Prior training aid do not provide either arms of a sufficient length or the appendage ability to remain in a restrained position as is necessary to adequately train for such restraint techniques.

Additionally, it is desirable for personal defense, security, and/or law enforcement training to practice handheld weapon disarming techniques. Prior training aids do not provide arms that include hands or similar retaining structures that are configured to carry a simulated weapon. This deficiency renders prior training aids ineffective for practicing disarming techniques.

For example, some training devices have been developed that combine a stationary or stand-mounted striking aid with outwardly extending arms. Such devices may even include springs to allow the training device arms to deflect and return to a starting position when struck. However, such devices are limited in their appendage configuration, often relying on fasteners to fix the arms in one of a few predetermined positions prior to training. Furthermore, such devices often require the adjustment of fasteners or screws to reposition the training device's arms. Accordingly, such devices do not provide for appendages that can be readily manipulated into a variety, i.e., infinite number, of positions. Additionally, such devices do not provide a training device that allows for rapid manipulation of desired starting position of appendages, due to their reliance on fasteners. Still further, due to their inclusion of springs that retain or rapidly the arms to their initial positions, such devices do not allow the appendages, or portions thereof, to maintain a desired “posed” configuration in which the appendage retains its manipulated position unless and until the appendage is again manipulated.

Furthermore, some training devices that attempt to include anatomically representative torso or bases, rather than a stationary stand mount, also fail to provide posable appendages. Rather, such prior training devices often utilize springs at the shoulder and hip joints of the training device which allows the corresponding appendage to deflect under striking force and then return to a single predetermined starting position. Such devices do not allow the user to manipulate the appendages into a desired starting position, and then generally maintain that position while awaiting an impending strike or training technique to be applied by the user. Furthermore, due to the integrated nature of many of these anatomically representative training aids, they are not well suited for modular use. That is to say that individual components of such prior art training aids are not configured for independent use in training exercises.

Additionally, there have been some training devices that include heads. However, such devices lack the use of soft foam material and/or spring mountings for the heads to minimize trainee hand injuries while still providing the realistic features which provide striking or pressure point targets that are required for advanced training.

Therefore, a need exists for a modular training device that is well suited for use in law enforcement, security, military, and/or self-defense training, where the head or legs may be used separately from the torso.

A further need exists for a modular training device where the head, torso or legs may be used selectively used individually or in combination with one or more accessory; such as a stand, handle, removable hand, and/or simulated weapon.

A need also exists for a modular training device that includes posable arms of a sufficient length and range of motion such that they can be positions behind the torso or head while practicing handcuffing and restraint techniques.

Additionally, a need exists for a modular training device that can be manually held and manipulated for use in training with beginners where height adjustments may be required or with advanced students for more focused target training.

A further need exists for a modular training aid with at least one appendage that can be “posed” in any position desired by being subjected to a manually or an internal or external manipulation force into a desired orientation and thereafter retaining that orientation until it is again subject to a manipulation force.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, one or more of these needs is met by providing a lightweight, portable and either hand-held or mounted training aid for a training exercise such as an athletic, mixed martial arts (MMA), self-defense, law enforcement, security, or military training. The training aid may include human-like arms and/or legs that are poseable, which is to say that they can be posed in various, even possibly an infinite number, of offensive or defensive position and bend like human arms and legs when subjected to combat hand-to-hand maneuvers, self-defense or law enforcement techniques such as disarming techniques, arm holds, hand cuffing, knee strikes, and dog training. As used herein the term “poseable” also includes the ability of an appendage of the training aid to flex, bend, or otherwise manipulated into a desired position and retain that general position absent the application of a force to reposition the appendage. In one embodiment, the posable appendages may be selectively positioned in any user defined orientation that is configured to replicate at least one of: abduction, adduction, extension, flexion, rotation, and circumduction movements of a human appendage. In some embodiments of the present invention, where the movement of the appendage is not otherwise restricted, the number of possible posable positions within a given range need not be limited and thus may be infinite. Accordingly, the appendages may be manipulated or positioned in any desired configuration for use in training. The posable appendages of the present invention may include a core of malleable material exhibiting minimal physical memory, thereby allowing them to be posed in a manner that resists returning to the initial position.

In one aspect, the present invention may include an aid for use in a training exercise that includes at least one of: a torso module, a releasable head module adapted to engage the torso module, and a releasable leg module adapted to engage the torso module. The modular training aid has posable appendages that are independently posable, such that a user can independently pose each appendage during the training exercise.

In one aspect of the present invention, the posable appendage has a range of motion of between approximately 1° and 120° from a neutral position along a length of the posable appendage. At an end of the posable appendage that is affixed to the frame, in one embodiment the core material of the posable appendage may be received within a coil spring sheath, resulting in a reduced range of motion of between approximately 1° and 75° from a neutral position, where the neutral position is defined by a generally linear appendage that extends generally perpendicular to the corresponding supporting frame.

In one aspect of the invention, the possible appendage is passively retained in the user-selected position until a force is applied during, which is to say that gravity alone will not alter the user-selected position of the appendage absent an additional applied force.

In one aspect of the invention an applied force of between 0.5 and 3.0 pounds per square inch (“psi”) to a position on the posable appendage that is approximately 24 inches from a fixed end of the appendage, that is in a neutral position, is sufficient to move the appendage a distance of approximately 1.0 to 2.0 inches from the neutral position.

In one aspect of the invention, the possible appendage requires the application of a variable force to move the appendage into a user-selected position. That is to say that the further the posable appendage is moved from the neutral position, the larger the force necessary to move the appendage is required until the posable appendage reaches an upper limit of its range of motion, wherein the application of additional force results in a negligible movement of the posable appendage.

In one aspect, the present invention may also include a detachable appendage. For example, it may include a detachable hand, foot, or handheld tool that allows for law enforcement and military training relating to restraining and disarming an assailant.

In one aspect of the present invention, discrete modular head, modular torso, modular leg assembly and various bases may be combined through the use of an interchangeable mounting arrangement such as a central mating tube and locking pin system.

In another aspect of the present invention, the locking pin system or other interchangeable mounting arrangement allows many different modules of the present invention to be used either individually, or in combination. For example, the head may be connected to the torso or it may be used independently with its own handle. The torso may be used with or without the head and, because it is portable, it may be used by an instructor with or without legs or any support system (such as a monopole). The legs may be used as an independent module. The entire invention, head, torso and legs may also be linked together using the interchangeable mounting arrangement.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the head assembly may include a connection device configured to allow the entire body to be hung from a support stand or an overhead mounting system.

In still another aspect of the present invention, handles on the back of the torso unit enable all or portions of the device to be easily attached to other standard devices such as a heavy bag or floor stand when increased opponent mass and stability is desired to provide more resistance to blows. The unit's various mountable options also allow a person to work out individually with no assistant to hold the device

In still another aspect of the present invention, the interchangeable mount system also allows the torso module, with or without the head, to be attached to a leg module with posable legs that can be mounted to a fixed base or mounted to a remotely controlled motorized base. The motorized base version may be valuable in uses such as dog pursuit training, mobile military targeting or contact sports where the training aid is covered in a protective outer coating. When used with a motorized base, an impact force of less than approximately 0 pounds to 80 pounds, and more preferably approximately 0 pounds to 70 pounds applied to the center of the body will remain upright, e.g., not tip the training aid and motorized base over, while an impact force of approximately greater than 80 pounds, and more preferably greater than approximately 120 pounds applied to the center of the body will tip the training aid and motorized base over.

In another aspect of the invention, a portion of the motorized base, and preferably an electrical controller is housed within an electromagnetic shield, such as a faraday box, to prevent damage to the controller when the modular training aid is used during TASER® conducted electrical weapon training exercises.

In another aspect of the invention, the possible appendage includes a core of bendable malleable material that exhibits minimal physical memory. The core may be formed of aluminum or aluminum alloy wire, having a tensile strength of approximately at-least 300000 psi.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the posable appendages are arms that include a handcuff retaining recess between adjacent ridges that are circumferentially located about an outer surface of the arms, near an end corresponding to a wrist position. In use, the user will be able to bend the posable arms behind the torso or head of the training aid and apply handcuffs or restraints at the handcuff retaining recess without the handcuffs sliding along the length of the arms.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and accompanying drawings, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

