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Device for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artistsRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Striking, Having IndicatorDevice for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artists description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070015637, Device for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artists. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/700,419, filed Jul. 18, 2005, which provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] The invention relates to an apparatus for assessing both the striking force and the reaction time of martial artists. Specifically, the invention is based on a makawari that provides feedback to enable a martial artist to improve their striking technique. [0004] 2. Background [0005] Devices for measuring the force of the impact are well known in the art. Such devices include athletic training apparatus that are designed to be struck by an athlete's hands or feet. These athletic training devices are typically adapted to provide the user with an indication of the impact force of his or her punches and kicks thereby providing the athlete with feedback on his or her performance. Accordingly, the feedback enables the user to improve his or her technique and performance. [0006] Several devices that indicate the force of a strike or the reaction time of a martial artist have been patented. Differences between these devices relate to the structure of the striker module, the sensor(s) used to determine the magnitude of the impact, and the method of displaying this magnitude. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,224 (Impact apparatus, Jul. 25, 1989) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,811 (Hitting device for martial arts, Apr. 18, 1978) have air chambers located inside a striker module. When the striker module is struck air is expelled to an indicating apparatus, which provides a measure of the impact force. These devices are highly inaccurate and do not provide any measurement of reaction time. [0007] In an attempt to improve upon the technology, U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,970 (Impact measuring apparatus, Apr. 21, 1998), U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,660 (Impact and speed measuring system, Jul. 17, 1990), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,315 (Device for self-defense training, May 9, 1998) use pressure transducers embedded within a striker module. A similar approach was taken in U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,107 (Sports scoring device including a piezoelectric transducer) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,271 (Sports impact measuring device, Nov. 28, 1989) wherein piezoelectric films are mounted on a striker module. Yet another approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,833 (Electronic martial arts training device, Dec. 4, 1990) wherein vibrations induced in a speaker-like cone during impact are used to generate a signal indicative of the force of the blow. Unfortunately, the output of all these devices is very sensitive to the location of the strike, and accordingly only provide a rough estimate of the impact force. [0008] To overcome the foregoing deficiencies, U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,366 (Martial arts practice device, Jan. 21, 1986) uses a series of electrical switches which operate to register the force of the blows delivered to the striker module while U.S. Patent 20030060340 (Impact dynamometer for martial arts and sports training, Mar. 27, 2003) uses a Tachometer sensor comprising a magnet and a Hall effect sensor to determine the velocity of a struck striker module. Although these particular devices measure the motion of the striker module and are therefore less sensitive to impact position they are too elaborate to be commercially viable. [0009] There is a need for a commercially viable device that will allow martial artists to accurately assess the force of their strikes as well as their reaction times. It is an object of the invention to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] A training device called a powerboard is provided that is based on the traditional makawari (striking board) that is used in the martial arts. The sensor is simple, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture. The powerboard is a training device for martial artists that enable them to determine the force of their strikes (in terms of board breaking ability) and their reaction time. [0011] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a training device for measuring the impact of an athlete on the training device is provided. The training device comprises a striker module, a display module and a communication system. The striker module comprises a front, a back, and a detector. The front comprises a flexible material, and is connected to the back to define a space. The detector comprises at least two components, one mounted on the front and the other on the back, such that upon flexing of the front, the components approach one another. The communication system sends information from the detector to the display module. [0012] In one aspect of the invention the detector comprises a magnet and a wire coil. [0013] In another aspect of the invention, the front comprises a contact surface and an inner surface, and the contact surface further comprises a resilient layer. [0014] In another aspect of the invention, the resilient layer is a high density foam layer. [0015] In another aspect of the invention, the striker module further comprises at least one set of spacers between the front and the back to define a space. [0016] In another aspect of the invention, there is one set of spacers. [0017] In another aspect of the invention, the communication system is a wireless communication system. [0018] In another aspect of the invention, the communication system is via an electrical connection. [0019] In another aspect of the invention, the front and the back are wooden boards. [0020] In another aspect of the invention, the display module further comprises a microcontroller. [0021] In another aspect of the invention, the training device further comprises a start signal. Continue reading about Device for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artists... Full patent description for Device for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artists Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Device for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artists patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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