Resilient Training Pad for Boxing Trainers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing training pads, such as focus mitts, lack variety in target locations and provide insufficient resistance, leading to trainer injury due to biomechanically unfavorable positions and excessive strain on shoulders and back muscles during training sessions.

Innovation Solution

A training pad with a resiliently deformable region and a securing member that allows secure attachment to a proximal arm segment, reducing the need for torso and arm contortion, providing multiple targets with increased resistance while minimizing injury risk through energy absorption and clear strike indication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the trainer uses focus mitts worn on the hands to present targets, then the trainer can provide targets for striking, but the resistance provided is insufficient compared to body strikes

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveresistanceVSAvoidtrainer comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A training pad is introduced as an intermediary device between the trainer's body and the athlete's strikes. The pad is secured to the trainer's arm or torso and provides a dedicated striking surface that absorbs impact forces, allowing the trainer to present targets with adequate resistance while protecting their body from direct impact damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the trainer contorts their arms and torso to provide targets at various heights, then more target locations are available, but the risk of injury increases due to excessive strain on shoulders and back muscles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget location varietyVSAvoidtrainer injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The training pad is designed as a separate, movable component that can be positioned independently on the trainer's body. This segmentation allows the target surface to be placed at various heights and locations without requiring the trainer to contort their body into unsafe positions, as the pad can be secured to different parts of the arm or torso.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The training pad serves as an intermediary that decouples target presentation from trainer body positioning. By securing the pad to the arm or torso, the trainer can present targets at multiple locations while maintaining a stable, safe body posture, transferring the impact absorption function from the trainer's muscles to the pad structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Force

If a larger punch bag is used to provide resistance, then more resistance is provided to the athlete's strike, but the trainer cannot utilise both the punch bag and focus mitts to provide a variety of targets

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveresistanceVSAvoidtarget variety

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The training pad combines the resistance-providing function of a punch bag with the versatility of focus mitts. By securing the pad to the trainer's arm or torso, it can be used in conjunction with handheld focus mitts, allowing the trainer to present multiple target types simultaneously - the pad for body shot practice and the mitts for head and upper body targets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If the training pad is secured to the distal-most arm segment (hand), then the target is accessible for striking, but the forces transferred to the arm are maximized increasing injury risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget accessibilityVSAvoidforce transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of securing the training pad to the distal-most segment (hand), the invention inverts the approach by securing it to proximal arm segments (forearm or upper arm). This reversal reduces the leverage and force transfer to the hand and wrist, distributing impact forces across larger muscle groups and reducing the risk of injury while maintaining target accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables trainers to present multiple body shot targets with greater resistance in a safe manner, reducing the risk of injury and allowing for varied striking angles without excessive shoulder and elbow rotation, while maintaining mobility and simulating dynamic competition environments.

Implementation Method 1

a resiliently deformable region located behind the target surface... The resiliently deformable region is arranged to substantially absorb the energy of a strike received at the target surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11938391B2Training pad

Publication Date: 2024.03.26 MCFARLANE DANIEL

AI summary

The present invention provides a training pad for preventing injury to a trainer, in particular a boxing trainer, when presenting the training pad for striking, and further provides a focused location for receiving repeated strikes, comprising a target pad having a target surface and a resiliently deformable region located behind the target surface, and a securing member configured to secure the target pad to a first arm segment adjacent to a second arm segment. The first arm segment is proximal to the second arm segment. The resiliently deformable region is arranged to substantially absorb the energy of a strike received at the target surface, and the target surface is configured to indicate to a user a strike may be made thereon.