Training Pad Flexing Shaft and Guard for Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combat sports training pads, such as focus pads and paddles, cause injuries to trainers due to high impact forces on arm joints and potential strikes to the trainer's hand or wrist.
Innovation Solution
A training pad design featuring a flexible shaft, padded member, and guard structure that absorbs impact forces and protects the trainer's hand, with a flexible handle and guard that flexes to reduce the force of blows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a focus pad with a rigid structure is used, then the pad can withstand impact forces, but the force of repeated blows becomes damaging to the arm joints of the trainer
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is designed to be flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to bend backwardly when struck. This dynamic response absorbs impact energy through deformation, reducing the transmission of force to the trainer's arm joints while maintaining structural integrity during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle's flexibility parameter is optimized to balance two opposing requirements: sufficient rigidity to maintain structural strength and pad positioning, but enough flexibility to bend under impact and reduce harmful forces transmitted to the trainer's body.
2Ease of operation
If a paddle with a short handle is used, then the pad can be held outwardly to direct strikes, but the fighter may miss the pad and strike towards the front surface of the handle, injuring the trainer's hand or wrist
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible handle acts as an intermediary element between the pad and the trainer's hand. When a fighter misses the pad, the flexible handle bends backwardly, absorbing the impact and preventing direct contact with the trainer's hand or wrist, thus mediating the harmful effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic flexibility of the handle allows it to respond to off-target strikes by bending backward, creating a safety mechanism that protects the trainer's hand and wrist from injury while maintaining control during normal training.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the handle is made rigid to provide structural support, then the pad maintains its shape, but the impact force is transmitted directly to the trainer's arm
Solution Approach 1:
The handle's mechanical properties are optimized with controlled flexibility, allowing it to maintain structural stability during normal positioning while deforming under impact to reduce force transmission to the trainer's arm.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle transitions from a rigid state during normal use to a flexible state during impact, dynamically adjusting its stiffness to balance shape maintenance with impact force reduction.
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
Reduces the risk of arm and shoulder injuries for trainers by absorbing impact forces and redirecting blows away from the trainer's hand, enhancing safety during combat sports training.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible shaft (12) configured to flex to absorb at least part of the force of a blow to the padded member (14)
Implementation Method 2
The shaft (12) comprises a rod (44) and a spring (46)
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A training pad (10) comprising a flexible resilient shaft (12) having a first end (18) and a second end (19). A handle portion (16) is provided adjacent the first end (18) of the shaft (12) and a padded member (14) is mounted adjacent the second end (19) of the shaft (12). A guard (24) is provided having a first end connected to the first end (918) of the shaft (12) and a second end connected to the shaft (12) on a side of the handle portion (16) adjacent the padded member (14). The guard (24) comprises a flexible resilient member being curved between the first and second ends thereof such that the guard (24) defines a convex outer surface (62) supported in front of the handle portion (16).