EP0432005A1 - Improved shillelagh - Google Patents

Abstract

Improvement to shillelaghs, characterised in that the handle (2) is inclined relative to the body (1) and forms an acute angle with the axis of the butt (3). Means are provided for varying the inclination of the handle (2). The end of the tip (4) comprises an additional mass (5). The handle (2) has a widened portion (6) at each end. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to improvements to the tonfas.

Initially a tonfa designates a tillage tool used in Asia to "beat" the rice, and it takes the form of a short stick comprising, perpendicular to its axis, a handle located substantially towards the third of one of its ends. .

Very quickly, this tool was diverted from its primary purpose and used as an attack and defense weapon. Appropriate techniques were developed to increase efficiency. of this instrument and martial arts schools were created.

Without describing in detail the subtleties relating to the handling of this instrument, it should be known that it is held by its handle, the body of said instrument being disposed towards the ulnar edge of the arm. In this way, it is possible, by rotating the instrument, to place it either in the extension of the arm or along the latter.

The beginner who wishes to initiate himself with the handling of this instrument must therefore learn to master this rotational movement in order to avoid during the return that the arm, which holds the instrument, is struck by the latter. Only long practice avoids this drawback which results from the normal position of the closed hand relative to the axis of the forearm.

The above problem is of double importance because, in the first place, it discourages beginners and, in the second place, it lengthens the time necessary for the training of specialized personnel who, within the framework of their activity, can be brought to use this instrument like the police officers for example.

The present invention, which overcomes these drawbacks, is remarkable in that the handle of the instrument forms an acute angle with the shortest portion of the latter.

• - la figure 1 est une vue en élévation de l'instrument de l'invention;
• - la figure 2 est une vue en coupe effectuée selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1;
• - les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues, à plus petite échelle, montrant les deux positions fondamentales de l'instrument par rapport au bras de l'utilisateur.

Other characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawing, by way of indicative example only, in which:

• - Figure 1 is an elevational view of the instrument of the invention;
• - Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of Figure 1;
• - Figures 3 and 4 are views, on a smaller scale, showing the two fundamental positions of the instrument relative to the user's arm.

Referring to the drawing, it can be seen that, in the known manner, the tonfa is constituted by a body 1, of elongated shape, comprising at about one third of its length a handle 2 delimiting two parts 3 and 4 hereinafter referred to as "heel "and" tip ".

According to the invention, the axis of the handle 2 forms with the axis of the heel 3 an angle a of about 80 °.

Therefore, when the instrument passes from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 4, the tip 4 is positioned naturally off the user's forearm. This can be achieved with a classic tonfa but at the cost of precise wrist flexion which requires long learning.

According to a variant, the inclination of the handle 2 can be modified. Such a possibility is particularly advantageous for judging the skill of the user. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of the device for achieving this result but other means can be used.

According to another characteristic of the invention, and in order to increase the efficiency of the instrument, an additional mass 5 is provided at the end of the tip 4. This mass makes it possible to increase the speed of rotation of the instrument.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown, but extends, on the contrary, to all variants of shapes, materials and dimensions.

Thus the end of the handle 2 can have an enlargement 6 capable of protecting the knuckles of the index finger and the thumb of the user.

Claims (4)

Improvements to the tonfas characterized in that the handle (2) is inclined relative to the body (1) and forms an acute angle with the axis of the heel (3). Improvements in tonfas according to claim 1, characterized in that means are provided by varying the inclination of the handle (2). Improvements to the tonfas, according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the end of the tip (4) comprises an additional mass (5). Improvements in tonfas, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the handle (2) has at its end a widening (6)

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