BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to a boxing training aid, and more particularly, a PUNCHING BAG.

Description of the Prior Art:

Numerous innovations for punching bags have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention .

A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 825,860, Published/Issued on July 10, 1906, to cKenzie teaches a punching bag system having two bags which are so suspended and adapted to revolve and swing laterally in vertical planes as to afford special advantages for instruction in boxing and exercise in general .

A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 1,481,594, Published/Issued on Jan. 22, 1924, to Fitzgerald teaches a semi-spherical base, preferably formed of light sheet metal and provided at its bottom center with a stabilizing weight The exterior surface is protected by a rubber covering provided with ribs extending radially from the bottom center of the semisphere. These ribs provide means for retarding whirling movement of the base following a glancing blow.

A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 3,927,879, Published/Issued on Dec. 23, 1975, to Long, et al. teaches a punching bag simulator has a base for mounting on a stationary surface and a spring biased arm pivotly connected to the base and constrained to move only in a single plane with one end of the arm biased by the spring against a resilient bumper. On the other end of the arm a deformable pad is presented for striking by the fists and each time the pad is struck, the arm moves along a lineal path against the spring bias and snaps back to its original position for repeated striking. A pair of resilient bumper elements are placed between the pivoted arm and base in spaced relation to each other. One resilient element serves to absorb kinetic energy of the pivot arm when the pivot arm is moved towards the base against the spring bias and the other resilient element serves to absorb the kinetic energy of a pivot arm when the pivot arm is moved away from the base as a result of the spring bias.

A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 4,208,048, Published/Issued on June 17, 1980, to Winterbottom teaches an apparatus for use in developing boxing technique to indicate punching power during work-outs with practice equipment, includes a practice bag or the like having a punch-receiving area including pneumatic structure with connection through a releasible check-valve to a pressure gauge oriented for visibility by the person practicing.

In a preferred embodiment, a pneumatic compartment, in the form of a slip on accessory, overlies the full length of the bag.

A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 4,239,209, Published/Issued on Dec. 16, 1980, to Curchod teaches an exercise device simulates the rebound and some of the twisting action of a speed bag by providing a V-shape body of spring material mounted by one of the arms in an inverted position with the other arm free to reciprocate and twist. A shock cord restrains the reciprocating arm from full rebound action and controls twisting movements.

A SIXTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 4,721,302, Published/Issued on Jan. 26, 1988, to Murphy teaches a punching bag specifically designed and constructed for use with a reaction time and applied force measuring device. An elongated bag is suspended between an overhead support and the floor. The punching bag is supported from the overhead support by a plurality of rope-like members which extend outwardly and acutely from the punching bag. The punching bag is secured to the floor by a rope-like member attached to the bag's bottom. The bottom rope-like member has slack such that the bag may swing within a confined radius. Additionally, springs may be included with the rope-like members and the support structures such that the reactionary force is enhanced.

A SEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 6,302,831, Published/Issued on Oct. 16, 2001, to Henry teaches a martial arts training device (20) for a punching bag (500) having an outer surface (502) includes a covering (22) which is attachable to a portion of the outer surface of the punching bag. The covering is fixedly attached to the punching bag by one or more connectors (24) . One or more arms (32) are connected to the covering in a rigid fashion, so that when a martial arts blow is delivered to the arm, the arm does not move with respect to the punching bag. Rather, the force of the blow is transferred from the arm to the punching bag causing the punching bag to move, as would a martial arts opponent. In a preferred embodiment, the arm has a flange (36) which is captively held between the covering and the punching bag.

It is apparent now that numerous innovations for punching bags have been provided in the prior art that adequate for various purposes. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, accordingly, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a PUNCHING BAG that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a PUNCHING BAG that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a PUNCHING BAG that is simple to use.

BRIEFLY STATED, STILL YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a PUNCHING BAG that simulates the response of a human body to a punch, while also providing a large number of possible targets for training different blows and for hitting different body parts.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The figures of the drawings are briefly described as follows:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front elevational view the PUNCHING BAG of the present invention; Figure 2 is a right side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view thereof, with the punching components shown rotated in a vertical position, with parts broken away so as to reveal the internal mechanism within the PUNCHING BAG; and Figure 4 is a front elevational view thereof, with the punching components shown rotated in a horizontal position, with parts broken away so as to reveal the internal mechanism within the PUNCHING BAG.

A MARSHALING OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

10 punching bag

12 body

14 arms

16 support mechanism

18 elevation

20 bend of arms 14

22 distal ends of arms 14

24 location where arms 14 extend from body 12

26 pad of arms 14

28 flat surface of pad 26 of arms 14

30 cable of support mechanism 16

32 rod of support mechanism 16

34 arm supports of support mechanism 16

36 bend of arm supports 34 of support mechanism 16

38 base of support mechanism 16

40 stabilization bar of support mechanism 16

42 floor

44 ring of support mechanism 16

46 head

48 grommet of head 46

50 belly component

52 kidney component

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to Figure 1, disclosed is a punching bag 10 which has:

a) a body 12;

b) a pair of arms 14; and

c) a support mechanism 16.

The pair of arms 14 extend from the body 12. The support mechanism 16 is for suspending the body 12 from an elevation 18. This structure allows the punching bag 10 to act as a representation of a human being. Further to this, the pair of arms 14 each have a bend 20 (Illustrated in Figure 2) . The bend 20 of the pair of arms 14 allows them to extend forward in respect to the body 12. As further seen in Figure 1, the pair of arms 14 each have a distal end 22. The distal end 22 is the end opposite the location 24 where the arms 14 extend from the body 12. A pad 26 is located at each the distal ends 22 of the arms 14. The pads 26 located at the distal ends 22 of the arms 14 have a flat surface 28. The flat surface 28 is for being targeted by a user for a punch. This allows the punching bag 10 to act in a manner as both a traditional heavy bag as well as akin to the hand-held targets which might be utilized by a trainer. To further facilitate same, the pads 26 located at the distal ends 22 of the arms 14 are rotatably attached to the arms 14, so that the flat surface 28 may be oriented in multiple directions.

Detailed description of the support mechanism 16

The support mechanism 16 is best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, which show the punching bag 10 broken away to illustrate the support mechanism 16. To facilitate suspension from an elevation 18 the support mechanism 16 has a cable 30 and a rod 32. The cable 30 is for being suspended from an elevation. The cable 30 connects to the rod 32. The rod 32 is for supporting the body 12. By this configuration then the body 12 is suspended from the elevation 18 flexibly due to the inherently flexible nature of cables, allowing the body 12 to swing in response to a punch.

The support mechanism 16 further includes a pair of arm supports 34. The pair of arm supports 34 extend from the rod 32 of the support mechanism 16 through the arms 14 of the punching bag 10. The arm supports 34 bend 36 in a corresponding shape to the bend 20 of the arms 14. This structure allows the arms 14 to be substantially rigid in response to punches by a user.

Still further, the support mechanism 16 includes:

a) a base 38; and

b) at least one stabilization bar 40.

The base 38 is for resting on a floor 42. The at least one stabilization bar 40 extends from the base 38 into the body 12. The rod 32 of the support mechanism 16 is fixedly attached to the body 12 of the punching bag 10. The at least one stabilization bar 40 of the support mechanism 16 is movably attached to the rod 32 of the support mechanism 16. This configuration allows for the base 38 to prevent excessive swinging of the punching bag 10 while still allowing some dynamic reaction of the bag in order to prevent injury and more accurately simulate the reaction of a human body to a punch .

To accomplish same, the support mechanism 16 further has at least one ring 44. The least one stabilization bar 40 of the support mechanism 16 is movably attached to the rod 32 of the support mechanism 16 by being encompassed by the at least one ring 44. The at least one ring 44 is fixedly attached to the rod 32 of the support mechanism 16. This structure allows that the rod 32 can move within the diameter of the ring 44, but cannot move further, thereby accomplishing the aforementioned goal of preventing excessive swinging while still having dynamic reaction.

In the preferred construction, the at least one ring 44 constitutes at least two rings 44 per stabilization bar 40 of the support mechanism 16. This structure allows that the punching bag 10 can have a limited amount of movement in response to a punch off of its center of mass, but will not swing wildly in response to such a punch.

For similar reasons, in the preferred construction the at least one stabilization bar 40 of the support mechanism 16 constitutes at least two stabilization bars 40 of the support mechanism 16. The at least two stabilization bars 40 of the support mechanism 16 are oriented on opposite sides from each other in respect of the rod 32 of the support mechanism 16. This allows that punches from the side of the punching bag 10, which the punching bag 10 is specifically designed to allow, will not overly destabilize the punching bag 10.

Detailed description of accessories of the punching bag 10

There are additional features which cooperate with the support mechanism 16 to provide additional training aid. In the preferred construction the punching bag further has a head 46. The head is disposed above the body. This provides an additional target for a user.

The cable 30 of the support mechanism 16 traverses through the head 46 to reach the rod 32. To facilitate this, the head 46 further contains a grommet 48. This allows that the cable 30 traverses through the grommet 48 of the head 46 to reach the rod 32. This structure allows blows to the head 46 to be constrained by the cable's 30 impacting the grommet 48.

To further aid training, the punching bag 10 further has a belly component 50. The belly component 50 protrudes from the body 12 of the punching bag 10. In the preferred construction, the belly component 50 is disposed substantially equidistant from each of the pair of arms 14. The belly component 50 is also disposed below both of the pair of arms 14. This is to more accurately simulate a human body.

Additionally, the punching bag 10 further has a pair of kidney components 52. The pair of kidney components 52 extend laterally out of opposite sides of the body 12. Each of the kidney components 52 are located substantially below the location 24 where each of the arms 14 extend from the body 12.

Further to the structure of the belly component 50 and kidney components 52, the body 12 has a fill material. The belly component 50 has a fill material. The fill material of the body 12 is more rigid than the fill material of the belly component 50. Likewise, the kidney components 52 have a fill material. The fill material of the body 12 is more rigid than the fill material of the kidney components 52. This structure permits a user to have a differential reaction depending where on the body 12 they punch, which aids in training and more accurately simulates a human body.

Summary

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above .

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodiments of a PUNCHING BAG, accordingly it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.