Modular heavy bag with spindle support requiring no outer shell

Abstract

A heavy bag for boxing, martial arts, or other athletic practice, requiring no outer unitary sheath and having a lower support member, the lower support member having an upwardly extending spindle, there being slidably receivable on the spindle a plurality of independently stuffed modular toroidal drums or cells whose central aperture is complimentary with the diameter of the spindle, each of the stuffed modular toroidal drums or cells having independent support to prevent compression of the stuffed toroidal drums or cells the spaces between adjacent toroidal drums or cells being covered by padded hook and loop fasteners girding the toroidal drums or cells.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 12/586,328, filed Sep. 21, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to exercise equipment, and more particularly, to heavy bags used in boxing, martial arts, athletic training, and for other athletic purposes, and in particular, to a heavy bag which incorporates features which prevents the sagging of the bag stuffing over time and use, and from flexing on its vertical axis from repeated blows or strikes to one area of the bag, and eliminates the need for an outer shell allowing for ease of shipping, assembly, and disassembly.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Heavy bags are generally vertical, longitudinal cylinders which are supported from a frame or from a ceiling. The bags are formed of a canvass, leather, or other suitable shell material which will stand up to punches, kicks and other athletic movement, as well as strikes from inanimate objects.

The heavy bags are filled with a stuffing material which can vary. Normally cut up cloth, clothing or leather is used as the stuffing filler. However, it is not unusual to find heavy bags which are stuffed with sand filler, bead filler, foam, or other energy absorbent material which provide resistance, yet some flexibility to punches, kicks and other athletic movement. Typically the heavy bag shell is filled from the top with the stuffing or filler material and then drawn tight and secured to a support apparatus such as a chain, rope, ring or the like, which in turn is secured to a bracket eyebolt or frame which supports the heavy bag at a desired height above the floor.

The bag is used by boxers, martial arts practitioners, and other athletes, and as such, the bag is struck with the hands, feet, and other anatomical parts such as the knees, elbows, and the like, as well as inanimate objects such as weapons or striking instruments. Over time the typical heavy bag experiences sagging in that under the influence of the athletic forces imposed on the outer shell and gravity, the stuffing or filling has a tendency to migrate downwardly toward the bottom of the bag. This presents a drawback to the athlete in training in that the density of the bag now varies such that punches and kicks delivered to one elevation of the bag may experience unpredictable density levels. This affects the athlete's training and may also contribute to injury since the athlete through experience expects to encounter a known resistance at different levels of the bag which the sagging of the stuffing and filler disrupts. It is therefore desirable to create a heavy bag that avoids the sagging or settling affect, and insures that the relative density and resistance experienced by the athlete in training remains the same over time. It is also desirable to provide a degree of rigidity to the bag to minimize side flexing or shape deformation due to repeated striking in one particular area of the bag. Applicant's spindle support acts as a spine to minimize these undesired effects.

Applicant has further developed the heavy bag to eliminate the need for the outer shell. This allows for a more facile assembly and disassembly of the heavy bag by the individual and also allows for ease of shipping due to certain size and weight constraints. This improved and modified heavy bag can have particular desirability to an individual who wishes to have a heavy bag in his home for more convenient exercise and workouts.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel heavy bag for athletic training in which the stuffing is modularized and supported on an internal spindle and requires no outer shell or sheathing, thereby facilitating assembly and disassembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel heavy bag in which the stuffing or filler is modularized and supported on an internal spindle and which avoids the settling or sagging of the stuffing or filler thereby contributing to a modular heavy bag which maintains its relative density and resistance over its operating length time.

Another object of present invention is to provide for a novel heavy bag in which the stuffing or filler is modularized and supported by an internal spindle, which internal spindle being vertically oriented and stabilized at its upper end functions as a spine and minimizes side flex and shape deformation in the bag, which is caused by repeated strikes or blows to the bag in the same general area.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel modular heavy bag which may be easily assembled and disassembled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel heavy bag which is modularized as to provide specific density customization for each individual cell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A heavy bag for boxing, martial arts, or other athletic practice, requiring no outer unitary sheath and having a lower support member, the lower support member having an upwardly extending spindle, there being slidably receivable on the spindle a plurality of independently stuffed modular toroidal drums or cells whose central aperture is complimentary with the diameter of the spindle, each of the stuffed modular toroidal drums or cells having independent support to prevent compression of the stuffed toroidal drums or cells the spaces between adjacent toroidal drums or cells being covered by padded hook and loop fasteners girding the toroidal drums or cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical heavy bag;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of a support member and spindle arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of a support member and spindle arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a side cutaway view of a heavy bag of the present invention illustrating two toroidal stuffed drums or cells and one manner of securing the heavy bag to a frame or ceiling;

FIG. 5 is a side cutaway view of a heavy bag of the present invention illustrating two stuffed toroidal drums or cells, and a second manner in which to secure the heavy bag to a frame or ceiling;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the upper support disk member for mounting the heavy bag of either embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a stuffed modular toroidal drum or cell of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side cutaway view of a stuffed modular toroidal drum or cell of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a side cutaway view of an alternative support embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical heavy bag 10 used for athletic training. The bag consists of an outer shell 12 which when stuffed with filling such as cut up cloth, clothing, foam, or similar material, evolves into a cylindrical shape having a cylindrical side wall 14, a circular bottom wall 16, and an open top 18 which is secured after filling and stuffing is accomplished. The heavy bag has a series of contact points 20 around its upper periphery for the attachment of a support means 22 which could be ropes, cables, or the like, which are then secured to a mounting frame 23 or the ceiling. The shell 12 is formed from leather, canvas, or other suitable material.

Ideally, the bag is stuffed with filing such that it presents a uniform density and uniform resistance from the top 18 of the bag to the bottom 16 of the bag when struck by a user. However, gravity dictates that the stuffing or filling material will settle such that through use, and time, the lower end 16 of the bag will have a density and resistance greater than the upper portion 18 of the bag. It should be noted that the heavy bags vary in length. Boxing specific bags are shorter since they are designated to be struck by the fists, while martial arts bags are longer to accommodate foot and knee strikes. The longer the bag, the more pronounced the affects of settling as the taller column of filler material creates even more internal pressure.

This settling affect of the heavy bag 10 could be greatly reduced by incorporating modularized segments which are individually stuffed and each module could be prevented from affecting an adjacent module thereby reducing the peak compression by providing individualized support to each modular segment. This can be accomplished with a support spindle post as illustrated in the two embodiments in FIGS. 2 and 3. The support spindle post 30 is secured to a base support member 32. Extending upwardly from the base support member 32 would be a support spindle post 30, which as illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a single Step A which defines a larger diameter lower portion 29 and a smaller diameter upper portion 31. Support spindle post 30 may also have a plurality of steps, or as illustrated in FIG. 3, no steps. The height of the support spindle post 30 would approximate the height of the heavy bag 10. The support spindle post 30 is designed to receive a plurality of stuffed modular toroidal cylindrical shaped drums or cells 40. The upper end 33 of spindle post 30 is threaded 35 for stabilization and the hanging of the modular toroidal drums or cells as set forth hereafter.

The stuffed modular toroidal drums or cells 40 (FIGS. 7 and 8) comprise a circumferential side wall 52, a top wall 54, a bottom wall 56, and a centrally disposed aperture 58 defined by an inner wall 60 and is formed of suitable, durable liner material. The top or bottom wall 54 or 56 of the toroidal-like drum members or cells 40 would have a secured access means 62 to allow the stuffing or filling of the toroidal drum member or cell 40 with appropriate stuffing or filling. Once stuffed or filled, the toroidal drum member or cell 40 would be slidably received on spindle post 30. It will be understood that the centrally disposed aperture 58 in the toroidal drum member or dell 40 will vary depending upon whether or not that particular toroidal drum member or cell 40 is being slidably disposed on support spindle post 30 as the initial or lower toroidal drum member or cell 40 or the upper or highest toroidal drum member or cell 50 in the case of a stepped spindle post (FIG. 2). The aperture 58 in the respective toroidal drum member or cell 40 is designed to be cooperative with the diameter of the spindle post 30 or a particular step thereof.

The toroidal drum member or cell 40, when being placed on a stepped support post (see FIG. 3) are preceded on each successive step with a support washer/disk 64 having an aperture cooperative with the particular diameter of the step upon which is placed and having an outer circumference 68 sufficient to provide support for the toroidal drum member or cell 40 which rests upon it. In this configuration a toroidal drum member or cell 40 oriented above another toroidal drum member or cell 40 cannot have a weight or gravitational affect on the toroidal drum member or cell 40 immediately below it since it rests upon the stepped support post 30 and cooperating washer 64.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the improved heavy bag of the present invention mounted on a spindle post 30 as illustrated in FIG. 3, which is not stepped. In FIG. 4 a lower stuffed modular toroidal drum or cell 40A has been slidably received on spindle 30 by means of centrally disposed aperture 58, its bottom wall 56 abutting and supported by base member 32. A second stuffed modular toroidal drum or cell 40B is then slidably received on spindle post 30 with its bottom wall 56 abutting the top wall 54 of the lower stuffed modular toroidal drum or cell 40A. The upper stuffed modular toroidal drum or cell 40B does not cause compression to the lower drum or cell 40A in that it is directly supported from above by multiple ceiling mounts 20. The multiple ceiling mounts 20 secure to an upper support member 70 having central aperture 78 which is secured about spindle post 30, internally of the upper stuffed modular toroidal drum or cell 40B. In this configuration, the upper bag can only settle within the confines of its own toroidal shell without affecting the lower cell. The lower cell is supported from below by the base member 32. In spacial design, the bottom wall 56 of drum or cell 40B abuts the top wall 54 of lower drum or cell 40A. This circumferential delineation 72, is attended to by a coupling belt 74 which girds the delineation covering the delineation and providing additional support to lower drum via the upper drum's outer surface or cell 40B for the prevention of compression or sagging.

The multiple ceiling mounts 20 illustrated in FIG. 4 is a standardized way of hanging a conventional heavy bag. The mount performs the same function in this improved heavy bag with the exception that it is cooperative with an upper support member 70 about spindle 30 internally of the top wall 54 of drum or cell 40B such that the multiple mount 20 is secured directly to the upper support member 70. FIG. 6 is a top plan view of upper support member 70 showing central aperture 78 for receipt of spindle 30. A lock nut 80 secures upper support plate 70 to spindle 30.

FIG. 5 is a side cutaway view of the spindle post 30 and modular and stuffed modular toroidal drums or cells 40A and 40B similar to that of FIG. 4. The difference in FIG. 5 is the manner in which the bag is hung. The upper support member 70B is still positioned proximate to the upper wall 54 of upper stuffed modular toroidal drum or cell 40B and within same, and is held in place by an adjustable support flanged nut 82 threadably secured to the upper threaded end 35 of the spindle post 30. An exterior lock nut 84 is secured threadedly on spindle post 30 on the exterior of drum 40B to maintain position of flanged nut. A threaded collar 86 is then threadedly secured to the upper end of spindle 30, threaded collar having an aperture 88 for receipt of an attachment means for hanging the heavy bag. The circumferential delineation 72 between upper drum 40B and lower drum 40A is again attended to by a coupling belt 74 which girds the delineation covering the delineation and providing additional support to the lower drum or cell 40B for the prevention of compression or sagging.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment for support of modular toroidal cells 40. In this embodiment, a first modular toroidal lower drum or cell 40A is positioned on spindle 30 with its lower surface 56 abutting base support 32. A T-shaped sleeve 90 having a central bore 92 is slidably received on spindle 30 with the vertical leg 94 slidably receivable through aperture 58 in lower modular toroidal drum 40A, its lower end 96 contacting and resting upon lower support member 32. A second upper modular toroidal drum 40B is then slid over spindle 30 with its lower surface 56 resting upon an intermediate support member 98 which performs a support surface similar to the disk-like support member 64 which would be utilized on a stepped spindle 30 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The hanging of a heavy bag using this alternative embodiment could be similar to that illustrated in either FIG. 4 or 5 and the delineation line 72 between the modular toroidal drums or cells 40A and 40B would be attended to by a coupling belt 74 similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Therefore, while the present invention has been disclosed with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalence thereof.

Claims

1. A modular heavy bag for use in boxing, the martial arts, or other athletic exercises, the modular heavy bag comprising:

spindle having a base member, said spindle extending vertically upwardly there from terminating in a threaded upper end;

a plurality of modular stuffed drums having a toroidal shape, each drum having a centrally disposed vertical aperture dimension corresponding to a diameter dimension of said spindle, said modular stuffed drums stacked on said spindle, each of said modular stuffed drums supported independently from said adjacent modular stuffed drum;

means for supporting said modular heavy bag.

2. The modular heavy bag in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said modular stuffed drums are formed of a casing having a cylindrical side wall, planar upper wall, and planar lower wall, and a cylindrical inner wall thereby defining a toroidal cavity for the receipt of stuffing material.

3. The modular heavy bag in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said modular stuffed drums has a securable opening to allow for the positioning of stuffing materials therein.

4. The modular heavy bag in accordance with claim 3 wherein said modular stuffed drums are filled with a stuffing material, said stuffing material selected from a group consisting of sand, pieces of cut cloth, clothing, gel, liquid, foam, rubber, particles or pellets of rubber and egg foam.

5. The modular heavy bag in accordance with claim 4 wherein said stuffing materials can be positioned within said drums to vary the density and hardness of the respective drums.

6. The modular heavy bag in accordance with claim 1 wherein a support means secured to said upper end of said spindle is secured to an overhead bracket, said support means providing vertical support to said spindle and to said modular stuffed drums minimizing sag of said drums and maintaining desired vertical densities within said heavy bag.

7. The modular heavy bag in accordance with claim 2 wherein a lower modular stuffed drum positioned on said spindle is supported by said base member and an upper modular stuffed drum positioned on said spindle is supported by an upper support member positioned within said upper modular stuffed drum adjacent said planar upper wall and cooperable with said means for supporting said modular heavy bag.

8. The modular heavy bag in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means for supporting said modular heavy bag comprises a plurality of flexible support members, one end of each being secured to said upper support member in said upper modular stuffed drum, and opposing ends being secured to a support bracket.

9. The modular heavy bag in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means for supporting said modular heavy bag comprises a threaded collar threadedly secured to said upper end of said spindle, said threaded collar having an aperture there through for receipt of an attachment means for hanging said heavy bag, said upper support member secured to said spindle by a flange nut and lock nut below said threaded collar.

10. The modular heavy bag in accordance with claim 2 wherein a lower modular stuffed drum is supported by said base member, said lower modular stuffed drum having positioned in its centrally disposed vertical aperture a T-shaped intermediate support member comprising an intermediate planar support positioned adjacent said outer upper planar wall of said lower modular stuffed drum, a depending support arm having a central bore slidably receivable on said spindle, said depending support arm resting on said base member, said intermediate support member supporting said upper modular stuffed drum.

11. The modular heavy bag in accordance with claim 2 wherein a delineation defined by said planar lower wall of said upper modular stuffed drum and said planar upper wall of said lower modular stuffed drum is girded by a coupling belt.

12. The modular heavy bag in accordance with claim 11 wherein said coupling belt is padded and secured about said delineation by hook and loop fasteners.

13. The modular heavy bag in accordance with claim 2 wherein a lower modular stuffed drum is supported by said base member, and wherein said spindle is stepped, having a greater lower diameter accommodating said lower modular stuffed drum and a smaller upper diameter accommodating an upper modular stuffed drum, said upper modular stuffed drum supported by an intermediate support slidably receivable on said upper portion of said spindle and supported by said lower portion of said stepped spindle.