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  Portable and fully adjustable punching bag exercise systemUSPTO Application #: 20070093362Title: Portable and fully adjustable punching bag exercise system Abstract: A portable, fully adjustable punching bag exercise system is disclosed whereby a punching bag structure is releasably mounted to virtually any firm foundational structure and is fully adjustable to any height or distance in front of the user for use in physical training. The punching bag is suspended in any orientation via attachment to a spring means which is adjustable in order to control the speed or action of the bag to suit users of varying skill levels. A preferred embodiment also has an optional rebounding means that is fully adjustable for the further control of the effective speed or action of the bag by adjusting the maximum angular deviation of the bag relative to its support mechanism at which the bag is caused to bounce back towards the user. Alternative embodiments include resistance straps which elastically couple the belt assembly to the user's hands in order to provide resistance to the punching motion for enhanced physical training and a multi-bag design which provides for enhanced dexterity training. (end of abstract)
Agent: F. Lindsey Scott Law Office Of F. Lindsey Scott - Plano, TX, US Inventor: William W. Clayton USPTO Applicaton #: 20070093362 - Class: 482088000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Striking, Multidirectionally Movable Bag Or Pad, Specifically Supported, On A Person The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070093362. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) on U.S. Provisional application No. 60/452,784 entitled BELT MOUNTED, FULY ADJUSTABLE PUNCHING BAG EXERCISE DEVICE, filed on Mar. 8, 2003, by William W. Clayton and Carrie M. Clayton. FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to exercise devices, and more particularly, to a portable and fully adjustable punching bag exercise system which enables the practice thereof at virtually any location. Varying releasable punching bag mounting means are provided which allows the punching bag exercise system to be adaptably mounted to differing types of structures in order to enhance the available exercise modes and regimens provided thereby. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Numerous devices have been developed for the sport of boxing that provide aerobic as well as anaerobic conditioning in addition to enhancing the eye/hand coordination of the boxer. An example of one of these devices is a punching bag or "speed bag" which generally comprises a resilient inflatable bag that is swivelly mounted to a rigid support structure. The inflatable bag is generally light in weight and resilient in nature thus imparting a bounce action when struck by a fast moving object such as a list of a user. [0004] Traditionally, the rigid support structure has been characterized by a flat generally horizontally oriented planar board which is mounted to a wall, ceiling, or other like structure and is positioned at a height at or slightly above the user's head. Upon being struck by the list of a user, the bag is caused to swivel rapidly upon its swivelly mounted connection. The speed of the inflatable bag is accentuated by a bouncing action that occurs when contacting the planar board at high speeds. The drawback of this type of device is that the rigid support structure must be made relatively large and as such, requires cumbersome attaching means for attachment to a ceiling, wall, or other structure. In addition, the board must be sufficiently secured to the ceiling in order to minimize excessive reverberations caused by the inflatable bag bouncing off of the planar board and thus does not easily lend itself to a portable mounting arrangement which can be removed and placed in storage following each exercise session. Another drawback of this type of device is that the relative speed at which the punching bag moves through its available range of motion is dictated substantially by the size of the punching bag. Thus a novice user must use a larger punching bag which moves slower due to its longer arcuate motion and softer bounce off of the planar board. As the agility and skill of the user increases, another smaller bag which has a faster motion must be purchased; that is, a single punching bag is not adaptable to users of varying skill levels. [0005] Various devices have been proposed that enable the portable use of a punching bag and examples of such devices include U.S. Pat. No. 3,030,109 to Albitz, and Pat. No. D440,269 to Thomas. Although both of these devices are portable in nature, they are cumbersome and difficult to use and store due to the necessity of a conventional planar board which is relatively large in size. The angular resonant frequency or speed of the punching bag is defined as the inverse of the natural cyclicle period at which the punching bag swings through its arcuate motion. The use of the planar board has served to decrease the effective cyclicle period and thus inversely increase the speed or action of the bag by providing a rebounding action thereto. Thus, although the use of the planar board as described by Albitz and Thomas is relatively large and cumbersome, it does serve to increase the speed or action of the bag thereby providing a challenging and useful workout for the user. U.S. Pat. No. 2,400,105 to Costello discloses a portable punching bag device having releasable mounting means suited for releasable attachment to the waist of a user, however no provisions have been made which allows for selective adjustment of the angular resonant frequency or speed of the bag. In addition, no means are provided to increase the speed or action of the bag using a planar board or other similar device. The '105 device also describes no releasable mounting means to any structure other than a waist mounted arrangement. That is, the '105 device does not teach, nor suggest the use of a punching bag which is adaptable for releasable attachment to varying types of structures. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,377 to Wilkinson discloses a punching bag device having a resilient rod member for imparting a resonant pendulum-like action thereto. However the '377 device does not disclose nor teach any means of changing the effective speed or action of the punching bag without also necessitating modification of the height of the big relative to the user. [0006] There has thus been a long-felt, unsatisfied need for a portable punching bag exercise system that is light and portable for use at any location. The punching bag arrangement should be structurally sound in order to allow repeated use without failure and following use, can be packaged into a small space for easy storage. Optionally, the effective speed of the punching bag about its swivel mount should be adjustable so that users of varying skill levels will be able to practice without the need to purchase an assortment of variable sized punching bags for use thereon. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTIVES [0007] The present invention provides a solution to these needs as well as other needs via a portable, fully adjustable punching bag exercise system. THE system includes a punching bag which is attached to a spring means which positions the bag in any preselected orientation when at rest. The orientation of the punching bag is defined as the angular direction that the bag faces when the spring means is in its quiescent stale. The resilience of the spring means is optionally adjustable in order to allow selective modification to the speed or action in which the bag moves during use. In addition, optionally adjustable rebounding means are provided which further enhances the effective speed or action of the bag by incorporating a bouncing action of the resilient bag against a rigid surface in a similar manner to conventional planar backboards. Preferred embodiments include punching bag mounting means which provides for releasable attachment to the waist of a user in addition to providing releasable attachment to other types of exercise equipment such as exercise bars, conventional punching bag structures, stationary bicycles, and the like. In addition, multiple bags may be configured together in order to provide a punching bag practice device which further challenges the skill of a user. [0008] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed wherein a punching bag is mounted via an adjustable length stem onto a belt which extends around the user's waist for support therefrom. The angle of the extension rod with respect to the belt, in addition to the length thereof, is proportionally adjustable to suit users of any size and arm length. The punching bag is swivelly connected to the extension rod via a spring means which biases the punching bag in the generally upright position. Optionally, an adjustable rebounding means is adjustably mounted to the lower portion of the spring means so that the punching bag is allowed to bounce therefrom in order to effect a means whereby the effective speed or action of the bag is fully adjustable by the user. Other preferred embodiments include punching bag mounting means which are adapted for releasable connection to firm foundational structures such as exercise bars, and the like or even other boxing exercise devices such as heavy bags. [0009] One aspect of the present invention contemplates the use of a spring means for flexible, resilient support of the punching bag in a predetermined user selected orientation. Thus, the use of the punching bag exercise system of the present invention no longer requires that the bag dangle in a downwards depending direction from its support apparatus while in use. The use of the spring means allows the bag to be positioned in any orientation including a generally upright as well as a generally sideways orientation. Optionally, the spring means may operate in conjunction with a linear tensioning means in order to allow the user to modify the effective speed of the punching bag about its support structure and thus control the speed or action of the bag. Thus a user will be able to modify the speed of the punching bag to suit his or her tastes as well as current skill level without the need to purchase extra bags. [0010] Another aspect of the present invention is a spring means which may be a standard metallic spring or made from an elongated section of resilient composite material such as shock corded fiberglass, graphite fiber rod, or other similarly suitable material. A preferred embodiment is disclosed which utilizes an elongated section of fiberglass impregnated polyester rod which presents the necessary resiliency to impart a cyclic pendulum action to the bag upon being struck by a user and is sufficiently durable to resist breaking during normal use. The natural speed of the bag may be engineered to any acceptable level by adjusting the grade of composite used, as well as the thickness and length of the rod. [0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable, fully adjustable punching bag exercise system which is releasably mountable to any firm foundational structure for practice of the sport of boxing. [0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable, filly adjustable punching bag exercise device which is releasably mounted to a user's waist for practice of the sport of boxing. The device is fully adaptable for users of varying sizes and arm lengths by providing adjustable means in order to position the punching bag at any desired location in front of the user. [0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable, fully adjustable punching bag exercise system which is lightweight and easily stored. The punching bag device is releasably mountable to any stable, rigid platform for structural support therefrom and thus does not require any permanent or heavy and cumbersome mounting mechanisms. Therefore, the device may be used at any location and easily stored following each use. [0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable, fully adjustable punching bag exercise device in which the angular velocity of the punching bag is adjustable via a resiliency adjustment means which provides for controlling the effective speed and thus the speed or action of the bag in order to suit users of varying skill levels. [0015] Another related object of the present invention is to provide a portable, fully adjustable punching bag device having a rebounding means which is fully adjustable for the further control of the speed or action of the bag by enabling the adjustment of the maximum angular deviation of the bag relative to its support mechanism at which the bag is caused to bounce back towards the user. Alternatively, the user may easily remove the backstop from the punching bag device if the aforementioned bounce action is not desired. [0016] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent to those familiar with the construction and use of punching bag devices and will become apparent in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations thereon. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings, in which: [0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the present invention with the adjustable length stem in the fully contracted position. [0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 shown releasably mounted in operative engagement on the waist of a user. Continue reading... Full patent description for Portable and fully adjustable punching bag exercise system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Portable and fully adjustable punching bag exercise system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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