US20110077134A1 - Heavy Training Bag - Google Patents

The present invention is a heavy training bag for pugilistic, martial and other similar arts, which provides uniform resistance and contains non-settling filler material. The bag comprises an optional support core contained within a cushion core, which in turn is contained within an impact core, which in turn is contained within an optional outer cover; further wherein the impact core is comprised of at least a rib, but preferably, a plurality of ribs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

• 1. Field of the Invention

• The invention relates to exercise and fitness equipment, in particular a heavy training bag for pugilistic, martial and other similar arts, which provides uniform resistance and contains non-settling filler material.

• 2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

• The typical prior art heavy training bag is comprised of an outer shell filled with a mixture of filler material, such as shredded cloth, foam or the like, and weight material, such as small sand pouches dispersed throughout the filler material. The filler material provides resistance and a cushioning effect to a user when the user strikes the prior art bag with any of his extremities (arms, legs, fists, hands, etc.); and the weight material provides weight to the heavy training bag to prevent erratic and exaggerated rebound after the prior art bag has been struck by a user.

• Prior art heavy training bags have the disadvantage of having their contents settle over time and with use. The weight material sinks toward the bottom of the prior art bag. As a result, the prior art bags develop uneven resistance strike zones; wherein, the approximate top one-third of the prior art bag becomes a soft density and affords minimal resistance; the approximate middle one-third of the prior art bag becomes a medium density and affords average resistance; and the approximate bottom one-third of the prior art bag becomes a hard density and affords maximal resistance. As a further result, these variable strike zones reduce the area of the sweet spot of the prior art bag to the middle third of the bag, and the bottom third of the prior art bag poses the threat of physical injury to a user when striking the prior art bag due to the unyielding, hard density.

• Various prior art bags have attempted to overcome these disadvantages and to reduce settling of the filler material and the resultant non-uniform resistance. Examples include changing the prior art bag filler material from the standard fill methodology of an aggregate filler, such as shredded cloth or rubber strips, interspersed with sand pouches, to a fluid, such as gas (typically atmospheric air), liquid (typically water) or a combination of gas and liquid. However, both fluids pose the problems of leakage from the prior art bag, non-uniform resistance and settling; in particular, a liquid-filled prior art bag does settle and the contents slosh upon impact resulting in erratic rebound.

• Illustrative prior art that uses a fluid filler material of either gas, liquid, or a combination of gas and liquid are: U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,796 issued Jul. 9, 1985, by Critelli for a Method of Filling an Athletic Bag with Air and Liquid; U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,258 issued Sep. 15, 1992, by Donohue for a Punching Bag Construction and Suspension; U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,403 issued Jul. 19, 1994, by Kuo for an Inflatable Punching Device; U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,443 issued Aug. 22, 2000, by Kuo for a Punching Bag; U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,605 issued Apr. 27, 2004, by Chen for a Punching Bag Having Solid Hanging Structure; US Patent Application Publication 2002/0086776 published Jul. 4, 2002, by Fields et al. for a Training Bag; US Patent Application Publication 2002/0094917 published Jul. 18, 2002, by Wang for a Punching Bag Assembly; US Patent Application Publication 2002/0198085 published Dec. 26, 2002, by Wang for a Punching Bag Assembly; US Patent Application Publication 2006/0166793 published Jul. 27, 2006, by Gobel et al. for an Assembly of Sports Equipment Fillable with Liquid and a Gelforming Means, and Sports Equipment for Use in this Assembly; US Patent Application Publication 2008/0096733 published Apr. 24, 2008, by Epstein for a Liquid-Fillable Heavy Training Bag; US Patent Application Publication 2002/0188360 published Aug. 7, 2008, by Chu for an Inflatable Cushion Bag for Striking; and a heavy training bag having an outside gel lining that is available from Title Boxing (www.titleboxing.com).

• Other prior art bags have attempted to overcome the previously mentioned disadvantages and to reduce settling of the filler material and/or the resultant non-uniform resistance: (1) by use of various other filling materials, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,489 issued Apr. 17, 2001, by Nicholson for a Heavy Bag and Method for Filling which discloses use of shredded rubber as a filler material; (2) by a prior art bag that is rotatable about its horizontal axis by 180 degrees as needed in order to effect a substantially maintained consistency in resistance over its striking surface area as disclosed in US Patent Application Publication 2006/0100067 published May 11, 2006, by Washburn et al. for a Training Bag; (3) by means of a multi-compartmented prior art bag that provides for resistance which can be varied as desired by a user such as: U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,658 issued Feb. 7, 2006, by Laudenslager et al. for a Modular Heavy Bag; and US Patent Application Publication 2007/0099772 published May 3, 2007, by Fu et al. for an Adjustable Punching; and (4) by means of a prior art bag that provides for an outer core of impact material to protect a user from the settling effects of an inner core of filler material as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,940 issued May 22, 2001, by Fotsis for a Training Bag.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

• The present invention is a training bag for pugilistic, martial and other similar arts, which provides uniform resistance and contains non-settling filler material. The bag comprises an optional support core contained within a cushion core, which in turn is contained within an impact core, which in turn is contained within an optional outer cover; further wherein the impact core is comprised of at least a rib, but preferably, a plurality of ribs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
• FIG. 1

  is a cross-sectional view of the bag of the present invention along its vertical axis.

• FIG. 2

  is a cross-sectional view of an impact core of the bag of the present invention along its vertical axis.

• FIG. 3

  is a top plan view of an impact covering of the bag of the present invention; wherein the top impact covering and the bottom impact covering are substantially the same and interchangeable.

• FIG. 4

  is a perspective view of a support core, cushion core and impact core of the bag of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
• • 2 bag
  • 4 support cable
  • 6 support core
  • 8 cushion core
  • 10 impact core
  • 12 impact core rib
  • 14 top impact cover
  • 16 bottom impact cover
  • 18 support cable port
  • 20 outer cover
  • 22 impact cover rib
  • 24 flange
  • 26 seam
  • 28 support cable
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

• The

  bag

  2 of the present invention may be understood by reference to the figures.

  FIG. 1

  is a cross-sectional view of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention along its vertical axis. In a preferred embodiment, the

  bag

  2 of the present invention is comprised of an

  inner support core

  6 that is surrounded by a

  cushion core

  8. The

  cushion core

  8 is surrounded by an

  impact core

  10. The

  impact core

  10 is surrounded by an

  outer cover

  20. The

  outer cover

  20 encases the

  entire bag

  2 of the present invention.

• The

  bag

  2 of the present invention may be of any suitable shape desired by a user for his training purposes, such as a cylindrical, heavy training bag shape, a mushroom, uppercut bag shape, or a tear drop, punching bag shape. The overall dimensions of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention are from about 12 inches to about 42 inches in diameter and from about 12 inches to about 96 inches in length. The weight of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention is from about 20 pounds to about 600 pounds.

• The purpose of the

  support core

  6 is to support and provide weight to the

  bag

  2 of the present invention and to prevent deformation of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention. In prior art bags, through the effect of gravity the weighted filler material sinks to the bottom of the bag and accordingly distends the lower portion of the prior art bag.

• The

  support core

  6 may be constructed of any suitable material, but preferably a strong and lightweight material, that enables a reasonable weight to be maintained for the

  bag

  2 of the present invention. A preferred material for the

  support core

  6 is PVC pipe. The

  support core

  6 may be of a diameter from about 3 inches to about 10 inches and a length from about 16 inches to about 96 inches. The

  support core

  6 may be filled with sand or other suitable material to provide weight and mass to the

  bag

  2 of the present invention, which anchors the

  bag

  2 and prevents it from flying away from a user when the user impacts the

  bag

  2 with a kick or punch or other impact or striking motion.

• The

  support core

  6 may have a

  support cable

  28 running through it. The

  support cable

  28 may be any suitable material having sufficient strength and durability to support the weight of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention, such as nylon rope, hemp rope, steel cable, chain and the like.

• Alternatively, the

  bag

  2 of the present invention may not have a

  support core

  6, but rather only a

  cushion core

  8 and an

  impact core

  10. In this embodiment of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention, the

  cushion core

  8 serves a dual purpose to provide fill, support, mass and weight to the

  bag

  2 of the present invention, as well as to absorb striking forces applied to and transmitted from the

  impact core

  10.

• For the purpose of mounting the

  bag

  2 of the present invention, a

  support cable

  28 runs through the

  support core

  6 and exits the

  support cable port

  18 of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention. The

  support cable

  28 may exit either the top

  support cable port

  18 only, or both the top

  support cable port

  18 and the bottom

  support cable port

  18 of the bag to the present invention. To suspend the

  bag

  2 of the present invention for use, a top end of the

  support cable

  28 may be affixed to a suitable mount on a ceiling or other support apparatus. If a user of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention desires greater support and fixed stability of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention, the user may attach a bottom end of the

  support cable

  28 to a floor or other support apparatus.

• Alternatively, the

  support core

  6 may not have a

  support cable

  28 running through it. Instead, the

  bag

  2 of the present invention may be suspended and supported in any other suitable manner. A preferred alternative embodiment is to use straps to suspend the

  bag

  2 of the present invention; wherein from about two (2) to about 10 straps, but preferably six (6) straps, are equidistantly spaced and attached to the top edge of the

  impact core

  10, or to the

  top impact cover

  14, and thereby contained within the

  outer cover

  20. The straps alternatively may pass through corresponding apertures in the

  outer cover

  20. Alternatively, the straps may be attached to the

  outside cover

  20. The straps may be of any suitable material with sufficient strength to support and suspend the

  bag

  2 of the present invention, such as cable, chains, nylon webbing or the like.

• Further alternatively, if a user of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention desires greater support and fixed stability of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention, the user may affix an at least one (1) cross support strap attached to the bottom of the

  outer cover

  20, and in turn attach the bottom cross support strap to a floor or other support apparatus.

• FIG. 2

  is a cross-sectional view of an impact layer of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention along its vertical axis. The cross-sectional view of the

  impact core

  10 shows that the

  impact core

  10 is comprised of at least a rib, but preferably, a plurality of

  impact core ribs

  12. Each

  impact core rib

  12 is filled with an impact-resistance material or substance, such as, polystyrene beads, gel, foam, shredded cloth, any combination thereof, or any other suitable material or substance that provides a desired impact resistance for a user. Preferably, the

  impact ribs

  12 or, with reference to

  FIG. 3

  ,

  impact cover ribs

  22, and are filled with polystyrene beads or gel.

• The diameter of the polystyrene beads determines the amount of resistance the beads will afford. Small diameter beads afford greater resistance and large diameter beads afford less resistance. Resistance may be based upon beads of a uniform diameter, or upon beads of differing diameters. Preferably, the polystyrene beads are from about 0.018 centimeters to about 5 centimeters.

• The chemical composition of the beads also may vary so that a bead may provide a desired feel or resistance to a user, and may range from a hard bead to a soft bead, such as a gel bead. Other bead variables to provide a desired feel or resistance to a user are the number of beads contained with the volume of the

  impact core

  10, a combination of varying sizes of beads, a combination of varying chemical composition types of beads, a combination of varying layers of beads within the

  impact core

  10, for example, soft beads in the top half of the

  impact core

  10 and hard beads in the bottom half of the

  impact core

  10, or any other possible variation which provides a user with a desired feel or resistance of the

  bag

  2.

• Likewise, the gel used to fill the

  impact ribs

  12 or

  impact cover ribs

  22 determines the amount of resistance the gel will afford. A suitable gel material to fill the

  impact ribs

  12 is a thermoplastic elastomer, such as that available from GLS Corporation and sold under the product name VERSAFLEX® CL200X. Another suitable gel material to fill the

  impact ribs

  12 is a utility grade resin formed into pellets or beads, such as that available from The Dow Chemical Company and sold under the product name POE 8999 Utility Grade Resin.

• The

  impact core

  10 may be constructed initially as a substantially two-dimensional, rectangular shape. Then the rectangular shape is configured to permit it to be joined along a

  seam

  26 to form a three-dimensional, tubular-shaped

  impact core

  10. The seam can be fashioned by joining the opposite ends of the

  impact core

  10 through any suitable means, such as sewing, gluing, hook and loop tape, a zipper, or the like. Alternatively, the

  impact core

  10 may also be constructed as a uniform, seamless tube, or as a uniform, seamless cylinder.

• Each

  impact core rib

  12 preferably is from about 0.5 inches to about 8 inches in diameter. The

  impact core

  10 is comprised of at least a rib, but preferably, from about 2 impact core ribs 12 (for a small size bag 2) to about 192 impact core ribs 12 (for a large size bag 2).

• FIG. 3

  is a top plan view of an

  impact cover

  14, 16 of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention; wherein the

  top impact cover

  14 and the

  bottom impact cover

  16 are substantially the same and may be interchangeable. The

  impact cover

  14, 16 enables a user also to use the top and bottom of the

  bag

  2 as strike zones with the attendant benefits of the

  impact core

  10. For purposes of illustration,

  FIG. 3

  shows the

  top impact cover

  14 only. The

  top impact cover

  14 may be circular-shaped and comprised of at least one

  impact cover rib

  22. There may be an opening in the

  top impact cover

  14, namely,

  support cable port

  18 for a

  bag

  2 of the present invention with a support cable 4 embodiment. The

  top impact cover

  14 also may be comprised of a

  flange

  24 which permits the

  top impact cover

  14 to be joined to the

  impact core

  10 of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention.

• Conversely, the

  bottom impact cover

  16 may be circular-shaped and comprised of a plurality of

  impact cover ribs

  22. There may be an opening in the

  bottom impact cover

  16, namely,

  support cable port

  18 for a

  bag

  2 of the present invention with a support cable 4 embodiment. The

  bottom impact cover

  16 also may be comprised of a

  flange

  24 which permits the

  bottom impact cover

  16 to be joined to the

  impact core

  10 of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention.

• Each

  impact cover rib

  22 is preferably from about 0.5 inches to about 8 inches in diameter. The

  top impact cover

  14 and the

  bottom impact cover

  16 are each comprised of about 1 to about 84

  impact cover ribs

  22.

• FIG. 4

  is a perspective view of a

  support core

  6,

  cushion core

  8 and

  impact core

  10 of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention. The

  support core

  6 is surrounded by the

  cushion core

  8, which in turn is surrounded by the

  impact core

  10.

• The

  cushion core

  8 is a unitary core comprised of any suitable cushioning material or substance, such as foam, cloth, gel, and the like. Preferably, the

  cushion core

  8 is comprised of foam, which may be either a unitary block of foam, or pieces of foam. The

  cushion core

  8 may have a through channel to accommodate a

  support core

  6; wherein the dimensions of the through channel are from about 2″ to about 6″ in diameter. The

  cushion core

  8 may have an outside diameter from about 12″ to about 24″.

• With reference to

  FIG. 4

  , the plurality of

  impact core ribs

  12 of the

  impact core

  10 of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention lend a lifelike feel of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention to a user. The

  impact core

  10 mimics a rib cage of a torso of a human. As a result, when a user strikes the

  bag

  2 of the present invention, the impact and the resistance of the strike feel to the user like striking a human body. Other benefits of the

  impact core

  10 and

  bag

  2 of the present invention are that there is less recoil of the

  bag

  2 after a user strikes the

  bag

  2, a user's joint damage resulting from striking the

  bag

  2 is decreased, and the

  entire bag

  2 is a sweet spot for striking by a user and not just a particular zone or zones of a bag as is common with prior art bags.

• The

  impact core

  10 may have the

  impact core ribs

  12 either horizontally, vertically or diagonally oriented with regard to the longitudinal axis of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention. Preferably, the

  impact core ribs

  12 are horizontally oriented with regard to the longitudinal axis of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention, so to better approximate the feel of a human body when struck by a user. In an alternative embodiment, an

  impact core rib

  12, whether horizontally, vertically or diagonally oriented, may be comprised of more than 1 cell or compartment in quilt-like fashion. Such cells may or may not be contiguous, depending upon the desired interstices between cells.

• With reference to

  FIG. 1

  , the

  impact core

  10 of the

  bag

  2 of the present invention is surrounded by an

  outer cover

  20. The

  outer cover

  20 encases the

  entire bag

  2 of the present invention. The

  outer cover

  20 may be made of any suitable material that is durable, yet will not inflict injury upon a user when the user strikes the

  bag

  2 of the present invention, such as leather, vinyl, canvas, felt and the like. Alternatively, the

  bag

  2 of the present invention need not have an

  outer cover

  20.

• Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is understood that modifications and variations of the present invention are possible without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims set forth below.