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 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 12/586,328, filed Sep. 21, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    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. 
         [0007]    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&#39;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&#39;s spindle support acts as a spine to minimize these undesired effects. 
         [0008]    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 
       [0009]    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. 
         [0010]    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. 
         [0011]    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. 
         [0012]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel modular heavy bag which may be easily assembled and disassembled. 
         [0013]    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 
       [0014]    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 
         [0015]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a typical heavy bag; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a first embodiment of a support member and spindle arrangement; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a second embodiment of a support member and spindle arrangement; 
           [0019]      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; 
           [0020]      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; 
           [0021]      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 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a stuffed modular toroidal drum or cell of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a side cutaway view of a stuffed modular toroidal drum or cell of the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a side cutaway view of an alternative support embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]      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. 
         [0026]    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. 
         [0027]    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. 
         [0028]    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. 
         [0029]    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 . 
         [0030]      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  40 A 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  40 B 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  40 A. The upper stuffed modular toroidal drum or cell  40 B does not cause compression to the lower drum or cell  40 A 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  40 B. 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  40 B abuts the top wall  54  of lower drum or cell  40 A. 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&#39;s outer surface or cell  40 B for the prevention of compression or sagging. 
         [0031]    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  40 B 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 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a side cutaway view of the spindle post  30  and modular and stuffed modular toroidal drums or cells  40 A and  40 B similar to that of  FIG. 4 . The difference in  FIG. 5  is the manner in which the bag is hung. The upper support member  70 B is still positioned proximate to the upper wall  54  of upper stuffed modular toroidal drum or cell  40 B 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  40 B 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  40 B and lower drum  40 A 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  40 B for the prevention of compression or sagging. 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  illustrates an alternative embodiment for support of modular toroidal cells  40 . In this embodiment, a first modular toroidal lower drum or cell  40 A 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  40 A, its lower end  96  contacting and resting upon lower support member  32 . A second upper modular toroidal drum  40 B 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  40 A and  40 B would be attended to by a coupling belt  74  similar to that illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0034]    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.