Abstract:
Boxing exercise apparatus has an adjustable frame that can selectively adjustably support different types of punching bags in optimum position to be struck with the hands and/or feet of a person or persons using the apparatus. In particular, the frame is releasably attachable to a conventional treadmill for simultaneous use of the boxing exercise apparatus and the treadmill. In one form of the invention, the frame is capable of being free-standing independently of use with a treadmill, and in another form the frame relies upon its attachment to a treadmill to support it in an operative upright position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to exercise equipment. More specifically, the invention relates to boxing exercise apparatus with multiple, independently adjustable exercise devices, including at least one object to be struck with the hands and/or feet, and means to attach the apparatus to a treadmill. 
     2. Prior Art 
     The benefits of exercise are universally recognized. However, because of changes in the workplace and home environments, people do not obtain enough exercise in connection with their normal daily activities. Consequently, myriad exercise equipment has been devised to meet the demand for convenient and effective devices and machines that enable these benefits to be realized. 
     Many people join health clubs or other facilities which offer a variety of exercise equipment and programs, while other people install exercise equipment in their homes or places of work. Primarily because of space limitations, it is particularly desirable that equipment installed in the home be capable of providing exercise for more than one muscle group. However, much of the available exercise equipment is designed for a single exercise, e.g., treadmills and stair-steppers are designed for exercising the legs. Other equipment, most notably that which simulates cross-country skiing, does provide for the simultaneous exercise of multiple muscle groups, but the range or type of exercises possible with such equipment is limited. 
     Examples of exercise equipment which has means for multiple exercises are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,928,089, 2,315,485, 3,332,683, 3,411,497, 4,569,401, 5,582,561, and 5,674,157. Some of these patents, i.e., U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,401, 5,582,561 and 5,674,157, disclose apparatus which enables simultaneous exercise of the legs and upper body or arms, and include pads or bags which may be struck with the hands and/or feet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,561 further discloses an apparatus which includes a treadmill and a punching device, in which the treadmill is carried by a rotatable platform, and in which the rotatable platform and treadmill are independently motor driven. The punching device may be adjusted for height and toward and away from the platform. The remaining patents generally permit only a single exercise at a time, but some of them, i.e., U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,928,089 and 3,411,497, can be adjusted to permit different exercises to be performed. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,31 5,485 and 3,332,683 disclose apparatus which includes a treadmill and resistance pads against which a person using the device pushes to obtain greater intensity of exercise of the legs. 
     Other U.S. Pat. Nos., e.g., 5,352,170 and 5,863,278, disclose boxing training devices which incorporate more than one punching bag or pad at different stations in the device, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,170 at least some of the bags or pads are adjustable to different positions. 
     None of the prior art devices combines a boxing exercise device with a conventional treadmill, particularly with multiple punching devices which may be independently adjusted to plural positions for selective use, or which permits different types of punching devices to be substituted. In particular, none of the prior art devices has any means for supporting the apparatus on a conventional treadmill and for adjustably supporting a punching device in position to be used simultaneously with use of the treadmill. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an exercise apparatus which combines a treadmill with multiple punching devices that may be independently adjusted to plural positions, and which permits different types of punching devices to be substituted for selective use. 
     The invention further includes a punching device which may be supported on a conventional treadmill in position to be used simultaneously with use of the treadmill. 
     A first form of exercise apparatus according to the invention comprises a free-standing assembly that includes a frame having means for supporting it on a surface, adjustable means for adjustably supporting multiple punching devices for selective or simultaneous use, and means for attaching the apparatus to a conventional treadmill for simultaneous use of the punching device or devices and the treadmill. The multiple punching devices are of different types, including a heavy bag, a speed bag, and various padded members for performing different types of striking exercises. 
     A second form of exercise apparatus according to the invention comprises an assembly that is mounted on and supported from the hand rails or uprights of a conventional treadmill, and includes a frame that supports a punching device in position to be used simultaneously with use of the treadmill. Different types of punching device may be substituted to permit different striking exercises to be performed, and the punching device is both vertically and horizontally adjustable relative to the treadmill. 
     The frame in both forms of the invention may be made of metal or other suitable material, and may be of any suitable cross-section, including square-section tubing and/or round-section tubing. Further, different types of punching devices and treadmills other than those specifically shown herein may be used. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like references characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first form of apparatus according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation of an upper portion of the frame of FIG. 1, showing the shock absorber used between the vertical and horizontal components of the frame; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the speedbag and its support; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation of an upper portion of the frame of FIG. 1, showing an alternate construction of the multi-purpose bracket, wherein a larger support area is provided; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing a different type of punching device in position to be struck by a person using the device and using a treadmill, and showing a second punching device adjusted to a different position than shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the punching device of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 5, showing a different type of punching device in position to be struck by a person using the punching device and a treadmill; 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the punching device of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view in elevation of the punching device of FIG. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows  9 — 9 ; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view in elevation similar to FIG. 9, showing an alternate form of shock absorber means for the punching device; 
     FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of a second form of the invention, shown attached to a conventional treadmill; 
     FIG. 12 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary top perspective view of an alternate type of punching device for use in the apparatus of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary view in section taken along line  13 — 13  in FIG. 12; and 
     FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view taken along line  14 — 14  in FIG.  13 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring more specifically to the drawings, a first form of exercise apparatus according to the invention is indicated generally at  10  in FIG.  1 . In this form of the invention the apparatus is free-standing and comprises a frame having a frame base with a central section  11  defined by a vertical center spar  12  and oppositely extending pairs of cross arms  13   a,    13   b  and  14   a,    14   b.  The first pair of cross arms  13   a,    13   b  extend in opposite directions from the lower end of the spar  12 , and the second pair  14   a,    14   b  extend in opposite directions from the spar spaced from its upper end, defining an upward extension  12   a.    
     Adjustable opposite side frame assemblies  15  and  16  have horizontal, vertically spaced parallel arms  15   a,    15   b  and  16   a,    16   b,  respectively, telescopically engaged in the arms  13   a,    14   a  and  13   b,    14   b,  respectively. The arms  15   a  and  15   b  are at the bottom and top ends, respectively, of vertical member  15   c;  and the arms  16   a  and  16   b  are at the bottom and top ends, respectively, of vertical member  16   c.  Fore and aft extending horizontal supports  15   d  and  15   e  project in opposite directions from the bottom end of vertical member  15   c,  and similar fore and aft extending horizontal supports  16   d  and  16   e  project in opposite directions from the bottom end of vertical member  16   c.    
     The arms  13   a,    13   b,    15   a,    16   a  and supports  15   d,    15   e,    16   d,    16   e  are coplanar with one another and define a structure to support the frame on a surface, such as a floor. If desired, suitable fasteners, not shown, may be extended through the outer free ends of the supports  15   d,    15   e,    16   d,    16   e  to secure the frame to a floor or other surface. 
     Each of the arms  15   a,    15   b  and  16   a,    16   b  has a plurality of uniformly spaced apertures  17  therein, and pins  18  are extended through openings in the outer ends of arms  13   a,    14   a  and  13   b,    14   b,  respectively, and into aligned apertures  17  to hold the side frame assemblies  15  and  16  in adjusted positions relative to the center frame  11 . 
     A pair of attaching arms  20  and  21  extend forwardly from brackets  20   a  and  21   a,  respectively, vertically adjustable on members  15   c  and  16   c,  and secured in vertically adjusted position by pins  22  extended through an opening in the bracket and into an aligned aperture  23  in the members  15   c,    16   c,  respectively. The connections of the arms  20  and  21  with their respective brackets  20   a  and  21   a  are reinforced by gussets  20   b  and  21   b,  respectively. 
     Clamps  24  and  25  are adjustable along the arms  20  and  21 , and may be secured in adjusted position by set screws  26  extended through the clamps and into engagement with the arms. The clamps are adapted to be secured on uprights  30  of a conventional treadmill to attach the frame in predetermined spaced relationship to the treadmill (not shown). 
     The frame also includes a frame superstructure  40  having a vertical member  41  telescopically adjustably engaged in the projection  12   a  of the frame base, a horizontal support arm  42  adjustably carried in a bracket sleeve  43  mounted on the upper end of the vertical member, and a generally L-shaped accessory member  44  with a horizontal component  45  and a vertical component  46  adjustably carried in a multi-purpose bracket  47  that is vertically adjustable on the vertical member  41 . The horizontal component  45  has a bifurcated end  48 ,  49  that mounts a circular board  50 , from which is suspended a speed bag  51 . 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the L-shaped accessory member  44  is oriented so that the horizontal component  45  extends to the side relative to the frame, and a heavy bag  52  is supported at the outer or forward end of arm  42  in a position to be accessible from a treadmill (not shown) attached to the frame by arms  20  and  21 . 
     The vertical member  41  has a plurality of uniformly spaced apertures  55  therein for cooperation with a pin  56  extended through an opening in the upper end of extension  12   a  to secure the frame superstructure in vertically adjusted position. 
     Similarly, the horizontal support arm  42  has a plurality of apertures  57  therein for cooperation with a pin  58  extended through an opening in the bracket  43  and into an aligned aperture to secure the arm in a horizontally adjusted position. 
     The multi-purpose bracket  47  has a first section  60  defining a vertically oriented sleeve for vertical sliding reception of the vertical component  46  of the L-shaped accessory member  44 , and a second section  61  defining a horizontally oriented sleeve for horizontal reception of additional components (see FIG. 7, for example). The bracket  47  is secured in vertically adjusted position on the member  41  by engagement of pin  62  in one of the apertures  55 . 
     The vertical component  46  of L-shaped accessory member  44  has uniformly spaced apertures  63  and  64  in at least two of its adjacent sides for cooperation with a pin  65  that may be extended through respective openings in two orthogonally related sides of the section  60  of the bracket  47  to secure the accessory member  44  in different orientations as well as in different vertically adjusted positions. Two of the different orientations are shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, where the accessory member  44  is shown in FIG. 1 as extending to the side of the frame, and in FIG. 5 as extending to the rear of the frame. 
     In order to relieve stresses imposed on the system by striking the punching devices, particularly the heavy bag  52 , a resilient connection such as a spring or the like  68  may be interposed between the punching device and its connection with the support arm  42 . Further, the support arm is preferably mounted to the vertical member  41  through a resilient connection  70  which has a structure and function similar to that of an engine mount, which permits limited relative movement in all directions between the arm  42  and the member  41 . 
     An alternative arrangement is shown in FIG. 5, wherein a different style of punching device  80  is assembled to the frame. In this embodiment, the heavy bag  52  and its mounting hardware are removed from the arm  42 , and T-shaped bracket  81  is telescopically engaged on the arm in its place. The bracket  81  has a depending leg  82  with a U-shaped mounting arm  83  fixed to its lower end and extending-forwardly therefrom. An elongate, generally melon-shaped punching bag  84  is suspended between the ends of the mounting arm  83 , preferably by a resilient connection such as springs or the like  85 . 
     As depicted in FIG. 6, the bag  84 ′ can be hollow and the spring  86  can extend through the bag for connection at its opposite ends with the ends of the arm  83 . 
     In all other respects, the forms of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are intended to function in the same way as the form of the invention previously described. 
     A further embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at  90  in FIGS. 7-9. In this embodiment, the arm  42  is removed from the bracket  43  and an L-shaped arm  91  inserted in its place. The arm  91  includes a horizontal component  92  telescopically engaged in the bracket  43 , and a depending leg  93  to which is mounted a backing board  94 . Attachment of the backing board to the leg is reinforced by pairs of gussets  95   a,    96   a  and  95   b,    96   b.  A generally pillow-shaped punching bag  97  comprising a pad  98  and backing member  99  is mounted to the backing board  94  by resilient mounting means, which may comprise a plurality of spaced springs  100  connected between the backing board and the backing member. 
     Alternatively, the springs  100  may be replaced with shock absorbers  101 , as depicted in FIG. 10, for example. 
     Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the L-shaped arm  44  and its attached board  50  may be removed from the bracket  47  and a straight arm  110  inserted through sleeve  61 . As shown in this figure, the arm  110  extends rearwardly of the frame, but it could extend forwardly, if desired, upon removal of the arm  91  and punching bag  97 . A circular board  50 ′ is mounted to the outer end of the arm  110 , and a speed bag  51  is suspended therefrom. 
     A simplified version of the invention is indicated generally at  120  in FIGS. 11-14. In this form of the invention, a pair of L-shaped members  121  and  122  have relatively short horizontal legs  121   a  and  122   a,  respectively, and relatively longer depending legs  121   b  and  122   b,  respectively. The horizontal legs are telescopically interengaged with one another to form an inverted U-shaped frame. 
     One or more clamps  123  are attached to the depending legs  121   b,    122   b  of the U-shaped frame to secure the frame to the uprights  124  of a treadmill  125 . As shown in FIG. 11, an elongate, generally hot-dog-shaped punching bag  126  is suspended between the legs  121   b,    122   b,  preferably by use of resilient means  127 , in position to be accessible for striking by a person using the treadmill. 
     In lieu of the elongate punching bag  126 , a differently shaped punching bag may be used, such as the rectangular bag  128  shown in dot-and-dash lines in FIG.  11 . 
     Alternatively, a speed bag  51  suspended from a board  50 ′ may be attached to the frame in lieu of the bags  126  or  128 . In this embodiment, the board  50 ′ is mounted to a frame member  130  which, in turn, is assembled to a bracket  131  that is releasably attached to the frame member  122   a  by a fastener  132 . The bracket  131 , in turn, may be releasably attached to the frame member  130  by fasteners  133 . It will be noted that the fastener  132  extends into an opening in the frame  122   a,  thereby preventing the bracket  131  from rotating around or sliding axially along the member  122   a.    
     The width of the apparatus  120  may be quickly and easily adjusted by simply sliding the horizontal members  121   a  and  122   a  toward or away from one another, and the vertical position of the punching bag  126  may be adjusted by positioning the clamps  123  in desired positions along the treadmill uprights  124 . Thus, the apparatus  120  may be quickly and easily adapted to different treadmills, and the position of the punching bag may be quickly and easily adjusted for optimum use by different individuals. 
     With the arrangements thus described, the exercise apparatus may be associated with a conventional treadmill, such as that shown in FIG. 11, for example, and a selected one of the punching devices positioned so that it may be struck by a person using the treadmill. The punching device may be adjusted both vertically and horizontally to optimally position it for use. If desired, the punching device not in use by the person exercising on the treadmill may be positioned so that it can be struck by a second person. See FIGS. 1,  5  and  7 , for example. 
     The apparatus of the invention is simple and rugged in construction, and has great versatility in that it (at least that form shown in FIGS. 1-10) may be used alone as a boxing exercise device, or in combination with a conventional treadmill to simultaneously provide multiple forms of exercise, and may even be used simultaneously by more than one person. The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 11-14 makes use of the frame of an existing exercise device, and is therefore much more simple and economical than conventional boxing exercise devices, in addition to which it enables multiple exercises to be simultaneously performed on a treadmill. 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.