PUNCHING DEVICE

A punching device including a rectangular inflatable sleeve, an elongated pump for inflating the sleeve, an adaptation of the sleeve for allowing the sleeve to be rolled around the elongated pump, a connector for connecting opposite sides of the rectangular sleeve, and a carrying strap attached to the elongated pump, for carrying the device, thereby generating a portable and compact punching device that can be used indoors and outdoors.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the field of punching bags.

BACKGROUND

“A punching bag (or, British English, punchbag) is a sturdy bag designed to be repeatedly punched. A punching bag is usually cylindrical, and filled with various materials of corresponding hardness.” (From Wikipedia).

“Heavy” punching bags have a stationary nature, and as such, they are not moved after being installed.

US 2015/0057132 A1 to Pedone is considered by the Applicant as the closest prior art. It discloses an exercise device utilizing a punching bag and at least one telescopic pole. The punching bag may include an outer covering and an internal compartment filled with a filler material. The telescopic pole may include a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end are configured to abut against a door frame, securing the telescopic pole in between a doorway. The punching bag is attachable to the telescopic pole.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,697 to Ernest Nichols, Jr. discloses a glance blow detecting bag which rotates on a pivotal axis around a circular shaped adjustable bag mounting pole which is supported on a portable free standing stand for exercising and training a punch boxer, kick boxer, or football blocker, to strike the center of a moving target, and the center of a specific body part. The glance blow detecting bag assists in training accurate placement of blows by spinning rapidly upon detecting a glance blow when the center of the bag is missed on impact, and not spinning when the center of the bag is hit, indicating a good strike.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,358 to Hestilow discloses a training bag device which includes a fluid-fillable stand having a pedestal and column supporting a striking pad assembly. The column has a fill opening for filling and emptying the stand. A cap provided to seal the fill opening includes a needle valve for pressurizing the stand. The column of the stand has a pair of channels and lock slots for setting the striking pad assembly to various heights. The striking pad assembly includes a sleeve, a pad disposed around the sleeve and a cover surrounding the exterior of the sleeve and pad. A pair of buttons protrude from the inside wall of the sleeve at locations corresponding to the position of the channels of the column. The sleeve buttons, channels and lock slots cooperate to secure the striking pad assembly at the desired height setting on the column.

All the methods described above have not yet provided satisfactory solutions to the problem of providing a cylindrical, portable and compact punching bag that can be used outdoor with almost any pole.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a punching device, comprising:

a rectangular inflatable sleeve (11);

an elongated pump (20), for inflating the sleeve (11);

an adaptation of the sleeve (11), for allowing the sleeve to be rolled around the elongated pump (20);

a connector, for connecting opposite sides of the rectangular sleeve; and

a carrying strap (30) attached to the elongated pump, for carrying the device,

thereby generating a portable and compact punching device that can be used indoors and outdoors.

The adaptation may be, for example: a stretchable outer wall (21) and a non-stretchable inner wall (25).

According to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the connector is in a form of plurality of hooks (30) connected to opposite edges of the sleeve (11), and a string (29) threaded through the hooks (30), thereby pulling the string results with fastening the connector.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sleeve (11) comprises:

a plurality of inflatable cells (26) arranged in a matrix form,

wherein each of two adjacent of the cells (26) having an air passage (27) therebetween, and

thereby upon hitting one of the cells, air of the cell is evenly distributed in the surrounding cells thereof.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sleeve (11) comprises a plurality of loops (12) at the upper and lower edges thereof, for allowing threading therein a fastener.

According to one embodiment of the invention, wherein an outer layer of the sleeve (11) comprises a leather or leather-like material.

The device may further comprise at least one spongy layer, for softening a hit thereon.

According to one embodiment of the invention, an inner layer (25) of the sleeve (11) comprises a rough fabric (such as jute), for increasing a grip of the sleeve to the pole (17).

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sleeve (11) comprises rubber.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sleeve (11) comprises attaching means to a pillar, for allowing a single user to tie the device around the pillar even if the circumference of the pillar is greater than the user can surround. Such attaching means may be a Velcro fastener for attaching the sleeve to a tree, magnets for attaching the sleeve to an electric poll, a wire, and actually any fastener.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the inflatable sleeve comprises a snap-release valve, for instantly releasing air from said inflatable sleeve.

In summary, the invention provides a portable punching device which resembles a punching bag, easy and compact to be carried outdoors along with its inflating pump, easy to install, and usable with any pole, tree, two poles, and the like.

The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will be understood from the following detailed description of various embodiments which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail.

FIG. 1pictorially illustrates a punching device, according to one embodiment of the invention.

The punching device, which is marked herein by reference numeral10, comprises a sleeve11, to be bounded around a pole17.

The punching device10is connected to the pole17by upper fastener14and a lower fastener16. Each of the fasteners14and16is threaded through loops12of the sleeve11. Each of the fasteners14and16comprises a closure15, for fixing the fastener thereof in a fastened state.

The inflatable sleeve is inflated though a valve13.

FIG. 2pictorially illustrates the punching device ofFIG. 1while being inflated by an air pump20, according to one embodiment of the invention.

A pump20is used for inflating the punching device10.

Preferably, the pump has two modes of operation: inflating mode, and deflating mode. In the deflating mode the pump pumps the air out of the sleeve.

As such, for example, the same one-way valve (not illustrated) may be used for both inflating and deflating. The valve may be designed such that turning it changes the operation mode of the pump from inflating to deflating, and vice versa.

FIG. 3pictorially illustrates the punching device ofFIG. 1while being installed on a pole17, according to one embodiment of the invention.

From this point of view the inner side of the punching device10is also seen.

The zoomed view is on a closure15. As illustrated, the fastening mechanism can be such as an aircraft passenger fastener.

FIG. 4is an exploded view of a sleeve11, according to one embodiment of the invention.

The illustrated sleeve comprises the following layers:an external layer21to which loops12are connected;a first sponge layer22;an inflatable layer23;a second sponge layer24; andan inner layer25, which preferably is made of rough fabric such as jute, for better gripping a pole.

Since some of the layers may not be flexible/stretchable, in order to achieve sufficient softness, sleeve11may be folded into several rolls. In such cases, the fasteners should be adapted for this situation.

FIG. 5schematically illustrates an inflatable layer23of a sleeve of a punching device, according to one embodiment of the invention.

The inflatable layer comprises a matrix of cells26, having an air passage between each of two adjacent cells.

Upon inflating the inflatable layer through valve13, the air enters into each of the cells via the air passages27, and inflates it.

When punching the punching device, some of the cells26are squeezed. As a result, the air inside these cells moves to the adjacent cells. The speed of the moving air depends, inter alia, on the narrowness of the air passages27. The narrower the air passage, the slower the air movement. The reduced movement of the air gives a user of the punching device the sensation of punching a punching bag, despite the fact that the punching sleeve is significantly thinner than an inflatable air bag.

The punching device may comprise a central shaft28, to which each of the cells is connected. In this way the inflating and deflating can be carried out faster.

FIG. 6pictorially illustrates a punching device, according to another embodiment of the invention.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the punching device comprises an inflatable sleeve11, in which its ends are connected loops30. A string (laces)29is threaded through the hooks29, and connected such that the string29is fastened.

While the outer layer25of the sleeve11is stretchable, the inner layer25is unstretchable. This feature allows the sleeve11to be rolled around any object.

FIG. 7pictorially illustrates an implementation of the punching device ofFIG. 6, according to one embodiment of the invention.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the arrangement ofFIG. 6can be used for installing the punching device on a pair of poles17. All it takes is a string29with a suitable length.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the string is elastic. The elasticity provides the punching device a different kind of training in comparison to a non-elastic device. There are some known punching bags that react in an elastic way, but they are not portable, and therefore limited in use in a gym. This embodiment thus provides a portable punching device that can be used also outdoors.

FIG. 8pictorially illustrates a portable punching device, according to one further embodiment of the invention.

The portable punching device is marked herein by reference numeral10′. The portable punching device comprises an inflatable sleeve11, and an elongated inflating pump20.

The sleeve11is adapted to be rolled around the elongated inflating pump20. Such adaption may be, for example, rendering the outer wall21of the sleeve11stretchable, while its inner wall25is rendered unstretchable.

A carrying strap31is connects to the inflating pump20.

Thus, the punching device10′ is portable, can be carried out comfortably by a user, and be used indoors as well as outdoors.

The invention provides a punching device which resembles a punching bag, easy and compact to be carried out outdoors, easy to install, and usable with any pole, tree, and the like, and even with a pair of poles.

In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned:numeral10denotes a punching device, according to one embodiment of the invention;numeral11denotes a sleeve, to be bounded around a pole17;numeral12denotes a loop for threading therein a fastener, such as a belt;numeral13denotes a valve;numeral14denotes an upper fastener;numeral15denotes a closure;numeral16denotes a lower fastener;numeral17denotes a pole;numeral18denotes the ground;numeral19denotes the edge of the inflatable sleeve;numeral20denotes an air pump;numeral21denotes the external layer of the sleeve, which is preferably made of leather or leather-like material;numeral22denotes a sponge layer of the sleeve;numeral23denotes an inflatable layer of the sleeve;numeral24denotes a sponge layer of the sleeve;numeral25denotes an inner layer of the sleeve, which is preferably made of a rough fabric such as jute, for improving the grip to a rough pole;numeral26denotes a cell in an inflatable layer23of a sleeve of punching device10;numeral27denotes an air shaft between two adjacent cells23;numeral28denotes a central air shaft, to which all the cells are connected;numeral29denotes a string (laces);numeral30denotes a hook; andnumeral31denotes a carrying strap.

In the description herein, the following publications have been mentioned: US 2015/0057132, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,398,697 and 5,624,358.

The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form.

Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should be interpreted according to this definition.

The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.