Abstract:
A training bag including a first bladder, a second bladder, and flexible outer shell is provided. The first bladder is fabricated of a flexible, water impervious material and defines a water chamber for holding a selected quantity of water. The second bladder is fabricated of a flexible, air impervious material defines an air chamber. The second bladder has a central cavity in which the first bladder is positioned such that the second bladder is concentrically positioned about the first bladder. The second bladder is inflatable by passing pressurized air into the air chamber. The outer shell is positioned about the first and second bladders.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to bags which are struck with an individual&#39;s hands, feet, and legs for fitness and technique training for activities such as boxing and martial arts, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an improved training bag which includes an inner liquid filled chamber and an outer air filled chamber thereby allowing the firmness and weight of the training bag to be easily adjusted while permitting the training bag to be collapsed for easy transport.  
           [0003]    2. Brief Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Various types of bags have long been employed by boxers and practitioners of martial arts, such as karate, for training purposes. Small, lightweight bags are typically used to improve an individual&#39;s reflexes, hand speed, and punching accuracy. However, such lightweight bags do not accurately simulate the type of reaction that is obtained when striking a human opponent, as in a boxing or karate match. As such, bags commonly referred to as “heavy bags” have long been used to simulate the size and weight of an opponent.  
           [0005]    Heavy bags have been constructed in various ways. A common construction has been to pack a flexible casing with cotton fiber material and a quantity of sand to give the bag the desired weight and impact absorption characteristics. While these types of bags are effective training devices, once these bags are manufactured, their size and weight make them difficult for an individual to transport.  
           [0006]    To this end, a need exists for an improved training bag which is easy to transport and which permits the firmness and weight of the bag to be easily adjusted. It is to such a training bag that the present invention is directed.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention is directed to a training bag. The training bag includes a first bladder, a second bladder, and flexible outer shell. The first bladder is fabricated of a flexible, water impervious material and defines a water chamber for holding a selected quantity of water. The second bladder is fabricated of a flexible, air impervious material defines an air chamber. The second bladder has a central cavity in which the first bladder is positioned such that the second bladder is concentrically positioned about the first bladder. The second bladder is inflatable by passing pressurized air into the air chamber. The outer shell is positioned about the first and second bladders.  
           [0008]    The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a training bag constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is an exploded, side elevational view of the training bag of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway, side elevational view of the training bag of FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the water bladder assembly. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a training bag  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The training bag  10  is substantially cylindrically shaped and includes an outer shell assembly  12 , an air bladder assembly  14  for holding air under pressure, and a water bladder assembly  16  for holding a quantity of water.  
         [0014]    The shell assembly  12  includes a body member  18  and a strap assembly  20 . The body member  18  is a substantially cylindrically shaped bag having a sidewall  21 , a closed bottom  22 , and an open upper end  23  for receiving the air bladder assembly  14  and the water bladder assembly  16 . The body member  18  is preferably constructed of a flexible, polyester vinyl of approximately  18  ounces per square yard in weight; however, it will be appreciated that other materials commonly used in the construction of “heavy bags” can be used. The open upper end  23  of the body member  18  is provided with a closure member, illustrated herein as a zipper portion  24 , for attaching the water bladder assembly  16  to the body member  18  in a manner to be discussed in detail below.  
         [0015]    As shown in FIG. 1, the strap assembly  20  includes a pair of straps  26  with vinyl reinforcements  27  and a hanging O-ring  28 . The straps  26  are threaded through the O-ring  28 , and the ends of the straps  26  are attached to the body member  18  substantially as shown in FIG. 1 with one of the straps  26  extending diametrically over the upper end  23  of the body member  18  and the other strap  26  extending diametrically over the upper end  23  of the body member  18  in a criss-cross relation with respect to the other strap  26 . The ends of the straps  26  are attached to the body member  18  in a suitable manner such as by sewing. The O-ring  28  is adapted to be attached to a fixed support for supporting the training bag  10  in a suspended condition.  
         [0016]    As shown in FIG. 2, the air bladder assembly  14  includes an air bladder  30 , a valve  32 , and a bottom support  34 . The air bladder  30  has a substantially elongated, annular shape and has an outer wall  36 , an inner wall  38 , an upper wall  40 , and a lower wall  42  all of which cooperate to define an air chamber  44 . The inner wall  38  defines a central cavity  46  which extends the length of the air bladder  30 . The upper wall  40  extends between the outer wall  36  and the inner wall  38  thereby leaving the upper end of the central cavity  46  open while the lower wall  42  extends over the entire lower end of the air bladder  30  thereby closing the lower end of the central cavity  46 . The air bladder  30  is formed of a flexible, air impervious material. A suitable material is a 20 gauge polyvinyl chloride sheet. The outer wall  36  is configured to conform with the interior surface of the body member  18  when the air bladder  30  is inflated.  
         [0017]    The valve  32  is disposed in the upper wall  40  of the air bladder  30  and is utilized to inflate the air bladder  30  by forcing air through the valve  32  and into the air chamber  44 . The valve  32  is illustrated as being a Boston valve. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other types of valves can be used.  
         [0018]    The bottom support  34  is a flexible piece of material attached to the inner wall  38  of the air bladder  30  so as to extend across the central cavity  46  a distance of above the lower wall  42  of the air bladder  30 . A suitable distance is approximately three inches. The bottom support  34  is the same type of material used to construct the air bladder  30  to facilitate heat sealing the bottom support  34  to the inner wall  38  of the air bladder  30  along a peripheral portion of the bottom support  34  to create a bottom air chamber  47 . The bottom air chamber  47  is in fluid communication with the air chamber  46  via a plurality of holes  48  formed through the inner wall  38  of the air bladder  30 . As will be discussed below, bottom air chamber  47  created by the bottom support  34  functions to support the water bladder assembly  16  so that the water bladder assembly  16  does not have a tendency to bulge the bottom of the training bag  10  when the training bag  10  is assembled and inflated for use.  
         [0019]    Referring now to FIGS.  2 - 4 , the water bladder assembly  16  includes a water bladder  50 , a bladder support cover  52 , a valve  54 , and a lid member  56 . The water bladder  50  is a substantially cylindrically shaped bag having a sidewall  58 , an upper wall  60 , and a bottom wall  62 , all of which cooperate to define a water chamber  64  for holding a selected amount of water or other suitable liquid. As best shown in FIG. 2, the length of the water bladder  50  is less than the length of the air bladder  30  a sufficient amount so that length of the water bladder  50  is approximately the same distance as between the bottom support  34  of the air bladder assembly  14  and the upper wall  40  thereof. The water bladder  50  is formed of a flexible, water impervious material. A suitable material is a 20 gauge polyvinyl chloride. The water bladder  50  is preferably sized to have a capacity of approximately 8 gallons of water whereby the water bladder assembly  16  will weigh approximately 70 pounds when the water chamber  64  is filled to capacity. However, it should be understood that the size and shape of the various components of the training bag  10  may be varied to produce training bags of different sizes and weight capacities.  
         [0020]    The valve  54  is centrally disposed in the upper wall  60  of the water bladder  50  and is utilized to fill the water bladder  50  with a desired amount of water. Like the valve  32 , the valve  54  is illustrated as being a Boston valve. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other types of valves can be used.  
         [0021]    To ensure that the water bladder  50  is sufficiently supported when filled with water to capacity, the water bladder  50  is enclosed within the bladder support cover  52  and the lid member  56 . The bladder support cover  52  is a substantially cylindrically shaped bag having an open upper end  66  for receiving the water bladder  50 . The bladder support cover  52  is constructed of a flexible, polyester vinyl and is sized such that the sidewall  58  and the bottom wall  62  of the water bladder  50  conform to the contour of the inner surface of the water bladder support cover  52  when the water bladder  50  is filled with water. The open upper end  66  of the bladder support cover  52  is provided with an annular lip  68  (FIGS. 3 and 4) which is used to attach the upper end  66  of the bladder support cover  52  to the lid member  56 .  
         [0022]    The lid member  56  is a circularly shaped member constructed of a flexible, polyester vinyl and sized such that the outer peripheral edge corresponds with the upper end  23  of the body member  18  of the shell assembly  12 . More specifically, the lid member  56  is provided with a zipper portion  70  which is adapted to be mated with the zipper portion  24  of the body member  18  for securing the lid member  56  to the body member  18  whereby the lid member  56  cooperates with the body member  18  to form an outer shell of the training bag  10 . To the end, the lid member  56  is preferably constructed of the same material used to construct the body member  18  of the outer shell assembly  12 . As best shown in FIG. 4, the lid member  56  is also provided with a pair of openings  72  and  74  for receiving the valves  32  and  54 , respectively.  
         [0023]    To further support the water bladder  50  when the water bladder  50  is filled with water, the upper wall  60  of the water bladder  50  is attached to the lower side of the lid member  56 , as best shown in FIG. 3. The water bladder  50  is preferably attached to the lid member  56  with a pair of flexible connector flaps  76   a  and  76   b  (FIGS. 3 and 4). The connector flaps  76   a  are constructed of a flexible, polyester vinyl and is substantially butterfly shaped with a central opening  78   a  formed therethrough for receiving the valve  54  and a pair of oppositely disposed tabs  80   a  and  82   a.  The connector flap  76   a  is attached to the lower side of the lid member  56  in a suitable manner, such as by forming an annular heat seal between the connector flap  76   a  and the lower side of the lid member  56  near the central opening  78   a  as shown in FIG. 3. Likewise, the connector flap  76   b  is constructed of a flexible, polyester vinyl and is substantially butterfly shaped with a central opening  78   b  formed therethrough for receiving the valve  54  and a pair of oppositely disposed tabs  80   b  and  82   b.  The connector flap  76   b  is attached to the upper wall  60  of the water bladder  50  in a suitable manner, such as by forming an annular heat seal between the connector flap  76   b  and the upper wall  60  of the water bladder  50  near the central opening  78   b  with the tabs  80   a  and  82   a  of the connector flap  76   a  aligned with the tabs  80   b  and  82   b  of the connector flap  76   b.  The corresponding tabs  80   a  and  80   b  are then connected to one another near their outer ends and the corresponding tabs  82   a  and  82   b ′ are connected to one another near their outer ends, thereby providing a flexible connection between the water bladder  50  and the lid member  56 .  
         [0024]    With the water bladder  50  attached to the lower side of the lid member  56  and the water bladder  50  inserted into the water bladder support cover  52 , the lip  68  of the water bladder support cover  52  is attached to the lower side of the lid member  56  in a suitable manner, such as by sewing, thereby enclosing the water bladder  50  within the water bladder support cover  52  and the lid member  56 .  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIG. 3, to assemble the training bag  10 , the water bladder  50  of the water bladder assembly  16  is positioned in the central cavity  46  of the air bladder assembly  14  with the air bladder  30  and the water bladder  50  deflated whereby the air bladder  30  is concentrically positioned about the water bladder  50 . The combination of the air bladder assembly  14  and the water bladder assembly  16  is then disposed in the body member  18  of the shell assembly  12 . It will be appreciated that one of the advantages of the training bag  10  is that when the air bladder  30  and the water bladder  50  are deflated, the training bag  10  is easily folded into a relatively compact unit due to the flexibility of the materials used to construct the training bag  10  thereby facilitating transportation of the training bag  10 .  
         [0026]    To inflate the training bag  10  for use, the training bag  10  is initially laid out flat with the zipper portions  24  and  70  connected so that the air bladder  30  and the water bladder  50  are laying flat within the body member  18  and so that the valve  32  of the air bladder assembly  14  is aligned with the opening  72  of the lid member  56 . The air bladder  30  is next partially inflated with a conventional air pump (not shown) to give the air bladder  30  some structural integrity.  
         [0027]    The training bag  10  is next positioned in an upright position and the water bladder  50  filled with water via the valve  54  using a conventional water hose (not shown). The water bladder  50  is filled with water until the desired weight of the training bag  10  is achieved. As stated above, the water bladder  50  illustrated herein is sized such that the water bladder  50  has a capacity of approximately eight gallons of water and thus will weigh approximately 70 pounds when filled to capacity. It will be appreciated, however, that the training bag  10  can be constructed in a variety of different sizes so as to alter the capacity of the training bag  10  by altering the overall length of the various components of the training bag  10 .  
         [0028]    With the water bladder  50  filled to the desired level, the air bladder  30  is further inflated until the desired firmness of the training bag  10  is achieved. Consequently, the water bladder assembly  16  provides the desired weight to the training bag  10  while the air bladder assembly  14  provides the desired impact absorption characteristics without requiring additional padding on the inner side of the body member  18  of the outer shell assembly  12  which would diminish the collapsibility of the body member  18 , although additional padding can be employed if desired. Upon suspending the training bag  10  from a support member, the training bag  10  is ready to be struck within a strike zone defined by the sidewall  21  of the body member  18  of the outer shell assembly  12 . The training bag  10  is easily disassembled by first removing the air from the air bladder  30  and then removing the water from the water bladder  50 .  
         [0029]    From the above description it is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed and as defined in the appended claims.