Abstract:
A punching bag mount which reduces trauma on the structure which the mount is attached to. A punching bag is attached to a connector on the mount which is typically repeatedly punched. The mount utilizes springs and flexible strips arranged in a radial pattern in order to absorb the energy of the blows, thereby reducing the amount of energy transferred to the structure. The mount would typically mount into floor beams of the floor above the room in which the mount and punching bag is installed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    The present general inventive concept is directed to a method and apparatus directed to mounting a punching bag or related exercise equipment. 
       Description of the Related Art 
       [0002]    Punching bag mounts are used to mount a punching bag to a ceiling in a structure. One problem with such mounts is that due to the repeated blows on the bag when it is being used for exercise, such vibrations can cause trauma and ultimately damage to the structure. 
         [0003]    What is needed is a mechanism which can enable a punching bag its full functionality but reduce the amount of trauma on the surrounding structure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an improved mounting mechanism and apparatus. 
         [0005]    These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a drawing of a punching bag mount installed on a ceiling, according to an embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a drawing of the punching bag mount and how its parts are assembled, according to an embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of a front of the punching bag mount, according to an embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a drawing of a rear of the punching bag mount, according to an embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a drawing of a side of the punching bag mount, according to an embodiment, 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a bolt passing through a respective strip, according to an embodiment; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a bolt passing through a lower spacer, a respective spring hook, and an upper spacer, according to an embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of a strip, according to an embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of a spring, according to an embodiment; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a drawing of an alternate construction of an eye bolt assembly, according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0018]    The present inventive concept relates to a mount for a punching bag designed to reduce the vibrations and trauma on the structure the punching bag is mounted on. The mount serves to absorb energy thereby reducing the energy that is transferred to the structure that the mount is attached to. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a drawing of a punching bag mount installed on a ceiling, according to an embodiment. 
         [0020]    A punching bag is connected to a ceiling by a mount  101 . The mount  101  is attached to floor beams  102  (of the higher level) via screws (and optional washers)  103  screwed into the floor beams  102 . As illustrated, the mount  101  is fixed onto the ceiling and a punching bag  100  is hung therefrom. The mount  101  allows full use of the punching bag (allowing the punching bag freedom of motion) but absorbs energy (blows) inflicted onto the punching bag thereby reducing vibration (and trauma) on the ceiling (and walls). 
         [0021]    Note that in  FIG. 6 , the plane designated by the two arrows marked ‘6’ is illustrated in  FIG. 6 , and the plane designated by the two arrows marked ‘7’ is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a drawing of the punching bag mount and how its parts are assembled, according to an embodiment. 
         [0023]    The mount  101  comprises numerous parts including a frame. The frame can comprise a lower frame  215  that is attached to an upper frame  216 . 
         [0024]    An eye bolt  203  passes through a lower eye washer  204 , a lower plate  201 , an upper eye washer  205 , and is screwed onto an eye nut  207 . The eye bolt is configured to rotate when the mount is assembled. Instead of the eye bolt  203 , any other connector can be used as well (e.g., hook, loop, etc.) 
         [0025]    The mount  101  comprises four springs  211  and four strips  210 , although it can be appreciated that other numbers of springs and/or strips can be used as well. Typically the springs and strips should alternate, but this is not required. While equal numbers of strips and springs are shown (four of each), in other embodiments equal numbers of strips and springs are not required (e.g., three strips and five springs, five strips and three springs, etc.) 
         [0026]    A set of eight inner bolts  202  pass through respective holes in the lower plate  201 . Four of these eight inner bolts  202  then pass through inner lower spacers  206 , through a spring hook (for its respective spring), through inner upper spacers  208 , through an upper plate  200  and through respective inner nuts  209  which are tightened (when assembled) against the upper plate  200 . The other four of the eight inner bolts  202 , after passing through respective holes in the lower plate  201 , then pass through a hole in its respective strip, then through respective holes in the upper plate  200  and then through respective inner nuts  209  which are tightened (when assembled) against the upper plate  200 . The lower spacers, spring hooks and upper spacers, are illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 7 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of a front of the punching bag mount, according to an embodiment. The front is the view as if it were mounted on a ceiling and one were looking straight up at it. In this view the lower frame  215  is visible. 
         [0028]    Mounting holes  300  are shown which enable screws  103  to pass through to attach into the floor beams  102 . Shown are also the inner bolts  202  passing through the lower plate  201 . Shown are also four strips  210  and four springs  211 . Note that the springs  211  are typical springs (coil springs) as known in the art. The strips  210  can be made of bungee, plastic, nylon, or any flexible solid material which can flex (expand) but remain firm. The strips  210  can be made from EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), which is available from numerous sources including a company Universal Polymer &amp; Rubber LTD (in Ohio), sold under the name Tarp Straps. In one embodiment, the strips can be 4 inches long (at rest) and can have a maximum expansion of 600%, or in a range of 300% to 900% (although in another embodiment other values outside of this range can be used) of its original length. The strips can be 0.75 inches wide (although they are not required to be this wide) and have a tensile strength of 500 to 2500 PSI (although in other embodiments strengths outside of this range can be used). The strips  210  (also be referred to as flexible strips) can flex (stretch) a little but still can support a solid weight due to the material they are constructed from. 
         [0029]    Eight outer bolts  302  pass through the lower frame  215 . Four of the eight outer bolts  302  then pass through a respective hole in a strip and then through the upper plate and then tightened with an outer nut (see  FIG. 5 ). The other four of the eight outer bolts  302  then each pass through a respective outer lower spacer, then through a spring hook for its respective spring, then pass through a respective outer upper spacer, then through the upper plate and then tightened through a respective outer nut. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a drawing of a rear of the punching bag mount, according to an embodiment. This view is opposite to the view illustrated in  FIG. 3  and is what one would see if looking down from above on an installed mount. 
         [0031]    Eight outer nuts  400  are shown which are tightened against the upper frame  216 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a drawing of a side of the punching bag mount, according to an embodiment. 
         [0033]    Outer bolts  302  are shown. Four of the outer bolts  302  pass through the lower plate, then through a respective outer lower spacer  501 , a hook  500  for a respective spring, a respective outer upper spacer  502 , the upper plate, and then tightened on a respective outer nut  400 . The other four outer bolts  302  pass through the lower plate, then through a hole on the respective strip and then through the upper plate and then tightened on a respective outer nut  400 . 
         [0034]    Note that the outer bolts  302  are all arranged radially around the connector (which can be the eye bolt  203 ). This means that that the outer bolts (and hence the outer connections of the springs and the flexible strips) are arranged in a configuration which surrounds the center (where the eye bolt  203  can be located). Note that the springs and flexible strips can be equally spaced apart, although this is not required. 
         [0035]    From  FIG. 5  it can be appreciated how the apparatus operates. The punching bag is installed by securing straps  505  connected to the punching bag through the eye bolt  203 . When installed as such, the weight of the punching bag will cause the upper plate  200  and the lower plate  201  to sink lower (supported by both the springs and the strips). The weight of a typical punching bag may cause the upper plate and lower plate to sink approximately one to five inches lower than if no weight were present. The strips are typically less expansive than the springs and help prevent the upper plate  200  and lower plate  201  from sinking too low (if the strips were all replaced by springs then the upper plate  200  and lower plate  201  would sink lower). When the punching bag is impacted, the springs and strips allow for some expansion and motion, thus absorbing some impact energy and also encouraging the punching bag to sway. The eye bolt is able to rotate and hence the punching bag can also rotate (if such a rotational force is present). The strips are more rigid than the springs and thus help prevent the springs from expanding too much (and hence becoming deformed and less usable). 
         [0036]    In this manner, athletic use of the punching bag (e.g., punching it with repeated hard blows) would cause the springs and strips to absorb much of the energy thereby removing some of the trauma on the ceiling and surrounding structure. Overall vibrations and noise of the surrounding structure can also be reduced. In general, the load (weight) is supported by the springs (coil springs) and the motion is resisted by the strips. If only springs were used, then there would be too much up and down motion for a long duration. If only strips were used, then they would stretch, deform, and possibly fail over time. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a bolt passing through a respective strip, according to an embodiment.  FIG. 6  is a section plane which corresponds to the ‘6’s marked in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0038]    Note that while  FIG. 6  shows the strip  210  between the lower frame  215  and the upper frame  216 , it would be configured the same for the strip  210  between the upper plate  200  and lower plate  201  (both not pictured in  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0039]    The inner nuts  200  and outer nuts  400  are typically identical. The inner bolts  202  and outer bolts  302  are typically identical. Each strip  210  has two holes, one on each end. Each hole is identical and thus  FIG. 6  illustrates what both holes would look like. 
         [0040]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a bolt passing through a lower spacer, a respective spring hook, and an upper spacer, according to an embodiment.  FIG. 7  is a section plane which corresponds to the ‘7’s marked in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0041]    Note that while  FIG. 7  shows the spring hook  500  between the lower frame  215  and the upper frame  216 , it would be configured the same for the spring hook between the upper plate  200  and lower plate  201  (both not pictured in  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0042]    The inner upper spacers  208  and outer upper spacers  502  are typically identical. The inner lower spacers  206  and the outer lower spacers  501  are typically identical. The hook  500  is wedged between the upper spacer (whether inner upper spacer or outer upper spacer) and the lower spacer (whether inner lower spacer or outer lower spacer). The hook  500  is hooked onto the bolt (whether it is an inner bolt or an outer bolt) and spring tension keeps the hook onto the bolt (because the spring is stretched in order to hook onto both the inner bolt and the outer bolt). All of the spacers can be made of any solid material, such as plastic, nylon, PVC, rubber, Styrofoam, etc. The spacers are tightly packed inside the upper plate and the lower plate thus securing the hook  500  therebetween. 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of a strip, according to an embodiment. 
         [0044]    Note that on the end of each strip  210  is a hole. The opposite side of the strip  210  (not shown in  FIG. 8 ) is identical to the side shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of a spring, according to an embodiment. 
         [0046]    On each end of the spring  211  is the spring hook. 
         [0047]      FIG. 10  is a drawing of an alternate construction of an eye bolt assembly, according to an embodiment. 
         [0048]      FIG. 2A  shows an eye-bolt assembly which attaches to the lower plate  201 .  FIG. 10  shows an alternate eye-bolt assembly that can be used in place of the one shown in  FIG. 2A . In the alternative eye-bolt assembly, the eye-bolt  203  passes through a first washer  1001 , then a lower thrust bearing  1004 , then a second washer  1002 , then the lower plate  201 , then a third washer  1003 , then an upper thrust bearing  1005 , then a flanged lock nut  1006  and then a jam lock nut  1007 . The parts in the alternate assembly (as in the original assembly illustrated in  FIG. 2A ) are fitted and screwed together tightly. In this assembly (like the assembly illustrated in  FIG. 2A ), the eye bolt  203  can rotate freely (without becoming unscrewed). The thrust bearings  1004 ,  1005  are bearings that permit rotation. 
         [0049]    In addition to being used to mount a punching bag, the apparatus as recited herein can also be used to mount any related exercise equipment (e.g., hanging mats, heavy bags, etc.) 
         [0050]    The word “connected” or “attached” as used herein can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through additional pieces. All parts, in their assembled positions, should be connected appropriately (e.g., all nuts tightened around screws, etc.) 
         [0051]    The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.