Abstract:
A device for combative sports training is provided. The device features an attachment mechanism releasably coupled to a length of cord for suspension of the device from an upper support. Featured along the cord is a mechanism for height adjustment, designed for insertion and removal from within the interior of a hollow striking object. The striking object remains attached to the height adjustment mechanism when struck from the sides and below, but is quickly detached by application of a force downward upon the top of the striking object. The entire device is designed for rapid assembly and disassembly and such that it is suitable for use within a home with lesser space requirements than other training devices on the market.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention generally relates to exercise equipment and, more specifically, to exercise equipment used by participants in combative sports training. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to easily portable combative sports exercise equipment featuring height-adjustable striking objects designed for suspension by a cord, with a quick-release feature between the striking object, suspension cord and mount for safety, ease of disassembly and storage. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Combative sports, training for combative sports and other closely related physical endeavors are common forms of exercise and self-defense dating back thousands of years. While any individual&#39;s particular training goals may vary, the overall goals of participants in these sports are to quickly and powerfully strike a moving target while improving hand-eye coordination, reaction time and overall physical endurance. 
         [0006]    Many combative sports participants do not always wish to train against a human opponent. However, it is still desirable for a participant to engage with a moving target while training solo. As such, many devices have been created over the years to accommodate this desire. The most common devices disclosed in the prior art are commonly referred to as: the heavy punching bag, the speed bag, the reflex bag and variations thereof. Each device is useful for training in general, but by their design, poorly suited for home use. Primary shortcomings of devices found in the prior art are: the requirement of near-permanent attachment to a floor or ceiling; too heavy or cumbersome for an individual to move easily; and/or too large for convenient storage. Use of such devices often requires dedicated training rooms, with the result that the user has to either dedicate the majority of an average household room to training, or travel to gyms to train. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there exists a need for a training device that may be quickly assembled and disassembled, that is easily moved and may be compactly stored, all while still remaining an effective training device for combative sports. 
         [0008]    The inventor has performed a search of the prior art and believes the present invention is a new and useful invention for which patent protection is warranted. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Within the preferred embodiments, and the alternative embodiments disclosed herein, a striking object suspended from a height-adjustable suspension system is provided. The system allows the user to raise and lower the striking object as desired, change the striking object to one featuring alternative physical properties and strike the object from all sides and from below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1 —exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2 —sectional view of the lower portion of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3 —closeup of the cord/height adjustment member assembly; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4 —assembled view of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Referring now to the exploded view of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings, there is shown the terminal mount  100 . The preferred embodiment of the present invention calls for, and the illustrations show for demonstrative purposes, the use of a sheetrock anchor as the terminal mount  100 . Overall, the scope and spirit of the invention calls for ease of assembly. Therefore, the inventor does not wish to limit the terminal mount  100  to only a sheetrock anchor. For example, alternative embodiments would allow eyebolts or hook screws as suitable terminal mounts  100 . 
         [0015]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown the cord attachment member  102 . The preferred embodiment of the present invention calls for, and the illustrations show for demonstrative purposes, the use of a semi-spherical object containing holes through which the cord  200  may be threaded as the cord attachment member  102 . The preferred embodiment of the cord attachment member  102  of the present invention allows the cord  200  to pass through a hole in the cord attachment member  102 , wrap around the outer body of the cord attachment member  102  and thread back into the body of the cord attachment member  102 . Quick release of the cord  200  from the cord attachment member  102  may be achieved by simply reversing this process. 
         [0016]    Depending on the use of alternative means of attachment or objects for the terminal mount  100  than those shown in the illustrations, use of a cord attachment member  102  may not be necessary. In addition, the cord  200  may be knotted after passing through the cord attachment member  102  to secure the cord  200  if desired. Alternative embodiments of the present invention utilizing objects such as eyebolts or hook screws as the terminal mount  100  would allow direct attachment of the cord  200  to the terminal mount  100 . 
         [0017]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an attachment screw  104 . The preferred embodiment of the present invention calls for, and the illustrations show for demonstrative purposes, use of an attachment screw  104  that runs through the center of the cord attachment member  102  into the terminal mount  100 . In the preferred embodiment, the attachment screw  104  anchors the cord attachment member  102  into the terminal mount  100  on a user&#39;s ceiling or other suitable attachment surface. As discussed above, alternative embodiments of the present invention may not necessarily feature the attachment screw  104  or cord attachment member  102 , though such alternatives remain within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. 
         [0018]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown the cord  200 , the height adjustment member  202  and the striking object  300 . The striking object  300  is hollow, and may be made from any durable material of high elasticity, rubber being the preferred material. Alternative embodiments of the present invention allow for use of materials other than rubber. The striking object  300  features a hole  302  on its dorsal surface running through the outer wall of the striking object  300 . The preferred embodiment of the present invention allows for a quick exchange of striking objects  300  to those of different sizes. For instance, a beginner may wish to utilize a larger striking object  300 , as it would be easier to strike. As the user improves his skills, he may wish to utilize smaller striking objects  300  to fine tune striking accuracy. The scope and spirit of the claimed invention do not limit use of one particular shape or size of striking object  300 , though the preferred embodiment calls for spheres, as the illustrations demonstrate. 
         [0019]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention allows for users to insert the terminal mount  100  flush within the user&#39;s ceiling. The user may then utilize the attachment screw  104  to fasten the cord attachment member  102  into the terminal mount  100 . The preferred embodiment of the mount assembly  100 - 104  calls for a width of less than two inches, with the height of the attachment member  102  less than half an inch. As such, the user may leave the entire (or only part of the) mount assembly  100 - 104  in place when not in use without it being so bulky as to be cosmetically unpleasing. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a sectional view of the striking object  300  is shown, showing storage of the lower tail end of the cord  200  within the striking object  300  when fully assembled.  FIG. 2  also demonstrates the interaction between the height adjustment member  202  and the hole  302  through the internal walls of the striking object  300 .  FIG. 2  also shows the location of the lip  204  against the internal wall of the striking object  300  when assembled. Storage of the lower tail end of the cord  200  within the striking object  300  is an important aspect of the present invention. Many typical users will not want free cord  200  swinging about while training. This feature cures a common problem found in other devices on the market. 
         [0021]    Referring now in more detail to the interaction between the height adjustment member  202  and the striking surface  300  as best shown by  FIG. 2 , the striking surface  300  features a hole  302 . The preferred embodiment calls for the hole  302  to be roughly one-quarter inch in diameter. Whatever size hole  302  is used, the main body of the height adjustment member  202  features a lip  204  with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the hole  302 . Alternative embodiments of the present invention may allow different size holes  302  and lips  204  while remaining within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed, though the inventor believes the dimensions described above are the best mode of practice. 
         [0022]    To attach the striking object  300  onto the cord  200 , the user threads the end of the cord  200  distal to the mount assembly  100 - 104 , and the height adjustment member  202  through the hole  302  into the striking object  300 . The elastic nature of the striking object  300  and its hole  302  allow the lip  204  of the height adjustment member  202  to barely pass into the internal cavity of the striking object  300  when the hole  302  is stretched open. The elastic nature of the striking object  300  causes the hole  302  to constrict, fully enveloping the lip  204 , and compress around the body of the height adjustment member  202 . 
         [0023]    An alternative assembly of the device allows for the lip  204  of the height adjustment member  202  to rest directly against the inner wall of the striking object  300 , with the body of the height adjustment member  202  below the inner wall of the striking object  300  and below the lip  204 . 
         [0024]    Once the striking object  300  is attached onto the cord  200 , the striking object  300  is securely suspended from the mount assembly  100 - 104 . The interaction of the lip  204  within the inner walls of the striking object  300  is such that application of forces right to, acute to and obtuse to a line formed through the mount assembly  100 - 104  and the striking object  300  will not cause the lip  204  and height adjustment member  202  to eject from within the striking object  300 . However, application of a force greater than roughly eight pounds downward onto the striking object  300  roughly parallel to the line discussed in the preceding sentence will cause the lip  204  to slightly expand the hole  302 , allowing a quick release of the height adjustment member  202 , lip  204  and cord  200  from within the striking object  300 . This helps prevent damage to the surface upon which the mount assembly  100 - 104  is affixed, may help prevent injury to the user or others and aids in quick disassembly when desired. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a magnified view of the cord  200 , height adjustment member  202  and lip  204 . The preferred embodiment of the height adjustment member  202  calls for hollow construction. The preferred embodiment of the present invention calls for the cord  200  to run downward from the mount assembly  100 - 104  into a hole on the portion of the height adjustment member  202  opposite the lower lip  204 . The cord  200  exits a slit on one lateral side of the height adjustment member  202 , wraps around the outer body of the height adjustment member  202  and reenters the body of the height adjustment member  202  through another slit on the opposite lateral side of the height adjustment member  202  as the first slit. Once the cord  200  is back within the body of the height adjustment member  202 , the cord  200  is threaded through another hole within the lip  204  of the height adjustment member  202  and continues downward. 
         [0026]    The effect of passing the cord  200  through the height adjustment member  202  is such that when there is slack cord  200  around the body of the height adjustment member  202 , the height adjustment member  202  may be raised and lowered on the cord  200  by sliding the adjustment member  202  proximal or distal to the mount assembly  100 - 104  as desired. Once slack is removed from the cord  200  around the height adjustment member  202 , the height adjustment member  202  is secured in place on the cord  200 . The height adjustment member  202  is specifically designed so that when the slack of the cord  200  is removed from about the body of the height adjustment member  202 , the height adjustment member  202  is secured in place on the cord  200 . This is of particular importance when the present invention is fully assembled, as the user will not wish for slippage when training. 
         [0027]    The primary benefit of the interaction described directly above is that users are able to easily raise and lower the placement of the height adjustment member  202  about the cord  200 , which, in turn, allows for situation of the striking object  300  at whatever height the user desires. Once the user sets the appropriate height of the striking object  300 , it will stay at that height until the height adjustment member  202  is raised or lowered on the cord  200 . Furthermore, the inventor believes the present invention is an improvement over the prior art, as the cord  200  is stored within the striking object  300 , rather than passing entirely through, as found with other products on the market. 
         [0028]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the preferred embodiment and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.