Patent Publication Number: US-2007117689-A1

Title: Rotating punching accessory

Description:
The present invention is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/892,753, filed Jun. 28, 2001, which in turn claims benefit of U.S. Prov. Pat. App. No. 60/216,544, filed Jul. 6, 2000, both of which are incorporated herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a rotating punching accessory that is used in combination with different types of heavy punching bags.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      Martial arts and boxing are sports that are steeped in tradition and have increased in recent popularity with the physical fitness boom over the last twenty years. Both sports are very demanding both mentally and physically and require extensive training and dedication. The related art reflects the development of an extensive number of devices that can be used for the training of boxers and individuals participating in the martial arts.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,755 issued to Eidson outlines an exercise device where two hanging punching bags with swivel assemblies are attached to each end of an elongated member. An elastic cord is stretched between the hanger assemblies for each punching bag in order to dampen undesirable lateral movements of the punching bags from contact. A third swivel assembly is also provided between the two punching bags to balance the punching bags if one punching bag is heavier than the other.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,980 issued to Babineaux outlines a boxing device that responds to punches by swinging its own arms at its attacker. A pair of resilient boxing bags are tied together and are hung together by a rigid upper supporting structure. A pair of arms with boxing gloves that hang above the boxing bags and swing arcuately forward and upward are also provided to simulate a person fighting back.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,192 issued to Lebowitz outlines a training apparatus and method for training martial arts students. The apparatus has a pair of simulated limbs that are designed to strike blows against the student and require the student to defend himself. The blows are directed at the student with considerable force and at a variety of different angles and positions. A spring arrangement is also part of the apparatus and resiliently biases the limb members towards a neutral position relative to a student positioned in a striking area.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,057 issued to Zagata, Jr. outlines an exercise apparatus used for training boxers and martial arts students. The apparatus has an inflatable leather bag supported by the end of a padded, cantilevered arm, which is formed of a resilient material for absorbing energy from punches and kicks. The arm is attachable to a stand via an adjustment bracket which permits the height of the target to be varied in accordance with the user. There is also an optional handle accessory to allow a second person to manipulate the leather bag to increase the difficulty of the exercise for the first user.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,724 issued to Sotomayer outlines the use of a punching device that is spaced between two boxers, with each boxer striking the t-shaped device and responding in turn to the unpredictable movements from a variety of extension coil springs. The punching device is permanently connected to the floor and simulates moving in an unpredictable bobbing and weaving fashion for both participants. The device can also be used by a single boxer, in which case the device responds like a commonly available hanging punching bag.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,835 issued to Puranda outlines a device used by boxers, kick boxers and martial arts participants. The device has a base and a stanchion that is used in combination with a variety of attachments such as a body bag attachment, a punching bag striking unit, a t-bar unit and a spring immobilizer. The device is in a kit form for easy assembly and interchangability of the attachments.  
      All of the patents outline apparatuses that are useful in the training of boxers, martial artists and kick boxers. Most of these devices simulate another person or develop defense movements. However, none of these devices can improve an individual&#39;s speed, power and coordination. That is what is really needed, a device that improves an individual&#39;s speed, power and coordination for use in boxing, martial arts and kick boxing.  
      None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention is a rotating punching assembly used in combination with a variety of punching bag types. The first embodiment of the invention attaches the rotating punching bag assembly to the top of a standing type of punching bag using common nuts and bolts. The rotating punching assembly has cushioned punching pads that revolve around the standing punching bag when struck. The second embodiment is also attached to the top of a standing punching bag, but is attached with a hook and loop fastener arrangement. The third embodiment pertains to the use of the rotating punching assembly with a hanging punching bag, with the assembly being encircled around the hanging punching bag. All three embodiments are designed to revolve around a punching bag and to improve the speed and coordination of the user.  
      Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a boxing or martial arts training device to improve the striking speed and coordination of the user.  
      It is another object of the invention to provide a device that could be used in combination with a punching bag.  
      It is a further object of the invention to provide a device that can be used with a variety of punching bag types.  
      It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
      These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a rotating punching accessory according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the first embodiment of a rotating punching accessory according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the first embodiment of a rotating punching accessory according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the second embodiment of a rotating punching accessory  
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the third embodiment of a rotating punching accessory according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the third embodiment of a rotating punching accessory according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a front view of the ball bearing assembly used in the third embodiment of a rotating punching assembly.] 
    
    
      Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The present invention is a rotating punching accessory  10 , used in combination with a standing punching bag  20 , which is depicted in  FIG. 1 .  
      The first embodiment of the present invention comprises an attaching means for attaching a support plate  30  to the top  60  of the standing punching bag  20 , a rectangular arm  40  with a rotating means for rotating the rectangular arm  40  in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction on top of the support plate  30  and a punching pad  50  that is located on each end of the rectangular arm  40 . The punching pads  50  are well cushioned on the front and the back and can be struck in the front or on the back. Tubing is provided within the punching pads  50  for additional cushioning. These features are illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
      The attaching means for attaching the support plate  30  to the top  60  of the rotating punching accessory  10  are nuts and bolts  70 . This is a permanent attaching means that requires the use of common hand tools such as a wrench for installation. The nuts and bolts  70  permanently secure the entire rotating punching assembly  10  to the standing punching bag  20  while it is being used. The nuts and bolts  70  must be tightly secured in order for the rotating punching accessory  10  to be safely used.  
      The rotating punching accessory  10  also utilizes a rotating means for rotating the rectangular arm  40  in either a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation. This rotating means is a bearing and support axle  80  centered on top of the support plate  30 . The bearing and support axle  80  is perpendicular to the support plate  30  and equidistant from each end of the rectangular arm  40 . The bearing and support axle  80  is the pivot point for the rotation of the rotating punching accessory  10  and is mechanical technology that is well-known to those skilled in the art.  
      The second embodiment of the rotating punching assembly  10  also involves usage of a standing punching bag  20  and is depicted in  FIG. 4 . The second embodiment is comprised of an attaching means for attaching a support plate  30  to the top of the standing punching bag  60 , a rectangular arm  40  with a rotating means for rotating the rectangular arm  40  in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction on top of the support plate  30  and a punching pad  50  that is located on each end of the rectangular arm  40 .  
      The second embodiment has the same rotating means as the first embodiment, but has a different attaching means for attaching the support plate  30  to the top of a standing punching bag  20 . The second embodiment utilizes a hook and loop fastener  90  situated on the edge of the standing punching bag  20 . The standing punching bag is provided with a strip of the “loop” portion (not shown) of the hook and loop fastener  90  that is provided with an adhesive to secure the loop portion of the hook and loop fastener  90  near the edge of the standing punching bag  20 .  
      This embodiment of the rotating punching assembly  10  is also provided with a flap  100  that is designed to fold over the loop portion of the hook and loop fastener  90 . Inside the inner surface of the flap  100  is a strip of the “hooks” portion (not shown) of the hook and loop fastener  90 . This hook and loop fastener  90  is designed to mate the strip of the loops portion with the hook portion of the hook and loop fastener  90 . The hook and loop fastener technology is well-known to those schooled in the related art and is designed to temporarily secure the support plate  30  on top of the standing punching bag  60 . The hook and loop fastener  90  is designed to be easily removed from the top of the standing punching bag  20  with a pulling separation between the hook portion and loop portion of the hook and loop fastener  90 .  
      The third embodiment of the rotating punching assembly  10  is designed for use with a hanging type of punching bag  110 . This third embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 5  and is comprised of an attaching means for attaching a rotating ball bearing support plate  120  and rectangular arm  130  around the perimeter of the hanging punching bag  110 . There is also a rotating means for rotating the rectangular arm  130  in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction around the hanging punching bag and a punching pad  50  that is located on each end of the rectangular arm  130 .  
      This embodiment of the rotating punching assembly  10  utilizes the same punching pads  50  as the first two embodiments of the invention. However, the attaching means are hooks that are attached to hanging chains (not shown), that go through eyelets  140  provided on the rotating ball bearing support plate  120 . The rotating means is also different than the first two embodiments and is a rotating ball bearing support plate  120  equidistant from each end of the rectangular arm  130  that is encircled around the hanging punching bag  110 . There are also centering tabs  150  provided on the inside perimeter of the rotating ball bearing support plate  120  to keep the hanging punching bag  110  and the rotating punching assembly  10  centered.  
       FIG. 7  illustrates the components of the rotating ball bearing support plate  120 . Rubber wheels  160  are set inside an outer groove  180  on the rotating ball bearing support plate  120  and the rotating rectangular arm  130  is attached to an axle  170  on the wheel  160 . The rectangular arms  130  revolve around the rotating ball bearing support plate  120  while attached to the axles  170  on the wheels  160 . This technology is not a novel feature of the invention and is well-known to those skilled in the art.  
      Operation of all three embodiments is uncomplicated. The first two embodiments are ready for use once the rotating punching assembly  10  is attached to the standing punching bag  20 . The third embodiment is also uncomplicated and must be hung around the hanging type punching bag  110  before using in order to work properly.  
      It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.