Patent Publication Number: US-11020645-B2

Title: Ring-shaped punchbag with inner punchball

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Great Britain Patent Application Serial No. GB 1903626.8 filed Mar. 18, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to training equipment, and in particular to training equipment that can be punched for exercise or for training, e.g., by boxers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides training equipment comprising an outer ring-shaped punchbag defining an inner opening, the punchbag having a longitudinal axis; and an inner punchball positioned in the inner opening and connected to the punchbag by at least one flexible elongate member; wherein the punchbag further comprises a first securing location specifically adapted such that the training equipment is suspended in use with the longitudinal axis of the punchbag substantially horizontal. 
     The ring-shaped punchbag will typically be substantially circular and define a substantially circular inner opening. But it will be understood that it can have any suitable overall shape (e.g., substantially square, rectangular etc.) and any suitable cross-section (e.g., substantially circular, square, rectangular etc). 
     The punchbag may comprise an outer layer of material (often leather or similar) that is filled with a suitable filler. In some cases, the punchbag may comprise an outer layer of a harder or more semi-rigid material that is filled with a suitable filler or left hollow. 
     The punchball is preferably suspended within the inner opening by the at least one flexible elongate member and is preferably spaced apart from the punchbag, e.g., by an annular gap or void. 
     The punchball is preferably connected to the punchbag at a second securing location by a first flexible elongate member and at a third securing location by a second flexible elongate member. The second and third securing locations may be on an inner surface of the punchbag defining the periphery of the inner opening. The second and third securing locations may be substantially diametrically opposed across the inner opening. The punchball may have corresponding first and second securing locations to which the first and second flexible elongate members are respectively connected. The first and second securing locations on the punchball may be substantially diametrically opposed on the outer surface of the punchball or at opposite ends of the punchball, for example. 
     The punchball may be similar in design and construction to a so-called “floor to ceiling” or “double end” ball and may be used for timing practice and to improve hand eye coordination. The punchball may be substantially round, egg-shaped or dumbbell-shaped, for example, and may comprise an outer layer of material (often also leather or similar) that is either filled with a suitable filler or an inflatable bladder. 
     The first and second flexible elongate members (e.g., cords or straps) that are used to connect the punchball to the punchbag may be elasticated to permit the punchball to undergo erratic movement backwards and forwards within the inner opening of the punchbag when punched. In one arrangement, the flexible elongate members may be “bungee cords” or shock cords comprising one or more elastic strands, or similar. In another arrangement, the flexible elongate members are not elasticated. 
     The first securing location is specifically adapted to allow the training equipment to be suspended in use, preferably by means of a third flexible elongate member (e.g., a cord, strap, or chain). The training equipment may be suspended from a ceiling or from a training frame, for example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of training equipment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of the training equipment of  FIG. 1  along line A-A. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the training equipment of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an item of training equipment  1  according to the present invention includes an outer ring-shaped punchbag  2 . The punchbag  2  has a substantially rectangular cross-section (see  FIG. 2 ) and a substantially circular overall shape when viewed from the front (see  FIG. 1 ). The punchbag  2  defines a substantially circular inner opening  4 . It will be readily appreciated that the punchbag can have other cross-sections (e.g., substantially circular), other overall shapes, and can define an inner opening that is not substantially circular. The punchbag  4  comprises an outer layer of material that is filled with a suitable filler. The punchbag may also be hollow. 
     An inner punchball  6  is positioned in the inner opening  4  of the punchbag  2 . It will be readily appreciated that although the punchball  6  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is round, it can have any suitable shape, e.g., it can be egg-shaped or dumbbell-shaped. The punchball  6  comprises an outer layer of material that is either filled with a suitable filler or an inflatable bladder. 
     The punchbag  2  comprises a first securing location  10   a  that allows the training equipment  1  to be suspended in use by a cord, strap or chain  14 . The training equipment  1  may be suspended from a ceiling or from a training frame, for example. The first securing location  10   a  is adapted such that the training equipment  1  is suspended in use with the longitudinal axis L of the punchbag  2  substantially horizontal. The longitudinal axis L represents the line passing through the centroid of the cross-section of the punchbag  2  or the training equipment as a whole, for example. 
     The punchball  6  is connected to the punchbag  2  by two elasticated cords  8   a ,  8   b  such that it is suspended freely within the inner opening  6  and is spaced apart from the punchbag  2  as shown. A first elasticated cord  8   a  extends between a second securing location  10   b  on the punchbag  2  and a first securing location  12   a  on the punchball  6 . Similarly, a second elasticated cord  8   b  extends between a third securing location  10   c  on the punchbag  2  and a second securing location  12   b  on the punchball  6 . The second and third securing locations  10   b ,  10   c  on the punchbag  2  are substantially diametrically opposed across the inner opening  4 . The elasticated cords  8   a ,  8   b  permit the punchball  6  to undergo erratic movement within the inner opening  4  when punched by the boxer or trainer to improve timing and hand eye coordination. The boxer or trainer can use the outer punchbag  2  in much the same way as a “conventional” cylindrical punchbag. 
     Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of the present invention may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.