Patent Publication Number: US-2019168094-A1

Title: Athletic device for practicing punching and striking

Description:
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 15/277,973, filed Sep. 27, 2016. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention concerns generally with exercise athletic devices. Particularly, the present invention is directed at an assembly equipped with punch-absorbing striking pads allowing a user to practice punching and striking. More specifically, the present invention is directed at an assembly equipped with a plurality of punch-absorbing striking pads for allowing the user to practice punching and striking while doing sit-ups. 
     Combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts are demanding sports fought over successive three- or five-minute rounds with one-minute breaks between the rounds. The sports require a high level of fitness, endurance and agility. Most fighters&#39; fitness training involves performing running and punching exercises, where a fighter either runs or punches, but prior to the device disclosed in the present invention, the fighter could not practice punching or striking at multiple tangible targets while doing sit-ups without assistance of a sparring partner or a trainer. 
     Applicant recognized the foregoing deficiency of prior art and set the principal object of this present invention to providing a device equipped with adjustable punch-absorbing striking pads that would allow a user to practice punching or striking while doing sit-ups. 
     Other and further objects of the invention, together with all its featured described within, will appear in the course of the following description. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     The following defines the present state in the field of the invention. The field of the present invention appears to be uncrowded. Out of all the inventions directed at punching or striking athletic training apparatuses, only Shafik, U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,992, discloses a somewhat close combination of a conventional treadmill and a punching target system. 
     Shafik describes a treadmill-based boxing exercise apparatus having an adjustable assembly that can only support a limited number of punching targets placed in a limited number of positions. Unlike the present invention, Shafik&#39;s invention provides a single punching target to be used during one training session. This prevents the user from working out on multiple targets, which significantly reduces the scope of the exercise as it prevents the user from practicing the entire range of punches and strikes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the principal objectives of the present invention is to provide a device, in the character described herein, that offers a user an ability to perform punching and striking exercises while doing sit-ups. 
     Yet another objective of this present invention is to provide a device, in the character described herein, that offers the user an ability to perform punching and striking exercises against a plurality of tangible targets while doing sit-ups. 
     Other embodiments of the present invention described herewith avail the user of performing a full body workout by choosing a preferred training level and working out under specific virtual fighting conditions. In one exemplary embodiment, the user may be notified of a punch thrown against her, and, thus, is required to respond with an immediate defensive counter-punch of her own. In another embodiment, the user may be asked to hit specific punching targets, in a specific sequence and/or within a specific time interval, all this by either remaining in a stationary position, or while doing sit-ups. 
     Furthermore, in some embodiments, the present invention may provide an automatic hit or miss counting mechanism, while in other embodiments the disclosed device may be programmed to keep track of a number of work-out rounds, as well as the breaks between the rounds. 
     The disclosed device is equipped with a plurality of striking pads positioned in such a way that the user is enabled to practice different punching techniques during a single training session. In one embodiment, for example, the present invention provides four striking pads positioned in such a way that the user utilizes the outmost left striking pad for practicing left hooks, the center-left pad for practicing left jabs, the center-right for right jabs, and the outmost right pad for right hooks, respectively. 
     Repositioning the striking pads up, or down, or sideways, or adding more pads allows the user to practice a greater variety of strikes, such as, for example, body punches, over-the-head punches, short punches, and so on. 
     In some embodiments, the striking pads may be placed in titled positions, which increases the range of the user&#39;s punching and striking techniques to include, for example, uppercuts, hammer strikes, and so on. 
     Exercising with the striking pads placed at far reaching positions requires the user to rotate and extend her upper body every time she throws a punch, which, in turn, provides a great workout not only for legs, arms and shoulders, but for the torso area as well. 
     Other embodiments of the present invention described herewith avail the user to perform a full body workout by directing a disclosed electronic control module to provide an interactive guidance to the user based on various training levels and virtual fighting conditions. For example, the user may be notified that she is about to get struck and, thus, is required to throw a defensive punch of her own immediately. In other exemplary embodiments, the user may be required to strike at specific striking pads, in a specific sequence and during a specific time interval. 
     Furthermore, in some embodiments, said electronic control module may provide for keeping track on the number of punches reaching their targets versus the number of misses, the number and length of the work-out rounds and the breaks between them. In other embodiments, said electronic control module may be coupled with sensors embedded into the striking pads and capable of registering strikes and measuring their force. 
     Other and further objects of the invention, together with all its featured described herewith, will appear in the course of the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the free-standing device; 
         FIG. 2  is a top elevating view of the device; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevating view of the device; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the device attached to a decline bench; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a striking pad equipped with a conventional spring-based shock absorber. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following is a detailed description of the invention provided to aid those skilled in the art in practicing in the field of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art may make modifications and variations in the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. All publications, patent applications, patents, figures and other references mentioned herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     The present invention concerns generally with exercise athletic devices. Particularly, the present invention is directed at an assembly equipped with punch-absorbing striking pads. More specifically, it is directed at an assembly that can be attached to a decline bench or a conventional treadmill and equipped with punch-absorbing striking pads; thus, allowing a user to practice punching and striking while doing sit-ups, as well as standing, walking or running on the treadmill. 
     An isometric view of one exemplary embodiment of the device is shown in  FIG. 1 . The device as disclosed  100  comprises an assembly  110  having upper portion  120  and bottom portion  130 . In some embodiments, where the disclosed device is adapted to be used as a free-standing device, said bottom portion further comprises at least two biasing arms  140 , at least two substantially vertical supporting arms  150 , and at least one aft supporting arm  160 . In these embodiments, the aft, vertical and biasing supporting arms are rigidly attached at their bottom portions to base portion  170  by welding, soldering, fasteners, rivets, bolts or other attachment means generally known in the art. 
     In other embodiments, where the disclosed device is adapted for use with a decline bench  410 ,  FIG. 4 , said bottom portion comprises aft supporting arm  160  and at least two biasing supporting arms  420  extending inward and forming an opening  430  so that the incline bench  410  can be placed between biasing supporting arms  420  and into opening  430 . In these embodiments, upper portion  120  is rigidly attached to the incline bench  410  by welding, soldering, fasteners, rivets, bolts or other attachment means generally known in the art. 
     Upper portion  120  of said assembly comprises at least one substantially vertical mounting member  450  having a rectangular cross-section. In some variations of the present invention upper portion  120  may comprise more than one vertical mounting member. Said vertical mounting members may have uniformly spaced apertures. 
     At least one horizontal mounting member  460  is disclosed. In some embodiments, said horizontal mounting member comprises a bracket  470  equipped with a conventional clamp  260 , and having two substantially symmetrical curved right and left arm portions  480  extending outwardly therefrom. Horizontal mounting member  460  is movably attached to vertical mounting member  450  so that vertical mounting member  450  is engaged into bracket  470 ; thus, allowing horizontal mounting member  460  to be adjusted vertically. Once a desired position of horizontal mounting member  460  is reached, it is held in place by conventional clamp  260 , or by a pin inserted into one of vertical member&#39;s uniformly spaced apertures. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, curved right and left arm members  480  further comprise at least two symmetrically positioned clamp-enforced hinges  490 , which provide for further adjustments of horizontal mounting member&#39;s  460  curvature. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , a plurality of punch-absorbing striking pads  210  is disclosed. In some embodiments, plurality of striking pads  210  can be movably attached to curved right and left arm portions  480  by conventional clamps  220 . In other embodiments, plurality of striking pads  210  can be angularly attached to curved right and left arm portions  480  by clamp-enforced hinges  230 ; thus, providing for angular adjustments. 
     In other variations of the present invention, conventional hydraulic shock absorbers  240  or conventional spring-based shock absorbers  250  can be attached to back portions  610  of plurality of striking pads  210  in order to provide additional punch-absorbing abilities. 
     In some embodiments, plurality of striking pads  210  can be tilted upward or downward, such as to place striking pads into various sloping positions. This setup allows the user to practice uppercuts, hammer punches, over-the-head punches, among others. 
     By positioning plurality of the striking pads  210  along curved right and left arm members  480 , the user can practice different punching techniques and target different body parts of the user&#39;s virtual opponent. To increase a variety of the punching techniques the user may place additional striking pads onto curved right and left arm members  480 , or onto additional horizontal members positioned at different locations along vertical mounting member  450 . 
     In some embodiments, electronic control module can be provided for guiding the user through a training session controlling the user&#39;s speed, targets, force and frequency of strikes, and time limits. For example, the program entitled “Training  1 ” may direct the user to throw jabs for 3, 5 or 10 minutes. The program entitled “Training  2 ” may direct the user to work on hooks for 3, 5 or 10 minutes. Yet “Training  3 ” may direct the user to strike combinations of jabs and hooks for 3, 5 or 10 minutes. Other training routines can be programmed and selected, such as, for example, punching and countering when the user is instructed to throw a punch before getting struck, and others. 
     In some embodiments, plurality of striking pads  210  may be equipped with sensors for registering the user&#39;s strikes. In these embodiments, said sensors are coupled with the electronic control module, which registers and records successful strikes, and then displays the hit/miss information on a touch screen monitor provided. In some embodiments, the force of the user&#39;s strikes can also be measured, recorded and displayed. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, the electronic control module may be coupled with the user&#39;s mobile device, such as a smartphone or a tablet computing device, via a downloadable Voice motivational/Monitoring trainer application. Once the control module and the mobile device are coupled, either wirelessly or otherwise, the user may begin progressing with her routine while listening to music. When the selected training program reaches a certain point, the music may continue playing in the background while a prerecorded voice of a professional trainer begins instructing the user as to specifics of that specific training session and the user&#39;s performance, such as when to punch, when to strike harder, faster, slower, what type of punches to throw, when each round is about to start and when it is almost over, and so on. Once the trainer stops talking, the music returns to the normal volume. 
     The forgoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Herein above, or in the following claims, the term “comprises” is synonymous with “includes.” The use of terminology such as “X comprises A, B and C” is not intended to imply that A, B and C are necessarily the only components or most important components of X. 
     Unless clearly and explicitly stated, the claims that follow are not intended to imply any particular sequence of actions. The inclusion of labels, such as a), b), c) or 1), 2), 3) etc., for portions of the claims does not, by itself, imply any particular sequence, but rather is merely to facilitate reference to the portions. 
     To reiterate, the embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention. Various other embodiments having various modifications may be suited to a particular use contemplated, but may be within the scope of the present invention.