Improvements in Punching Bag Supports and Fastenings.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1895-Accepted, 24th May, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Punching Bag Supports and Fastenings.
I JOHN PARKER MACLEARN of 706 Market Street in the City of Philadelphia
State of Pennsylvania United States of America Artist do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to that form of exercising apparatus known as a punching
bag and consists of an inflatable bag elastically mounted whereby when struck and
deflected in any direction it will owing to the elasticity of its mounting, return
with considerable force towards the striker.
My invention relates especially to that form of punching bag which is mounted
upon a rod or standard projecting upward from a suitable base resting upon or
secured to the floor and my improvements consist in combining with the supporting
rod or standard certain elastic supporting or retaining devices, or both, and in
means for securing the inflated bag to the upper end of the supporting rod or
standard.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 is a side view illustrating one form of punching bag and the means
whereby it is secured to the upper end of the supporting rod and also illustrating a
combined elastic support and retainer for the said rod; all according to my
invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the structure shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan view the section being taken on the line 3-3,
Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the means for securing the bag at the
upper end of the supporting rod;
Figure 5 is perspective view illustrating another form of punching bag
combined with my elastic retainer for holding the supporting rod normally in the
upright position ;
Figure 6 is a sectional view, partly in elevation of the base or lower portion of
the supporting rod and the elastic retainers therefor ;
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the inflatable bag.;
"
Figure 8 is a similar view illustrating a slightly modified construction of
the bag;
Figure 9 is a transverse section taken on the line 9-9 Figure 5 and Figure 10
is a similar view illustrating a slight modification in the internal structure of
the bag.
Referring first to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, A represents the base which in the
present instance is in the form of a flat plate with a central projecting hollow hub
or socket a and a raised peripheral rim or flange a¹, the base being, by preference,
heavy enough to retain its position upon the floor, however violent the movement
of the punching bag, although, if desired, the base may be secured to the floor by
means of screws or nails adapted to appropriate openings in the base, but this is
not advisable, as it detracts from the portability of the device which is one of its
advantages as compared with the ordinary punching bags which are supported by
elastic cords extending from the bag to the floor and the ceiling.
Adapted to the hollow hub or socket a of the base and secured thereto by a set
screw or in any other available manner, is a coiled spring B preferably of larger
diameter at the lower end than at the upper end, and into the lower portion of this

page_text: coiled spring B is introduced a second coiled spring B₁ which is considerably less
in height than the spring B and serves to stiffen the lower portion of the latter to
a certain degree and cause it to resume the upright position more quickly when
deflected in any direction, thus rendering the bag more lively in its movement than
if the single spring B only be employed.
Into the upper end of the coiled spring B is inserted the lower end of a rod D
to the upper end of which the punching bag E is secured in the manner described
hereafter, the lower end of the rod D being secured to the upper end of the coiled
spring D by providing a thread on the rod and screwing it into the upper end of
the coil or in any other appropriate manner.
Surrounding the upper end of the coil B is a sleeve or collar d having openings
for the reception of the upper ends of springs F the lower ends of which are
adapted to openings in the upper ends of studs screwed into the threaded
openings in the peripheral rim or flange a' of the base A.
The springs F radiate from the collar d or the supporting rod D and each
of the said springs may consist of a rubber cord, a metal coil, or other form of
expansible and contracting spring, the tendency of these springs being to. retain
the rod D normally in the vertical position as shewn in Figures 1 and 2.
When the rod D is deflected from the vertical in either direction, and then
released its tendency is to vibrate back and forth through ares of gradually
decreasing length until in the event of its failing to receive any other deflecting
influence, it eventually again assumes the vertical position.
Upon the upper end of the rod D is mounted a slightly curved plate G having a
socket g for the reception of the upper end of the rod.
The punching bag consists of an outer inelastic casing of material such as
canvas or other textile fabric and an inner expansible ball i of rubber or the like
a suitable nozzle being provided for the proper inflation of this ball.
The outer casing or covering i is secured to the plate G by means of stitches n
passing through the casing and through openings formed in the plate, as shewn in
Figure 4 and the said casing is also secured to the rod D by means of strips n
secured at their upper ends to the casing and at their lower ends to the rod D at
a point some distance below the socket plate G as shewn in Figure 2.
By this means displacement of the bag from its proper position at the upper end
of the rod is effectually prevented and yet no portion of the supporting or
securing device is liable to come into contact with the bands of the person
punching the bag.
Referring now to the device shewn in Figure 5 it will be observed that in place
of the spring support B B' for the rod D the lower end of the said rod is inserted
in a socket B' in which the said rod is vertically adjustable, a set screw p serving
to secure it in position after adjustment.
The socket B2 is so mounted upon the base A so that the rod is free to move in
any direction, a universal joint between the socket and the base being provided by
means of a hooks on the socket engaging an eye s¹ on the base. In this case the
springs Falone are relied upon to return the rod D to a vertical position after it
has been deflected, the upper ends of the said springs being connected to a
vertically adjustable collar d on the socket B' and their lower ends being engaged
in eyes at the upper ends of studs which at their lower ends are pivoted in
recesses in the peripheral flange a¹ of the base so as to be free to swing outwardly
when the rod D and its socket are deflected as shown by dotted lines in Figure 6
this provision for the outward swing of the studs f' preventing the doubling up of
the springs F and the sudden straightening out of the said springs when the
socket B³ swings in the opposite direction thus obviating the excessive strain upon
the springs which would result from such action.
The bag E' is in this case composed wholly of inelastic material and has a
central socket t extending up inside thereof and terminating at its upper end some
distance below the top of the bag as shown in Figures 5 and 7, or extending up to
the top of the bag and being attached thereto as shown in Figure 8 the said socket

page_text: also projecting below the bottom of the bag so as to provide a means for securing
it to the rod A by a suitable wrapping.
In order to prevent the bag from moving too freely about its socket and to
obviate the danger of striking the socket when the same is stiffened by the
introduction of the upper end of the supporting rod A the said socket is connected
to the outer portion of the bag, at or about the vertical centre of the same by
means of stays which may be either in the form of a perforated diaphragm tas
shown in Figures 7. 8 and 9 or in the form of flexible but inelastic cords t² 2
radiating from the socket as shown in Figure 10, hence whenever the bag is struck
and caused to move in either direction the socket is pulled over in the same
direction and as the inflated bag cannot even by the severest blow likely to be
struck upon it be indented to the extent of half its diameter, all injury to the
fist such as might be caused by contact of the bag with the socket is effectually
prevented.
When the upper end of the socket is connected at the top of the bag the central
stays lose their importance in a great measure, and hence can be dispensed with,
in fact they may, without departing from the main principles of my invention be
dispensed with, even in a bag having a short socket as shown in Figures 5 and 7
although their use in the latter case is preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of the bag, the base and the bag carrying standard mounted
so as to be free to yield in any direction, with a series of extensible contractile
springs radiating from the rod or standard and serving to connect the same to the
outer portion of the base and to restore the rod or standard to vertical position
after the same has been deflected in any direction substantially as bereinbefore
described.
2. The combination of the bag, the base and the bag carrying rod or standard
mounted so as to be free to swing in any direction and a series of extensible
contractile springs radiating from the standard and connected at their outer ends
to studs projecting upwardly from the base or standard substantially as herein before
described.
3. The combination of the bag, the base and the bag supporting rod or standard
mounted so as to be free to yield in any direction, with a series of extensible
contractile springs radiating from the standard and connected at their outer
ends to the upper ends of studs which project upwardly from the base and are
pivotted thereto so as to be capable of swinging outwardly substantially as
hereinbefore described.
4. The combination of the bag, the base and the bag supporting rod or standard
a coiled spring serving as a means of connecting the said bag supporting rod or
standard to the base, the said coiled spring having a supplementary internal spring
in its lower portion, substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The combination of the bag, the base and the bag supporting rod or standard
a coiled spring connection between the said rod and the base, and a series of
extensible contractile springs radiating from the standard to connections at the
outer portions of the base, these radiating springs aiding the coiled spring to restore
the bag carrying rod or standard to its vertical position after it has been deflected
in any direction substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. The combination of the bag consisting of an inflatable interior bag and an
outer retaining and protecting cover or casing, a bag supporting standard having
at the top a cap plate upon which the said casing is seated and to which it is secured,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
7. The combination of the bag consisting of an inner inflatable bag and an outer
protecting cover or casing, a bag supporting standard having a cap plate upon
which said casing is seated, and to which it is secured, and strips depending from

page_text: the casing and secured at their lower ends to the standard below the said supporting
cap, substantially as hereinbefore described.
8. The combination of the bag supporting standard, with the bag having an
internal socket for the reception of the upper end of the supporting standard, the
said socket extending up into the bag but not through the top of the same,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
9. The combination of the bag supporting standard, with the bag having an
internal socket for the reception of the upper end of the said standard the said
socket being connected to the casing of the bag by means of radial stays,
substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
Agents.