GB2063083A - Punch bag - Google Patents

Abstract

A punch bag comprises a rigid base attachable to a wall, a pad of impact-absorbing material supported against the base and a flexible outer casing surrounding the impact- absorbing material and attaching it to the base. The material may be a layer of rags and a layer of foam rubber. The bag may fit into the corner of a room. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Punch bag This invention relates to a punch bag of the type used for training boxers.

Various types of punch bags are known for different types of training, for example a heavy bag filled with sawdust or the like and held from the ceiling or an inflated bag supported above and below by lengths of elastic under tension or mounted on a spring loaded post so as to rock backwards and forwards when struck.

According to the present invention there is provided a punch bag comprising a rigid base, a pad of impact-absorbing material supported against the base and a flexible outer casing surrounding the impact absorbing material and attaching it to the base, characterised in that the base comprises at least one flat rear surface for placement against a wall and means for rigidly securing the base to the wall.

The rigid base of the punch bag may comprise an outer panel including the rear surface, the panel having marginal portions protruding beyond the casing and formed with screw holes constituting the said securing means.

The base may also comprise an inner panel around which the edges of the outer casing are wrapped and fastened thereto, the inner panel being secured to the outer panel and supporting the pad of impact-absorbing material.

The punch bag may have a rectangular crosssection. However in one embodiment the rigid base of the punch bag as two flat rear surfaces at right angles, enabling securement in a corner of a room whereby the material and casing of the punch bag extend across the corner presenting a convex target area to the user.

The impact-absorbing layer may be composed of one or more layers of synthetic foam plastics or foam rubber material. In one embodiment of the present invention, the impact absorbing material comprises a layer of resilient material and a layer of non-resilient but non-rigid material, the two said layers being enclosed by an outer casing.

The layer of resilient material can for example comprise a layer of foam rubber, preferably having a thickness of approximately three inches. The nonresilient layer may suitably consist of tightly packed rags, and may again be approximately three inches thick.

In another embodiment of the present invention the impact absorbing layer consists entirely of resilient material and may comprise a base layer of relatively high density foam around which is wrapped a layer of lower density foam.

The layer of high density foam may comprise a layer of polyether type polyurethane foam which may be formed from chippings reconstituted under pressure. The layer may have a density from 4 to 8 Ibs/ft3 and be e.g. of British Standard Specification RE.

The layer of low density foam may comprise a layer of polyether type polyurethane foam and the layer may have a density from 25 to 35 ounces/ft3 and be e.g. of British Standard Specification 3667.

The base layer may be from 3 to 4 inches thick and the low density layer from 2 to 3 inches thick.

The outer casing may suitably be of leather or flexible plastics sheet for example polyvinyl chloride or PVC covered fabric.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a punch bag in accordance with the present invention; Figure2 is a section taken on the line I-I of Figure 1 showing the interior of the punch bag; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention showing a punch bag modified to be fitted into a corner; and Figure 4 is a section taken on the line ll-ll of Figure 3 showing the interior of the corner fitted punch bag.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a punch bag 1 having an outer casing 2, a rigid base 3 and a pad of impact absorbing material 5.

The rigid base 3 comprises an outer panel 3a including a rear surface for placement against a wall, the outer panel 3a having marginal portions 6 protruding beyond the outer casing 2 and formed with screw holes 7 constituting the means of securing the punch bag to a wall.

As shown in Figure 2, the rigid base 3 also comprises an inner panel 3b around which the edges of the outer casing 2 are wrapped and fastened thereto by means of staples or the like, the inner panel 3b being secured to the outer panel 3a by screws 8.

The impact-absorbing material 5 may consist entirely of foam plastics or foam rubber but as shown comprises a layer of resilient material 9 and a layer of non-resilient but non-rigid material 10. The layer of resilient material 9 may comprise a layer of foam rubber and the layer of non-resilient but non-rigid material 10 may comprise a layer of tightly packed rags.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the top of the outer casing 2 has an elongate opening 4 closed for example by a zip fastener facilitating access to the contents ofthe bag. Figure 1 illustrates one possible position of the opening 4. Alternatively, the opening could be lengthened at each end so as to partly extend down the sides of the punch bag. Another possibility is for the opening to extend along the three edges non-adjacent to the rigid base 3 of an upper face 11 of the punch bag hence enabling the upper face 11 of the punch bag to be displaced as a flap.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the punch bag has a rectangular cross-section so that a boxer encounters the full depth of the bag at each punch.

Figures 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the punch bag designed to be fitted into a corner.

A rigid base 12 comprises two flat rear surfaces 13 and 14 at right angles to each other, so that the material and outer casing 15 of the punch bag extend across the corner presenting a convex target area to the user.

The rigid base 12 comprises two inner panels 1 2c fixed at right angles to a corner post 12b and two outer panels 12a secured to respective inner panels.

The punch bag also comprises two layers of resilient material 16 each having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the corner post 12b and overlying a respective inner panel 12c and a wad of non-resilient but non-rigid material 17 supported against the resilient material 16 by a flexible outer casing 15.

As shown in Figure 3, each outer panel 12a has a marginal portion 18 protruding beyond the outer casing 15 and formed with screw holes 19 which constituted the means of securing the punch bag in a corner of a room.

Layers of high density foam and low density foam may be used as in the embodiment of Figure 1. In this case it is preferred to use a 2" to 3" thickness layer of low density foam as a part-annular outer wrapping around a high density core which may be cut to the required part-cylindrical sectional shape.

The punch bag described above is particularly suitable for improving fitness and power of punch at a fast rate. It is also very suitable for exercising the cardio-vascular system. Since the bag remains fixed in use, the user can practise punching from various distances by stepping backwards and forwards while striking the bag.

An important feature of the present invention is that the punch bag has means for rigidly securing it to a wall so that there is no movement of the rigid base while the punch bag is in use and the impactabsorbing material provides the necessary resistance to a punch.

The corner fitted punch bag is particularly suitable for use in training boxers to keep their elbows tucked into their sides and embodies the same advantage as the wall punch bag in that the user encounters the full depth of bag at each punch.

The corner fitted punch bag is also suitable for practising "upper cuts", that is, punches directed upwardly into the underneath of the punch bag. For this purpose, it may be necessary to shorten the length of the corner post slightly and to insert the impact absorbing material used in the resulting gap so as to prevent any injury to the user as result of striking the bottom of the corner post.

In a case where the outer casing of the punch bag is not provided with an elongate opening, there can be some means of allowing air to pass in and out of the punch bag. This means may, for example, comprise eyelets at suitable positions in the outer casing, or a section of porous material for example fabric, forming part of the outer casing.

It will be appreciated that the punch bag in accordance with the invention could also be used for practising karate biows without risk of injury.

The size and shape of the punch bag particularly its height and width, could be varied according to particular requirements. By increasing the height of the bag, it can be made usable by boxers of different heights without the need for any vertical adjustment It will be appreciated that the punch bag of the invention has the advantage of not moving away from the user when struck. It provides a firm target, similar to the human trunk without the risk of injury to the user.

Claims (19)

1. A punch bag comprising a rigid base, a pad of impact-absorbing material supported against the base and a flexible outer casing surrounding the impact absorbing material and attaching it to the base, characterised in that the base comprises at least one flat rear surface for placement against a wall and means for rigidly securing the base to the wall.

2. A punch bag as in claim 1 wherein the base comprises an outer panel including the rear surface, the panel having marginal portions protruding beyond the casing the formed with screw holes constituting the said securing means.

3. A punch bag as in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the base also comprises an inner panel around which the edges of the outer casing are wrapped and fastened thereto, the inner panel being secured to the outer panel and supporting the pad of impactabsorbing material.

4. A punch bag as claimed in any preceding claim having at least one elongate opening in the outer casing closed by a zip fastener facilitating access to the contents of the bag.

5. A punch bag as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pad of impact-absorbing material comprises a layer of resilient material and a layer of non-resilient but non-rigid material.

6. A punch bag as claimed in claim 5 wherein the layer of resilient material comprises a layer of foam rubber.

7. A punch bag as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the layer of non-resilient but non-rigid material comprises a layer of tightly packed rags.

8. A punch bag according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the impact-absorbing layer consists entirely of resilient material.

9. A punch bag according to claim 8 wherein the impact-absorbing layer comprises a base layer of relatively high density foam around which is wrap- - ped in a layer of lower density foam.

10. A punch bag according to claim 9 wherein the high density foam is of polyether type polyurethane having a density from 4 to 8 Ibsift3.

11. A punch bag according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the low density foam is of polyether type polyurethane and has a density from 25 to 35 ounces/ft3.

12. A punch bag according to any of claims 9 to 11 wherein the layer of high density foam is from 3 to 4 inches thick.

13. A punch bag according to any of claims 9 to 12 wherein the layer of low density foar;i is from 2 to 3 inches thick.

14. A punch bag as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the outer casing is of leather or PVC.

15. A punch bag as claimed in any preceding claim having a rectangular cross-section.

16. A punch bag as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14 wherein the base has two flat rear surfaces at right angles, enabling securelnent in a corner of a room, the material and casing of the punch bag extending across the corner so as to present a convex target area to the user.

17. A punch bag as claimed in claim 16 comprising two inner panels fixed at right angles to a corner post and two outer panels secured to respective inner panels.

18. A punch bag as claimed in claim 17 wherein the punch bag comprises two layers of resilient material each having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the corner post and overlying a respective inner panel and a wad of non-resilient but non-rigid material supported against the resilient material by a flexible outer casing.

19. A punch bag substantially as herein de scribedwith reference to Figures 1 and 2 or to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.