AU2010100231A4 - Boxing Exercise Device - Google Patents

Description

1 BOXING EXERCISE DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to exercise devices for use to strengthen the arm and shoulder muscles used in boxing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 There are a number of prior art documents disclosing devices designed to strengthen arm, shoulder and chest muscles. AT411428(B) shows a harness with chest and shoulder straps and elastic cords attached to the shoulder straps. The latter cords are secured to the user' wrists so that when the arms are extended in any direction the cords resist the movement and the relevant 15 muscles must work against this resistance. US3162442(A) teaches an apparatus mounted on a bipod the legs of which are strapped to the ankles of the used and strapped to the waist and shoulders. Cables extending from a resistance mechanism in the apparatus are attached 20 to the user's wrists to provide resistance to raising the arms. EP0352696(A2) discloses a belt and braces harness on which are mounted elastic cords under the user's armpits. There are handles at the free ends of the cords which the user grips while exercising the arms. 25 US1432013(A) teaches a belt device with an upward reaching extension in the middle of the back and four elastic cords two of which are anchored on the back of the belt and other two of which are anchored on the extension. The two pair of cords are joined by hand grips for the user to push against the cords. 30 US1 402179(A) teaches a harness with a vertical loop on the back through which elasticized cords pass. The ends of the cords are attached to handles which the user grips and extends one arm while holding the other close to the 2 body. US4441707(A) teaches a simple belt which has an external channel through which an elastic cord passes. The free ends of the cord are attached to handles which the user grips o exercise. 5 However none of these devices resist the natural arm movement of a boxer throwing a punch and so they are not optimal in strengthening the muscle groups used in the punching action. Further they do not provide for rapid adjustment of the elastic cords for different users and for different degrees of resistance to the punching motion. 10 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device which overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art or at least provides 15 a useful alternative. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION According to one but not necessarily the only aspect, the invention resides in a 20 boxing exercise device comprising a vest with two or more elasticized cords anchored to the back of the vest and extending over the shoulders of the user such that the ends of the cords are gripped by the fists of the user and resist extension of the user's arms. 25 Preferably the free ends of the cords are attached to grips. Preferably a rack is attached to the back of the vest and has two vertical rows of two or more slots and the cords are adapted to anchor in the slots. 30 Preferably the vest has an integral belt to which the rack is attached. Preferably the cords pass over shoulder pads built into the vest.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a back view of a user wearing a boxing exercise device Figure 2 is a side view of the user in Figure 1 5 Figure 3 is a front view of the user in Figure 2 and Figure 4 shows the adjustment mechanism for the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 10 The device shown in Figure 1 consists of a vest 1 with an integral waist belt 2 and an adjustment rack 3 extending vertically upwards from the back of the belt. Two elasticized cords 4 pass through channels 5 in vest 1 in the region of the user's shoulder blades and are restrained in rack 3. 15 Cords 4 extend over shoulder pads 6 of vest 1 as shown in Figure 2 and the other ends of cords 4 are attached to grips 7. Accordingly when the user extends either arm cords 4 resist the motion of the arm and the relevant muscle group is exercised. 20 Figure 4 shows the operation of adjustment rack 3. The end of cords 4 have annular stops 8 which fit into slots 9 of rack 3. Accordingly the extension of cords 4 can be adjusted by locating stops 8 in higher or lower slots 9 thus shortening or lengthening the reach of cords 4. 25 ADVANTAGES It will be obvious that the device of the present invention has a number of advantages over the prior art. First cords 4 extend over the shoulders of the user which exercises the muscle groups normally used in the punching action. 30 Further adjustment rack 3 allows different users to adjust the reach of cords 4 to provide the required resistance.

4 VARIATIONS It will be realized that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention all such and other modifications and variations thereto 5 as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as herein set forth. For example a different adjustment mechanism could be used for varying the reach of cords 4. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising" are not 10 intended to exclude other additives components, integers or steps. 15 20 25 30

Claims (5)

1. A boxing exercise device comprising a vest with two or more elasticized cords anchored to the back of the vest and extending over the shoulders of the 5 user such that the ends of the cords are gripped by the fists of the user and resist extension of the user's arms.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the free ends of the cords are attached to grips. 10

3. The device of claim 1 wherein a rack is attached to the back of the vest and has two vertical rows of two or more slots and the cords are adapted to anchor in the slots. 15

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the vest has an integral belt to which the rack is attached.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the cords pass over shoulder pads built into the vest. 20 25 30