EP2950897B1 - Reactive-mobility training appliance comprising a punching bag - Google Patents

Description

Technical area.

The invention relates to a training device with a punching bag for the practice of combat sports and / or contact and grip sports, such as in particular to increase the muscular strength, speed and reflexes of the practitioner. It relates to such a training device comprising a punching bag.

State of the prior art.

It is known from the state of the art of punching bags suspended from a carrying structure. This supporting structure can be an upper suspension ring fixed either directly to the ceiling or to a bracket installed at the upper end of an upright fixed to the ground.

We know the document FR 2 841 792 describes a punching bag for training in contact sports, such as boxing, karate, etc. The punching bag comprises a vertical tube surrounded by a cylindrical sleeve made of elastically deformable synthetic foam. The punching bag is intended to receive blows carried by a user.

This bag is suspended above the ground and the upper and lower ends are respectively connected to upper and lower fasteners by two connecting means, at least one of which is elastically deformable.
The document US1287176 discloses an apparatus for training in the practice of combat sports, contact or grip, comprising a punching bag formed of a shock absorbing filling material disposed in the internal volume of a substantially cylindrical envelope comprising at the lower end a closure wall, constituting the bottom wall, and at the upper end a second closure wall, a horizontal sole for support on the ground, capable of being immobilized on the ground, on which the punching bag rests by the lower wall of the envelope, a mechanical connection, allowing the pivoting movement of the bag along at least one vertical plane and this around the point of contact between the bottom wall and the sole, being established between the support sole and the punching bag , said punching bag further comprising a first return means in the vertical position.

Statement of the invention. Technical problem.

The disadvantage of these different punching bags lies in the fact that their weight is wholly or mainly supported by the upper suspension ring, which requires a solid fixing of the latter either to the ceiling or to the bracket. In the case of attachment to the ceiling, the structure of the latter must be strong enough to support not only the weight of the bag but also in particular, the forces resulting from the acceleration imparted to the bag by the blows struck by the practitioner.

Another disadvantage of the known bags lies in the fact that they are dedicated to a single type of activity and cannot be used for tackling training as practiced for example in the game of rugby or in football. American. In addition, with regard to tackling training, the existing bags cannot be lifted independently.

Thus there is a need for a versatile punching bag suitable for the practice of percussion sports on the one hand and percussion and / or grip sports on the other hand. More particularly, there is a need to have a punching bag suitable for training in contact and / or combat sports (English boxing, Thai boxing, wrestling, MMA ...), in martial arts (karate, kung fu, sambo), self-defense disciplines (krav maga, penchak silat ...) and collective combat games (rugby, american football, ...).

More particularly still, and for the practice of percussion sports, there is a need to have a punching bag with reactive mobility adjustable as a function of a percussion power. In other words, there is a need for a punching bag offering a mobility of the punching bag which is intrinsically controlled on the basis of characteristics specific to the punching bag, such control being adapted as a function of the percussion power provided by the user. There is a need for a punching bag designed for percussion training of all members of the user (fists, arms, elbows, knees, shins, feet, head) and at all striking heights, a such a punching bag offering both the advantages of a speed punching bag (of the “speed bag” type), of a heavy punching bag (of the “heavy” bag type), without the disadvantages of each. There is also a need for such a punching bag also offering an oscillating movement which is realistic, which is not for example the case of the hanging punching bags of the prior art, whose oscillation is reversed, the top of the hanging punch bags of the prior art remaining fixed and the bottom of the hanging punch bags of the prior art being movable. Likewise, it is desirable to have a punching bag providing ease of attachment of the punching bag, in particular to a low ceiling and to the ground, unlike the heavy punching bags of the prior art which generally require the use of a sturdy and bulky bracket or anchor points. Finally, it is also desirable to have a punching bag offering resistance and reactive mobility of the punching bag which is induced by a thrust or impact adjustable in power, which is lacking for the hanging punching bags of the prior art.

More particularly still, and for the practice of percussion and / or gripping sports, there is a need to have a punching and tackling bag with reactive mobility and adjustable drop resistance as a function of a power of user-generated impact. In other words, there is a need for a punching and tackling bag which provides a response adapted to the power of the impact. In other words, when plating the punching and tackling bag, it is desirable that the latter offers a proportionate and realistic response to the impact that the punching and tackling bag receives from the user, this response being intrinsically controlled from characteristics specific to the punching and tackle bag. There is also a need to have a punching and tackling bag which is designed both for the percussion training of all the members of the user (fists, arms, elbows, knees, shins, feet, head) on a vertical and horizontal plane, as well as the projection on the ground of the punching bag and tackle with an automatic return system of the punching bag and tackling in the vertical position, such an automatic return being however realistic and free of risk for the user. In the family of punching and tackling bags, it is desirable to have a punching and tackling bag offering both the advantages of a speed punching bag (of the speed bag type), a heavy punching bag (of the “heavy” type), and a tacking bag without the drawbacks of each of these bags, and allowing in particular an oscillating movement of an upper part of the punching and tackling bag which is realistic, which is not the case for the hanging punching and tackling bags of the prior art whose oscillation is reversed, the top of the punching and tackling bag of the prior art remaining fixed and the bottom of the punching and plating bag of the prior art being mobile. It is also desirable to have a punching and tackling bag providing ease of attachment of the punching and tackling bag to a low ceiling as well as to the ground while a punching and tackling bag of the 'prior art does not offer such ease, and generally requires the use of a bracket or sturdy and bulky anchor points. Furthermore, it is also desirable to have a punching and tackling bag offering resistance and reactive mobility of the punching and tackling bag which is induced by a thrust or impact adjustable in power, which is lacking for punching and tackling bags suspended from the prior art. Finally, it is desirable to have a punching and tackling bag offering an automatic lifting capacity of the punching and tackling bag, after it has been placed on the ground, whereas the punching and tackling bags of the prior art must be lifted by hand.

Technical solution

For this purpose the apparatus according to the present invention, for training in the practice of combat sports, contact or grasping, comprising a punching bag formed of a shock absorbing filling material disposed in the internal volume of a substantially cylindrical envelope comprising at the lower end a closure wall, constituting the bottom wall, and at the upper end a second closure wall, characterized in that it comprises a horizontal sole bearing on the ground, capable of being maintained on the ground, on which the punching bag rests by the lower wall of the envelope, a mechanical connection, allowing the pivoting movement of the bag along at least one vertical plane and this around the point of contact between the lower wall and the sole , being established between said support sole and the punching bag and said punching bag further comprising at least one return means in vertical position, said means being suitable for occ uper an initial, stable state, according to which the bag is vertical and a final, unstable state according to which the bag is horizontal and lying on the ground.

The present invention improves the situation by proposing a training device which meets the abovementioned needs by being suitable for the practice of percussion sports on the one hand and percussion and / or grip sports on the other hand, such a device being for example suitable for training in contact and / or combat sports (boxing, Thai boxing, wrestling, MMA ...), in martial arts (karate, kung fu, sambo ...), in the disciplines of self-defense (krav maga, penchak silat ...) and collective combat games (rugby, american football, ...), the punching bag of such a device being notably with reactive mobility and adjustable drop resistance as a function of a power of an impact generated by the user, such a device offering an automatic lifting capacity of the bag after it has been placed on the ground and such a device also offering ease of attachment to a low ceiling or any other suitable structure, as well as l.

Furthermore, the weight of the punching bag is now fully supported by the support sole and consequently by the ground, the fixing to a ceiling or the like does not now need to have a high resistance to tearing. .

Advantageously, according to another characteristic of the invention, the mechanical connection between the bag and the sole is of the ball-joint type. Such an arrangement gives the bag of the device a latitude of inclination according to an infinity of vertical planes but also a latitude of displacement in rotation along its longitudinal axis.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the or one means for returning to the vertical position comprises a member for fixing to a ceiling.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the bottom wall is convex and forms a spherical cap. Such an arrangement facilitates the pivoting movement of the bag and its return to the vertical by allowing the rolling movement of the bottom wall on the sole.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises, housed in the filling material of the bag, a rigid central tube, extending from the upper wall to the lower wall of the envelope, the upper and lower mouths of said tube being in communication relation respectively with a through hole made in the upper wall and a through hole made in the bottom wall, the or one of the return means being housed at least partly in the central tube.
The central tube, constituting the framework, gives the punching bag rigidity in the direction of its height. This is particularly avoided, any collapse of the bag on itself under the effect of its weight and the blows it absorbs. In addition, such an arrangement has the effect of enveloping and protecting, at least in part, the or at least one of the return means.
Finally, another advantage of such an arrangement is to reduce the degree of damping of the bag by stiffening it. The damping function is in the case of the present invention provided in particular by the or one of the means for returning the bag to the vertical position.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the or the first return means consists of an elastic member mounted in tension between a point of attachment formed in the tube, in the lower zone of the latter, and an attachment point formed in the support sole.
Such an arrangement, in addition to the return to the vertical position, prevents any shifting of the bag on the support sole.

Alternatively, according to another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the first return means is formed by a ballast installed in the lower part of the bag around the central tube and in combination with this characteristic, the bottom wall determines a hemispherical volume, the center of mass of the ballast being below the center of the equatorial section of the hemispherical volume in order to form a tumble.
Such an arrangement avoids the use of any element, subject to wear, for the production of the first return means.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the or the second return means is formed of a flexible elongated element in the form of a cable fixed by one of its ends to an attachment point secured to the central tube of the punching bag, its other end, to the bag, being mechanically linked to a fastening member intended to be fixed to a ceiling or to a similar structure, said cable being subjected to forces tending to shorten the distance between the fastening member and said bag and tending to solicit it towards its initial state. Such an arrangement is such as to exert at the upper end of the bag a radial force capable of generating a pivoting moment tending to return said bag to the vertical position.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the point of attachment of the cable in the tube is the drum of a reel with return spring mounted in said tube, either in the lower part or in the upper part of the latter.
With such an arrangement, the cable can be made of inextensible material.

Alternatively, according to another characteristic of the invention, the cable is elastically deformable, at least in part, is fixed by one of its ends in the upper part of the tube and is wound on the sheave of a lower pulley mounted in fixing, by its yoke in the lower part of the tube. Such an arrangement makes it possible to use a cable having a relatively long elastically deformable part so that the bag can be lying on the floor. Such a bag can then be used for tackling training.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cable is wound on the sheave of at least one upper pulley mounted for fixing by its yoke in the upper part of the tube and on the sheaves of at least one lower pulley mounted for fixing by its yoke in the lower part of the tube. Such an arrangement makes it possible to use a cable of greater length.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the lower pulley of the second elastic return means is fixed to the central tube by its yoke, but as a variant, according to another characteristic of the invention, the first return means, in the form of elastic member, is fixed to the lower pulley of the second elastic return means, this second pulley being mounted in the tube without being fixed to the latter.
Due to this arrangement, the two elastic return means are directly linked to each other and combine their effects. In addition, the second means is now arranged as a hoist.

According to another characteristic of the invention, an upper retention system which is elastically deformable along its length is provided, mechanically interposed between the member for attachment to the ceiling and the corresponding end of the cable.
This upper retention system also participates in the recall of the bag in the vertical position and additionally has the effect of introducing an additional reactivity of the bag to the blows received. The shock absorption function is also ensured by this system.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the upper retention system comprises a central elastic element and several peripheral elastic elements, the said elements being parallel to each other and arranged in bundles, and being fixed by their ends to two upper plates and lower apart from each other, said elastic peripheral elements being fixed detachably to at least one of the two said plates.
Such an arrangement allows the stiffness of the retention system to be adjusted.

According to another characteristic of the invention, between the system of upper retention and the second return means is interposed means capable of fixing a mechanical triggering threshold below which only the upper retention system is requested in extension and beyond which the second return system is also requested in extension when the bag is pivoted.
Thus from a certain degree of pivoting of the bag, the return action exerted by the upper retention system is inhibited, the return action then being exerted by the second return means. Because of these provisions it now becomes possible to reproduce the bodily reactions of an opponent.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the means capable of fixing a mechanical triggering threshold is formed on the one hand by a wall of magnetizable metallic material fixed to the upper wall of the bag or forming part of the latter and by a magnet in magnetic contact relation with the magnetizable wall, said magnet being fixed by a link to the upper retention system, the cable of the second elastic return means, by its corresponding end, being fixed to said magnet. The trigger threshold is determined by the magnetic attraction force between the magnet and the associated metal wall. In order to adjust this triggering threshold, there is provided, according to another characteristic of the invention, between the magnet and the associated wall, a shim made of non-magnetic material, of appropriate thickness.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the magnet has a protruding rod at the free end of which is fixed the upper retention system, the projection that said rod forms on the magnet being adjustable in height so, by forming a lever arm , also adjust the value of the mechanical trigger threshold in this way.
The projecting part of the rod forms a lever arm, the length of which determines the value of the pivoting moment printed on the magnet when the bag occupies an inclined position relative to the vertical, the value of this moment being also determined by the value the intensity of the radial component of the force applied to the rod by the upper retention system.

Brief presentation of figures and drawings.

• la figure 1 la figure 2 sont des vues schématiques, en perspective partiellement écorchées d'un appareil selon la présente invention,
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique en perspective d'une paroi supérieure du sac selon une première forme de réalisation,
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique en perspective d'une paroi supérieure de fermeture du sac selon une seconde forme de réalisation,
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'une paroi inférieure du sac,
• les figures 6 et 7 sont des vues respectivement assemblées et en éclaté d'un premier moyen de rappel du sac en position verticale selon une première forme de réalisation,
• la figure 8 est vue schématique du moyen de rappel inférieur selon une autre forme de réalisation,
• la figure 9 est une vue schématique du moyen de rappel inférieur selon une troisième forme de réalisation,
• la figure 10 est une vue schématique du moyen de rappel inférieur selon une quatrième forme de réalisation,
• la figure 11 est une vue en perspective d'un moyen de guidage d'un second moyen de rappel du sac en position verticale,
• les figures 12, 13, 14 sont des vues d'une première forme de réalisation du moyen de rappel supérieur du sac en position verticale,
• les figures 15, 16 et 17 sont des vues d'une deuxième forme de réalisation du moyen de rappel supérieur,
• la figure 18 est une vue schématique d'une troisième forme de réalisation du moyen de rappel supérieur,
• les figures 19 et 20 montrent une première forme de réalisation d'un moyen de rétention supérieur,
• la figure 21 montre une seconde forme de réalisation d'un moyen de rétention supérieur,
• la figure 22 est une vue en plan d'un première forme de réalisation d'un déclencheur,
• la figure 23 est une vue en perspective d'une deuxième forme de réalisation d'un déclencheur,
• la figure 24 montre le détail d'un déclencheur selon une troisième forme de réalisation,
• la figure 25 est une vue d'un sac, en éclaté, selon une autre forme de réalisation,
• la figure 26 est une vue en éclaté d'un sac selon une autre forme de réalisation,
• le figure 27 est une vue du sac assemblé, selon la figure 26.
• la figure 28 est une vue en coupe d'un amortisseur.
• la figure 29 est une vue selon une échelle agrandie d'un détail de l'amortisseur selon la figure 28.

Other advantages, aims and characteristics of the invention will become apparent from reading the description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 the figure 2 are schematic perspective views partially broken away of an apparatus according to the present invention,
• the figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of an upper wall of the bag according to a first embodiment,
• the figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of an upper wall for closing the bag according to a second embodiment,
• the figure 5 is a perspective view of a bottom wall of the bag,
• the Figures 6 and 7 are respectively assembled and exploded views of a first means for returning the bag to a vertical position according to a first embodiment,
• the figure 8 is a schematic view of the lower return means according to another embodiment,
• the figure 9 is a schematic view of the lower return means according to a third embodiment,
• the figure 10 is a schematic view of the lower return means according to a fourth embodiment,
• the figure 11 is a perspective view of a means for guiding a second means for returning the bag to the vertical position,
• the figures 12, 13, 14 are views of a first embodiment of the upper return means of the bag in the vertical position,
• the Figures 15, 16 and 17 are views of a second embodiment of the upper return means,
• the figure 18 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the upper return means,
• the Figures 19 and 20 show a first embodiment of a superior retention means,
• the figure 21 shows a second embodiment of a higher retention means,
• the figure 22 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a trigger,
• the figure 23 is a perspective view of a second embodiment a trigger,
• the figure 24 shows the detail of a trigger according to a third embodiment,
• the figure 25 is a view of a bag, exploded, according to another embodiment,
• the figure 26 is an exploded view of a bag according to another embodiment,
• the figure 27 is a view of the assembled bag, according to the figure 26 .
• the figure 28 is a sectional view of a shock absorber.
• the figure 29 is a view on an enlarged scale of a detail of the shock absorber according to the figure 28 .

Best ways to realize the invention,

The invention refers to an apparatus for training in the practice of combat sports as disclosed in independent claim 1. The embodiments disclosed in the following description only form part of the invention if they contain all of the Characteristics of claim 1. Other embodiments are to be considered as examples, which are not covered by the claims.
As shown, the apparatus according to the invention for training in the practice of combat sports, of contact or of grasping, comprises a punching bag 1, a horizontal sole 20 for support on the ground, capable of being immobilized on the ground S, on which the punching bag 1 rests by its bottom, the entire weight of the punching bag 1 being supported by this sole 20 for supporting the ground. Between the sole 20 and the bag 1 is established a mechanical connection, preferably of the ball-joint type, allowing the pivoting movement of the bag 1 along at least one vertical plane and this around the point of contact between the bottom of the bag and the sole 20 Furthermore, the device according to the invention is provided with means 21 for lowering the bag 1 back to the vertical position, this said means 21 or first return means acting in the lower part of the bag, being capable of occupy an initial, stable state, according to which the bag 1 is vertical and a final, unstable state, according to which the bag 1 is horizontal and lying on the ground.

The punching bag 1, generally of cylindrical shape, comprises an external envelope 2 which is made up of a skin, indifferently natural, such as leather or the like, or synthetic, such as a plastic material, in particular nylon or the like. The outer envelope 2 is shaped into a tube defined along a first geometric axis of revolution A1.

The external envelope 2 houses an internal envelope 3 which is made of a material which gives the punching bag 1 a defined geometric shape, especially cylindrical. Such a material is for example a flexible resin or similar. The internal envelope 3 is shaped into a tube defined along a second geometric axis of revolution A2 which coincides with the first geometric axis of revolution A1. The internal envelope 3 houses at least one cylindrical damping block 4, forming filling material, defined along a third geometric axis of revolution A3 which coincides with the second geometric axis of revolution A2. The damping cylindrical block 4 is preferably made of a cellular material, such as a foam or a similar elastically deformable material, having in particular a high resilience, to return to an original conformation after a blow is delivered by a user. on the punching bag 1. The foam has a density chosen to offer the punching bag 1 a better compromise between a suitable weight, mobility and responsiveness.

According to a preferred alternative embodiment, the damping cylindrical block 4 is made up of a plurality of elementary damping cylindrical blocks 4 ′ which are stacked one on the other along the third geometric axis of revolution A3.

Alternatively, the filling material may consist of a fluid under pressure, for example air, the bag 1 then being constituted by an inflatable enclosure which is impermeable to this fluid.

The damping cylindrical block 4 houses a central tube 5 preferably elastically deformable so as to be able to flex without risk of rupture. This tube is also of cylindrical conformation defined along a fourth geometric axis of revolution A4 which coincides with the third axis of revolution A3. This central, rigid, for example metallic tube comprises at each upper and lower end a mouth constituting an axial opening. The or each means for returning the bag to the vertical position is housed at least in part in the tube 5 and is fixed to the latter either directly or via mechanical connection. Thus the efforts to return the bag to position are taken up by the frame of the bag.

The punching bag 1 and more particularly the internal envelope comprises an upper closure wall 6 and a lower closure wall 19 opposite the previous one, constituting the bottom of the bag. The tube 5 extends from the upper wall 6 to the lower wall 19 and preferably is fixed to these last and constitutes with said walls the framework of the bag. The upper closure wall 6 is formed along a disk plane P1 orthogonal to the fourth axis of revolution A4. The upper wall 6 has at its periphery upper eyelets 7 for the passage of an upper ring through said upper eyelets 7 and median eyelets 7 'that has an upper periphery 8 of the outer casing 2. These provisions are intended to allow easy assembly of the punch bag 1 and allow rapid maintenance operations of the punch bag 1.

According to one embodiment, as shown in figure 3 , the upper closure wall 6 is arranged in a circular disc. This wall 6 is preferably fixed by its central zone to the upper end of the tube 5 either directly by any known means, or by means of a fixing element which can receive outside the bag a first member of clip in the form of a fixing ring 9, visible at figure 3 . According to this embodiment, the fixing element is for example a shoulder threaded sleeve, engaged by its threaded part first in a central through bore formed in the upper wall 6 and then in a threaded part formed in the upper part of the tube 5. The diameter of the through hole may be equal to the internal diameter of the tube 5. By screwing the threaded sleeve, the shoulder which the latter comprises bears against the upper face of the wall 6. In this way, this wall 6 is clamped between the upper end of the tube and the shoulder of the threaded sleeve. The ring 9 associated with this socket may include a guide and retaining axis and will be engaged in rotation, by its axis, in an axial through bore made in the socket. This axis, longer than the bushing will receive at its free end, outside the bore of the bushing, a retaining ring ensuring the immobilization in translation of the ring 9 relative to said bushing. To this ring 9 can be fixed a return means in a vertical position, also fixed to a second fastening member secured to a structure extending above the bag such as ceiling, bracket or the like.

According to another embodiment, as illustrated in figure 4 , the upper closure wall 6 is formed of a circular closing plate 12 and an upper closing saucer 11 covering the circular plate 12 and fixed to the latter. The closing plate 12 also includes closing eyelets 17 for the passage of said upper rod and the assembly between them of the closing plate 12, of the outer casing 2 and of the upper closing disc 6. The upper closing saucer 11 is fixed to the closing plate 12 by means of screws 14. These fixing screws are engaged by their threaded rod in through holes 15 formed in the upper saucer 12 and still by their threaded rod, are engaged in through threads 16 made in the closing plate 12.

Finally, the upper saucer 11 and the closing plate 12 are each provided with a central through hole 18, 18 ′ for the passage of a guide member 75 ( fig. 11 ) a return means in this case a cable 64, this means for returning the bag to a vertical position, hereinafter referred to as a second return means being described below. According to one embodiment, the guide member 75 as shown more particularly in figure 16 equips the upper part of the tube 5.

The wall 19 constituting the bottom of the bag has an axis of revolution A6 which coincides with the fourth geometric axis of revolution A4.

This wall 19 receives the central tube 5 in attachment.

The lower wall 19, according to a first embodiment as shown in figure 5 , is convex and adopts the shape of a spherical cap, this spherical cap being able to be a hemisphere.

The sole 20 for supporting the ground can be secured to the ground S by means of at least one screw 23 or by any other similar fixing means. This support sole 20 can be formed by a thin metal plate or by a foam mat capable of absorbing shocks. Alternatively, the support sole 20 is not fixed to the ground, but is held fixed relative to the ground by a ballast. In this case, the support sole 20 advantageously constitutes the upper wall of a box receiving the ballast. This ballast can consist of water, sand or other filling material of sufficient density. Any other means known to the person skilled in the art may be used to keep the support sole fixed relative to the ground. For example, the bearing surface on the ground of this sole can be configured in a non-slip manner.

Alternatively, the sole 20, in the form of a metal plate or under form of carpet may be heavy enough to constitute in itself a ballast.

As said previously, the bag 1 is equipped with a lower means 21 for returning to the vertical position, or first return means, this return means acting in the lower part of the bag.

According to a first embodiment, the or the first return means 21 is fixed on the one hand to the frame of the bag and on the other hand to the ground support sole 20. This return means 21 is constituted by elastic member mounted in tension between an attachment point formed in the tube 5, in the lower or upper zone of the latter and an attachment point formed in the support sole 20. This return means 21 thus passes through in part the lower wall 19 by passage through a through hole 36 of the latter. This through hole 36 is in communication relation with the lower mouth of the tube 5.

According to a first embodiment, as shown in Figures 6 and 7 , the first return means 21 comprises a main cylinder 24, forming a cage, mounted in the lower part of the central tube 5. This main cylinder receives a first return member 25 in the form of a coil spring and a flexible link in the form of cable 26 ensuring the mechanical connection between the coil spring 25 and the support sole 20. The main cylinder 24 has a fifth axis of revolution A5 which coincides with the fourth axis of revolution A4. The first return member 25 and the first cable 26 are mounted jointly in series between a first anchoring point 27 formed on the ground support sole 20 and a second anchoring point 28 formed on an upper plug 30 of obturation of the main cylinder. The upper plug 30 and a cable guide plug 29 engaged in the lower part of the main cylinder, are provided for closing a main recess 31 formed inside the main cylinder 24, this main recess 31 receiving in particular the return member 25. The cable guide plug 29 has a through hole 29 'for the passage of the first cable 26. The cable guide plug 29 is integral with the main cylinder 24 and the bottom wall 19 of the bag 1. The upper plug 30 is integral with the main cylinder 24. More particularly, the second anchoring point 28 is formed on a screw anchor 33 mounted to rotate freely on itself in a through hole in the upper plug 30. The main cylinder 24 has at its periphery a locking groove 34 which receives one end of a locking screw to secure one to the other the main cylinder 24 and the tube 5 not shown in these figures. These provisions are such that during a plating of the punching bag 1, the first cable 26 is able to circulate through the orifice 29 'to allow a rocker relative to the support sole 20, then the first return member 25 tends to bring the first cable 26 back to the initial position, that is to say inside the main cylinder 24.

According to another embodiment, as shown in figure 8 the first return means 21 is formed of an elastic elongate element consisting of an elastic ring 21a fixed to a rod 50 diametrical to the tube 5 and engaged in radial through holes of the latter. This elastic ring 210, opposite the diametrical rod, receives a link 21b for attachment to the sole 20 of support on the ground or, alternatively, is directly fixed to the latter. This elastic ring or the link 21b is engaged in the through bore 36 that the lower wall 19 includes.

As a variant, the elastic elongate element 21a is formed by a coil spring fixed on the one hand to the tube 5 and on the other hand to the sole 20, this spring being engaged in the through bore 36 which the lower wall 19 includes. 19. This elongated element may be constituted by an elastic cable.

According to yet another embodiment, as shown in figure 9 , the first return means 21 is fixed on the one hand to the sole 20 and on the other hand to an element mounted in the concavity that determines the lower wall 19, this element, in a nonlimiting manner, being able to be constituted by the block cylindrical lower elementary 4 '. In this context, this cylindrical block 4 ′ will then consist of a foam block of appropriate density or else of any other material having sufficient rigidity to withstand the compression action of the first return means 21. In this case , this lower elementary block 4 ′, provided with a through hole in the axial extension of the hole 36 in the bottom wall 19, will receive in said hole through said first return means, which will consist essentially of an elastic cable or a spring turns. This cable or spring, by its lower end will be fixed by any known means to the sole 20. The upper end of this cable or spring will be fixed to a pivot mechanism carried by a support plate on the upper face of the lower elementary block 4 ' . Such a pivot mechanism known per se, allows the bag 1 to rotate about the axes A1-A4 relative to the return means 21 and thus avoids any torsional stress on said return means 21.

According to another embodiment, as shown in figure 10 , the first return means 21 is formed by a ballast installed in the lower part of the bag around the central tube 5. More particularly, the lower closure wall 19 or bottom wall, by its external face is hemispherical and determines a also hemispherical internal volume in which the ballast is placed. The center of mass of the ballast is below the center of the equatorial section of the hemispherical volume in order to form a tumble. According to this embodiment, the bottom wall 19 does not have a through hole for the passage of the return means 21. Alternatively, the ballast constituting the return means is coupled to an elastic link fixed on the one hand to the sole 20 and on the other hand to the tube 5. In this case, the wall 19 includes the through hole 36 for the passage of the elastic link.

The apparatus according to the invention comprises an upper return means or second return means mechanically linked to the frame of the bag 1. This upper return means is fixed to a first attachment member secured to the bag 1 and more particularly to the frame of said bag and is intended to be mechanically linked to a second fastening member secured to a ceiling, or a bracket or any other structure developing above the bag. This second return means can be mechanically linked directly to the second attachment member or by means of elements ensuring in particular a mechanical connection between said second return means and said second fixing member.

This second return means is formed of a flexible elongated element in the form of cable 64 housed at least partially in the tube 5 subjected to internal or external forces tending to shorten the distance between the first and second attachment member and bring back said bag in its initial state, namely in the vertical position.

According to a first embodiment, not shown, the cable 64 is elastic and develops completely outside the bag. In this case, this cable 64 is fixed by one of its ends to the fixing ring 9 visible at figure 3 . By this ring 9, the cable is secured to the central tube 5. By its other end the cable will be linked to the second fixing member either directly or, as said above, by means of elements ensuring a mechanical connection between said cable 64 and said second fixing means.

According to another embodiment as shown in figures 12 to 18 , the member for attaching the cable 64 to the bag is located in the tube 5 and the said cable is engaged, as said previously, in a guide member 75 fitted to the upper part of the tube 5, this guide member being engaged in the through holes 18 and 18 ′ of the upper saucer 11 and of the closing plate 12, constituting the upper closing wall 6. The guide member 75, ( Fig. 11 ) in the form of a cylindrical sleeve, comprises an axial bore 76 passing through the passage of the cable 64. The guide member is for example provided with a thread 77 for its contribution to the central tube 5 and more particularly in a tapping formed in the upper part of the tube.

According to a preferred embodiment, this guide member 75 is provided in the upper part with a support flange 78, coming to bear on the upper end of the tube 5. In addition, this flange 78 may be fixed by screws to the closing plate 12. Alternatively, the collar 78 will bear on the upper face of the upper saucer 11 and will be fixed by screw to the latter. These arrangements ensure the immobilization of the tube 5 to the upper closure wall 6. The upper and lower edges of the through bore 76 will each have a chamfer or a fillet to avoid forming a sharp edge likely to wear the cable. The same arrangement can be reproduced for the through holes 18 and 18 '.

According to one embodiment, as shown in figures 12, 13, 14 , the cable 64 is inextensible and the member for attaching the cable 64 to the bag, or first member for attaching to the bag, is housed in the tube 5 and is fixed to the latter. This attachment member is the drum 62 of a reel with return spring mounted in said tube 5 and fixed to the latter. More specifically, the reel comprises a casing 61 fixed to the tube 5, in which the drum 62 is rotatably mounted on a axis 65 carried by the casing. The return spring 63 is formed of a blade arranged in a spiral.

The spring 63 is mounted between the axis of rotation 65 and the drum 62 in order to exert a restoring torque on the latter and to urge the drum towards an initial angular position. More precisely, the return spring wound around the axis 65 and fixed to the latter by one of its ends, is fixed by its other end to the drum 62.

The reel can be mounted in the upper part of the tube 5, or alternatively, in the lower part immediately above the first return means 21.

According to another embodiment, as shown in figures 15 to 18 , the cable 64 constituting the second return means is elastic along its entire length or over a fraction of the latter. According to this embodiment, the cable 64 is fixed by one of its ends, internal to the tube 5, in the upper part of said tube 5 and is wound on the sheave of a lower pulley 80 mounted in fixing, by its yoke, in the lower part of the tube ( Figs 16, 17 ).

According to an execution variant ( Fig. 18 ), the cable 64 is wound on the sheave of at least one upper pulley 81 mounted in the upper part of the tube 5 and fixed by its yoke to the latter, and on the sheaves of at least one lower pulley 82 mounted in attachment , by its yoke, in the lower part of the tube 5.

In the embodiments described above, the lower pulley 80, 82 of the second elastic return means is fixed to the central tube 5 by its yoke, but according to an alternative embodiment, the first return means, in the form of an elastic member , is fixed to the lower pulley 80, 82 of the second elastic return means, this second pulley being mounted in translation in the central tube 5.

The cable 64 by its corresponding end can be fixed directly to the second fixing means, but alternatively, between the ceiling attachment member or second attachment member and the corresponding end of the cable 64 of the second return means, or upper return means, is mechanically interposed an upper retention system 10 elastically deformable along its length. This upper retention system 10 constitutes the element or one of the mechanical connection elements mentioned above between the cable 64 and the second fixing member. This upper retention system 10 also fulfills the role of a return means and completes and / or modifies the action of the cable 64. It can also be used as a higher return means, without the cable 64 and the elements of recall associated with the latter. This upper retention system 10 is provided with a ring for fixing to the second attachment member. It will be understood that in this case, the cable is not linked directly to the second attachment member but is linked to the latter by means of the upper retention system 10.

According to a first embodiment, as shown in figures 1, 2 , 12 , 19, 20 , the upper retention system 10 comprises a central elastic element in the form of cable 40 and several elastic peripheral elements in the form of cables 41. As can be seen, these different elements 40, 41 are parallel to each other and arranged in bundles , and are fixed by their ends to two upper plates 42 and lower 39 spaced from one another. Advantageously, the elastic peripheral elements 41 are individually detachably fixed to at least one of the two plates so as to be able to adjust the stiffness of the upper retention system. According to the embodiment illustrated in figure 19 , the peripheral elements 41 are fixed in an individually detachable manner to the lower plate 39 and for this purpose, each element 41, in the lower part, has a bulge 410 while the lower plate 39 has radial slots 390 emerging at the periphery. Each peripheral element 41 is fixed to the plate 39 by engagement in the corresponding radial slot, the bulge 410 bearing against the underside of the plate 39. To accommodate the bulge of each element 41, the underside of the plate may include a series of indentations, in communication relation with the corresponding radial slot 390.

The lower plate 39, as can be seen in figure 20 , is equipped with a ring 53 for fixing the corresponding end of the cable 64. This fixing ring 53 extends under the plate 39 and comprises a radial journal by which it is engaged in the internal ring of a bearing at ball 54 mounted in a central housing formed in plate 39.

The upper plate 42 is provided with a fixing ring 59 to the second fixing member.

According to a second embodiment, as shown in figures 15, 16 , 21 this upper retention system 10 is constituted by a coil spring 70 and comprises a connection assembly 72 to which is fixed on the one hand the corresponding end of the cable 64 and on the other hand the lower end of the coil spring 70. This retention system further comprises a pivot mechanism 71 fixed to the upper end of the coil spring and intended to be fixed to the second fixing member. The pivot mechanism 71 allows the punching bag 1 to rotate 360 ° on itself. The pivot mechanism 71 preferably consists of a swivel shackle comprising a shackle and a journal.

Advantageously, between the upper retention system 10 and the frame of the bag is interposed a means capable of fixing a mechanical trigger threshold value below which the upper retention system 10 is fixed to the frame of the bag and beyond which, said retention system 10 by its lower end is detached from the frame.
This means consists of a trigger 44 ( Figs 22 , 23, 24 ) formed of at least two elements 440, 441, joined to one another in a separable manner, the first 440 of which is mechanically connected to the frame of the bag 1 and the second 441, to the retention system 10, the so-called elements being designed to be mechanically stressed in separation from each other. These trigger elements remain engaged with each other as long as the intensity of the mechanical stress which tends to separate them is less than the value of the trigger threshold; on the other hand, they separate from each other when the intensity of said mechanical stress is greater than the value of the triggering threshold.

According to a first embodiment, the bag comprises two upper return means, one of which comprises the cable 64 and the other consists of the upper retention means 10. According to this embodiment, the cable 64 is fixed to the second element 441 of the trigger. Thus below the value of the triggering threshold, only the upper retention means 10 is requested in extension, on the other hand when this value is exceeded, the two elements 440, 441 of the trigger 44 separate from one another and cable 64 is also tensile stress.

According to another embodiment as shown in figure 25 the bag has only one upper return means, namely the upper retention means 10 and the second trigger element receives in fixing only the lower end of said retention means 10. According to this embodiment, when the tripping threshold is crossed, the upper retention means 10 is suddenly separated from the bag 1.

According to embodiments as shown in figures 22 , 2 and 24 , the first element 440 of the trigger 441 is formed either of a wall which can be made of magnetizable material, for example steel, or of a magnetized wall, or even of a magnet. This first element 440 is fixed to or forms part of the upper wall 6 of the bag 1. The second element 441 consists of a magnet in magnetic relationship with the first element 440, said magnet 441 being fixed to the lower end of the upper retention system 10.

Additionally, the magnet 441 comprises a protruding lever in the form of a rigid rod 443 at the free end of which the upper retention system 10 is fixed either directly or by means of a flexible link 442. The projection formed by said rod or lever on the magnet 441 is advantageously adjustable in height, in order to form an adjustable lever arm. To this end, the rod 443 is threaded and is engaged in screwing by this thread in a tapping made in the magnet 441. By screwing or unscrewing the rod 442 is adjusted the length of the lever arm formed by the projecting part of said rod.

The magnetic attraction force between the two elements 440, 441 of the trigger can be adjusted by interposing one or more wedges 444, for example of non-magnetic material of appropriate thickness. This or these shims are interposed between the magnet 441 and the magnetizable wall 440.

In the case where the bag is equipped with two upper return means, one of which is formed by the by the upper retention means and the other comprises a cable 64, the latter will be fixed by the end of the cable to the first element 440 to know the magnet, through a pivot link known per se.

According to another embodiment, as shown in figure 23 , the first element 440 in the form of a magnet is fixed to the upper wall 6 of the bag 1 and is surmounted by the second element 441, the latter being tubular and being formed of a magnetizable material, for example steel, or a magnetized material or else by a magnet. This second element 441 is provided with a thread 445 in which is engaged in screwing a tubular element forming a lever 443, the latter, for this purpose always comprising an appropriate thread. By screwing the lever 443 in the first is adjusted the value of the lever arm formed by the projecting part of the lever 443 relative to the second element 441 of the trigger and consequently, the value of the trigger threshold. The magnetic attraction force between the magnet 440 and the second element 441 can be adjusted by interposing at least one non-magnetic shim of appropriate thickness.

As said previously, in the case where the bag is equipped with two upper return means, one of which is formed by the by the upper retention means and the other comprises a cable 64, this latter return means will be fixed by the end from the cable 64 to the second element 441, namely the magnet, by means of a pivot link 50 'known per se. This pivot mechanism allows the punching bag 1 to rotate 360 ° on itself without creating torsional stress on the cable 64.

Finally, the lever 443 also comprises a cable guide 49 which is formed in a central part 50. This through cable guide constitutes a passage to a link ensuring a mechanical connection between a central point 45 of the first element 440 and the upper retention system 10.

According to another preferred embodiment ( Fig. 24 ), the first and second elements 440, 441 of the trigger are each formed by a plurality of magnets 440a, 441a arranged in a suitable mount, aluminum for example or any other non-magnetic material.

Each frame is in the form of a thick disc having two large flat faces, one or one bearing face of which is intended to be brought into contact with the large bearing face of the frame of the other trigger element. Several cylindrical blind holes are made in the frame from the large bearing face. The magnets 440a, 441a of cylindrical shape are of dimensions equal to those of the holes and are engaged in fixing in the latter so as to come flush with the bearing face of the mount. The poles of each magnet 440a, 441a correspond respectively to their two end plane faces. The magnets 440a, 441a of each element 440, 441 of the trigger 44 are arranged opposite to the magnets of the other element in order to create the conditions of mutual magnetic attraction between the two said elements 440, 441. The advantage of such an arrangement lies in the self-centering of the two elements 440, 441 during their mutual attraction.

In figures 25 and 26 other embodiments of the bag 1 according to the invention are shown. The lower closure wall 19 is in the form of a disc to which the two internal and external envelopes 2, 3 are fixed.

As we can see in figure 25 , the lower part of the bag 1 is provided with a ballasting means 100 formed of a peripheral covering 100a, preferably made of dense foam, having substantially the shape of a spherical segment and a ballast 105 embedded in the constituent foam peripheral dressing. This ballast advantageously consists of a thick cast iron disc in order to form a tumble. This ballast 105, made of cast iron, is fixed by screw to the lower obturation wall 19. It further comprises an axial through thread in which is engaged in screwing a tubular sleeve 190 for guiding and passing the first return means 21.

In figure 26 Another exploded embodiment of a punching bag according to the invention is shown in exploded form. We can see that the bag always includes, in the lower part, a ballasting means 100. This ballasting means 100, according to this embodiment is formed of a rigid shell 110, determining an internal chamber 111 in which a material is disposed ballast 112 which can be in solid form, or in granular form or in liquid form.

The shell 110 has a horizontal bottom wall 110a, an envelope wall or side wall 110b and a horizontal upper wall 110c, these different walls determining the internal chamber 111 of the shell. The bottom wall 19 of the bag 1 bears on the upper wall 110c of the shell 110.

Advantageously, the internal chamber 111 of the shell 110 has an upper opening for receiving the ballast material. This opening upper is equipped with a shutter cover capable of achieving a tight shutter. This closure cover then constitutes the upper wall 110C of the shell 110.

Preferably, the cover 110C is screwed into a thread formed in the upper opening of the shell 110 constituting the ballasting means 100.

According to the embodiment object of the figure 26 , the lower part of the bag is provided with a skirt 120 for protection and attachment by means of ballasting 100. This skirt 120 for protection, made of a flexible material, surrounds the lower part of the bag and is fixed by its upper part to said bag with seams for example. This protective skirt 120 flares downward and comprises along its lower edge, a means of fixing by means of ballasting 100. In the embodiment, this fixing means is constituted by a hem 121 formed along the lower edge of the skirt 120 and arranged in passing, by a lace 122 slidably mounted in the hem and by a continuous groove 113 formed in the upper part of the envelope wall 110b of the shell 110, said groove receiving the hem 121 of the skirt 120. Thus, in this groove 113 is fixed, by lacing, the lower part of the skirt 120 by means of ballasting 100. It should be noted that the fixing operation by lacing has the effect of tightening the skirt 120 and that under the action of this tensioning, the lower wall 19 of the bag is applied against the upper wall 110c of the shell 110.

Advantageously, a filling foam 123 may be placed between the skirt 120 and the lower part of the bag 1. This filling foam will be elastically deformable so as to be able to deform under the effect of mechanical stress and resume its initial shape as soon as that the mechanical stress ceases. Such an arrangement is capable of absorbing the shocks that the skirt can undergo and thus reinforces the impact protection of the lower part of the bag.

According to the embodiment presented, the skirt 120 determines a frustoconical volume, the large base of this volume corresponding to the lower edge of said skirt.

According to one embodiment, the ballast means is passed through in part, along its vertical axis of symmetry by a vertical perforation constituting passage to the first elastic return means 21. In the embodiment, this through perforation is constituted by a first through hole made in the bottom wall 110a of the shell 110, in the center of this wall, by the internal bore of a first vertical tube 114 internal to the shell 110 and fixed to the lower wall 110a in the axial extension of the first through bore and by a second through bore 115 made in the upper wall 110c of the shell 110 at the center of this wall. Preferably, this second bore 115 is extended in the shell 110 by the internal bore of a second vertical tube 116, fixed to the upper wall 110c of the shell 110, in the axial extension of the second bore 115, this second vertical tube 116 cooperating in fitting relation with the first tube 114. Advantageously, the lower part of the first tube receives a tubular sleeve 190 for guiding and passing the first return means 21.

According to the embodiment object of the figure 26 , the shell determines a substantially frustoconical volume, the small base of which corresponds to the bottom wall 110a of the shell.

Additionally, the ballasting means 100 in its two embodiments, is pivotally mounted in a damper 101 fixed to the sole 20 or placed on the latter or alternatively, placed on the ground. This shock absorber 101 is arranged around the ballasting means 100 and in contact with the latter. This shock absorber 101 is made of low density foam. This foam is elastically deformable so as to be able to deform under the effect of mechanical stress and return to its initial shape as soon as the mechanical stress ceases.

The damper 101 is formed by an envelope wall 104 extending in a circle. This envelope wall 104 determines an open housing 102 designed to receive the ballasting means 100. This housing 102, preferably, is substantially of shape complementary to that of the covering or of the shell of the ballasting means. This envelope wall 104 has a lower bearing face and an upper border. Preferably, the thickness of this envelope wall 104, measured horizontally, decreases from the bearing face towards the upper edge. Such an arrangement facilitates the elastic deformation of the upper part of the envelope wall 104 under the effect of the pivoting movement of the bag 1 and is capable of damping this movement to prevent the bag from falling to the ground under the effect of the blows received.

Preferably, the envelope wall 104 constituting the damper 101, forms an open ring in the sense that it has two opposite ends coming opposite one another. In this embodiment, the damper 101 comprises junction elements, in the form of straps to join the two said ends to one another and to close the ring formed. Advantageously, each strap will be constituted by a self-gripping strip of the kind of that known under the trade name of "Velcro". Each strap by one of its two ends is fixed by sewing to one of the two end zones of the shock absorber 101 and is designed to cooperate in fixing with a self-gripping element fixed by sewing to the other zone d end of the shock absorber. This arrangement of shock absorber 101 in the form of an open ring allows this shock absorber to be put in place quickly and easily around the ballasting means 100 without having to handle either the bag 1 or said ballasting means 100.

Preferably, the damper 101 as described is provided with a skin 106 for protecting the low density foam. This protective skin 106 has calibrated through holes 107 ( Fig. 29 ) forming an exhaust. These calibrated orifices 107 allow the air contained in the pores of the foam to escape when the damper 101 is compressed. Such an arrangement prevents the shock absorber 101 from bursting under the effect of excessive internal air pressure. It also allows, thanks to the calibrated holes to strengthen the damping function presented by the shock absorber. A shutter can be associated with each calibrated hole to adjust the damping. This shutter may be constituted by a self-gripping strip like that known under the commercial name of "Velcro".

Advantageously, the damper 101 as can be seen in figure 28 has an upper lip 103 provided to come and cover the upper face of the ballasting means 100 and bear on this face. Such an arrangement maintains the damper 101 and the ballasting means 100 relative to one another.

The first return means 21 as illustrated in figures 25 and 26 comprises an elastic member 210 and two inextensible upper 214a and lower 214b links fixed respectively to the upper and lower ends of the elastic member. The link 214b is engaged by its lower part in the tubular sleeve 190 and possibly in a tubular threaded bush intended to be engaged in screwing in a blind tapping or passing through the sole 20 of support on the ground. The lower link 214b is fixed to the threaded sleeve by means of a retaining pin 212 ( Fig. 25 ). For this purpose, the lower link 214b receives in the lower part a fixing pin 211 provided with a through diametric bore, receiving under the threaded sleeve, the retaining pin 212. Under the effect of the tension of the elastic member 210 , the retaining pin 212 comes to bear against the underside of the threaded bush. Such an arrangement makes it easier to attach the bag to the sole 20 of support on the ground. To do this, the elastic member 210 is relaxed and the pin is placed in the fixing pin 211, under the threaded bush. This threaded sleeve is independent of the bottom wall 19 of the bag and can then be engaged in screwing into the thread of the sole without having to handle the bag. Alternatively, the lower link 210b can be fixed to a loop strap fixed by its two ends to a plate provided to be placed under the sole 20, the loop strap then being engaged in the through hole that the sole 20 comprises. , the plate is fixed to the ground.

The link 214a is fixed to the elastic member 210, preferably by means of a swivel 213. The link 214a is preferably fixed by means of a swivel 213 to the elastic member 210. This link 214a , usable for the tensioning of the elastic member 210 is preferably fixed to the upper wall 6 and is engaged in a through hole in the upper wall 6 and receives above this wall a cable clamp forming a stop. Under the effect of the tension imparted to the elastic member 210, the cable clamp bears against the upper face of the upper wall 6 of the bag 1. Alternatively, the through hole of the upper wall 6 will be configured so as to present a narrowed zone centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bag and an enlarged zone, adjoining the narrowed zone. With such an arrangement, the tensioning link 214a comprises a series of equidistant nodes 215, or other extra thicknesses, freely sliding in the enlarged area of the hole passing through the wall 6. The narrowed area of the hole has a diameter slightly greater than that of the link 214a but much less than that of the extra thickness formed by each node. Thus, with a view to tensioning, the link 214a is engaged in the narrowed area and the node 215 immediately above the upper wall is brought into abutment, under the effect of the tension of the elastic member 210, against the edge of the narrowed area of the through hole.

Such a bag can therefore be used without a second return means, but according to an alternative embodiment as shown in figure 25 , 26 , 27 , a second return means is provided, formed exclusively of an upper retention system 10 as previously described in its various embodiments. This retention system 10 can be directly attached to the bag, for example to the ring 9 visible at figures 1 and 3 , but according to a preferred embodiment, this retention system 10 is fixed to the bag 1 by means of a trigger 44 as previously described in its various embodiments.

In figures 26 and 27 it can be seen that the element 440 of the trigger 44 is fixed to an orientable mount fixed in the upper part of the bag which allows the orientation of the trigger in the direction of the sudden force. This frame is advantageously constituted by a set of horizontal straps 446, which can be elastic, arranged in a cross and fixed by their ends to the upper part of the bag, in particular to the upper part of the outer envelope 2. The element 440 is fixed by any means known at the crossing point of these straps.

The elastic member of the upper retention system 10, according to another embodiment, is arranged in a sheath 10a of synthetic material, elastically deformable in bending. This sheath 10a is rigidly fixed to an upper plate 10b intended to be rigidly fixed to a ceiling, to a bracket or to a similar structure. Such an arrangement allows the element 441 of the trigger to be brought back into the axis of the bag.

The sole 20 can advantageously be constituted by a self-sealing mat.

The bag can take various forms, it can be cylindrical or well it can take the form of a mannequin.

By way of nonlimiting example, the mass of the ballasting means is between 50 kg to 60 kg while the mass of the bag is between 8 kg and 15 kg.

The bag as described can also be fixed to a ceiling, a bracket or similar structure by several elastic straps fixed by their lower end to the upper part of the envelope 2.

It goes without saying that the present invention can receive all arrangements and variants in the field of technical equivalents without departing from the scope of this patent as defined by the claims below.

Claims (14)

1. A training appliance for practising combat, contact or grappling sports, comprising a punching bag (1) formed of a shock absorbing filling material (4, 4') disposed in the internal volume of a substantially cylindrical envelope (3) comprising at the lower end a closing wall (19) constituting a bottom wall and at the upper end a second closing wall (6), a horizontal base (20) for supporting the bag on the ground, adapted to be immobilized on the ground (S), on which the bottom wall (19) of the envelope of the punching bag (1) rests, a mechanical connection allowing pivoting movement of the bag (1) in at least one vertical plane and around the point of contact between the bottom wall (19) and the base (20), being established between the supporting base (10) and the punching bag (1), said punching bag (1) further including a first return means (21) to the vertical position, said return means (21) being able to occupy a stable initial state in which the bag (1) is vertical and an unstable final state in which the bag (1) is horizontal and laid on the ground, and a second return means (64, 10) mechanically connected to the framework of the bag (1), said second return means (64) being fixed to a first attachment member fastened to the bag (1) and more particularly to the framework of said bag and being adapted to be mechanically connected to a second attachment member fastened to a ceiling or a boom or any other structure extending above the bag (1), said appliance being characterized in that the second return means (64) is formed of a flexible elongate element in the form of a cable housed at least in part on the tube (5) of the punching bag (1), fixed by one of its ends to an attachment point fastened to the central tube (5) of the punching bag (1), its other end, external to the bag, being mechanically connected to the second attachment member, said cable (64) being subjected to forces tending to shorten the distance between the second attachment member and said bag (1) and to urge it toward its initial state.
2. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, housed in the filling material (4, 4') of the bag (1), the rigid central tube (5) extending from the upper wall (6) to the bottom wall (19) of the envelope (3), said tube being fixed to said walls and forming therewith the framework of the bag (1), the upper and lower openings of said tube (5) respectively communicating with a hole through the upper wall (6) and a hole through the bottom wall (19), the return means or at least one of the return means (21, 64) being at least partly housed in the central tube (5).
3. The appliance as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the first return means (21) is constituted by an elastic member mounted in tension between an attachment point in the tube (5) and an attachment point in the supporting base (20), said return means being engaged in a hole (36) through the bottom wall (19).
4. The appliance as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the second return means is formed by a cable (64) that is elastically deformable over at least part of its length, is fixed by one of its ends in the upper part of the tube (5) and is wound onto the sheave of a lower pulley (80) the yoke of which is fixedly mounted in the lower part of the tube (5).
5. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, characterized by an upper retaining system (10) elastically deformable in the lengthwise direction, mechanically disposed between the second attachment member and the corresponding end of the cable (64), said retaining system constituting second return means.
6. The appliance as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the upper retaining system (10) comprises a central elastic element (40) and a plurality of peripheral elastic elements (41), said elements (40), (41) being parallel to one another and arranged in bundles and being fixed by their ends to an upper plate (42) and a lower plate (39) spaced from each other, said peripheral elastic elements (41) being individually and detachably fixed to at least one of said two plates (39, 42).
7. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that there is disposed between the upper retaining system (10) and the second return means a means able to set a mechanical triggering threshold value below which only the upper retaining system is loaded in extension and above which the second return means is also loaded in traction, said means being formed by a trigger (44) formed of at least two elements (440), (441) joined to one another in a separable manner, one of which is mechanically connected to the bag (1) and the other of which is mechanically connected to the retaining system (10) and to the second return means, said elements (440), (441) being adapted to be mechanically urged away from each other and said elements (440), (441) of the trigger remaining together if the intensity of the mechanical loading that tends to separate them is below the triggering threshold value and separating from one another if the intensity of said mechanical loading is above the triggering threshold value.
8. The appliance as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the trigger (44) is formed on the one hand of a magnetizable material wall (440) fixed to or forming part of the top wall (6) of the bag and a magnet (44) in magnetic contact with the magnetizable wall, said magnet (44) being fixed by a coupling to the upper retaining system (10), the cable (64) of the second elastic return means having its corresponding end fixed to said magnet (44).
9. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lower part of the bag (1) includes a ballasting means (100).
10. The appliance as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the ballasting means (100) is formed of a foam peripheral covering (100a) having substantially the shape of a spherical segment and a ballast weight (105) buried in the covering (100a), this ballast weight is fixed to the lower closing wall (19), and this ballast weight includes an axial screwthread through it into which is screwed a tubular sleeve (190) for the passage of a first return means (21).
11. The appliance as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the ballasting means (100) is formed of a shell (110) defining an internal chamber (111) in which a ballasting material (112) is disposed, said shell (110) having a horizontal bottom wall (110a), an envelope wall or lateral wall (110b) and a horizontal top wall (110c), these various walls defining the internal chamber (111) of the shell.
12. The appliance as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the lower part of the bag (1) includes a skirt (120) for protecting it and fixing it to the ballasting means (100).
13. The appliance as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12 characterized in that the ballasting means (100) is pivottably mounted in a shock absorber (101).
14. The appliance as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the low-density foam shock absorber (101) is formed by an envelope wall (104) extending in a circle around and in contact with the ballasting means (100), this envelope wall defines an open housing (102) adapted to receive the ballasting means (100) and the shape of said housing (102) is substantially complementary to that of the covering (100a) or the shell (110) of the ballasting means (100).

Images