GB2482540A

GB2482540A - Foldable training stand for a punch bag

Info

Publication number: GB2482540A
Application number: GB1013240.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Groom
Original assignee: YORK BARBELL UK Ltd
Current assignee: YORK BARBELL UK Ltd
Priority date: 2010-08-05
Filing date: 2010-08-05
Publication date: 2012-02-08
Also published as: GB201013240D0

Abstract

A foldable stand 10 for supporting a punch bag 18 comprising a supporting arm 3, two supporting legs 2A, 2B and a bracing member (12, fig.2) coupled to each of said two supporting legs, wherein said stand is foldable from a deployed position into a storage position and deployable from said storage position into said deployed position; wherein in said deployed position said two supporting legs are supported on the ground and said bracing member extends between said two supporting legs for preventing said two supporting legs from moving away from each other, and said supporting arm extends upwardly for supporting a punch bag; and wherein each of the two supporting legs is folded towards the supporting arm when the stand is folded from its deployed position into its storage position. Preferably the stand comprises one or more telescoping shafts that can slide into or out of the supporting arm to a desired height.

Description

TRAINING STAND

The subject invention relates to a punch bag stand. More particularly the subject of the invention relates to a foldable punch bag stand.

Punch bag stands which are not foldable are well known in the art. Such punch bag stand takes up a lot of space when it is not in use and cannot be stored easily. In addition, these punch bag stands are typically either bolted to the floor for permanent installation or have bulky hollow bases that must be filled with water or sand or use weight plates to keep them from moving during use. In particular it is well known that during use such stands are subjected to high flexural forces as a result of the swinging backwards and forwards of the punch bag which hangs from the stand. Conventional punch bag stands are typically constructed to be resistant to these flexural forces for example having frames constructed using rigid metal bars which as mentioned are typically bolted to the floor. The problem which the subject invention addresses is how to provide a punch bag stand which can be folded into a storage position for easy and convenient storage, and more desirably to provide a foldable punch bag which is sufficiently able to resist the above mentioned flexural forces to which it is subjected when in use.

The subject invention provides a foldable stand for supporting a punch bag comprising a supporting arm, two supporting legs and a bracing member coupled to each of said two supporting legs, wherein said stand is foldable from a deployed position into a storage position and deployable from said storage position into said deployed position; wherein in said deployed position said two supporting legs are supported on the ground and said bracing member extends between said two supporting legs for preventing said two supporting legs from moving away from each other, and said.

supporting arm extends upwardly for supporting a punch bag; and wherein each of the two supporting legs is folded towards the supporting arm when the stand is folded from its deployed position into its storage position.

Preferably said bracing member is releasably coupled to at lease one of said supporting legs, whereby: in said deployed position said bracing member is coupled to each of said supporting legs; and in said storage position said bracing member is released from said one of said supporting legs.

Preferably wherein said bracing member is pivotably coupled to each of said supporting legs.

Preferably the bracing member is operable to lock the supporting legs so as to prevent the supporting legs from moving relative to each other when the stand is in its deployed position.

Preferably said bracing member comprises two portions pivotably connected to each other.

Preferably each of the two portions is a rigid portion.

Preferably each said portion comprises a first connecting part and a second connecting part, and wherein each said first connecting part is connected to a respective supporting leg and wherein said second connecting parts are pivotably connected to each other.

Preferably each portion of said bracing member is either rod shaped or bar shaped.

Each said portion comprises a first end and a second end. Each said first end is connected to a respective supporting leg and said second ends are pivotably connected to each other.

Preferably the foldable further comprises a linking member with one end pivotably connected to one of said supporting legs and with another end slidably connected to the supporting arm.

Preferably said linking member is connected to the supporting arm via a sliding member which is slideable along the supporting arm.

More preferred features of said foldable stand for supporting a punch bag are as defined in the dependent claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example only with reference to Figs. 1-4 of the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable punch bag stand in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention shown in its deployed position supporting a punch bag; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the foldable punch bag stand of Figure 1 without a punch bag; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the foldable punch bag stand in accordance with the embodiment of the subject invention shown in a partially folded position; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the foldable punch bag stand in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown in its fully folded position; and FIGS. I and 2 show a punch bag stand 10 in its deployed position. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the punch bag stand 10 has two supporting legs 2A and 2B and a supporting arm 3. One end of each of the supporting legs 2A and 2B is pivotally connected to a respective bracket I of the supporting arm 3 via a respective pivot 50. In its deployed position, the supporting legs 2A and 2B are supported on the ground and are angled with respect to each other, and the supporting arm 3 extends upwardly from the ground for supporting a punch bag 18. The pivots 50 are angled to the ground and are orthogonal to the axis of the supporting arm when the stand is in its deployed position as show in Figures 1 and 2. Each of the supporting legs 2A and 2B can be folded towards the supporting arm 3 by rotating about the respective pivot point 50, as shown by line X' in Fig 2. In the process of folding the supporting legs towards the supporting arm, the supporting legs also move towards each other. As a result the punch bag stand can be folded from the deployed position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to its storage position shown in Figure 4. In the storage position each of said two supporting legs and said supporting arm are substantially parallel to each other.

Similarly the punch bag stand can also be deployed from its storage position to its deployed position for use.

The punch bag stand 10 comprises a sliding assembly 4 which is capable of slideable movement along the supporting arm 3. The punch bag stand 10 further comprises two linking members 6A and 6B to support the supporting aim 3 in its upwardly extending position when the two supporting legs are laid on the ground. The two linking members 6A and 6B also contribute to the resistance to flexural forces of the punch bag stand 10 when its punch bag is being punched by a user. Each of the linking members 6A and 6B has a tubular body portion 66A 166B, a first end portion 67A167B and a second end portion 68A/68B. Brackets 21A and 21B are coupled to the sliding assembly. The first end portions 67A and 67B of the respective linking members 6A and 6B are pivotally coupled to the respective supporting legs 2A and 2B. The second end portions 68A and 68B of the respective linking members 6A and 6B are pivotally connected to the respective brackets 21A and 21B. The brackets 21A and 21B are capable of rotational movement in the direction shown by arrow Z and permit the respective second ends 68A and 68B of the linking members 6A and 6B to move towards from each other as the supporting legs 2A and 2B move towards from each other during the folding of the punch bag stand 10 from its deployed position to its storage position. Similarly the rotational movement of the brackets 21A and 21B allow the respective second ends 68A and 68B of the linking members 6A and 6B to move away from each other as the supporting legs 2A and 2B move away from each other during the deploying of the punch bag stand 10 from its storage position to its deployed position.

The sliding assembly 4 is equipped with a locking member comprising a locking pin 9A and a locking wheel 9. The locking pin 9A is receivable into a hole located on the supporting arm 3 so as to lock the supporting arm 3 in a desired position. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the punch bag stand is locked into the deployed position with the locking pin 9A received into the hole 33 (shown in FIG. 3), and is kept in this locking position by a biasing force. When a user of the punch bag stand 10 wants to fold the supporting arm towards the supporting legs or vice versa, the user pulls on the wheel 9 of the locking member against the biasing force to pull the locking pin 9A out of the hole 33 such that the sliding assembly 4 can move along the supporting arm 3.

Preferably in an unlocked position of the locking member, the locking member is coupled to the sliding assembly 4 so as to prevent its loss.

An extension arm 5 is telescopically received into a hollow bore provided on a top surface 30 of the support arm 3, and extends upwardly from the supporting arm 3 for supporting the punch bag at a desired height when the punch bag stand is in its deployed position. The supporting arm 3 is provided with a locking member 7 comprising a locking pin 7A and a locking wheel 7B. The extension arm 5 is provided with several holes 20A, 20B, 20C... into which the locking pin 7A of the locking member 7 can be received for locking the extension arm 5 at its desired extension. The supporting arm 3 is also provided with a further locking member 8. The locking member 8 pushes the supporting arm 3 to force it against the surface of the extension arm 5 to provide additional locking force to prevent the extension arm 5 becoming unlocked. Ideally the locking member 7 and the locking member 8 are not provided in the same direction on the supporting arm 3 to secure the engagement between the extension arm and the supporting arm when the punch bag stand 10 is subjected to high flexural forces during punching of the punch bag by a user. The punch bag stand 10 further comprises a support stub 22 extending from the extension arm in a direction approximately orthogonal to the direction of extension arm 5. A ring 14 is coupled to the support stub 22, and located on the bottom surface of support stub 22 when punch bag stand 10 is in its deployed position. The ring 14 is also rotatable relative to the support stub 22 to reduce sudden shocks to the punch bag stand 10. A clip 15 is provided to releasably couple a punch bag 18 to the ring 14 via straps 23A, 23B, 23C and 23D of the punch bag 18 for supporting the punch bag 18 for use. Preferably the punch bag 18 is equipped with tether straps 1 7A and I 7B extending downwardly from a bottom end of the punch bag 18 when the punch bag 18 is in its deployed position.

First ends of the respective tether straps 17A and 17B are coupled to punch bag 18, and second ends of the respective tether straps 1 7A and I 7B are coupled to respective bracelet clips 28A and 28B which are provided on the respective supporting legs 2A and 2B. The punch bag 18 has a tendency to swing like a pendulum when it is struck by a user and the purpose of having the tether strap 1 7A and 1 7B is to restrict this pendulum like movement of the punch bag 18. A non-tethered bag can also be used but will require more weights on the supporting legs 2A and 2B to provide stability and a larger user area to allow for the extra swing of the punch bag.

As best seen in Figure 2, the punch bag stand 10 further comprises a bracing member 12 extending between supporting legs 2A and 2B and is substantially located in the plane defined by the supporting legs when the punch bag stand is in its deployed position, the bracing member having a first portion 12A and a second portion 12B. The bracing member is to lock the supporting legs in fixed positions relative to each other when the punch bag stand 10 is in its deployed position. The bracing member is in the is shape of a rod in this embodiment and each portion of the bracing member is a strut, but other shapes can also be used. A first end of the first portion 12A of the bracing member 12 is pivotally coupled to a bracket 16A (shown in Figure 3) via a pivot 17A.

A first end of the second portion I 2B of the bracing member 12 is pivotally coupled to a bracket 16B via a pivot 1 7B. The second ends of the respective first portion 12A and second portion 1 2B of the bracing member 12 are pivotally coupled to each other via a pivot 15. In the deployed position, the pivot iS, I 7A and I 7B are parallel to each other.

The brackets 1 6A and 1 6B are rotatably connected to the respective supporting legs, the brackets I 6A and 1 6B being rotatable about respective rotating axles. The pivots 15, 16A and 16B enable each portion of the bracing member to move in a plane substantially orthogonal to the plane defined by the two supporting legs. Under such configuration, the two portions of the bracing member 12 can rotate with respect to the respective supporting legs. In addition the two portions of the bracing member can rotate towards each other via the pivot 15 without disassembling each portion I 2A11 2B of the bracing member 12 from the supporting legs. A peg l3C is also provided on one of the first and the second portions 12A and 12B of the bracing member 12 so that a user can pull the peg 13C to fold the two portions of the bracing member to release the supporting legs from the locked positions to allow the punch bag stand to be folded.

The peg 13C has a certain weight so that the weight on the peg 13C can also increase the security of the locking mechanism as well as providing stability. (More details about this folding movement of the punch bag stand will be discussed below with the reference to Figures 1 to 4.) The punch bag 18 is heavy and because it has a relatively long body portion and hangs from relatively long straps 23A, 23B, 23C and 23D the s flexural forces it exerts on punch bag stand 10 as it swings are amplified by the leverage effect of the length of its straps and relatively long body portion. The bracing member 12 provides enhanced rigidity to the punch bag stand 10 when it is in use and prevents the supporting legs 2A and 2B from moving relative to each other when the punch bag 18 swings after being struck by a user of punch bag stand 10. Preferably the supporting legs 2A and 2B are provided with pegs l3A and 13B which extend upwardly respectively from the supporting leg 2A and the supporting leg 2B when the punch bag stand 10 is in its deployed position. When the punch bag stand 10 is deployed for use, it is even more desirable to anchor punch bag stand 10 to prevent it from moving about on the ground when punch bag 18 is struck by a user. The pegs 13A and 13B and together with the peg l3C are configured to receive weights 19 when the stand is the deployed position to provide the above-mentioned anchorage effect, pegs as best shown in FIG. 1.

The punch bag stand 10 can be folded from the deployed position shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 into the storage position shown in Figure 4 when required. The punch bag 18 is dismounted from the punch bag stand by opening the clip 15 and sliding the straps 23A, 23B, 23C and 23D off of the clip 15. The weights 19 are then dismounted from their respective pegs I 3A, 1 3B and 1 3C. The locking pin 7A of locking member 7 is then pulled out of engagement with its hole 20 and extension arm 5 is folded into its storage position where it is telescopically received into the bore of supporting arm 3 as can best be seen in FIG. 3. When the extension arm 5 is locked into its storage position by the locking member 7, the locking pin 7A of the locking member 7 is received into the hole 20A on the extension arm 5. To fold the punch bag stand, the locking pin 9A of the locking member needs to be pulled out of engagement with its hole 33 (shown in Figure 3) on the supporting arm 3 by pulling the locking wheel 9.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, to fold the punch bag stand from the deployed position shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 into the storage position shown in Figure 4, a user needs to first lift the peg I 3C on the bracing member 12 upwardly slightly. When the peg 1 3c is lifted upwards slightly, the punch bag stand is released from its locked state and can be folded. To fold the punch bag stand, the sliding assembly 4 is slid upwardly along the supporting arm 3 (i.e. towards the open end 30 of the supporting arm 3). As the sliding member 4 moves upwardly, the linking member 6A and 6B are also pulled upwardly which in turn causes the respective supporting legs 2A and 28 to be pulled upwards and inwards via the respective pivots 50, as shown in Figure 3. As a result, the two supporting legs are folded directly towards the supporting arm. In the process of folding towards the supporting arm, the supporting legs also move toward each other.

The portions of the bracing member 12A and 12B are then forced to rotate and fold together by this movement. Alternatively instead of pulling the sliding member 4 upwards, a user can rotate the supporting arm 3 downwards (i.e. towards the plane defined by the supporting legs) to initiate the folding operation. Under such configuration of the punch bag stand, a user can fold the punch bag stand by a single motion. In other words, a series of folding movements (folding between the two supporting legs and folding between the supporting arm and the supporting legs and the folding between the two portions of the bracing member) can be initiated by one single motion of a user. While the portions of the bracing member 12A and 12B are forced to rotate and fold together, the two portions I 2A and I 2B of the bracing member 12 can also rotate towards the plane defined by the two supporting legs about their respective rotating axles of the respective brackets I 6A and 1 6B. Therefore in the storage position of the punch bag stand, the two portions 1 2A and I 2B of the bracing member 12 and the two supporting legs 2A and 2B are substantially in the same plane to reduce the storage space, as can be seen in Figure 4.

In an alternative embodiment, the two portions of the bracing member do not need to be lifted first. By changing the direction of the pivot point 15, 1 7A, 1 7B and the rotating axles of each portion of the bracing member, a user can pull the peg 13C horizontally so that the two portions of the bracing member can be folded directly within the plane defined by the two supporting legs.

In the embodiment discussed above with Figures 1 to 4, the bracing member has two portions or has two struts pivotely connected to each other. In a further embodiment, the bracing member 12 is a single strut and cannot be split into two portions. Two ends of the bracing member are releasably connected to the respective supporting legs 2A and 2B. To fold the punch bag stand 10, a user needs to disassemble the bracing member from the punch bag stand first. Alternatively one end of the bracing member is S pivotably connected to the corresponding supporting leg, and the other end of the bracing member is releasably connected to the corresponding supporting leg. To fold the punch bag stand 10, a user only needs to disassemble one end of the bracing member from the punch bag stand first.

In again a further embodiment the two portions 12A and 12B of the bracing member 12 are releasably connected to each other each being a strut. To fold the punch bag stand, a user needs to disconnect the two portions of the bracing member first. In this embodiment, anyone or both of the two portions of the bracing member can be pivotably coupled to the respective supporting legs (as discussed above with Figures 1 to 4) or releasably coupled to the respective supporting legs.

In again a further embodiment, said bracing member is a chain! cord!strap. Such bracing member can prevent the supporting legs 2A and 2B from moving away from each other when the punch bag stand is in the deployed position as shown in Figures 1 and 2. However in order to prevent the supporting legs from moving toward each other in the deployed position, extra weights of the supporting legs are required.

As can be seen from Figure 2 to Figure 4, during the whole folding of the punch bag stand, each of the supporting legs 2A and 2B move towards the supporting arm 3 as discussed above. The sliding assembly 4 slides along the supporting arm 3 towards supporting stub 22 and each of the portions 12A and 12B of the bracing member 12 pivots as discussed above. The brackets 21 A and 21 B also rotate towards each other as the punch bag stand 10 folds into its storage position and this rotational movement of brackets 21A and 21B allows the supporting legs 2A and 2B to move towards each other without bending or breaking the linking members 6A and 6B. FIG. 4 shows the punch bag stand 10 is locked into its storage position by the locking pin 9A of the locking member 9being received into a hole located on the supporting arm 3.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag comprising a supporting arm, two supporting legs and a bracing member coupled to each of said two supporting legs, wherein said stand is foldable from a deployed position into a storage position and deployable from said storage position into said deployed position; wherein in said deployed position said two supporting legs are supported on the ground and said bracing member extends between said two supporting legs for preventing said two supporting legs from moving away from each other, and said supporting arm extends upwardly for supporting a punch bag; and wherein each of the two supporting legs is folded towards the supporting arm when the stand is folded from its deployed position into its storage position.
2. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to claim 1 wherein said bracing member is releasably coupled to at least one of said supporting legs, whereby: in said deployed position said bracing member is coupled to each of said supporting legs; and in said storage position said bracing member is released from said one of said supporting legs.
3. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to claim 1, wherein said bracing member is pivotably coupled to each of said supporting legs.
4. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the bracing member is operable to lock the supporting legs so as to prevent the supporting legs from moving relative to each other when the stand is in its deployed position.
5. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim, wherein said bracing member comprises two portions pivotably connected to each other.
6. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to claim 5, wherein each of the two portions is a rigid portion.
7. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein each said portion comprises a first connecting part and a second connecting part, and wherein each said first connecting part is connected to a respective supporting leg and wherein said second connecting parts are pivotably connected to each other.
8. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein each portion of said bracing member is either rod shaped or bar shaped, each said portion comprises a first end and a second end, arid wherein each said first end is connected to a respective supporting leg and wherein said second ends are pivotably connected to each other.
9. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim further comprising a linking member with one end pivotably connected to one of said supporting legs and with another end slidably connected to the supporting arm.
10. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to claim 9 wherein said linking member is connected to the supporting arm via a sliding member which is slideable along the supporting arm.
11. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any one of preceding claims 9-10 comprising two said linking members.
12. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the stand further comprises one or more telescoping shafts that can slide into or out of the supporting arm to a desired height.
13. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any one of preceding claims 10-12 further comprising a locking means for locking said sliding member to said supporting arm at a desired position.
14. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to claim 13 wherein said locking means comprises a locking pin or a handwheel or a bolt and wherein said supporting arm comprises a plurality of holes spaced apart along the length of said supporting arm for receiving said locking pin at said desired position.
15. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim further comprising a connecting means for connecting each of said supporting legs to said supporting arm to enable each of said supporting legs to move vertically and horizontally.
16. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any of preceding claims 1 to 14 further comprising a connecting means for connecting each of said supporting legs to said supporting arm so that during folding of the punch bag stand, the movement of each of the supporting legs includes a vertical component of movement and a horizontal component of movement.
17. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim further comprising one or more pegs mounted on each of said supporting legs for receiving one or more weights for providing stability to said stand.
18. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim wherein when the stand is folded from its deployed position into its storage position, each of the two supporting legs is folded directly towards the supporting arm.
19. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim wherein in the storage position each of said two supporting legs and said supporting arm are substantially parallel to each other.
20. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.- Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS: I. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag that is being punched by a user comprising a supporting arm, two supporting legs and a bracing member coupled to each of said two supporting legs, wherein said stand is foldable from a deployed position into a storage position and deployable from said storage position into said deployed position; wherein in said deployed position said two supporting legs are supported on the ground and said bracing member extends between said two supporting legs for preventing said two supporting legs from moving away from each other, and said supporting arm extends upwardly for supporting a punch bag; and wherein each of the two supporting legs is folded towards the supporting aim when the stand is folded from its deployed position into its storage position; wherein said bracing member is pivotably coupled to each of said supporting legs, and wherein said bracing member is not coupled to said supporting arm.2. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to claim 1, wherein the bracing member is operable to lock the supporting legs so as to prevent the supporting legs from moving relative to each other when the stand is in its deployed position.3. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim, wherein said bracing member comprises two portions pivotably connected to each other.: *: 25 4. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to claim 3, wherein each of * * . the two portions is a rigid portion.* : * * 5. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein each said portion comprises a first connecting part and a second connecting part, and wherein each said first connecting part is connected to a respective supporting : : leg and wherein said second connecting parts are pivotably connected to each other.****** * S -w - 6. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein each portion of said bracing member is either rod shaped or bar shaped, each said portion comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein each said first end is connected to a respective supporting leg and wherein said second ends are pivotably connected to each other.7. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim further comprising a linking member with one end pivotably connected to one of said supporting legs and with another end slidably connected to the supporting ann.8. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to claim 7 wherein said linking member is connected to the supporting arm via a sliding member which is slideable along the supporting arm.9. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any one of preceding claims 9-10 comprising two said linking members.10. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the stand further comprises one or more telescoping shafts that can slide into or out of the supporting arm to a desired height.11. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any one of preceding claims 9-10 further comprising a locking means for locking said sliding member to said supporting arm at a desired position.* * . 12. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to claim 11 wherein said locking means comprises a locking pin or a handwheel or a bolt and wherein said *e.s..* supporting arm comprises a plurality of holes spaced apart along the length of said * supporting arm for receiving said locking pin at said desired position. :. 30::. * 13. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim further comprising a connecting means for connecting each of said supporting legs to said supporting arm to enable each of said supporting legs to move vertically and horizontally.14. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any of preceding claims 1 to 14 further comprising a connecting means for connecting each of said supporting legs to said supporting arm so that during folding of the punch bag stand, the movement of each of the supporting legs includes a vertical component of movement and a horizontal component of movement.15. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim further comprising one or more pegs mounted on each of said supporting legs for receiving one or more weights for providing stability to said stand.16. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim wherein when the stand is folded from its deployed position into its storage position, each of the two supporting legs is folded directly towards the supporting arm.17. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag according to any preceding claim wherein in the storage position each of said two supporting legs and said supporting arm are substantially parallel to each other.18. A foldable stand for supporting a punch bag as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.I..... * e ** ***** * * * ***** * SS*SS.*S * S S. * S S 555SSSSS5S * I