NZ550458A - An exercise training apparatus with rotatable and tiltable target components - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an exercise training apparatus and more specifically to a martial arts/boxing training apparatus which overcomes the problems associated with existing devices in that it provides the user with the ability to hone in on skills such as speed, power, accuracy and blocking, and also simulate the unpredictable nature of a real-life sparring partner. The apparatus (10) includes a base plate (12) for mounting the apparatus to a surface, a support member (24), and one or more padded balls (48) that are adapted to move about the support member through connecting arms (44), (46) whose height is adjustable. In one form of the invention, the arms are rigid structures which rotate in a horizontal plane about the support member whereby the length of each arm is adjustable. This embodiment is especially useful when a user wishes to hone in on a particular skill which does not require the element of surprise. In a further form of the invention, the support member includes a flexible arm mounted thereto which is not only capable of rotational movement in a single plane, but is also capable of tiltable and pivotable motion relative to the support member which adds a further dimension to the training apparatus. This embodiment is especially useful when the unpredictable nature of a real-life sparring partner is required.

Description

1 An exercise training apparatus The present invention relates to an exercise training apparatus and in particular, to an apparatus for use in the development of skills such as speed, accuracy and blocking in various full-contact sports such as boxing and martial arts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Boxing, martial arts and other full-contact sports are possibly the most gruelling of any other physical exercise in that they require the sportsman participating to be at peak physical fitness. For example, in the sport of boxing, speed is required so that a fighter can punch an opponent or dodge an opponent's punch as swiftly as possible; power is required so that maximum force can be used when 10 punching; accuracy is required so that when a punch is thrown the boxer has a greater chance of hitting a target; and obviously the skill of blocking is required to avoid being hit in areas such as the face and abdomen.

All of the abovementioned skills require dedicated training and hard work on behalf of the sportsman. These skills have been acquired more easily in recent years through use of training devices. 15 Devices that incorporate contact between a user (usually the fist, foot, knee or elbow) and the striking surface of the device itself have not only removed the need for a physical sparring partner but have also provided the user with a means to hone in on the skill which requires particular attention. Equipment commonplace in most gyms today includes suspended boxing bags, freestanding upright bags, suspended boxing balls (commonly known as speed balls), and double-ended punching balls.

Boxing bags are heavy, padded, and cylindrically shaped bags suspended from the ceiling.

Upon being punched, the bag generally sways slightly due to its weight and provides the user with little element of surprise on its return stroke. It is for this reason that heavy suspended boxing bags are generally used to help the user in increasing their power or to simply practise the style of their punch.

Freestanding upright bags, like suspended bags, are heavy, padded and cylindrically shaped. 25 However, instead of being suspended from the ceiling they are springedly mounted to the ground. A freestanding upright bag serves virtually the same purpose as a suspended bag and use of the bag does little to develop skills in the boxer.

A suspended boxing ball or 'speed ball' is a tear-drop shaped, padded bag suspended underneath a flat platform at around head-height. The bag is allowed pivotal motion in any direction beneath the 30 platform. For example, when the bag is punched it swings upwards, hits the platform and rebounds back to either receive the user's next punch or hit the front side of the platform and then receive a punch depending on the routine of the user. The user then generally performs a rapid repetition of this motion, 2 thereby practising both speed and accuracy. There is no movement of the suspended location of the ball and therefore, once again, there is no element of surprise as to where the ball will return once hit.

Double-ended punching balls are generally spherical padded balls which are elastically tethered at their top and bottom poles to a top platform and a bottom platform respectively. When the ball is 5 punched, the movement more closely resembles the unpredictable nature of a returning punch from an opponent in that the ball is now allowed to move in a vertical plane, that is to the left and right of the user as well as backwards and forwards. This device allows the user to improve skills such as speed and accuracy and also defensive skills such as blocking.

There are currently no devices known to the applicant allowing the user to simultaneously 10 improve on skills such as speed, accuracy and blocking whereby a target, typically balls are positioned and configured so that, when struck, a simulation of both the high and low targets and the high and low counter punches of a real-life sparring partner occurs.

There are further no current devices known to the applicant which enable three-dimensional movement of the ball once struck, that is rotational, tiltable and pivotable motion, thereby providing the 15 user with the unpredictable nature of a real life opponent.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the aforementioned problems or to provide the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed an exercise training apparatus 20 including: a support shaft; and at least one arm being at least and tiltably associated with said support shaft, thereby enabling chaotic three dimensional motion of a target component associated with said arm when said target component is struck.

Preferably said at least one arm includes a first end connected to a housing bracket that is rotatably and tiltably connected to said support shaft, and a second end to which said target component is attached.

In preference said housing bracket is shaped to receive and journal around a correspondingly dimensioned portion of said support shaft.

In preference said housing bracket is annular and said correspondingly dimensioned portion of said support shaft is substantially spherical. 3 Preferably said substantially spherical portion is located at a free end thereof.

Preferably said at least one arm is further pivotably associated with said support shaft, providing for still further chaotic motion of said strike target.

In preference said arm first end is pivotably connected to the housing bracket.

Preferably said arm is constructed of resilient material and said target component is in the form of a punching ball.

Preferably said support shaft is extendible and lockable at predetermined heights.

In preference said support shaft includes a base having a socket portion shaped to receive said support shaft, the support shaft being extendible by way of slideable movement along the socket portion, 10 and a fixing portion for securing said apparatus to a surface.

In a further form of the invention there is proposed an exercise training apparatus including: an elongate shaft adapted to be mounted at one end thereof to a surface; a housing positioned at a predetermined position along said shaft, said housing being at least rotatably and tiltably associated therewith; at least one resilient arm, and a strike ball attached at a free end thereof, said at least one resilient arm being connected to said housing and thereby providing for chaotic three dimensional movement of said ball when struck.

Preferably said at least one resilient arm is pivotably connected to said housing, providing for 20 further chaotic three dimensional movement of said ball when struck.

In preference said training apparatus includes a base plate adapted to be mounted to said surface, and a hollow, cylindrical support member extending outwards from said base plate, said shaft being slideable within said support member and lockable there along.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an exercise training apparatus in accordance with the invention; and 4 Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an exercise training apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings.

Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.

Figure 1 illustrates the training apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention. A base 10 plate 12 is fixedly mounted to a flat surface 14 using bolts 16, 18, 20 and 22 located at the four corners of the plate 12. Extending upwardly from the plate 12 is a cylindrical support member 24 which is preferably welded to the base plate 12 at a lower end thereof and includes reinforcing elements 26 for added stability. The support member 24 includes an inwardly chamfered upper end 28 defining an opening 30 into which a cylindrical shaft 32 is adapted to be inserted when assembling the training 15 apparatus 10. The cylindrical shaft 32 is adapted to be locked within support member 22 by using any adequate locking means, such as a screw-type vice (not shown) which is well known in the art. Alternatively, the shaft 32 may include a male threaded section (not shown) adapted to engage a female threaded section (not shown) within the support member 22.

It is to be understood that the methods of connection as described herein are by way of example 20 only, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to any one of these methods. For example, bolts 16, 18, 20 and 22 may well be replaced by a suction means on the underside of base plate 11 or other suitable fixing means.

It should be further understood that base plate 12 need not be fixed to the ground and may just as well be fixed to a wall or platform (not shown). This would provide the user of the apparatus 10 with 25 further options as to the type of training they wish to undertake. For example, when mounted to the wall, instead of the apparatus 10 as shown in Figure 1 functioning in a horizontal plane, it would function in a vertical plane. Another option would be to attach the apparatus 10 to the ceiling. In fact, the apparatus could be fixed to any surface that corresponds with the training requirements of the user.

Since boxing and martial arts exercises involve the powerful striking of the apparatus whether it 30 be a punch, kick, elbow or knee, the base plate 12 is preferably made of strong, heavy metal such as steel so as to lower the centre of gravity of the apparatus 10. However, the invention should not be limited to only this configuration. For example, a wide hollow base (not shown) could be used whereby an internal chamber is filled with water or sand to thereby stabilise the apparatus. This may even provide a further favourable unpredictability to the user in that the entire apparatus may be designed to sway.

A lower punching component 34 and an upper punching component 36 are rotatably connected to shaft 32 such that shaft 32 extends through central apertures 38 and 40 of each component 34 and 36 5 respectively. Although not shown, the apparatus 10 includes stopping means for locking each component 34 and 36 at a particular height along the shaft 32 whilst allowing each component to rotate freely at that particular height.

The lower component 34 includes a circular housing 42 enclosing an annular roller bearing (not shown) or the like, which defines aperture 38 allowing the component 34 to freely rotate about the 10 central shaft 32. Two identical arms 44 and 46 are connected, preferably by means of a weld, to the housing 42 and extend outwardly at opposite ends thereof. Arm 44 includes two members 44a and 44b of stepped down cross-sectional size such that member 44b is slidable within member 44a. This configuration allows the user to adjust the reach of the apparatus.

Bolt 44c locks the members 44a and 44b in relative position to each other. As mentioned, arm 15 46 is identical in its configuration to arm 44, i.e. member 46b slides within arm 46a with bolt 46c once again locking the arms in relative position to each other. Spherical balls 48 and 50 are fixedly attached to the ends of arms 44 and 46 respectively through corresponding annular support members 52 and 54 respectively. The balls 48 and 50 effectively act as the target surface when punching is being practised and as a return punch when blocking is being practised.

The upper component 36 comprises substantially identical features to the lower component 34 however, as is illustrated in Figure 1, the upper component 36 includes three identical arms 56, 58 and 60 disposed equally around a central circular housing 62. Those skilled in the art should recognise that each component may include any number of arms disposed about their central housings. Furthermore, rather than shaft 32 being fixed within the support member 24 and having rotating elements mounted 25 thereto, the support member 24 itself may include the required components for rotation such that the whole of shaft 32 is rotatable within the support member 24.

Once again, housing 62 encloses a circular bearing (not shown) defining aperture 40 allowing the housing 62 to rotate freely about the central shaft 32. Each of the arms 56, 58 and 60 include the same slidable configuration as explained above and have therefore been numbered accordingly but not 30 described here for the purpose of succinctness. Arms 56, 58 and 60 also include respective spherical balls 64, 66 and 68 fixedly attached to their ends by means of annular supports 70, 72 and 74 respectively.

It should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can simulate the actions of a real-life sparring partner whereby when a ball is punched, the component 34 or 36 to which 6 the ball is attached effectively rotates about the central shaft 32. If the user wishes to practise a blocking technique, he/she can block the oncoming stream of other balls which follow in the path of rotation. If the user wishes to practise a punching technique, he/she can continue to punch the return balls thereby testing both speed and accuracy. The apparatus 10 is especially effective because it includes two 5 components, one 34 at waist height and the other 36 at head height which are the two areas most likely to be targets in the sport of boxing.

It is to be understood that the heights of shaft 32, lower punching component 34 and upper punching component 36 are adjustable to suit the height of the user. This is also of benefit when storing the apparatus 10 away after use in that when all three of the abovementioned members are at their lowest 10 positions, the height of the entire apparatus is almost halved. Furthermore, the components 34 and 36 can also be dismantled from the central shaft 32.

A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 2. As can be seen, the base plate 12 and supporting member 24 are identical to that shown in Figure 1 and it is for this reason that the numbers referencing these components appear identical.

Figure 2 illustrates a training apparatus 60. A central cylindrical shaft 76 is housed within support member 22 as in the first embodiment however shaft 76 now terminates into a spherical bulb 78 at its upper end. An annular housing 80 which encloses a circular bearing (not shown) is adapted to not only revolve around bulb 78 in a vertical plane (yaw) but is now also capable of tilt or roll around the outer surface of the spherical bulb 78 thereby enabling multi-axial movement.

Attached to housing 80 is an elastic tether 82 which pivots vertically about a horizontally extending clip 84. The elastic tether 82 is attached to a spherical ball 86 preferably by a simple looped connection 88 such that the ball 86 is capable of slight movement about the loop connection 88 when struck, as those skilled in the art would realise.

Figure 2 further illustrates the various forms of motion 90, 92, 94,96 and 98 of the ball 86, 25 tether 82 and housing 80 using dashed lines which indicate the position of the ball 86, tether 82 and housing 80 at two alternate positions 100 and 102 along its path. This movement occurs due to the combination of simple rotation 90 of the housing 80, tilt or roll 92 of the housing 80, pivot 94 of the tether 82 about clip 84, elongation 96 of the tether 82, and slight movement 98 of the ball 86 allowing for a three-dimensional almost unpredictable or chaotic motion of the ball, features of which are 30 common to those of a human opponent.

It should also be made aware that features of one embodiment may well be combined with features of another. For example, a user may well construct a training apparatus having a three-dimensional punching component (as in Figure 2) attached at the top of the apparatus, and simply a horizontally rotating component (as in Figure 1) attached at waist height. 7 The various forms of motion described in the present invention, and more particularly the motion of the arms about the shaft, may be achieved using a wide variety of different joining components. For example, rotation of the arms may be achieved by using a simple ball bearing, needle bearing or bush arrangement as well as the roller bearing arrangement as described. Pivot may be 5 achieved using any swivel joint arrangement while tilt or roll of the arms may be achieved by using any form of rotary joint such as ball and socket joints, universal joints, or even CV joints and washers. It is to be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to any one of these components but rather the type of motion performed by such components.

Those skilled in the art should now realise how the present invention will aid a boxer, martial 10 artist or any other form of fighter in sharpening his/her skills in regard to speed, accuracy and blocking techniques in that the apparatus effectively simulates a human sparring partner. The boxing balls located on the apparatus can either be continuously punched to test speed and accuracy, be blocked so as to simulate a counter-punch or both so that ail skills can be tested.

Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without 15 deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Dated this Friday, December 14,2007 Leon William Stevenson By his Patent Attorneys LESICAR PERRIN 8

Claims (13)

1. An exercise training apparatus including: a support shaft; and at least one arm being at least rotatably and tiltably associated with said support shaft, thereby 5 enabling chaotic three dimensional motion of a target component associated with said arm when said target component is struck.

2. An exercise training apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said at least one arm includes a first end connected to a housing bracket that is rotatably and tiltably connected to said support shaft, and a second end to which said target component is attached. 10

3. An exercise training apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said housing bracket is shaped to receive and journal around a correspondingly dimensioned portion of said support shaft.

4. An exercise training apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said housing bracket is annular and said correspondingly dimensioned portion of said support shaft is substantially spherical.

5. An exercise training apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said substantially spherical portion is 15 located at a free end thereof.

6. An exercise training apparatus as in any one of the above claims wherein said at least one arm is further pivotably associated with said support shaft, providing for still further chaotic motion of said strike target.

7. An exercise training apparatus as in claims 2-5 wherein said arm first end is pivotably connected 20 to the housing bracket.

8. An exercise training apparatus as in any one of the above claims wherein said arm is constructed of resilient material and said target component is in the form of a punching ball.

9. An exercise training apparatus as in any one of the above claims wherein said support shaft is extendible and lockable at predetermined heights. 25

10. An exercise training apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said support shaft includes a base having a socket portion shaped to receive said support shaft, the support shaft being extendible by way of slideable movement along the socket portion, and a fixing portion for securing said apparatus to a surface.

11. An exercise training apparatus including: 30 an elongate shaft adapted to be mounted at one end thereof to a surface; 9 a housing positioned at a predetermined position along said shaft, said housing being at least rotatably and tiltably associated therewith; at least one resilient arm, and a strike ball attached to a free end thereof, said at least one resilient arm being connected to said housing and thereby providing for chaotic three 5 dimensional movement of said ball when struck.

12. An exercise training apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said at least one resilient arm is pivotably connected to said housing, providing for further chaotic three dimensional movement of said ball when struck.

13. An exercise training apparatus as in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein said training apparatus 10 includes a base plate adapted to be mounted to said surface, and a hollow, cylindrical support member extending outwards from said base plate, said shaft being slideable within said support member and lockable there along.