Exercise or Training Apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus including an upright portion, a base portion attached to the upright portion, support means connectable to the upright portion for supporting multiple punching pads, wherein said multiple punching pads are positioned to enable a user to direct different types of punches to the punching pads.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Exercise apparatus including:
 an upright portion;   a base portion attached to the upright portion;   a plurality of punching pads; and   support means connectable to the upright portion for supporting said plurality of punching pads;   wherein said plurality of punching pads are positioned to enable a user to direct different types of punches to the punching pads.   
     
     
         2 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said support means is a cross member adapted to connect to the upright portion transversely in one of several positions along said upright portion. 
     
     
         3 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said cross member has a central portion and first and second arms extending from said central portion, each of the central portion and first and second arms adapted to retain said punching pads in different positions thereon. 
     
     
         4 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said support means is at least one swing arm adapted to pivot with respect to a connection point to the upright portion, said at least one swing arm adapted to retain said punching pads in different positions thereon. 
     
     
         5 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 4  further including at least one resistance member attachable between a respective swing arm and the upright portion, said at least one resistance member being resilient such that after movement of the swing arm, by the user punching a pad attached to the swing arm, the swing arm is able to return to its former position. 
     
     
         6 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein each resistance member is adapted to be placed at different positions on the upright portion in order to change the resistance of the swing arm to move. 
     
     
         7 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 4  further including resilient element means fitted to the base portion to enable the upright portion to deflect about a pivot point in one direction and an opposite direction when the user hits the punching pads, each of said directions being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the upright portion. 
     
     
         8 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the base portion has two longitudinal portions substantially parallel to one another, with one of the portions pivotable about a pivot point adjacent where the upright portion attaches to the base portion, the resilient element means formed of a spring located at each end of the longitudinal portions and connecting the longitudinal portions together, so that the upright portion is able to move in said one direction and said opposite direction when the user is using the apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein stopper means is variably located between the two longitudinal portions of the base portion to alter the degree to which the upright portion rotationally moves in said one direction and said opposite direction. 
     
     
         10 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 4  further including a bench and a pair of foot rests adapted to fit to the upright portion to enable a user to perform an exercise to work the user's abdominal region and hit any one or more of the punching pads in one routine. 
     
     
         11 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the routine is the user hooking his/her feet against a respective foot rest, lying back on the top surface of the bench that is inclined, the user then sitting up and punching the pads and then lying back again against the top surface of the bench and repeating the routine. 
     
     
         12 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said upright portion is a stand and has first and second upright bars substantially parallel to one another and extending from the base portion, said apparatus further including a series of rods connectable in a series of positions transverse to and between the upright bars. 
     
     
         13 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein each resistance member is attached between one rod in said series of rods and a clip located on one of the swing arms. 
     
     
         14 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 4  further including a duck arm assembly, fitted to said at least one swing arm, said duck assembly adapted to move when said at least one swing arm moves by pivoting with respect to the upright portion. 
     
     
         15 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein said duck arm assembly has an elbow and locating plate at an end that is fitted to the at least one swing arm, said locating plate having a series of apertures that enable connection of the duck arm assembly to the at least one swing arm and resulting in different orientations of the duck arm assembly. 
     
     
         16 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said at least one swing arm has one or more punching pads connected thereto arranged on either side of the connection point to the upright portion, such that two users are able to stand on opposite sides of the upright portion and alternately hit respective punching pads. 
     
     
         17 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  further including a stay connected to the upright portion at an inclined angle and having a joint at either or both ends that enables movement of the stay when the apparatus is used by a user. 
     
     
         18 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said support means includes a cross member, adapted to connect to the upright portion transversely in one of several positions along said upright portion, and further includes at least one swing arm adapted to pivot with respect to a connection point to the upright portion, said at least one swing arm adapted to retain said punching pads in different positions thereon.