Octagonal punching bag arrangement

Abstract

An octagonal punching bag arrangement can include a body portion, a head portion, and a connecting portion. Each of the body portion and the head portion is designed in the shape of an octagonal prism. The connecting portion is positioned to connect the head portion to the body portion. The connecting portion is in the shape of an octagonal pyramidal prism tapering inwardly. Such a design provides a user, such as a boxer or martial artist, with a variety of differently oriented striking surfaces to permit the user to practice different strikes.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An octagonal punching bag arrangement comprising:
 a body portion configured to simulate a human body and being in the shape of an octagonal prism;   a head portion configured to simulate a human head and being in the shape of an octagonal prism;   a connecting portion disposed to connect said head portion to said body portion; and   said connecting portion being in the shape of an octagonal pyramidal prism tapering inwardly starting at the bottom outer edges of said head portion and ending at a central section of said body portion.   
     
     
         2 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said body portion comprises an octagonal top body surface and eight side body panels that are rectangular and disposed transverse to said top body surface;   said head portion comprises an octagonal top head surface and eight side head panels that are rectangular and disposed transverse to said top head surface;   said connecting portion comprises eight side connecting panels disposed at an acute angle with respect to said top body surface; and   each of said side head panels, said side connecting panels, and said side body panels comprises a resilient shock-absorbing material layer configured to be punched or kicked by a user.   
     
     
         3 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 2 , further comprising a support frame, wherein said support frame comprises:
 a central pillar extending through each of said head portion, said connecting portion, and said body portion; and   octagonal reinforcing platforms mounted on and extending radially from said central pillar configured to reinforce and shape said head portion, said connecting portion, and said body portion.   
     
     
         4 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein said reinforcing platforms comprise:
 an upper reinforcing head platform disposed within and to support an upper portion of each of said side head panels;   a lower reinforcing head platform disposed within and to support a lower portion of each of said side head panels;   an upper reinforcing body platform disposed within and to support an upper portion of each of said side body panels; and   a lower reinforcing body platform disposed within and to support a lower portion of each of said side body panels.   
     
     
         5 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein:
 said support frame comprises eight reinforcing connecting plates connected at an angle starting at the lower edges of said lower reinforcing head platform and ending at said central pillar; and   each of said reinforcing connecting plates is disposed behind and to support a corresponding one of said side connecting panels.   
     
     
         6 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said central pillar is hollow and has a square cross-section; and   each of said reinforcing platforms comprises:
 four square frame pieces mounted one on each side of said central pillar and having an essentially similar cross-sectional size as said central pillar; and 
 four angled side pieces disposed to connect corners of adjacent square frame pieces. 
   
     
     
         7 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein each of said angled side pieces is longer than the sides of each of said square frame pieces such that said side body panels and said side head panels each comprise four larger panels and four smaller panels arranged in an alternating manner. 
     
     
         8 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein said reinforcing connecting plates comprise:
 four rectangular plates connected to the outer edges of said square frame pieces of said lower reinforcing head platform and each side of said central pillar; and   four triangular plates connected to said angled side pieces of said lower reinforcing head platform and to adjacent rectangular plates.   
     
     
         9 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein said support frame comprises metal. 
     
     
         10 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein each of said side head panels, said side connecting panels, and said side body panels comprises:
 a rigid back layer configured to support and stabilize said resilient shock-absorbing material layer and connect its panel to said support frame; and   a plastic cover layer configured to cover said resilient shock-absorbing material layer and provide a surface that is sufficiently durable to withstand repeated punching or kicking by a user.   
     
     
         11 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein said support frame is configured to provide sufficient weight and stability to permit placement and use of the octagonal punching bag arrangement in a freestanding manner on a ground or floor surface. 
     
     
         12 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 11 , further comprising a chain arrangement connected to the top of said central pillar and configured to suspend the octagonal punching bag arrangement in a free-swinging manner from a ceiling or similar overhead support structure. 
     
     
         13 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein said support frame comprises metal. 
     
     
         14 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein each of said side head panels, said side connecting panels, and said side body panels comprises:
 a rigid back layer configured to support and stabilize said resilient shock-absorbing material layer and connect its panel to said support frame; and   a plastic cover layer configured to cover said resilient shock-absorbing material layer and provide a surface that is sufficiently durable to withstand repeated punching or kicking by a user.   
     
     
         15 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein said support frame is configured to provide sufficient weight and stability to permit placement and use of the octagonal punching bag arrangement in a freestanding manner on a ground or floor surface. 
     
     
         16 . The octagonal punching bag arrangement of  claim 3 , further comprising a chain arrangement connected to the top of said support frame and configured to suspend the octagonal punching bag arrangement in a free-swinging manner from a ceiling or similar overhead support structure.