GB2593489A

GB2593489A - Interactive Punch Bag

Info

Publication number: GB2593489A
Application number: GB2004262.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Natali Marc
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-03-24
Filing date: 2020-03-24
Publication date: 2021-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2040-03-24
Also published as: GB202004262D0; GB2593489B

Abstract

An interactive punchbag comprises a central vertical column 104 comprising a processing computer a plurality of releasably attached hit pads 101 that include a light source and at least one sensor in communication with the processing computer when attached; in use the computer instructs the plurality of hit pads 101 to light up in a predetermined pattern while simultaneously measuring hit data from the plurality of hit pads 101. The processor may include wireless communication; the light sources may be coloured or RGB lights and the sensors may be accelerometers or pressure sensors. The strike pads 101 may include a layer of translucent foam.

Description

Interactive Punching Bag [001] The present invention relates to physical training equipment. Particularly it relates to a punch bag type of training equipment. More particularly it relates to an interactive punch bag type equipment.

Background of the Invention

[2] Martial arts are extremely popular in todays society. Competitive fighters need to train and practice, and general members of the public often use martial arts training as a way of keeping fit and healthy. A piece of training equipment that is almost universal in its use regardless of which martial art an individual is practicing, is the punching bag.

[3] In its simplest form the punching bag is a bag filled with a weighty but malleable substance (for example sand), the punch bag is either held on a vertical support or suspended so the bag hangs down. This simple wdl known design is suitable for hitting, but does not particularly advance the technical skills or footwork of a user, to improve in these areas a user needs a coach/trainer in combination with the punchbag.

[004] Interactive punch bags are known in the field. They are often equipped with sensor regions which can measure hit strength/speed/accuracy etc. these can be in the form of attachments for existing traditional punching bags, like that disclosed in US10124227, these often don't provide complete 360 degree and/or height coverage of the punching bag.

[005] It is an object of the current invention to provide an interactive punchbag with total coverage of sensors and additional interactive training mechanisms.

Statement of Invention

[006] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an interactive punchbag comprising: a central vertical column comprising a processing computer; a plurality of hit pads, each comprising a light source and at least one sensor.

Wherein: each hit pad of the plurality of hit pads is releasably attached to the central column; the light source and the sensor of each hit pad is in communication with the processing computer when the respective hit pad is attached to the central column; and the whole outer surface of the column is substantially covered by the plurality of hit pads. Wherein in use the processing computer instructs some hit pads of the plurality of hit pads to light up in a predetermined pattern, while simultaneously receiving sensor data from the plurality of hit pads.

[007] An embodiment of the invention wherein a hit pad comprises: a backplate having two opposing surfaces and a surrounding edge separating the two; the first surface facing avvay from the vertical column in use, has the light source and at least one sensor mounted thereto, also on the first surface covering the light source and sensor there is a substantially translucent/transparent force dissipating material; the second surface facing towards the vertical column in use, has extending from it a releasable connection means for releasably connecting to one of a plurality of complimentary releasable connection means extending outward from the vertical column; a clear flexible coating surrounding substantially all of the hit pad except for the releasable attachment means.

[008] An embodiment of the invention wherein the processing computer further comprises wireless communication means, for connection to another interactive punchbag and/or a user owned smart device.

[009] An embodiment of the invention wherein the processing computer has a plurality of predetermined programmed patterns for lighting up the hit pads, each predetermined pattern relating to a training program.

[010] An embodiment of the invention wherein the light source can emit a selection of different colours.

[11] An embodiment of the invention wherein the light source is an RGB LED.

[12] An embodiment of the invention wherein the at least one predetermined 10 pattern incorporates a variety of different colours.

[13] An embodiment of the invention wherein the at least one sensor comprises an accelerometer and/or a pressure sensor.

[014] An embodiment of the invention further comprising a display.

[015] An embodiment of the invention wherein the processing computer uses the predetermined pattern and information from the at least one sensor to assess the success of a user and assign a score.

[16] An embodiment of the invention wherein the score of a user is displayed by the display.

[17] An embodiment of the invention wherein the substantially 25 translucent/transparent force dissipating material comprises one of sponge/foam/silica gel.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[018] The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings: [019] Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of the invention; [020[ Figure 2 depicts a close up of a single pad of an embodiment of the invention; [021] Figure 3 depicts an example training program of an embodiment of the invention;

Detailed Description

[22] Referring to figure 1 there is depicted an embodiment of the present invention. There is provided an interactive punching bag 100. The punching bag 100 comprises a stand 102 made of a base support 103 and a colurrin 104 extending vertically upwards and away from the base member 103. Surrounding the column 104 for substantially its whole length (with a small uncovered area at the bottom of the column and potentially a small uncovered area at the top) are a plurality of "hit pads" 101 releasably attached to the vertical column 104 in a cylindrical grid pattern. The plurality of hit pads 101 are each individually replaceable.

[23] Referring to figure 2 there is depicted an embodiment of a single "hit pad" 101. The hit pad 101 comprises a strong durable backplate 205, on an outward facing surface of the of the backplate 205 (by outward what is meant is a direction traveling perpendicularly away from the axis defined by the vertical column 104 when the hit pad 101 is installed on the column, the word) there is installed at least one sensor 204 and at least one RGB LED 203. Mounted on the outward facing

S

surface of backplate 205 over the at least one sensor 204 and at least one RGB IED 203 is a substantially transparent/translucent force dissipating material 202 for diffusing the light emitted by the RGB TED 203 and dissipating the force of a strike to the pad 101. Covering the hit pad 101 is a transparent flexible casing 201.

[24] The at least one sensors 204 can be an accelerometer, pressure sensor etc or any other suitable sensors for sensing and measuring a hit landed on a pad 101 known to a person skilled in the art. The transparent/translucent force dissipating material 202, can be a sponge or a foam material or a silica gel or any other suitable transparent/translucent force dissipating material known to a person skilled in the art.

[25] In the vertical column 104 and backplate 205 are held the electronics associated with the device. The backplate 205 will contain the wiring for the at least one sensor 204 and RGB LED 203 On an inward facing surface (not shown in figure 2) of the backplate 205, at a substantially central location, there is a releasable attachment means for connecting the hit pad 101 to the central column 104 via a complimentary releasable attachment means on the vertical column 104. This attachment means both secures the hit pad 101 in place on column 104 but also connects the wiring inside backplate 205 to the electronics held within vertical column 104. The connection means between the hit pad 101 and vertical column 104 can be one of many suitable connection means known to the skilled person.

[26] Inside column 104 there is a processing computer which is in communication with all attached hit pads 101, and also in communication with a display 105 at the top of the column 104. The computer instructs the RGB]EDs of the hit pads 101 to light up according to a pre programmed pattern. The computer also receives and processes signals from the at least one sensor 204.

[27] Tn use, a user will select a training program to be run by the interactive punching bag 100. The computer will then run the program instructing some of the hit pads to light up in different colours instructing the user where and where not to strike. There may be time limits/the target area may move in time. The sensors of the hit pads will register and measure strikes incident thereon, the computer will process the sensor information in correlation with the training program run and will asses the users performance and display the results and other training information (such as time left in round, selected training program etc) via display 105.

[28] ln an example embodiment when a hit pad is illuminated green it indicates to a user that it is to be hit; if a hit pad is illuminated orange, it means time is running out to hit the target; if a hit pad is illuminated red this indicates that it is not to be hit, and may incur penalty scores if hit. The computer uses sensor readings from the hit pads to assign a score to the user for the training session.

[29] The interactive punchbag can have a variety of different lighting patterns to achieve different training goals, some examples of these arc: [030] A foot work program. Green lights rotate around the bag, leading a user to move around the bag to be able to hit the target. The lights may change direction, forcing a user to also change direction/footwork; [031] A speed/reaction program. Lights remain on for a specific time before being switched off And/or lights do not light up one after another and the user has to wait until a target light turns on, wherein the time between the hit pad being light to the hit pad being struck is calculated for scoring; [032] A sparing partner program. Multiple sections comprising one or more hit pads would light up green, however there will also be moving "lines" of red hit pads, and some green hit pads will randomly change red to symbolise blocking of a sparing partner.

[33] The above are just example programs, many other possible training and scoring programs could be implemented on the interactive punchbag.

[34] The interactive punchbag may also have wireless communication capabilities, wifi, BlueTooth(RTM), mobile data networks etc. via the wireless communication capabilities a user could use a smart device linked to the interactive punchbag to control the program settings. The wireless communication capabilities could also be used to link multiple interactive punchbags together, so that two users could compete against each other.

[35] Although in the embodiment described the hit pads are arranged in a cylindrical manner, this is not meant to be limiting to the invention, the hit pads could be arranged in a variety of different shapes, for example to mimic the variety of shapes traditional punching bags are made in.

[36] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. The description is intended to enable a skilled person to make the invention, not to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims.

Claims

Claims 1 An interactive punchbag comprising: a central vertical column comprising a processing computer; a plurality of hit pads, each comprising a light source and at least one sensor; wherein: each hit pad of the plurality of hit pads is releasably attached to the central column; the light source and the sensor of each hit pad is in communication with the processing computer when the respective hit pad is attached to the central column; and the whole outer surface of the column is substantially covered by the plurality of hit pads; and wherein in use the processing computer instructs some hit pads of the plurality of hit pads to light up in a predetermined pattern, while simultaneously receiving sensor data from the plurality of hit pads.
2. an interactive punchbag according to claim 1 wherein a hit pad comprises: a backplate having two opposing surfaces and a surrounding edge separating the two; the first surface facing away from the vertical column in use, has the light source and at least one sensor mounted thereto, also on the first surface covering the light source and sensor there is a substantially translucent/transparent force dissipating material; the second surface facing towards the vertical column in use, has extending from it a releasable connection means for releasably connecting to one of a plurality of complimentary releasable connection means extending outward from the vertical column; a clear flexible coating surrounding substantially all of the hit pad except for the releasable attachment means.
3 An interactive punchbag according to any preceding claim wherein the processing computer further comprises wireless communication means, for connection to another interactive punchbag and/or a user owned smart device.
4. An interactive punchbag according to any preceding claim wherein the processing computer has a plurality of predetermined programmed patterns for lighting up the hit pads, each predetermined pattern relating to a training program.
5. an interactive punchbag according any preceding claim wherein the light source can emit a selection of different colours.
6. An interactive punchbag according to claim 5 wherein the light source is an RGB LED.
7. An interactive punchbag according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the at least one predetermined pattern incorporates a variety of different colours.
8. An interactive punchbag according to any preceding claim wherein the at least one sensor comprises an accelerometer and/or a pressure sensor.
9. An interactive punchbag according to any preceding claim further comprising a display.
10. An interactive punchbag according to any preceding claim wherein the processing computer uses the predetermined pattern and information from the at least one sensor to asses the success of a user and assign a score.
11. An interactive punchbag according to claims 9 and 10 wherein the score of a user is displayed by the display.
12. An interactive punchbag according to any preceding claim wherein the substantially translucent/transparent force dissipating material comprises one of sponge/foam/silica gel.