Punching bag retention apparatus

Abstract

In one aspect the invention provides a punching bag retention apparatus which includes a bag engagement structure, and a user engagement structure. This retention apparatus also includes a tether defining a bag end and a user end, the bag end of the tether being arranged to connect to the bag engagement structure, and the user end of the tether being arranged to connect to the user engagement structure.

1 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A punching bag retention apparatus which includes
 a bag engagement structure, and   a user engagement structure, and   a tether defining a bag end and a user end, the bag end of the tether being arranged to connect to the bag engagement structure, and the user end of the tether being arranged to connect to the user engagement structure,   wherein the bag engagement structure incorporates a tether interface component configured to allow the tether to be connected to and disconnected from the bag engagement element, the tether interface component being formed by a combination of a guide and carriage assembly deployed along at least a portion of the exterior surface of the bag engagement structure where the carriage is free to move along the length of the guide and will experience friction based braking forces as it moves.   
     
     
         27 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the guide is formed as a track on the surface of a bag engagement structure. 
     
     
         28 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the carriage assembly is formed from a component adapted to run along the guide, the carriage assembly providing a mounting point for a connector deployed at the bag end of the tether. 
     
     
         29 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the tether is formed from a single length of woven fabric which includes at least one buckle or connector. 
     
     
         30 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein at least part of a tether is formed by material with a limited degree of elasticity. 
     
     
         31 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 30  wherein at least a portion of the tether is formed from a woven elastic material with a polyester component. 
     
     
         32 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the tether is formed with a construction which allows its length to be adjusted from approximately 25 to 30 cm long, to approximately 1.5 m long. 
     
     
         33 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the tether is formed from a plurality of lengths of material connected together where one or more of these lengths is capable of being doubled over itself to reduce the overall length of the tether. 
     
     
         34 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein at least one sensor is connected to or associated with the tether, said sensor or sensors being configured to measure the force experienced by the tether when a punching bag is struck by a user. 
     
     
         35 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 34  wherein said sensor or sensors is configured to be interrogated by a remote processing device. 
     
     
         36 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein either or both ends of the tether includes a releasable connector which enables the tether to be connected and disconnected from the bag engagement structure and/or user engagement structure. 
     
     
         37 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the bag engagement structure and/or user engagement structure incorporates a releasable connector which allows for connection to the tether. 
     
     
         38 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein said releasable connector is formed by a lobster clip mounted by way of a pivoting or rotating swivel. 
     
     
         39 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 37  wherein said releasable connector is formed by a lobster clip mounted by way of a pivoting or rotating swivel. 
     
     
         40 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein a user engagement structure is formed as a belt configured to be worn around the waist or hips of the user. 
     
     
         41 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 40  wherein the belt form user engagement structure includes a flexible snap lock fastener capable of being opened and closed by a user wearing boxing gloves. 
     
     
         42 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 40  wherein the belt form user engagement structure is flared to the rear in contact with a user's lower back, and strengthen to the front where connected to the tether. 
     
     
         43 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein a bag engagement structure is formed by a removable and adjustable bag engagement belt. 
     
     
         44 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 43  wherein a bag engagement belt is formed from two or more lengths of flexible material joined together at variable positions along their length to fix the circumference of the belt. 
     
     
         45 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 43  wherein a bag engagement belt is formed from a single length of material and a belt clip configured to control circumference of the belt. 
     
     
         46 . A punching bag retention apparatus as claimed in  claim 43  wherein the bag engagement belt is formed from a loop of elastic material configured to be stretched around a desired portion of a punching bag.