A DEVICE FOR PERFORMING MOTOR ACTIVITIES

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for performing motor activity of punch bag or similar type, the apparatus is capable of generating sensory stimuli and included a body having light sources controlled by a control unit and a sensor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing motor activity comprising an elongated body with a substantially circular or polygonal section to be positioned with its a main axis of extension substantially vertical, the outer surface of which is adapted to be hit by at least one person with the hands, feet or other parts of the body, said surface at least partly consisting of or covered with a soft or yielding material, the apparatus further comprising: a plurality of light sources arranged in angular sectors spaced angularly along the perimeter of the body, housed in respective spaces obtained in the outer surface and positioned flush or recessed relative thereto; first sensor means adapted to detect proximity or contact of a part of the body of the person with the apparatus; second sensor means adapted to detect the position of the person relative to the perimeter of the body of the apparatus; a control unit configured to switch on or off the light sources positioned in a given angular sector of the body of the apparatus as a function of the position of the person detected by the second sensor means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second sensor means are adapted to detect the angular position of the person relative to the axis of the body of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second sensor means are configured to detect the presence of the person in a plurality of areas A.sub.1-A.sub.n arranged substantially along a circumference around the body of the apparatus.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second sensor means are adapted to detect the distance of the person from the body of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light sources are arranged along vertical rows equally spaced angularly relative to the axis of extension of the body of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the light sources of one row are grouped into two or more groups positioned at different levels.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are configured to emit colored light with different colors, the choice of color during activation of a light source being managed by the control unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second sensor means are chosen from: pressure sensors or capacitive sensors positioned in a base arranged at the feet of the body of the apparatus; optical sensors or video cameras mounted on the body of the apparatus or on dedicated supports. accelerometers to be applied to the body of the person who uses the apparatus.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a tubular element and inserts made of a soft or yielding material, applied side by side along the perimeter of the tubular element, the light sources being positioned in the space between two adjacent inserts.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the body of the apparatus is placed on the ground or is hung on a support structure, the tubular element being equipped with movement means at least at the base or at the top so as to be able to translate relative to the ground or to said support structure, the apparatus further comprising an abutment element, attachable to the ground or to the support structure, to limit movement of the apparatus in a horizontal plane.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said abutment element is housed inside the tubular element and is adapted to coact in abutment with the inner walls thereof.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a motorized support connected to the base or to the top of the body of the apparatus, said motorized support being configured to rotate the apparatus about an axis of rotation eccentric relative to the axis of extension of the body, the distance between said axes being adjustable.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said motorized support comprises a motor and a rotating element connected to said motor and arranged so as to rotate in a horizontal plane, and wherein the body of the apparatus is mounted sliding on said rotating support.

14. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second sensor means are adapted to detect the distance of the person from the body of the apparatus.

15. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second sensor means are adapted to detect the distance of the person from the body of the apparatus.

16. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said light sources are arranged along vertical rows equally spaced angularly relative to the axis of extension of the body of the apparatus.

17. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said light sources are arranged along vertical rows equally spaced angularly relative to the axis of extension of the body of the apparatus.

18. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said light sources are arranged along vertical rows equally spaced angularly relative to the axis of extension of the body of the apparatus.

19. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light sources are configured to emit colored light with different colors, the choice of color during activation of a light source being managed by the control unit.

20. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the light sources are configured to emit colored light with different colors, the choice of color during activation of a light source being managed by the control unit.

Description

[0042] Further features and details of the invention will be better understood from the description below, provided by way of non-limiting example, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0043] FIG. 1 is a front view of the apparatus according to the invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0046] FIG. 4 is a front view of the apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0047] FIG. 5 is a front view of the apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0048] With reference to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole the apparatus of punch bag type, which comprises a body 10 arranged with its axis of extension X substantially vertical.

[0049] The body 10 comprises a tubular element 11, the outer wall of which is fitted with inserts 12 made of a yielding material, for example expanded materials or the like, preferably covered with a flexible layer 13 made of a polymer material, fabric or other synthetic or natural materials. The tubular element 11 is preferably cylindrical in shape. The inserts 12 have an elongated rectilinear shape and, preferably, cover the entire height of the tubular element 11. The inserts 12 are arranged around the perimeter of the tubular element 11 adjacent to one other but spaced slightly apart so that there is a space 14 between each pair.

[0050] Groups of light sources 15 are arranged in each space 14, spaced apart from one another and arranged along vertical rows. Each group 15 comprises a plurality of RGB LEDs capable of emitting light of different colors.

[0051] Both the inserts 12 and the light sources 15 are preferably equally spaced angularly relative to the axis X, as in the example of the figures.

[0052] The outer surfaces of the inserts 12, as a whole, give the body of the apparatus a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0053] The light sources 15 are supplied and controlled by a control unit 20 mounted on the apparatus, for example on the inside of the tubular element 11, at the top, as shown in the example of the figures, or on the outside.

[0054] The apparatus further comprises first sensor means 30, represented schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3, adapted to detect contact of the part of the body of the person with the surfaces of the apparatus or even only proximity at a predetermined distance. Said first sensor means 30 can, for example, comprise accelerometers, optical or ultrasonic proximity sensors or other sensors with the same function. Said first sensor means 30 are typically installed in the body of the apparatus, for example under the surface of the inserts 12 or in the vertical spaces 14.

[0055] The apparatus further comprises second sensor means 40 to detect the position of the body of the person relative to the apparatus 1 and, in particular, the angular position of the person relative to the axis of extension X of the body 10.

[0056] According to an embodiment, said second sensor means 40 comprise pressure sensors positioned in a base 16 arranged around the apparatus. Alternatively, other types of sensors, such as capacitive or equivalent, can be provided in the base 16.

[0057] According to this embodiment, the pressure sensors are arranged equally spaced angularly relative to the axis of extension X of the body 10, preferably in the same number as the number of sectors of the light sources.

[0058] Alternatively, or additionally, said second sensor means 40 can comprise optical sensors, video cameras or the like. These can be installed on the apparatus, for example at the top as in the example of the figures, or on external supports.

[0059] The second sensor means are connected to the control unit 20 which processes the signals to determine a discrete position of the person, for example associated with one of the areas A.sub.1, A.sub.2, . . . , A.sub.n defined around the apparatus. Each area is associated by the control unit with a corresponding sector of the body and more precisely with related groups of light sources 15.

[0060] According to a variant of the invention, the body 10 of the apparatus 1 is provided, at its base, with movement means 17, preferably of rolling type. Said rolling means 17 allow the apparatus to move in a horizontal plane following the actions performed by the person training.

[0061] To limit these movements, an abutment element 18 is provided, in the form of tube or bar, attached to the ground and which extends inside the tubular element 11. The movement of the apparatus 1 is determined by the inner dimension of the tubular element 11 and by the outer dimension of the abutment element 18.

[0062] Preferably, elastic means 18a and/or shock absorbers 18b are provided, which act between the abutment element 18 and the tubular element 11, to oppose the movements of the apparatus.

[0063] According to an alternative variant, illustrated in FIG. 4, the body 10 of the apparatus is connected to the ground or to a base support by means of a joint 19, for example a hinge or ball joint. The joint 19 allows the body 10 to oscillate slightly when it is hit by the person. Preferably, the joint 19 is associated with return means 19a adapted to maintain and/or to return the body of the apparatus substantially vertical in an idle condition, and if necessary with shock absorbers 19b to limit the speed and/or amplitude of the oscillations.

[0064] According to another variant, illustrated in FIG. 5, the apparatus 1 comprises a motorized support 50 placed connected to the body 10 at its base. Said motorized support 50 comprises a motor 51 that drives a disc shaped rotating element 52, which rotates about an axis of rotation Xr. The body 10 of the apparatus 1 is connected to the rotating element 52 so that the axis of extension X of the body is eccentric by a value and relative to the axis of rotation Xr of the rotating support.

[0065] Preferably, the body 10 of the apparatus is mounted on the disc 52 so that it can slide along a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation Xr or can be connected to said disc 52 in several points at different distances from said axis rotation Xr.

[0066] The invention has been described purely for non-limiting illustrative purposes, according to some preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art can find many other embodiments and variants, all falling within the scope of protection of the appended claims.