Timing ball

Abstract

A striking apparatus for all fighting art forms such as boxing to improve a user's fighting skills. The striking apparatus includes a timing ball having a link disposed thereon; an elongated adjustable rope; a swivel mounted to a swivel plate, the swivel plate being mounted to a backboard; the backboard being optionally attached to a frame; the link disposed on the timing ball being attached to the elongated adjustable rope, the rope being attached to the swivel; and the timing ball configured to be struck by the knuckles of a user's fist. Another embodiment of the invention includes a punching apparatus station for all fighting art forms which generally includes the same configuration as the striking apparatus referenced-above. Importantly, the striking apparatus advantageously is a cross between a speed bag, a double end bag, and a maze ball but is beneficially more effective than all three.

Claims

1. A method of improving a user's fighting skills utilizing a punching apparatus station, the method comprising the following steps: attaching a backboard to a frame, said backboard being at least 4 feet in diameter, wherein a striking surface of the backboard is substantially flat and is configured to be disposed directly above the user while using the punching apparatus station; attaching a plurality of legs to the frame to form a punching apparatus station; mounting a swivel to a swivel plate, the swivel plate being mounted to the backboard; providing a timing ball, said timing ball comprised of a bladderless tether ball being spherical in shape having a diameter in a range of 9 inches to 10 inches and a link built within said timing ball; attaching an elongated rope between said swivel and said link of said timing ball; and adjusting a length of the rope such that a height of the timing ball is positioned substantially to a neck level of the user; wherein the timing ball is configured to be punched by knuckles of a user's fist causing the timing ball to rebound off of the striking surface and swing back immediately towards the user to simulate a counter punch.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the frame is attached to four legs forming the punching apparatus station.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the frame is a cross frame.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a length of the rope is in a range of 10 inches to 16 inches measured from a striking surface of the backboard, thereby allowing users of various heights to strike the timing ball, and to also enable the timing ball to substantially simulate a counter attack for users of various heights after striking said timing ball.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the backboard is in a range of 4 feet to 7 feet.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a length of the rope is adjusted by tying knots thereon such that a height of the timing ball is adjusted substantially to a neck level of the user.

7. A method of improving a user's fighting skills, the method comprising the following steps: mounting a backboard to a wall; attaching a plurality of legs to the backboard forming a punching apparatus station, wherein the backboard having the legs attached to one side thereon and the opposing side of the backboard being mounted to the wall; mounting a swivel to a swivel plate, the swivel plate being mounted to the backboard, wherein the diameter of the backboard is in a range of 4 feet to 7 feet; providing a timing ball, said timing ball comprised of a bladderless tether ball being spherical in shape having a diameter in a range of 9 inches to 10 inches and a link built within said timing ball; attaching an elongated rope between said swivel and said link of said timing ball; and adjusting a length of the rope such that a height of the timing ball is positioned substantially to a neck level of the user; wherein the timing ball is configured to be punched by knuckles of a user's fist causing the timing ball to rebound off of the striking surface and swing back immediately towards the user to simulate a counter punch.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein a striking surface of the backboard is substantially flat and is configured to be disposed directly above a user while using the punching apparatus station.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein a length of the rope is in a range of 10 inches to 16 inches measured from a striking surface of the backboard, thereby allowing users of various heights to strike the timing ball, and to also enable the timing ball to substantially simulate a counter attack for users of various heights after striking said timing ball.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein a length of the rope is adjusted by tying knots thereon such that a height of the timing ball is adjusted substantially to a neck level of the user.

11. A method of improving a user's fighting skills, the method punching apparatus station comprising: a frame; a backboard attached to said frame, said backboard being at least 4 feet in diameter, wherein a striking surface of the backboard is substantially flat and is configured to be disposed directly above a user while using the punching apparatus station; a plurality of legs attached to the frame to form said punching apparatus station; a swivel mounted to a swivel plate, the swivel plate being mounted to the backboard; a timing ball comprised of a bladderless tether ball being spherical in shape having a diameter in a range of 9 inches to 10 inches and a link built within said timing ball; and an elongated rope attached on one end to said swivel and on a second end to said link of said timing ball, wherein a length of the rope is configured to be adjusted such that a height of the timing ball is capable of being positioned substantially to a neck level of the user; wherein the timing ball is configured to be punched by knuckles of a user's fist such that the timing ball rebounds off of the striking surface and swings back immediately towards the user to simulate a counter punch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front view of the timing ball.

(2) FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the timing ball swivel.

(3) FIG. 3 is a front view of the timing ball backboard.

(4) FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the cross frame.

(5) FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the cross frame and legs.

(6) FIG. 6 is a front view of the legs.

(7) FIG. 7 is a front view of the cross frame mounted to the backboard.

(8) FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the punching apparatus station.

(9) FIG. 9 represents an execution diagram directed to a method of improving a user's fighting skills.

(10) FIG. 10 is directed to a front view of a wall mount punching apparatus station

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Introduction

(11) The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out various embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made for at least the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

(12) In one embodiment of the current invention, a striking apparatus is used by athletes partaking in a fighting art form such as boxing, said apparatus includes a timing ball; an elongated adjustable rope; a swivel mounted to a swivel plate, wherein said swivel plate is mounted to a backboard; the backboard being attached to a frame; and the timing ball being attached to the elongated adjustable rope, wherein said rope being attached to said swivel.

(13) In another embodiment of the invention, a punching apparatus station is provided for all fighting art forms to improve a user's fighting skills. The punching apparatus station includes a timing ball having a link disposed thereon; an elongated adjustable rope; a swivel mounted to a swivel plate, wherein said swivel plate being mounted to a backboard; the backboard being attached to a frame; and the link disposed on the timing ball being attached to the elongated adjustable rope, wherein said rope being attached to said swivel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) With reference to FIG. 1, a timing ball 10 having a link 20 for attaching to a rope 30 is shown. In one embodiment, the timing ball is a tether ball 10 having a built in link 20 and is made to be punched with the knuckles of a user's fist. In another embodiment, the timing ball 10 could be a racket type ball 10 that is about the size of a softball. In a further embodiment, the rope 30 could optionally be made out of bungee style rope.

(15) Alternatively, the timing ball 10 could be an eight pound like medicine ball 10 that is padded and wrapped in leather. In this embodiment, the timing ball 10 should be approximately nine to ten inches in diameter. Further, the swivel 40 in this particular embodiment will have a hole in it so that the timing ball 10 can be attached to the eye bolt 70 as shown in FIG. 2. Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the timing ball 10 will hang from an adjustable rope 30 having a length from 10 inches to 24 inches long. The rope is tied to a swivel that is mounted to a backboard. The backboard must be at least five feet in diameter in this embodiment. It will be suspended by a free standing frame or a wall mount (See also 920 and FIG. 10). These specific dimensions allow the timing ball 10 to simulate a counter attack after being struck by users of various heights (See also FIG. 9, of Method 900).

(16) As illustrated in FIG. 2, a timing ball swivel 40 is attached to a rope 30 that includes a plurality of threads 50 for screwing into a swivel plate 60 (See also 930). Additionally, the swivel plate 60 is configured so that it advantageously holds the eyebolt 70 as shown in FIG. 2. Likewise, the swivel plate 60 is configured so that it can be bolted to a backboard 90 (See FIG. 3). In use, a cross frame 100 is bolted or attached to the backboard 90 as illustrated in FIG. 7.

(17) Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, a cross frame 100 is shown that includes a plurality of locking pin holes for allowing stance extensions 110 to be added to the punching apparatus station 200. The purpose of the stance extensions 100 is to beneficially widen the stance area in the punching apparatus station 200 so that a user or fighter has more space to move around the timing ball 10 for proper development of foot placement during training.

(18) Referring still to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the cross frame 100 can be attached to a plurality of legs 115. Alternatively, the stance extensions 110 that are attached to the cross frame 100 can be optionally attached to the plurality of legs 115 when a user wants to increase the stance area. In a further embodiment, leg extensions 117 can be added by attaching them to the legs 115 for advantageously raising or lowering the backboard according to the height of the user (See 930).

(19) The cross frame 100, stance extensions 110, plurality of legs 115, and leg extensions 117 comprising the punching apparatus station 200 can be optionally made of thick steel tubing, wood, metal, alloy, or iron. Further, the punching apparatus station 200 can optionally include a plurality of wheels 3 as shown in FIG. 8 for allowing transportation of said punching station 200.

(20) In use, the timing ball 10 is a substantially round ball that hangs vertically from the adjustable rope 30 that is tied to the swivel 40 as shown in FIG. 8 (See also 950). The swivel 40 is mounted to the backboard similar to a speed bag, but larger. Although the timing ball 10 may resemble an oversize speed bag, its function is entirely different. For instance, the timing ball 10 is struck with the knuckles of a user's fist (i.e., real punches) rather than being struck with the side of a user's hand (hammer fist). A speed bag on the other hand is struck with the sides of a user's hand (hammer fist) which is not a real punch. Additionally, you can use a speed bag on a timing ball mount 11 as shown in FIG. 8, but you cannot use a timing ball 10 on a speed mount.

(21) As previously stated, a speed bag is similar to the timing ball 10 but has different dimensions and a much different effect in use. For instance, the average speed bag is used with a backboard typically 3 feet in diameter. It has a teardrop shaped leather bag with a changeable bladder located within and is mounted directly to a swivel. Importantly, you can use a speed bag on a timing ball backboard but you cannot use a timing ball on a speed bag backboard. Further, the bottom portion of a speed bag typically hangs approximately at the eye level of a user. Conversely, the center portion of the timing ball (i.e., center portion with respect to the diameter of the timing ball) is typically configured to hang substantially at the neck level of the user which allows the user to throw real punches, i.e., how they would be thrown in an actual boxing match (See also 960).

(22) In another embodiment of the present invention, the backboard 90 used with the timing ball 10 has to be at least 4 feet in diameter and in other embodiments could be as large as 7 feet in diameter. The timing ball 10 itself is round and is approximately 10 inches in diameter. It also has a much harder shell than a speed bag and no inner changeable rubber bladder. The timing ball 10 is also used with a rope 30 or a cable extension 30 that is connected to the swivel 40 as shown in FIG. 2. The rope 30 or cable 30 extension must be no less than 10 inches and no longer than 16 inches in this embodiment of the present invention. These specific dimensions advantageously allow the timing ball 10 to simulate a counter attack after being struck by users of various heights where the speed bag does not simulate a counter attack at all.

(23) In use, a user can also adjust the height of the rope 30 by tying knots in it or incorporating alternative embodiments such as links or a buckle system, or the like. The purpose of changing the length of the rope 30 is to change the speed of the timing ball 10 as it approaches the user, thereby requiring the user to change the timing of punches he or she is throwing. Similarly, adjusting the length of the rope 30 causes the user to have to adjust his or her reach so that they have to move their head as the timing ball 10 approaches their face like a counter punch (See also FIG. 9).

(24) In use, the timing ball 10 is similar but different from a VO BALL. Notably, the VO BALL is not sold with a backboard. It includes a rope or a chord that is about 4-6 feet which is attached to a ball that is very similar to a tennis ball. On the other end of the ball is chord that acts as an anchor that you can attach to the ceiling of any room. The effect is similar to that of the timing ball 10 since it simulates a counter attack but since the chord is so long the target is meant to be hit with only a single shot as to where the timing ball 10 is faster than the VO BALL so you can hit it with punches in succession, or as they say in boxing, hit it with combinations. In short, the timing ball 10 is a much more durable and a more effective training tool for boxing or all other art forms of fighting.

(25) Optionally, the backboard 90 can be suspended multiple ways. For instance, a wall mount 15m design could be implemented instead of the leg concept as shown in FIG. 10. When using the wall mount design, a durable wall 15w would have to be used in order to support the weight of it. To utilize a free-standing design, the leg concept will have to be used (See 920/930). In this disclosure, the 15m designation refers to the wall mounts. It is well known to a person skilled in the art the various ways to mount a backboard or frame to a wall.

(26) In this specification, the striking apparatus and punching apparatus station can be used for all fighting art forms which include boxing, the martial arts, mixed martial arts or the like.

(27) It should be understood that the foregoing relates to various embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should also be understood that the present invention is not limited to the designs mentioned in this application and the equivalent designs in this description, but it is also intended to cover other equivalents now known to those skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may become known to those skilled in the art in the future.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(28) The invention pertains to a timing ball apparatus and/or a punching apparatus station used for improving an athlete's combative fighting skills, which may be of value or importance to various industries such as boxing and/or the mixed martial arts industry.