According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an article of exercise equipment which includes a punch pad; and a plurality of delineated target zones provided on a striking surface of the punch pad.

The punch pad may include first indicating means for indicating which target zone is to be struck by a user. The punch pad may include second indicating means for indicating which hand a user is to strike at the indicated target zone with. Hence, by making use of the first and second indicating means the sequence in which the target zones are to be struck as well as the hand which is to be used to effect the strike can be indicated.

Each target zone may be resiliently deformable. The first indicating means may include a plurality of selectively energizable light sources. At least one light source may delineate each target zone. The second indicating means may be provided by each light source being selectively operable in each of two illuminated conditions, for example, each of two colours.

The article may include mounting means for dismountably mounting the article to a support, and connecting means for connecting the punch pad to the mounting means so as to permit displacement of the punch pad from a rest position to a displaced position relative to the mounting means.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an article of exercise equipment which includes mounting means whereby the article of exercise equipment is dismountably mountable on a support; a punch pad; and connecting means connecting the punch pad to the mounting means to permit displacement of the punch pad relative to the mounting means from a rest position, towards which it is resiliently biassed, to a displaced position.

The punch pad may be approximately the same shape and size as a sparring mitt.

The connecting means may include resilient bias means for resiliently biassing the punch pad towards its rest position.

The mounting means may include a clamp. Instead, the mounting means may include a mounting bracket. The connecting means may include a linkage arrangement whereby the punch pad is connected to the mounting means, the linkage arrangement being displaceable relative to the bracket from a rest position, towards which it is resiliently biased by resilient bias means, to a displaced position.

When the mounting means is in the form of a mounting bracket, the

linkage arrangement may be in the form of an elongate arm. The arm may include a pair of telescopically slidable tubes and releasable fastening means for releasably fastening the tubes together at different positions so as to permit the effective arm length to be varied.

The resilient bias means may include at least one spring.

Instead, the resilient bias means may include a tubular outer member to which the arm is connected, an inner member which is connected to the mounting bracket and is positioned within the outer member, the inner and outer members being angularly displaceable relative to one another from a rest position towards a displaced position, and spring means urging the outer and inner members towards their rest position. The inner and outer members may be non-circular in cross-section, the spring means being in the form of resiliently deformable material sandwiched between the inner and outer members. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, both the inner and outer members are generally square in cross-section, the inner member, in its rest position, being angularly displaced relative to the outer member through 45°, the spring means including an elongate strip of resiliently deformable material, which is generally triangular in cross-section, positioned between the inner and outer members in each of the four corners of the outer member.

The degree of pre-load of the resilient bias means may be adjustable. To this end, the inner member may be pivotally connected to the mounting bracket, the article of exercise equipment including a tension lever connected to the inner member to displace the inner member relative to the outer member, and releasable locking means for locking the tension lever and hence the inner member releasably in a desired position. The locking means may include an indexing member

connected to the bracket and a locking member whereby the lever arm is lockable releasably in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the indexing member.

The article may include damping means for damping a return stroke of the punch pad from its displaced position to its rest position.

The damping means may be in the form of a damper positioned between the linkage arrangement and the mounting means.

The mounting means may include a stop for inhibiting the displacement of the punch pad relative to the mounting bracket beyond its rest position.

The punch pad may include releasable securing means for releasably securing the punch pad to the connecting means. The securing means may be configured such that the position of the punch pad is adjustable.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an exercise apparatus which includes an aerobic exercise device; and at least one punch pad mounted to the exercise device and displaceable relative thereto by a user of the exercise device from a rest position, towards which it is resiliently biassed, to a displaced position.

The punch pad may include a plurality of delineated target zones provided on a striking surface of the punch pad.

The punch pad may include first indicating means for indicating which target zone is to be struck by a user. The punch pad may include second indicating means for indicating which hand a user is to strike at the indicated target zone with.

Each target zone may be resiliently deformable. The first indicating means may include a plurality of light sources. At least one light source may delineate each target zone. The second indicating means may be provided by each light source being operable in each of two illuminated conditions, for example, each of two colours.

In one embodiment of the invention, two spaced apart punch pads may be mounted on the aerobic exercise apparatus.

The aerobic exercise device may be in the form of an exercise bicycle, a stepping machine, a treadmill or the like. The punch pad may be approximately the same shape and size as a sparring mitt.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the exercise device is in the form of an exercise bicycle having a pair of front forks between which a wheel is mountable, a saddle and handle bars.

The apparatus may include connecting means whereby the punch pad is connected to the exercise device, typically the handle bars or the front forks of the bicycle, such that the punch pad is accessible to a user of the bicycle whilst seated on the saddle.

The connecting means may include resilient bias means for resiliently biassing the punch pad towards its rest position.

The or each punch pad may be mounted on the device by means of a mounting bracket, the connecting means including an elongate arm whereby the punch pad is connected to the mounting bracket, the arm being displaceable relative to the bracket from a rest position, towards which it is resiliently biased by resilient bias means, to a displaced position.

The resilient bias means may include at least one spring.

Instead, the resilient bias means may include a tubular outer member to which the arm is connected, an inner member which is connected to the mounting bracket and is positioned within the outer member, the inner and outer members being angularly displaceable relative to one another from a rest position towards a displaced position, and spring means urging the outer and inner members towards their rest position. The inner and outer members may be non-circular in cross-section, the spring means being in the form of resiliently deformable material sandwiched between the inner and outer members. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, both the inner and outer members are generally square in cross-section, the inner member, in its rest position, being angularly displaced relative to the outer member through 45°, the spring means including an elongate strip of resiliently deformable material, which is generally triangular in cross-section, positioned between the inner and outer members in each of the four corners of the outer member.

The degree of pre-load of the resilient bias means may be adjustable. To this end, the inner member may be pivotally connected to the mounting bracket, the exercise apparatus including a tension lever connected to the inner member to displace the inner member relative to the outer member, and releasable locking means for locking the tension

lever and hence the inner member releasably in a desired position. The locking means may include an indexing member connected to the bracket and a locking member whereby the lever arm is lockable releasably in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the indexing member.

The apparatus may include damping means for damping a return stroke of the punch pad from its displaced position to its rest position. The damping means may be in the form of a damper positioned between the linkage arrangement and the mounting means. It will, however, be appreciated that the damper may instead be positioned between the arm and the exercise device.

The mounting bracket may include a stop for inhibiting the displacement of the punch pad relative to the mounting bracket beyond its rest position.

The punch pad may include releasable securing means for releasably securing the punch pad to the connecting means. The securing means may be configured such that the position of the punch pad is adjustable.

More particularly, the punch pad may be adjustable in a vertical plane. In addition, the punch pad may be angularly displaceable about an axis.

The exercise apparatus may include a sensor linked to the punch pad. In one embodiment of the invention, the sensor may be linked to each of the target zones of the punch pad. The apparatus may include a processor linked to the sensor for processing information

received by the sensor and a display linked to the processor. The sensor may sense, for example, the number of blows landed on the punch pad or the force of blow with which the punch pad or a target zone thereof is struck. The processor may process the information and display, in a desired format, on the display the processed information, for example, the energy utilised by a user in effecting the blow. The apparatus may include data input means linked to the processor for transmitting information to the processor. In one embodiment of the invention, the processor may be linked to the indicating means. The processor may process the input data and determine the frequency at which the first indicating means indicate a target zone to be struck and the sequence in which the first indicating means indicate the successive target zones to be struck.

The exercise bicycle may include saddle adjustment means for adjusting the distance between the saddle and the front forks of the bicycle. Furthermore, the saddle may be adjustable in a vertical plane.

The exercise bicycle may include support means to provide support for a person using the bicycle to inhibit the risk that a person will fall off the saddle when punching at the punch pad. The support may include a shoulder protruding upwardly from a rear end of the saddle.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of exercising which includes the steps of operating an aerobic exercise apparatus and simultaneously striking a punch pad.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows an exploded view of an article of exercise equipment in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the article of exercise equipment of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of another article of exercise equipment in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a variation of the article of exercise equipment of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a schematic front view of another article of exercise equipment in accordance with the invention; Figure 6 shows a side view of the article of exercise equipment of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a three-dimensional view of an exercise apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figure 8 shows another exercise apparatus in accordance with the invention.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to an article of exercise equipment in accordance with the invention.

The article 10 includes a punch pad 12 and target zones 14 (see Figure 2) provided on a striking surface 16 of the punch pad 12.

The punch pad 12 is generally circular in outline when viewed from the front. Three target zones 14 are provided on the striking surface 16, each target zone 14 being generally circular in outline when viewed from the front.

Each target zone 14 is delineated by a light source, for example, a light-emitting diode (L. E. D.), in the form of a punch indicator light 18.

In use, the punch indicator light 18 illuminates in order to indicate that the target zone 14 delineated thereby is to be struck by a user. Furthermore, the punch indicator light 18 illuminates in one of two colours, for example, one of red or green, each colour having been predetermined to correspond to one of the hands of the user, in order to indicate which hand the user is to strike the illuminated target zone 14 with.

The article 10 further includes mounting means, generally indicated by reference numeral 20, and connecting means, generally indicated by reference numeral 22.

The mounting means 20 is in the form of a mounting bracket 24 and two mounting hook bolts 26 which are releasably connectable to the mounting bracket 24 by means of threaded fasteners 27. The hooked heads of the bolts 26 render the mounting means 20 particularly suitable for mounting to the front forks of an exercise bicycle. Naturally, however, the mounting means 20 can take any form suited to the support to which the article of exercise equipment 10 is to be mounted.

The connecting means 22 includes an elongate arm 28 connecting the punch pad 12 to the mounting bracket 20. The connecting means further includes resilient bias means in the form of a tubular outer member 30 which is square in cross-section, to which the

arm 28 is connected, and a tubular inner member 32. The arm 28 is connected to the outer member 30 by means of complementary brackets 29,31, which are connected to the arm 28 and the outer member 30, respectively, and which are secured together by threaded fasteners 33.

The inner member 32, which is also square in cross-section, is positioned with clearance within the outer member 30, such that the inner and outer members 32,30 are angularly displaceable relative to one another.

In its rest position, the inner member 32 is angularly displaced about its longitudinal axis through 45° relative to the outer member 30. An elongate strip 34 of resiliently deformable material, for example, rubber, of triangular cross-section is sandwiched between the outer member 30 and the inner member 32 in each of the four internal corners of the outer member 30.

A tension lever 36 is connected to and extends upwardly and outwardly from an end of the inner member 32 for angularly displacing the inner member 32 relative to the outer member 30 and the mounting bracket 24 from its rest position to pretension the bias means.

An indexing member 40 extends from the bracket 24, and has a plurality of angularly spaced apertures 42 therein. A locking peg 38 is mounted on the tension lever 36 and extends through an aperture 44 in the tension lever 36. The peg 38 is selectively engageable with any one of the apertures 42 to lock the tension lever in a desired position. Hence, the bias means biasses the arm 28, and hence the punch pad 12, in the direction of the arrow 45. A stop 46 is provided on the bracket 24. The punch pad 12 is in its rest position when the arm 28 abuts the stop 46.

A damper 43 is provided between the bracket 24 and the arm 28 intermediate the indexing member 40 and the stop 46 for, in use,

damping a return stroke of the punch pad from its displaced to its rest position.

The arm 28 includes a securing plate 48, of top hat section, at an operatively upper end thereof. The securing plate 48 is slidably receivable in a complementary backing plate 50, secured to a non- striking surface of the punch pad 12. The article 10 includes releasable securing means in the form of a clamp screw 52 for releasably securing the securing plate 48 and the backing plate 50 together in desired relationship such that the position of the punch pad 12 is adjustable.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 of the drawings in which reference numeral 80 refers generally to another article of exercise equipment in accordance with the invention and, unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals used above with reference to Figures 1 and 2 are used to designate similar parts.

The arm 28 includes a pair of telescopically slidable tubes 28.1 and 28.2 and releasable fastening means in the form of a fastening screw 28.3 for fastening the tubes 28.1,28.2 together releasably so as to provide the desired length of arm and, hence, height of punch pad.

An indexing member in the form of a cylindrical projection 82 extends from the mounting bracket 24, and has a transverse screw- threaded guide passage defined therethrough. Similarly, the tension lever 36 is provided with a cylindrical projection 86 through which a transverse screw-threaded guide passage is defined. A tension screw 88, having a complementary screw-thread, is receivable through the aligned guide passages of the cylindrical projections 82 and 86,

respectively, to lock the tension lever 36 in a desired position relative to the mounting bracket 24. Further, by rotating the tension screw 88, the position of the tension lever and hence the pretension of the bias means can be adjusted.

In Figure 4 of the drawings, the hooked heads of the mounting bolts 26 mount the bracket 24 to a mounting plate 90. The mounting plate 90 is dismountably mountable to a mounting arm 92 mounted to a wall (not shown). The mounting plate includes a releasable mounting element whereby the mounting plate 90 is selectively mountable to the arm 92 at a desired height.

In use, a user (not shown) stands adjacent to a wall on which the article 80 is mounted and punches the punch pad 12. The Inventor believes that the article 80 in accordance with the invention will provide a means of improving a user's hand-eye co-ordination and upper body tone and fitness. The Inventor believes that the article 80 will appeal to children and that it can thus be used as a toy, the use of which has physiological benefits.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, reference numeral 100 refers generally to another article of exercise equipment in accordance with the invention.

The article 100 includes mounting means, generally indicated by reference numeral 102, a punch pad 103 and connecting means, generally indicated by reference numeral 105.

The mounting means 102 is in the form of a clamp comprising two parts 104,106 which are releasably connectable together by means of threaded fasteners 108. The parts 104,106 are generally C-shaped thereby rendering the clamp particularly suitable for clamping to a bar or the like. Naturally, however, the mounting means 102 can take any suitable form depending upon the support to which the article of exercise equipment 100 is to be mounted.

The punch pad 103 is generally rectangular when viewed from the front having a length L of approximately 20 cm and a width W of approximately 15 cm. Naturally, however, the dimensions can vary.

The connecting means 105 includes a linkage arrangement 110 and a coil spring 112 connected to the linkage arrangement 110.

The linkage arrangement 110 is connected at its one end to the part 104 of the clamp and the punch pad 103 is pivotally connected to the other end of the linkage arrangement 110. The connection between the punch pad 103 and the linkage arrangement 110 is configured such that the punch pad 103 is angularly displaceable about an upwardly directed axis 114. Further, the linkage arrangement 110 is configured such that the rest position of the punch pad 103 is adjustable from a first position in which a striking surface 116 of the punch pad 103 lies in a generally vertical plane (as shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings) to a displaced position in which the striking surface 116 of the punch pad 103 faces downwardly (as shown in broken lines in Figure 6 of the drawings).

In use, the article of exercise equipment 100 is secured to a suitable support by the connecting means 105 and a person can then

punch the punch pad 103 which is resiliently biassed by means of the coil spring 112 towards its rest position.

As mentioned above, the position of the punch pad 103 is adjustable so as to permit the angular orientation of the striking surface 116 of the punch pad 103 to be varied enabling the user to strike the punch pad 103 with different types of punches, e. g. jabs, upper cuts and the like.

Reference is now made to Figure 7 of the drawings in which reference numeral 60 refers generally to an exercise apparatus in accordance with the invention.

The exercise apparatus 60 includes an aerobic exercise device, which, in the embodiment shown, is in the form of an exercise bicycle 62. The apparatus 60 further includes an article of exercise equipment 10, as described above, mounted on the bicycle 62. The punch pad 12 of the article of exercise equipment 10 is displaceable relative to the bicycle 62 by a user 66 thereof from a rest position, towards which it is resiliently biassed, to a displaced position. The punch pad 12 is secured to a pair of front forks 67 of the bicycle 62 by means of the mounting bracket 24.

As described above, with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the degree of pre-load of the resilient bias means may be adjustable.

The bicycle 62 includes a saddle 72. The bicycle 62 further includes first saddle adjustment means 71 for adjusting the distance

between the saddle and the front forks of the bicycle, and second saddle adjustment means 73 for adjusting the saddle in a vertical plane, such that a user 66, when seated on the saddle 72, is positioned in a position relative to the punch pad 12 which renders the punch pad 12 accessible to the user 66.

The exercise apparatus 60 may include a sensor 74 (see Figure 1) linked to each of the target zones 14 of the punch pad 12. The sensor 74 may sense, for example, the force of the blow with which a target zone 14 is struck. The sensor 74 may be in the form of a switch assembly. The switch assembly may include four resiliently biassed switches which are angularly spaced around the light source of each punch indicator light 18. Each switch may be resiliently biassed by means of a compression spring and may be activated by a blow thereto effected by a user 66 of the apparatus 60. The apparatus 60 may include a processor (not shown) linked to the sensor 74 for processing information received by the sensor 74. The apparatus 60 may further include a display 78 linked to the processor. The processor may process the information sensed by the sensor 74 and display, in a desired format, on the display 78 the processed information, for example, the energy utilized by a user 66 in effecting a blow, the number of valid blows effected by a user 66, the accuracy of a user 66 (i. e. the ratio of a user's 66 validly effected blows to the number of opportunities afforded the user 66 to make a blow), a user's 66 average reaction time, and the best reaction time scored on the apparatus 60 since the processor was last reset. The apparatus 60 may include data input means (not shown) linked to the processor for transmitting information to the processor.

The data input means may include a speed (i. e. frequency of blow opportunities) selection button, an exercise selection button, and a reset

button for resetting the processor. The exercise selection button may permit the selection of different exercises, for example, an exercise in which a user's 66 reaction time is tested or an exercise in which a predetermined sequence in which target zones 14 are to be struck is selected. The processor may be linked to the indicating means 18 and may process the input data so as to determine the frequency at which the first indicating means is to indicate a target zone 14 to be struck and the sequence in which the first indicating means is to indicate the successive target zones 14 to be struck. The display 78 may include mounting means (not shown) whereby it is mountable on a support, for example the handle bars 80 of the exercise bicycle 62.

In use, a user 66 uses the bicycle 62, or any other aerobic exercise device, as the case may be, in a conventional fashion. At the same time the user 66 is able to punch the punch pad 12 which, the Inventor believes, will provide the user with a more intense and well rounded or balanced work-out since the muscles of the upper body are also used.

Reference is now made to Figure 8 of the drawings, in which reference numeral 120 refers generally to another exercise apparatus in accordance with the invention and, unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals used above with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings designate similar parts.

The exercise apparatus 120 includes an aerobic exercise device, which, in the embodiment shown, is in the form of an exercise bicycle 122. The apparatus 120 further includes at least one article of exercise equipment 100, as described above, with reference to Figures

5 and 6 of the drawings, mounted on the bicycle 122 for displacement relative thereto by a person 66 using the bicycle 122 from a rest position towards which it is resiliently biassed to a displaced position. The punch pad 103 may be secured to handle bars 124 of the bicycle 122 by means of a clamp 126 to which the punch pad 103 is connected by a linkage arrangement 110. Hence, the punch pad 103, clamp 126 and linkage arrangement 110 may form an article of exercise equipment which is similar or identical to the equipment 100 described above.

As described above with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, the rest position of the punch pad 103 may be adjustable to permit a user 66 to strike the punch pad 103 using different types of punches.

The bicycle 122 includes a saddle 128 a rear portion 130 of which is raised so as to resist rearward movement of a person 66 sitting on the saddle 128 and thereby reduce the risk that when striking the punch pad 103 a person 66 sitting on the saddle 128 will fall off the back of the saddle 128.

It will be appreciated that, instead of making use of the linkage arrangement 110, the punch pad 103 can be connected to the clamp 126 in any suitable fashion which permits the punch pad 103 to be displaced, by being punched, away from a rest position towards which it is resiliently biassed.

The exercise apparatus 120 may include a sensor (not shown) which is linked to a display (not shown). The sensor may sense any desired variable, e. g. the number of punches landing on the punch

pad 103, the frequency of punches, the extent to which the punch pad 103 is displaced. The information sensed by the sensor may be fed through a processor and then displayed on the display in any suitable format. The display may include mounting means whereby it is mountable on a support, e. g. the handlebars of the exercise bicycle. The mounting means may include strips of hook and loop fasteners such as that which is available under the trademark VELCRO.

It is further to be appreciated that, instead of an exercise bicycle 122, the aerobic exercise device could take any suitable form and hence could be in the form of a stair climbing machine, a treadmill or the like.

In use, a person 66 uses the bicycle 122 or other aerobic exercise device, as the case may be, in a conventional fashion. At the same time he is able to punch the punch pad 103 which, the Inventor believes, will provide the user 66 with a more intense and well rounded or balanced work-out since the muscles of the upper body are also being used.