Stability training device

Abstract

Systems and methods using light training bag assemblies and devices provide a percussion sense of common heavy ceiling-mounted sandbags. Undesired motion, sound and other adverse side effects associated with existing sandbag designs are successfully avoided. Various embodiments accomplish this by isolating the support base from the impact of the strike using a flexible shaft assembly that converts angular motion of the shaft into lateral motion.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related patent applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority to co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 18 / 110,850, filed on February 16, 2023, entitled “STABILIZED TRAINING APPARATUS” and inventor Doug Hoang, which in turn claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 342,069, filed on May 14, 2022, entitled “STABILIZED TRAINING APPARATUS” and inventor Doug Hoang. Each of the references mentioned in this patent document is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background Art

[0003] A. Technical field

[0004] The present disclosure relates generally to stable training equipment. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to stable training equipment, such as sandbags, that provide horizontal and angular resistance and movement in response to forces applied from a user, thereby creating a more stable and quieter training device.

[0005] B. Background Technology

[0006] Fitness equipment has transformed to support more dynamic daily exercises, where users can exercise in the gym, at home or elsewhere. Often, a specific piece of fitness equipment (such as a sandbag) is designed for use in a gym, where the environment is noisy and people around the equipment will not be disturbed by its noisy operation. Converting these types of training equipment to home use presents certain challenges, including noise reduction and mechanical stability for home use.

[0007] Exercise bags come in different sizes, shapes, and configurations, including self-supporting freestanding bags that hang from the floor or rest on the floor. Generally, sandbags help users develop and hone various striking techniques through exercises that involve repeated strikes against a relatively hard surface, thereby conditioning and strengthening the muscles, tendons, and bones of the user's hands, feet, or limbs.

[0008] A major drawback of traditional free-standing exercise equipment designs, such as those used in martial arts type applications, is that they are mounted on a supporting hollow plastic base that is filled with at least 250 pounds and up to 450 pounds or more of sand or water to balance the equipment. These plastic bases often move and make noises when the bag is punched or kicked. This mechanical instability and noise makes the deployment of exercise equipment in a home environment less than ideal.

[0009] Transporting, handling and storing heavy training equipment is a time-consuming, cumbersome and user-unfriendly task that discourages potential consumers from purchasing and installing such equipment, especially for home use. Once fully assembled, the equipment can be difficult to move and store when not in use.

[0010] Therefore, it is desirable to have systems and methods that overcome the above limitations and provide a more stable training device suitable for home use. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Reference will be made to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying drawings. These drawings are for illustrative purposes only and not for limiting purposes. Although the present invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that this is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to these specific embodiments. The items in the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional free-standing sandbag assembly in a resting position.

[0013] FIG. 2 depicts the sandbag assembly of FIG. 1 in a deflected position after being struck.

[0014] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a training bag assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0015] Figure 4 is a side view of a training bag assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 5A is an exploded view of a training bag assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 5B is an exploded view of another training bag assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 6 Depicted is a cross-section of a training bag assembly including a slide board in a resting position according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 7 A cross-section of a training bag assembly including a slide plate in a deflected position is depicted according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 8 Depicted Figure 6 A cross section of the gimbal area of ​​the training bag assembly is shown in FIG.

[0021] Fig. 9 Depicted Figure 6 A cross section of the slide area of ​​the training bag assembly is shown in FIG.

[0022] Fig.10 Depicted Figure 6A perspective view of a cross section of the top of a training bag assembly is shown.

[0023] Fig.11 is a flow chart of an illustrative process for using a training bag in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, specific details are set forth to facilitate understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details. In addition, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the present invention described below may be implemented in a variety of ways, such as a process, apparatus, system, device, or method on a tangible computer-readable medium.

[0025] The components or modules shown in the figures illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are intended to avoid obscuring the present invention. It should also be understood that throughout the discussion, components may be described as separate functional units that may include subunits, but those skilled in the art will recognize that each component or portion thereof may be divided into separate components or may be integrated together, including being integrated into a single system or component. It should be noted that the functions or operations discussed herein may be implemented as components. Components may be implemented as software, hardware, or a combination of the two.

[0026] In addition, the connections between components or systems in the figure are not intended to be limited to direct connections. Instead, the data between these components may be modified, reformatted or otherwise changed by intermediate components. In addition, additional or fewer connections may be used. It should also be noted that the terms "connection", "connection" or "communication connection" should be understood to include direct connection, indirect connection through one or more intermediate devices, and wireless connection.

[0027] The "one embodiment", "preferred embodiment" and "embodiment" mentioned in the specification mean that the specific features, structures, characteristics or functions described in relation to the embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and may be included in more than one embodiment. In addition, the above phrases appearing in various places in the specification do not necessarily refer to the same one or more embodiments.

[0028] Certain terms used throughout the specification are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. A service, function, or resource is not limited to a single service, function, or resource; use of these terms may refer to a group of related services, functions, or resources, which may be distributed or aggregated.

[0029] The terms "including" and "comprising" should be understood as open-ended terms, and the following lists are examples and are not intended to be limited to the listed contents. Any headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and should not be used to limit the scope of the specification or claims. Each reference mentioned in this patent document is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0030] In addition, those skilled in the art should recognize that: (1) certain steps may be performed optionally; (2) the steps may not be limited to the specific order described herein; (3) certain steps may be performed in a different order; and (4) certain steps may be performed simultaneously.

[0031] In addition, it should be noted that the embodiments described herein are given in the context of a punching bag for martial arts, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the teachings of the present disclosure are not limited, as the training bag can be used by anyone who physically strikes the training bag with a body part or object (such as a tool, weapon, or other instrument). Therefore, the present disclosure encompasses applications that are not necessarily related to martial arts applications, i.e., the various embodiments can be used in other environments as well.

[0032] In this document, the term "training bag" refers to a training device used as a target to which forces are applied, such as for practicing martial arts or other activities. The term "plastic" includes any elastomer recognized by a person skilled in the art.

[0033] FIG1 shows a common free-standing sandbag assembly in a static position. Sandbag assembly 100 includes a cylindrically shaped top 102, a shaft 108, and a base 104 placed on a floor 106. As shown in FIG1 , the shaft extends from top 102 and is coupled to base 104 via coupling means 110. The resulting composite structure acts as a relatively rigid single body with a highly non-uniform mass distribution along its axis (not shown).

[0034] The top 102 of the sandbag assembly 100 is typically comprised of some type of cushioning material, such as a foam body wrapped by a vinyl cover. The base 104 is typically filled with hundreds of pounds of fill material, such as through a relatively small opening port (fill), into which the user must pour sand or water, which is a cumbersome and user-unfriendly operation. This shortcoming alone prevents a large number of potential consumers from purchasing and installing the sandbag assembly 100, and for more complex equipment that includes feedback sensors (such as motion trackers and other measurement devices), it greatly increases the subscription activation time.

[0035] In operation, once a user applies a force in the form of kinetic energy to an area of ​​top 102, such as by hitting or kicking with object 120, shaft 108 extending through top 102 will at least partially convert the force into angular momentum, thereby generating a rotational force. The rotational force will accelerate top 102 away from object 120 due to the torque generated, and if large enough, will cause one side of base 104 to lift off floor 106 at an angle 202, as shown in FIG.

[0036] Generally, the amount of lift is proportional to the force applied to the sandbag assembly 100. Once the force applied to the top 102 is released, the relatively heavy (e.g., 450 pounds) base 104 that was lifted will be pulled back by gravity, thereby accelerating back to the floor 106. Once the base 104 falls back onto the floor 106, an unpleasant noise is generated upon impact. After rocking back and forth in an oscillating motion for a stabilization period, the top 102 will return to the original position shown in FIG. 1 unless a subsequent force is applied to the top 102 before then. Each time the top 102 is subjected to a relatively strong impact with a force sufficient to lift the base 104 off the floor 106, an undesirable noise may be generated, which makes existing training bag designs (e.g., the sandbag assembly 100) unsuitable for home use. Existing attempts to mitigate this situation include the need to place additional acoustic damping material under the base 104 to absorb the force and thereby reduce the noise.

[0037] Another disadvantage besides the base 104 hitting the floor 106 is that the base 104 also tends to slide on the floor 106, opposite to the direction in which the impact was applied. This lateral movement that is produced depends largely on the surface material of the floor 106, i.e., the relative friction between the surface material of the floor 106 and the surface material of the base 104. This is an undesirable side effect and the user must repeatedly move the entire weight of the sandbag assembly 100 back to its original position on the floor 106. Users often consider these undesirable side effects to ruin their exercise experience.

[0038] In addition, the weight of the sandbag assembly 100 makes it difficult to move the sandbag assembly 100 to a storage location (e.g., whenever it is not in use). In addition, when the base 104 is properly filled, the entire sandbag assembly 100 is very heavy due to the weight of the base 104, but the top 102 made of a lightweight foam material is relatively light. However, the lightweight top 102 produces a different and less desirable hitting feel compared to the heavier common ceiling-mounted sand-filled leather sandbags.

[0039] Specifically, the top 102 is relatively loosely secured to the sandbag assembly 100, causing the user to feel a relatively large amount of deflection, which is very different from the feeling of hitting a heavier ceiling-mounted sandbag. This is primarily because, unlike the inertia of a heavy sandbag that provides relatively large resistance to the forces applied by the user and absorbed by the training bag, the top 102 of the sandbag assembly 100 provides insufficient training resistance. This phenomenon is exacerbated when increasing the force applied to the top 102. This disadvantage makes the sandbag assembly 100 unsuitable for advanced and professional use.

[0040] Advantageously, embodiments herein provide the feel of hitting with a common heavier ceiling mounted sand filled leather punching bag. At the same time, this helps the user to build and maintain more muscle tissue than with existing free standing training bag designs. Advantageously, various embodiments achieve this while reducing the risk of wrist or ankle injuries that are often associated with hitting heavy or dense training bags with high impact forces.

[0041] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the training bag assembly. Figure 4 300 is a side view of a training bag assembly. In an embodiment, the training bag assembly 300 includes a top 302, an axle assembly 308, and a base 304. The top 302 can be made of any suitable durable material, such as plastics, nylon, polycarbonate with high impact resistance, high elasticity and other desired mechanical, chemical and other properties. Suitable properties include mechanical and acoustic damping, elasticity and lack of hysteresis. For example, the top 302 can include a relatively rigid polymer material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, such as a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which can be combined with an elastic foam material to provide additional padding for the top 302. Advantageously, such polymers can be implemented into the strike area of ​​the top 302 to absorb energy during operation.

[0042] In an embodiment, the base 304 can be made of, for example, a blow-molded plastic material (e.g., high-density polyethylene) to create a "hollow" enclosure that can contain liquids, gels, or any other suitable fill material, or combinations thereof. In operation, the base 304 can act as a ballast to balance the forces applied to the top 302. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that for liquid or gel-like fill materials (e.g., elastomers), some or all of the base 304 can be hermetically sealed to prevent unwanted leakage.

[0043] As discussed in more detail below, the strategic combination of components that construct the training bag assembly 300 isolates the base 304 from the rest of the bag. This advantageously inhibits unwanted movement, sound, and other side effects associated with existing sandbag designs. Certain embodiments can achieve this without the need to purchase and use, for example, 300 pounds or more of fill material to fill the base 304. In certain embodiments, the base 304 can include an auxiliary bag ring (not shown) that can be disposed adjacent to the perimeter of the base 304 to prevent the base 304 from sliding on a slippery floor when the top 302 is struck by a high-energy blow.

[0044] Figure 5A is an exploded view of a training bag assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 3 5 , the same numbers represent similar elements. In an embodiment, the training bag assembly 500 may include the top 302, the cone assembly 502, the universal mount 504, the shaft assembly 506, the intermediate shaft spring 508, the slide plate 509, the slide plate cover 510, the shaft spring 512, the base top plate 514 and the base 304. It is worth noting that the components shown in FIG. 5 do not have to be assembled in the order or orientation shown. For example, those skilled in the art will understand that the optional slide plate cover 510 can be mounted to the top surface of the slide plate 509, facing the base 304.

[0045] In an embodiment, the top 302 may be mounted on a cone assembly 502, which moves with the shaft assembly 506 during operation due to the operation of the gimbal 504. In an embodiment, the gimbal 504 may be implemented as a two-axis gimbal, as shown in FIG5. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any other structure (e.g., a ball and socket structure) may be equally employed in place of the two-axis gimbal 504. Those skilled in the art will further recognize that the gimbal 504 is not necessarily limited to a two-axis design and may equally be implemented as a three-axis structure, for example, to allow for a certain amount of movement in a third direction along the axis of the shaft assembly 506. In addition, embodiments of the present invention may use springs that facilitate translational movement and two-axis rotation.

[0046] In an embodiment, the gimbal 504 may include a high stiffness fatigue and wear resistant material and may be positioned relatively close to one end of the cone assembly 502 to allow the top 302 to pivot about the gimbal 504 to perform angular and / or translational movements similar to a conventional suspended sandbag. Similarly, the shaft assembly 506 and the intermediate shaft spring 508 may include a relatively high stiffness, high fatigue resistant material, such as a metal (e.g., die cast aluminum) or a TPU with a relatively high plastic content. It should be understood that any of the materials mentioned herein may be produced using any manufacturing process known in the art, such as sintering or a molding process, such as plastic injection molding.

[0047] In an embodiment, the intermediate shaft spring 508 can be implemented as a tapered structure extending from the outer surface of the shaft assembly 506 to the slide plate 509. The slide plate 509 can be implemented as a low friction component that serves as part of a low friction bearing (e.g., a ball bearing including a top of the bottom plate 514). As shown in FIG. 5, in an embodiment, the slide plate cover 510 can include any number of grooves that can receive balls. The ball bearing structure formed thereby allows the slide plate 509 to perform low friction longitudinal movement. In operation, the slide plate 509 moves a certain amount determined at least in part by the shaft spring 512 that limits the movement of the slide plate 509. Once the shaft spring 512, which can be mounted on the base top plate 514, is decompressed, the shaft spring 512 can move the shaft assembly 506 (including the slide plate 509) in the direction of their neutral position (i.e., their position when the training bag assembly 500 is not in use).

[0048] In an embodiment, the intermediate shaft spring 508 can be used as a damping device, which in operation can absorb at least some of the energy transmitted to the top 302 (e.g., by an impact with the top 302), which can cause the slide plate 509 to move and cause the shaft 506 to compress the spring 512. In an embodiment, the spring 512 can absorb some of the energy again, thereby reducing the magnitude of the torque that would otherwise be transmitted to the base 304. As a result, the base 304 can be at least partially isolated from the top 302 and / or the shaft assembly 506, that is, protected from the forces applied to the top 302. It is worth noting that both the shaft spring 508 and the shaft spring 512 can be implemented from any material and in any arbitrary shape that can absorb energy and help isolate the base 304 from the top 302 and / or the shaft assembly 506. For example, the shaft spring 512 can be implemented as a progressive spring that exhibits greater stiffness and damping as the compression caused by the deflection of the shaft assembly 506 increases.

[0049] Overall, the combination of several components advantageously isolates the base 304 at least partially from impacts on the rest of the training bag assembly 500. Additionally, in embodiments, the base 304 may include a structure at least partially surrounding or placed adjacent to the base 304, such as a base ring (not shown) that may include a plurality of sections, such as plastic stops that limit movement of the base 304 on a smooth floor. Alternatively, a high friction pad (also not shown) or equivalent may be placed beneath the base 304 to limit unwanted movement and its associated noise.

[0050] Figure 5B is an exploded view of another training bag assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 5A Components similar to those shown in FIG. 1 are labeled in the same manner. For the sake of brevity, their functions will not be described again here. Figure 5BAs shown, the training bag assembly 550 need not include a slide that moves on ball bearings disposed on a slide cover attached to the base 304. Instead, in an embodiment, the training bag assembly 550 may include an intermediate shaft spring 508 that may be mounted to the top surface of the base 304, such as by a plurality of fasteners, to limit the movement of the bottom portion of the shaft spring 508. Figure 5A The same as the shaft spring 508 in the Figure 5B The shaft spring 508 in can be implemented with any geometry and material stiffness.

[0051] In operation, the shaft spring 508 can absorb energy from the lateral movement of the shaft 506, but will not transfer all or any portion of that energy to the base 304, in effect reducing the torque that the shaft spring 508 might otherwise transfer to the base 304. In this way, the shaft spring 508 can isolate the movement of the shaft 506 from the base 304 to a certain extent. Figure 5A As shown, in this way, the base 304 can be at least partially isolated from the top 302 and / or the shaft assembly 506 , ie, protected from forces applied to the top 302 .

[0052] It should be understood that Figure 5A and Figure 5B The training bag assemblies 500 and 550 shown in the drawings are not limited to the structural details shown in the drawings or described in the accompanying text. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the components can be combined in various configurations. In addition, the training bag assembly can include any combination of components not explicitly mentioned herein, such as couplers, fasteners, and other components that contribute to the purpose of the present disclosure. In addition, other geometric shapes and materials with appropriate mechanical properties can be used to implement the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0053] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 6 shows a cross section of the training bag assembly including the slide plate in a rest position, and Figure 7 A cross section of the training bag assembly including the slide plate is shown in a deflected position. Figure 8 Depicted Figure 6 A cross section of the gimbal region of the training bag assembly is shown in FIG. Fig. 9 Depicted Figure 6 5. For the sake of clarity, components similar to those shown in FIG. 5 are labeled in the same manner. For the sake of brevity, their functions are not repeatedly described here.

[0054] Now back to Figure 7In operation, the gimbal 504 (which may be located at or near the top of the cone assembly 502) allows the training bag assembly 500 to pivot in the direction indicated by arrow 702, thereby allowing the bottom of the top portion 302 of the training bag assembly 500 to move more than the bottom of the top portion 302 in the direction indicated by arrow 704. Specifically, the cone assembly 502, and therefore the top portion 302, will rotate about the gimbal 504 by a certain angle, causing the shaft assembly 506 and the intermediate shaft spring 508 to also rotate. Since the slide plate 509 is attached to the intermediate shaft spring 508, the slide plate 509 converts the rotational movement in the direction 702 into longitudinal movement in the direction 704, for example, until the slide plate 509, which compresses the shaft spring, stops and is accelerated back in the opposite direction by the shaft spring.

[0055] Fig.10 Depicted Figure 6 A perspective view of a cross section of the top of the training bag assembly is shown. As shown, Fig.10 The structure 1002 in the embodiment may be attached to the shaft 1006 or the support structure 1008 on the shaft 1006, for example, by any number of ribs (e.g., 1104) arranged at predetermined distances along the inner circumference of the structure 1002. In an embodiment, the structure 1002 may be manufactured by an extrusion process. However, this is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, as other techniques may be used, such as plastic injection molding processes, etc.

[0056] Unlike commonly used foam filling materials, which tend to break down over time, thereby reducing resistance to forces applied to such materials, in an embodiment, structure 1002 may include a relatively rigid polymer material. In operation, once structure 1002 is pushed by a striking force, it absorbs energy and provides resistance that simulates the inertia of an ordinary heavy bag, thereby providing the user with the feeling of hitting a heavy bag.

[0057] Various embodiments take advantage of the fact that inertia is at least partially converted into the feel of a strike, and adjust the "feel of the strike" by adjusting the mechanical properties of the structure 1002, such as by using filler material between the ribs. After deviating from its original shape, the structure 1002 returns to its original position.

[0058] Fig.11 is a flow chart of an illustrative process of using a training bag according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the process 1100 of using a training bag may begin when a force is received in a first direction in step 1002 .

[0059] In step 1004, a shaft coupled to a bag assembly is rotated away from an initial position in an angular motion about a gimbal in a first plane. The bag assembly may include the gimbal and a first shaft spring coupled to the shaft. The bag assembly may also include a slide plate engaged with the shaft.

[0060] In step 1004, a first shaft spring may be used to convert angular motion into lateral motion parallel to the slide plate. The slide plate may be slidably mounted on a base.

[0061] In step 1006, the slide plate may be moved perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, including a second shaft spring.

[0062] In step 1008 , a second shaft spring may be used to limit movement of the shaft and move the shaft back toward the initial position.

[0063] Those skilled in the art will recognize that no computing system or programming language is essential to the practice of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing examples and embodiments are exemplary and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. All permutations, enhancements, equivalents, combinations, and improvements intended to be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification and studying the drawings are included within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. It should also be noted that the elements of any claim may be arranged in different ways, including with a variety of dependencies, configurations, and combinations.

Claims

1. A shaft assembly comprising: Universal bearings; Flexible components; a shaft extending upwardly from the flexible member and including a first end for engaging the universal bearing and a second end for engaging the flexible member, the shaft angularly moving in a first plane in response to a force in a first direction perpendicular to the shaft; A set of ball bearings; a slide plate cover including one or more recesses sized to receive the set of ball bearings; a slide plate attached to the flexible member, the slide plate cooperating with the slide plate cover via the set of ball bearings, the flexible member converting the angular motion into lateral motion in the first direction; and A shaft spring is used to inhibit the lateral movement.

2. The shaft assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The flexible member is a shaft-spring assembly.

3. The shaft assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The shaft rotates in the first plane about a universal bearing.

4. The shaft assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The shaft spring limits the lateral movement and returns the shaft to a rest position.

5. The shaft assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The slide plate includes an annular contact surface.

6. The shaft assembly of claim 5, further comprising a set of ball bearings slidably connected to the annular contact surface.

7. The shaft assembly according to claim 6, wherein: The slide plate cover includes one or more grooves sized to receive the set of ball bearings.

8. A method of using a training device, the method comprising: In response to a force in a first direction causing angular motion of an axis extending upwardly from a flexible member attached to a skateboard mated with the base, the flexible member converts the angular motion into lateral motion in the first direction; and Axle springs are used to inhibit this lateral movement.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising using the angular motion to rotate the shaft in the first plane about a universal bearing.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein: The first direction is defined by a first plane perpendicular to the axis of the base.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising using a shaft spring to limit the lateral movement and return the shaft to a rest position.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising slidably connecting the skateboard to a skateboard cover using a set of ball bearings, the skateboard cover including one or more grooves sized to receive the set of ball bearings.

13. A training device comprising: Base; A shaft assembly, the shaft assembly comprising: Universal bearings; Flexible components; a shaft extending upwardly from the flexible member and including a first end for engaging the universal bearing and a second end for engaging the flexible member, the shaft angularly moving in a first plane in response to a force in a first direction perpendicular to the shaft; A set of ball bearings; a slide plate cover including one or more recesses sized to receive the set of ball bearings; a skateboard attached to a flexible member, said skateboard cooperating with the skateboard cover via said set of ball bearings, said flexible member cooperating with said base and converting said angular motion into lateral motion in said first direction; and A shaft spring is used to inhibit the lateral movement. a tapered assembly at least partially enclosing the shaft; and A generally cylindrical component at least partially surrounds the conical component and serves as a target for the force.

14. The training device according to claim 13, wherein: The base comprises a hollow container which can be filled with a solid, semi-solid or liquid ballast to stabilize the training assembly.

15. The training device according to claim 13, wherein: At least some portion of the shaft assembly is height adjustable.

16. The training device according to claim 13, wherein: The angular motion causes the shaft to rotate about a universal bearing in the first plane.

17. The training device according to claim 16, wherein: The first plane is perpendicular to the axis of the base.

18. The training device according to claim 13, wherein: The shaft spring limits the lateral movement and returns the shaft to a rest position.

19. The training device according to claim 13, wherein: The slide plate includes an annular contact surface.

20. The training device according to claim 19, wherein: The set of ball bearings is slidably connected to the annular contact surface.

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