US20180036576A1

US20180036576A1 - Bodybuilding Hammer

Info

Publication number: US20180036576A1
Application number: US15/667,132
Authority: US
Inventors: Shawn Richardson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-08-02
Filing date: 2017-08-02
Publication date: 2018-02-08

Abstract

A bodybuilding hammer. The bodybuilding hammer includes a handle including an upper end and a lower end. A head including an upper side and a lower side is attached to the handle. A channel extends through the head, the channel including an upper opening on the upper side of the head and a lower opening on the lower side of the head, such that the channel receives the handle therethrough. An upper clamp is annularly disposed on the upper end of the handle and contacts the upper side of the head. A lower clamp is annularly disposed on the lower end of the handle and contacts the lower side of the head. The head is fixedly mounted to the handle between the upper clamp and the lower clamp. The bodybuilding hammer can be lifted and swung by a user in order to build strength and promote muscle growth and development.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/369,893 filed on Aug. 2, 2016. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bodybuilding and strength training devices. More specifically, the present invention provides a bodybuilding hammer that can be utilized to increase muscle mass and gain strength.
Many individuals perform weightlifting exercises in order to increase their strength, promote muscle growth, or just for recreational fun. Weightlifting exercises are often performed with a dumbbell or barbell, which consists of a bar with weights evenly distributed on either side. Dumbbells and barbells can be used to effectively perform weightlifting exercises. However, some individuals may desire an alternative to typical barbells and dumbbells.
Devices exist in the known art that provide alternatives to conventional dumbbells and barbells. These devices include unbalanced weights that can be lifted and moved in different ways than balanced dumbbells. One example of such an unbalanced weightlifting device is a kettlebell, which consists of a weight having a handle attached thereto. However, the orientation of the kettlebell handle only allows the kettlebell to be grasped in one orientation. It can be difficult to perform exercises that require a large range of motion with the limited movement and flexibility that the orientation of the kettlebell handle allows.
Another common strength training exercise is known as sledgehammer training, which requires users to repeated strike a large rubber tire with a sledgehammer. The rubber tire causes the sledgehammer to quickly rebound to the starting position so that the user can complete the next rep of the exercise. One drawback to sledgehammer training is that it is very difficult to transport and set up the large tires required to cause the sledgehammer to rebound. In view of the above, it is desirable to provide a weightlifting device that combines the means for rebounding with the hammer itself, so that sledgehammer training can be performed with a single device and without the need of an actual sledgehammer or a large tire.
In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing bodybuilding and strength training devices. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of bodybuilding and weightlifting devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a bodybuilding wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when training to gain strength and increase muscle mass. The bodybuilding hammer includes a handle including an upper end and a lower end. A head including an upper side and a lower side is attached to the handle. A channel extends through the head, the channel including an upper opening on the upper side of the head and a lower opening on the lower side of the head, such that the channel receives the handle therethrough. An upper clamp is annularly disposed on the upper end of the handle and contacts the upper side of the head. A lower clamp is annularly disposed on the lower end of the handle and contacts the lower side of the head. The head is fixedly mounted to the handle between the upper clamp and the lower clamp. The bodybuilding hammer can be lifted and swung by a user in order to build strength and promote muscle growth and development.
One object of the present invention is to provide a bodybuilding hammer that can be utilized to mimic sledgehammer training without the need for an actual sledgehammer or a large tire.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a bodybuilding hammer according to the present invention in an upright resting position.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a bodybuilding hammer according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of an upper side of a bodybuilding hammer according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the bodybuilding hammer. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for strength training and bodybuilding exercises. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a perspective view of a bodybuilding hammer according to the present invention in an upright resting position, and a cross-sectional view of a bodybuilding hammer according to the present invention, respectively. The bodybuilding hammer 10 includes a head 15 comprising an upper side 16 and a lower side 17. In the illustrated embodiment, the head 15 comprises a rectangular cross-section. The head 15 further includes a uniform width 27 and a uniform length 28 in the shown embodiment. Although depicted herein as a rectangular cuboid, the head 15 is not limited to any particular shape, size, or dimension, and as such may have circular or other polygonal cross sections. Further, the head 15 is composed of rubber in the shown embodiment, but its composition is not limited to rubber and can include any sufficiently durable and resilient material.
Referring specifically to FIG. 2, a channel 20 extends through the head 15 from the upper side 16 to the lower side 17 thereof. The channel 20 is preferably positioned on a midpoint of the lower side 17 of the head 15, such that the channel 20 bisects the head 15 along its length The channel 20 includes an upper opening 18 disposed on the upper side 16 of the head 15 and a lower opening 19 disposed on the lower side 17 of the head 15. A handle 11 having an upper end 12 and a lower end 13 extends through the channel 20. The position of the channel 20 allows the weight of the head 15 to be evenly distributed when the bodybuilding hammer 10 is held by grasping the handle 11.
In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 11 includes an end cap 26 disposed on the lower end 13 thereof. The end cap 26 has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the handle 11. Thus, the greater diameter of the end cap 26 functions as a stopper to prevent a hand of a user from sliding off the lower end and dropping the bodybuilding hammer 10 if the user's grip on the handle 11 fails. In the shown embodiment, the handle 11 further includes a grip material 14 thereon. The grip material 14 allows the bodybuilding hammer 10 to be held and swung by the user without slipping from their grasp. The grip material 14 preferably includes a high friction material, or a material having a coefficient of friction greater than one, such as a suitable cloth or rubber, so that the bodybuilding hammer 10 will not slip out of a user's hand when swung. In the shown embodiment, the grip material 14 is a strip of material that is wrapped around the handle 11. The grip material 14 extends from the end cap 26 to the head 15 so that the handle 11 may be grasped anywhere along its length.
The head 15 is secured to the handle 11 via an upper clamp 24 and a lower clamp 25. The upper and lower clamps 24, 25 are slid onto the corresponding opposing upper and lower ends 12, 13 of the handle 11, such that the upper clamp 24 contacts the upper side 16 of the head 15 and the lower clamp 25 contacts the lower side 17 of the head 15. The handle 11 includes threading thereon that is engaged by a threaded interior surface of the upper and lower clamps 24, 25. In this way, the upper and lower clamps 24, 25 are tightened against the head 15 via the threaded engagement between the upper and lower clamps 24, 25 and the handle 11.
In the illustrated embodiment, the head 11 further comprises an upper annular recession 21 disposed about the upper opening 18 of the channel 20, and a lower annular recession 22 disposed about the lower opening 19 of the channel 20. The upper and lower annular recessions 21, 22 are sized to receive the upper and lower clamps 24, 25 respectively, such that an outer edge of each clamp 24, 25 contacts an inner edge of its respective recession 21, 22 in frictional engagement therewith, ensuring the head 15 maintains its position along the handle 11. In one embodiment, an outer surface 30 of the upper clamp 24 is flush with the upper side 16 of the head 15, and an outer surface 31 of the lower clamp 25 is flush with the lower side 17 of the head 15. This allows the head 15 to maintain a compact profile, and further prevents the upper and lower clamps 24, 25 from being exposed where they may make unwanted contact with a user when the bodybuilding hammer is in use. In yet another embodiment, the upper and lower clamps 24, 25 may be covered by an attachable cover in order to obscure them from view.
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a top plan view of an upper side of a bodybuilding hammer according to the present invention. In an alternate embodiment, additional fastening mechanisms may be utilized in addition to the clamps that secure the head 15 to the handle. The upper clamp 24 further includes apertures 33 thereon, which are sized to receive fasteners 35 therethrough, such as a screw or the like. The fasteners 35 engage the head 15 and further secure the upper clamp 24 to the head 15. While only the upper clamp 24 is depicted in FIG. 3, the lower clamp includes the same apertures 30 and utilizes the same fasteners 33 as the upper clamp 24 shown in FIG. 3. Another fastening mechanism may include a metal epoxy that fixes each of the clamps in position along the handle, further securing the head 15 thereto. A further fastening mechanism may include another adhesive material that can be applied to each of the clamps to bond the head 15 to the clamps.
In use, a user may grasp the handle of the bodybuilding hammer and bring the hammer to a starting position above the shoulders. The user may then swing the hammer downward. When the head contacts the ground, the resilient material of the head causes it to rebound upward, so that the user may exert less force to return the hammer to the starting position than if the user were lifting the hammer from a resting position on the ground. In this way, the user may focus his or her strength on the swing motion when performing the exercise, and wastes less energy when returning the bodybuilding hammer to the starting position before starting another rep.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1) A bodybuilding hammer, comprising:

a head comprising an upper side and a lower side;

a channel extending through the head, the channel comprising an upper opening disposed on the upper side of the head and a lower opening disposed on the lower side of the head;

a handle having an upper end and a lower end, the handle extending through the channel;

an upper clamp annularly disposed on the upper end of the handle;

a lower clamp annularly disposed on the lower end of the handle;

wherein the upper clamp contacts the upper side of the head and the lower clamp contacts the lower side of the head;

wherein the head is fixedly mounted to the handle between the upper clamp and the lower clamp.

2) The bodybuilding hammer of claim 1, wherein the upper clamp and the lower clamp each engage the handle via a threaded connection therewith.

3) The bodybuilding hammer of claim 1, further comprising:

a grip material disposed on the handle.

4) The bodybuilding hammer of claim 1, wherein the head is composed of rubber.

5) The bodybuilding hammer of claim 1, further comprising a first annular recession disposed about the upper opening of the channel and a second annular recession disposed about the lower opening of the channel, wherein the first annular recession is sized to receive the upper clamp, and wherein the second annular recession is sized to receive the lower clamp.

6) The bodybuilding hammer of claim 5, wherein an outer surface of the upper clamp is flush with the upper side of the head, and wherein an outer surface of the lower clamp is flush with the lower side of the head.

7) The bodybuilding hammer of claim 1, further comprising an end cap disposed on the lower end of the handle.

8) The bodybuilding hammer of claim 7, wherein the end cap comprises a diameter greater than a diameter of the handle.

9) The bodybuilding hammer of claim 1, wherein the upper clamp comprises a plurality of apertures thereon, wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures is configured to receive a fastener therethrough for further securing the upper clamp to the upper side of the head.

10) The bodybuilding hammer of claim 1, wherein the lower clamp comprises a plurality of apertures thereon, wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures is configured to receive a fastener therethrough for further securing the lower clamp to the lower side of the head.

11) The bodybuilding hammer of claim 1, wherein the head comprises a uniform width, a uniform length, and a rectangular cross-section.