Patent Publication Number: US-2018036576-A1

Title: Bodybuilding Hammer

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&#39;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&#39;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.