BAT BAND AND METHOD OF INSTALLING THEREOF

Abstract

A sports stick device, including at least one flexible band, where the at least one flexible band is circular with an opening in the middle, and the at least one flexible band is stretched outwardly, placed over one end of a wrap prepositioned on a sports stick, and relaxed onto the sports stick to create a press fit. A method of installing a flexible band on a sports stick, including expanding the flexible band, routing the expanded flexible band over a first end of a sports stick, and relaxing the flexible band on a handle of the sports stick.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention broadly relates to baseball bat bands, more specifically to securing a handle grip using a baseball bat band, even more particularly to creating a custom color, numbering, or lettering combination using the bat bands, and yet more particularly to a method of installing a bat band on a baseball bat or other sporting stick.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Baseball bats and other sports equipment with handles often include wraps around the handle to provide the user a better grip for their hands while using the bat. Wraps are most common on metal baseball bats. Wraps are placed around the handle of the baseball bat near the knob of the bat, and up towards the barrel. The side of the wrap that contacts the bat has adhesive to secure the wrap to the bat handle. At the end of the wrap, farthest away from the knob, finishing tape also coated with adhesive is used to secure the end of the wrap to the handle of the baseball bat. Instead of finishing tape, some users place electrical tape or other adhesive tape around the end of the wrap to secure the wrap to the handle of the baseball bat.

Over time, through prolonged use of the baseball bat, weathering, and dirt, the adhesive of the finishing tape deteriorates. This causes the finishing tape to loosen and unravel. Which in turn permits the underlying wrap to unravel. The unraveling of the wrap results in excess unsecured wrap to hang from the bat, which becomes a distraction to the batter. The continued unraveling of the wrap will eventually impact the user's grip on the bat.

The lack of secure grip on the handle negatively impacts the ability of the baseball batter to maintain a firm grip on the baseball bat handle, especially during a baseball swing. Oftentimes, the main portion of the wrap on the handle where the user grips the handle is not worn out. Due to the unraveling of the finishing tape at the end of the wrap and unraveling of the wrap at the end of the handle, a user must purchase a replacement wrap and re-wrap the baseball bat handle before the life of the baseball bat is over. Some users must replace the wrap several times a year due to continued use.

As can be derived from the variety of devices and methods directed at securing a grip to a baseball bat handle, many means have been contemplated to accomplish the desired end, i.e., finishing tape and electrical tape. Heretofore, tradeoffs between lifespan and replacement grips were required. Thus, there is a long-felt need for a way to secure a grip to a baseball bat handle that will keep the end of the wrap secured to the bat and require less frequent changing of the wrap over the life span of the bat.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly comprises sports stick device, including at least one flexible band, where the at least one flexible band is circular with an opening in the middle, and the at least one flexible band is stretched outwardly and placed over one end of a sports stick onto a prepositioned on wrap.

In a further embodiment, the present invention comprises a sports stick device, including a bat, where the bat has a handle, knob, and barrel. The invention also includes at least one flexible band with an opening in the middle of the flexible band, a wrap adhered the handle of the bat, starting at a first end of the handle by the knob, extending down the handle of the bat towards the second end of the handle before the barrel, and positioning the at least one flexible band over onto the wrap at the second end of the handle.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a method of installing a flexible band on a sports stick, including expanding the flexible band, routing the expanded flexible band over a first end of a sports stick, relaxing the flexible band on a handle of the sports stick, and relaxing the flexible band substantially on a wrap pre-installed on the handle of a sports stick.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1a is a front view of a baseball bat with a wrap (or bat grip) partially installed on the baseball bat.

FIG. 1b is a front view of the baseball bat with a wrap installed on the baseball bat without finishing tape applied to the end of wrap.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the baseball bat with a wrap installed on the baseball bat with finishing tape applied to the end of wrap.

FIG. 3a is a front view of the baseball bat with a band partially positioned on the wrap and partially positioned on the surface of the baseball bat.

FIG. 3b is a front view of the baseball bat with a band fully positioned on the wrap.

FIG. 4a is a front perspective view of the baseball bat showing the band stretched prior to installation of the wrap.

FIG. 4b is a front perspective view of the baseball bat after installation of the relaxed band on the wrap.

FIG. 5a is a perspective view of the band with a bevel.

FIG. 5b is a side sectional view of the band with a bevel.

FIG. 5c is a top view of the band with a bevel.

FIG. 5d is a sectional view of the band with a bevel, as referred to in FIG. 5c.

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of the band with a chamfer.

FIG. 6b is a side sectional view of the band with a chamfer.

FIG. 6c is a top view of the band with a chamfer.

FIG. 6d is a sectional view of the band with a chamfer, as referred to in FIG. 5d.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the baseball bat with four bands at the end of the wrap, with each band including a letter of the name JOEY.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the band on a hockey stick handle.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the band on a tennis racket handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.

Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated that the term “band” is synonymous with terms such as “ring”, “collar”, etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. The term “baseball” also includes the similar sport of “softball”. The term “bat” includes both “baseball” and “softball”. “Sports stick” refers to a baseball bat, softball bat, tennis racket, racquet ball paddle, pickle ball handle, hockey stick, or a lacrosse stick, and any other similar stick with a handle used in sports. While the band is directed to baseball bats, the band can be used on numerous pieces of sports equipment outside of baseball. Examples of other sports equipment where the band can be used includes, but is not limited to: softball bats, tennis rackets, field hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, racquetball rackets, cricket, ping pong rackets, fishing pole, golf clubs, horse sticks, scooter handles, bike handles, pool cues, ski poles, crochet sticks, badminton bats, and pickle ball rackets. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.

A baseball bat has several regions. The baseball bat has a barrel, which is the thick part of the bat where the bat is designed to hit a baseball. The end of the barrel is called the top of the baseball bat. On the opposite end of the top of the bat, the barrel narrows until it reaches the handle. The handle is thinner than the barrel and is designed to allow a batter to comfortably grip the baseball bat with their hands. Mostly on metal bats, the handle is wrapped with a rubber or tape grip. This grip allows the user's hands to better “grip” and hold onto the baseball bat during the swinging motion. Below the handle of the baseball bat is the knob of the bat, a wider piece that keeps the bat from slipping from a batter's hands during the swinging motion.

FIG. 1a shows a baseball bat 100 with a wrap 102 partially installed on the baseball bat 100. The wrap 102 starts near the end of the baseball bat 100 near the knob 110 and continues up the handle 108. In FIG. 1a, the wrap 102 is shown in a semi-installed position. The end of the wrap 104 is shown not fully installed onto the baseball bat 100 handle 108. Both ends of the wrap 102 are tapered or angled, as opposed to a 90-degree end. This is shown at the end of the wrap 104 in FIG. 1a, which is not fully installed on the baseball bat 100. To install the wrap 102, the user starts the wrap on the handle 108 near the knob 110, and overlaps the wrap 102 on an angle up the handle 108. The wrap 102 includes adhesive on the surface that contacts the handle 108. FIG. 1b shows the wrap 102 installed on the baseball bat 100 handle 108 without the finishing tape 106. FIG. 2 shows the wrap 102 installed on the baseball bat 100 handle 108 with the finishing tape 106 installed over the end of wrap 104.

The end of the wrap 104 is secured onto the handle 108. Left alone, the end of the wrap 104 will quickly begin to unravel over time. Currently, finishing tape 106 is used to secure the end of the wrap 104 onto the handle 108. The finishing tape 106 is made of the same material of the wrap 102, including adhesive on the back, and is preferably in a rectangular form. The length of the finishing tape 106 is long enough to go around the diameter of the handle 108 approximately 1.5 times.

The finishing tape 106 is routed around the handle 108 onto itself to maintain a strong hold of the end of wrap 104 and the wrap 102 to the handle 108. The finishing tape 106 is positioned where the wrap 102 ends on the handle 108, at the farthest location on the handle 108 away from the knob 110. The finishing tape 106 is positioned at the end of the handle 108 closer to the barrel 112 and top 114 of the baseball bat 100. The finishing tape 106 is preferably placed on both the end of wrap 104 and the baseball bat 100 surface, to maximize the ability of the finishing tape 106 to secure the wrap 102 onto the handle 108. The adhesive backing of the finishing tape 106 touches both the end of the wrap 104 and the baseball bat 100 surface. Placing the finishing tape 106 over both the wrap 102 and the baseball bat 100 surface prevents dirt and other debris from contacting the end of the wrap 104 and prematurely unraveling the wrap 102.

Over time, the adhesive of the finishing tape 106 deteriorates and begins to unravel. This can be caused by rain, dirt, sweat, and other debris from normal use of the baseball bat 100 in baseball settings (e.g., batting practice, in games, dropping the bat post swing). Although the batter grips the handle 108 closer to the knob 110, the unraveling of the finishing tape 106 will cause the wrap 102 to unravel, and negatively impact the ability of the batter to secure the handle 108 with his or her hands.

Once the wrap 102 on the handle 108 is worn out from continued use, the wrap 102 needs to be replaced. This can occur with the original equipment manufacturer pre-installed wrap, or a replacement wrap. Once the old wrap is removed, the user takes a new wrap and installs the new wrap around the handle 108 of the baseball bat 100. While a baseball bat 100 is shown as a preferred embodiment, wrap 102 can be used on any sports stick with a handle.

As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, band 302 is shown on the baseball bat 100. Band 302 is flexible, i.e., elastic in nature. FIG. 4a shows how band 302 is stretched outward from its natural state, and routed over knob 302 of the baseball bat 100. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 4a, band 302 travels from the knob 110 and towards the end of the wrap 104 (FIG. 4b). Once the band 302 is positioned over the end of the wrap 104, band 302 is relaxed to fit on top of the end of the wrap 104. Band 302 creates a press fit on end of wrap 104 and the baseball bat 100 itself. The sizing (i.e., diameter) and elasticity of band 302 is designed to create a press fit on the end of wrap 104 and the baseball bat 100. Without the reliance on an adhesive finishing tape 106 or similar adhesive material that will deteriorate over time, band 302 will keep the end of wrap 104 secure on the baseball bat 100.

When relaxed onto the baseball bat 100, band 302 contracts and creates a press fit onto the barrel 108 due to the elastic nature of the band 302. The press fit creates a secure fit of the end of the wrap 104 on the handle 108. The wrap 102 is prepositioned on the handle 108 when it is adhered to the baseball bat 100 (FIG. 1b). When the band 302 is utilized, the finishing tape 106 is not placed on the end of wrap 104. However, in an exemplary embodiment, the band 302 is placed over the finishing tape 106 that is already secured to the end of wrap 104 (not depicted).

Band 302 is preferably made of silicone. Other elastic materials can be used to form band 302. Although various sizes can be used for the bat band, one embodiment includes a silicone material sized to 80 mm×12 mm×2 mm. Depending on the placement of the band 302, or the sports equipment used, the band 302 will vary in shape and size to create the required compression force between the band 302 and the sports equipment handle where the band 302 is placed.

As shown in FIG. 3a, the preferred location of band 302 is partially on the end of the wrap 104 and partially on the baseball bat 100 direct surface. This helps keep debris from entering or breaching the end of the wrap 104. In an exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 3b, the band 302 is positioned fully on the end of the wrap 104 and not touching the actual baseball bat 100 direct surface.

As shown in FIGS. 5a through 5b, band 302 includes band center surface 502 and band bevels 504. The band bevels 504 are on each outside edge of the band 302, as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5c. The band bevels 504 prevent sharp edges from coming into contact with the batter's hands or batting gloves. FIGS. 5a and 5b show a circular opening in the band 302, defined by the band inner edge 506. The opening of the band 302 increases when the band 302 is stretched over the knob 110 and over the handle 108. The opening decreases when the band 302 is relaxed and positioned over the end of wrap 104.

The diameter of the band inner edge 506, in a resting state, is designed to be smaller in diameter than the handle 104 location where the band 302 is placed for the respective sports stick. By designing the band inner edge 506 with a smaller diameter than the handle 104, when the band 302 is placed on the handle end of wrap 104 of the handle 108, the band 302 will have a press fit on handle 108.

In an exemplary embodiment, shown in FIGS. 6a trough 6d, band 302 includes chamfers instead of bevels. Band 302 includes band center surface 502 and band chambers 602. The band chambers 602 are on each outside edge of the band 302, as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6c. The band chambers 602 prevent sharp edges from coming into contact with the batter's hands or batting gloves. FIGS. 6a and 6b show a circular opening in the band 302, defined by the band inner edge 506. The opening of the band 302 increases when the band 302 is stretched over the knob 110 and over the handle 108. The opening decreases when the band 302 is relaxed and positioned over the end of wrap 104.

In another exemplary embodiment, multiple bands 302 are used on baseball bat 100. While only one band 302 is needed to properly secure the wrap 102 to the handle 108, multiple bands 302 are used to create a fun design for the athletes. This is particularly useful for youth sports. Several bands 302 are grouped together used to generate a message. FIG. 7 shows four bands: J band 702, O band 704, E band 706, and Y band 708. Each band has a letter printed, inscribed, or molded on the respective band. When placed together, the four bands spell the name JOEY. This may be the name of the user of the baseball ball 100.

The bands 302 can also be used to spell a player's nickname, baseball team name (e.g., Marlins), or geographic location (e.g., Miami). The bands can also include digits, such as the player's jersey number. The custom message created by the bands 302 can also be used to commemorate a mentor or deceased person. The bands 302 can be varied in color to create user preferred color combinations for special occasions or to match the team colors. For special occasions, such as Independence Day (3 bands with USA letters in red, white, and blue colors) or Mother's Day (MOM letters in pink or purple colors). By providing bands with varying letters, numbers, and colors, the batter can create their own custom design when using the bands 302 on their baseball bat 100 to secure the wrap 102 to the handle 108.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of band 302 on the handle of a hockey stick 800. Band 302 is placed at the end of the wrap of the hockey handle, farthest away from the butt end of the hockey stick. FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of band 302 at the end of a wrap of the tennis racket 900 handle.

As shown in FIG. 4, the instant invention includes the process of installing a flexible band on a baseball bat 100. The process includes expanding the band 302 from a relaxed state. Next, the expanded band 302 is routed over the knob 110 of the lower end of the baseball bat 100. When band 302 is routed over handle 108, wrap 102 is preinstalled on the baseball bat 100 as shown in FIG. 1b.

The expanded band 302 is positioned on wrap 102 near the end of handle 108, as shown in FIG. 4. When the desired position is located, the expanded band 302 is relaxed until the band 302 comes creates a press fit on the wrap 102. When relaxed, the band 302 is not fully relaxed into its natural state. Since the diameter of the handle 108 is larger than the relaxed state of the band 302, placing band 302 over handle 108 creates a press fit between band 302 and the handle 108. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 3b, band 302 can either be placed partially on the end of wrap 104 and partially on the baseball bat 100 surface (FIG. 3a), or fully on the wrap 102 (FIG. 3b).

Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sports stick device, comprising: at least one flexible band; wherein: the at least one flexible band is circular with an opening in the middle; andthe at least one flexible band is stretched outwardly and placed over one end of a sports stick onto at least a portion of a prepositioned wrap on the sports stick.

2. The sports stick device as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexible band is relaxed to create a press fit on the wrap.

3. The sports stick device as recited in claim 1, wherein the sports stick is one of the following: baseball bat, softball bat, tennis racket, racquet ball paddle, pickle ball handle, hockey stick, or a lacrosse stick.

4. The sports stick device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible band includes a digit.

5. The sports stick device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible band includes a plurality of colors.

6. The sports stick device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible band includes a chamfered or beveled edge.

7. A sports stick device, comprising: a bat, wherein the bat has a handle, knob, and barrel;at least one flexible band with an opening in the middle of the flexible band;a wrap adhered the handle of the bat, starting at a first end of the handle by the knob, extending down the handle of the bat towards the second end of the handle before the barrel; andpositioning the at least one flexible band onto at least a portion of the wrap at the second end of the handle.

8. The sports stick device as recited in claim 7, wherein the flexible band is relaxed to create a press fit on the wrap.

9. The sports stick device as recited in claim 7, wherein the bat is a baseball bat.

10. The sports stick device as recited in claim 7, wherein the bat is a softball bat.

11. The sports stick device as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one flexible band includes a digit.

12. The sports stick device as recited in claim 7, wherein the digits of the at least one flexible band spell a message or word.

13. The sports stick device as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one flexible band includes a plurality of colors.

14. The sports stick device as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one flexible band includes a chamfered or beveled edge.

15. A method of installing a flexible band on a sports stick, comprising: expanding the flexible band;routing the expanded flexible band over a first end of a sports stick; andrelaxing the flexible band on a handle of the sports stick.

16. The method of installing a flexible band on a sports stick as recited in claim 15, wherein the flexible band is relaxed substantially on a wrap pre-installed on the handle.

17. The method of installing a flexible band on a sports stick as recited in claim 15, wherein the flexible band is relaxed partially on a wrap pre-installed on the handle and partially on the surface of the sports stick.

18. The method of installing a flexible band on a sports stick as recited in claim 15, wherein the flexible band is relaxed to create a press fit on at least a portion of the wrap and the sports stick.

19. The method of installing a flexible band on a sports stick as recited in claim 15, wherein sports stick is one of the following: baseball bat, softball bat, tennis racket, racquet ball paddle, pickle ball handle, hockey stick, or a lacrosse stick.

20. The method of installing a flexible band on a sports stick as recited in claim 15, wherein a plurality of flexible bands are relaxed substantially on the handle of the sports stick.