Patent Application
20180345103
The present invention relates generally to an aluminum bat for use in diamond sports such as baseball and softball. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bat with exterior grooves filled with a material having a density lower than that of aluminum.
Numerous attempts have been made to improve the performance of a bat. These prior attempts have included the addition of various shells, inserts, materials, and shapes of the bat in order to improve its performance or usage. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,867,114, 7,014,580, 6,949,038, 6,761,653 6,733,404, 6,663,517, 6,497,631, 6,398,675, 6,176,795, 6,022,282, 4,930,772, 4,331,330, and 3,990,699, and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2002/0016230, 2002/0091022, 2005/0070384, 2010/0160095, 2011/0152015, 2013/0274039, 2013/0165279, and 2015/0273295 disclose various attempts to improve the performance or use of a bat.
The performance of a bat is generally based upon the weight of the bat, length of the bat, and the impact response of the bat at and during impact with a ball. Thus, bats are often discussed in terms of “weight drop.” The weight drop of a bat is the difference between the bat's length (in inches) and its weight (in ounces). For example, a 30 inch bat that is considered a “−8” would have a weight of 22 ounces (i.e., 22 ounces minus 30 inches equals −8).
Most of the focus for improvements in bat technology has been in improving the performance of the ball impact area of the bat. The ball impact area itself may be many inches in length, depending on the construction of the bat. The ball impact area generally includes a point of maximum performance, at which a batted ball leaves the bat with the highest exit velocity compared to the rest of the ball impact area of the bat. The point of maximum performance is often approximately four to eight inches, and usually five to seven inches, from the end-cap end of the bat barrel.
The ball impact area generally encompasses the portion of the barrel having a constant outer diameter as well as the portion of the barrel that tapers. The portion of the barrel having a constant outer diameter is referred to herein as the barrel portion of the barrel, which generally extends from the end-cap to where the outer diameter of the barrel begins to taper. The portion of the barrel that tapers is referred to herein as the transition section of the barrel, and typically extends from the barrel portion to the handle, or thereabouts.
As prior art bats have increased the performance in this area, many sports regulatory agencies have placed performance and/or configuration restrictions on the bats. For example, most regulatory bodies set a maximum performance level of a bat when a ball impacts the point of maximum performance of that bat. Typically, this impact performance level is measured by the exit velocity of the ball off the bat right after impact.
Historically, the performance of a bat in the ball impact area adjacent to point of maximum performance of that bat show significant reductions in performance. The contemporary bat art has made few attempts to improve the performance of the bat sections adjacent the point of maximum performance. As such, the performance of the bats in areas distal from, and even adjacent to, the point of maximum performance dramatically drops for conventional bats. Prior art attempts to address these issues have drawbacks. For example, inserts may be positioned inside of the barrel of a bat. These inserts may be metal rings that are glued or otherwise secured inside the barrel. Such rings may alternatively be made of composite materials, and may be molded and/or cured within the barrel in a secondary process. Such rings can result in heavier bats that take longer to construct.
Thus, there is a continuing need for improved overall performance of bats. These improved bats need to conform to the regulatory agencies' restrictions for in the preferred hitting zone while performing well at locations that are longitudinally outside the preferred hitting zone. These improved bats preferably increase the performance in locations adjacent the preferred hitting area/zone as compared to the preferred hitting zone. These improved bats, or features of a bat, are lacking in the art.
Disclosed herein is a barrel of a ball bat for striking a ball. The bat itself may comprise a longitudinal axis, a handle, and the barrel. The handle may include an attachment end and a knob end. The barrel includes a ball impact area formed by a barrel portion and a transition section. The handle may be of unitary construction with the barrel, or may be attached to the barrel according to known prior art techniques and structures. In either case, the transition section of the barrel is operatively attached to the attachment end of the handle at an attachment end of the transition section. A point of maximum performance is located within the ball impact area along the barrel. The barrel may also include an end cap.
In one example embodiment, the barrel has a ball impact area with a first thickness that is measured between a first final surface and an inner surface of the ball impact area. At least one exterior groove is positioned along the ball impact area. The exterior groove has a second thickness, thinner than the first thickness, that is measured between a first step surface and the inner surface of the ball impact area. The exterior groove is filled with a material having a density lower than that of aluminum, such as a composite material or the like.
In another example embodiment, the barrel has a ball impact area with a first final surface with at least two opposing side walls that extend radially inwards towards the longitudinal axis. The opposing side walls have both a distal and a proximal end. The distal end of each side wall extends from the first final surface. The proximal end of each side wall extends to the first step surface, which is between the opposing side walls. A material having a density lower than that of aluminum is positioned between the opposing side walls, above the first step surface. Such material forms a second final surface that is flush with the first final surface of the barrel portion.
Finally, in third example embodiment, the barrel portion has a first outer diameter, with the diameter tapering from the barrel portion towards the attachment end of the transition section. There is at least one annular ring, formed from a material having a density lower than that of aluminum, which is positioned along the ball impact area. The annular ring has a third diameter that is flush with the first outer diameter of the barrel portion.
For a better understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof is shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiment disclosed, but to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.
Referring to the drawings,
In alternative embodiments, angles other than 90 degrees may provide for other shifts between first and second thicknesses. As shown in
The exterior grooves 200 have been filled in with a material 400. The material 400 is preferably a material having a density lower than that of aluminum. In a non-limiting example, composite materials could be used, such as carbon fiber and/or glass fiber, thermoplastic, surlyn, polyethylene, etc. However, it will be appreciated that other materials with a sufficiently low density, such as polyurethane, foams, or the like are also envisioned. The material 400 creates at least one annular ring along the ball impact area. The material 400 is preferably lighter than the material of bat 100, reducing the weight of bat 100. The material 400 filled exterior grooves create a second final surface 405. The second final surface 405 is preferably level with first final surface 300. In general, filling the exterior grooves 200 with material 400 reduces the weight of bat 100, and may also improve performance of the bat 100 adjacent the point of maximum performance while still passing the required performance standard.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the various embodiments of the present invention are well adapted to attain all the objectives and advantages hereinabove set forth together with still other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the present structures. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations of the present embodiments are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Since many possible embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is also to be understood that all disclosures herein set forth or illustrated in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. The various constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts, principles and scope of the present invention.
As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required.”
Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present constructions will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/512,844, filed May 31, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62512844 | May 2017 | US |
