Bat With Flexible Handle

Abstract

Included herein is a bat for striking a ball. The bat comprises a barrel portion, transition portion attached to the barrel portion, and a handle portion attached to the transition portion. The handle portion includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of planes substantially parallel to the axis. The adjacent planes of the plurality of planes are positioned to define apertures substantially parallel to the axis. The planes and apertures are positioned to vary the flexibility of the handle and improve bat performance for a given swing speeds.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a bat made in accordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art bat taken generally along line AA as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a bat made in accordance with the current disclosure taken generally along AA of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a bat made in accordance with the current disclosure taken generally along AA of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a bat made in accordance with the current disclosure taken generally along AA of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a bat made in accordance with the current disclosure taken generally along AA of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a bat made in accordance with the current disclosure taken generally along AA of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a bat made in accordance with the current disclosure taken generally along AA of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a bat made in accordance with the current disclosure taken generally along AA of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a bat made in accordance with the current disclosure taken generally along AA of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a bat made in accordance with the current disclosure taken generally along AA of FIG. 1. FIG. 11 shows an example of a handle with three types of flexibility depending on the orientation of the impact between the ball and bat in view of the orientation of the planes of the handle.

FIG. 12 is graph showing the comparison of swing speed and performance for three types of flexibility in handles.

FIG. 13A is a partial side view of a handle made in accordance with the current disclosure. FIG. 13A shows an example of a handle have external supports varying flexibility of the handle.

FIG. 13B is a partial side view of a handle made in accordance with the current disclosure. FIG. 13B shows an example of a handle have alternate external supports varying flexibility of the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring generally now to FIGS. 1-13B, a bat is shown generally designated by the numeral 10. The bat 10 is for striking a ball 12 and comprises a barrel portion 14, a transition portion 16, and a handle portion 18. The transition portion 16, which can also be described as a taper 16, is attached to the barrel portion 14, which can also be described as a barrel 14, while the handle portion 18, which can also be described as a handle 18, is attached to the transition portion 16. The bat also includes a knob 20 and a cap end 22.

The handle portion 18 includes a longitudinal axis 24, which can also be described as a central axis 24, and a plurality of planes 26, which can be described as a plurality of second planes 26, positioned substantially parallel to the axis 24. The plurality of planes 26 are positioned such that adjacent planes define apertures 28 wherein the apertures 28 are substantially parallel to the axis 24. Each aperture 28 includes a proximate end 30, while each plane 26 includes a distal end 32.

In one embodiment, each proximate end 30 is aligned with one of the adjacent proximate ends 30, while in another embodiment at least two of the proximate ends 30 are offset. In another embodiment, each distal end 32 is rounded. These rounded distal ends 32 can be generally described as tapering to a curved point. In another embodiment, the distal ends 32 conform to the shape of the circumference 34 of the handle 18.

The handle 18 can also include a cross piece 36, which can also be described as a first plane of material 36, that is positioned substantially perpendicular to the planes 26 and substantially intersecting the axis 24. The cross piece 36 can further include a thickness 38 and a length 40. In one embodiment, the thickness 38, which can be described as a width 38, is substantially uniform along the length 40. In an alternate embodiment, the width 38 varies along the length 40.

The bat 10 can further include a layer of material 42 that surrounds the handle 18. The layer of material 42 can be used to enclose the handle 18 and protect the handle 18 without altering the characteristics of the bat 10.

The handle 18 further includes a deflection characteristic which is responsive to a force 44 applied substantially perpendicular to the axis 24. The deflection characteristic of the handle 18 is increased by the apertures 28 defined in the handle 14 by the planes 26 and cross piece 36. Part of this increased deflection characteristic is due to the fact that the apertures 28 open to the circumference 34 of the handle 18. This allows deflection between the planes 26 when the force 44 is applied to the bat 10. As such, due to the positioning of the planes 26 to create the apertures 28, the planes 26 have additional room in which to deflect during the application of the force 24. This additional deflection allows for an increased overall elasticity of the bat 10 and a return of energy to the ball 12.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the performance of various embodiments of the current invention can vary depending on the orientation of the handle 14 in relation to the impact direction of the ball and the bat. For example impact of ball in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planes 26 and substantially planer to the cross piece 36 provides a stiff response from the handle 14. Impact of ball in a direction substantially parallel to the planes 26 and substantially perpendicular to the cross piece 36 provides a flexible response from the handle 14. Additionally, impact of ball in a direction obtuse to both to the planes 26 and cross piece 36 provides an intermediate response from the handle 14. FIG. 12 provides test data of the various responses charted against swing speed of the bat and performance of the bat.

Additionally, the cylindrical nature of the handle 18 further facilitates the same integration of the current inventive bat 10 into the market. A layer 42 can substantially cover the handle 18 such that a user of the bat 10 would not necessarily know of the unique design feature of the handle 18.

As exampled in FIGS. 13A-B, in an alternate embodiment of the bat 10 the handle 18 includes externally positioned supports 50 positioned on the handle 18 to regulate the flexibility of the handle 18. The supports 50, or ribs 50, can be positioned in several configurations including substantially parallel to the axis of the handle and circumferentially positioned on the circumference of the handle 18. Alternately, the ribs 50 can be spirally shaped along the length of the bat.

The supports 50 are preferably positioned to regulate the flexibility, or define the stiffness characteristics, of the handle 18. This can be accomplished by connecting adjacent planes 26 to inhibit independent movement there between. The ribs 50 can run longitudinally (parallel to the main axis of the bat 10) and be used to efficiently increase stiffness. Alternately, the ribs 50 can spiral or angle down the handle 18 to provide varying degrees of stiffness in the handle 18. Adding the ribs 50 to the outside of the handle 18 facilitates the controlled stiffness of the handle 18 due to the fact that the reinforcement characteristics of the ribs 50 are space from the neutral axis of bending of the bat 10.

Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful Bat With Flexible Handle, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A bat for striking a ball, the bat comprising: a barrel portion;a transition portion attached to the barrel portion; anda handle portion attached to the transition portion, the handle portion including: a longitudinal axis;a plurality of planes substantially parallel to the axis; andwherein adjacent planes are positioned to define apertures substantially parallel to the axis.

2. The bat of claim 1, further including a cross piece substantially perpendicular to the plurality of planes and intersecting the axis.

3. The bat of claim 2, the cross piece further including a thickness and a length, wherein the thickness is substantially uniform along the length.

4. The bat of claim 1, each aperture further including a proximate end wherein the proximate ends are aligned.

5. The bat of claim 1, each aperture further including a proximate end wherein at least two of the proximate ends are offset.

6. The bat of claim 1, each plane further including a distal end wherein the distal ends are rounded.

7. The bat of claim 1, the handle including a circumference and each plane including a distal end wherein the distal ends conform to the shape of the circumference.

8. The bat of claim 1, the handle including a deflection characteristic responsive to a force substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the deflection characteristic is increased by the apertures defined in the handle.

9. The bat of claim 1, further including a layer of material around the handle.

10. The bat of claim 1, further including at least one externally positioned support positioned on the handle to regulate the flexibility of the handle.

11. The bat of claim 10, wherein the externally positioned support is positioned substantially parallel to the axis of the handle.

12. The bat of claim 10, wherein the externally positioned support is spirally shaped.

13. A bat for striking a ball, the bat comprising: a barrel;a taper attached to the barrel; anda handle attached to the taper, the handle including: a circumference;a central axis;a plurality of longitudinal planes of material substantially parallel to the axis;a connecting piece substantially perpendicular to the plurality of longitudinal planes and intersecting the axis;a deflection characteristic responsive to a force substantially perpendicular to the central axis;wherein adjacent longitudinal planes are positioned to define longitudinal apertures substantially parallel to the axis; andwherein the deflection characteristic is increased by the apertures defined in the handle.

14. The bat of claim 13, wherein: the connecting piece further includes a width and a length;each longitudinal aperture further includes a proximate end; andeach longitudinal plane further includes a distal end.

15. The bat of claim 14, wherein the width is substantially uniform along the length and the proximate ends are aligned.

16. The bat of claim 14, wherein the width varies along the length and at least two of the proximate ends are offset.

17. The bat of claim 14, wherein the distal ends are rounded.

18. The bat of claim 14, wherein the distal ends conform to the shape of the circumference.

19. The bat of claim 13, further including a layer of material around the handle.

20. A bat for striking a ball, the bat comprising: a barrel;a taper attached to the barrel; anda handle attached to the taper, the handle including: a circumference;a central axis;a first plane of material substantially perpendicular to the axis;a plurality of second planes of material substantially perpendicular to the first plane, adjacent second planes positioned to define longitudinal apertures substantially parallel to the axis and open to the circumference.

21. The bat of claim 20, wherein the apertures extend from the first plane to the circumference.

22. The bat of claim 20, wherein: the first plane further includes a width and a length;each longitudinal aperture further includes a proximate end; andeach second plane further includes a distal end.

23. The bat of claim 22, wherein the width is substantially uniform along the length and the proximate ends are aligned.

24. The bat of claim 22, wherein the width varies along the length and at least two of the proximate ends are offset.

25. The bat of claim 22, the handle further including a deflection characteristic responsive to a force substantially perpendicular to the central axis wherein the deflection characteristic is increased by the apertures define