Patent Application
20200047043
The present invention relates generally to a length compatible in-game protection case and method for affixed positional storage of a bat. More so, an axial bat placement storage case to securely stores a bat in an affixed axial position inside an elongated housing, such that a handle end of the bat is accessible from an open end of the housing without requiring the housing to be fully opened, and the bat is provided with in-game protection.
The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
Typically, a baseball or softball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the sport of baseball or softball to hit the ball after it is thrown by the pitcher. By regulation it may be between a market length of 24″ to 34″ long. While bat can be longer than 35″, this is rare and likely custom made. It is known in the art that bats used for baseball, softball, and the like are generally constructed from metal or wood. Accordingly, prolonged exposure to sunlight, heat, moisture, and general inclement weather may result in damage to a bat. The life-span of a bat can also be reduced by careless handling on the part of those individuals using the bat. It is recognized that gouges, scratches, splinters, and scrapes, chips, dents, cracks, and punctures for example, may result when bats are improperly stored together, or allowed to bang into various other objects.
It is known that when a baseball player is waiting on deck, it may be necessary to access the bat quickly, such as if a previous batter strikes out. Opening a case that contains a bat may not be fast enough for the player to reach deck and begin the process of hitting.
Other proposals have involved protective cases for bats. The problem with these cases is that they do not provide fast access to the bat, such as by enabling the handle to be grabbed from a closed case. Also, the interior of the case may not be padded. Even though the above cited bat cases meets some of the needs of the market, a length compatible in-game protection case and method for affixed positional storage of a bat. The length compatible in-game protection case serves to securely store a baseball bat in an affixed axial position inside an elongated housing, such that a handle end of the bat is accessible from an open end of the housing without requiring the housing to be fully opened, is still desired.
Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to a length compatible in-game protection case and method for affixed positional storage of a bat. The axial bat placement storage case serves to securely store a baseball bat in an affixed axial position inside an elongated housing, such that a handle end of the bat is accessible from an open end of the housing without requiring the housing to be fully opened.
The length compatible in-game protection case provides an elongated housing that is configured into a cylindrical shape having a bifurcated clam shell design. In one embodiment, the housing is defined by a hinge that is disposed lengthwise, and a pair of cooperating longitudinal edges that detachably couple together through a male fastener and a female fastener, so as to enable hinged opening and secure closing of the housing in a lengthwise direction. The housing is further defined by an outer surface, an inner surface, an open end, and a closed end. A cap detachably attaches to the open end of the housing to regulate access to the bat when the housing is closed.
In some embodiments, a pliable panel overlays a substantial area of the inner surface of the housing. The pliable panel is configured to encapsulate, and thereby provide a snug fit over the bat when the housing is closed. The snug disposition of the panel around the bat also inhibits rolling or axial movements by the bat.
In some embodiments, a series of spaced-apart ridges extend along the length of the panel. The ridges indicate discrete lengths that correlate to the possible lengths of a bat. Specifically, the series of spaced-apart ridges are configured to define multiple lengths for the bat in relation to the housing.
Each ridge may be defined by an indicia indicating a bat length, such as 25″, 26″, etc. The case further comprises a spacer that fits into one of the ridges and abuts against the top end of the bat to inhibit axial movement by the baseball bat. Thus, the position of the bat is set in the housing so that the handle end is exposed from the open end when the cap is removed.
In operation, the top end of the bat aligns with one of the ridges so that a handle end of the baseball bat is at least partially exposed through the open end of the housing when the cap is detached. The spacer fits into the ridge with the aligned top end of the bat in a perpendicular disposition, so as to inhibit axial movement by the bat and maintain the bat at the appropriate ridge. The top end of the bat aligns with one of the ridges that allows the handle end of the bat to extend through the open end of the housing; or aligns with one of the ridges that indicate the length of the bat. In this manner, the handle end of the bat remains at the appropriate position in the housing to expose the handle end through the open end of the housing.
In another aspect, the housing is at least 35″ long.
In another aspect, the housing is rigid.
In another aspect, the male fastener is a snap closure.
In another aspect, the female fastener is a slot that detachably couples to the snap closure.
In another aspect, the series of spaced-apart ridges are exactly 1″ apart from each other.
In another aspect, the pliable panel is foam or felt cloth.
In another aspect, the spacer is disc-shaped and comprises a foam lining or felt lining.
One objective of the present invention is to provide an elongated, rigid housing that protects a bat from external damage, such as scrapes, scratches, splintering, dents, chips, cracks, and punctures; harmful environmental conditions; and damage resulting from inadvertent contact with various other objects.
Another objective is to increase the life span of a bat due to construction from a material having a greater resistance to harmful environmental elements.
Another objective is to provide a housing that is lightweight, flexible, and easy to use, allowing for attachment to and removal from a bat in a quick and convenient manner.
Another objective is to provide a spacer that retains the bat at a discrete position in the housing to enable easy access to the handle end of the bat.
Another objective is to provide a pliable, cushioned panel that forms a snug fit around the bat.
Another objective is to provide an inexpensive to manufacture bat storage case.
Another objective is to provide a shoulder strap and carabiner for hanging the case from a mounting surface, such as a chain link fence.
Other systems, cases, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims and drawings.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
A length compatible in-game protection case 200 and method 300 for affixed positional storage of a bat is referenced in
As shown in
In some embodiments, the housing 102 may include a pair of cooperating longitudinal edges 106a, 106b opposite the hinge side 136. The edges 106a, 106b hingedly and detachably couple together through a male fastener 108a and a female fastener 108b. This allows for hinged opening and secure closing of the housing 102 in a lengthwise direction. And thereby full access to the length of the bat 100.
Turning now to the side view of
The housing 102 is further defined by an outer surface 110, an inner surface 112, a closed end 116, and an opposite open end 114. The housing 102 is dimensioned and configured to completely enclose a bat 100, except when the cap is removed. The housing 102 is at least 34″ long to fully encase a baseball bat 100. Though in other embodiments, the housing 102 may be between 25″ to 35″ long. In one embodiment, the housing 102 of the case 200 is compatible with any baseball or softball bat 24″ to 35″ in length. The fact that this case can hold every bat, not just baseball is extremely important.
As
For example,
As
Looking now at
In one embodiment, the indicia 124a-e for each correlating ridge 122a-e may include: a 24″ marking, a 25″ marking, a 26″ marking, a 27″ marking, a 28″ marking, a 29″ marking, a 30″ marking 124e, a 31″ marking 124d, a 32″ marking 124c, a 33″ marking 124b, and a 34″ marking 124a. The top end 101 of the bat 100 aligns with one of the ridges 122a-e that allows the handle end of the bat 100 to extend through the open end 114 of the housing; or aligns with one of the ridges 122a-e that indicate the length of the bat 100. In this manner, the handle end 103 of the bat 100 is visible and accessible from the open end 114 of the housing 102 when the cap 118 is removed.
As illustrated in
The capacity of the case 200 to enable alignment of the bat 100 so that the handle end 103 is exposed, may be accomplished by positioning a top end 101 of the bat 100 in alignment with one of a plurality of spaced-apart ridges 122a-e along the length of the housing 102. The ridges 122a-e are defined by an indicia 124a-e that correlates to a length of the bat 100. In this manner the bat 100 is positioned along the length of the housing 102 so that the handle end 103 is exposed for facilitated access. This can be especially useful during a game, where a player may view and grab the handle end 103 through a closed housing to pull the bat 100 from the housing 102.
In operation, the top end 101 of the bat 100 aligns with one of the ridges 122a-e so that a handle end 103 of the bat 100 is at least partially exposed through the open end 114 of the housing 102 when the cap 118 is detached. The spacer 126 fits into one of the ridges 122a-e, so as to abut and align with top end 101 of the bat 100 in a perpendicular disposition. As explained above, this helps to inhibit axial movement by the bat 100 and maintain the bat 100 at the appropriate position in the housing 102. In this manner, the top end 101 of the bat 100 remains at the appropriate position in the housing 102 to expose the handle end 103 through the open end 114 of the housing 102.
Secondly, the method 300 enables the housing 102 to have facilitated visibility and accessibility of the handle end 103 of the bat 100 that is cased in the housing 102. This is accomplished by removing a cap 118 from an open end of the housing. The method 300 also provides spacer 126 that positions at the top end of the bat along spaced-apart ridges 122a-e to enable axial positioning of the bat 100, such that the handle end 103 is accessible when the cap is removed from the open end 114 of the housing 102.
The method 300 may include an initial Step 302 of providing a case defined by an elongated housing having a clamshell design, a hinge side, and a pair of cooperating longitudinal edges that detachably couple together through a male fastener and a female fastener, the housing further defined by an outer surface, an inner surface, a closed end, and an opposite open end. The method 300 may further comprise a Step 304 of hingedly opening the housing along the hinge side. A Step 306 includes positioning a bat inside the housing oriented such that a top end of the bat faces the closed end of the housing, and a handle end of the bat faces the open end of the housing. A Step 308 comprises axially displacing the bat along a series of spaced-apart ridges extending along the length of the inner surface of the housing.
Continuing with
Although the process-flow diagrams show a specific order of executing the process steps, the order of executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain embodiments. Also, two or more blocks shown in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted from the process-flow diagrams for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, some or all the process steps shown in the process-flow diagrams can be combined into a single process
Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.
These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.
Because many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.
