REINFORCED BASEBALL BAT AND PROCESS FOR FORMING

Abstract

A reinforced baseball bat and method of forming including providing a pair of elongated billets, drilling a semi-circular cross sectional recess in a lengthwise direction from a butt end in and along each of the billets, providing an elongated rod having a length and diameter matching the semi-circular recesses, applying an adhesive to each of opposing faces of the billets and within the mating recesses, installing the elongated rod within the semi-circular recess of a selected billet and sandwiching the billets so that the rod seats within the semi-circular recess of the other selected billet. Additional steps should include clamping the billets to allow the adhesive to set turning the billet to form the bat shape in which the steel tube extends from the knob end to establish a composite one-piece interface, to resist shattering of the bat including detachment of the barrel end from the handle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to baseball bat construction. More specifically, the present invention teaches a composite reinforced bat design, which incorporates a threaded steel tube secured within a bore or groove formed into a wooden bat billet and corresponding to a handle end of the bat in order to prevent breakage in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art is documented with reinforced bat designs. A first example of this is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,006 to Tribble which teaches a bat having a metal handle portion and a wood barrel portion with a locking portion fitting within a barrel receiving end of the metal handle portion. A locking pin system is provided for securing the metal handle portion to the wood barrel portion having a first end and a second end and extending the length of the metal handle portion. The first end of the locking pin is secured to the locking portion of the wood barrel portion by inserting the locking pin into a locking pin bore drilled longitudinally in the locking portion of the wood barrel portion.

US 2007/0072711 teaches baseball bat which discourages breakage by using a reinforcement made from steel, plastic, epoxy, or other suitable filler material. To construct the bat, a blind hole is bored through the handle portion of the bat (or the wooden die from which the bat will be formed) towards but not extending to the tip. Next, the hole is filled with the reinforcement. The resulting product is a wooden bat reinforced at its narrowest points: in and near the handle extending towards the barrel of the bat.

U.S. Pat. No. 11,395,945, to Benda et al., teaches a hybrid baseball bat with a wood shell having a radial wall and an outer radial surface profile. The wood shell has a central core with a central surface thereon extending from a distal end of the bat. The central surface is profiled with a taper that in some embodiments extends entirely through to the proximal end. A fibrous construct is housed in the central core and infiltrated with an epoxy resin. In some forms, the fibrous construct is in the form of a sleeve. Also disclosed are various manufacturing techniques for manufacturing hybrid baseball bats which include a low pressure bladder method, a high pressure bladder method, and a centrifugal force method.

Finally, Chang U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,648 teaches an improved wood bat for baseball includes a wood body having a handle portion, a barrel portion, and a tapered portion therebetween. An axial hole is disposed longitudinally along the axis of the wood body from one end of the handle and extending a predetermined distance. A tubular core made of fiber reinforced plastic materials or metal is fitted to be received in the axial hole to internally reinforce the wood body. The wood bat may further include an outer sleeve which is made of fiber reinforced plastic materials or metal and surrounds the barrel to provide external reinforcing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a composite bat formed from a billet which incorporates a threaded steel tube secured within a bore or groove formed into a wooden bat billet and extending from a handle end toward the barrel region of the bat in order to prevent breakage in use. An adhesive is also provided to secure the threaded steel tube within the bore. The steel tube can be dimensioned to either extend to an intermediate interior location of the bat or to a barrel end.

Associated methods are also disclosed for forming the bat shape from a billet. In a first embodiment, the method of forming can most simply include providing the billet as a single piece and boring an axial hole through a centerline from the eventual butt end of the turned bat. The threaded steel rod can then be driven into the bored hole, which can include without limitation a combined linear and rotational driving of the rod (similar to that associated with the drill bit forming the initial bore) and by which the dimensions of the originally drilled bore hole can be slightly less than that of the exteriorly threaded tube or rod in order to securely affix the tube or rod with or without the need for a separate adhesive applied between the initial bore forming and rod insertion steps.

In a further method, formation of the bat from the billet includes the steps of providing the wood billet, sectioning it into first and second halves (or alternatively initially providing the billet subsection or halves), and drilling a semi-circular aperture into an open face associated with each half billet from its butt end to either of an interior intermediate location (or alternatively forming the semi-circular aperture completely through the billet half to its eventual barrel end).

Additional steps include providing a grooved or threaded steel tube corresponding in length to the semi-circular formed apertures, placing the tube within a selected billet half, applying an adhesive to each of the opposing faces of the billet halves (and optionally within one or both of the semi-circular shaped apertures prior to or following placement of the tube), and clamping the billet halves together in order to grip the steel tube therebetween as well as to impart and form grooves within the semi-circular formed apertures resulting from the exterior threads of the tube. Other steps include removing the clamps once the adhesive applied to the composite billet has set and then rotating the billet within a lathe or other turning machine to form the final bat shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a line drawing in cutaway of a wood bat handle produced according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a succeeding illustration to FIG. 1 and depicting a threaded steel tube installed within the bat;

FIG. 3 presents a three dimensional perspective view of a length sectioned bat depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 presents an alternate version similar to FIG. 3 with the steel rod extending the entire length of the bat;

FIG. 5 illustrate an elongated rectangular wood billet provided according to the process for creating the steel reinforced bat;

FIG. 6 is a succeeding illustration in which the billet is lengthwise sectioned into halves;

FIG. 7 presents an enlarged view showing selected half sectioned billet with semi-circular aperture formed from a butt end, and with a wood adhesive applied to each opposing sectioned faces of the half billets and within the mating recesses;

FIG. 8 presents a threaded steel rod according to one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 teaches the steel tube installed within the selected billet half recess and the billets clamped together to set, at which point the clamping force results in the exterior threads of the steel tube forming grooved patterns in the mating semi-circular apertures;

FIG. 10 illustrates the re-assembled billet lathed/turned in order to form the final bat shape;

FIG. 11 presents a cutaway view of a substantially circular shaped billet according to a further possible embodiment with elongated recess formed therein for receiving the steel rod;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a turned bat resulting from the billet of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a cutaway view similar to FIG. 11 of the finished bat of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the attached illustrations, the present invention discloses a composite steel reinforced bat design which incorporates a threaded steel tube secured within a bore or groove formed into a bat billet prior to it being turned or milled into a completed bat shape, the tube extending from a handle end of the bat towards a barrel end in order to prevent breakage in use. The present invention also discloses a corresponding method for forming the bat shape from a billet.

Referring to both FIGS. 1-2, the bat is originally provided as a billet (see as depicted in phantom at 10) having an elongated rectangular three-dimensional blank shape. While typically provided as a wood, it is also understood that the billet can be provided as a wooden composite or possibly another material which can be suitably drilled in order to form a bore or hole as will be further described.

A bore 12 is drilled into an end face of the billet, such as through an axial centerline and corresponding to the eventually turned handle and knob end of the bat. In a preferred embodiment, the bore or groove exhibits a ⅜″ diameter or width however can be any width or diameter.

As will be described in the corresponding method, following drilling of the bore within the blank the interior of the bore or groove is lined with a suitable wood adhesive, following which a matching diameter steel tube or rod 14 (this term being used interchangeably and which can be without limitation 0.375″ in diameter and twenty-four inches in length in the preferred embodiment) is inserted into the billet 10. Without limitation, the threaded tube or rod 14 can be provided as any of a solid or internally hollowed sleeve shape and, as best shown in FIG. 2, exhibits a spiraling thread pattern which facilitates secure engagement when installed within the bore 12 formed into the bat billet 10. It is also envisioned that the rod or tube 14 can be provided from other metal or non-metal materials not limited to steel and which are intended to provide the necessary durability and anti-shatter characteristics to the eventually turned composite bat.

The length of the bore 12 formed in the billet 10, along with the steel rod 14, generally corresponds to approximately two thirds the eventual length of the bat so as to extend partially within the barrel 16 of the bat, such that the steel tube 14 generally corresponds to approximately two-thirds the eventual length of the turned bat and terminates at an intermediate point of the barrel 16 prior to its turned barrel end 17. Following this, the billet is installed into a lathe or other suitable turning machine (not shown) for forming into the eventual bat shape exhibiting each of a barrel end 17, barrel 16, handle 18 and knob end 20 portions.

As shown in FIG. 1, the threaded steel tube 14 is embedded a distance within the blank 10 prior to turning according to the numerically controllable operation of the lathe to achieve the final bat shaped design. As further shown in the line cutaway of FIG. 1, the threaded steel tube 14 (again in a preferred embodiment being twenty four inches in length) extends from the knob end 20 of the bat to a generally midpoint location of the barrel end 17.

In this fashion, the present invention provides a composite one piece construction established between the wood and steel components, owing its strength and resiliency to the wood adhesive and embedded threaded steel rod, and which assists in preventing the bat from completely fracturing to prevent flying parts of the bat caused by the breakage.

Referencing now FIG. 3, presented is a lengthwise sectioned perspective illustration of the steel reinforced bat shown in FIGS. 1-2, with FIG. 4 further presenting an alternate version similar to FIG. 3, with a modified and extended steel rod, see at 14′, extending the entire length of the bat between the knob end 20 and the barrel end 17.

FIG. 5 illustrates an elongated rectangular wood billet, again at 10, provided according to an initial method or process for creating the steel reinforced bat. FIG. 6 is a succeeding illustration in which the billet is lengthwise sectioned into halves, at 10′ and 10″. Alternately, the billet halves 10′/10″ can be initially provided pre-cut as shown.

FIG. 7 presents an enlarged view showing selected half sectioned billet 10″ with a semi-circular aperture (see as defined by semi-circular perimeter wall 21) formed from a corresponding knob or butt end 20 of the eventually formed bat. Although not shown, a corresponding matching semi-circular recess is formed in the other billet half 10′.

FIG. 8 presents the threaded steel rod, again at 14, according to one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. A suitable wood adhesive, see adhesive container at 22 and applied drops at 24 in FIG. 7, is applied to each of the opposing faces of the billet halves 10′/10″ and optionally within one or both of the semi-circular shaped apertures 20, this occurring either prior to or following placement of the tube 14 within the selected semicircular aperture for the lower billet half 10″.

As shown in FIG. 9, the billets 10′/10″ are clamped together with the threaded tube 14 captured therebetween to set, with the clamping force resulting in the steel tube forming grooved patterns in the mating semi-circular apertures 20. Without limitation the threaded steel rod can suitably be affixed within the semi-circular apertures without the use of additional adhesives outside what is necessary to bind the billet halves to one another. That said, experimentation has found that the use of a drop of adhesive at the knob end of the apertures is suitable for retaining the rod. As further depicted in FIG. 10, the re-assembled billet is machined in a suitable lathe or turning machine (not shown) in order to form the final bat shape.

FIG. 11 presents a cutaway view of a substantially circular shaped billet, generally at 26, according to a further possible embodiment with an elongated recess 28 formed therein for receiving the steel rod. FIG. 11 is intended to represent that the billet can be formed from any cross sectional shape and can be provided in either of half sections or a pie-shape cross section in which an elongated slice of the billet (see at 30 with elongated arcuate aperture 32 drilled along an inner joining edge) is installed or reinstalled following installation of the threaded rod or tube 14 and application of the adhesive.

FIG. 12 presents an illustration of a turned bat resulting from the billet of FIG. 11, such again including a butt or handle end 20′, a handle 18′, barrel 16′ and barrel end 17′. Finally, FIG. 13 presents a cutaway view similar to FIG. 11 of the finished/turned bat of FIG. 12, it being further understood that the installed threaded rod or tube 14 can also include the alternate version at 14′ which extends the entire length of the bat.

Consistent with the prior description of FIGS. 5-10, the present invention also discloses methods for producing a reinforced bat from a billet. In a first embodiment, the method of forming can most simply include providing a billet constructed from a first material as a single piece (see for example the one piece billet at 10 again in reference to FIGS. 1-2) and boring (via an appropriate drill bit) an axial hole through a centerline from the eventual butt end of the turned bat. A rod or tube is constructed from a second material (e.g. steel) to form the eventual reinforced composite bat, and can include it being driven into the bored hole. In one variant, the diameter dimension established between the bore hole and rod is such that the rod can be axially driven into the bore hole without rotation (this typically requiring use of a suitable wooden adhesive pre-placed within the bore hole).

Alternatively, the tube or rod can exhibit an exteriorly threaded profile such that it is driven into the billet bore hole utilizing a suitable collet style grip or chuck which establishes a collar around a tool (such as a lathe or other drill type structure) and which exerts a strong clamping force on the tube when it is tightened. This allows for exertion of a combined linear and rotational driving of the rod, this similar to that associated with the drill bit which was previously employed for forming the initial bore. Without limitation, the threaded rod can be driven into the bore hole with a remaining tail portion which is secured within the collet remaining outside of the bore hole and subsequently sheared or sectioned by an appropriate saw or tool capable of cutting through metal or steel and in order to define a smooth end face of the knob defining the eventual bat shape.

In either variant, the dimensions of the originally drilled bore hole can be slightly less than that of the installed exteriorly threaded tube or rod in order to securely affix the tube or rod, this occurring with or without the need for a separate adhesive applied between the initial bore forming and rod insertion steps and by which the imparted grooves formed into the bore by the exteriorly threaded rod assists in retaining the rod in place.

A further embodiment of the present method includes the step of providing either a single billet which is divided into halves or initially providing a pair of elongated rectangular billets constructed of a first material (e.g. wood or wood composite). Additional steps include drilling a semi-circular recess along and into an open face of each billet half in a lengthwise direction from a butt end in each of the billets, providing an elongated rod constructed of a second material (e.g. steel) having a length and diameter matching the semi-circular recesses (once they are mated with the rod captured therebetween), applying an adhesive to each of the opposing open faces of the billets (and optionally within the mating recesses), and installing the elongated rod within the semi-circular recess of a selected billet.

Yet additional steps include sandwiching the billets so that the rod seats within the semi-circular recess of the other selected billet, clamping the billets to allow the adhesive to set and, following removal of the clamps, turning the billet to form the bat shape in which the rod or tube extends from the knob end to establish a composite one piece interface, with the bat resisting shattering including detachment of the barrel end from the handle.

Other steps include providing a single billet and sectioning lengthwise to provide the pair of elongated rectangular billets, drilling to an interior location extending beyond a handle and approaching a barrel end of the bat formed from the billet or, alternatively, drilling to a barrel end of the bat formed from the billet. Other steps include drilling the semi-circular recess in a lengthwise direction from a butt end in each of the billets 0.375 inches in diameter by 24 inches in length.

Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. The detailed description and drawings are further understood to be supportive of the disclosure, the scope of which being defined by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed teachings have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the disclosure defined in the appended claims.

The foregoing disclosure is further understood as not intended to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. As such, it is contemplated that various alternate embodiments and/or modifications to the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or implied herein, are possible in light of the disclosure. Having thus described embodiments of the present disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is limited only by the claims.

In the foregoing specification, the disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, as one skilled in the art will appreciate, various embodiments disclosed herein can be modified or otherwise implemented in various other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, this description is to be considered as illustrative and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of making and using various embodiments of the disclosure. It is to be understood that the forms of disclosure herein shown and described are to be taken as representative embodiments. Equivalent elements, materials, processes or steps may be substituted for those representatively illustrated and described herein. Moreover, certain features of the disclosure may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the disclosure. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.

Further, various embodiments disclosed herein are to be taken in the illustrative and explanatory sense, and should in no way be construed as limiting of the present disclosure. All joinder references (e.g., attached, affixed, coupled, connected, and the like) are only used to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and may not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the systems and/or methods disclosed herein. Therefore, joinder references, if any, are to be construed broadly. Moreover, such joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected to each other.

Additionally, all numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, “first”, “second”, “third”, “primary”, “secondary”, “main” or any other ordinary and/or numerical terms, should also be taken only as identifiers, to assist the reader's understanding of the various elements, embodiments, variations and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and may not create any limitations, particularly as to the order, or preference, of any element, embodiment, variation and/or modification relative to, or over, another element, embodiment, variation and/or modification.

It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. Additionally, any signal hatches in the drawings/figures should be considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically specified.

Claims

1. A method for forming a reinforced baseball bat, comprising the steps of: providing a pair of elongated billets constructed from a first material;drilling a semi-circular cross sectional recess in a lengthwise direction from a butt end along an open face of each of the billets;providing an elongated rod constructed from a second material having a length and diameter matching the semi-circular recesses;applying an adhesive to each of opposing faces of the billets and within the mating recesses;installing the elongated rod within the semi-circular recess of a selected billet and sandwiching the billets so that the rod seats within the semi-circular recess of the other selected billet;clamping the billets together to sandwich the rod therebetween to allow the adhesive to set; andturning the billet to form the bat shape in which the rod extends from a knob end to establish a composite one piece interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a single billet and sectioning lengthwise to provide the pair of elongated billets.

3. The method according to claim 1, the step of drilling the semi-circular recess in a lengthwise direction from a butt end in each of the billets further comprising the step of drilling to an interior location extending beyond a handle and approaching a barrel end of the bat formed from the billet.

4. The method according to claim 1, the step of drilling the semi-circular recess in a lengthwise direction from a butt end in each of the billets further comprising the step of drilling to a barrel end of the bat formed from the billet.

5. The method according to claim 1, the step of drilling the semi-circular recess in a lengthwise direction from a butt end in each of the billets further comprising the step of drilling 0.375 inches in diameter by 24 inches in length.

6. The method according to claim 1, the step of providing an elongated rod further comprising providing the rod with exterior threads.

7. The method according to claim 6, the step of clamping the billets together to sandwich the rod therebetween further comprising imparting grooves from the exterior threads into opposing semi-circular edges defining the lengthwise recesses in the billets.

8. The method according to claim 1, the step of providing a pair of elongated billets further comprising providing billets having a rectangular three dimensional shape.

9. The method according to claim 1, the step of providing the pair of elongated billets further comprising providing wooden billets.

10. The method according to claim 1, the step of providing an elongated rod further comprising providing a steel rod or steel interiorly hollowed tube.

11. A method for forming a reinforced baseball bat, comprising the steps of: providing an elongated billet constructed from a first material;drilling a recess in a lengthwise direction from a butt end of the billet;providing an elongated rod constructed from a second material;installing the elongated rod within the recess; andturning the billet to form the bat shape in which the rod extends from a knob end to establish a composite one piece interface.

12. The method according to claim 11, the step of providing an elongated rod further comprising providing the rod with exterior threads.

13. The method according to claim, 11, the step of inserting the elongated rod within the recess further comprising the rod being axially driven into the recess without rotation.

14. The method according to claim 12, the step of inserting the elongated and exteriorly threaded rod within the recess further comprising exerting a combined linear and rotational driving of the rod within a recess of smaller diameter in order to form grooves into an inner perimeter wall defining the recess.

15. The method according to claim 11, the step of providing the billet further comprising providing a billet having a rectangular three dimensional shape.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of applying an adhesive within the recess prior to axially inserting the elongated rod.