Bat (e.g., Baseball Bat, Etc.) Patents (Class 473/564)
  • Publication number: 20110195809
    Abstract: A composite bat is disclosed comprising a core and outer members, as well as inserts of other material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventor: Matthew McDonald
  • Publication number: 20110183788
    Abstract: A non-wood baseball or softball bat wherein the barrel portion of the bat is filled with an inner foam layer which has a relatively low compressibility surrounded by an outer foam layer having high compressibility. This configuration would not hinder the hitting performance of less skilled players in an effort to control the maximum rebound speed generated by the best players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Chuck Smith
  • Publication number: 20110172038
    Abstract: A bat includes a handle having a handle joint, a barrel having a barrel joint and a barrel joint opening at an end of the barrel joint, and a connector connecting the handle joint and barrel joint together. The barrel joint has a first support hole formed proximal to the barrel joint opening, a second support hole formed distal to the barrel joint opening and having a larger diameter than the first support hole, and a receiver formed between the first and second support holes orthogonal to an axis of the holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Makoto WATARI, Katsumi Shimohira
  • Publication number: 20110165976
    Abstract: A composite ball bat includes multiple failure planes within a barrel wall. By including multiple failure planes in a barrel wall, the bat exhibits a drop in performance when subjected to rolling or other extreme deflection, with no temporary increase in barrel performance. Because the barrel performance does not increase, the ball bat is able to comply with performance limitations imposed by regulatory associations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: H.Y. Chuang, Dewey Chauvin
  • Patent number: 7972229
    Abstract: A novel baseball or softball bat is disclosed. The bat has a handle of a heavy, strong wood such as hickory, to resist breakage, and a barrel of a lighter wood such as sapele, to facilitate a controlled and comfortable swing. Methods for making the bat are also disclosed. It may be formed of a plurality of wedge-shaped pieces of wood, and the two species of wood may be joined by interleaving these wedges over part of the bat's length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: MacDougall & Sons Bat Company, LLC
    Inventor: John A. MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20110143870
    Abstract: The existing bat cap is removed and the bat is threaded to match the threads on the “Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight” and the “Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight” is screwed in until tight. The “Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight” comes in varying weights measured in half ounce increments to provide a full range of available options.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventor: Gregory Schulte
  • Patent number: 7942764
    Abstract: A baseball bat includes a hollow grip member having opposite front and rear ends, and an inner peripheral surface that defines a tapered chamber having a diameter reducing gradually toward the rear end. The inner peripheral surface has a first positioning portion disposed between the front end and the rear end. A striking member has an engaging segment received in the tapered chamber, and a large diameter segment extending forwardly from the engaging segment. The engaging segment has an axial hole, a plurality of open-ended slits extending along an axial direction and in spatial communication with the axial hole, and a second positioning portion aligned with the first positioning portion. A pressing member is inserted into the axial hole to press the second positioning portion against the first positioning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Inventor: Min-Ju Chung
  • Publication number: 20110111894
    Abstract: A bat is provided having a barrel portion with a hollow cavity therein. A core member is disposed in the interior cavity. An exterior surface of the core member engages with the interior surface of the barrel portion such that the core member supports the barrel portion and resists radial deformation of the barrel portion when striking an object, such as a ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: TRUE TEMPER SPORTS, INC.
    Inventor: Maxime Thouin
  • Publication number: 20110111892
    Abstract: A bat is provided including a handle portion, a barrel portion and a core member. The barrel portion has an interior cavity with an interior surface. The core member is disposed in the interior cavity of the barrel portion. The core member has an exterior surface engaged with the interior surface of the barrel portion. The handle portion extends into the interior cavity of the barrel portion and is coupled to the core member. The coupling of the core member to the handle allows the impact of the barrel portion on a ball to be transmitted to the user through the core member and the handle portion. The bat may thereby provide the user with an increased sense of the quality of the contact with the ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: TRUE TEMPER SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Maxime Thouin, Robert Lang
  • Publication number: 20110105255
    Abstract: A bat for baseball or softball of the present invention includes a first tube having an impact part, a step part and a stopper part, a cylindrical second tube, a fixing component being inserted between the first tube and second tube, the step part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the impact part and smaller than an interior diameter of the second tube, the stopper part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the step part and large than the interior diameter of the second tube, the second tube is held of an exterior periphery of the impact part, one end of the second tube is fixed between the stopper part and the step part by an adhesive and the other end is fixed by an adhesive on the fixing component, and a crevice is formed between the first tube and the second tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: NHK SHAFT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto WATARI, Katsumi SHIMOHIRA, Shuichi NAGASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20110094626
    Abstract: Novel sports articles are manufactured from acetylated wood. There is a process for manufacturing such articles from acetylated wood involving treating wood billets with the acetylation process and then shaping them into the desired sport article and then finishing the article with some durable finish such as varnish or shellac.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Frederick Roy Bonds, Derek Michael Bonds
  • Publication number: 20110086734
    Abstract: A baseball bat includes a hollow grip member having opposite front and rear ends, and an inner peripheral surface that defines a tapered chamber having a diameter reducing gradually toward the rear end. The inner peripheral surface has a first positioning portion disposed between the front end and the rear end. A striking member has an engaging segment received in the tapered chamber, and a large diameter segment extending forwardly from the engaging segment. The engaging segment has an axial hole, a plurality of open-ended slits extending along an axial direction and in spatial communication with the axial hole, and a second positioning portion aligned with the first positioning portion. A pressing member is inserted into the axial hole to press the second positioning portion against the first positioning portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventor: Min-Ju Chung
  • Publication number: 20110059820
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for playing ball sports including softball. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for deterring the modification of ball bats. The bat comprises a barrel, a sweet spot, a transition area, a handle, and an end knob. Within the barrel are found supports used to reinforce the structural integrity of the bat to deter users from crushing the bat, causing the bat to fall outside the legal classification of bats allowed by the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA). The supports are made out of a lightweight durable composition. The supports are held in place by a retaining member. Multiple supports and retaining members may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventor: George W. Burger
  • Publication number: 20110015007
    Abstract: A novel baseball or softball bat is disclosed. The bat has a handle of a heavy, strong wood such as hickory, to resist breakage, and a barrel of a lighter wood such as sapele, to facilitate a controlled and comfortable swing. Methods for making the bat are also disclosed. It may be formed of a plurality of wedge-shaped pieces of wood, and the two species of wood may be joined by interleaving these wedges over part of the bat's length. The interleaving may optionally be designed such that some amount of hickory extends all the way to the barrel end of the bat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: MACDOUGALL & SONS BAT COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: John A. MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20110015006
    Abstract: A novel baseball or softball bat is disclosed. The bat has a handle of a heavy, strong wood such as hickory, to resist breakage, and a barrel of a lighter wood such as sapele, to facilitate a controlled and comfortable swing. Methods for making the bat are also disclosed. It may be formed of a plurality of wedge-shaped pieces of wood, and the two species of wood may be joined by interleaving these wedges over part of the bat's length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: MacDougall & Sons Bat Company, LLC
    Inventor: John A. MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20110015008
    Abstract: A novel baseball or softball bat is disclosed. The bat has a handle of a heavy, strong wood such as hickory, to resist breakage, and a barrel of a lighter wood such as sapele, to facilitate a controlled and comfortable swing. Methods for making the bat are also disclosed. It may be formed of a plurality of wedge-shaped pieces of wood, and the two species of wood may be joined by interleaving these wedges over part of the bat's length. The interleaving may optionally include a tongue and groove joint or a lap joint for increased strength, and some battens may optionally extend the entire length of the bat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: MACDOUGALL & SONS BAT COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: John A. MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20100323831
    Abstract: A baseball bat has a core section formed of wood fibers artificially fused together and an outer section substantially surrounding the core section. The core section can be made exclusively of bamboo fibers artificially fused together. The core section can be substantially square having opposite front and rear sides and opposite top and bottom sides. The outer section has opposite side subsections, adhered to the sides of the core section. The side subsections have material strips arranged substantially in a first direction. The outer section further has a top subsection and a bottom subsection, adhered to the top and bottom of the core section, respectively. The top and bottom subsection have material strips arranged substantially in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction can be perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: PINNACLE SPORTS EQUIPMENT CO., INC.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Verrengia, Lilian Bao, Yanshen Hsu
  • Publication number: 20100292035
    Abstract: A safety basketball bat can prevent a broken section of a bat to fly out so a to prevent from dangerous accident. The safety basketball bat comprises: a bat body; a hollow channel penetrates through a top end and a distal end of the bat body; a tube body installed in the hollow channel; one opening at one end of the hollow channel being installed with an inner thread; a stop ring being installed at another opening at another end of the hollow channel; an outer diameter of the stop ring being larger than an outer diameter of the tube body; and a tightening cover with an outer thread engaged with the inner thread for tightening the tube body within the bat body. Or no stop ring is used. Two tightening covers are installed at two ends of the hollow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: Tsung-Nien Huang
  • Publication number: 20100234146
    Abstract: A ball lifting, tossing and striking system by which a user can pick up, toss and strike a ball in such a way that the ball does not come in contact with the user's hand is provided. The system includes a ball and a multi-purpose implement that may be carried by a user in one or both hands. The multi-purpose implement includes a bat, having a handle portion and a striking portion, and a ball basket having a shovel-like scoop that is adapted to be inserted underneath the ball to lift the ball from a generally horizontal surface. Furthermore, a user may grasp the handle portion of the bat, lift the ball from a generally horizontal surface, and without touching the ball, toss the ball from the ball basket into the air such that it may be struck by the striking portion of the bat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventor: Keith Alan MULLIN
  • Patent number: 7785681
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing elongate wooden handles for floor mops and the like comprises (a) splitting a green bamboo cane lengthwise and then spreading it into the shape of a sheet, (b) planing both surfaces of the sheet to give it a substantially uniform thickness, (c) cutting the bamboo sheet into an elongate section of selected width, (d) drying that bamboo section, (e) providing an assembly comprising a pair of dowels, at least one elongate core member, said bamboo sections and an adhesive, with the bamboo section wrapped around the dowels and the core member and the adhesive disposed between the bamboo section and the dowels and core member, (f) heating that assembly under pressure so the adhesive will bond the dowels and core member to the surrounding bamboo section and thereby form an elongate pole, and (g) turning the elongate pole to a selected outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Inventor: Dick Liao
  • Patent number: 7771296
    Abstract: A baseball bat has a core section formed exclusively of bamboo fibers fused together and an outer section substantially surrounding the core section. In a method for fabricating a blank from which a baseball bat is fabricated, a core section is fabricated through harvesting elongated bamboo pieces, removing the epidermis or skin from the bamboo pieces, cutting the bamboo pieces into a predetermined length, fiberizing the bamboo pieces, fusing the bamboo fibers to form a solid and unitary core blank, and processing the solid core blank to provide a core section have a substantially square cross section having opposite front and rear sides and opposite top and bottom sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Pinnacle Sports Equipment Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Verrengia, Lilan Bao, Yanshen Hsu
  • Publication number: 20100184540
    Abstract: Ball bats comprising a stem and a handle surrounding the stem. An elastomeric decoupler system installed in the handle sharply reduces the transmission of shocks and vibrations from the stem to the handle, mitigating stinging and other unpleasant sensations experienced by the batter when a ball is struck. Unpleasant sensations can be further reduced by installing a DTMS damping device in the knob of the bat and by installing an elastomeric grip on the handle of the bat; and the unpleasant sound made when a bat strikes the ground or the like can be materially reduced by a device attached to the stem of the bat intermediate the ends of the handle. The present inventions are particularly adaptable to hollow, metal bats; and provision is made for venting the knob of the bat when it is welded in place so hot gases will not be forced into, and reduce the integrity of, the weld. Appropriate ones of the devices described above may also advantageously be employed in wood, composite, and other bats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Steven C. Sims, Gary Sims, Greg Winters, Jonathan F. Seil
  • Publication number: 20100160095
    Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel in which one or more stiffening elements or damping elements, or both, are located. The stiffening or damping elements may be positioned at a variety of locations, and may have a variety of configurations, for selectively reducing the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the bat's moment of inertia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Dewey Chauvin, William B. Giannetti, H.Y. Chuang, Ian Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20100113193
    Abstract: A baseball bat has a core section formed exclusively of bamboo fibers fused together and an outer section substantially surrounding the core section. In a method for fabricating a blank from which a baseball bat is fabricated, a core section is fabricated through harvesting elongated bamboo pieces, removing the epidermis or skin from the bamboo pieces, cutting the bamboo pieces into a predetermined length, fiberizing the bamboo pieces, fusing the bamboo fibers to form a solid and unitary core blank, and processing the solid core blank to provide a core section have a substantially square cross section having opposite front and rear sides and opposite top and bottom sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: PINNACLE SPORTS EQUIPMENT CO., INC.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Verrengia, Lilan Bao, Yanshen Hsu
  • Publication number: 20100087282
    Abstract: A bat for limiting the maximum barrel response at high impact speeds while minimizing the dampening performance at low impact speeds includes a plurality of separate longitudinal beams extending from the end of the bat to the tapered portion of the bat. These beams, as well as the tapered portion and a handle, are constructed from a composite material, such as fiber reinforced plastic. An external sleeve is then provided around the barrel portion of the bat. The external sleeve is secured around the barrel of the bat using a snap-fit end cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: Chuck Smith
  • Publication number: 20100081525
    Abstract: A baseball bat includes a wood portion and a filling material contained by the wood portion. The filling material fills a longitudinal hole in the length of the wood portion to form a cord and a pair of widened portions at either end of the longitudinal portion to form a pair of plugs. The plugs positively contain the wood portion and the cord maintains a connection between the plugs in case of breakage of the wood portion. The filling material is preferably selected such that it does not alter the hitting properties of the baseball bat. In some embodiments the filling material is a polymeric material applied to the hole in a molten state and allowed to cure. In some embodiments the filling material is a mixture of multiple components. Methods of manufacturing a baseball bat are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventor: Gary E. Dobransky
  • Publication number: 20100029418
    Abstract: The method first provides a tubular outer member, a tubular inner member, and a head cap. Then, the inner member is threaded into the outer member and sealed inside by the head cap. The assembly is then placed in a mold, heated, and pressurized into a baseball bat. Due to its dual-layered structure, the baseball bat is capable of delivering superior performance and shock absorption. A material different from that of the outer and inner members could be further stuffed between the outer and inner members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: YUNG-HSIUNG CHEN
  • Publication number: 20100022334
    Abstract: A bat and a method of making a bat for use in sports, such as baseball. The bat includes a one-piece, hollow bat frame formed by injection molding a durable polymer, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The bat frame includes a barrel portion, an intermediate portion, and a handle portion, with at least one of the portions having a polygonal cross-section on an interior surface of the bat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Bradley L. Gaff, Hsin Feng Lin
  • Publication number: 20100004077
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bat for striking a ball. The bat includes an elongated ball striking portion and a handle portion. The handle portion is configured at an end portion of the elongated ball striking portion. The handle portion includes a pair of elongated flat surfaces and a pair of elongated curved surfaces. The pair of elongated flat surfaces is spaced-apart by a predetermined distance and extends longitudinally opposite to each other from the end portion of the elongated ball striking portion. The pair of elongated curved surfaces extends between longitudinal edge portions of the pair of elongated flat surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth Shimamoto, Jim Relyea, Rodney Winters
  • Publication number: 20090312126
    Abstract: A baseball bat is provided that includes a wooden structure having a barrel portion at a first end, a knob at a second end opposite the first end, and a grip portion disposed between the first and second ends; a first reinforcing collar disposed over the wooden structure a first distance from the second end; and a second reinforcing collar disposed over the wooden structure a second distance from the second end. The first distance is preferably greater than the second distance sufficient to create a separation between the first and second collars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventor: Giuseppe Totino
  • Publication number: 20090280935
    Abstract: A bat for baseball or softball of the present invention includes a first tube having an impact part, a step part and a stopper part, a cylindrical second tube, a fixing component being inserted between the first tube and second tube, the step part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the impact part and smaller than an interior diameter of the second tube, the stopper part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the step part and larger than the interior diameter of the second tube, the second tube is arranged on an exterior periphery of the impact part, one end of the second tube is fixed between the stopper part and the step part by an adhesive and the other end is fixed by an adhesive on the fixing component, and a crevice is formed between the first tube and the second tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto WATARI, Katsumi SHIMOHIRA, Shuichi NAGASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20090275428
    Abstract: There is provided a baseball bat that has performance similar to that of the conventional wooden bat and moreover is excellent in terms of cost and resource conservation. For this baseball bat 11, a reinforcing core 12 having a rectangular cross section is arranged in the center of the cross section thereof continuously so as to penetrate both end thereof, bamboo pieces 24 are laminated around the reinforcing core 12, and an adhesive is caused to permeate into the contact surface between the reinforcing core 12 and the bamboo pieces 24 evenly under a pressure, by which firm bonding can be attained. In addition, by using a material that is hard and has a large specific gravity as compared with bamboo, such as hickory or reinforced wood, as the reinforcing core 12, the flexural rigidity is enhanced as a whole, and the weight is increased. Therefore, the characteristics and feel in use are improved as compared with the conventional bamboo bat, and the baseball bat 11 can be used as a substitute for a wooden bat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicants: LONWOOD CO. LTD. (LONWOOD KABUSHIKI KAISHA), TOYAMA PREFECTURE
    Inventors: Shinichi IKEDA, Masato MIZOGUCHI, Wataru MIZUNO, Ryoji KANAMARU, Junji SUMIOKA
  • Patent number: 7604184
    Abstract: A rotatable water-spraying bat is disclosed. The bat comprises a soft material mount, a water storage cylinder and a push pushing-piston. The soft material covers the external of the water storage cylinder, and the inner diameter of the water storage cylinder provides the insertion of the pushing-piston cylinder as one unit. The bat is characterized in that at an open area of the water storage cylinder being provided with two fastening ring is mounted with a recess for the insertion of the corresponding L-shaped fastening plate and is then rotated, the protruded ring urges the recess to be in a fastening position so that the great impact onto the spray bat will not dislocate the spray bat the guiding corner at the front end of the recess allows the protruded ring to be engaged and dislocation is not possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: OW AE Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sen-Yuan Chen
  • Publication number: 20090253540
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: RAWLINGS SPORTING GOODS COMPANY, INC
    Inventors: Matthew V. Vacek, Biju Mathew
  • Patent number: 7578758
    Abstract: Bats that aid in bunting are disclosed herein. The bats generally include a rounded elongate shaft having a handle end and a contact end, and the handle end may have a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the contact end. In an embodiment, at least one indicator is between the handle and contact ends to designate where and how a user should hold the bat while bunting. In an embodiment, first and second indentations are in a surface of the shaft between the handle and contact ends to designate where a user should hold the bat while bunting. In an embodiment, at least one indicator selected from the group consisting of an indentation, a marking, and a bump is between the handle and contact ends to designate where and how a user should hold the bat while bunting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Inventor: Mark A. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20090181813
    Abstract: A composite ball bat includes an exposed region of transparent or translucent material, which provides a visual indication of whether delamination has occurred in the ball bat. As a result, an observer can determine, via visual inspection, whether delamination has occurred, and, if it has, can remove the bat from regulated play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: William B. Giannetti, Dewey Chauvin, Hsing-Yen Chuang
  • Patent number: 7553239
    Abstract: A sport-specific training and conditioning device for a sport using a hand-held implement having a grip portion, includes a handle shaped like the grip portion of the implement, the handle having first and second ends, and a weight on the second end of the handle, the center of mass of the weight being less than about 13 inches from the first end of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Inventor: Terry Pullaro
  • Publication number: 20090163307
    Abstract: A baseball or softball bat which enables a ball to fly farther than a conventional bat. The bat is made of metal, wood or carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and its cylindrical ball-hitting part has an axial cross section shape as follows: a lot of concave-surfaced grooves and convex-surfaced ridges are arranged in parallel alternately along the circumference of the bat and the convex parts are round and curved outward. The concave and convex parts are covered by a cylindrical sheet of polyurethane elastomer or similar material. Also, a metal baseball or softball bat is manufactured by grooving the cylindrical ball-hitting part surface by a lathe using a roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: FUJII KINZOKU KAKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu FUJII, Hiroyasu FUJII
  • Publication number: 20090149285
    Abstract: A baseball bat comprising a base, a handle, and a barrel together defining a longitudinal axis wherein at least one pair of associated stepped dowels are disposed in the bat substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and opposing each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Miller Dowel
    Inventor: Michael R. Miller
  • Publication number: 20090143176
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for playing ball sports including softball. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for deterring the modification of ball bats. The bat comprises a barrel, a sweet spot, a transition area, a handle, and an end knob. Within the barrel are found supports used to reinforce the structural integrity of the bat to deter users from crushing the bat, causing the bat to fall outside the legal classification of bats allowed by the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA). The supports are made out of a lightweight durable composition. The supports are held in place by a retaining member. Multiple supports and retaining members may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventor: George W. Burger
  • Publication number: 20090131206
    Abstract: Baseball bats described herein may have handle, throat and/or barrel portions that include non-circular cross-sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Bruce R. Leinert
  • Publication number: 20090065299
    Abstract: A composite formed by a reinforced elastomer material that dissipates, isolates, and absorbs sound and vibrational energy waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: STING FREE TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert A. Vito, Carmen N. DiMario, Thomas Falone
  • Publication number: 20090029810
    Abstract: Tubular baseball bats comprised of an elongated handle portion and a striking or barrel portion wherein the barrel portion has variable stiffness along its length. One such bat has a circumferential low cost, low weight stiffener generally located in the sweetspot area designed to increase radial stiffness in a controlled manner which results in decreasing the bat performance to meet a changed bat performance standard and can be applied at low cost to both used field returned bats and bats being newly manufactured. Further, new tubular polymer composite bats can be designed with increased radial stiffness generally located in the sweetspot area or with radial stiffness graduated from highest, generally in the sweetspot area, to lowest at the barrel ends. All bats of the present invention result in calculated bat performance to meet applicable regulatory standards while also increasing the sweetspot size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: CE COMPOSITES BASEBALL INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Fitzgerald, Frederic St. Laurent, Terrance William Sutherland
  • Publication number: 20090011877
    Abstract: A bat for baseball or softball includes a core member having a depression at a portion to be a ball-hitting portion, and an elastic body attached to the depression and forming the ball-hitting portion. The elastic body is formed of urethane elastomeric foam having specific gravity of at least 0.45 and at most 0.60, JIS C hardness of at least 54 and at most 82, and modulus of elasticity in 300% elongation of at least 3.85 MPa and at most 5.6 MPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Mototaka Iwata, Takashi Ono, Toshiaki Kida
  • Publication number: 20080308187
    Abstract: A laminated wood bat having may comprise wedges of wood adhered together in such a manner that the entire surface or sections of the surface of the bat barrel, throat, and handle have the tight grain of the normal hitting surface. Adjacent wedges of wood may be cut from the same strip of wood. The bat may be glued together with a low viscosity polyurethane adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventor: Ward A. R. Dill
  • Publication number: 20080305895
    Abstract: A training baseball bat has an internal movable magnet that accelerates to the end of the bat when swung at a fast enough speed. As the magnet moves it passes through a coil that is connected to one or more LEDs so that the LEDs momentarily flash as the magnet moves through the coil. A stationary magnet can be used to hold the movable magnet until sufficient centrifugal force is imparted by the swing to overcome the magnetic holding force. Spacers can be provided to establish a distance between the magnets as needed to establish a desired swing speed at which centrifugal force overcomes the magnetic attraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventor: Richard Alva Gant
  • Publication number: 20080287228
    Abstract: A single-wall ball bat is made up of a series of layers or plies of unidirectional, two-dimensional, structural fibers. The plies are optionally layered upon each other in a lamina structure in which the fibers in one ply are oriented at opposing angles to the fibers in one or more neighboring plies. Low tensile modulus, two-dimensional E-glass fibers, oriented to provide desired durability, may be used to construct a substantial portion of the barrel or other regions of the ball bat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: William B. Giannetti
  • Patent number: 7448971
    Abstract: A reinforced baseball bat includes a single piece of solid, non-composite wood having a tubular barrel portion of a diameter at a distal end, a tubular handle portion at a proximal end having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the barrel portion, and a tapered tubular throat portion between the tubular barrel portion and the tubular handle portion. The reinforced bat further includes a plurality of grooves circumferentially disposed about the single piece of solid non-composite wood. At least one reinforcing member is circumferentially disposed within each of the plurality of grooves. The reinforcing member includes at least one elongate polymeric strand securably disposed within the each one of the plurality of grooves. A sealant is disposed within the plurality of grooves, covering the at least one polymeric strand or strands disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Inventor: Leonard Smalley
  • Publication number: 20080261732
    Abstract: A ball lifting, tossing and striking system, by which a user can pick up, toss and strike a ball in such a way that the ball does not come in contact with the user's hands, includes a ball and a multi-purpose implement that may be carried by a user in one or both hands. The multi-purpose implement includes a striking implement, having a handle portion and a striking portion, and a ball basket attached to the striking implement and adapted to lift the ball from the ground. To use the multi-purpose implement, a user may grasp the handle portion of the striking implement, lift the ball from the ground with the ball basket, and without touching the ball with either of the user's hands, toss the ball from the ball basket into the air such that it may be struck by the striking portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: MAKE IDEAS, INC.
    Inventor: Keith Alan Mullin
  • Patent number: 7438656
    Abstract: The present technology relates to laminated ball bats and a methodology for making the same. The disclosed technology provides for a laminated blank suitable for machining into a laminated bat having a generic bat shape (such as a bat consisting of a handle and a barrel where the handle has a smaller diameter than the barrel) that offers greater flexibility in changing the bat's weight distribution. Using lamination technology, various portions of a blank may be constructed having different densities (and associated weights) thereby decoupling such blank's length/weight properties. Such technology provides a method of positioning a bat's center of mass (CM) at various locations along the bat thereby changing the location of the bat's sweet spot zone center. Bats constructed in accordance with the disclosed technology may have a variety of pre-selected weight distributions while maintaining a particular bat shape and a particular overall bat weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventors: Marc Christian Davis, Walter Dennis Davis, Wallace Jay Davis