Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel, a handle, and a tapered section joining the barrel to the handle. The barrel includes an outer wall and an interface section located within the outer wall. The interface section includes one or more layers of non-resin-impregnated fabric sandwiched between a plurality of resin-impregnated composite layers. A method of constructing a ball bat includes the steps of placing a substantially cylindrical layer of fabric between a plurality of resin-impregnated layers to form an interface section. The interface section is placed between a plurality of substantially cylindrical outer wall sections made up of a plurality of composite plies. Heat and pressure are applied to the interface section and the composite plies to induce a flow of resin from the resin-impregnated layers into the fabric layer, and to form an integral bat barrel. The interface section provides added durability and “trampoline effect” to bat.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel, a handle, and a tapered section joining the barrel to the handle. The barrel includes an outer wall and an interface section located within the outer wall. The interface section includes one or more layers of non-resin-impregnated fabric sandwiched between a plurality of resin-impregnated composite layers. A method of constructing a ball bat includes the steps of placing a substantially cylindrical layer of fabric between a plurality of resin-impregnated layers to form an interface section. The interface section is placed between a plurality of substantially cylindrical outer wall sections made up of a plurality of composite plies. Heat and pressure are applied to the interface section and the composite plies to induce a flow of resin from the resin-impregnated layers into the fabric layer, and to form an integral bat barrel. The interface section provides added durability and “trampoline effect” to the bat.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel having a substantially cylindrical outer wall including a first material located radially outwardly from a neutral axis of the outer wall, and a second material located radially inwardly from the neutral axis of the outer wall. The barrel further includes a substantially cylindrical inner wall located within the outer wall and including a third material located radially outwardly from a neutral axis of the inner wall, and a fourth material located radially inwardly from the neutral axis of the inner wall. The first and third materials each have a specific energy storage in compression of at east 2000 psi, and the second and fourth materials each have a tensile modulus of at least 18 million psi. The ball bat exhibits excellent performance and durability characteristics.

Abstract: Vibrations in the tubular handle of an object striking implement such as a hand tool or ball bat are damped by a vibration damper having a support portion positioned in and engaged with the handle. The vibration damper also has a resilient second portion which cushions contact of the damper with the handle wall and which moves inwardly of the handle in a direction generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the handle.

Abstract: A thin wall tubular bat, particularly for softball, has a constant barrel diameter and an internal tubular insert spaced from the barrel with a shear stress transmitting elastomeric layer sandwiched between the barrel and insert so that the insert reinforces the barrel to reduce denting which would otherwise occur as the elastomer efficiently transfers stress to the insert and stores and releases energy during impact of the bat with a ball.

Abstract: A thin wall tubular bat, particularly for softball, has a constant barrel diameter and an internal tubular insert spaced from the barrel with a shear stress transmitting elastomeric layer sandwiched between the barrel and insert so that the insert reinforces the barrel to reduce denting which would otherwise occur as the elastomer efficiently transfers stress to the insert and stores and releases energy during impact of the bat with a ball.

Abstract: A governed performance hard shell bat designed to ensure ball exit speed approximating and not exceeding that of a wood bat of comparable weight and geometry is comprised of a thin wall hard shell such as reinforced resin composite or of metal such as aluminum or titanium or alloys thereof filled with light weight semi-rigid material such as a syntactic foam in the hitting area, the bat having longitudinal flexibility approximating that of a similarly shaped wood bat. The filler material has a sectional density and hardness correlated with the thickness of the metal shell wall in the hitting area and may be cast in the thin wall hard shell or it may be pre-formed and subsequently inserted into the shell. The filler has a sectional density in the range of from 10-30 lbs./cu. ft.

Abstract: The bat of the present invention has a barrel with a thinner outer shell in compressive and/or adhesive engagement with an insert laminate comprised of one or more pieces of a thin metallic (preferably titanium) sheet (or foil) and one or more sheets of a composite material. The titanium portion of the insert laminate may be on the inner-most portion of the insert, may be on the outer-most portion of the laminate, or may be in the interior of the laminate (that is, with one or more sheets of composite material on either side of it). Alternatively, the bat may simply be provided with only a titanium insert. In yet another set of embodiments, the titanium sheet may be replaced by another suitable metallic sheet. In all embodiments, the reinforcing sleeve allows the barrel portion to deflect farther when impacted by an object such as a ball without detrimental yielding (denting) and increases the rate of return of the barrel wall.

Abstract: A governed performance metal shell bat designed to ensure ball exit speed approximating and not exceeding that of a wood bat of comparable weight and geometry is comprised of a thin wall metal shell filled such as aluminum or titanium or alloys thereof with light weight semi-rigid material such as a syntactic foam in the hitting area, the bat having longitudinal flexibility approximating that of a similarly shaped wood bat and the filler material having a density and hardness correlated with the thickness of the metal shell wall in the hitting area.

Abstract: A governed performance aluminum shell bat designed to ensure ball exit speed approximating and not exceeding that of a wood bat of comparable weight and geometry is comprised of a thin wall aluminum shell filled with syntactic foam in the hitting area, the foam having a density and hardness correlated with the thickness of the bat wall in the hitting area.

Abstract: The bat of the present invention has a barrel with a thinner outer shell in compressive and/or adhesive engagement with an insert laminate comprised of one or more pieces of a thin metallic (preferably titanium) sheet (or foil) and one or more sheets of a composite material. The titanium portion of the insert laminate may be on the inner-most portion of the insert, may be on the outer-most portion of the laminate, or may be in the interior of the laminate (that is, with one or more sheets of composite material on either side of it). Alternatively, the bat may simply be provided with only a titanium insert. In yet another set of embodiments, the titanium sheet may be replaced by another suitable metallic sheet. In all embodiments, the reinforcing sleeve allows the barrel portion to deflect farther when impacted by an object such as a ball without detrimental yielding (denting) and increases the rate of return of the barrel wall.

Abstract: A shock attenuating hollow bat including a barrel having a proximal taper segment and a separate handle having a distal tapered segment providing an enlarged shape at the distal end of the handle, the tapered segment of the handle fitting within the proximal taper segment of the barrel, the relative sizes of the enlarged distal end of the handle and the interior of the barrel at its proximal end providing a mechanical interference preventing the barrel from sliding distally off the handle, the barrel and handle elements being joined by an elastomeric isolation union between the inner surface of the barrel taper segment and the outer surface of the handle taper segment to form an integral bat having reduced shock transmission to the hands of a batter in the event of an off-center hit.