Abstract: A tubular baseball bat comprising a substantially full length core shaft of preferably constant cross-section, including a handle portion, and a barrel with a gap or separation between the core shaft and barrel, the core shaft and barrel being connected at two or more locations. Embodiments include bats with long barrels without taper sections, bats with taper sections integral with the barrels, bats with separate taper sections which may be of non-circular cross-section, bats with flexible circumferential connecting structures, bats with folded barrel end portions, and bats with resilient means between the core shaft and barrel. Such bats can have larger hitting areas, larger sweetspots, higher performance, and provide minimal sting to a player's hands.

Abstract: A light-weight polymer composite endcap, or plug, for a tubular baseball bat provides structural support to the bat barrel end. The endcap permanently bonded to the bat barrel end with a high strength structural adhesive closes off the hollow barrel end. The endcap has a simple geometric shape and has a relatively uniform and thin wall thickness. The light weight achieved by the polymer composite endcap is useful in meeting reduced standards established by regulating bodies and more importantly improves player bat control and swing-speed during the bat swinging phase.

Abstract: A device for satellites is associated with heaters that are turned on when the device is turned off and turned off when the device is turned on. The device includes a power supply, a system for turning the device on and off and a system for turning the heaters on and off controlled by the system for turning the device on and off. The power supply supplies power to the heaters when they are turned on and do not supply power to the heaters to turn on the device. The device is more particularly suited to communication equipment for satellites associated with substitution heaters.