Abstract: A tubular metal ball bat includes a tubular barrel having a hitting zone and an end cap at a distal end thereof, a handle at a proximal end thereof and a pressurized bladder positioned in the bat barrel and in the area of the hitting zone. A method is also disclosed for inserting and anchoring the pressurized bladder in the hitting zone. A variety of pressurized bladder configurations are disclosed with valves for pressurizing the bladders in the bat barrel. The bladder can include one or more separate bladders or compartments which are designed to occupy a predetermined length of the hitting zone.

Abstract: Dampening of vibrations transmitted to the handle of a tubular metal ball bat or similar implement when the ball bat impacts with a ball or when a similar implement imparts or receives an impact force in spaced relation to a handle normally grasped by a user of the implement. Vibration dampening reduces the "sting" normally transmitted to the hand or hands of the user thereby enabling the user to be more proficient when wielding the bat or other implement. One disclosed vibration dampener embodiment comprises a body of resilient foam-like material having a cylindrical plug which extends into the proximal end of the bat handle and a peripheral flange extending outwardly into the hollow interior of the knob. An axial extension engages the interior surface of the proximal end of the knob, leaving the peripheral flange to oscillate or flex to absorb vibration imparted to the handle of the metal bat.

Abstract: A tubular metal ball bat including a tubular barrel having a hitting zone at the distal end thereof, a handle at a proximal end thereof and a tapered transition zone connecting the hitting zone to the handle and a method of making same. The transition zone is provided with a stiffening transverse wall generally at the junction between the hitting zone and transition zone. In one form , a hardenable material is poured into the distal end of the bat through an opening in the distal end after a sponge-like member of foam plastic or similar resilient foam material has been inserted through the opening and forced into the barrel generally to the junction between the hitting zone and transition zone. The sponge-like member is frictionally held in place initially by its resilient contact with the interior of the bat barrel to accurately orient the hardenable material and prevent the hardenable material from running downwardly to the handle end of the bat while the hardenable material hardens.

Abstract: A hollow aluminum bat including a tubular handle portion at one end thereof merging into a tubular barrel at the other end with the barrel having a constant external and internal diameter and a closure end cap is provided with grooves formed in the internal surface of the barrel which reduces the weight of the barrel to enable the barrel to be made with a larger constant diameter throughout its length. The grooves maintain the impact characteristics of the barrel with a ball. The grooves may include a continuous spiral groove having a plurality of closely associated convolutions, a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferential grooves, or a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves formed in the interior surface of the constant diameter barrel and oriented over substantially the full length of the accepted hitting zone defined by the barrel.

Abstract: A hollow metal ball bat and end cap in which a full length barrel that is substantially straight throughout its hitting zone to its outer end is included. The end cap is installed in the end of the straight barrel to dampen vibrations, provide enhanced impact characteristics to the bat, concentrate the weight load of the bat at the outer end and create a longer acceptable hitting area or zone.

Abstract: Various forms of golf clubs are disclosed, which include one or more inflatable bladders in the golf club head and/or golf club shaft, as well as internal and external grooving of the golf club shaft. Such golf clubs have enhanced characteristics for driving a golf ball to move in a desired trajectory. The unique structural components of the golf club provide for reinforcing, rigidifying, reducing weight and more effective control of the golf club during the swing. A higher club head speed when impacting a golf ball, more stability on off center hits, reduced vibration upon ball impact, improved sound characteristics, and improved "feel" can be achieved.

Abstract: A laminated wood ball bat and a method of making the same. The bat is constructed of a plurality of thin wood veneer strips extending longitudinally in generally parallel relation throughout the length of the bat and are bonded together throughout their facing surfaces. The method of forming the bat includes the steps of placing large sheets of thin wood veneer in stacked relation in the cavity of a press with glue being applied to the contacting surfaces of the stacked sheets of veneer. The press exerts pressure on the veneer sheets to densify and compress the stacked veneer sheets while the glue is cured to form a large laminated panel having a thickness of half bat billets. One surface of each half bat billet panel is optionally grooved to form a core in the hitting zone to optionally receive material less dense or more dense than the wood veneer and a recess in the handle portion to receive a reinforcing rod.

Abstract: A hollow metal ball bat and end cap in which a full length barrel that is substantially straight throughout its hitting zone to its outer end is included. The end cap is installed in the end of the straight barrel to dampen vibrations, provide enhanced impact characteristics to the bat, concentrate the weight load of the bat at the outer end and create a longer acceptable hitting area or zone.

Abstract: A hollow metal ball bat and end cap in which a full length barrel that is substantially straight throughout its hitting zone to its outer end is included. The end cap is installed in the end of the straight barrel to dampen vibrations, provide enhanced impact characteristics to the bat, concentrate the weight load of the bat at the outer end and create a longer acceptable hitting area or zone.

Abstract: A laminated wood ball bat and a method of making the same. The bat is constructed of a plurality of thin wood veneer strips extending longitudinally in generally parallel relation throughout the length of the bat and are bonded together throughout their facing surfaces. The method of forming the bat includes the steps of placing large sheets of thin wood veneer in stacked relation in the cavity of a press with glue being applied to the contacting surfaces of the stacked sheets of veneer. The press exerts pressure on the veneer sheets to densify and compress the stacked veneer sheets while the glue is cured to form a large laminated panel having a thickness of half bat billets. One surface of each half bat billet panel is optionally grooved to form a core in the hitting zone to optionally receive material less dense or more dense than the wood veneer and a recess in the handle portion to receive a reinforcing rod.

Abstract: An end cap for a hollow aluminum bat having a barrel with a substantially constant external diameter area defining a hitting zone. The end cap is constructed of rigid plastic material and includes a reduced diameter inner end which telescopes into the end of the bat. The barrel includes a peripheral groove in the internal surface adjacent the end of the bat and the reduced end of the cap includes a peripheral ridge received in the groove to anchor the end cap to the barrel. The distal end of the end cap is constructed with a concave end surface which moves the weight of the end cap axially inwardly in relation to the end of the aluminum bat. The end cap may include a conically shaped solid weight area extending axially inwardly from the inner surface of the end cap to increase the load at the end of the bat and also move the increased load inwardly in relation to the end of the bat.

Abstract: An aluminum baseball bat and end cap which has a full length barrel and a diameter greater than 25/8 inches in which the barrel is straight at its outer end rather than using a normally provided step down or end form currently being used which enables a 25/8 inch end cap to be used. In addition to the full barrel which includes a straight barrel or straight tube, a 23/4 inch end cap is installed in the end of the straight barrel or tube by telescoping a reduced diameter sleeve into the barrel with the sleeve having a ridge which locks into a groove in the inside of the barrel. This construction is incorporated into all barrel diameters in excess of 25/8 inches up to and including 23/4 inch diameter. This structure, in effect, lengthens the barrel bed and thus enhances the acceptable hitting area.