Abstract: A firearm target assembly includes a mounting base, upright support and forwardly tilted target surface. The target surface has a plurality of target zones or openings which are covered on the backside by hingedly or pivotally connected target plates that pivot between open and closed positions when struck by a round of ammunition. Each pivotally connected target plate pivots between one position in which it covers the target opening and may be struck by a round of ammunition and a second position in which it becomes a visible target outside the periphery of the main target surface.

Abstract: A bat has an elongate tubular striking member of a first material, and an elongate handle member of a second material. The handle may be of composite material laid up in selected layers and orientation to produce selected weight distribution, strength, and stiffness and improved batting capabilities. The striking member and handle member may have juncture sections which are substantially rigidly interconnected through mating configurations.

Abstract: A bat has an elongate tubular striking member of a first material, and an elongate handle member of a second material. The handle may be of composite material laid up in selected layers and orientation to produce selected weight distribution, strength, and stiffness and improved batting capabilities. The striking member and handle member may have juncture sections which are substantially rigidly interconnected through mating configurations.

Abstract: A bat includes a substantially tubular frame, a substantially tubular body and at least one sheet. The frame extends along a longitudinal axis. The frame has a handle portion and a primary hitting portion. The body is coaxially aligned with the hitting portion of the frame. The sheet has a proximal edge, a distal edge, and first and second side edges. The sheet is coupled to at least a portion of one of the hitting portion of the frame and the body such that the first and second edges each extend from the proximal edge to the distal edge along a path that is substantially non-parallel with the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A bat has an elongate tubular striking member of a first material, and an elongate handle member of a second material. The handle may be of composite material laid up in selected layers and orientation to produce selected weight distribution, strength, and stiffness and improved batting capabilities. The striking member and handle member may have juncture sections which are substantially rigidly interconnected through mating configurations.

Abstract: A bat includes a substantially tubular frame, a substantially tubular body and at least one sheet. The frame extends along a longitudinal axis. The frame has a handle portion and a primary hitting portion. The body is coaxially aligned with the hitting portion of the frame. The sheet has a proximal edge, a distal edge, and first and second side edges. The sheet is coupled to at least a portion of one of the hitting portion of the frame and the body such that the first and second edges each extend from the proximal edge to the distal edge along a path that is substantially non-parallel with the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A bat has an elongate tubular striking member of a first material, and an elongate handle member of a second material. The handle may be of composite material laid up in selected layers and orientation to produce selected weight distribution, strength, and stiffness and improved batting capabilities. The striking member and handle member may have juncture sections which are substantially rigidly interconnected through mating configurations.

Abstract: A bat includes a substantially tubular frame, a substantially tubular body and at least one sheet. The frame extends along a longitudinal axis. The frame has a handle portion and a primary hitting portion. The body is coaxially aligned with the hitting portion of the frame. The sheet has a proximal edge, a distal edge, and first and second side edges. The sheet is coupled to at least a portion of one of the hitting portion of the frame and the body such that the first and second edges each extend from the proximal edge to the distal edge along a path that is substantially non-parallel with the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A bat has an elongate tubular striking member of a first material, and an elongate handle member of a second material. The handle may be of composite material laid up in selected layers and orientation to produce selected weight distribution, strength, and stiffness and improved batting capabilities. The striking member and handle member may have juncture sections which are substantially rigidly interconnected through mating configurations.

Abstract: A bat has an elongate tubular striking member of a first material, and an elongate handle member of a second material. The handle may be of composite material laid up in selected layers and orientation to produce selected weight distribution, strength, and stiffness and improved batting capabilities. The striking member and handle member may have juncture sections which are substantially rigidly interconnected through mating configurations.

Abstract: A bat has an elongate tubular striking member of a first material, and an elongate handle member of a second material. The handle may be of composite material laid up in selected layers and orientation to produce selected weight distribution, strength, and stiffness and improved batting capabilities. The striking member and handle member may have juncture sections which are substantially rigidly interconnected through mating configurations.

Abstract: A bat has an elongate tubular striking member of a first material, and an elongate handle member of a second material. The handle may be of composite material laid up in selected layers and orientation to produce selected weight distribution, strength, and stiffness and improved batting capabilities. The striking member and handle member may have juncture sections which are substantially rigidly interconnected through mating configurations.

Abstract: A bat includes a handle portion, tubular impact portion and tubular insert mounted co-axially within the impact portion. A thin tubular composite member is bonded either to the inner or outer surface of the insert. Alternatively the composite member-reinforced insert may be mounted co-axially around the outer surface of the impact portion. In other embodiments, the composite member may be bonded directly to either the inner or outer surface of the impact portion.

Abstract: A bat having an elongate impact portion includes a first tubular metal member and a second tubular member substantially concentric with the first tubular member. The first and second tubular members have close fitting cylindrical surface throughout a majority of the length of the impact portion and a lubricating material is interposed between the facing cylindrical surfaces.

Abstract: A bat includes a substantially tubular frame, a substantially tubular body and at least one sheet. The frame extends along a longitudinal axis. The frame has a handle portion and a primary hitting portion. The body is coaxially aligned with the hitting portion of the frame. The sheet has a proximal edge, a distal edge, and first and second side edges. The sheet is coupled to at least a portion of one of the hitting portion of the frame and the body such that the first and second edges each extend from the proximal edge to the distal edge along a path that is substantially non-parallel with the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A bat having an elongated impact portion includes a first tubular metal member and a second tubular member substantially concentric with the first tubular member. The first and second tubular members have adjacent facing cylindrical surfaces throughout a majority of the length of the impact portion which are slightly spaced apart from each other, and an elastomeric material is interposed between the facing cylindrical surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides an insert, or sleeve, for use in a baseball or softball bat that improves power transfer from the bat to the batted ball. The insert includes multiple layers of composite material. Most of the layers include fibers that are directed substantially circumferentially about the insert. Since the largest component of stress within the insert produced by an impact with a ball is typically compressive hoop stress, which is directed substantially circumferentially about the insert, the circumferential layers are able to withstand the majority of the stress produced by an impact. The insert also includes non-circumferential layers that serve to hold the circumferential layers together and withstand the smaller stresses in other directions. Because the insert has its greatest strength in substantially the circumferential direction, less material is required to withstand the stress produced by repeated impacts with a ball.

Abstract: The present invention provides an insert, or sleeve, for use in a baseball or softball bat that improves power transfer from the bat to the batted ball. The insert includes multiple layers of composite material. Most of the layers include fibers that are directed substantially circumferentially about the insert. Since the largest component of stress within the insert produced by an impact with a ball is typically compressive hoop stress, which is directed substantially circumferentially about the insert, the circumferential layers are able to withstand the majority of the stress produced by an impact. The insert also includes non-circumferential layers that serve to hold the circumferential layers together and withstand the smaller stresses in other directions. Because the insert has its greatest strength in substantially the circumferential direction, less material is required to withstand the stress produced by repeated impacts with a ball.

Abstract: The present invention provides an insert, or sleeve, for use in a baseball or softball bat that improves power transfer from the bat to the batted ball. The insert includes multiple layers of composite material. Most of the layers include fibers that are directed substantially circumferentially about the insert. Since the largest component of stress within the insert produced by an impact with a ball is typically compressive hoop stress, which is directed substantially circumferentially about the insert, the circumferential layers are able to withstand the majority of the stress produced by an impact. The insert also includes non-circumferential layers that serve to hold the circumferential layers together and withstand the smaller stresses in other directions. Because the insert has its greatest strength in substantially the circumferential direction, less material is required to withstand the stress produced by repeated impacts with a ball.

Abstract: An end plug for a tubular bat includes a rigid plug member that forms the closure of the barrel portion of the bat. The plug member has radial supports formed thereon. The end plug further includes a rigid reinforcing member that cooperatively interconnects with the plug member to reinforce the supports formed thereon. A resilient member supports the plug member and the reinforcing member within the barrel portion of the bat. A method of forming and installing an end plug includes interconnecting a plug member and a reinforcing member such that the reinforcing member reinforces supports formed on the plug member. The plug member and the reinforcing member are then positioned within the opening of the barrel portion so that the plug member forms a closure of the barrel portion. Liquid material is poured into the handle end of the bat and allowed to drain through the frame of the bat until it rests on the plug member. The liquid material then solidifies to form a support member.