BAT WITH FILLED EXTERIOR GROOVES

Abstract

A barrel of a ball bat for striking a ball. The bat itself may comprise a longitudinal axis, a handle, and the barrel. The barrel includes a ball impact area formed by a barrel portion and a transition section. A point of maximum performance is located within the ball impact area along the barrel. The barrel may also include an end cap. The barrel portion has a first outer diameter, with the diameter tapering from the barrel portion towards the attachment end of the transition section. There is at least one annular ring, formed from a material having a density lower than that of aluminum, which is positioned along the ball impact area. The annular ring has a third diameter that is flush with the first outer diameter.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/512,844, filed May 31, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an aluminum bat for use in diamond sports such as baseball and softball. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bat with exterior grooves filled with a material having a density lower than that of aluminum.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Numerous attempts have been made to improve the performance of a bat. These prior attempts have included the addition of various shells, inserts, materials, and shapes of the bat in order to improve its performance or usage. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,867,114, 7,014,580, 6,949,038, 6,761,653 6,733,404, 6,663,517, 6,497,631, 6,398,675, 6,176,795, 6,022,282, 4,930,772, 4,331,330, and 3,990,699, and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2002/0016230, 2002/0091022, 2005/0070384, 2010/0160095, 2011/0152015, 2013/0274039, 2013/0165279, and 2015/0273295 disclose various attempts to improve the performance or use of a bat.

The performance of a bat is generally based upon the weight of the bat, length of the bat, and the impact response of the bat at and during impact with a ball. Thus, bats are often discussed in terms of “weight drop.” The weight drop of a bat is the difference between the bat's length (in inches) and its weight (in ounces). For example, a 30 inch bat that is considered a “−8” would have a weight of 22 ounces (i.e., 22 ounces minus 30 inches equals −8).

Most of the focus for improvements in bat technology has been in improving the performance of the ball impact area of the bat. The ball impact area itself may be many inches in length, depending on the construction of the bat. The ball impact area generally includes a point of maximum performance, at which a batted ball leaves the bat with the highest exit velocity compared to the rest of the ball impact area of the bat. The point of maximum performance is often approximately four to eight inches, and usually five to seven inches, from the end-cap end of the bat barrel.

The ball impact area generally encompasses the portion of the barrel having a constant outer diameter as well as the portion of the barrel that tapers. The portion of the barrel having a constant outer diameter is referred to herein as the barrel portion of the barrel, which generally extends from the end-cap to where the outer diameter of the barrel begins to taper. The portion of the barrel that tapers is referred to herein as the transition section of the barrel, and typically extends from the barrel portion to the handle, or thereabouts.

As prior art bats have increased the performance in this area, many sports regulatory agencies have placed performance and/or configuration restrictions on the bats. For example, most regulatory bodies set a maximum performance level of a bat when a ball impacts the point of maximum performance of that bat. Typically, this impact performance level is measured by the exit velocity of the ball off the bat right after impact.

Historically, the performance of a bat in the ball impact area adjacent to point of maximum performance of that bat show significant reductions in performance. The contemporary bat art has made few attempts to improve the performance of the bat sections adjacent the point of maximum performance. As such, the performance of the bats in areas distal from, and even adjacent to, the point of maximum performance dramatically drops for conventional bats. Prior art attempts to address these issues have drawbacks. For example, inserts may be positioned inside of the barrel of a bat. These inserts may be metal rings that are glued or otherwise secured inside the barrel. Such rings may alternatively be made of composite materials, and may be molded and/or cured within the barrel in a secondary process. Such rings can result in heavier bats that take longer to construct.

Thus, there is a continuing need for improved overall performance of bats. These improved bats need to conform to the regulatory agencies' restrictions for in the preferred hitting zone while performing well at locations that are longitudinally outside the preferred hitting zone. These improved bats preferably increase the performance in locations adjacent the preferred hitting area/zone as compared to the preferred hitting zone. These improved bats, or features of a bat, are lacking in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a barrel of a ball bat for striking a ball. The bat itself may comprise a longitudinal axis, a handle, and the barrel. The handle may include an attachment end and a knob end. The barrel includes a ball impact area formed by a barrel portion and a transition section. The handle may be of unitary construction with the barrel, or may be attached to the barrel according to known prior art techniques and structures. In either case, the transition section of the barrel is operatively attached to the attachment end of the handle at an attachment end of the transition section. A point of maximum performance is located within the ball impact area along the barrel. The barrel may also include an end cap.

In one example embodiment, the barrel has a ball impact area with a first thickness that is measured between a first final surface and an inner surface of the ball impact area. At least one exterior groove is positioned along the ball impact area. The exterior groove has a second thickness, thinner than the first thickness, that is measured between a first step surface and the inner surface of the ball impact area. The exterior groove is filled with a material having a density lower than that of aluminum, such as a composite material or the like.

In another example embodiment, the barrel has a ball impact area with a first final surface with at least two opposing side walls that extend radially inwards towards the longitudinal axis. The opposing side walls have both a distal and a proximal end. The distal end of each side wall extends from the first final surface. The proximal end of each side wall extends to the first step surface, which is between the opposing side walls. A material having a density lower than that of aluminum is positioned between the opposing side walls, above the first step surface. Such material forms a second final surface that is flush with the first final surface of the barrel portion.

Finally, in third example embodiment, the barrel portion has a first outer diameter, with the diameter tapering from the barrel portion towards the attachment end of the transition section. There is at least one annular ring, formed from a material having a density lower than that of aluminum, which is positioned along the ball impact area. The annular ring has a third diameter that is flush with the first outer diameter of the barrel portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an example of a bat;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a bat with exterior grooves;

FIG. 3. is a cross section view of an example embodiment of bat with exterior grooves;

FIG. 4 is a cross section view of an example embodiment of a bat with exterior grooves containing multiple steps.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a bat with exterior grooves filled with a material having a density lower than that of aluminum.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof is shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiment disclosed, but to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a bat 100, which is preferably made from aluminum. Specifically, a barrel 105 is shown, which preferably includes a transition section 110 and a barrel portion 115. A longitudinal axis 116 extends through the barrel portion 105 and the transition section 110. The barrel portion 105 has a first outer diameter 117, and the transition section 110 has a tapering outer diameter 119 that tapers from the barrel portion towards an attachment end of the transition section. The transition section 110 connects to a handle portion 120 at an attachment end of the transition section 110 according to structures and methods known in the art. For example, the transition section 110 may be integrally formed with the handle 120, or may be a separate piece that is affixed to the handle 120. The barrel portion 115 may extend substantially from the transition section 110 to the end-cap end 125 of the ball bat 100. The barrel portion 115 and transition section 110 form the ball impact area of barrel 105. The ball impact area preferably encompasses a point of maximum performance therealong.

FIG. 2 illustrates the barrel 105. As shown in FIG. 2, the barrel 105 has one or more exterior grooves 200 positioned along the ball impact area. As shown in FIG. 2, an exterior groove 200 is shown positioned in the barrel portion 115 although it should be noted that an exterior groove could be positioned along the transitional portion 110 of the barrel 105. In an example embodiment, two exterior grooves 200 may be positioned either about or beside the side of the point of maximum performance, though other locations are envisioned.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section of a baseball bat 100, and specifically the barrel 105. As shown in FIG. 3, the transitional section 110 and/or barrel portion 115 preferably has a first final surface 300 and an inner surface 305. The distance between the first final surface 300 and the inner surface 305 comprises a first thickness. It will be appreciated that the first thickness may vary somewhat over the length of the ball impact area. The exterior groove 200 of FIG. 2, as illustrated, extends between a first step surface 310A and inner surface 305. In an example embodiment, the first step surface 310A is positioned parallel from first final surface 300 as shown in FIG. 2, though other angles are envisioned. The distance between the first step surface 310A and the inner surface 305 yields a second thickness that is thinner than the first thickness, thereby creating a first step. It will be appreciated that the second thickness of the groove 200 is thinner than the first thickness of the ball impact area immediately adjacent that groove 200. Opposing side walls 315 each have a proximal end 320 and a distal end 325. Opposing side walls 315 each extend between the first final surface 300 and first step surface 310A, and each are positioned perpendicularly to the first step surface 310A to create a shift between different thicknesses of the barrel.

In alternative embodiments, angles other than 90 degrees may provide for other shifts between first and second thicknesses. As shown in FIG. 4, exterior grooves 200 may have one or more outer surfaces 310, creating multiple steps of various widths and depths. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a second step has a third thickness measured between a second step surface 310B and the inner surface 305 of the ball impact area. The third thickness of the second step is less than the second thickness of the first step. In an example embodiment, exterior groove 200 has a width between 0.25 to 3 inches, and preferably between 0.5 to 1.5 inches. The exterior groove 200 may have a depth between 0.01 to 0.11 inches deep, preferably between 0.02 to 0.09 inches deep.

The exterior grooves 200 have been filled in with a material 400. The material 400 is preferably a material having a density lower than that of aluminum. In a non-limiting example, composite materials could be used, such as carbon fiber and/or glass fiber, thermoplastic, surlyn, polyethylene, etc. However, it will be appreciated that other materials with a sufficiently low density, such as polyurethane, foams, or the like are also envisioned. The material 400 creates at least one annular ring along the ball impact area. The material 400 is preferably lighter than the material of bat 100, reducing the weight of bat 100. The material 400 filled exterior grooves create a second final surface 405. The second final surface 405 is preferably level with first final surface 300. In general, filling the exterior grooves 200 with material 400 reduces the weight of bat 100, and may also improve performance of the bat 100 adjacent the point of maximum performance while still passing the required performance standard.

FIG. 5 illustrates a barrel 105 with exterior grooves 200. The exterior grooves have been filled in with the material 400.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the various embodiments of the present invention are well adapted to attain all the objectives and advantages hereinabove set forth together with still other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the present structures. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations of the present embodiments are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Since many possible embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is also to be understood that all disclosures herein set forth or illustrated in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. The various constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts, principles and scope of the present invention.

As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required.”

Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present constructions will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A barrel for a ball bat, the barrel comprising:

a barrel portion and a transition section, the barrel portion having a first outer diameter and the transition section having a tapering outer diameter that tapers from the barrel portion toward an attachment end of the transition section;

a ball impact area extending from an end-cap end of the barrel portion along the barrel portion and extending along at least a portion of the transition section, wherein the ball impact area has a first thickness measured between a first final surface and an inner surface of the ball impact area;

at least one exterior groove positioned along the ball impact area, said at least one exterior groove having a second thickness measured between a first step surface and the inner surface of the ball impact area, wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness, thereby creating a first step;

wherein at least one exterior groove is filled with a material having a density lower than that of aluminum.

2. The barrel of claim 1 wherein a depth of the exterior groove is between about 0.01 and 0.11 inches.

3. The barrel of claim 1 wherein a width of the exterior groove is between about 0.25 and 3 inches.

4. The barrel of claim 1 wherein there are two exterior grooves.

5. The barrel of claim 1 wherein at least two opposing side walls of the exterior groove are perpendicular to the first final surface.

6. The barrel of claim 1 wherein the exterior groove includes at least a second step;

wherein the second step has a third thickness measured between a second step surface and the inner surface of the ball impact area, wherein the third thickness is less than the second thickness.

7. The barrel of claim 1 wherein the material having a density lower than that of aluminum is a composite material selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber, glass fiber, thermoplastic, surlyn, and polyethylene.

8. The barrel of claim 2 wherein the width of the exterior groove is between about 0.25 and 3 inches.

9. The barrel of claim 1 wherein the first thickness varies over the ball impact area, and wherein the second thickness of a said exterior groove is less than the first thickness of the ball impact area immediately adjacent the said exterior groove.

10. A barrel for a ball bat, the barrel comprising:

a barrel portion, a transition section, and a longitudinal axis extending through said barrel portion and said transition section;

said barrel portion having a first outer diameter and the transition section having a tapering outer diameter from the barrel portion toward an attachment end of the transition section;

a ball impact area extending from an end-cap end of the barrel portion along the barrel portion and extending along at least a portion of the transition section, wherein the ball impact area has a first final surface;

at least two opposing side walls extending radially inwards towards the longitudinal axis;

a first step surface extending between said opposing side walls;

said opposing side walls each having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein the distal end of each side wall extends from the first final surface; wherein the proximal end of each side wall extends from the first step surface;

wherein a material having a density lower than that of aluminum is positioned between said opposing side walls above the first step surface;

wherein said material forms a second final surface that is flush with first final surface of the barrel portion.

11. The barrel of claim 10 wherein the opposing side walls have a length between about 0.01 and 0.11 inches.

12. The barrel of claim 10 wherein the first step surface has a length between about 0.25 and 3 inches.

13. The barrel of claim 10 wherein the opposing side walls form a first groove;

wherein a second groove is also provided.

14. A barrel for a ball bat, the barrel comprising:

a barrel portion and a transition section, the barrel portion having a first outer diameter and the transition section tapering from the barrel portion toward an attachment end of the transition section;

a ball impact area extending from an end-cap end of the barrel portion along the barrel portion and extending along at least a portion of the transition section;

at least one annular ring, formed from a material having a density lower than that of aluminum, positioned along the ball impact area;

wherein said at least one annular ring having a third outer diameter;

wherein said third outer diameter is flush with the first outer diameter.

15. The barrel of claim 14 wherein there are two annular rings.

16. The barrel of claim 14 wherein the annular ring has a width between about 0.25 and 3 inches.

17. The barrel of claim 14 wherein the annular ring has a depth between about 0.01 and 0.11 inches.

18. The barrel of claim 14 wherein the annular ring is made out of carbon fiber.

19. The barrel of claim 14 wherein the annular ring is made out of glass fiber.

20. The barrel of claim 16 wherein the annular ring has a depth between about 0.01 and 0.11 inches.