BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL BAT WITH ADJUSTABLE SOUND GENERATOR

Abstract

A baseball or softball bat having a sound generator disposed therein. A resilient member retains a knocker in relation to an inner surface of the bat when the sound generator is in an inactive, at-rest state. Upon an impact of the barrel with an object, the resilient member flexes or is deformed causing the knocker to strike an inner surface of the bat and generate a simulated bat impact sound.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to baseball and softball bats. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bat having a sound generator disposed therein such that upon impact of the bat with an object the sound generator generates a simulated bat impact sound.

Baseball and softball are very popular sports in many countries, including the United States, Mexico, Japan and elsewhere. Due to the competitive nature of these sports, players are constantly seeking ways of improving their performance. An important aspect of baseball and softball is the ability to effectively hit the ball.

Typically, wooden bats are used at the professional levels, while metal, such as aluminum alloy, and composite material bats are used extensively in other leagues and levels, and particularly in baseball amateur play from Little League to college levels and also in slow- and fast-pitch softball. Metal and composite bats are advantageous over wood bats in that they do not break and splinter like wood bats and thus can be used repeatedly with consequent cost savings. Metal and composite bats also have a larger optimal hitting area or power zone than wood bats.

However, these bats have certain disadvantages. Bats comprised of metal or composite materials or combinations thereof vibrate upon impact. The shock caused by the bat hitting the ball may send painful vibrations into the hands and arms of the batter if the ball is not hit at the sweet spot of the bat.

As a result, there have been designed and created bats having vibration dissipating or absorbing characteristics. Some of these designs have become so effective that the typical impact sound when a bat barrel strikes a ball is altered, and in some cases muffled or even nearly completely eliminated due to the vibration absorbing and dissipating aspects of the bat. However, it has been found that batters prefer to hear the impact sound, which can be described as a “crack” or “ping” or the like, when they strike a ball with the bat. Depending upon the materials used to construct the bat, or due to the bat incorporating vibration dissipators or absorbers, such bat impact sound is altered or muffled, reducing the enjoyment of the game and leading some batters to wonder if the bat is not performing optimally.

Accordingly, there is a continuing need for a bat which incorporates a sound generator that generates a simulated bat impact sound when the bat strikes an object, such as a baseball or softball. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally resides in a baseball or softball bat having a handle and a barrel extending from the handle. The bat incorporates a sound generator which generates a simulated bat impact sound when the bat strikes an object, such as a baseball or softball or the like. In this manner, the bat, even if comprised of composite materials and/or incorporating vibration dampeners, will emit a simulated bat impact sound upon striking the ball.

The sound generator is typically disposed within the barrel of the bat. The sound generator comprises a knocker attached to a resilient member. The sound generator is configured such that upon being activated by an impact of the barrel with an object, the resilient member flexes or is deformed, causing the knocker to strike an inner surface of the bat, typically the barrel, and generate the simulated bat impact sound. The knocker is comprised of a metal or other hard material so as to generate the simulated bat impact sound upon striking the inner surface of the barrel.

The resilient member comprises a spacer comprised of a resilient material that retains the knocker in relation to the inner surface of the barrel when the sound generator is in an inactive state. Typically, the spacer supports the knocker in spaced relation to the inner surface of the barrel when the sound generator is in the inactive or at-rest state. The spacer may also be in nominal contact with an inner surface of the barrel in the inactive state.

The sound generator may be attached to an end cap of the barrel. The spacer may also be attached to an end cap of the barrel.

Alternatively, the sound generator may be attached to a portion of the handle extending into the barrel. A connector may extend between the end cap and the spacer. The spacer may instead be attached directly to the handle.

In yet another alternative, the sound generator is disposed within the barrel intermediate an end of the barrel and the handle. The resilient member and the knocker may be disposed intermediate the end of the barrel and the handle.

The length, material and stiffness of a connecting arm between the resilient member and the knocker can be adjusted in order to alter the sound upon impact between the bat and a ball or other object. As such, the connecting arm can act as a tuner of sorts for the knocker to create the desired simulated bat impact sound.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a bat incorporating a sound generator, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmented and partially sectioned perspective view illustrating the sound generator of FIG. 1 within the barrel of the bat, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned and fragmented perspective view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating a variation of the sound generator;

FIG. 4 is a fragmented and partially sectioned perspective view of another sound generator embodying the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned and fragmented perspective view of a sound generator extending from a handle and into a barrel of the bat, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cut-away and fragmented perspective view of a bat having a sound generator embodying the present invention attached to an end cap of the bat;

FIG. 7 is a fragmented and partially sectioned perspective view of another sound generator attached to the end cap of the bat, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmented and partially sectioned perspective view of another sound generator attached to an end cap of the bat;

FIG. 9 is a fragmented and partially sectioned view of a bat having a sound generator disposed within a barrel intermediate the ends of the bat, in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmented and partially sectioned perspective view of another sound generator disposed within the barrel of the bat, intermediate the ends of the bat, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration, the present invention resides in a baseball or softball bat, generally referred to by the reference number 10. As will be more fully explained herein, the bat 10 includes a sound generator which generates a simulated bat impact sound when the bat strikes an object, such as a baseball or softball or the like.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a bat 10 embodying the present invention is illustrated. The bat 10 includes a barrel 12 that is hollow and includes an opening 14 at one end thereof and an opening 16 at a generally opposite end thereof. A handle 18 is attached to the barrel 12, such as by inserting the handle 18 through open end 14, through the barrel 12 and at least partially out open end 16, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The handle 18 may be attached to the barrel 12 by means of a threaded connector 20 having threads 22 which are threadedly connected to internal threads 24 formed in an inner surface of the barrel 12. Typically, the threaded connection will occur at a tapered section of the barrel 12 adjacent to the open end 16.

The barrel 12 may be comprised of any suitable material, such as metal, including aluminum or an aluminum alloy, or a laminate composite material, such as composite fibers or sheets which may be pre-impregnated with resins or the like. Similarly, the handle 18 may be comprised of any suitable material, including metal, composite material or the like. A grip (not shown) may be placed over a grip portion of the handle 18 so as to provide a degree of friction or grippability to securely hold and swing the bat 10 in use, while providing comfort to the user. A knob 26 may be attached to the free end of the handle 18, adjacent the gripping portion of the handle, to prevent the user's hands from slipping off of the end of the bat 10 when swinging the bat 10. A sleeve 28 may extend over at least a portion of the handle 18 and have internal threads 30 which threadedly connect to a threaded portion 32 of the connector 20. An end cap 34 may be attached to the end of the bat so as to cover opening 14.

Connector 20 may be comprised of a vibration absorbing and/or dampening material so as to act as a vibration dampener so as to prevent vibrations emanating from the barrel 12 when it hits an object, such as a ball, from traveling to the handle 18 and to the user's hands. The vibration absorber 20 may be comprised of an elastomeric material, such as an elastic polymer material having a desired hardness so as to be physically attached to the barrel 12 of the bat 10 while also still providing flexibility and vibration dampening and absorbing characteristics. For example, the elastic polymer material may have a durometer hardness of between 25-100 shore A. The material comprising the connector 20 may be molded onto the handle 18. The vibration absorber 20 may also be attached to the handle 18, such as by adhesives or the like.

However, the connector 20 may not be comprised of a vibration dampening or absorbing material and not constitute a vibration dampener or absorber. Also, the handle 18 and the barrel 12 could be interconnected by other means.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a sound generator 36 is attached to a portion of the handle 18 which extends into the barrel 12. The sound generator 36 comprises a knocker 38 attached to a resilient member 40 in the form of a connecting arm or the like. The knocker 38 is typically comprised of a hard material, preferably a metallic material such that when an object, such as a ball, is struck by the barrel 12 of the bat 10 the sound generator is activated such that the resilient member connecting arm flexes or is deformed causing the knocker 38 to strike an inner surface of the barrel 12 and generate a simulated bat impact sound. The connecting arm 40 may be comprised of a resilient material, such as a polymeric material or the like. The connecting arm 40 can also be comprised of a metallic material.

Typically, a spacer 42 is used to retain the knocker 38 in a desired relation to the inner surface of the barrel 12 when the sound generator 36 is in an inactive or at-rest state. The spacer 42 is typically comprised of a resilient material, such as a polymeric material. Typically, the spacer 42 is in contact with an inner surface of the barrel, such as being generally circular in shape so as to fit within the generally circular cross-section of the barrel 12. The spacer 42 supports the knocker 38 in spaced relation to the inner surface of the barrel 12 when the sound generator is in the inactive state.

When the bat barrel 12 strikes an object, such as a ball, the resilient member, which may comprise the connecting arm 40 and/or spacer 42, flexes or is deformed by the energy caused by the impact of the ball with the barrel, and thus is deformed or flexes, causing the knocker 38 to strike an inner surface of the barrel 12. This generates a simulated bat impact sound that might be attenuated, muffled or even eliminated due to the selection of the materials used in constructing the bat 10, such as composite materials comprising the bat barrel 12, incorporation of vibration dampeners or absorbers and the like. In effect, the sound generator 36 acts as a tuning fork which is struck against an object, which will emit a desired sound.

Different sounds can be created under the impact between a ball and the bat 10 by adjusting various aspects of the sound generator 36, including the length, material and stiffness of the connecting arm 40 and/or spacer 42 of the resilient member. For example, a longer connecting arm 40 will generate a different sound than a shorter connecting arm. Also, the type of material comprising the knocker 38 can make a difference in the sound generated, such that a metallic knocker 38 will generate a different sound than a knocker 38 comprised of a different material, such as composite material or other material. However, the knocker 38 should be comprised of a sufficiently hard and durable material so as to create a desired simulated bat impact sound.

With reference now to FIG. 3, a bat is illustrated with another sound generator 44. A spacer 46 is attached to an end of the bat handle 18. A connecting arm 48 extends between the spacer 46 and the knocker 50. Similar to that described above, the spacer 46 is generally circular in configuration so as to contact an inner surface of the barrel 12 and position the knocker 50 in relation to the inner surface of the barrel 12, such as in spaced relation thereto. The spacer 46, connecting arm 48 and knocker 50 can be comprised of the same materials as described above. Moreover, the sound generator 44 operates in a similar manner as the sound generator 36 described above. In this case, the knocker 50 has a shaft portion 52 which is connected to the connecting arm 48, such as by being inserted into an end thereof, with a ring or disc structure 54 at an end thereof which will come into contact with an inner surface of the barrel 12.

With reference now to FIG. 4, yet another sound generator 54 embodying the present invention is illustrated. In this case, the resilient member comprises a generally hollow elongated sleeve 56 which is attached to the bat handle 18 at one end thereof, where it is in contact with an inner surface of the barrel 12 and extends outwardly to a free end 58. The knocker 60 is disposed on the hollow sleeve resilient member 56, which serves as both the connecting arm as well as the spacer. The knocker 60 may be disposed along the length of the sleeve 56, but typically towards the free end 58 which forms an enlarged lip to retain the knocker 60 in place on the sleeve 56. The resilient member sleeve 56 retains the knocker 60 in a desired relation to the inner surface of the barrel 12 when in an inactive and at-rest state, but the resilient material comprising the sleeve 56 is deformed or flexes upon a ball impacting the barrel 12 such that the knocker 60 comes into contact with the inner surface of the barrel 12 and creates the desired simulated bat impact sound.

With reference now to FIG. 5, the present invention can be incorporated into a wide variety of bats. The bat illustrated in FIG. 5 has a barrel section 12 and a handle section 18 which comprise a unitary structure instead of being in separate pieces. For example, the bat may be comprised of a single piece of aluminum or formed as a single piece of composite material and shaped so as to form a handle of an appropriate length and width which tapers to the tapered section of the barrel and then the hitting section of the barrel. An end knob 26 as described above may be attached to the end of the handle section 18. A sound generator 62 is disposed within the bat and has the general configuration and purpose as that described above.

More particularly, the sound generator 62 includes a knocker 64, such as disposed at an end of a connecting arm 66 having a spacer 68 disposed along a length of the connecting arm 66. The spacer 68 is typically comprised of a polymeric material, and the connecting arm 66 can be comprised of metal or a non-metallic material. The spacer 68 is typically in contact with an inner surface of either the handle 18 or barrel 12 so as to firmly position the sound generator 62 within the bat and also position the knocker 64 in relation to an inner surface of the barrel 12, such as in spaced relation. The connecting arm 66 may be comprised of a single piece or member, or multiple members, such as being joined at the position of the spacer 68. The length of the connecting arm 66 between the knocker 64 and the spacer 68 can be adjusted, as deemed necessary, which can vary the simulated bat impact sound generated by the knocker 64 when the bat comes into contact with a ball or other object.

The sound generator of the present invention need not be attached to the handle or disposed within the handle, but instead can be positioned at other locations within the bat. For example, with reference to FIGS. 6-8, the sound generator may be disposed adjacent to or in connection with the end cap 34 of the barrel 12. Preferably, the sound generator is configured and disposed such that the knocker thereof will come into contact with an inner surface of the barrel 12 of the bat so as to generate the simulated bat impact sound in an effective manner.

With reference now to FIG. 6, the sound generator 70 is disposed within the barrel 12 of the bat near the end cap 34 thereof, as illustrated. A knocker 72 is attached to a resilient member in the form of a connecting arm 74 and spacer 76, having the characteristics and made of materials as described above. One or more connectors 78 extend between the sound generator 70 and the end cap 34 so as to attach the sound generator 70 to the end cap 34 and retain it in place within the barrel 12 of the bat. The connecting arm 74 and/or spacer 76 are comprised of materials which are able to deform or flex when the bat barrel 12 contacts a ball or other object such that the knocker 72 comes into contact with an inner surface of the bat barrel 12 and generates the simulated bat impact sound, in accordance with the present invention. As the sound generator 70 is attached to the end cap 34, it can be attached to the end cap 34 during the manufacturing process and slid into the barrel 12 through the open end thereof when assembling the bat.

With reference now to FIG. 7, yet another sound generator 80 embodying the present invention is shown. Once again, a knocker 82 is attached to a connecting arm 84 extending from a spacer 86, which is in contact with an inner surface of the barrel 12 and retains the knocker 82 in place with respect to an inner surface of the barrel 12, such as in spaced relation as illustrated. The sound generator 80 illustrated in FIG. 7 is similar to that in FIG. 6, except that instead of having one or more connector rods 78 extending between the sound generator and the end cap 34, a connector sleeve 86 extends between the end cap 34 and the sound generator 80, such as extending between the inner wall of the barrel 12 and the outer surface of the spacer 86, as shown so as to attach the sound generator 80 to the end cap 34 and enable easy installation thereof when inserting the end cap 34 onto the open end of the barrel 12.

With reference now to FIG. 8, another sound generator 88 embodying the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the sound generator 88 is directly connected to the end cap 34, such as the spacer 90 being disposed within a cylindrical portion 92 of the end cap so as to be nested therein. The knocker 94, as described above, is attached to a resilient connecting arm 96, with at least one of the connecting arms 96 and/or the spacer 90 of the resilient member being deformed or flexing when activated when the bat 12 strikes an object, causing the knocker 94 to come into contact with an inner surface of the barrel 12 and generate the simulated bat impact sound.

With reference now to FIGS. 9 and 10, it is not necessary that the sound generator be attached to the end cap 34 of the bat. Instead, the sound generator, such as illustrated in these figures, can be disposed within the bat intermediate the ends thereof, preferably within the barrel 12 of the bat. The sound generator 96 is held in place by at least a portion of the resilient member, such as the spacer 98 being in contact with the inner surface of the barrel 12, such as a frictional fit therewith. The resilient connector arm 100 supports the knocker 102 and extends between the spacer 98 and the knocker 102. The sound generator 96 can be comprised of the same materials and have the same characteristics and purpose as those described above.

With reference now to FIG. 10, yet another sound generator 104 is illustrated. Similar to FIG. 9, the sound generator 104 is disposed within the barrel 12 of the bat intermediate the ends thereof. In this case, the knocker 106 is disposed on a resilient connector arm 108 that extends between two spacers 110 and 112 which are spaced apart from one another and at least one of which, and typically both, are in contact with the inner surface of the barrel 12 so as to form a frictional fit therewith and position the sound generator 104 within the barrel 12. Similar to that described above, when the barrel 12 of the bat strikes an object, such as a ball, the resilient connecting arm 108 and/or the spacers 110 and 112 resiliently deform or flex such that the knocker 106 is moved into contact with the inner surface of the barrel 12 so as to generate the simulated bat impact sound. However, during the inactive or at-rest state, the spacers 110 and/or 112 retain the knocker 106 in spaced relation to the inner surface of the barrel 12.

Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A baseball or softball bat, comprising:

a handle;

a barrel extending from the handle;

a vibration dampener disposed within the barrel that dampens or eliminates vibrations from the barrel to the handle when the barrel strikes an object; and

a sound generator disposed within the bat comprising a knocker attached to a resilient member, wherein upon an impact of the barrel with an object, the resilient member flexes or is deformed causing the knocker to strike an inner surface of the bat and generate a simulated bat impact sound.

2. The bat of claim 1, wherein the resilient member comprises a spacer of a resilient material that retains the knocker in relation to the inner surface of the bat when the sound generator is in an inactive state.

3. The bat of claim 2, wherein the spacer supports the knocker in spaced relation to the inner surface of the bat when the sound generator is in the inactive state.

4. The bat of claim 2, wherein the spacer nominally contacts the inner surface of the bat in the inactive state.

5. The bat of claim 2, wherein the spacer is attached to the handle.

6. The bat of claim 2, wherein the spacer is attached to an end cap of the barrel.

7. The bat of claim 6, including a connector extending between the end cap and the spacer.

8. The bat of claim 1, wherein the knocker is comprised of a metal or a similar hard material so as to generate the simulated bat impact sound upon striking the inner surface of the bat.

9. The bat of claim 1, wherein the sound generator is attached to an end cap of the barrel.

10. The bat of claim 1, wherein the sound generator is attached to a portion of the handle extending into the barrel.

11. (canceled)

12. A baseball or softball bat, comprising:

a handle;

a barrel extending from the handle;

a sound generator disposed within the barrel comprising a knocker attached to a resilient member, wherein upon an impact of the barrel with an object, the resilient member flexes or is deformed causing the knocker to strike an inner surface of the barrel and generate a simulated bat impact sound;

wherein the knocker is comprised of a metal or a similar hard material so as to generate the simulated bat impact sound upon striking the inner surface of the barrel; and

wherein the resilient member comprises a spacer of a resilient material that retains the knocker in relation to the inner surface of the barrel when the sound generator is in an inactive state

wherein the sound generator is attached to a portion of the handle extending into the barrel.

13. The bat of claim 12, wherein the spacer supports the knocker in spaced relation to the inner surface of the barrel when the sound generator is in the inactive state.

14. The bat of claim 12, wherein the spacer nominally contacts the inner surface of the barrel in the inactive state.

15. The bat of claim 12, wherein the spacer is attached to the handle.

16.-20. (canceled)

21. The bat of claim 1, wherein the vibration dampener comprises an elastic polymer material that is attached to the handle.

22. The bat of claim 21, including external threads formed on the vibration dampener that are engaged with internal threads of the barrel to connect the handle to the barrel.

23. The bat of claim 12, including a vibration dampener disposed within the barrel that dampens or eliminates vibrations from the barrel to the handle when the barrel strikes an object.

24. The bat of claim 23, wherein the vibration dampener comprises an elastic polymer material that is attached to the handle.

25. The bat of claim 24, including external threads formed on the vibration dampener that are engaged with internal threads of the barrel to connect the handle to the barrel.