Abstract: A training bat having a handle member with a shock absorbing coupler and at least one detachable elongated contact surface member coupled in the shock absorbing coupler wherein the at least one detachable elongated contact surface member has a width significantly less than the width of a regular bat to enhance the eye-to-hand coordination to contact a pitched ball with such at least one detachable elongated contact surface member having such reduced width. The shock absorbing coupler serves to absorb shock forces imparted to the batter's hands gripping the handle member when the ball is contacted (hit). Thereby, the stinging felt in the batter's hands after contacting the ball is significantly minimize.

Abstract: A baseball bat turned from a single piece of maple wood and including an elongate and substantially circular cross sectional shaped body with a handle portion terminating at a first end in an integral knob, an outwardly tapered and intermediate portion extending from the handle portion, and a barrel portion defining a ball hitting portion and extending from the intermediate portion so as to terminate at a second end. The second end of the barrel portion establishes in cross section a substantially cylindrical shaped and recessed cavity, the cavity being defined by an annular inner wall and a substantially flat end wall. A cross sectional end face of the integral knob further being defined by a concave surface which establishes a further recess cavity. The maple construction further provides a bat which is equivalent in weight to ash while narrower in barrel diameter, longer in effective hitting length and, as a result of its narrower diameter, is faster in swinging velocity.

Abstract: A baseball bat which includes one or more colored bands with transferrable colored pigments in or adjacent to the hitting zone to assist a batter in determining where a ball is hit on the hitting zone of the bat. The colored bands on the bat have a color pigment that will mark the ball when hit. The marked ball will provide an indication of where the bat impacted the ball. This information can be used to better train the players in hitting the balls.

Abstract: A baseball bat which has a reinforced handle portion and an enhanced gripping surface. A biaxially braided tubular overlay member which is formed from a hybrid of carbon fibers and aramid fibers is laminated to the handle portion of the bat. The overlay member has a modulus of elasticity greater than the modulus of elasticity of the bat. The overlay member strengthens the bat without substantially changing the performance characteristics of the bat.

Abstract: A baseball bat has a knob end disposed at one end of the bat adjacent to a cylindrically shaped handle portion of the bat. The knob end has a socket hole with internal threads in axial alignment with the bat. The practice device includes a weight structure having a weight sized for positioning in coaxial engagement with the knob end of the baseball bat. The weight structure has a bolt threadingly engageable with the internal threads of the socket hole to secure the practice device in fixed assembly with the knob end of the baseball bat for use in training.

Abstract: A weighted practice bat comprising a bat having a barrel and a handle and the bat having a determinable center of percussion. A weighted ring is attached to the barrel at the location of the center of percussion. The ring includes a hole for receiving a fastener which engages the barrel and secures the ring to the barrel.

Abstract: A wooden baseball bat made of plural wood sections bonded together to form a unitary member. The bat is composed of a longitudinally extending central member which is cross-or X-shaped in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis, the central member defining four quadrants which are filled with longitudinally extending wedge-shaped members, with the external surface of the bat being circular in transverse cross-section and defining a barrel, handle and knob portion, with the barrel and handle generally tapering so as to diminish in diameter toward the knob. The central member is formed of plural wood pieces arranged such that the grain extends generally radially outward on each arm. Each of the wedge-shaped members is likewise cut and arranged such that grain plane extends generally radially outward. Preferably the central member is made of hickory wood and the wedge-shaped members are made of ash wood.

Abstract: A bag-shaped sword blade section having a throttled opening formed of a sealing and elastic material such as rubber is fitted onto and closely attached to a tip end of a cylindrical-shaped grip formed of a hard material such as wood, a hard rubber, plastics and metals. A gas such as air is filled in the sword blade section to define a cavity. Accordingly, a soft sword is made uniform in quality, and undergoes less degradation in quality even after an extended use.

Abstract: A ball bat typically used in playing the game of baseball or softball is constructed of an inner layer bounded by first and second outer layers. The inner layer typically contains four inner lamina bonded together, while the first and second outer layers typically contain a single outer lamina. The inner laminas from the medial portion of the barrel of the bat, as well as the handle portion. The outer laminas form lateral portions of the barrel of the bat, and are gently tapered toward the handle of the bat. The thickness and relative position of each lamina is related to the results of non-destructive testing of the wood forming that lamina.

Abstract: A sports bat such as used to play baseball or softball, comprising a shell which includes a first layer of titanium alloy-fiber reinforced composite laminate, a second layer of titanium alloy-fiber reinforced composite laminate and a core layer between the first layer and the second layer. Further, a method of making a bat comprising a shell which includes a first layer of titanium alloy-fiber reinforced composite laminate, a second layer of titanium alloy-fiber reinforced composite laminate and a core layer between the first layer and the second layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ball bat with tailored flexibility with a cylindrical handle zone at a first end of the ball bat. The cylindrical handle zone has a knob disposed on a free end thereof. A generally cylindrical hitting zone is at a second end of the ball bat remote from the first end. An essentially frustoconical transition zone is between the handle zone and the hitting zone. The transition zone includes an inboard portion of a first length and an outboard portion of a second length together forming a flex control zone. The flex control zone modifies normal flex characteristics of the ball bat.

Abstract: A game played on either an indoor/outdoor court. The game includes a bat, a game ball and two sets of balls which are of different colors. The bat has a substantially round drive head with which to bat balls. A game ball is hit up the court. Then one player hits their ball up the court and as close to the game ball as possible. The game continues until all the balls are hit. Then the person or team with the ball(s) closest to the game ball scores a point for each ball that rests closer to the game ball than the closest ball of the opposite side or team.

Abstract: A toy bat (10) having a handle (12) which has a handle base (12A) securely fastened to a handle stopper (12B). The handle base (12A) and the handle stopper (12B) have a handle female fastener (12C) therein and therethrough, respectively. The toy bat further has a bat (14) which is removably attachable to the handle (12). The bat (14) comprises a bat male fastener (14A) which securely engages the handle female fastener (12C). The bat (14) further comprises a bat shaft (14B) extending longitudinally from and parallel with the bat male fastener (14A). A whistle (16) is optionally integrally mounted within the distal end of the bat shaft (14B).

Abstract: An "isoharmonic" sports bat, for example a baseball bat or cricket bat, includes a hitting surface for impact with a ball, wherein the duration of a half cycle of a selected mode of vibration of the hitting surface when in contact with the ball is approximately equal to the contact time between the hitting surface and the ball during an average impact. This allows the vibrational energy of the bat to be returned efficiently to the ball, which improves the coefficient of restitution, and the peak contact force between the bat and the ball may be reduced. The hitting surface may be formed by a plate attached to the bat.

Abstract: An adaptive physical education device has a frame with a variety of attachable components so that the device may be adapted to a variety of sporting applications, such as golf, baseball, and hockey. The frame, in the preferred embodiment, attaches to the front portion of a wheelchair using a pair of adjustable wheelchair brackets. A pivotable "L" shaped post is attachable to the frame so that the pivotable post may be attached pointing upwards or downwards to accommodate different swinging motions of a bat or a club. An elastic spring is attached to the pivotable post at one end and to the club or bat at the opposite end. A handle is attached to the club or bat, so that the wheelchair participant may grasp the handle while seated in the wheelchair, pull back the handle, extending the elastic spring, and let go of the handle, the elastic spring propels the club or bat forward.

Abstract: A vibration dampened hand held implement such as a ball bat, archery bow or hammer is provided with a vibration dampening system comprising a chamber having a low modulus viscoelastic elastomeric vibration dampening member freely moveable therein to bounce back and forth between and move out of phase with the chamber walls to rapidly dampen unwanted lower frequency vibrations of the implement.

Abstract: A new Shock and Vibration Absorbing Ball Bat for absorbing the shock and vibration forces generated when the bat strikes a ball before the forces reach the hands of the batter. The inventive device includes a hitting portion, a handle portion, an intermediate portion between the hitting portion and the handle portion, and a series of knurls provided along the intermediate portion of the bat above the handle portion and below the hitting portion. The knurls are coaxially aligned with the intermediate portion of the bat and define a peripheral wall which has a diameter greater than that of the intermediate portion of the bat immediately adjacent the knurl whereby the knurl is radially enlarged relative to the intermediate portion of the bat immediately adjacent the knurl. In a first embodiment, each of the knurls is a convex knurl wherein the peripheral wall of the convex knurl is convex-shaped.

Abstract: A bat handle cover for encasing the grip area of a bat handle and for suspending the bat by a chain and clasp from a suspending structure. The cover may be made of stiff material, and include either a number of locking balls, a ring or a pair of U-shaped latches near the inside top of the cover, which grasp the bat handle just below the enlarged butt end or head of a conventional baseball bat. The cover may be made of flexible material, and include a necked-in portion which engages the bat. The flexible cover may have a full length slit closed by hook and loop fasteners about the bat handle, or a zipper closure running most of the length of the cover. A lower, open end of the cover may include a seal, to prevent water, moisture and/or debris from entering the interior of the cover.

Abstract: An attachment for bats designed principally for use in batting practice, comprising a thin wall tube of rubber-like material of length approximating the length of the contact zone of the bat. In one embodiment, the tube is closed at one end with the closed end covering the end of the bat. An edge rim of greater thickness is present in one embodiment to protect the end from tearing and in other embodiments, raised patterns are present on the external surface of the tube.

Abstract: Ball bats of composite construction. These bats have a wooden handle and barrel and a metal sleeve which surrounds the barrel. The interaction between the sleeve and barrel keeps a batter's hands from being stung and/or the bat from being broken when a ball is struck.

Abstract: A baseball bat is provided which sized and configured for use in a baseball game by itself and in combination with a practice device for use in training. The baseball bat has a knob end disposed at one end of the bat adjacent to a cylindrically shaped handle portion of the bat. The knob end has a socket hole in axial alignment with the bat. The practice device including a weight structure having a weight sized for positioning in coaxial engagement with the knob end of the baseball bat. The weight has a mass in the range of one to forty-eight ounces. The weight structure has a connecting structure projecting outwardly from the weight structure for disengageable connection within the socket hole to secure the practice device in fixed position with the knob end of the baseball bat for use in training.

Abstract: An elongated member, for example, a bowling pin, has a core of foamed plastic material, which has areas of greater density, generally toward the lower end of the bowling pin, so as to provide desired weight distribution along the member. In the bowling pin, providing a denser core area near the bottom lowers the center of gravity. In a baseball bat, the increased density can be provided in the "sweet spot" area, if desired.In producing the variation in density, the mold in which the foamed core is formed is heated in those areas in which the density is to be light and chilled in those areas in which the density is to be increased.In making a baseball or softball bat, a foamed core can be wrapped directly with graphite filament or graphite and glass filaments, or synthetic fibers such as Aramid fibers of the type marketed by Dupont de Nemours as KEVLAR.RTM. either dry wrapped and subsequently embedded in epoxy or the like, or wrapped with adhesive coated fiber that is then cured.

Abstract: A resiliently compressible and stretchable sleeve has an opening at one end adapted to closely fit around a handle of a ball bat, and an interior adapted to closely fit around an enlarged end knob which terminates at the handle. The sleeve is positioned to cover the end knob to cushion the batter's hand from vibrations in the end knob and the sleeve can be readily removed from and replaced on the bat. One or more sleeves, each having a hole extending completely through it, can be positioned on the handle of the bat to provide a reference for gripping the handle away from the end knob.

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: The present invention comprises a club shaped device having a removable cover which encloses substantially all of the club and is fastened thereto. In one embodiment, the club shaped device is composed of a head and a handle both constructed out of a resilient material, such as dense foam rubber. The handle has a hollow interior area which has an opening at its bottom. The edges of the removable covering are placed into the opening and a removable plug is shoved into the opening to steadfastly hold the cover's edges against the handle's inner wall. In one embodiment, the present invention is used for cleaning and dusting. In another embodiment, the present invention is used as a soft club novelty item to allow users to vent their frustration without causing injury to the items struck by the club.