AU2005205784B2 - Cricket Bat Performance Enhancement System - Google Patents

Description

2-Sep. 2005 15:28 2.Sep 200515:28 Wallngtor-Dummer Sydney N.03 P N o 2 0 9 3 P 3 P/00/009 Regulation 310

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

FOR

A DIVISIONAL STANDARD PATENT APPLICATION Invention Title, CRICKET BAT PERFORMANCE ENHANCING SYSTEM The invention is described in the following statement, including the best method of performing it known to us: Our Ref. 022114 COMS IDNo; SBMI-01 464636 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:34 Date 2005-09-02 Mop. 2005 15:29 Wal n in tor-Dummer Sydney No.2093 P. 4 2 0

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1 CRICKET BAT PERFORMANCE ENHANCING SYSTEM SThe present invention relates to the addition of a 09 feature to enhance the performance of a cricket bat.

BACKGROUND

V) For decades, there have been many cricket bats 0 C1 manufactured and sized to suit the individual cricket o player. At a junior level, the ball may fall short of the boundary line, even if the ball is hit at the right spot (the so-called "sweet spot" on the bat).

There have been many proposals for cricket bats but there has never been an added feature that is so enhancing to the cricket bat such that it will deliver shots at a substantially faster speed.

For example, GB 20084i4 discloses a system incorporated into the interior of a cricket bat which does not result in substantially faster speed for shots.

A further disadvantage of typical cricket bat is that splitting of the blade may occur due to impacts in some circumstances. As well, bats are generally of a uniform appearance, making identification of individual, or particular groups of bats difficult.

It is an object of the present invention to address or ameliorate one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01464636 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:34 Date 2005-09-02 2-Sep. 2005 15:29 Wall in tor-Dummer Sydney N o 2 0 9 3 P 0 0 -a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION In a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a cricket bat booster/accelerator material 0 5 comprising a resilient metal inserted material which is 0 glued onto the back or heel of the cricket bat.

In a further broad form of the invention there is o provided a cricket bat having a booster accelerator ci material comprising a resilient metal material positioned and placed by way of adhesive, onto the back or heel of the bat, without altering the timber composition of the bat.

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a cricket bat to which has been non-releasably applied a layer of material to a lower rear surface thereof thereby to impart greater striking force to a ball when struck by a lower front face of said bat.

Preferably, said layer of material comprises a metal or metal alloy.

Preferably, said layer of material comprises a plastics material..

Preferably, said layer of material has a thickness in the range 1-3mm.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01464636 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:34 Date 2005-09-02 2.Sep. 2005 15:29 Wal ngtor-DuMner Sydney No.2093 P. 6 -4- 0 Preferably, said layer of material has a total weight in range 100-200 grams.

Preferably, said layer of material is applied to a surface of said lower portion of said bat.

S 5 Preferably, said layer of material is inlaid into said 0 Llower portion of said rear face of said bat.

1 N Preferably, said layer of material is profiled to o confcem to the shape of said lower portion of said re.r ci face of said bat.

In a still further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of. enhancing performance of a cricket bat; said cricket bat having an elongate blade portion attached to a handle portion; said cricket bat having a front face and a rear face; said method comprising positioning a layer of material on at least a lower portion of said rear face which is substantially opposite a lower portion of said front face; said lower portion of said front face adapted for driving contact with a ball.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of enhancing performance of a cricket bat utilising a layer of material as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to what is shown in the accompanying drawings.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01464636 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:34 Date 2005-09-02 2.Sep. 2905 15:29 WallIingtor-Dumner Sydney No.2093 P.7 in a further broad form of the invention there is provided a cricket bat having a layer of material applied oto it as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to what is shown in Figs. 1-3 or Figs. 4-6.

00 In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a layer of material for application to at least a lower rear surface of a cricket bat thereby to enhance o the performance of said bat when striking a ball with a lower portion of a front face of said bat.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method for providing enhanced performance characteristics of a cricket bat; said method including the steps of: preparing a laminating layer of mouldable material, selecting a suitable adhesive compound,' applying said adhesive compound and said laminating layer to at least a lower portion of a rear face of said cricket bat.

Preferably, said enhanced performance characteristics include an increased striking force of said cricket bat.

Preferably, said enhanced performance characteristics include a reduced tendency to splitting of said cricket bat.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01464636 Received by IP Australia: lime 15:34 Date 2005-09-02 2.Sep. 2005 15:29 Wa ington-Dummer Sydney No.2093 P. 8 6 Preferably, said enhanced performance characteristics include a reduced transmission of vibration to the hands Sof a user when a ball is struck by said cricket bat.

Preferably, said enhanced performance characteristics 00 5 include a decorative effect.

1^ VPreferably, said enhanced performance characteristics include display of promotional material.

o In still a further broad form of the invention there is provided a layer adapted for adhesive application to at least a portion of a rear face of a cricket bat; said layer adapted to enhancing performance of said cricket bat.

Preferably, said layer is plastic.

Preferably, said layer is a carbon composite.

Preferably, said layer is a graphite composite.

Preferably, said layer adds a weight of between 1 and grams to the weight of a standard cricket bat.

Preferably, said layer adds a weight of between 1 and grams to the weight of a standard cricket bat.

Preferably, said layer adds a weight of between 1 and 100 grams to the weight of a standard cricket bat.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01464636 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:34 Date 2005-09-02 2.Sep. 2005 15:30 Wal ington-Dumn er Sydney No.2093 P. 9 0 C) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 19 Embodiments of the present invention will now be described wherein: OO 5 Fig. I is a perspective view of a cricket bat to which In a first embodiment of the present invention has been Sapplied; SFig. 2 is a perspective view of the bat of Fig. 1 ci viewing the face; Fig. 3 is a side section view of the bat of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective rear view of a cricket bat to which a second embodiment of the present invention is applied; Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of the bat of Fig.

4, Fig. 6 is a side section view of the bat of Fig. 4 in operation; Fig. 7 is a further perspective view of a cricket bat showing a further preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an example of a bat to which embodiments of the invention have been applied in use.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01464636 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:34 Date 2005-09-02 MoSp. 2005 15:30 Wajjngtor-Dumer Sydney N0.-2 0 93 P 0 0 0 Co First Preferred Embodiment S With reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a cricket bat booster/accelerator is disclosed. The insert/inlay 2 is a Cmetal material (Fig. 1 No. which is glued 3 to the back o or the heel 1 of the cricket bat (Fig.. 1 No. 3).

ci The purpose of this insert/inlay 2 (Fig. 1, No. 2) being glued to the back or the heel 1 of the cricket bat, is to improve acceleration or increase the speed and impact to the cricket ball when the ball is struck by face 5 of the cricket bat 6.

This insert/inlay (Fig, 1, No., 2) may be glued (Fig. 1, No. 3) to any cricket bat 6 of any size.

By way of restatement of the arrangement of the above described first embodiment there is illustrated in Fig. 1 a cricket bat 6 having an elongate blade portion 7 to which is attached a handle 8. The elongate blade portion 7 includes a front face 5 and a rear face 1 as generally illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Applied to or positioned on the rear face 1 at a lower portion 9 of rear face 1 is a layer of material 2. The layer of material 2 is positioned so as to be opposite a COMS ID No: SBMI-01464636 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:34 Date 2005-09-02 2.Sep. 2005 15:30 Wa ngtor-Dummer Sydney No ,2093 P. 0 0 lower portion 10 of front face 5, again as generally

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illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

(Nq In a particularly preferred arrangement the lower portion 10 of front face 5 comprises an area of a cricket 5 bat commonly know as the "sweet spot".

00 In] As best seen in Fig. 3 the layer of material 2 is 0 (N shaped so as to conform to the profile of lower portion 9 of In o rear face 1.

In a particular preferred form the layer of material 2 is glued by means of glue 3 to the rear face 1 of bat 6 In an alternate form the layer of material 2 is inlaid into rear face 1 as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3.

In particular preferred forms the layer of material 2 comprises a relatively thin sheet of plastics or metallic material. Suitable materials can include aluminium, copper, PVC. Laminates and mixtures thereof may also be used.

In particular forms the total weight of the layer of material 2 is in the range 100-300 grams, more preferably 100-200 grams and even more preferably around 180 to 200 grams when applied to a regulation cricket bat made from timber.

Preferred thicknesses of the layer of material 2 lie in the range 1-3mm, more preferably 1-2mm and, even more preferably, around 1.3mm.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01464636 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:34 Date 2005-09-02 2.Sep. 2005 15:30 Wall instor-Dummer Sydney No.2093 P. 12 t 10 0 In one form the layer of material 2 is simply glued or otherwise mechanically attached to the surface of rear face 09 1. In alternative forms it is inlaid such that top surface 11 of layer of material 2 lies substantially flush with the OO 5 surrounding rear face of bat 6.

0 With reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 a second embodiment Ci of the system of the present invention is illustrated o applied to a cricket bat 6 and wherein like components are numbered as for the first embodiment.

In this instance the timber from which the elongate blade portion 7 is constructed is willow timber as is typically found in a regulation bat. As previously, the layer of material 2 is glued or otherwise non-releasably attached to rear face 1 of bat 6. Suitable glues can include rubber glue. The layer of material 2 is profiled or shaped to conform to the relevant portion of bat 6. It is located so as to be on an opposite side of bat 6 to lower portion 10 of front face 5 and located at a lower portion 9 of rear face 1 near to toe 4 of bat 6.

Fig. 6 illustrates the behaviour and force directions (via arrows) of bat 6 when it strikes ball 12 at or near "sweet spot" or strike zone 13.

In use, as best seen in Fig. 8, a player grasps the bat 6 in the usual fashion and uses the bat 6 in the usual COMS ID No: SBMI-01464636 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:34 Date 2005-09-02 2.Sep. 2005 15:30 Wal instor-Dumner Sydney No.2093 P. 13 t0 11 fashion whereby lower portion 10 of front face 5 is utilised

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Sto strike ball 12.

SSecond Preferred Embodiment In a second preferred embodiment of a cricket bat 00 5 enhancing system, substantially the entire rear face of the 1^ In blade 22 of a cricket bat 20 is provided with a performance In enhancing laminated layer 24 as shown in Figure 7. The layer o 24 may be of any suitable material, including plastics and ci carbon fibre composites for example, which may be moulded to conform to the shape of the rear face of the blade.

The thickness, composition and weight of the layer may be chosen depending on the enhancement effect that is desired. Thus on the one hand for example, for increasing the striking force of the bat, the layer may add some significant weight to that of a standard bat. On the other hand the layer may be of a very thin and lightweight composition so that, while strengthening the bat against splitting, the layer causes no appreciable change in the striking force of the bat.

Yet other compositions of layers are envisaged which change the behaviour of* the bat in ways other than increasing the striking force.. Thus a layer may be formulated to reduce the vibration transmitted to the COMS ID No: SBMI-01464636 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:34 Date 2005-09-02 Mop. 2005 15:31 2.3vW 2a0 153 WaI i ngt o r D u m r S Yd n e Yo293 P N o 2 0 9 3 P 1 tt~) 12 handle, and therefore to the hand* of a batsman, when a ball is struck with the bat.

o Any of the layers which may be added to the rear face of a cricket bat may ser-ve an additional function to those 00 5 outlined above; that is the layer may add a distinctive appearance to the bat. This may simply be some decorative In pattern or colour, but may also take the form of advertising o indicia, for example the insignia or logo of a sponsoring organization.- In each of the examples of performance enhancing layers described in this second embodiment of the invention, the layers are adhesively applied to at least a portion of the rear face of a cricket bat. The adhesives used may vary depending on, the intended enhancement effect, thus for is example, particularly where the intention is to dampen vibration, a relatively thick and flexible adhesive layer may be applied.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01464636 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:34 Date 2005-09-02

Claims (14)

1. A method for providing enhanced performance characteristics of a cricket bat; said method including the steps of: preparing a laminating layer of mouldable material, 00 0 selecting a suitable adhesive compound, applying said adhesive compound and said laminating layer to at least a lower N portion of a rear face of said cricket bat.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said enhanced performance characteristics include an increased striking force of said cricket bat.

3. The method of claim I wherein said enhanced performance characteristics include a reduced tendency to splitting of said cricket bat.

4. The method of claim I wherein said enhanced performance characteristics include a reduced transmission of vibration to the hands of a user when a ball is struck by said cricket bat.

The method of claim I wherein said enhanced performance characteristics include a decorative effect.

6. The method of claim I wherein said enhanced performance characteristics include display of promotional material.

7. A layer adapted for adhesive application, when used on at least a portion of a rear face of a cricket bat; said layer adapted to enhancing performance of said cricket bat.

8. The layer of claim 7 wherein said layer is plastic.

9. The layer of claim 7 wherein said layer is a carbon composite.

The layer of claim 7 wherein said layer is a graphite composite.

11. The layer of any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein said layer adds a weight of between I and 20 grams to the weight of a standard cricket bat.

12. The layer of any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein said layer adds a weight of between 1 and 50 grams to the weight of a standard cricket bat.

13. The layer of any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein said layer adds a weight of between I and 100 grams to the weight of a standard cricket bat. I14 O

14. The method is claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said at least a lower z portion of a rear face of said cricket bat includes that portion of the rear face of the cricket bat which is directly behind a sweet spot of said cricket bat. A layer as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 13 wherein said layer is used on a that portion of the rear face of said cricket bat which is directly behind a sweet spot of 0 said cricket bat.