GB2391486A

GB2391486A - Sports bat handle

Info

Publication number: GB2391486A
Application number: GB0218520A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy William Keeley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-09
Filing date: 2002-08-09
Publication date: 2004-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-09
Also published as: GB0218520D0; GB2391486B

Abstract

A sports bat, for example a cricket bat (1) has a striking portion or blade (2). In a central position to the top of the striking portion (2) is a generally frusto-conically shaped socket (3). Extending from the socket (3) is the handle of the invention which comprises a core piece of graphite or composite. The core comprises an end portion (4) which mates with and is secured into the socket (3), and an elongate rod-like portion (5). As shown, the core is made of a single piece of core material having a hollow centre. Surrounding the elongate portion (5) of the handle is a foam bed (6) which may, optionally, form the outer, gripping portion of the handle. Optionally, (but not shown) a sheath of another material may be provided on the whole or part of the foam bed (6) to improve gripping or protect the foam (6) from damage.

Description

SPORTS BAT HANDLE:

This invention relates to sports bats such as founders bats, baseball bats and cricket bats, which comprise generally of an elongate striking surface from which extends a handle. The invention is more particularly directed to the handle of such a bat. It has long been recognised that, in order to optimise performance in ball hitting sports equipment, the design of the equipment must provide strength and rigidity to transfer impact to the ball, yet must be light enough for the user to aim and swing. The equipment designer's difficulty is that strength and rigidity are typically characteristic of heavy materials such as steels, which are far too heavy for the average sports person to swing.

Materials which have been found to provide a compromise solution to this problem are wood, aluminium and more latterly fibre-reinforced composites. In the latter two cases, handles are often formed as hollow moulded pieces. Attention has also been directed to the structure, as well as the material content of equipment. This has resulted in the use of laminated materials. It will be understood that the more complex the materials and structure of equipment become, the more costly the equipment is to manufacture and the less available the end product is to the general public.

The present invention aims to provide a simple, low cost sports bat handle which provides a good feel and enables all users to achieve good performance, irrespective of their size and weight. The invention also aims to provide other advantages including improved user safety.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a sports bat handle comprising an elongate core of graphite or carbon fibre reinforced composite a first end of which is configured to be receivable into a socket provided in a top end of the

striking portion of a sports bat, the elongate core being enclosed substantially along its entire length (but excluding the first end) in a bed of foam.

The elongate core is desirably substantially rod shaped and may be hollow or solid, and may be comprised of a single piece or a laminate. The core may be differently shaped, for example a truncated cone, with slightly angled sides. The outer surface of the core which is enclosed by the bed of foam may have a castellated ridged or otherwise uneven surface so as to assist in securing the bed of foam around the core.

The foam may, optionally, enclose the second end of the core.

The bed of foam may itself form the gripping surface of the handle, or optionally may be sheathed in a non-rigid gripping material, such as a rubber. The bed of foam may be secured to the rod by any conventional means mechanical fastening, bonding with adhesive or simply the provision of a roughened surface on the core to anchor the foam in position.

When the handle of the invention is incorporated into a sports bat, the core provides the strength and rigidity needed to transfer the force in the swing to a ball.

The bed of foam provides bulk to the handle so that it is more easy to grip and also provides a relatively soft and comfortable grip relative to conventionally used, harder handle materials such as cane, metal or composites. Both the core and foam materials are lightweight enabling the overall weight of the bat to be kept low and/or the overall size of the bat to made bigger.

One safety advantage of the foamed enclosure of the handle is that it provides a relatively soft surface into which a person's fingers may sink if a misdirected ball impacts the person's fingers as they swing to hit the ball. This may significantly reduce the incidence of serious finger injury such as fracture or breakage in playing ball games. Optionally, the first end of the core may be enlarged or otherwise differently

shaped to the remainder of the core so as to enable it to be retrofitted into existing sockets conventionally provided in the striking portion of sports bats for the receipt of, for example, cane shafts. The first end is desirably adhesively bonded or otherwise securely fastened into the socket of the striking portion of the bat.

The inventors have found that cricket bats made in accordance with the invention can be reduced in weight by 3-4 ounces (25g) compared to prior art cane

handled bats. This capacity to reduce weight can be utilised in the manufacture of high performance bats for smaller, traditionally less strong users such as women or children.

The nature of graphite and carbon fibre reinforced composites is such that they have a small degree of flexibility combined with high strength and good rigidity. This has been previously used to good effect in golf club shafts to provide increased power in a swing resulting in greater transfer of energy when the club strikes the ball. A more efficient ball strike is expected to result from sports bats fitted with the handle of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the handle need not only be retrofitted to existing sports bats but may be incorporated into new bats at time of manufacture. Accordingly, in a second aspect, the invention provides a sports bat comprising a striking portion and a handle, the handle comprising an elongate core of graphite or carbon fibre reinforced composite a first end of which is fitted into a socket provided in a top end of the striking portion of the sports bat, the elongate core being enclosed substantially along its entire length (but excluding the first end) in a bed of foam.

The sports bat may be for any sport but desirably is a cricket bat, a baseball bat or a founders bat.

For the purposes of exemplification, an embodiment of the invention will now be further described with reference to the Figures in which;

Figure I shows a longitudinal cross section of a cricket bat incorporating a handle in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows an alternative cross sectional view of the bat shown in Figure I viewed from line A-A as marked in Figure 1.

As can be seen from Figure I, a cricket bat, generally designated lhas a striking portion or blade 2. In a central position to the top of the striking portion 2 is a generally cylindrically shaped socket 3. Extending from the socket 3 is the handle of the invention which comprises a core piece of graphite or composite as previously described. The core comprises an end portion 4, which mates with and is secured into the socket 3, and an elongate rod-like portion 5. As shown, the core is made of a single piece of core material having a hollow centre. Surrounding the elongate portion 5 of the handle is a foam bed 6 which may, optionally form the outer, gripping portion of the handle. Optionally, (but not shown) a sheath of another material may be provided on the whole or part of the foam bed 6 to improve gripping or protect the foam 6 from damage. Figure 2 shows a view of the bat of Figure 1 through the line A-A as marked in Figure 1. As can be seen, the handle has a generally circular cross section with its centre coincident with the centre-line of the striking portion of the bat.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is merely exemplary of one embodiment of the invention, others of which will no doubt occur to the skilled artisan without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

s CLAIMS

1. A sports bat handle comprising an elongate core of graphite or carbon fibre reinforced composite a first end of which is configured to be receivable into a socket provided in a top end of the striking portion of a sports bat, the elongate core being enclosed substantially along its entire length (but excluding the first end) in a bed of foam.

2. A sports bat handle as claimed in claim I wherein the core is hollow.

3. A sports bat handle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the core comprises a laminate

4. A sports bat handle as claimed in any of claims lto 3 wherein the bed of foam encloses the second end of the elongate core.

5. A sports bat handle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a sheath is provided around all or part of the bed of foam.

6. A sports bat handle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first end of the core may be enlarged or otherwise differently shaped to the remainder of the core.

7. A sports bat handle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the foam is bonded to the core with an adhesive.

8. A sports bat handle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein foam is mechanically fastened to the core.

9. A sports bat comprising a striking portion and a handle, the handle

comprising an elongate core of graphite or carbon fibre reinforced composite a first end of which is fitted into a socket provided in a top end of the striking portion of the sports bat, the elongate core being enclosed substantially along its entire length (but excluding the first end) in a bed of foam.

10. A sports bat as claimed in claim 9 wherein the handle is secured into the socket

I I. A sports bat handle as claimed in claim 10 wherein the handle is secured by adhesive bonding.

12. A sports bat as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11 wherein the sports bat is a cricket bat.

13. A sports bat as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11 wherein the sports bat is a baseball bat.

14. A sports bat handle substantially as described herein and with reference to the Figures 1 and 2. -

15. A sports bat substantially as described herein and with reference to Figures 1 and 2.