JP2005131390A - Protective bat cover - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent bats from being mutually damaged by colliding with each other, in a protective cover of a baseball bat. <P>SOLUTION: This cover protects a baseball bat or a body part of the other structure, and is desirably constituted of an elastic rubber material such as a neoprene. Thus, the cover has capacity for adapting its shape when inserting the bat, and can be used for bats of various sizes. Since the cover is made of a waterproof material, visibility of a printed matter can be maximized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The field of the invention relates to protective covers for bats, such as baseball or softball bats.

  Bats used for baseball, softball, etc. are generally made of metal or wood. Thus, the bat can be damaged by prolonged exposure to sunlight, heat, moisture, and general bad weather. Bat life can also be shortened by careless handling by the individual using the bat. Improper storage of multiple bats together or hitting a variety of other objects can cause, for example, grooved scratches, cuts, prunes (in the case of wooden bats), and scratches.

  Several protection products for bats are well known. However, these products are typically large, heavy and difficult to carry carrying cases and bags, many of which are designed to house several bats at once. In particular, the bat bag has a drawback that a plurality of stored bats may collide with each other and be damaged. Such products may also be undesirable for individuals looking for a protective bat cover that is lightweight, flexible, and can be quickly and easily attached to and removed from a single bat.

  There are these and other drawbacks.

Summary of the Invention

  The present invention, which solves the problems in the art described above, relates to a bat or other structural protective cover. The cover is preferably made from an elastic rubber material such as neoprene. Other materials may be utilized as detailed below.

  One of the benefits provided by a protective bat cover is that it is lightweight, flexible, easy to use, and can be quickly and easily attached to and removed from a bat or similar object.

  A further advantage of the protective bat cover over other known bat covers is its long life because it is made of a material that is highly resistant to harmful environmental elements.

  A further advantage of the protective bat cover is the ability to protect the bat's body (or other parts) from harmful environmental conditions as well as damage caused by inadvertent contact with various other objects.

  A further advantage of the protective bat cover is the ability to extend the range of temperatures that can be used without damaging the bat. In particular, metal baseball bats are known to be hard at low temperatures and often soft at high temperatures, changing properties. During these high and low temperature periods, the use of metal bats may make the bat susceptible to other types of damage such as dents and knocking. The protective bat cover made of neoprene is insulating and warms the bat at low temperatures and keeps the bat cool at high temperatures, reducing bat damage and extending the life of the bat.

  A further advantage of the protective bat cover is the ability to adapt its shape to the bat when it is inserted, allowing it to be used with bats of various sizes. The ability of neoprene to stretch as well as the “memory peculiarity” allows the protective bat cover to be easily attached and removed from a bat having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the cover.

  A further advantage of the protective bat cover is that it is easy to attach the cover to the bat and is provided with a fixing mechanism that can be attached relatively firmly to the bat.

  A further advantage of the protective bat cover is the adaptive ability to maximize the visibility of various logos or graphics printed on the cover. The surface area of the protective cover is such that the display of the team name, company name, team logo, figure, or other design is noticeable, especially when the protective cover is viewed from a distance.

  A further advantage of the protective bat cover is the provision of a finger strap and / or attachment mechanism secured to the closed end of the protective bat cover. To make it easier to remove the protective bat cover from the bat, the user only needs to grasp and pull the finger strap. Finger straps can also be used for a wide variety of other purposes. The attachment mechanism can be easily and quickly fixed so that clips, hooks, rings, clasps, or protective covers can be removed from many objects, such as dugouts and fences in or around the stadium. Well-known mechanisms can be included.

  A further advantage of the protective bat cover is that a shoulder strap is provided to allow the user to easily carry the protective cover (and / or bat).

  A further advantage of the protective bat cover is the ability to function as a resistance device (eg, a load protective butt cover) for training or other purposes in certain embodiments. According to one embodiment, a retaining strap is attached to the protective bat cover so that the user can swing the bat (with the protective cover fixed) to simulate resistance, and any number of replaceable weights (eg, , The load rod) can be fixed in place. At that time, the player (or user) can perform one or more swings while continuing to protect the bat from damage.

  In an alternative embodiment, strength training can also be performed via a retention pouch attached to a protective bat cover that can securely hold various interchangeable weights of various shapes and / or sizes.

  A further advantage of the protective bat cover is that a drawstring is provided at or near the open end of the cover to facilitate securing the cover to the bat.

  The objects, configurations, and effects of the present invention described above will be apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. Also, the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

  The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are referred to by like numerals.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

  As used herein, “bat” is a term used to refer to any baseball bat, softball bat, or other article having a similar structure used in a recreational or non-recreational field or elsewhere. In general, it can be said that the bat consists of a grip part and a body part. And embodiment of this invention aims at protecting one or both of a grip part and a trunk | drum part.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a protective bat cover 10 secured to the body portion 8 of the bat 6. According to one aspect of the present invention, when the cover 10 is used, it can be quickly and easily attached to and detached from the body portion 8 (or other structure) of the bat 6. Preferably, the cover 10 is made of an elastic rubber material such as neoprene. Since one of the advantages of neoprene is the ability to fit tightly to the shape of the fuselage, the cover 10 can be used with bats of various sizes, ensuring that the bat fits securely and securely when attached to the bat. Neoprene has the ability to retain the “memory” of the fuselage shape in addition to the shrinkage capability, allowing the protective bat cover to be easily fixed and removed from a bat having a diameter slightly larger than the cover diameter. .

  Neoprene is more weather resistant than less elastic materials such as plastic, leather, nylon, etc., which are prone to cracking, swelling and other adverse effects. Thus, the protective bat cover can widen the temperature range in which it can be used without damaging the bat. For example, baseball metal bats are known to be hard at low temperatures and soft at high temperatures, changing properties. The use of bats during these high and low temperature periods increases the possibility of other types of damage such as dents and knocking. The protective bat cover made of neoprene has an insulating property and has a function of warming the bat at a low temperature and cooling the bat at a high temperature. Neoprene is a suitable material for practicing the present invention, but any similar material with the desired properties can be used. For example, synthetic leather, various vinyls, vinyl cover foam, nylon cover foam, or other material cover foam may be utilized.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the protective bat cover 10 is assembled by cutting one piece of material into two general shapes illustrated in FIG. The first piece of material 12 is preferably cut into a rectangular cylinder having a first generally straight edge 12a and a second generally straight edge 12b as a whole. The first and second edges (12a, 12b) are folded together in the general direction illustrated by the arrows A and B. When the first and second edges (12a, 12b) are bound or otherwise fastened to form the seam 14, the first piece of material 12 forms a hollow tubular casing having two open ends. . The second piece of material 16 is preferably cut into a circular shape, then bound or otherwise fastened to the open end 13 of the first piece of material 12, one closed end and one open end (or open end). Part) 18 is formed. Such a cover is illustrated in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the shapes of the first material piece 12 and the second material piece 16 are typical of a shape group to be joined to form the protective cover 10. Any orientation, geometrical description, or configuration of the pieces of material described or illustrated is merely exemplary and thus not limiting. Further, the protective cover 10 can be manufactured using only one piece of material or many pieces of material using any known manufacturing technique or manufacturing method. As described and illustrated herein, it is known to one of ordinary skill in the art to bind, glue, or stitch together one or more pieces of material in a wide variety of ways to achieve a protective bat cover. It will be acknowledged.

  A material such as neoprene is ideal because it has the ability to closely fit the shape of the fuselage, but it is secured to the cover 10 such as hook and loop fasteners (commonly known as Velcro). It may be desirable to provide a mechanism. As shown in FIG. 2, the strip of hook or loop material 22 can be either bound or otherwise fastened to the first piece of material 12. The strap 20 can be fastened to the edge of the first piece of material containing either hook or loop material, depending on the type of material provided on the strip 22. If the strip 22 contains a hook material, for example, the strap 20 is preferably made of a loop material, and if the strip 22 contains a loop material, the strap 20 is preferably made of a hook material. 1 and 4-6 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention using a hook-and-loop fastener. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), a strip with a button-snap or other securing mechanism may be used. Some embodiments do not include a securing mechanism.

  To use the protective cover 10, the user slides the body portion 8 of the bat 6 into the opening 18 of the cover and then covers the cover, preferably as much as possible to the body of the bat. Then, the strap 20 is fastened to the strip 22, and the cover can be further fixed by the bat. As shown in FIG. 3, there is a wide area on the cover 10 that makes the logo or graphic stand out.

  In the foregoing embodiment, the first and second edges (12a, 12b) of the first piece of material 12 are bound or otherwise fastened to form a seam 14 that extends the entire length of the cover. did. In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the first and second edges (12a, 12b) are fastened and a seam 14 that extends only partially along the length of the cover 10. And leave a crack extending below the opening 18. Providing a crack in the lower part of the cover 10 facilitates the process of attaching the cover to the bat. For example, if the user grasps and pulls one or both of the two edges (12a, 12b) of the crack, it is easy to attach the cover to the bat. Moreover, since the two edges (12a, 12b) can be overlapped with each other when the two edges are pulled tightly by providing a crack, the cover 10 is relatively firmly attached to the bat.

  FIG. 6 shows the first piece of material 12 cut into a shape having a round or other shaped first tab 24 extending from the second edge 12b and a round or other extending from the first edge 12a. The shape has the shape of the second tab 26 (shown by the dotted line in FIG. 6). Similar to the previous embodiment, the first and second edges (12a, 12b) are fastened to form a seam 14 that extends only partially along the length of the cover 10 and extends to the opening 18. Leave a crack. When the "Velcro" (trade name) fixing strap 20 is attached to the tab 24 and the two tabs are tightly pulled and fastened, the two tabs can be overlapped with each other in the deflected position, so that the cover 10 is further fixed by the bat. It becomes possible. In an alternative embodiment, there are one or both of tab 24 and tab 26.

  An embodiment of the protective cover 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, but there are various alternatives. For example, in FIG. 7, the protective cover 10 is shown extending along the entire length of the bat 6. While a view with zipper stop 28 is shown, various closure mechanisms may be used, including but not limited to a series of “Velcro” ™ straps or button-snaps.

  FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment where the protective cover does not include a securing mechanism. To be precise, the cover 10 fastens the first and second edges (12a, 12b) as described in detail above to form a seam 14 that extends only partially along the length of the cover 10. And leave a crack extending to the opening 18. Providing a split facilitates the process of attaching the cover to the bat when the user grabs and pulls one or both of the two edges (12a, 12b) of the split.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the protective cover 10 can be provided without the need for either a fixing mechanism or a split extending into the opening 18.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 9, a finger strap 40 that can be fixed to the closed end (the opposite end of the opening end 18) of the cover 10 can be provided. The finger strap 40 can be bound to the closed end of the cover 10, glued, stitched, or otherwise fastened using any suitable manufacturing technique. According to one exemplary embodiment, the second piece of material 16 (FIG. 2), preferably cut into a circle, is bound to the open end 13 of the first piece of material 12 or otherwise as described above. When fastened, the cover 10 can be formed by fixing the finger strap 40 at a predetermined position. In order to make it easy to remove the cover 10 from the bat, the user may grasp the finger strap 40 and pull it. The finger strap 40 also provides a loop for hanging the cover 10 on a target (eg, nail, nail, fence post, etc.) whether or not the cover 10 is being used to protect the bat. Can be used for a wide variety of other purposes including, but not limited to.

  In addition to the finger strap 40, in certain embodiments, the cover 10 can be provided with an attachment mechanism 60. The attachment mechanism 60 can be fixed to a strap 50 extending from the cover 10. Similar to the finger strap 40 described above, the strap 50 may be bound to the closed end of the cover 10, glued, stitched, or otherwise fastened using any suitable manufacturing technique. It is also possible. Although shown as a fastener in FIG. 9, the attachment mechanism 60 can also be easily and quickly removed from the hook, ring (for example, key holder), clasp, or cover 10 in a dug-out or a fence in or around the stadium. Any other known mechanism that can be secured to any number of targets such as. In certain embodiments, the cover 10 can include one or both of the finger strap 40 and the strap 50 or the attachment mechanism 60. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the attachment mechanism 60 can be attached directly to the finger strap 40 anywhere along the finger strap 40 or directly to the strap attached to the finger strap 40. Other configurations may be used.

  According to yet another embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 10, the protective cover 10 may further comprise a shoulder strap 70 so that the user can easily carry the cover 10 and / or the bat 6. The shoulder strap 70 is bound near the closed end of the cover 10, glued, glued, stitched or otherwise fastened, and the open end 18 of the cover 10. And a second end that can be glued, glued, stitched, or otherwise fastened. In certain implementations, a clasp 72 can be provided that allows the shoulder strap 70 to be fed and the length of the shoulder strap 70 to be adjusted and customized for different users (as is well known and appreciated by those skilled in the art. As if).

  According to the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11A, the first end of the shoulder strap 70 can be bound, glued, stitched or otherwise fastened near the closed end of the cover 10. You can also On the other hand, the second end of the shoulder strap 70 can be fixed to a grip attachment 80 which is wound around and fixed to the grip portion of the bat 6. As shown in FIG. 11B, the grip attachment 80 can be joined via a surface fastener, button-snap, or other suitable attachment mechanism that securely fastens the grip attachment 80 to the grip portion of the bat 6. A fabric strip having one end 82 and a second end 84 or any other suitable material may be included.

  Cover 10 can also serve as a resistance device for use in training or other purposes in certain embodiments, in addition to the numerous benefits that cover 10 protects the bat. For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, the retaining strap 90 can be bound to the cover 10 along the entire length or a portion of the cover 10, glued, glued, stitched, or otherwise fastened. You can also. The retaining strap 90 can secure the weight 100 (eg, load rod) in place so that the user can simulate resistance by swinging the bat (with the cover 10 secured). At that time, the player (or user) can perform one or more swings while continuing to protect the bat from damage. In various embodiments, various lengths and / or weights of interchangeable rods may be secured with the retaining strap 90.

  In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the retaining strap 90 can be any number of bends 92 of any length of material secured along its length to a support strip 94 (eg, FIGS. 12A and 12B). Therefore, the rod 100 can be attached to a predetermined place by forming a groove. The support strip 94 can extend (and stick) along the entire length of the cover 10 or along only a portion of the cover 10. The series of bend pieces 92 may be spaced along the support strip 94 so that the rod 100 is exposed upon insertion. This is because the user can guide the rod 100 with his / her finger when inserting or removing the rod 100.

  In one implementation, the end 93 of the bent piece 92 disposed near the closed end of the cover 10 is supported to prevent the rod 100 from slipping off the retaining strap 90 when the user swings the bat. It can be fixed to the strip 94. Another attachment mechanism (for example, a hook-and-loop fastener) may be attached along the holding strap 90 and the rod 100 may be fixed in the formed groove.

  The retaining strap 90 can be integrally formed with the seam 14 during assembly or can be disposed along the entire length or a portion of the cover 10 at any location. In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12C, the retaining strap 90 does not use an intermediary support strip 94, and does not use any number of bends 92 of any length of material attached directly to the cover 10. May be included. Other configurations may be used.

  According to one embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B, it is alternatively designed to house and secure various interchangeable weights (not shown) of various shapes and / or sizes. Muscle training (muscle training) can also be performed via the holding pouch 110. Retaining pouch 110 includes a piece of material in the shape of a square cylinder or other shape having two opposing (longitudinal) edges (112a, 112b) and two opposing (widthwise) ends (112c, 112d). Can do. The opposing end 112c can be fixed to the cover 10, and the opposing edges (112a, 112b) can be fixed to the cover 10 along their full length or substantially full length. Since each of the opposing edges (112a, 112b) closest to the opposing end 112d cannot be fixed to the cover 10, the holding pouch 110 is folded back at the end 112d in the direction shown by the arrow “B”. Is possible. When a portion of the hook and / or loop fastener (face fastener) is affixed to the underside of the end 112, it can be joined to the hook and / or loop fastener strip 114 secured to the cover 10 in a direction parallel to the end 112. it can. When the end 112 is folded back in the direction illustrated by the arrow “A”, the hook and / or loop fastener affixed to the underside of the end 112 joins with the hook and / or loop fastener of the strip 114 to securely close the pouch. It becomes like this.

  When holding pouch 110 is closed (FIG. 13B), one or more replaceable weights are held in place so that the user can swing the bat (with cover 10 attached) to simulate resistance. can do. At that time, the player (or user) can perform one or more swings while continuing to protect the bat from damage.

  According to some embodiments, the diameter of the cover 10 is slightly larger than the diameter of some bats. Thus, in certain implementations, the cover 10 may include a drawstring stop at the open end 18 to facilitate securing the cover 10 to the bat. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the drawstring 154 is positioned along the open end 18 of the cover 10 (eg, along the outer periphery of the open end 18) or near the open end 18 of the cover 10. It can be passed through the formed drawstring ring 150. Once the cover 10 is fixed to the bat 6 by pulling the pull string 154, the pull string 154 is fixed at a predetermined place (a specific place) using a tightening mechanism 156 (as recognized by those skilled in the art). can do. Other drawstring configurations and / or tightening mechanisms may be utilized.

  According to one implementation of the present invention, one or more securing straps 164 can be provided to facilitate securing the cover 10 to the bat 6, as illustrated in FIG. As described above with respect to FIGS. 12A-12C and FIGS. 13A and 13B, providing one or more securing straps 164 may be useful, for example, when weighting the cover 10. If the user swings a bat with a weighted cover for strength training or other purposes, the one or more securing straps 164 will normally be able to remove those forces that may have been removed from the cover. ) So that part (or all) of the cover is not removed. According to one embodiment, the straps 164 can be made from an elastic material or any other number of materials, with any number of straps 164 oriented along the outer periphery of the open end 18 of the cover 10. It can be fixed to the cover 10 at any number of combined connection points 168. The strap 164 can be permanently affixed to the cover 60 at a connection point 168 (eg, bound location) or can be secured via a removable connection mechanism (eg, double clip, Velcro, etc.). One or more straps 164 may extend along the grip portion of the bat 6 to be permanently fixed, or may be fixed to the ring 160 disposed near the grip of the bat 6 at the grip end. Is possible. The ring 160 may be an elastic ring that extends to the grip knob of the bat 6, for example, a ring similar to the grip attachment 80 as previously described and illustrated in detail in FIG. 11B. Other configurations may be used. Some embodiments utilize one or more straps 164 even when the cover 10 is not weighted.

  The various embodiments described and illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings are not limiting. As such, in various embodiments, the protective bat cover can include, for example, a locking mechanism, a split seam that extends into the open end of the generally tubular casing, a logo, a finger strap and / or attachment mechanism, a shoulder strap, a replacement Does not include any combination or any combination of any one or more of the functions disclosed in the present invention, such as possible weights (for strength training or other applications), drawstrings, or fixation straps Can do.

  Other embodiments, uses, and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This specification is purely typical, and therefore the scope of the present invention is defined by the content of the claims.

1 illustrates a protective bat cover for receiving a body of a bat according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 illustrates the shapes of various components that make up a protective bat cover during assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 illustrates a protective bat cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 illustrates a protective bat cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 illustrates a protective bat cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 illustrates a protective bat cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 illustrates a protective bat cover for receiving a bat according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 illustrates a protective bat cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 illustrates a protective bat cover having a finger strap and an attachment mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 illustrates a protective bat cover having a shoulder strap according to an embodiment of the present invention. A illustrates a protective bat cover having a shoulder strap according to an embodiment of the present invention, and B illustrates a grip attachment according to an embodiment of the present invention. A through C illustrate various aspects of a holding strap secured to a protective bat cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. A and B illustrate various aspects of a holding pouch secured to a protective bat cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. A and B illustrate a protective bat cover having a drawstring stop according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 illustrates a protective bat cover having a fixing strap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (19)

A substantially tubular casing made of an elastic rubber material and having an open end for introducing the body portion of the bat when the bat is inserted into the substantially tubular casing, and a closed end which is in contact with the body portion of the bat;
Partially extends from the closed end of the generally tubular casing along the length of the generally tubular casing, separates and extends from the closest proximity of the open end of the generally tubular casing to the open end of the generally tubular casing. A protective cover for baseball or softball bats that consists of seams that form cracks.   The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the elastic rubber material is made of neoprene.   The protective cover according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing device attached to the substantially tubular casing adjacent to an open end adapted to fix the protective cover to the body portion of the bat.   The protective cover of claim 1, further comprising a finger strap having two ends secured to the generally tubular casing to form a loop.   The protective cover according to claim 4, further comprising an attachment mechanism fixed to the finger strap.   The protective cover of claim 1, further comprising a finger strap having two ends secured to the closed end of the generally tubular casing to form a loop.   The protective cover according to claim 6, further comprising an attachment mechanism fixed to the finger strap.   The protective cover according to claim 1, further comprising an attachment mechanism fixed to the substantially tubular casing at a position near the closed end of the substantially tubular casing.   The protective cover according to claim 1, further comprising an attachment mechanism fixed to a strap fixed to the substantially tubular casing at a position near the closed end of the substantially tubular casing.   The protective cover according to claim 8, wherein the attachment mechanism further comprises at least one of a clip, a ring, and a clasp.   Further, a first end that is fixed to the substantially tubular casing at a position near the closed end of the substantially tubular casing, and a second end that is fixed to the substantially tubular casing at a position near the open end of the substantially tubular casing. The protective cover according to claim 1, comprising a shoulder strap that can be adjusted in length.   And a first end fixed to the substantially tubular casing at a position near the closed end of the substantially tubular casing, and a second end fixed to a grip attachment adapted to be fixed to the grip portion of the bat. The protective cover according to claim 1, comprising a shoulder strap whose length can be adjusted.   The grip attachment is suitable for being wound and fixed around the grip portion of the bat, and comprises a strip of material having a first end and a second end joined via a hook-and-loop fastener. The protective cover according to claim 12.   The protective cover of claim 1, further comprising a resistance device secured to the generally tubular casing for simulating resistance during swing training.   The resistance device comprises a holding strap that is secured to the generally tubular casing substantially along the length of the generally tubular casing and that houses and secures one of a plurality of interchangeable weights. The protective cover according to claim 14.   The protective cover according to claim 15, wherein the replaceable weight comprises a load rod.   15. The protective cover according to claim 14, wherein the resistance device comprises a holding pouch that is fixed to the substantially tubular casing and that houses and fixes one of a plurality of replaceable weights.   The protective cover according to claim 1, further comprising a drawstring stopper disposed near the opening end of the substantially tubular casing to facilitate fixing the protective cover to the bat.   The protective cover according to claim 18, wherein the drawstring stopper is formed of a drawstring passed through a drawstring ring formed along an outer periphery of the open end of the substantially tubular casing.

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