WO2007012843A1

WO2007012843A1 - Cricket bat

Info

Publication number: WO2007012843A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/002780
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicholas Gray
Original assignee: Grays Of Cambridge (International) Limited
Priority date: 2005-07-25
Filing date: 2006-07-25
Publication date: 2007-02-01
Also published as: GB2428585A; GB2428585B; GB0515243D0

Abstract

A cricket bat has a hollow handle (2) of tubular form produced by a moulding process with the wall (4) comprising a resin bonded fibre, preferably carbon fibre. The splice joint portion (3) may be solid fibre reinforced resin as shown. Located within the hollow handle is a solid rubber bung (5) which is force fitted by pressure down the interior of the handle to a predefined position. The upper end of the handle may be closed by a second force fitted bung or plug (6). Additional bungs may be included to vary the characteristics of the handle and bat combination. The handle is light in weight with good energy transfer and reduced vibration and 'ringing' with improved noise reduction.

Description

Cricket Bat

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a cricket bat.

Background to the Invention

Traditionally, a cricket bat comprises a generally rectangular elongate blade part of solid wood, usually willow, and a handle of cane secured to the blade by means of a tapering splice joint. The cane handle incorporates a layer or layers of a rubber or cork material forming a laminated assembly which is intended to suppress vibration when the ball is struck. The vibration suppression avoids undue discomfort to the batsman's hands during play.

It is desirable for the handle of a cricket bat to be light in order that as much as possible of the batsman's effort in swinging the bat is transferred to the ball. However, the handle must also have sufficient structural stiffness to transmit the maximum amount of energy from the batsman's hands to the blade of the bat and thus to the ball.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with this invention, viewed from a first aspect, there is provided a cricket bat comprising a wooden blade and a handle connected to the blade by a joint. The handle comprises a hollow shaft formed from a fibre-reinforced plastics material moulded integrally with a joint part at the distal end of the shaft. The joint part engages a complimentary formation of the wooden blade to form the joint. The handle further comprises a cap of resilient material receiving the proximal end of the hollow handle remote from the blade of the bat.

Thus, according to this aspect of the invention, a traditional cane handle can be replaced with a hollow plastics handle which includes a joint part as an integrally moulded part of the handle. In this way, the mechanical connection between the handle and the blade is provided by the interengagement of the complimentary joint parts. The integral moulding of the joint part and the handle shaft provides a strong connection between the handle shaft and the blade of the bat for excellent energy transfer and the hollow handle shaft provides a light construction of the handle. The moulded plastics handle may provide a single component that completely replaces the traditional cane handle while maintaining performance that is at least as good as the traditional bat construction.

The handle is formed from a fibre-reinforced plastics material, for example a carbon and/or glass fibre reinforced plastics material. In general, the plastics material is a resin, such as a thermosetting resin, which is set or cured during moulding to form the handle. Thus, the plastics material may be an epoxy resin, for example. The material of the handle may comprise poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, e.g. "KEVLAR" (a registered Trade Mark) bonded with a thermosetting resin, for example.

By providing a fibre composite handle, such as a carbon fibre composite handle, the handle can, if desired, be lighter and have greater stiffness than a traditional cane handle. The provision of a resilient, for example rubber or elastomer, cap on the proximal end of the handle has been found to be effective in absorbing the vibration of the handle to ensure that the composite handle has an appropriate level of comfort for the batsman. The cap may be a friction fit on the end of the handle.

The joint part of the handle may be received within a complimentary formation in the blade of the bat. For example, the joint may take the form of a traditional splice joint. In this case, the joint part tapers towards the distal end of the handle and the blade has a complimentary V-shaped recess formed therein to receive the joint part. Adhesive may be used to secure the joint. In this way, the mechanical connection between the handle and the blade of the bat is provided solely by the bonding of the joint part to the blade.

However, because the handle is moulded from plastics material which can have a greater resistance to shear forces in the longitudinal direction of the handle, it is not necessary for a traditional splice joint to be used. Thus, the joint may be of an interlocking type using, for example, a dovetail connection or spigot and socket arrangement. In this case, the complimentary recess in the blade need not extend right through the depth of the blade, which means that the blade can be formed with a continuous wooden surface across substantially the entire ball-facing area of the blade. If the complimentary recess in the blade does extend to the ball facing surface, a wooden panel may be inset in the surface of the blade to cover the joint part of the handle.

An exemplary method for the manufacture of the handle according to the invention comprises the steps of: a) laying-up a fibre reinforced resin material on the inside surface of a tubular mould; b) inserting an expandable bladder within the mould; c) expanding the bladder to press the resin against the inside surface of the mould; d) allowing the resin to cure; e) removing the handle thus formed from the mould.

The bladder may be expanded from a collapsed state by inflation with air or other gas media. In this method the mould includes the required internal shape to form the joint part.

In order further to suppress vibration of the handle in use, the handle may include a resilient component received in the hollow shaft of the handle. The resilient component may be a plug, for example of rubber or elastomer material. The plug may comprise solid natural or synthetic rubber, a plastics material, cork or a cork/rubber composite, for example. Conveniently, the plug may be a friction fit into the hollow shaft of the handle.

This feature has application beyond the field of cricket bats. Thus, viewed from a further aspect, the invention provides a striking implement, such as a cricket bat or hockey stick, comprising a handle formed from a hollow plastics material and at least one plug of resilient material received in the hollow handle. The provision of such a plug has been found to reduce vibration transmitted along the handle when the ball is struck by the bat or stick.

In general, the plug(s) of resilient material are substantially shorter in length than the handle. The location of the plug(s) may be selected to maximise vibration suppression. In one embodiment, a plug is provided at the proximal end of the handle, remote from the ball-striking surface of the implement. The plug may be formed with the cap to close the end of the hollow handle. A plug may be located between the proximal end of the handle and the striking surface of the implement. In the case of a cricket bat, the plug may be located between the proximal end of the handle and the joint with the blade of the bat. Alternatively, or in addition, a plug may be provided proximate the striking surface of the implement. In the case of a cricket bat, the plug may be located proximate the joint with the blade of the bat. A plurality of plugs may be provided at discrete spaced locations within the handle.

For comfort and/or grip, the handle may covered or wrapped with a suitable covering, such as a rubber or synthetic rubber material, a foam or the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings

This invention is further described and illustrated by means of an embodiment of this invention shown by way of example only in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an example of a cricket bat according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an alternative splice between the handle and blade of the bat;

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of a splice between the handle and blade of the bat; and

Figure 4 shows a cross-section through a modified handle.

Detailed Description of an Embodiment of the Invention

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a cricket bat comprises a blade 1 and a handle 2. The blade may be conventional and of wood, although it could equally be produced from a plastics or other suitable material. The handle is connected to the blade through a splice joint 3 arranged so that the handle is forced into the blade recess forming a tight interference fit and then bonded with adhesive.

The handle 2, in accordance with this invention is hollow and of tubular form preferably produced by a moulding process with the wall 4 comprising resin-bonded carbon fibre either laid as parallel fibres extending along the handle or as a woven fibre mat. The splice joint portion 3 may be solid fibre reinforced resin as shown.

Located within the hollow handle is a solid rubber bung 5 which is force fitted by pressure down the interior of the handle to a predefined position. This position is defined by the characteristics required of the handle and may be determined empirically by a simple trial carried out on the complete bat, i.e. "tuning" of the bat. The upper end of the handle may be closed by a second force fitted bung or plug 6 of which the external portion 7 is retroverted to extend over the outer periphery of this end of the handle, to form a cap Additional bungs may be included, such as that shown at 5a, to vary the characteristics of the handle and bat combination.

Figure 2 shows a modified splice connection 3 between the blade 1 and handle 2 wherein the connection is in the form of a dovetail. Other interlocking shapes may be used such as that shown in Figure 3.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section through a modification of the handle 2 wherein the wall 4 is provided with an integral internal web 4a extending longitudinally the length of the handle or, optionally, part of the length only. A plurality of such transverse webs may be provided. The web is generally perpendicular to the ball-striking surface of the bat.

Preferably the external surfaces of the handle 2 at the splice 3 will be roughened to establish a better connection with the blade 1. A wood panel may be located over the splice on the operative face of the bat blade and recessed to provide a flush surface if required. In a modification of this invention the handle may be filled with a rubber or foamed plasties composition or with polystyrene beads this may be additional to the use of the rubber bung or bungs or an as an alternative.

Although the specific embodiment relates to a cricket bat this invention is not limited in scope to such an article and the handle described herein may be used for diverse purposes. In some applications, such as a handle for a hockey stick, the handle may be integral with the shaft and striking portion to the extent that the whole implement may be a one piece moulding with the hand grip part embodying the features of this invention. Thus, viewed form a broad aspect, the invention provides a sports striking implement, such as a cricket bat or hockey stick, comprising a handle formed from a hollow plastics material and a cap of resilient material receiving the proximal end of the hollow handle remote from the ball- striking surface of the implement.

In summary, a cricket bat has a hollow handle of tubular form produced by a moulding process with the wall comprising a resin bonded fibre, preferably carbon fibre. The splice joint portion may be solid fibre reinforced resin as shown. Located within the hollow handle is a solid rubber bung which is force fitted by pressure down the interior of the handle to a predefined position. The upper end of the handle may be closed by a second force fitted bung or plug. Additional bungs may be included to vary the characteristics of the handle and bat combination. The handle is light in weight with good energy transfer and reduced vibration and "ringing" with improved noise reduction.

Claims

1. A cricket bat comprising a wooden blade and a handle connected to the blade by a joint, wherein the handle comprises: a hollow shaft formed from a fibre-reinforced plastics material moulded integrally with a joint part at the distal end of the shaft, the joint part engaging a complimentary formation of the wooden blade to form the joint; and a cap of resilient material receiving the proximal end of the hollow handle remote from the blade of the bat.

2. A cricket bat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the j oint part of the handle is received within a complimentary formation in the blade of the bat.

3. A cricket bat as claimed in claim 2, wherein the joint part tapers towards the distal end of the handle and the blade has a complimentary V-shaped recess formed therein to receive the joint part.

4. A cricket bat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle includes a resilient component received in the hollow shaft of the handle.

5. A cricket bat as claimed in claim 4, wherein the resilient component is a plug which is a friction fit in the hollow shaft of the handle.

6. A cricket bat or other striking implement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plug of resilient material is substantially shorter in length than the handle.