Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B59/00—Bats, rackets, or the like, not covered by groups A63B49/00 - A63B57/00
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
  • A63B60/54—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like with means for damping vibrations
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
  • A63B2102/18—Baseball, rounders or similar games
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B59/00—Bats, rackets, or the like, not covered by groups A63B49/00 - A63B57/00
  • A63B59/50—Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
  • A63B60/0081—Substantially flexible shafts; Hinged shafts

Definitions

• Two-piece or multi-piece ball bats were designed to reduce shock transmitted to a batter's hands during an "off-center,” or “non-sweet spot,” hit.
• the elastomeric isolation union is located between, and bonded to, an outer surface of the handle section and an inner surface of the barrel section.
• a multi-piece ball bat includes a first section including a hitting portion, and a second section including a handle portion.
• a flexible joint connects the first section to the second section.
• the flexible joint may be a structural joint, such as a spring member, a mechanical locking joint, or a pneumatic or hydraulic joint, or it may be a non-uniform and/or non-continuous elastomeric joint.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ball bat according to one embodiment.
• FIG- 2 is a sectional view of the ball bat of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3A is a sectional view of a transition region of a ball bat including a flexible spring joint.
• FIG. 3B is a sectional view of a transition region of a ball bat including an alternative flexible spring joint.
• FlG. 4A is a sectional view of a transition region of a ball bat including a pin joint.
• FIG. 4B is a sectional view of a transition region of a ball bat having a flexible joint including an axial locking member engaged with a realignment spring.
• FIG. 5A is a sectional view of a transition region of a ball bat including a pneumatic or hydraulic joint.
• FIG. 5B is a sectional view of a transition region of a ball bat including an alternative pneumatic or hydraulic joint.
• FIG. 6A is a sectional view of a transition region of a ball bat including a non-uniform, non-continuous elastomeric joint.
• FIG. 6B is a sectional view of a transition region of a ball bat including a non-uniform elastomeric joint.
• FIG. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of a ball bat 10 including a barrel 12 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16 closed by an end closure, such as an end cap 18.
• the end cap 18 may be attached via press fit or adhesive, or by threading, pinning, or by another suitable method.
• the end closure may alternatively be a roll over, for example, or any other suitable closure.
• the barrel includes a barrel taper segment 20 having a distal region 22 where the barrel transitions from a substantially frusto-conical configuration to a more generally cylindrical configuration, and a proximal end (which in the illustrated embodiment substantially corresponds with the proximal end 14 of the barrel 12) terminating at a transition region 26.
• the configuration of the barrel 12 may be modified, as desired, to incorporate greater or lesser taper.
• the ball bat 10 further includes a handle 24 beginning at a proximal end
• a knob 28 is attached to the proximal end 25 of the handle 24 via welding, or via another suitable connection, for example, via a threaded or pinned connection.
• the knob 28 may alternatively be unitary or otherwise integrated with the handle 24.
• the diameter of the handle 24 may be uniform, or substantially uniform, throughout its axial length, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A.
• the handle 24 may include a tapered or enlarged interference segment 30 extending into (and optionally beyond) the barrel taper segment 20.
• the handle interference segment 30 may have any suitable configuration. It may, for example, include one or more radially extending projections or flanges (not shown in the drawings) for preventing the handle 24 from sliding out of the proximal end 14 of the barrel 12.
• the inner surface of the barrel 12 or the barrel taper segment 20 may have any suitable configuration that is compatible or complementary with the outer surface of the handle 24 or the handle interference segment 30.
• a flexible connecting joint 36 connects the handle 24 to the barrel 12, and preferably isolates them to allow relative movement between the handle 24 and the barrel 12.
• the flexible connecting joint 36 may optionally be the only connection between the handle 24 and the barrel 12, or the handle 24 and the barrel 12 may be connected to each other by additional means, or at one or more additional locations.
• multiple flexible connecting joints 36 may optionally be included to connect the handle 24 and barrel 12 in one or more regions of the ball bat 10.
• the flexible connecting joint 36 is preferably located between an inner surface of the barrel taper segment 20 and an outer surface of the handle 24 or handle interference segment 30.
• the flexible connecting joint 36 may, however, be located anywhere between the grip region of the handle 24 and the distal end of the barrel 12, preferably between the grip region and the center of percussion of the ball bat 10.
• the flexible connecting joint 36 may be located partially or entirely within the handle region of the ball bat, or within the barrel region just beyond the tapered section of the ball bat, or at or distal to the center of percussion of the ball bat 10, or in any other suitable location.
• the center of percussion, also referred to as the center of oscillation, of the ball bat 10 is readily determmable by those skilled in the art.
• ASTM F2398-04e1 defines a standard test method for measuring the center of percussion of a baseball or softball bat. When impact occurs at or near the bat's center of percussion, reactions are not induced at the pivot point of the ball bat, which is typically located approximately six inches from the proximal end of the ball bat 10. Accordingly, little or no vibration is felt by a batter when such impact occurs.
• the elastomeric isolation union described in U.S. Patent No. 5,593,158 is bonded to the handle and barrel of a ball bat to provide shock attenuation. Illustrated in FIGS.
• FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate embodiments in which one or more mechanical spring members connect the bat handle 24 to the bat barrel 12.
• one or more compression or tension springs 40 are interposed between, and connected to, a cylindrical handle 24 (the handle. 24 could alternatively include a tapered or enlarged segment) and a barrel taper segment 20.
• a cylindrical handle 24 the handle. 24 could alternatively include a tapered or enlarged segment
• a barrel taper segment 20 In FIG.
• one or more leaf springs 45 are interposed between, and connected to, a handle taper segment 30 (the handle 24 could alternatively have a uniform, or substantially uniform, diameter) and a barrel taper segment 20.
• the gap between the barrel taper segment 20 and the handle 24 or handle taper segment 30 may or may not be substantially constant or uniform.
• any suitable spring types such as spiral, leaf, tension, or compression springs, may be used.
• any suitable number of springs for example, three leaf springs, a one-piece compression spring, or any suitable number or combination of spring types, may be used.
• the number, size, and thickness of the one or more springs used may be varied to provide desired durability or weight.
• the springs may be welded, mechanically attached, bonded, or otherwise suitably connected at the spring ends to prevent the handle 24 and the barrel 12 from disassembling. Additional attachment features, such as mechanical elements or adhesive, may optionally be included to increase durability.
• the one or more springs may be made of any suitable materials.
• the one or more springs may be made of one or more metal alloys, including but not limited to steel, beryllium-copper, or brass, or one or more plastic materials, including but not limited to nylon, polycarbonate, or PVC (polyvinyl chloride), or one or more composite materials, including but not limited to carbon, glass, or Kevlar® (poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide).
• the spring joint facilitates relative motion between the barrel 12 and the handle 24, and provides restoring force to realign the handle 24 and the barrel 12 during or after swinging of the ball bat 10.
• the force present in the springs may be selected to meet the needs of a given user. For example, one or more springs providing a relatively low force may be selected for youth players or other light- swinging players, while one or more springs providing a relatively high force may be selected for skilled players or other hard-swinging players.
• FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate embodiments in which mechanical locking joints are used to connect the bat handle 24 to the bat barrel 12.
• a connection member 50 such as a U-joint or similar member, connects a cylindrical handle 24 (the handle 24 could alternatively include a tapered or enlarged segment) to a barrel taper segment 20.
• Pins 52 or similar instruments may be used to attach the connection member 50 to the handle 24 and to the barrel 12, and to provide pivot locations about which the connection member 50 may pivot to provide increased bat flexure.
• an axial locking member 55 such as an enlarged spherical, conical, or partially-rounded member, is attached to, or unitary or integral with, an end of the bat handle 24 positioned inside the barrel taper segment 20.
• the axial locking member 55 is preferably in interference fit with an inner surface of the barrel taper segment 20, which may optionally be a low-friction bearing surface.
• the axial locking member 55 may optionally have a high-friction or low-friction outer surface.
• a realignment spring 57 is attached to the inner surface of the barrel taper segment 20 via bonding, welding, pinning, or via another suitable method.
• the realignment spring 57 is in engagement with the axial locking member 55 in a manner for restoring the handle 24 and barrel 12 into axial alignment during or after swinging of the ball bat 10.
• the realignment spring 57 may include a protruding portion 58 that engages a notch 59 in the axial locking member 55 for restoring the handle 24 and barrel 12 into axial alignment. Any other suitable alignment mechanism may alternatively be used.
• Any mechanical joint that axially locks the handle 24 and barrel 12 together, and that includes a feature for restoring the handle 24 and barrel 12 into axial alignment during or after a swing, may be used to connect the handle 24 to the barrel 12.
• the mechanical joint allows the barrel 12 to move relative to the handle 24, thus providing increased bat flexure.
• the stiffness of the joint may be selected to meet the needs a given player. For example, for harder-swinging batters, a mechanical joint with a relatively high stiffness is generally preferred to prevent the bat 10 from flexing too far out of axial alignment, which could rob the batter of desired swing control. Conversely, for lighter-swinging players, it may be desirable to incorporate a mechanical joint with a lower stiffness to provide even greater bat flexure.
• FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate embodiments in which one or more pneumatic or hydraulic joints, including bladders 60 containing air, gas, or other fluid 62 (collectively referred to herein as "fluid") under pressure, are used to connect the bat handle 24 to the bat barrel 12.
• one or more pneumatic or hydraulic joints are interposed between, and bonded or otherwise connected to, a cylindrical handle 24 and a barrel taper segment 20.
• one or more pneumatic or hydraulic joints are interposed between, and connected to, a handle taper segment 30 and a barrel taper segment 20.
• the gap between the barrel taper segment 20 and the handle 24 or handle taper segment 30 may or may not be substantially constant or uniform.
• one or more hydraulic or pneumatic joints 65 may additionally or alternatively be used to connect handle regions extending outside of the barrel taper segment 20 to provide increased flexure or one or more flex points in the ball bat 10.
• a support member 67 may optionally be included along a central axis of each hydraulic or pneumatic joint 65 in the handle 24 to provide support and to maintain the desired radial thickness of the hydraulic or pneumatic joint 65.
• the fluid 62 held under pressure within the one or more bladders 60 provides a gap between the barrel 12 and the handle 24, thus allowing the barrel 12 and the handle 24 to flex relative to each other.
• the fluid 62 may optionally be an electrorheological (active damping) fluid.
• Electrorheological fluids such as lithium polymethacrylate
• Electrorheological fluids are suspensions of extremely fine particles in non-conducting fluids.
• the apparent viscosity of these fluids changes reversibly by a very high order in response to an electric field, which can increase the damping characteristics of the hydraulic or pneumatic joints.
• a typical electrorheological fluid can go from the consistency of a liquid to that of a gel, and back, with response times on the order of milliseconds.
• the stiffness of the one or more hydraulic or pneumatic joints may be altered by varying the pressure of the fluid contained in the one or more bladders 60. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more bladders 60 may be provided with internal reinforcement webbing to increase the axial or radial stiffness, as well as the axial strength, of the bladders 60.
• the bladders 60 may be made of any suitable material, such as a rubber or plastic material.
• active damping of the ball bat may be controlled by coupling one or more bladders 60 containing electrorheological fluid with a piezoelectric device and a signal conditioner or amplifier.
• the electrorheological fluid may be tuned to offer desired stiffness in response to specific vibration signals sensed by the piezoelectric device.
• a signal conditioner or similar device may be used to filter the piezoelectric device's signals to tune the material stiffness such that vibration modes (which can be painful to a batter's hands) in a range of approximately 100-1000 Hz are eliminated.
• the flexible connecting joints illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 are structural joints including a defined physical structure, as opposed to the uncontained elastomeric isolation union described in U.S. Patent No. 5,593,158. These structural joints include several features, and allow for additional design options, not available when using a continuous, uniform elastomeric isolation union to bond the bat handle to the bat barrel.
• structural joint refers to a joint having sturdy, physical components, as opposed to a purely adhesive material or similar material acting as a joint.
• the bladder in a pneumatic or hydraulic joint for example, is a structural component (even if it is made of an elastomeric material), since the bladder is sturdy and contains fluid under pressure, and is attached or bonded to the handle and barrel using separate bonding or attachment elements.
• FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate non-continuous and/or non-uniform (in shape or thickness) elastomeric joints, or other compliant joints, connecting a bat handle 24 to a bat barrel 12. These elastomeric or compliant joints do not include defined physical components, and are therefore considered to be non-structural joints.
• one or more non-uniform, non-continuous elastomeric joints 70 are interposed between, and bonded or otherwise connected to, a cylindrical handle 24 (the handle 24 could alternatively include a tapered or enlarged segment) and a barrel taper segment 20.
• the elastomeric joint 70 itself may optionally be an adhesive material for connecting the handle 24 to the barrel 12.
• the non-continuous elastomeric joint 70 includes one or more hollow sections or voids 72, which may occupy approximately 5% to 90%, or 10% to 50%, or 20% to 35%, or at least 10%, of the total volume of the elastomeric joint 70.
• one or more non-uniform, non-continuous elastomeric joints 73 may additionally or alternatively be used to connect handle regions extending outside of the barrel taper segment 20 to provide increased flexure or one or more additional flex points in the ball bat 10.
• Each non-continuous elastomeric joint 70, 73 may optionally be applied to the handle 24 or barrel taper segment 20 (or other barrel region) as one or more non-continuous strips of elastomeric material, such as a castable urethane material or other suitable elastomer.
• one or more elastomeric joints 75 having a non-uniform thickness are interposed between, and connected to, a handle taper segment 30 (the handle 24 could alternatively have a uniform, or substantially uniform, diameter) and a barrel taper segment 20.
• the gap between the barrel taper segment 20 and the handle taper segment 30 or handle 24, and thus the thickness of the elastomeric layer or joint 75 varies along the axial length of the elastomeric joint 75.
• Such a nonuniform, or tapered, elastomeric joint 75 provides additional bat flexure without reducing the bond area or axial strength of the elastomeric joint 75.
• any of the flexible connecting joints described herein may be used alone or in combination with one or more of the other flexible connecting joints.
• one or more flexible connecting joints are primarily positioned in the tapered region of the ball bat, which typically coincides with the fundamental vibrational anti-node (location of maximum deflection) of the ball bat.
• One or more flexible connecting joints may, however, be positioned anywhere between the grip region of the handle and the distal end of the ball bat, and may overlap two or more regions of the ball bat.
• a handle including a tapered or otherwise enlarged internal segment provides increased safety, by preventing the barrel from sliding off the handle, due to the overlapping fit between the handle and the barrel of the ball bat.
• the redundancy of this interference fit, in combination with the flexible connecting joint, is particularly advantageous for skilled or hard-swinging players who typically impact a ball with high energy.
• the ball bat described herein may have any suitable length, diameter, or other dimensions.
• the bat barrel may be a single-wall or a multi-wall structure. If it is a multi-wall structure, the barrel walls may optionally be separated by one or more interface shear control zones (ISCZs), as described in detail in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/903,493, filed July 29, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference.
• ISCZs interface shear control zones
• the one or more structural barrel walls, as well as the handle and tapered region, are preferably made up of one or more composite plies.
• the composite materials that make up the plies are preferably fiber-reinforced, and may include fibers of glass, graphite, boron, carbon, aramid, ceramic, metallic, or any other suitable structural fibrous materials, preferably in epoxy form or another suitable form.
• Each composite ply preferably has a thickness of approximately 0.002 to 0.060 inches, or 0.005 to 0.008 inches. Any other suitable ply thickness may alternatively be used.
• the one or more structural barrel walls, as well as the handle and tapered region, may alternatively be made of one or more metals, such as aluminum alloy. Combinations of one or more composite materials and metals may also be used in one or more regions of the ball bat.
• the bat barrel (or other bat region) may comprise a hybrid metallic-composite structure.
• the barrel may include one or more walls made of composite material(s), and one or more walls made of metallic material(s).
• composite and metallic materials may be interspersed within a given barrel wall or other bat region.
• nano-tubes such as high-strength carbon nano-tube composite structures, may alternatively or additionally be used in the bat construction.
• the ball bats described herein may be constructed via any suitable method.
• a ball bat including one or more flexible connecting joints may be constructed using methods similar to those described in U.S. Patent No. 5,593,158, or any other suitable method may be used.
• the handle is preferably inserted through the cap end of the barrel, before the cap or end closure is attached or formed, so that the barrel taper segment can accommodate the handle interference segment.
• the one or more flexible joints may be attached to the appropriate handle or barrel regions before or after the handle is inserted through the barrel, depending on the joint type and the method of attachment or bonding.
• the handle may be inserted through the cap end of the barrel, after which the springs may be welded or otherwise attached to the barrel or the handle.
• a pneumatic or hydraulic bladder on the other hand, may be bonded to one of the handle or barrel before insertion of the handle through the barrel, and then bonded to the other respective surface once the handle and barrel reach their desired positioning and alignment.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
• Pens And Brushes (AREA)
• Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
• Golf Clubs (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=38225228

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (42)

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• 2006
  • 2006-01-03 US US11/324,796 patent/US7572197B2/en active Active
  • 2006-12-18 CA CA2633587A patent/CA2633587C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-12-18 CN CNA2006800503377A patent/CN101365518A/zh active Pending
  • 2006-12-18 JP JP2008548603A patent/JP2009521989A/ja active Pending
  • 2006-12-18 AU AU2006335132A patent/AU2006335132B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2006-12-18 WO PCT/US2006/048342 patent/WO2007081500A2/en not_active Ceased
• 2007
  • 2007-01-03 TW TW096100228A patent/TWI321481B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

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