Composite bat with varying barrel thicknesses

Abstract

A baseball or softball bat includes a composite bat body having a handle and a barrel extending from the handle. The bat body is of a variable thickness along a length thereof. A generally tubular, resilient sleeve is disposed adjacent to an exterior of the barrel intermediate ends of the bat body. The bat body and sleeve are interconnected with one another such that the sleeve and bat body provide a generally continuous exterior surface of the bat.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally relates to baseball and softball bats. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bat having a composite bat body of variable thickness and a sleeve.[0002]Baseball and softball are very popular sports in the United States and many other countries. Due to the competitive nature of these sports, players are constantly seeking ways of improving their performance. An important aspect of baseball and softball is the ability to effectively hit the ball.[0003]Metal (aluminum) bats are allowed in baseball amateur play from Little League to College levels. Metal bats are also typically used in slow and fast pitch softball. Metal bats are advantageous over wood bats in that they do not break and splinter like wood bats and thus can be used repeatedly with consequent cost savings.[0004]However, metal bats have certain disadvantages, including vibrating upon impact and sending painful vibrations into the hands and arms ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The composite body is comprised of a plurality of layers of composite material or laminate layers. At least a portion of the barrel comprises fewer layers of composite material than the handle and end of the barrel. Typically, the portion of the barrel is comprised of twenty or fewer layers of composite material, and may be comprised of five or fewer layers of composite material, or even a single layer or two of composite material. The handle and the end of the barrel are typically comprised of more layers than that of the thinner portion of the barrel. However, the handle and ends of the barrel may be comprised of up to forty layers of composite material.

[0015]A generally tubular, resilient sleeve is disposed adjacent to an exterior of the barrel intermediate the ends of the bat body. The sleeve is comprised of metal or composite material having greater impact absorption and resistance characteristics than the composite bat body. The sleeve is typically disposed over the thinner portion of the barrel and defines a ball striking portion of the bat. The ball striking portion of the bat has a predetermined BBCOR.

Problems solved by technology

However, metal bats have certain disadvantages, including vibrating upon impact and sending painful vibrations into the hands and arms of the batter if the ball is not hit within the “sweet spot” of the bat.

Metal bats, particularly aluminum bats, may also dent or otherwise deform due to forceful impacts with the ball.

Metal bats also emit an undesirable high-pitched metallic sound, as opposed to the traditional sound heard when a wood bat contacts the ball.

However, while providing benefits, these designs also have drawbacks in that they can be expensive to manufacture and are prone to structural failure.

Furthermore, the ball comes off a metal bat faster than a wood bat, resulting in longer hits.

In fact, over the years there have been many injuries and near misses attributed to the speed from which the ball comes off a metal and / or composite bat.

A pitched ball holds a lot of energy, and with solid wood bats much of that energy is lost as the ball compresses on impact.

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