Adjustable Sweet Spot Bat with Floating Inner Barrel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing baseball and softball bats are limited by the predetermined sweet spot and material strength, which restricts performance and durability, and manufacturers face challenges in designing bats that meet regulatory standards while providing optimal player experience.
Innovation Solution
A composite or metallic bat design featuring a redesigned floating inner barrel assembly with an annular power gap, adjustable cone or disc inserts, and customizable components that allow for adjustable sweet spot positioning, enhancing flexibility and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a predetermined sweet spot is used in existing bat designs, then the bat structure is simple and manufacturing is easier, but the player cannot customize the sweet spot to their preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an adjustable sweet spot mechanism where the inner barrel assembly can be repositioned along the barrel axis. The inner barrel includes adjustment features such as slots or channels that allow it to be shifted to different positions, thereby dynamically changing the sweet spot location according to player preferences while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The bat barrel is divided into distinct segments: an outer barrel and an inner barrel assembly that can be independently adjusted. The inner barrel assembly is segmented with features like adjustment slots or channels that allow it to be repositioned relative to the outer barrel, enabling sweet spot customization without requiring complete redesign of the entire bat structure.
2Reliability
If material strength is increased to improve durability, then the bat lasts longer, but the sweet spot size is limited and performance is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction with an outer barrel made of one material (e.g., composite or metallic) and an inner barrel assembly made of different material properties. The inner barrel may use softer or more flexible materials that allow for larger effective sweet spot while the outer barrel provides structural strength and durability, creating a composite structure that balances both requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the bat barrel are assigned different material properties: the outer barrel uses high-strength materials for durability, while the inner barrel assembly uses materials with different characteristics (softer, more flexible) that facilitate larger sweet spot and better ball contact. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
3Reliability
If strengtheners and extra inner barrel devices are added to improve out of wrapper performance, then the bat performance and durability improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner barrel assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural component, provides the adjustable sweet spot mechanism, and functions as a performance-enhancing element. By integrating these functions into a single adjustable assembly rather than separate components, the patent improves out-of-wrapper performance without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the sweet spot adjustment mechanism with the inner barrel structure into a unified assembly. The inner barrel assembly integrates the adjustment features directly into its construction, merging what could have been separate components (adjustment mechanism and inner barrel) into a single functional unit, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the inner barrel is secured to the inside wall of the barrel, then the structure is more stable, but the sweet spot size is reduced and durability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The inner barrel assembly is designed with adjustable positioning capabilities, allowing it to be moved to different locations along the barrel axis. This dynamic adjustability enables optimization of both stability and performance: the inner barrel can be positioned to provide maximum stability when needed, or adjusted to create larger sweet spot and improve durability, depending on the player's requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows for changes in the positional parameters of the inner barrel assembly along the barrel axis. By adjusting the position parameter, the system can optimize different performance characteristics: closer positioning for stability, farther positioning for larger sweet spot. This parameter adjustability resolves the contradiction between stability and performance/durability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design significantly improves the sweet spot size and durability, allowing players to customize the bat to their preferences, disperses impact energy, and simplifies manufacturing by reducing the need for multiple parts, thereby enhancing performance and extending bat lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
the radially outer wall having an annular power gap to allow limited directional flex of the radially outer wall of the insert assembly upon impact with a ball
Implementation Method 2
This design, known as a floating inner barrel (FIB), is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 9,005,056, hereby incorporated by reference. Bats utilizing the FIB design have a large sweet-spot, are extremely durable, and have consistently outperformed standard double and multiwall composite bats in independent evaluations.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention describes a bat for baseball or softball having a composite or metallic outer barrel and an insert assembly formed from composite or metallic materials and soft foam materials. The invention describes a number of embodiments of the insert assembly which may include adjustable floating or fixed power cones and adjustable sleeves, as well as a dual wall construction with the radially outer wall having an annular gap to allow limited directional flex of the radially outer wall of the insert assembly upon impact with a ball.