Ball Bat Barrel Deformation Control via Central Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industry regulatory organizations impose performance restrictions on ball bats, necessitating a design that achieves but does not exceed maximum allowed performance and maintains it over a substantial length, while limiting deformation to control the trampoline effect.
Innovation Solution
A ball bat with a central tube coaxially positioned within the barrel, featuring at least one washer-shaped restriction member that limits deformation upon impact, allowing selective control over the trampoline effect and performance by varying the number and size of restriction members along the barrel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ball bat barrel is made to be more compliant to maximize the trampoline effect, then performance is improved, but the deformation exceeds the limits imposed by regulatory organizations
Solution Approach 1:
A central tube is introduced as an intermediary element positioned within the barrel. This central tube includes restriction members that act as mediators between the barrel and the impact force, limiting deformation while allowing the barrel to maintain sufficient compliance for optimal performance. The central tube serves as a structural intermediary that controls the mechanical response of the bat during impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the structural parameters of the barrel by introducing a central tube with restriction members. This modifies the deformation characteristics of the bat, allowing it to stay within regulatory limits while maintaining performance. The restriction members alter the mechanical parameters to control the trampoline effect and ensure compliance with performance restrictions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If restriction members are added to limit deformation, then performance compliance is achieved, but the structural complexity of the ball bat increases
Solution Approach 1:
The central tube is nested within the barrel, and restriction members are positioned within the central tube. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional elements to be integrated within the existing structural envelope of the bat, minimizing additional complexity while achieving deformation control. The restriction members are nested coaxially around the central tube, creating a compact multi-level structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The central tube serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, houses the restriction members, and works in conjunction with the barrel to control deformation. The restriction members themselves serve dual purposes by limiting deformation while maintaining the integrity of the bat structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the barrel is made stiffer to reduce deformation, then the trampoline effect is decreased, but the hitting performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The restriction members are positioned at specific locations within the central tube, creating localized zones of deformation control. Rather than making the entire barrel stiffer, the restriction members are strategically placed to limit deformation only where needed during impact, while the rest of the barrel maintains its compliance for optimal energy transfer and hitting performance.
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 solution effectively limits deformation and trampoline effect, ensuring performance compliance with regulatory standards while allowing customization for different play styles and performance levels, maintaining consistent performance across the bat's length.
Implementation Method 1
the ball bat barrel transiently deforms and the inner surface of the barrel may contact one or more of the at least one restriction member
Implementation Method 2
The barrel then returns to its original, non-deformed shape, and the central tube returns to a coaxial position therein
Implementation Method 3
Each restriction member is a resilient object capable of resisting deformation
Data Source
AI summary
Industry regulatory organizations have created performance restrictions for ball bats. The present invention relates to a ball bat with an internal impact dampening means. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ball bat with a handle, a barrel, and a central tube positioned coaxially within the barrel. The central tube includes at least one restriction member capable of limiting the deformation experienced by the ball bat upon impact of a ball. Precisely limiting the deformation of the ball bat allows the present invention to achieve, but not exceed, performance substantially equal to the maximum performance allowed by industry regulatory organizations and maintain that level of performance over a substantial length of the ball bat.