Multi-Component Bat Outer Locking Sleeve Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Metal and composite baseball and softball bats vibrate upon impact, causing painful shock to the batter's hands and arms, and existing multi-component bats with vibration-dissipating characteristics are complex and prone to structural failure at the connection points between the barrel and handle.
Innovation Solution
A multi-component bat design featuring a vibration absorber made of elastomeric material molded onto the handle, combined with an outer locking sleeve that securely connects the barrel and handle using threads or projections, providing a rigid and durable connection while dissipating vibrations through a vibration dampening sleeve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a multi-component bat design with vibration absorber is used, then shock and vibration transmission to the user's hands is reduced, but the connection point between barrel and handle becomes prone to structural failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite construction where a rigid outer locking sleeve (metal or composite) provides structural strength at the connection point, while an inner vibration absorber made of elastomeric or foam material dissipates shock and vibrations. This composite approach allows the connection point to simultaneously achieve rigidity for structural integrity and vibration damping for shock reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration absorber is nested within the outer locking sleeve, creating a concentric arrangement where the softer vibration-absorbing material is positioned inside the rigid protective sleeve. This nested structure allows the vibration absorber to be contained and protected while still effectively contacting the barrel and handle to dissipate vibrations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If existing multi-component bats with vibration-dissipating characteristics are used, then shock is reduced, but the design becomes complex and expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The bat is divided into distinct functional segments: the barrel, the handle, the vibration absorber, and the outer locking sleeve. Each component has a specific function and can be manufactured separately using optimized processes, then assembled together. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing of individual parts while achieving complex vibration-dissipating functionality through their combination.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer locking sleeve serves as an intermediary component that provides a simple threaded or press-fit connection mechanism between the barrel and handle, eliminating the need for complex internal locking mechanisms. The sleeve acts as a mediator that secures the nested vibration absorber and barrel assembly to the handle in a straightforward manner.
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 effectively reduces shock and vibration transmission to the user's hands while maintaining a strong and durable connection between the barrel and handle, simplifying manufacturing and assembly, and preventing structural failure.
Implementation Method 1
A vibration absorber is affixed to the second end segment of the handle and comprised of a shock absorbing material. The vibration absorber may comprise an elastomeric material.
Implementation Method 2
The vibration absorber has a first section disposed within the proximal end of the barrel so as to contact an inner surface thereof
Implementation Method 3
An outer locking sleeve has a first portion disposed over the proximal end of the barrel and a second portion disposed over the second section of the vibration absorber. The first portion of the outer locking sleeve has projections or depressions, such as threads, formed on an inner surface thereof that engage corresponding projections or depressions of an outer surface of the proximal end of the barrel.
Implementation Method 4
The second portion of the outer locking sleeve has projections or depressions, such as threads, formed on an inner surface thereof that engage the corresponding projections or depressions, which may be threads, of the vibration absorber.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-component baseball or softball bat has a vibration absorber affixed to an end of the handle. The vibration absorber has a first section disposed within an end of the barrel of the bat and a second section disposed outside of the barrel. An outer locking sleeve has a first portion disposed over an end of the barrel and a second portion disposed over the second section of the vibration absorber. A vibration sleeve may be disposed between the outer surface of the barrel and an inner surface of the first portion of the outer locking sleeve.