Knob Sleeve for Baseball Bat Handle Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Young baseball and softball players transitioning to longer, heavier bats face discomfort due to the lack of a suitable gripping surface when choking up, as the bulbous knob no longer provides adequate contact, leading to an uncomfortable swing.

Innovation Solution

A knob sleeve with a tubular body made of resilient material, featuring stepped or staggered gripping regions that simulate the bulbous knob's bearing surface, allowing players to adjust their grip and maintain contact with the bat, thereby altering the effective length and swing weight without disassembling the bat.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If a player transitions to a longer, heavier bat, then the bat provides greater hitting power and reach, but the player experiences discomfort and difficulty in gripping the bat when choking up

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebat weightVSAvoidgrip comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bat handle is segmented into multiple gripping zones with varying diameters, allowing the player to select different grip positions. The handle includes a first gripping zone with a first diameter and a second gripping zone with a second diameter greater than the first, enabling the player to choke up while maintaining a comfortable grip on the enlarged portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adds a dimensional variation to the bat handle by creating an enlarged gripping zone with a greater diameter. This dimensional change provides an additional gripping surface that compensates for the loss of knob contact when the player moves their hands up the handle, thereby maintaining grip comfort in longer, heavier bats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a player chokes up on the bat to reduce effective length and swing weight, then the bat becomes easier to swing, but the player loses contact with the bulbous knob surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswing easeVSAvoidknob surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The enlarged gripping zone is pre-positioned on the bat handle at a location that allows the player to choke up while maintaining contact with the enlarged surface. This preliminary placement of the enlarged gripping zone ensures that when the player moves their hands up the handle for easier swinging, they immediately have access to an enlarged contact surface rather than losing knob contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Area of stationary object

If the bat handle diameter is increased to provide a larger gripping surface, then the player has better hand contact, but the bat becomes more difficult to maneuver and swing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrip surface areaVSAvoidbat maneuverability

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bat handle features localized quality variations with an enlarged gripping zone positioned at a specific location rather than uniformly increasing the entire handle diameter. This localized enlargement provides enhanced grip surface area only where needed for hand contact, while the rest of the handle maintains its original dimensions for optimal maneuverability and swing characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 knob sleeve provides an improved gripping surface, allowing players to comfortably choke up on the bat, reducing vibrational energy and stress on the hand and wrist, enhancing the feel and performance of the bat during swings.

Implementation Method 1

reducing vibrational energy and stress on the hand and wrist

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 2

A knob sleeve with a tubular body made of resilient material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11478687B2Knob sleeve for a ball bat handle assembly

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO(US)

AI summary

A knob sleeve assembly for a ball bat extending along a longitudinal axis and having a tubular handle portion and a knob attached the handle portion. The knob sleeve assembly includes a plurality of annular bodies formed of a resilient material. Each of the bodies defines a central opening for receiving the handle portion of the bat. Each of the bodies has an annular body height within the range of 0.25 to 1.0 inch, and a maximum annular body outer diameter within the range of 1 to 3 inches. The plurality of annular bodies varies from one another according to at least one annular body characteristic. The knob sleeve characteristic is selected from the group consisting of annular body height, maximum annular body outer diameter, weight, color, material durometer value, annular body draft angle and combinations thereof.