Segmented Baseball Bat Barrel for BBCOR Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current baseball bats often fail to meet the BBCOR Standard of 0.500 performance limit while maintaining acceptable playability characteristics, durability, and feel, especially for younger players, as they are either too heavy or prone to failure.
Innovation Solution
A baseball bat design featuring a handle and barrel portion formed of separate proximal and distal members, where the barrel portion is constructed from different materials, including fiber composite materials, to optimize performance and meet the BBCOR Standard, with the overlap region positioned to enhance the bat's center of percussion and moment of inertia.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-wood materials (aluminum, alloys, composite fiber materials) are used to reduce weight and improve durability, then weight and reliability are improved, but BBCOR performance compliance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The barrel is divided into two separate members (first barrel member and second barrel member) that are coupled together. This segmentation allows each member to be optimized for different functions - one member can be designed for durability and strength while the other can be optimized for BBCOR performance characteristics, resolving the contradiction between durability and performance compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes composite fiber materials and combinations of different materials (aluminum, alloys, composites) in the barrel members. This allows the bat to achieve both the durability and weight benefits of non-wood materials while tuning the overall BBCOR performance to comply with the 0.500 limit through material selection and structural design
2Object-affected harmful factors
If solid wood construction is used to meet BBCOR Standard, then BBCOR performance compliance is improved, but weight increases and durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the barrel into two members, the design captures the BBCOR performance characteristics of solid wood construction while eliminating its drawbacks. The multi-member non-wood construction provides the durability and consistency of manufactured materials while achieving wood-like performance metrics through careful design of each segment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and material parameters of the barrel members to achieve wood-like BBCOR performance. Through parameter optimization including material selection, wall thickness, and geometric configuration of the two barrel members, the design achieves 0.500 compliance while maintaining the durability and weight advantages of non-wood materials
3Ease of manufacture
If single-piece barrel construction is used to simplify manufacturing, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but design flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The barrel is constructed from two separate members that can be manufactured independently using different processes and materials, then coupled together. This segmentation provides significant design flexibility - each member can be optimized for specific functions, different materials can be used in different sections, and the design can be easily adjusted for different performance requirements while remaining manufacturable
Data Source
AI summary
A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis. The bat includes a handle and a barrel portion. The barrel portion has an outer surface and includes a proximal member and a distal member. The proximal member has first and second end regions and the distal member has third and fourth end regions. The first end region is coupled to the handle portion, the second end region of the proximal member is coupled to the third end region of the distal member, and the fourth end region of the distal member is coupled to an end cap. At least a portion of each of the proximal and distal members defines the outer surface of the barrel portion. One of the second and third end regions overlaps the other of the second and third end regions.