Socket Assembly Vibration Dampening Ball Bat Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ball bats transfer uncomfortable shock and vibration to users, particularly when impact occurs outside the 'sweet spot', leading to decreased confidence and performance, especially in beginners and children, and existing shock-absorbing designs are often complex, expensive, or limited to specific materials and bat types.
Innovation Solution
A ball bat design featuring a socket assembly with a toroidal socket and a wedge that allows the barrel and handle to move relative to each other, with the wedge restricting movement to dampen shock and vibration, and optional features like a ring and fill material to provide a smooth exterior surface, allowing for adjustable vibration reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a complex shock absorbing system with multiple parts is used, then shock and vibration dampening is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorbing system is segmented into distinct functional components: a socket assembly with a toroidal socket that allows relative movement between barrel and handle, and a wedge that restricts this movement. This segmentation enables each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving effective shock dampening while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the barrel and handle, allowing controlled relative movement to absorb shock and vibration. The wedge serves as another intermediary that modulates this movement. These intermediary components decouple the direct transmission of impact forces from the handle to the user's hands.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If separate curing steps are used for different components of composite ball bats, then shock absorbing performance is improved, but manufacturing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The socket assembly and wedge are integrated into the bat structure such that they can be cured simultaneously with the barrel and handle composite materials. This merging of curing operations eliminates separate curing steps, reducing manufacturing time while maintaining the shock absorbing performance of the integrated assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket assembly and wedge serve multiple functions: they provide shock absorption, allow controlled relative movement, and can be integrated into the composite curing process. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate manufacturing and curing steps, streamlining the overall production process.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing shock absorbing designs are used, then vibration reduction is improved, but adaptability to different bat types and materials is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The socket assembly with toroidal socket and wedge configuration provides a universal shock absorption mechanism that can be applied to various bat types and materials including aluminum, steel, and composite barrels. The design accommodates different bat constructions without requiring type-specific customization, enhancing adaptability while maintaining vibration reduction effectiveness.
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 minimizes user discomfort by reducing shock and vibration transmission, providing a cost-effective and simple solution that can be applied to various bat types, including those with composite materials, without requiring separate curing steps.
Implementation Method 1
The socket assembly allows the barrel and handle to move relative to each other, which dampens shock and vibration
Implementation Method 2
The wedge is located between the barrel and handle, restricting the relative movement between the handle and barrel when a ball is struck
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a ball bat with improved shock and vibration dampening. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ball bat with a handle, a barrel, and a socket assembly interposed between the handle and barrel. The socket assembly allows the barrel and handle to move relative to each other, which dampens shock and vibration.