Variable-Thickness Bat Barrel for BBCOR-Compliant Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing baseball and softball bats experience discomfort and pain due to shock and vibrational energy transfer when impacting the ball away from the sweet spot, and high-end bats are limited by performance standards that restrict maximum performance across the barrel portion.
Innovation Solution
The bat design varies the thickness of the barrel portion with inwardly projecting circumferential humps and valleys to extend the BBCOR limit approaching region, enhancing power and performance while maintaining compliance with regulatory standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the wall thickness of the barrel portion is increased to enhance power and performance, then the BBCOR value increases, but it exceeds the 0.500 limit and violates regulatory standards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the wall thickness at different circumferential locations around the barrel. Specifically, it creates circumferential humps (thicker regions) and valleys (thinner regions) around the circumference, allowing different parts of the barrel to have different thickness properties. This enables the bat to achieve higher power in specific impact zones while maintaining overall compliance with BBCOR standards through strategic thinning in other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from uniform wall thickness (one-dimensional variation along the barrel length) to three-dimensional variable wall thickness by adding circumferential variation. The wall thickness now varies in multiple dimensions: along the length of the barrel and around the circumference, creating a complex thickness profile that optimizes both power and compliance simultaneously.
2Area of stationary object
If the wall thickness is varied to extend the BBCOR limit approaching region, then performance is enhanced over a larger area, but the structural integrity and strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent strategically places thicker humps in regions where impact forces are most beneficial for performance while maintaining adequate thickness in structural regions. The circumferential humps and valleys are positioned to optimize the balance between performance area and structural integrity, ensuring the bat maintains sufficient strength despite the variable thickness design.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrel circumference is segmented into multiple zones with different thickness characteristics - humps and valleys alternating around the circumference. This segmentation allows different circumferential regions to serve different functions: some optimized for power generation, others for structural support, collectively maintaining both performance and integrity.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform wall thickness is used to simplify manufacturing, then production is easier, but performance is limited to a small area of the barrel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wall thickness parameter from a constant uniform value to a variable value that changes around the circumference. This parameter change is achieved through manufacturing processes capable of producing non-uniform thickness, such as specialized forming or machining operations, which extend performance enhancement to a larger barrel area.
Data Source
AI summary
A ball bat may include a handle portion and a barrel portion extending away from the handle portion to an end cap. The barrel portion has an outer wall formed from aluminum and includes at least two and no greater than four inwardly projecting circumferential humps spaced by intervening circumferential valleys.