Sound producing baseball bat

• US 5,803,840 A
• Filed: 07/26/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Young, Gary
• Original Assignee: Young, Gary
• Inventors: Young, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US08/692,913
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 473/457, 473/453, 473/223, 473/224
• US Class Current: 473/457
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/005 with a weight movable along the longitudinal axis of the club due to centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2059/581 with a continuously tapered barrel
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0633 without electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/50 Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/59 with sound generators, e.g. with internal movable members therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to baseball equipment, and more particularly to a baseball bat which is provided with an audible signal generating element. A sound module is mounted inside the handle portion and is designed to generate a pre-selected audible signal in the form of a speech sound when a striking portion is oriented above a handle portion. The sound is generated by a sound producing unit which forms a part of a sound module mounted within the handle portion. The sound producing unit is activated by movement of an element within the sound module when the movable element closes the circuit allowing activation of the sound producing unit.

Claims

1. A baseball bat device, comprising:

a handle portion;

a striking portion fixedly attached to said handle portion;

a sound module mounted within said handle portion for producing an audible signal in a form of a speech sound, said sound module comprising a housing securely attached to said handle portion, a sound producing unit for generating said audible signal mounted within said housing and a movable object positioned within said housing for activating said sound producing unit when said baseball device is oriented by a player in such a manner that the striking portion is oriented above the handle portion, said sound module further comprising at least one contact member operationally connected to said sound producing unit, said contact member transferring an activation signal to said sound producing unit when said movable object contacts said at least one contact member; and

a means for absorbing shock mounted opposite said at least one contact member within said housing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for absorbing shock comprises a resilient pad secured within said housing and being adapted to be contacted by said movable element, when said movable element moves away from said contact member.