Bat weight and protector

• US 6,533,685 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Otts Products Company
• Original Assignee: Gregg G. Otten, Reginald P. Costigan
• Inventors: Otten, Gregg G., Costigan, Reginald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US09/592,760
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 473/437, 473/464, 473/564, 473/567, 473/568, 473/457, 473/520, 463/47-- 4, 482/109
• US Class Current: 473/437
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• 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 59/60 of mallet type, e.g. for croquet or polo
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3638 Normal golf clubs with directly attached weights

Abstract

A bat weight and protector which is a removable soft-sided weight and protector for the attachment to a baseball or softball bat for the purpose of warming up a batter in the on-deck circle, prior to entering the batter'"'"'s box and facing the pitcher. The bat weight and protector is comprised of a soft weighted cylindrical portion made of rubber or other suitable material, a retainer ring and webbing straps, which at one end are equally spaced around a retainer ring and stitched thereto, and at the opposite end are looped around the cylindrical portion and stitched thereto. A knob end of a bat is passed through the cylindrical portion of the bat weight and protector and further through the retainer ring until the tapered portion of the bat prevents further travel. In this position, the cylindrical portion of the bat weight and protector is over and about a barrel of the bat. This position maximizes the batter'"'"'s swing resistance during warm-ups and protects the striking surface of the bat.

Claims

1. A bat weight, for use on a bat having a knob end, a tapered portion, and a cylindrical barrel, the bat weight comprising:

a. a rubber sleeve having an interior sized to contain the cylindrical barrel of the bat;

b. a retainer ring having an inner diameter engageable on the tapered portion of the bat;

c. a plurality of straps having one end secured by means over and about said rubber sleeve and an other end secured by like means over and about said retainer ring, said plurality of straps arranged for longitudinal orientation along the bat; and

,

d. said securing means includes stitching.

2. The bat weight of claim 1, wherein the plurality of straps consists of three straps.

3. The bat weight of claim 1, wherein the rubber sleeve and the retainer ring are spaced apart.

4. The bat weight of claim 1, wherein the straps are webbing straps.

5. The bat weight of claim 1, wherein the straps are flexible.

6. The bat weight of claim 1, wherein centrifugal force during swinging of the bat seats the retaining ring against the tapered portion of the bat and the straps hold the rubber sleeve over the barrel.