Training bat having moveable internal weight and method

• US 7,056,240 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valentine Enterprises LLC
• Original Assignee: Valentine Enterprises LLC
• Inventors: Brock, Michael, Smircic, Zdravka
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US10/842,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20040248675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 473/457, 473/451, 473/422, 473564-567, 482/109
• US Class Current: 473/457
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• 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 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

A training bat has a knob, handle section and barrel section. A weight is located within the interior of the barrel section on a rotatable shaft, and is moveable linearly. Linear movement of the weight is caused by rotation of the shaft. Preferably, the shaft is coupled to the knob, so that rotation of the knob causes rotation of the shaft and linear movement of the weight along at least a portion of the barrel section.

Claims

1. A training bat comprising, in combination:

a bat having a knob, a handle section, and a barrel section;

a rotatable shaft positioned within the interior of at least a portion of said barrel section and coupled to a rotatable end of the bat;

a weight positioned along said rotatable shaft; and

at least one runner positioned within said barrel section, wherein said runner is engaged by a notched area on said weight so as to prevent rotation of said weight during rotation of said rotatable shaft;

wherein rotation of said rotatable shaft by rotating the rotatable end of the bat causes linear movement of said weight along at least a portion of said barrel section.

2. The training bat of claim 1 comprising at least two runners.

3. A training bat comprising, in combination,

a bat having a knob, a handle section, and a barrel section;

a rotatable shaft positioned within the interior of at least a portion of said barrel section and coupled to a rotatable end of the bat;

a weight positioned along said rotatable shaft;

a first and second end caps located on said rotatable shaft within said barrel section, with said weight located between said first and second end caps and with said first and second end caps defining the limits of travel of said weight along said rotatable shaft;

a housing tube disposed within said barrel section and in which said first and second end caps are positioned; and

wherein rotation of said rotatable shaft by rotating the rotatable end of the bat causes linear movement of said weight along at least a portion of said barrel section.

4. A training bat comprising, in combination:

a bat having a rotatable knob, a handle section, and a barrel section;

a rotatable shaft positioned within the interior of at least a portion of said barrel section and coupled to the rotatable knob;

a weight positioned along said rotatable shaft; and

at least one runner positioned within said barrel section, wherein said runner is engaged by a notched area on said weight so as to prevent rotation of said weight during rotation of said rotatable shaft;

wherein rotating said rotable knob causes linear movement of said weight along at least a portion of said barrel section.

5. The training bat of claim 4 comprising at least two runners.