Bat customization system

• US 10,387,930 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Thurman, Robert T., Goodwin, Ty B., Stenzler, Joshua S., Fritzke, Mark A., Gaff, Bradley L., Flood, Jeffrey A., Epling, Sean S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr., Gregory J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kay, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US14/447,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20140343898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 702189
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• 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 60/16 Caps; Ferrules
• 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 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0045 specially adapted for games played with rackets or bats A63B60/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations

Abstract

A bat customization system for use with a processing unit of an electronic device. The system includes a first sensing bat, at least one sensor carried by the first sensing bat, and a wireless transmitter for transmitting signals from the sensors. The at least one sensor is configured to detect characteristics of at least one test swing of the first sensing bat. The signals represent the detected characteristics. A non-transient computer readable medium containing computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to identify a recommended bat based on the characteristics detected by the at least one sensor carried by the first sensing bat. The programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate data relating to the at least one test swing.

Claims

1. A bat customization system for use with a processing unit of an electronic device, the system comprising:

a sensing bat;

at least one sensor carried by the sensing bat, the at least one sensor configured to detect characteristics of at least one test swing of the sensing bat;

a wireless transmitter for transmitting signals from the sensors, the signals representing the detected characteristics; and

a non-transient computer readable medium containing computer readable programming configured to direct the processing unit to identify a recommended bat based on the characteristics detected by the at least one sensor carried by the sensing bat, wherein the recommended bat comprises a handle portion, a barrel portion and an intermediate tapered element, the intermediate tapered element separating the handle portion from the barrel portion and including an inner tubular wall for engaging the handle portion and a frusto-conical shaped barrel engaging region for engaging the barrel portion,

wherein the handle portion has a proximal gripping region and a distal region, and a uniform outer diameter with respect to the longitudinal axis,

wherein the barrel portion has a proximal region and a distal region spaced apart by a central region, the distal region of the handle portion not extending to the distal region of the barrel portion such that the distal region of the barrel portion does not overlap the distal region of the handle portion, and

wherein the intermediate tapered element is formed of a thermoplastic or thermoset material and non-removably attached to the distal region of the handle portion, the intermediate tapered element having a tapered proximal region and a barrel engaging region, the barrel engaging region of the element non-removably engaging and being overlapped by a proximal region of the barrel portion, the barrel engaging region and the tapered proximal region of the intermediate tapered element each having a maximum outer diameter, the maximum outer diameter of the barrel engaging region being greater than the maximum outer diameter of the proximal region of the element, the recommended bat having a total length measured from a proximal end of the handle portion to a distal end of the barrel portion, the inner tubular wall of the element defining a longitudinally extending bore, the handle portion extending within the length of the bore such that at least a portion of the tubular wall of the element overlaps and engages a portion of the handle portion, the handle portion having a length that is less than 70 percent of the total length.

2. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the sensing bat has adjustable bat characteristics and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate a representation of the recommended bat based upon detected characteristics of the at least one test bat swing with the sensing bat.

3. The bat customization system of claim 2, wherein the adjustable sensing bat characteristics comprise predefined settings corresponding to different combinations of components available for forming the recommended bat.

4. The bat customization system of claim 2, wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate a first animation of a first test swing of the sensing bat having a first set of interchangeable components.

5. The bat customization system of claim 4, wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate a second animation of a second test swing of the sensing bat having a second set of interchangeable components different than the first set of interchangeable components, wherein the first animation and the second animation are concurrently presented.

6. The bat customization system of claim 5, wherein the first animation and the second animation are overlaid at least partially upon one another.

7. The bat customization system of claim 2, wherein the sensing bat comprises interchangeable components to adjust characteristics of the sensing bat wherein the sensing bat comprises a sensing bat handle portion, a sensing bat barrel portion and a sensing bat intermediate tapered element, the sensing bat intermediate tapered element separating the sensing bat handle portion from the sensing bat barrel portion and including a sensing bat inner tubular wall for engaging the sensing bat handle portion and a sensing bat frusto-conical shaped barrel engaging region for engaging the sensing bat barrel portion.

8. The bat customization system of claim 7, wherein the interchangeable components for the sensing bat are interchangeable with corresponding components of the recommended bat.

9. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to identify at least one combination of selectable bat components that approximate the recommended bat.

10. The bat customization system of claim 9, wherein the computer readable programming is further configured to direct the processing unit to generate a display of at least two different combinations of selectable bat components for selection by a person to form the recommended bat.

11. The bat customization system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor mounted to a batter to detect motion of the batter, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate the recommended bat based at least in part upon the detected motion of the batter during the test swing.

12. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an input by which data regarding characteristics of a batter are entered, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate the recommended bat based at least in part upon the entered data regarding characteristics of the batter.

13. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an input by which data regarding characteristics of the test bat swing are entered, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate the recommended bat based at least in part upon the entered data regarding characteristics of the at least one test bat swing.

14. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an input by which an identification of a type of the test bat swing just completed is entered, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate the recommended bat based upon the identification of the type of the at least one test bat swing.

15. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an input by which a selection of a desired type of the test bat swing is entered, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate the recommended bat based upon the entered selection of the desired type of the test bat swing.

16. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an input by which a skill level is entered, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate the recommended bat based upon the entered selection of the skill level.

17. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an input by which characteristics of a current bat of a batter are entered, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to indicate differences between the recommended bat and the current bat.

18. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the recommended bat further comprises types of components selected from a group of component types consisting of:

an end cap;

a knob;

an insert; and

combinations thereof.

19. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are removably attached to the first sensing bat.

20. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the recommended bat comprises at least one of:

a particular bat model, a bat size/length combination, a length, a weight, a handle flex, a weight distribution, a moment of inertia, an end cap weighting, a one piece end cap, a two piece end cap, a knob weighting, a one piece knob, a two piece knob, a handle/grip diameter, a one-piece intermediate member, a multi-piece intermediate member, a dampening characteristic, and combinations thereof.