Composite bat having a multiple tube structure

• US 20080051230A1
• Filed: 08/26/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PrIncorporatede Sports Incorporated (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Prince Sports Incorporated (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Inventors: Davis, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,883,434 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/564
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• 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 59/51 made of metal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/52 made of wood or bamboo
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/54 made of plastic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A structure for a bat is described by using multiple composite tubes bonded to one another, wherein apertures, or “ports,” are molded between the tubes to improve the stiffness, strength, aerodynamics and comfort of the bat.

Claims

1. A bat having a longitudinal axis;

a tip end;

a butt end;

a handle portion extending from said butt end;

a hitting portion with a cross section larger than said handle portion, extending from said tip end; and

a connecting portion between said handle portion and said hitting portion;

Wherein at least a portion of said bat is formed of at least two tubes having facing surfaces, said tubes being formed of composite material, wherein said facing surfaces are bonded by curing to one another at least along much of their lengths, thereby to form at least one internal reinforcing wall.

2. A bat as defined in claim 1, wherein said portion is formed of a double tube construction.

3. A bat as described in claim 1, wherein said facing surfaces are separated from one another at least at one selected axial location to form at least one port extending through said bat perpendicular to said axis.

4. A bat as defined in claim 3, wherein said at least one port is formed in said connecting portion.

5. A bat as defined in claim 1, wherein said facing surfaces are separated from one another at selected locations to form ports having a double opposing arch structure.

6. A bat as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said ports has an axis therethrough, and wherein at least two of said ports have different axial orientations about said longitudinal axis.

7. A bat as defined in claim 5, wherein said ports vary in size.

8. A bat as defined in claim 5, comprising at least three ports adjacent ports, and wherein one of said adjacent ports is axially spaced from adjacent ports by at least two different distances.

9. A bat as defined in claim 1, wherein said portion of said bat formed by at least two tubes is joined end-to-end with a single tube structure.

10. A bat as defined in claim 9, wherein said single tube structure comprises a metal tube.

11. A bat as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said bat comprises a single metal tube joined end-to-end with said portion of said bat which is formed of at least two tubes having facing surfaces.

12. A bat as defined in claim 11, wherein said multi-tube member includes a port extending through said portion of said bat which is formed of at least two tubes havin2 facing surfaces.

15. A bat as defined in claim 1, wherein said bat is formed of a first tube, a second tube, a third tube, and a fourth tube, each tube having two walls facing and bonded to, along at least most of their length, walls of two adjacent tubes, and forming internal walls which are oriented at approximately 90 degrees relative to one another.

16. A bat as defined in claim 15, wherein walls of said first tube and said second tube are separated from the facing walls of said third tube and said fourth tube at least at one selected axial longitudinal location to form a first port.

17. A bat as defined in claim 16, wherein, at a second longitudinal location, walls of said first tube and said third tube are separated from the facing walls of said second tube and said fourth tube to form a second port which is oriented at least generally perpendicular to said first port.

18. A bat as defined in claim 6 wherein two of said ports are located on the same portion of said bat and further wherein the axes of said two of said ports are orientated perpendicular to each other.

19. A bat as defined in claim 6 wherein two of said ports are located on different portions of said bat and further wherein the axes of said two of said ports are orientated perpendicular to each other.

13. A bat component comprising a metal portion and a composite portion produced using a multiple tube construction in which the tubes have facing surfaces which are bonded by curing to one another at least much of their length, said metal portion and said composite portion being joined end-to-end.

14. (canceled)