Bat customization system

• US 9,511,267 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• 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): GRAHAM, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US14/447,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20140342855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 473/457, 473/519, 473/520, 473564-568
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• 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 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 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• 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 60/52 with slits
• 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

Abstract

A bat including a barrel, a barrel taper, a first connector portion carried by the barrel taper, a handle, and a second connector portion extending from the handle portion. The barrel has a distal portion, a proximal portion and an internal bore. The barrel taper axially engages the proximal portion of the barrel from within the internal bore. The second connector portion cooperates with the first connector portion to axially draw the barrel taper against the internal bore to connect the barrel to the handle.

Claims

1. A bat comprising:

a barrel having a distal portion, a proximal portion and an internal bore;

a barrel taper axially engaging the proximal portion of the barrel from within the internal bore;

a first connector portion carried by the barrel taper;

a handle;

a second connector portion extending from the handle, the second connector portion cooperating with the first connector portion to axially draw the barrel taper against the internal bore to connect the barrel to the handle, the first and second connector portions forming the only releasable connection in the bat for releasably coupling the barrel to the handle; and

,

a torque receiver coupled to one of the first connector portion and the second connector portion for applying torque relative to the other of the first and second connector portion, the torqueing receiver being accessible on the bat without disassembly of the bat.

2. The bat of claim 1, wherein the first connector portion and the second connector portion directly connect to one another within the taper.

3. The bat of claim 1, wherein the first and second connector portions includes first and second sets of threads, respectively, wherein the first set of threads is one of external threads and internal threads, wherein the second set of threads includes the other of external threads and internal threads, and wherein the first and second sets of threads are the releasable connection and provide the only threaded connection coupling the handle to the barrel.

4. The bat of claim 1, when the torque receiver comprises a polygonal external surface.

5. The bat of claim 1, the taper is releasably joined to the first connector portion.

6. The bat of claim 1 further comprising a handle taper extending from the handle and widening towards the barrel.

7. The bat of claim 1, where the first connector portion and the second connector portions radially overlap within the barrel taper.

8. The bat of claim 1, wherein the first connector portion axially extends beyond the taper into the internal bore.

9. The bat of claim 1, wherein the first connector portion is integrally formed as a single unitary body with the barrel taper.

10. The bat of claim 1 further comprising a spacing element positioned adjacent the barrel taper and the second connector portion.

11. The bat of claim 1, wherein the barrel taper and the first connector portion are separate components, and wherein the barrel taper and the first connector portion include rotation inhibiting structure to inhibit relative rotational movement between the barrel taper and the first connector portion.

12. The bat of claim 1 further comprising a knob releasably connected to the handle.

13. The bat of claim 12, further comprising electronics coupled to the knob.

14. The bat of claim 13, wherein the electronics includes at least one transmitter and/or one sensor.

15. The bat of claim 12, wherein the knob comprises:

a plug received within the handle; and

a head keyed to the plug against rotation about an axis of the handle and removably fastened to the plug against linear movement along the axis.

16. The bat of claim 1 further comprising an end cap releasably connected to the barrel.

17. The bat of claim 16, wherein the end cap comprises:

a cup secured within the barrel, the cup comprising;

a cavity;

a third connector portion; and

a cover having a fourth connector portion cooperating with the third connector portion to releasably secure the cover to the cup over the cavity.

18. The bat of claim 17 further comprising a secondary locking mechanism to retain the cover in a locked position over the cavity.

19. The bat of claim 17 further comprising a wireless transmitter received within the cup and covered by the cover.

20. The bat of claim 19 further comprising at least one sensor received within the cup and in communication with the wireless transmitter.

21. The bat of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the barrel overlaps at least a portion of the handle when the bat is fully assembled.

22. A bat comprising:

a barrel having a distal portion, a proximal portion and an internal bore;

a barrel taper axially engaging the proximal portion of the barrel from within the internal bore;

a first connector portion carried by the barrel taper;

a handle;

a second connector portion extending from the handle, the second connector portion cooperating with the first connector portion to axially draw the barrel taper against the internal bore to connect the barrel to the handle, the first connector portion comprises one of external threads and internal threads, the second connector portion comprises the other of the external threads and the internal threads; and

a torquing mechanism coupled to one of the first connector portion and the second connector portion, the torquing mechanism comprising at least one detent to receive a corresponding projection of a torquing tool.