Ball bat barrel with luminescent interior

• US 9,956,464 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• 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: Moritz, Richard E., Slater, Brent R., Epling, Sean S., Fritzke, Mark A., Thurman, Robert T., Goodwin, Ty B., Stenzler, Joshua S.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US15/065,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20160184681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 473457, 473566, 473567, 473568, 283 92
• 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 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/76 with means enabling use in the dark, other than powered illuminating means
• 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 59/58 characterised by the shape A63B59/55, A63B59/56 take precedence
• 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 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• 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

Abstract

A ball bat barrel has an interior surface and a luminescent layer on the interior surface. The luminescent layer, upon being charged, emits light that indicates tampering with the interior surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a longitudinally extending ball bat barrel having an interior surface and a distal end;

a luminescent layer on the interior surface, wherein the luminescent layer, upon being charged, emits light that indicates tampering with the interior surface; and

an end cap system including a cup fixedly secured to the distal end of the barrel, and a cover removably coupled to the cup, the cup including a planar floor recessed from the distal end and extending over a majority of a transverse cross-sectional area defined by the interior surface, the planar floor formed of a material that is transparent, translucent, semi-transparent or semi-translucent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floor is a window facilitating viewing of the luminescent layer upon the interior surface through the window.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interior surface comprises an inner circumferential surface and wherein the luminescent layer comprises a solid layer continuously extending across an entirety of the inner circumferential surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the luminescent layer comprises a material selected from a group of materials consisting of a zinc sulfide based compound and a strontium aluminate compound.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interior surface is non-luminescent.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a handle coupled to the barrel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the barrel comprises an aluminum layer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the luminescent layer comprises a sheet of luminescent material adhered to the interior surface of the ball bat barrel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the luminescent layer comprises a coating applied to the interior surface of the ball bat barrel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floor extends over at least 75 percent of the transverse area.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover is removably coupled to the cup by at least one fastener.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one fastener is one or both of a bayonet-type connection and a fastener.

13. A ball bat extending along a longitudinal axis, the bat comprising:

a handle;

a tubular barrel connected to or integral with the handle, the barrel comprising an interior surface, the barrel having a distal end defining a distal plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the inner surface of the tubular barrel at the distal plane defining an interior transverse area;

a luminescent layer on the interior surface, wherein the luminescent layer, upon being charged, emits light that indicates tampering with the interior surface; and

an end cap connected to the distal end of the barrel, the end cap comprising a cup inserted into the distal end of the barrel, the cup having a side wall and a floor, the floor including a window facilitating viewing of the luminescent layer upon the interior surface through the window, the window being recessed with respect to the distal plane, the window extending over at least 50 percent of the interior transverse area, the window comprising an unoccluded opening and wherein the ball bat further comprises a cover having a transparent portion opposite the unoccluded opening.

14. A ball bat extending along a longitudinal axis, the bat comprising:

a handle;

a tubular barrel connected to or integral with the handle, the barrel comprising an interior surface, the barrel having a distal end defining a distal plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the inner surface of the tubular barrel at the distal plane defining an interior transverse area;

a luminescent layer on the interior surface, wherein the luminescent layer, upon being charged, emits light that indicates tampering with the interior surface; and

an end cap connected to an axial end of the barrel, the end cap comprising a cup inserted into the distal end of the barrel, the cup having a side wall and a floor, the floor including a window facilitating viewing of the luminescent layer upon the interior surface through the window, the window being recessed with respect to the distal plane, the window extending over at least 50 percent of the interior transverse area, the end cap further including a cover extending over the cup and covering the window.