U.S. patent application number 10/228520 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-29 for pressurized sports hitting implement.
Invention is credited to Barletta, John F., Leal, Jose E., Ullman, Donald.
Application Number | 20040082413 10/228520 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32106352 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040082413 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leal, Jose E. ; et
al. |
April 29, 2004 |
Pressurized sports hitting implement
Abstract
A light weight, pressurized hitting implement, such as a
baseball bat, is disclosed that has a one piece outer shell having
both a striking portion and a handle portion. The striking portion
end of the outer shell furthest from the handle portion is open and
a tubular element is inserted therein and pressurized to provide
improved rigidity and rebound to the hitting implement. There is a
support means cap attached to the open end of the striking portion
to provide protection against splitting of the open end of the
hitting implement during use, and to retain the pressurized tubular
element inside the outer shell of the hitting implement.
Inventors: |
Leal, Jose E.; (Stow,
MA) ; Barletta, John F.; (Southborough, MA) ;
Ullman, Donald; (Fairfield, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Joseph E. Funk
PO Box 661
Londonderry
NH
03053
US
|
Family ID: |
32106352 |
Appl. No.: |
10/228520 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/564 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2225/62 20130101;
A63B 2102/18 20151001; A63B 2208/12 20130101; A63B 59/50
20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/564 |
International
Class: |
A63B 059/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sports hitting implement comprising: a one piece outer shell
having both a striking portion and a handle portion, the outer
shell being hollow; and a pressurizable element mounted inside the
hollow striking portion, the pressurizable element being
pressurized to improve the hitting quality of the hitting
implement.
2. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 1 wherein
the end of the outer shell furthest from handle portion is
open.
3. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 2 wherein
the pressurizable element is inserted inside the hollow striking
portion through the open end of the outer shell, and is then
pressurized.
4. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 3 wherein
the hollow outer shell has inside walls and when the pressurizable
element is inflated it contacts the inside walls.
5. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 4 further
comprising a support means around the outside of the outer shell
adjacent the open end of the outer shell.
6. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 5 wherein
the pressurizable element includes an inflation valve used to
pressurize the pressurizable element after it is inserted into the
open end of the outer shell, and the inflation valve is accessed at
the open end of the outer shell.
7. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 6 wherein
after the hitting implement is completely assembled the valve of
the pressurizable element is accessible at the open end of the
outer shell, and the pressurization of the pressurizable element
may be changed by a use of the hitting implement.
8. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 7 further
comprising a support means around the outside of the outer shell
adjacent the open end of the outer shell.
9. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 8 wherein
the pressurizable element is inserted inside the hollow striking
portion through the open end of the outer shell, and is then
pressurized.
10. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 9 wherein
the hollow outer shell has inside walls and when the pressurizable
element is pressurized it contacts the inside walls.
11. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 10
wherein the pressurizable element comprises an inflation valve used
to pressurize the pressurizable element after it is inserted into
the open end of the outer shell, and the inflation valve is
accessed at the open end of the outer shell.
12. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 11
wherein after the hitting implement is completely assembled the
valve of the pressurizable element is accessible at the open end of
the outer shell, and the pressurization of the pressurizable
element may be changed by a use of the hitting implement.
13. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 1 wherein
the hollow outer shell has inside walls and when the pressurizable
element is pressurized it contacts the inside wall.
14. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 13
wherein the pressurizable element comprises an inflation valve used
to pressurize the pressurizable element after it is inserted into
the open end of the outer shell, and the inflation valve is
accessed at the open end of the outer shell.
15. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 14
wherein after the hitting implement is completely assembled the
inflation valve is accessible at the end of the outer shell
furthest from the handle portion.
16. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 15
wherein after the hitting implement is completely assembled the
valve of the pressurizable element is accessible at the open end of
the outer shell, and the pressurization of the pressurizable
element may be changed by a use of the hitting implement.
17. A sports hitting implement comprising: a one piece outer shell
having both a striking portion and a handle portion, the outer
shell being hollow; and a compressable element mounted inside the
hollow striking portion, the compressable element improving the
hitting quality of the hitting implement.
18. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 17
wherein the compressable element is inserted inside the hollow
striking portion and presses against the inside of the striking
portion of the hollow outer shell.
19. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 18
wherein the outer shell furthest from handle portion is open, and
the compressable element is inserted inside the hollow striking
portion through the open end of the outer shell.
20. The sports hitting implement in accordance with claim 19
wherein the compressable element is closed cell foam that is
compressed and inserted into the open end of the outer shell and is
allowed to decompress to contact and press against the inside of
the hollow striking portion of the hitting implement.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to sports hitting implements,
such as baseball bats, and more particularly to a lightweight,
hollow sports hitting implement that is pressurized to improve the
rigidity of the sports hitting implement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Sports in many variations are enjoyed by many people. Many
sports utilize a hitting implement to strike and drive an element
such as a ball. An example is a baseball bat that is used to hit a
hard ball or a soft ball. Baseball in its many variations is a
pastime enjoyed by many people. Depending on the age and preference
of the player, the bat used in baseball and related sports may be a
heavy wood or aluminum model, as used by adolescents and adults in
baseball, or a light, hollow plastic bat, such as are used by
children to hit light weight balls. One disadvantage of existing
light weight, plastic bats is that they have little elastic rebound
and therefore do not drive a hit ball very far, and being of light
weight have little kinetic energy when swung that can be
transferred to a ball that is hit. The heavier wood or aluminum
bats have good rebound, but are unsuitable for use by small
children due to the hardness and weight of the bat. In fact they
can pose a danger to young children.
[0003] In response to the above described deficiencies with
existing light weight, plastic bats, two types of pressurized
plastic bats have been developed. In the simpler of these two
types, a bat-shaped container is formed from polycarbonate and
charged with air. This single-chamber pressurized bat provides a
good rebound while retaining the light weight of other plastic
bats. The second type of pressurized, plastic bat that has been
developed uses two pieces: an un-pressurized handle and a
pressurized striking portion. The pressurized striking portion is
similar to a two-liter soda bottle, but includes a neck which is
adapted to be joined to the handle. The handle and striking
portions are fastened or clamped together by a coupler.
[0004] However, multiple piece bats fastened together using a
coupler creates a complexity that significantly adds to the cost of
the bat, and the coupler too often loosens during use. Thus, there
is a need in the prior art for a less expensive, improved, light
weight, pressurized, plastic bat having improved rigidity and
rebound.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The aforementioned need in the prior art is satisfied by the
present invention. The present invention is a lightweight, hollow
sports hitting implement, such as a baseball bat, with a one piece
outer shell, having both a striking portion and a handle portion as
a single part, and the end furthest from the handle portion is
open. A pre-formed, sealed, pressurizable tubular element is
inserted into the inside of the striking end of the hitting
implement via the open end of the outer shell. There is a support
cap fastened to the end of the striking portion of the hitting
implement, at the furthest extreme from the handle portion, to
provide protection from splitting to the open end of the striking
portion of the bat, and to help retain the tubular element inside
the striking portion of the hitting implement. The tubular element
has an inflation valve that is accessed at the open end of the
striking portion of the hitting implement to pressurize the tubular
element after the hitting implement is assembled to thereby provide
improved rigidity and rebound to the hitting implement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0006] The invention will be better understood upon reviewing the
following Detailed Description of the invention in conjunction with
the drawing in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a sports hitting implement
according to the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the bat according to the
present invention showing the individual elements of the sports
hitting implement; and
[0009] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the sports hitting
implement according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] In FIG. 1 is shown a side view showing a pressurized sports
hitting implement 10 according to the present invention. The
preferred embodiment of the sports hitting implement described
herein is a plastic bat 10 but the hitting implement may be cricket
bat, hockey stick, croquet mallet, etcetera. A one piece outer
shell 11 of bat 10 is hollow and is blow molded from polyvinyl
chloride or a polycarbonate material in a manner well known in the
art, and may be of any color. Outer shell 11 of bat 10 may also
injection molded from polyethylene structural foam to allow
relatively thick sections, such as handle portion 11b, while
maintaining a light weight. The outer shell 11 has a striking
portion 1 la used to strike a ball or other play implement (not
shown), and a handle portion 11b having a gripping region 15 with a
knob 16 at the bottom end in a manner well known in the art.
Opposite knob 16, handle portion 11b tapers outward to become
striking portion 11a of bat 10. The end of striking portion 11a of
bat 10 furthest from knob 16 is open (not seen in FIG. 1) as seen
in and described better with reference to FIG. 3 as open end
17.
[0011] The end of striking portion 11a of bat 10 furthest from knob
16 has a support means in the form of cap 12 attached thereto to
prevent the open end of striking portion 11a (not shown) from
splitting when bat 10 is used. It is preferred that support means
cap 12 be made of a material harder than that used to make one
piece outer shell 11, to provide the needed strength to the open
end of striking portion 11a to prevent splitting. Support means cap
12 may be either adhesively attached or heat fused to the open end
of outer shell 11. Cap 12 has a hole 19 through its center that
permits access to a valve 14 of a tubular element 13 inside
striking portion 11a. Support cap 12 retains a tubular element 13
inside striking portion 11a and is attached after element 13 is
inserted inside outer shell 11.
[0012] A pre-formed, tubular element 13 is inserted into the open
end of striking portion 11a before support cap 12 is attached to
the end of striking portion 11a. Tubular element 13 has an
inflation valve 14 mounted in a one of its ends that is accessable
through hole 19 after support cap 12 is attached. Element 13 is
then pressurized using the exposed inflation valve 14. This is
better seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Pressurization of tubular element 13
is done during manufacture, but a user of the bat may thereafter
add to or decrease the pressurization using an air pump with an air
injection needle. The pressurization of element 13 assures that it
is in contact with the inside surface of striking portion 11a to
improve the rigidity and rebound of bat 10 in accordance with the
teaching of the invention. Outer shell 11 may be colored and be
opaque or have some transparency so that tubular element 13 may be
seen inside. When outer shell 11 is transparent, element 13 may
have a different color than outer shell 11 to provide a pleasing,
aesthetic appearance.
[0013] In FIG. 2 is shown an exploded view of all the elements
making up bat 10 according to the present invention. These elements
have all been briefly described in reference to FIG. 1. There is
the one piece outer shell 11 having striking portion 11a and handle
portion 11b. Outer shell 11 is preferably blow molded, as
previously described, but may be injection molded. Support cap 12
is fastened to open end 17 of striking portion 11 a using an
adhesive or thermal fusion to prevent the open end 17 from
splitting when bat 10 is in use. As previously described it is
preferred that support cap 12 be fabricated from a material harder
than the material used to make one piece outer shell 11, but the
same material may be used. The open end 17 of outer shell 11 has a
necked down portion 18, as seen in FIG. 2, over which support cap
12 is placed and attached as previously described. After being
attached to portion 18 support cap 12 forms a smooth, continuous
surface with outer shell 11 as seen in both FIGS. 1 and 3. Support
cap 12 is generally hemispherical with a hole 19 that leaves
inflation valve 14 exposed for use. Support cap 12 holds tubular
element 13 inside striking portion 11a.
[0014] Tubular element 13 is pressurized via a valve 14, well known
in the art for inflating basketballs and footballs, in its end wall
as shown. Tubular element 13 is inserted into the interior of outer
shell 11 via open end 17. Tubular element 13 is fabricated from a
flexible material, preferably polyvinyl chloride (PVC). After the
insertion of tubular element 13 into the open end 17 of outer shell
11 and the attachment of support cap 12, as previously described,
element 13 is pressurized using valve 14. Element 13 substantially
fills the striking end 11a and presses against the inside walls of
striking portion 11 a, as seen in FIG. 3. After pressurization of
tubular element 13, valve 14 is still seen and is accessible at the
end of bat 10 through hole 19 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. While
pressurization of tubular element 13 is initially done during
manufacture, a user of the bat may thereafter add to or decrease
the pressurization using an air pump with an air injection needle.
This modifies the striking characteristic of bat 10. The
pressurized tubular element 13 cooperates with striking portion 11
a to favorably affect the reaction thereof when a ball is hit by
providing improved rigidity and rebound to bat 10.
[0015] In FIG. 3 is shown a cross-sectional view through bat 10.
When tubular element 13 is pressurized by inflating it, the
increased pressure forces the outer walls of tubular element 13
into close contact with the inside walls of outer shell 11 as is
seen in FIG. 3.
[0016] In manufacture of bat 10, tubular element 13 is easily and
quickly inserted into the open end 17 of outer shell 11, support
cap 12 is easily and quickly assembled onto the tapered outer end
18 of striking portion 11 a using an adhesive or thermal fusion,
and tubular element is easily and quickly pressurized. The overall
result is less expensive manufacturing costs for bat 10.
[0017] In an alternative embodiment of the invention an inflatable,
pressurizable, tubular element 13 is not utilized. Rather, a
compressible material is used, such as closed cell foam, which is
stiff but compressible. Preferably it is closed cell polyurethane
foam. The foam tubular element has an outside diameter greater than
the inside diameter of the striking portion 11a of hollow outer
shell 11, so during assembly it is first compressed to decrease its
diameter to a size less than the inside diameter of striking
portion 11a. The compressed foam tubular element is then easily
inserted into the open end 17 of outer shell 11. Upon being
completely inserted inside striking portion 11a it is released and
it expands to contact the inside wall of striking portion 11a.
Since the relaxed diameter of the foam tubular element is greater
than the inside diameter of the striking portion 11a the foam
remains in a partially compressed state wherein it excerpts
pressure against the inside walls of striking portion 11a. A
support cap 12 is still utilized to protect the open end of outer
shell 11 from splitting, but in this embodiment there is no need
for an opening 19 to access an inflation valve 14. Alternatively,
the support cap may be deleted and the wall thickness of striking
portion 11a increased to provide the required protection against
the open end of outer shell 11a splitting when the bat is in use.
In this configuration the end of foam tubular element is
exposed.
[0018] While what has been described herein is the preferred
embodiment of the invention those skilled in the art will
understand that numerous changes may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, other methods
of fabricating one piece outer shell 11 may be utilized than the
methods described herein. Further, some adhesive may be used to
initially attach tubular element 13 to the inside of striking
portion 11a during assembly of bat 10. In addition, tubular element
11a may not be pre-formed but instead be a balloon like bladder
that is initially limp but is inflated after it is inserted inside
the open end 17 of striking portion 11a.
* * * * *