U.S. patent application number 11/122352 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-15 for system for adapting a sports implement.
Invention is credited to Haynes, James M..
Application Number | 20050202908 11/122352 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31976343 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050202908 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haynes, James M. |
September 15, 2005 |
System for adapting a sports implement
Abstract
The present invention is a sports implement for hitting a
pitched object. The sports implement includes attachments for a
contact end of the implement allowing variation of the weight
and/or length of the sports implement.
Inventors: |
Haynes, James M.;
(Philadelphia, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
REED SMITH LLP
2500 ONE LIBERTY PLACE
1650 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Family ID: |
31976343 |
Appl. No.: |
11/122352 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11122352 |
May 5, 2005 |
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10229875 |
Aug 28, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/564 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 60/00 20151001;
A63B 59/50 20151001; A63B 60/42 20151001; A63B 2102/18
20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/564 |
International
Class: |
A63B 059/06 |
Claims
1. A sports implement for hitting a pitched ball, said sports
implement having a grip end and a contacting end and an axis
extending between said grip end and said contacting end, said
contacting end having a tip end located distally from said grip
end, said sports implement further comprising: an engagement
feature located on said contacting end; at least one weight,
wherein said at least one weight engages said engagement feature;
and a cap, wherein said cap is removably secured to said at least
one weight.
2. A sports implement according to claim 1, wherein said engagement
feature comprises a substantially cylindrical bore in said
contacting end of said sports implement, said bore having an
opening at said tip end and a sidewall extending for a depth into
said sports implement, said bore having at least one retention
channel formed in said sidewall, and wherein said at least one
weight comprises a substantially cylindrical body and at least one
retention pin extending from said body, said cylindrical body
having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the
bore.
3. A sports implement according to claim 2, wherein said retention
channel has an engaged end, said sports implement further
comprising an elastic element, said elastic element biasing said
retention pin to said engaged end of said retention channel when
said at least one weight is engaged to said engagement feature.
4. A sports implement according to claim 3, wherein said at least
one weight each being individually engageable with said engagement
feature, said weights having varying masses.
5. A sports implement according to claim 1, wherein said engagement
feature further comprises first engagement face, said at least one
weight having a second attachment face, said first engagement face
contacting said second engagement face when said at least one
weight is engaged to said sports implement, said first and second
engagement faces having serrated surfaces.
6. A sports implement according to claim 2, wherein said engagement
feature comprises a bore in said contacting end of said sports
implement, said bore having an opening at said tip end and a
sidewall extending for a depth into said sports implement, said
bore having a female thread formed along at least a portion of said
sidewall, and wherein said at least one weight comprises a
substantially cylindrical body, said cylindrical body having a male
thread formed on at least a portion of said cylindrical body, said
male thread engageable with said female thread.
7. A sports implement according to claim 2, wherein said engagement
feature comprises a post extending from said tip end of said sports
implement, said post having a substantially cylindrical shape, said
post having at least one retention pin extending from a sidewall of
said post, and wherein said at least on e weight comprises a bore,
said bore having an opening, a diameter, and a long axis and a
sidewall extending for a depth along said long axis into said at
least one weight, said bore having at least one retention trough
formed in said sidewall, wherein said post has an outer diameter
slightly smaller than the diameter of the bore.
8. A sports implement for hitting a pitched object, said sports
implement having a grip adjacent a first end, a barrel, and a
barrel end located opposite said first end, said sports implement
further comprising: a weight attaching means located adjacent said
barrel end, said weight attaching means for selectively attaching a
weight; at least one weight means, said weight means for adjusting
the weight of the barrel of said sports implement, said weight
means further being engageable in said weight attaching means; and
a cap, wherein said cap is removably secured to said at least one
weight means.
9. A sports implement for hitting a pitched object according to
claim 8, wherein said weight attaching means further comprises an
engagement biasing means.
10. A sports implement according to claim 9, wherein said biasing
means comprises a spring located to exert force against said weight
means when said weight means is engaged in said weight attaching
means.
11. A sports implement according to claim 8, wherein said weight
means further comprises an engagement biasing means.
12. A sports implement according to claim 11, wherein said
engagement biasing means comprises a spring located to exert force
against said sports implement when said weight means is engaged in
said weight attaching means.
13. A sports implement for hitting a pitched object, said sports
implement having a first end and a second end and a center axis
extending from said first end to said second end, said sports
implement further comprising: an attachment engagement for
receiving an attachment located adjacent said first end; at least
one attachment, said at least one attachment adapted to engage said
attachment engagement; wherein said attachment engagement comprises
a socket, said socket having a floor, a depth, an opening adjacent
said first end, and at least one retention pin channel, said
retention pin channel having at least a first leg and a second leg,
said first leg extending from said opening adjacent said first end
and extending for at least a portion of said depth, said second leg
joining said first leg and forming an angle with said first leg,
said second leg not extending to said opening, wherein said at
least one attachment further comprises at least one retention pin,
said retention pin having a length adapted to engage said retention
pin channel; and a cap, wherein said cap is removably secured to
said at least one attachment.
14. A sports implement according to claim 13, wherein said
attachment engagement comprises a socket, said socket having a
floor, a depth, an opening adjacent said first end, and at least
one retention pin channel, said retention pin channel having at
least a first leg and a second leg, said first leg extending from
said opening adjacent said first end and extending for at least a
portion of said depth, said second leg joining said first leg and
forming an angle with said first leg, said second leg not extending
to said opening, and wherein said at least one weight further
comprises at least one retention pin, said retention pin having a
length adapted to engage said retention pin trough.
15. A sports implement according to claim 14, wherein said
attachment further comprises an elastic element, said elastic
element contacting said floor when said attachment is engaged in
said attachment engagement.
16. A sports implement according to claim 15, wherein said elastic
element is a spring.
17. A sports implement according to claim 14, wherein said
attachment engagement further comprises an elastic element attached
to said floor, said elastic element engaging said at least one
attachment when said at least one attachment is engaged in said
attachment engagement.
18. A sports implement according to claim 17, wherein said elastic
element comprises a spring.
19. A sports implement according to claim 13, wherein said
attachment engagement comprises at least one female thread, and
said at least one attachment comprises at least one male thread,
said at least one attachment being threadably engageable into said
attachment engagement.
20. A sports implement according to claim 19, wherein said
attachment engagement further comprises an elastic element, said
elastic element engaging said at least one attachment when said at
least one attachment is threadedly engaged in said attachment
engagement.
21. A sports implement according to claim 19, wherein said at least
one attachment further comprises an elastic element, said elastic
element engaging said floor when said at least one attachment is
threadedly engaged in said attachment engagement.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/229,875, filed Aug. 28, 2002 and entitled
`System For Adapting A Sports Implement`, the entire disclosure of
which is incorporated by reference herein as if being set forth in
its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention pertains to adjusting the weight of a
sports implement, and more particularly to adjusting the weight of
the barrel end of a baseball bat to allow the weight to be tailored
to an individual batter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The size, weight, and shape of a baseball bat effects the
kinematics of the swing of the baseball bat by a batter. The weight
of the barrel end affects the ability of the batter to swing the
bat rapidly enough to meet a pitched ball. A heavier barrel end
requires greater strength to achieve the same barrel speed as a
lighter barrel end. A heavier barrel end, however, carries greater
momentum when a pitched baseball is struck. In addition to the
weight of the barrel end of the bat, the length of the bat also
affects the ability of a batter to both control the swing, as well
as generate an effective barrel velocity at impact with a pitched
ball.
[0004] Typical baseball bats are formed from a substantially
homogenous material, such as wood or aluminum. Some bats are formed
from multiple materials, such as using a fiberglass handle with an
aluminum head. Notwithstanding, these bats are formed with a fixed
weight of the barrel end, fixed length, and fixed grip size.
[0005] In addition to affecting the swing of the bat at a pitched
ball, it is typical for a batter to desire a heavier barrel end of
the bat for practice swings, to both build up and stretch the
muscles used for swinging the bat. To this end, doughnuts may be
provided. Doughnuts are toroidal shaped weights that may be placed
around the barrel end of the bat to add weight to the barrel. The
use of a doughnut precludes the ability of the batter to actually
hit a ball when the doughnut is on the bat, since the doughnut does
not provide a uniform hitting surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is a sports implement for hitting a
pitched ball or the like. The contact end of the sports implement
is adapted to allow the selective engagement of varying weights or
contact extensions, hereinafter further referred to collectively as
attachments, to the sports implement, allowing weight and/or length
parameters of the sports implement to be varied as desired for
individual users of the sports implement, or as desired at various
times by an individual user.
[0007] The barrel end of the sports implement may be provided with
a system for allowing weights in the barrel end of a baseball bat
to be easily substituted to allow varying the barrel weight of a
bat, without varying the hitting surface of the bat. Such a system
may include weights having a smaller diameter than the contact
surface of the sports implement, such that the weights nested
within the end of the sports implement.
[0008] The attachment could also have an outer size and shape
consistent with the sports implement, allowing the attachment to
form a portion of the contact surface of the sports implement.
[0009] The attachment may be engaged to the sports implement by any
method however the use of a threaded joint as a bayonet joint
allows rapid engagement and removal of an attachment from the
sports implement.
[0010] Biasing means may be provided to ensure that an attachment
engaged to a sports implement remains engaged until such time as a
user decides to remove the attachment. The biasing means may
include an elastic element urging portion of the attachment and the
sports implement into contact, or creating a friction or other
retaining force to maintain engagement of the attachment to the
sports implement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0011] Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated
by consideration of the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to
like parts:
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a sports implement having a female socket
receptacle for engaging a weight to the end of a sports
implement;
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a weight for a sports implement where the
weight nests in the end of the sports implement without forming a
portion of the contact surface of the sports implement:
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a sports implement having a female socket
formed within a weight for engaging a post on the end of a sports
implement;
[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a sports implement having a male post
with retention pins nested within an end of a sports implement;
[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates a sports implement having a threaded
socket on the end of the sports implement for receiving a male
threaded post formed on a weight;
[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates the use of a pair of friction rings on
the joint surfaces between an attachment and a sports implement,
with the sports implement shown in cross section and the attachment
shown in profile;
[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates the use of serrated surface features on
the engagement faces between a weight and a sports implement;
and
[0019] FIG. 8 illustrates an intermediate engagement device formed
to allow the engagement features to be added to an attachment or
sports implement rather than formed integrally with the attachment
or sports implement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of
the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements
that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present
invention, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, many
other elements found in sporting implement systems and devices.
Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that other
elements and/or steps are desirable and/or required in implementing
the present invention. However, because such elements and steps are
well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better
understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such
elements and steps is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is
directed to all such variations and modifications to such elements
and methods known to those skilled in the art.
[0021] In FIG. 1, wherein like numbers represent like elements,
there is shown a sports implement 2 in the form of a baseball bat
4. The sports implement may have a grip end 6 and a contact end 8.
A weight 10 or other attachment may be provided with a method for
engaging the weight to the contact end of the sports implement. In
the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the method for engaging
comprises a receptacle 12 formed in the tip end 14 of the sports
implement. The receptacle may be a bore 16 drilled into the end of
the sports implement, allowing a cylindrical portion 18 of the
weight 10 to be engaged within the bore 16. A retention pin 20 or
pins may be provided on the sidewall 22 of the cylindrical portion
18. A retention channel 24 may be provided on a sidewall 26 of the
bore 16. The retention channel 24 may have a first leg 28 and a
second leg 30, and a portion 32 connecting the first leg 28 and the
second leg 30. The first leg may extend to an opening 34 in the end
of the bore 16, allowing a retention pin 20 to slide into the
retention channel 24 when the cylindrical portion of the weight is
engaged into the bore. An elastic element 38 such as a spring may
be provided at the bottom of the bore to resist engagement of the
cylindrical portion of the weight into the bore. The second leg 30
of the retention channel may be parallel to the first leg 28,
without extending to the opening 34, such that the cylindrical
portion of the weight and the retention pin may be forced into the
bore, and then twisted to move the retention pin 20 into the second
leg 30. Alternatively, the second leg 30 may be orthogonal to the
long axis of the sports implement, such that when the retention
pins are in the second leg, such that the engagement faces (26, 28)
remain in tight contact. The elastic element may then force the
retention pin against the end of the second leg. As shown in FIG.
2, the weight may be formed such that it does not form a contact
surface on the sports implement.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the bore 32 may be formed into the
attachment, shown as a barrel extension 34, with a cylindrical post
section 36 extending from the sports implement 2. An elastic
element 38 may be provided around the periphery of the engagement
end of the sports implement to both provide a biasing function for
engagement of the retention pin 40 into the retention channel 42,
as well as to provide a smooth exterior contact surface 44.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, the attachment may be selected so as to
have an outer diameter greater than the diameter of a pocket 402 on
the end of the sports implement 2. A post having retention pins 406
may be located in the pocket 402, such that engagement of an
attachment within the pocket 402 allows the attachment to nest
within the end of the sports implement 2. Alternately, the post 404
may be formed with male threads (not shown) on the exterior of the
post, allowing an attachment having female threads to be threadedly
engaged to the post 404. A retention feature, such as a friction
ring elastic element, or other device as described in this
specification may be provided to ensure retention of the attachment
onto the end of the sports implement.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 5, the attachment 500 may be joined to the
sports implement using a threaded connection 502. The attachment
500 may form a portion of the contact surface 504 of the sports
implement 2, such that varying the length of the attachment 500
allows variation of the length of the sports implement 2, as well
as variation of the area of the contact surface 504 of the sports
implement. A bore 506 may be drilled and tapped with female threads
508 in the end of the sports implement 2. A retention ring 510,
such as a rubber gasket, may be provided adjacent to the periphery
of a contact face to provide sufficient friction between the
attachment 500 and the sports implement 2 to prevent the attachment
500 from rotating and loosening the threaded connection in an
undesired fashion. The attachment 500 may be provided with surface
features 512 such as grooves or knurling (not shown) to allow a
stronger grip on the attachment when attaching or detaching the
attachment 500 from the sports implement 2.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 6, when a bayonet fitting (retention pin
and retention channel) is used for the connection between the
attachment 600 and the sports implement 2, care must be shown with
regard to the design of the retention channel 602. The retention
pins 604 will exert a force against the retention channel 602 in an
amount related to the mass of the weight and the speed and
acceleration of the attachment 600. Thus, the retention pins 604
must be of sufficient size and strength to prevent failure of the
pins 604, which could result in an undesired separation of the
attachment 600 from the sports implement 2.
[0026] Furthermore, the design of the retention channel 602 must
address the force generated by the acceleration of the weight on
the end of the bat, which may tend to force the attachment 600 away
from the sports implement 2, creating a gap between the attachment
600 and the sports implement 2 where the attachment 600 is used to
form a portion of the contact surface 606 of the sports implement
2. The use of an L-shaped retention channel 608 allows the
attachment to be snugly mounted against the sports implement 2, but
may not provide a positive detent to ensure retention of the
attachment 600 to the sports implement 2. A friction ring 610, such
as a thin rubber washer or a pair of rubber washers may be added to
the end surfaces 612, 614 of the attachment 600 and/or sports
implement 2 to improve the retention of the attachment 600 to the
sports implement 2. Alternately, serrated surface features 700,
such as shown in FIG. 7, may be implemented to provide a positive
detent where the retention channel 702 is not shaped to provide
such a detent. A serrated surface feature 704, 706 formed from an
elastic material, such as a spring steel, rubber, or other
elastomer, may be provided on contact faces on the attachment 700
and sports implement 2. Engagement of the serrated surface features
may require the two serrated surfaces to deform to allow rotation
of the retention pins into the lateral legs of the retention
channel, such that the contact between the serrated surfaces
provides an anti-rotation force when the attached 700 is engaged to
sports implement 2. Proper design of the serrated surface features
allows a tight joint to be accomplished, allowing the weight to
form a portion of the contact surface without an undesirable gap
being present between the attachment and the sports implement 2.
The serrations may be saw tooth or wave shaped.
[0027] Although the engagement means has heretofore been
illustrated as integral to the sports implement or to the
attachment, the engagement means may be also formed through
fabrication of an intermediary engagement device formed to be
joined to the sports implement or to an attachment. As shown in
FIG. 8, a male engagement device 802 may be provided with male
threads 804 at one end and retention pins 806 at an opposite end.
An attachment 800 may thus be formed with a bore 808 which is
internally threaded 810 to receive the male engagement device 802.
This allows simpler forming tasks to be required to adapt the end
of the sports implement 2 for engagement to an attachment 800.
Also, a female engagement device 810 may be formed having external
threads 812, and a central bore 814 having a retention through 816
and biasing element 818, such as a spring. A sports implement 2 may
thus be adapted for receiving the female engagement device 810 by
drilling and threading 820 a bore in the engagement face 822 of the
sports implement. The use of intermediate engagement devices 802,
810 may allow the implementation of attachments according to the
present invention to sports implements which were previously
manufactured, by allowing basic machining (drilling and threading)
to be used to adapt the sports implement and/or attachment for
implementation of attachments according to the present
invention.
[0028] As is apparent from the above description, the benefits of
the present invention are not limited to baseball bats, but extend
to other sports implements used to impact thrown or flying objects,
such as, but not limited to, softball bats or cricket bats.
[0029] Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many
modifications and variations of the present invention may be
implemented without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers
the modifications and variations of this invention provided they
come within the scope of the appended claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *