U.S. patent application number 11/380808 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-01 for a practice bat.
Invention is credited to Phil B. Wilson.
Application Number | 20070254751 11/380808 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38649009 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070254751 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilson; Phil B. |
November 1, 2007 |
A Practice Bat
Abstract
The present invention provides for a practice bat having a
handle and a barrel, both of which can be made from wood or other
material, and a shaft being made from plastic, carbon, fiberglass
or other material. The diameter of the shaft is less than the
diameter of the either the handle or barrel.
Inventors: |
Wilson; Phil B.; (Harrison,
AR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LARIVIERE, GRUBMAN & PAYNE, LLP
19 UPPER RAGSDALE DRIVE, SUITE 200
MONTEREY
CA
93940
US
|
Family ID: |
38649009 |
Appl. No.: |
11/380808 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/457 ;
473/564 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/0002 20130101;
A63B 2102/182 20151001; A63B 59/52 20151001; A63B 2102/18 20151001;
A63B 60/08 20151001; A63B 2209/02 20130101; A63B 59/50 20151001;
A63B 2069/0008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/457 ;
473/564 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/00 20060101
A63B069/00; A63B 59/00 20060101 A63B059/00 |
Claims
1. A practice bat comprising: a handle having a tip end and a butt
end, said handle having regulation sized measurements; a barrel
having regulation sized measurements so as to engage regulation
balls; and a flexible shaft having a smaller diameter than said
handle and said barrel, said shaft having a first end embedded
along the longitudinal axis of said handle and a second end
embedded along the longitudinal axis of said barrel, wherein the
combined weight of said handle, said barrel and said shaft being
approximately the same weight as an actual bat.
2. The practice bat of claim 1 wherein said handle is made from
wood.
3. The practice bat of claim 1 wherein said handle is between 9
inches and 11 inches in length.
4. The practice bat of claim 1 wherein said barrel is made from
wood.
5. The practice bat of claim 1 wherein said barrel is between 7
inches and 8 inches in length.
6. The practice bat of claim 1 wherein said shaft has a diameter of
between 1/4 inch and 3/4 inch.
7. The practice bat of claim 1 wherein said first end of said shaft
is embedded the entire length of said handle.
8. The practice bat of claim 1 wherein said second end of said
shaft is embedded the entire length of said barrel.
9. The practice bat of claim 1 wherein said shaft is made from
material from the group consisting of plastic, carbon and
fiberglass.
10. The practice bat of claim 1 further comprising a ferrule
mounted on said shaft adjacent said handle.
11. The practice bat of claim 1 wherein said barrel further
comprises one or more weighted inserts located within said
barrel.
12. A practice bat comprising: a wooden handle having a tip end and
a butt end; a wooden barrel; and a flexible fiberglass shaft having
a smaller diameter than said handle and said barrel, said shaft
having a first end embedded along the longitudinal axis of said
handle and a second end embedded along the longitudinal axis of
said barrel, wherein the combined weight of said handle, said
barrel and said shaft being approximately the same weight as an
actual bat.
13. The practice bat of claim 12 wherein said handle is between 9
inches and 11 inches in length.
14. The practice bat of claim 12 wherein said barrel is between 7
inches and 8 inches in length.
15. The practice bat of claim 12 wherein said shaft has a diameter
of between 1/4 inch and 3/4 inch.
16. The practice bat of claim 12 further comprising a ferrule
mounted on said shaft adjacent said handle.
17. The practice bat of claim 12 wherein said barrel further
comprises one or more weighted inserts located within said
barrel.
18. A practice bat comprising: a wooden handle having a tip end and
a butt end, said handle being between 9 inches and 11 inches in
length; a wooden barrel, said barrel being between 7 inches and 8
inches in length; one or more weighted inserts located within said
barrel; a flexible fiberglass shaft having a diameter of between
1/4 inch and 3/4 inch, said shaft having a first end embedded along
the longitudinal axis of said handle and a second end embedded
along the longitudinal axis of said barrel; and a ferrule mounted
on said shaft adjacent said handle, wherein the combined weight of
said handle, said barrel and said shaft being approximately the
same weight as an actual bat.
Description
REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/433,086 filed on 12 Dec. 2002 entitled
PRACTICE BAT and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/733,118 filed
on Dec. 11, 2003 entitled PRACTICE BAT.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0002] This application is not referenced in any microfiche
appendix.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates to a baseball or softball practice
bat.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Practice bats for baseball and softball have been previously
provided. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,246,894 and 5,014,984.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,894 a training bat is disclosed which
uses a handle portion connected to a barrel portion by a reduced
diameter central section. The bat of the '894 patent is intended to
teach a batter to hit the ball with the barrel portion or sweet
spot of the bat. It, however, has disadvantages. It requires
absolute rigidity that renders such device easily breakable. A
further disadvantage is shown by the requirement that its reduced
diameter central section to be constructed of a more dense material
than its barrel or handle sections. By having this requirement, the
weight balance of this device is offset which in turn has an
adverse effect on the user's ability to use this device. The
batting apparatus of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,984 is also intended
to teach a batter to hit the sweet spot of the bat. It is believed
that neither of the devices of the '894 and '984 patents has met
with success since neither is of regulation weight and may not have
regulation diameters and the critical areas of the bat.
[0005] Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,949,036 issued to Ciesar.
This device includes a shaft; two handgrip portions wherein on is a
permanently fixed "handle" at one end of the shaft and the second
being a "slide" being configured to slide along the shaft; and a
head portion secured to the other end of the shaft. This training
device has disadvantages in that it is not to be used with actual
balls or is of regulation weight and may not have regulation
diameters and the critical areas of the bat.
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a new practice bat that
more accurately resembles an actual bat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A baseball or softball training bat is disclosed which is of
regulation weight. The training bat includes a regulation diameter
wood bat can handle having a shaft extending there from to a
regulation diameter wood barrel portion. The shaft is preferably
comprised of fiberglass material and has a diameter less than the
diameter of the bat handle. The ends of the shaft are embedded in
the bat handle and barrel. A ferrule is mounted on the shaft
adjacent the handle portion to strengthen the bat. In the preferred
embodiment, the bat is of regulation weight and approximately
1''-3'' shorter then regulation. In practice, if the batter hits a
baseball with the shaft, rather than the sweet spot, it will be
very noticeable and will encourage the batter to focus on hitting
the baseball with the barrel or sweet spot.
[0008] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims. For a better
understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the
specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to
the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are
illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. The foregoing
has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention.
These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some
of the more prominent feature and applications of the present
invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by
applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by
modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure.
Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the
invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments
in addition to the scope of the invention illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
training bat of this invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a planned view of the embodiment of training bat
of this invention as set forth in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of an additional
embodiment of the training bat of this invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a top cross-sectional view along line AA of the
embodiment of the training bat of this invention as shown in FIG.
3;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of an additional
embodiment of the training bat of this invention; and
[0014] FIG. 6 is a top cross-sectional view along line BB of the
embodiment of the training bat of this invention as shown in FIG.
3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] The following detailed description shows the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made for the purpose
of illustrating the general principles of the invention and the
best mode for practicing the invention, since the scope of the
invention is best defined by the appended claims. The invention is
capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out
in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description
and not of limitation.
[0016] The numeral 10 refers to an embodiment of the training bat
of this invention which is designed for use in training baseball
and softball players to hit the sweet spot (barrel) of the bat.
Although the bat is ideally suited for the use in baseball
practice, the bat could be modified somewhat so as to have the
regulation weight of a softball bat with regulation diameters in
the handle and barrel portions thereof.
[0017] Bat 10 includes a regulation bat handle 12 preferably
comprised of wood, although other materials may be used. Handle 12
has a regulation diameter and is preferably 9''-11'' in length.
Handle 12 has a tip or butt 14 at one and thereof. A shaft 16 has a
first end and a second end. The first end is embedded in handle 12
and extends there from. Shaft 16 is preferably 1/4'' to 3/4''
diameter rod made from plastic, carbon, fiberglass or other
materials. As seen in drawings, shaft 16 has a reduced diameter
with respect to handle 12. The second end of shaft 16 is embedded
in barrel 18. Barrel 18 is of regulation design, is preferably
7''-8'' long and has a regulation diameter. Preferably, barrel 18
is comprised of wood but could be constructed of other materials is
so desired. Ferrule 22 is mounted on shaft 16 adjacent handle 12. A
ferrule 22 is mounted on the shaft 16 adjacent handle 12 to
strengthen the bat in the area where the shaft 16 enters the handle
12. The shaft 16 may be embedded with substantially the entire
lengths of the handle 12 and barrel 18 or a portion of the lengths
thereof.
[0018] The training bat or practice bat of this invention is
designed for use with regulation balls and the handle and barrel
portions or of regulation weight and diameter for all softball in
baseball leagues, from professional to amateur as well as
variations of regulation measurements used for youth practice and
juvenile and toddler bats. In the juvenile and toddler models, the
bats will be comprised of plastic.
[0019] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, an additional embodiment 50
of the inventive practice bat is disclosed. This embodiment 50
includes a barrel 52 and shaft 56 configuration as previously set
forth, that shaft 56 has a first end embedded in a handle (not
shown) and a second end 54 embedded in barrel 52. In this
embodiment 50, second end 54 does not penetrate the entire length
of barrel 52 but rather only penetrates a fraction of the length of
barrel 52. Moreover, the composition of the barrel 52, shaft 56 and
handle are as set forth above. This embodiment 50 also includes the
additional of a weighted insert 58 into the barrel 52. This
weighted insert 58 allows embodiment 50 to imitate the same weight
and balance of a regulation bat. When the term regulation bat is
used, it is meant a bat that is used in regulation play.
Additionally, the use of a single weighted insert 58 is for
illustrative purposes. Those skilled in the art would recognize
that more than one weighted insert 58 could be utilized.
[0020] As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, weighted insert 58 is
permanently secured inside barrel 52. End cap 60 is used to prevent
weighted insert 58 from any inadvertent slippage of the weighted
insert 58 from inside barrel 52. Such slippage could cause damage
to embodiment 50 or could cause injury to the user or onlookers.
Weighted insert 58 can be made from various metals such as lead,
steel or iron. The dimensions of weighted insert 58 can vary to
meet the needs of the user.
[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, an additional embodiment 70
of the inventive practice bat is disclosed. This embodiment 70
includes a barrel 72 and shaft 74 configuration as previously set
forth, that shaft 74 has a first end embedded in a handle (not
shown) and a second end 76 embedded in barrel 72. In this
embodiment 70, second end 76 penetrates nearly the entire length of
barrel 72. End cap 78 is used to assist in securing second end 76
to barrel 72. Moreover, the composition of the barrel 72, shaft 74
and handle are as set forth above. This embodiment 70 also includes
the additional of a plurality of weighted inserts 80 into the
barrel 72. Weighted inserts 80 allows embodiment 70 to imitate the
same weight and balance of a regulation bat. When the term
regulation bat is used, it is meant a bat that is used in
regulation play.
[0022] As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, weighted insert 80 is
permanently secured inside barrel 72. End caps 82 are used to
prevent weighted insert 80 from any inadvertent slippage of the
weighted inserts 80 from inside barrel 72. Weighted inserts 80 can
be made from various metals such as lead, steel or iron. The
dimensions of weighted insert 80 can vary to meet the needs of the
user.
[0023] While embodiments of the present invention have been
illustrated and described, such disclosures should not be regarded
as any limitation of the scope of our invention. The true scope of
our invention is defined in the appended claims.
[0024] As has been demonstrated, the present invention provides an
advantageous apparatus and method for maintaining alignment and
balance of a massive rotating cylindrical drum within close
tolerances. While the preferred embodiments of the present
invention have been described, additional variations and
modifications in those embodiments may occur to those skilled in
the art once they learn of the basic inventive concepts. Therefore,
it is intended that the appended claims shall be construed to
include both the preferred embodiment and all such variations and
modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *