U.S. patent application number 14/511991 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-16 for ball bats with reinforcing inserts.
The applicant listed for this patent is Compass Polymer Solutions LLC. Invention is credited to Kevin A. Schullstrom.
Application Number | 20150105189 14/511991 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52810132 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150105189 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schullstrom; Kevin A. |
April 16, 2015 |
BALL BATS WITH REINFORCING INSERTS
Abstract
A ball bat includes a cylindrical barrel portion surrounding a
tubular insert. The tubular insert comprises a thermoplastic
material. The length, diameter, wall thickness, position and weight
of the insert may be controlled in order to improve performance of
the ball bat.
Inventors: |
Schullstrom; Kevin A.;
(Saugerties, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Compass Polymer Solutions LLC |
Pittsburgh |
PA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52810132 |
Appl. No.: |
14/511991 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61889702 |
Oct 11, 2013 |
|
|
|
61951903 |
Mar 12, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/567 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2209/00 20130101;
A63B 59/54 20151001; A63B 59/50 20151001; A63B 2102/18 20151001;
A63B 2209/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/567 |
International
Class: |
A63B 59/06 20060101
A63B059/06 |
Claims
1. A ball bat comprising: a cylindrical barrel portion having an
inner surface; and a tubular insert inside the cylindrical barrel
portion having a cylindrical outer surface, wherein the tubular
insert comprises a thermoplastic material having a tensile strength
above 5,000 psi.
2. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical outer
surface of the tubular insert is in contact with the inner surface
of the cylindrical barrel portion.
3. The ball bat according to claim 2, wherein the tubular insert is
adhesively bonded to the cylindrical barrel portion.
4. The ball bat according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical outer
surface of the tubular insert is friction fit or press fit against
the inner surface of the cylindrical barrel portion.
5. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical outer
surface of the tubular insert is spaced from the inner surface of
the cylindrical barrel portion to form a gap therebetween.
6. The ball bat according to claim 5, wherein the gap is from 0.001
to 0.1 inch.
7. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the tubular insert
weighs from 1 to 10 ounces.
8. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic
material has a compressive strength above 10,000 psi.
9. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic
material comprises one or more thermoplastic materials chosen from
polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene,
ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene,
polybutylene terephthalate, polychlorotrifluoroethylene,
perfluoroalkoxy, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetheretherketone,
acetal, polyethylene terephthalate, ultra high molecular weight
polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene,
polypropylene, polymethylpentene, polysulfone, polyetherimide,
polyethersulfone, polyarylsulfone, polyarylethersulfone,
polycarbonate, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene ether,
thermoplastic polyurethane, acrylic, polystyrene, acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate
glycol, cellulose acetate butyrate, polyamide,
polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyhydroxybutyrate, polyethylene adipate,
polybutylene succinate, polyalkylene terephthalates,
polytrimethylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate,
polyethylene naphthalate and combinations thereof.
10. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic
material comprises polybutylene terephthalate.
11. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic
material comprises a polyamide.
12. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic
material comprises nylon.
13. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic
material further comprises one or more additional thermoplastic
materials, and the weight ratio of the thermoplastic material to
the one or more additional thermoplastic materials is from 1:1 to
50:1.
14. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic
material is non-reinforced.
15. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic
material is reinforced with a reinforcing material comprising glass
fibers, glass beads, carbon fibers, or combinations thereof.
16. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic
material is reinforced with a discontinuous reinforcing material
that is present in an amount of from 5 to 60 weight percent, based
on a total weight of the tubular insert.
17. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the tubular insert
has a wall thickness of greater than 0.04 inch.
18. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the tubular insert
has a wall thickness of from 0.05 to 0.5 inch.
19. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the tubular insert
has a substantially constant wall thickness along an axial length
of the tubular insert.
20. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the tubular insert
has a substantially uniform inner diameter along an axial length of
the tubular insert.
21. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the tubular insert
has a substantially uniform outer diameter along an axial length of
the tubular insert.
22. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the tubular insert
has a length of from 1 to 99 percent of the total length of the
cylindrical barrel portion.
23. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the tubular insert
has a length of from 30 to 80 percent of the total length of the
cylindrical barrel portion.
24. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the tubular insert
comprises multiple layers of the thermoplastic material, and each
layer has a wall thickness of from 0.001 to 0.1 inch.
25. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical
barrel portion comprises a composite material comprising a carbon
fiber reinforced resin.
26. The ball bat according to claim 25, wherein the carbon fiber
reinforced resin comprises an epoxy resin.
27. The ball bat according to claim 1, further comprising a
thermoplastic material protective layer over at least a portion of
the outer surface of the cylindrical barrel portion.
28. The ball bat according to claim 1, further comprising a tapered
neck portion interconnecting the cylindrical barrel portion to a
handle portion, wherein the tapered neck portion decreases in
diameter in a direction toward the handle portion, and wherein the
tubular insert does not extend into the tapered neck portion or the
handle portion.
29. The ball bat according to claim 1, wherein the ball bat
comprises a baseball bat or a softball bat.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/889,702, filed on Oct. 11, 2013, and
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/951,903, filed on
Mar. 12, 2014, which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to ball bats having improved
durability and enhanced performance.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0003] Certain types of softball and baseball bats are made of
materials that fall within association specifications when they are
new, but which fall outside of the specifications after repeated
use. For example, certain types of conventional ball bats may
initially meet the applicable ASA, USSSA, NSA, SSUSA, NFHS, NCAA
and Little League tests, but subsequently fall outside of such
specifications after prolonged use and/or repeated bat-ball
collisions.
[0004] As a particular example, conventional composite ball bats
comprising carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin may initially meet
the applicable performance standards or tests that are set and/or
regulated by various associations, but may no longer conform to
such performance standards or tests after prolonged use and/or
repeated bat-ball collisions. Such prolonged use and/or repeated
bat-ball collisions can loosen and/or break the carbon fibers in
the epoxy resin, which may initially provide for a larger
trampoline effect, but can eventually cause cracking and/or
catastrophic failure or breakage of the ball bat.
[0005] Such conventional composite ball bats may possess only a
single point location or a relatively small "sweet spot" on the
barrel of the ball bat that exhibits maximum batted-ball speed
performance and/or best feel to the hands of the person hitting the
ball off the bat. Since it can oftentimes prove difficult to
consistently hit the ball on the single point location or the small
"sweet spot" of the barrel, the likelihood of a player regularly
achieving enhanced or maximum batted-ball speed performance and/or
best feel upon bat-ball impact using conventional composite ball
bats is greatly diminished.
[0006] Accordingly, a need exists for a ball bat that exhibits
improved durability over prolonged periods of repeated bat-ball
collisions, bigger "sweet spots" for achieving enhanced or maximum
batted-ball speed performance over a larger region of the barrel
and/or improved feel to the hands upon bat-ball impact. A need also
exists for inserts for ball bats that conform with association
specifications over the lives of the bats after prolonged use
and/or repeated bat-ball collisions, wherein the inserts control
bat break in to keep the bats legal for play for a longer life
cycle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An aspect of the present invention provides ball bats with
tubular inserts that conform with association specifications over
the lives of the bats. The inserts may control the break-in of the
bats to keep them legal for play for longer life cycles.
[0008] Another aspect of the present invention provides a barrel
portion of a ball bat that possesses a bigger "sweet spot" along
the cylindrical barrel portion of the bat that achieves enhanced or
maximum batted-ball speed performance over a larger region of the
barrel, imparts improved feel to the hands upon bat-ball impact,
obviating or preventing the breakage of reinforcement material, the
occurrence of cracking and/or the catastrophic failure of the
composite ball bat.
[0009] A further aspect of the present invention provides a
protective layer arranged on an outer surface of the cylindrical
barrel portion of the ball bat that protects the outer surface of
the cylindrical barrel portion, increases the durability of the
ball bat and/or conceals any seams that may be present along an
axial length of the cylindrical barrel portion.
[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a ball
bat comprising a cylindrical barrel portion having an inner
surface, and a tubular insert inside the cylindrical barrel portion
having a cylindrical outer surface, wherein the tubular insert
comprises a thermoplastic material having a tensile strength above
5,000 psi.
[0011] These and other aspects of the present invention will be
more apparent from the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a bat with an insert
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bat taken through
section 2-2 of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the
bat.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment
of this invention
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a bat 10 with an
insert 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The
bat 10 may be of standard ball bat configuration, having a
cylindrical barrel portion 12, tapered neck portion 13, handle 14,
handle cap 15 and end cap 16. The tapered neck portion 13 that
interconnects the cylindrical barrel portion 12 to the handle
portion 14 decreases in diameter in a direction toward the handle
portion 14. As shown in FIG. 1, in certain embodiments, the tubular
insert 20 extends along at least a portion of length of the
cylindrical barrel portion 12, however the tubular insert does not
extend from the cylindrical barrel portion 12 into the tapered neck
portion 13 of the bat 10. The handle cap 15 is arranged on the
handle portion 14, while the end cap 16 is preferably arranged on
the cylindrical barrel portion 12. The components of the bat 12,
13, 14, 15 and 16 may be of any known type of construction and may
be made from any known types of materials typically used in
softball and baseball bats. In certain embodiments, at least the
cylindrical barrel portion 12 of the bat comprises a composite
material such as a carbon fiber/epoxy composite material
conventionally used for softball and baseball bats. In accordance
with another embodiment of the invention, at least the cylindrical
barrel portion 12 of the bat comprises a thermoplastic
material.
[0017] The tubular insert 20 allows conventional composite ball
bats comprising a carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin that
initially meet the applicable performance standards or tests that
are set and/or regulated by various associations, to conform to
such performance standards or tests after prolonged use and/or
repeated bat-ball collisions. The properties of the thermoplastic
tubular insert 20 limit the prolonged use and/or repeated bat-ball
collisions from causing larger trampoline effect, cracking and/or
catastrophic failure or breakage of the ball bat.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bat barrel 12 taken
through section 2-2 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a
bat 10 similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. It is noted that
features shown in the figures may not be drawn to scale in order to
illustrate aspects of the invention. The cylindrical barrel portion
12 of the bat 10 surrounds the tubular insert 20 having certain
properties described in more detail below. In the embodiment shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer surface of the insert 20 directly
contacts the inner surface of the cylindrical barrel 12. The insert
20 may be positioned within the cylindrical barrel 12 by any known
means such as by inserting the insert 20 into the open cylindrical
barrel portion 12 before the end cap 16 of the bat is installed.
The insert 20 may be secured in its position within the cylindrical
barrel 12 by the use of adhesive such as urethane adhesives or the
like. In certain embodiments, the insert 20 may be friction fit or
press fit within the cylindrical barrel 12 by any known means.
Alternatively, the cylindrical barrel 12 may be formed around the
insert 20, e.g., by forming multiple layers of carbon fibers having
different orientations around the outside surface of the insert 20
followed by impregnation and curing of an epoxy resin, or by
forming multiple layers of pre-preg carbon fiber sheets having
different orientations around the insert 20 followed by heating to
cure the pre-preg resin.
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tubular insert 20 may
comprise a hollow thermoplastic tube with an inner diameter and an
outer diameter having a wall thickness T.sub.I that may be greater
than 0.04 inch, for example, greater than 0.05 or 0.06 inch. In
certain embodiments, the wall thickness T.sub.I may range from 0.05
to 1.5 inches, including for example, from 0.06 to 1 or 0.75 inch,
or from 0.07 to 0.5 or 0.25 inch. The tubular insert 20 may
comprise a single layer, or multiple layers, of the thermoplastic
material. When multiple layers are used, each layer may have a wall
thickness ranging from 0.01 to 0.1 inch, with a total thickness as
described above. In certain embodiments, the insert may be provided
as two or more sections, e.g., multiple cylindrical segments
aligned along the axis of the insert and/or multiple arcuate
segments arranged around the circumference of the insert. For
example, two, three, four or more segments may be used. The insert
20 may be formed by conventional tube-forming methods such as
extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, shrink molding, vacuum
molding or the like. The as-extruded or as-molded thickness of the
tube may be within the ranges described above, or the as-extruded
or as-molded tube may be machined or otherwise worked to reduce the
wall thickness to the desired size. For example, the inner diameter
and/or outer diameter of a tube may be machined to provide the
desired wall thickness of the insert 20.
[0020] In certain embodiments, the tubular insert 20 has a
substantially constant wall thickness along an axial length of the
tubular insert. In certain embodiments, the tubular insert 20 has a
substantially uniform inner diameter along an axial length of the
tubular insert. In certain embodiments, the tubular insert 20 has a
substantially uniform outer diameter along an axial length of the
tubular insert. In a preferred embodiment, the tubular insert 20
has a substantially uniform inner and outer diameter along an axial
length of the tubular insert.
[0021] The weight of the tubular insert 20, may typically be from
0.5 to 20 ounces, including for example, from 1 to 10 ounces, from
1.2 to 8 ounces, or from 1.5 to 7 ounces.
[0022] As previously discussed, in certain embodiments the
cylindrical outer surface of the tubular insert 20 may be friction
fit or press fit against the inner surface of the cylindrical
barrel portion 12. The term "friction fit or press fit" is
understood in the context of this application to mean that a
fastening between two parts is achieved by friction after the two
parts are pushed together with one part being forced against the
other part. In certain embodiments, the friction fit or press fit
is sufficient to hold the two parts together in the absence of any
other fastening means. Accordingly, the cylindrical outer surface
of the tubular insert 20 and the inner surface of the cylindrical
barrel portion 12 can be held together without the use of an
adhesive and/or a mechanical fastener. In another embodiment, the
proximal end of the tubular insert 20 may be friction fit or press
fit by contact with the tapered neck portion 13.
[0023] In certain embodiments, a gap may exist between the outer
surface of the tubular insert 20 and an inner surface of the
cylindrical barrel portion 12. The gap measured in a radial
direction between the outer surface of the tubular insert and the
inner surface of the cylindrical barrel portion 12, may typically
be from zero to 0.2 inch, for example, from 0.001 to 0.1 inch, or
from 0.01 to 0.05 inch. When there is a gap, the tubular insert 20
may be held in place by friction or press fit between the proximal
end of the tubular insert 20 and the tapered neck portion 13, or by
some other fastening means including an adhesive and/or a
mechanical fastener or spacer. In addition or as an alternative,
the distal end of the tubular insert 20 may be secured to an end
cap 16 by friction or press fit or by some other fastening means
including an adhesive and/or a mechanical fastener (not shown).
[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates that the cylindrical barrel portion 12
has a length L.sub.B and a wall thickness T.sub.B, and the tubular
insert 20 has a length L.sub.I and a wall thickness T.sub.I. The
tubular insert 20 is positioned within the cylindrical barrel
portion 12 such that there is a distance D.sub.T that is measured
from the proximal end of the tubular insert 20 to the tapered neck
portion 13, and a distance D.sub.E that is measured from the distal
end of the tubular insert 20 to the distal end of the cylindrical
barrel portion 12.
[0025] The cylindrical barrel 12 has a typical wall thickness
T.sub.B of from 0.1 to 0.5 inch, for example, from 0.2 to 0.4 inch.
In a particular embodiment, the thickness T.sub.B is about 0.33
inch. The ratio of the thickness of tubular insert 20 T.sub.I to
the thickness of cylindrical barrel 12 T.sub.B typically ranges
from 0.05:1 to 5:1, for example, from 0.1:1 to 1:1, or from 0.2:1
to 0.08:1.
[0026] The length L.sub.I of the tubular insert 20 may typically be
from 20 percent to 99 percent of the length L.sub.B cylindrical
barrel portion 12. For example, the length L.sub.I of the tubular
insert 20 may be from 25 to 98 percent, from 30 to 80 percent, or
from 35 to 70 percent of the length L.sub.B of the cylindrical
barrel portion 12. In an exemplary embodiment, the length L.sub.I
is from 40 percent to 60 percent of the length L.sub.B. In a
particular embodiment, the cylindrical barrel portion 12 has a
length L.sub.B of from 11 to 12 inches, the tubular insert 20 has a
length L.sub.I of from 4 to 9 inches that is secured with adhesive
within the cylindrical barrel portion 12.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the tubular insert 20 may be axially
located within the cylindrical barrel portion 12 in a manner such
that there is a tapered distance D.sub.T of from 1 or 2 to 4 inches
inch, and an end distance D.sub.E of from 1 or 2 to 4 inches. The
tapered and end distances D.sub.T and D.sub.E may be the same or
different. The ratio of the length of the insert L.sub.I to the
tapered distance D.sub.T or the end distance D.sub.E may typically
range from 1:1 to 10:1, or from 1.5:1 to 5:1, or from 1.8:1 to 3:1,
or approximately 2:1.
[0028] In certain embodiments, the tapered distance D.sub.T and/or
the end distance D.sub.E may impart improved flexibility at the
respective end or ends of the cylindrical barrel portion which may
result in a bigger "sweet spot" along the cylindrical barrel
portion of the ball bat that achieves enhanced or maximum
batted-ball speed performance over a larger region of the barrel,
imparts improved feel to the hands upon bat-ball impact, and/or
imparts improved durability by reducing, obviating or preventing
the breakage of reinforcement material, the occurrence of cracking
and/or the catastrophic failure of the composite ball bat. Since it
is easier to consistently hit the ball on a bigger "sweet spot"
along the cylindrical barrel portion of the ball bat, the
likelihood of a player regularly achieving maximum batted-ball
speed performance and/or improved feel to the hands using the ball
bat of the present invention is greatly improved.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a bat 10 according
to an embodiment of the present invention including a cylindrical
barrel 12, an inner tubular insert 20, and an outer protective
layer 30 covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the
cylindrical barrel portion 12. The protective layer 30 protects the
outer surface of the cylindrical barrel portion 12 and/or increases
the durability of the ball bat 10. Such a protective layer can
conceal the appearance of exposed reinforcing fibers or seams that
may exist along the axial length of the cylindrical barrel portion
12 as a result of a non-seamless construction or manufacturing
process. The protective layer 30 can have any desired thickness
T.sub.P, non-limiting examples of which include from 0.001 inch to
0.5 inch, including for example, from 0.01 to 0.3 inch, or from
0.04 to 0.1 inch. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the protective
layer 30 may be made of the same or different material than the
insert 20. For example, the protective layer 30 may be provided in
the form of a tube or coating having a composition similar to those
described for the tubular insert 20. In other embodiments, other
layered configurations may be provided. Non-limiting examples of
such other layered configurations include a tubular insert
sandwiched between an inner cylindrical barrel portion and an outer
cylindrical barrel portion, or multiple layers of tubular inserts
alternating with multiple layers of cylindrical barrel
portions.
[0030] In certain embodiments, the tubular insert 20 and/or the
protective layer 30 (if present) are made of a thermoplastic
material having a tensile strength above 5,000 psi, as well as a
compressive strength above 10,000 psi. For example, the tensile
strength and/or compressive strength of the insert material may be
greater than 12,000 psi, or greater than 15,000 psi, or greater
than 20,000 psi, or greater than 22,000 or 23,000 psi. In certain
embodiments, the thermoplastic material is non-reinforced in that
the thermoplastic is not reinforced with any reinforcement
materials. In certain embodiments, the thermoplastic material may
be reinforced with various reinforcing materials such as those
described below.
[0031] In certain embodiments, the thermoplastic material of the
tubular insert 20 comprises an aliphatic polyester, a semi-aromatic
polyester, an aromatic polyester, a polysaccharide based polyester,
and combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of aliphatic
polyesters include polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polyhydroxybutyrate
(PHB), polyethylene adipate (PEA), and polybutylene succinate
(PBS). Non-limiting examples of semi-aromatic polyesters include
polyalkylene terephthalates (PAT), polyethylene terephthalate
(PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polypropylene
terephthalate (PPT), and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN). A
non-limiting example of an aromatic polyester includes a
polycondensation product of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and
6-hydroxynapthalene-2-caroxylic acid. A non-limiting example of a
polysaccharide based polyester includes cellulose acetate butyrate
(CAB).
[0032] In certain embodiments, the thermoplastic material of the
tubular insert 20 comprises polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). PBT
has been shown to possess advantageous physicochemical properties
with respect to tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural
modulus, flexural strength, compressive strength, hardness,
toughness, impact strength, moldability, thermal stability,
chemical resistance, environmental resistance, and/or low moisture
absorption when used as bat inserts in accordance with the present
invention. In certain embodiments, the PBT may have a tensile
strength above 5,000 psi or above 8,000 psi, as well as a
compressive strength above 10,000 psi or above 12,000 psi. The PBT
may be reinforced with various reinforcing materials such as those
described herein, in which case the tensile strength and/or
compressive strength of the reinforced PBT may be greater than
15,000 psi, or greater than 20,000 psi, or greater than 22,000 or
23,000 psi.
[0033] In certain embodiments, the thermoplastic material of the
tubular insert 20 comprises a polyamide. Polyamides also have been
found to possess advantageous physicochemical properties when used
as a component of a bat insert in accordance with an exemplary
aspect of the present invention. Accordingly, the tubular insert
may be made of a polyamide such as Nylon. Nylon may have a tensile
strength above 10,000 psi or above 12,000 psi, as well as a
compressive strength above 10,000 psi or above 12,000 psi. The
Nylon may be reinforced with various reinforcing materials such as
those described herein, in which case the tensile strength and/or
compressive strength of the reinforced Nylon may be greater than
15,000 psi, or greater than 20,000 psi, or greater than 22,000 or
23,000 psi.
[0034] In certain embodiments, thermoplastic material as described
above may further comprise one or more additional thermoplastic
materials, and the weight ratio of the thermoplastic material to
the one or more additional thermoplastic materials may be from 1:1
to 50:1. The thermoplastic material may thus be used alone or as a
blend, e.g., blended with other thermoplastics as listed below in
any suitable ratio that provides the desired mechanical properties
and bat performance properties. Such blended thermoplastics may be
non-reinforced, or may be reinforced. In certain embodiments, the
tubular insert 20 is composed of other types of thermoplastic
materials that may be blended with the thermoplastic material or
used alone and possibly include polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF);
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene
(ECTFE); fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP);
polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE); perfluoroalkoxy (PFA);
polyphenylene sulfide (PPS); polyetheretherketone (PEEK); acetal
(POM); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); ultra high molecular
weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE); high density polyethylene (HDPE);
low density polyethylene (LDPE); polypropylene (PP);
polymethylpentene (PMP); polysulfone (PSU); polyetherimide (PEI);
polyethersulfone (PES); polyarylsulfone (PAS); polyarylethersulfone
(PAES); polycarbonate (PC); polyphenylene oxide (Mod PPO);
polyphenylene ether (Mod PPE); thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU);
acrylic (PMMA); polystyrene (PS); acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
(ABS); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); polyethylene terephthalate glycol
(PETG); cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB); and nylon.
[0035] In certain embodiments, the thermoplastic material may be
combined with reinforcement materials as listed below in any
suitable ratio that provides the desired mechanical properties and
bat performance properties. The thermoplastic material may be
reinforced with any amount and/or any type of known reinforcement
material. For example, the reinforcement material may include
inorganic reinforcement materials, organic reinforcement materials,
and combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of inorganic
reinforcement materials include glass, milled glass, flaked glass,
ground quartz, solid glass beads, hollow glass spheres or bubbles,
glass fibers, silica-alumina fibers, ceramic fibers, mineral
fibers, boron fibers, zirconia fibers, and metal fibers.
Non-limiting examples of organic reinforcement materials include
carbon fibers, aramid fibers, fluororesin fibers, and the like. In
certain embodiments, the reinforcements are provided as a
discontinuous phase in a matrix of the thermoplastic material,
e.g., the reinforcements are provided as particulates, whiskers,
fibers, plates or the like that are dispersed in the thermoplastic
matrix. In certain embodiments, the reinforcement material may be
in the form of a woven or non-woven matrix reinforcement material
comprising an inorganic reinforcement material, an organic
reinforcement material, or combinations thereof. In such an
embodiment, the woven or non-woven matrix reinforcement material
may be injected or infused with liquid/molten thermoplastic
material resin.
[0036] For example, the thermoplastic material may be reinforced
with from 5 to 60 weight percent glass fiber, based on a total
weight of the tubular insert 20 and/or the protective layer (if
present), e.g., 10 weight percent glass fiber, 20 weight percent
glass fiber, 30 weight percent glass fiber, 40 weight percent glass
fiber, 50 weight percent glass fiber, 60 weight percent glass
fiber, etc.
[0037] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, the cylindrical barrel portion 12 of the bat may be made
of a thermoplastic material, such as those described above. In this
embodiment, strength-enhancing additives may be included within the
thermoplastic, such as the reinforcement materials discussed
herein, non-limiting examples of which include reinforcing glass
fibers, glass beads, carbon fibers, and the like. The barrel of the
bat, as well as other parts of the bat, may be formed by extruding
the thermoplastic material alone or in combination with one or more
of the other thermoplastic materials and/or the reinforcement
strength-enhancing additive materials into the final shape of the
bat, or injection molding the same into the shape of the bat.
[0038] In this embodiment, the wall thickness of the thermoplastic
material cylindrical barrel portion 12 may typically range from
0.001 inch to 1.5 inches, for example, from 0.01 inch to 1 inch,
from 0.05 inch to 0.875 inch, from 0.1 inch to 0.75 inch, or from
0.2 inch to 0.5 inch. The walls may comprise a single wall, or
multiple walls, e.g., up to 5 or more walls. In certain
embodiments, 2 or 3 walls may be used. Each wall may have the same
or different thickness, and may be made of the same thermoplastic
material or different thermoplastic materials alone or in
combination with one or more of the other thermoplastic materials
and/or the reinforcement strength-enhancing additive materials. For
example, different types or amounts of reinforcing materials may be
used in each thermoplastic material-containing wall and/or
different types of thermoplastics may be used in the different
walls.
[0039] Where a closed or open-ended numerical range is described
herein, all numbers, values, amounts, percentages, subranges, and
fractions within or encompassed by the numerical range are to be
considered as being specifically included in and belonging to the
original disclosure of this invention as if these numbers, values,
amounts, percentages, subranges, and fractions had been explicitly
written out in their entirety.
[0040] Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been
described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to
those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of
the present invention may be made without departing from the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *