# US 10,369,442 B1 · Ball bat including ball launch angle boosters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,442 B1 - Document ID: US10369442B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/124,674 - Filed: 2018-09-07 - Published: 2019-07-25 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-24 - Assignees: Wilson Sportings Goods Co. - Applicants: Wilson Sporting Goods Co. - Inventors: Joshua S. Stenzler; Richard E. Moritz; Brent R. Slater; Ty B. Goodwin; Mark A. Fritzke; Edwin D. Vander Pol; Robert T. Thurman; Sean S. Epling; Ryan M. Raagas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369442B1 ## CPC - A63B 60/42: Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand - A63B 59/56: characterised by the head - A63B 59/58: characterised by the shape (A63B59/55, A63B59/56 take precedence) - A63B 60/52: with slits - A63B 59/50: Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball - A63B 59/51: made of metal - A63B 59/52: made of wood or bamboo - A63B 59/54: made of plastic - A63B 60/16: Caps; Ferrules - A63B 2071/0694: {Visual indication, e.g. Indicia} - A63B 2102/18: Baseball, rounders or similar games - A63B 2209/02: with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A ball bat including one of a left-hand configuration designated for a left-handed batter and a right hand configuration designated for a right-handed batter. The left hand configuration is different than the right hand configuration. The ball bat further includes one of a left-hand indicia indicating the left hand configuration and a right hand indicia indicating the right hand configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ball bat comprising: one of a left-hand configuration designated for a left-handed batter and a right hand configuration designated for a right-handed batter, the left hand configuration being different than the right hand configuration; and one of a left-hand indicia indicating the left hand configuration and a right hand indicia indicating the right hand configuration, the bat extending along a longitudinal axis and including a handle portion coupled to a barrel portion, the barrel portion comprising circumferentially spaced launch angle boosters, and each of the launch angle boosters extending along the axis at an angle of at least 3° and no greater than 12° from the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ball bat of claim 1, wherein the left-hand configuration comprises first launch angle boosters that are angled about a longitudinal axis of the ball bat in a first direction and wherein the right-hand configuration comprises second launch angle boosters are angled about the longitudinal axis in a second direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ball bat of claim 1, wherein the left-hand indicia comprises a first color and wherein the right hand indicia comprises a second color different than the first color. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ball bat of claim 1, wherein the left-hand indicia comprises a first surface treatment and where the right hand indicia comprises a second surface treatment different than the first surface treatment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ball bat of claim 1, wherein the left-hand indicia comprises a first shape and were in the right hand indicia comprises a second shape different than the first shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ball bat of claim 1, wherein the barrel portion comprises a wall and wherein the launch angle boosters comprise barrel wall thickness variations. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ball bat of claim 1, wherein the barrel portion comprises a wall and wherein the launch angle boosters comprise grooves on an interior surface of the wall. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ball bat of claim 1, wherein the barrel portion comprises a wall and wherein the launch angle boosters comprise structures mounted to an interior surface of the wall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ball bat of claim 1, wherein the launch angle boosters are configured to enhance launch angle of a ball following bat impact. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ball bat of claim 1, wherein the launch angle boosters are configured to enhance exit velocity of a ball at a given launch angle following bat impact. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ball bat of claim 1, wherein the launch angle boosters are configured to enhance a spin of a ball following bat impact. ### Claim 12 A ball bat for impacting a ball, the bat extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising: a body including a handle portion and a barrel portion, the barrel portion including spin enhancing structure for facilitating a batter's ability to impart spin on to the ball, the spin enhancing structure including a plurality of grooves formed into the barrel portion of the bat, the grooves extending at angle within the range 3 to 12 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ball bat of claim 12, wherein the spin enhancing structure includes a barrel wall thickness variation around a circumference of the ball bat. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The ball bat of claim 12, wherein the grooves comprise a groove having a characteristic that varies as it extends along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The ball bat of claim 12, wherein each of the grooves comprises a first segment having a first dimension and a second segment having a second dimension corresponding to the first dimension, the second dimension being different than the first dimension. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The ball bat of claim 12, wherein the ball bat is designated for a right-handed batter and wherein each of the grooves extends from below the longitudinal axis to above longitudinal axis in a direction away from the handle portion when the longitudinal axis is horizontal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The ball bat of claim 12, wherein the ball bat of the designated for a left-handed batter and wherein each of the grooves extends from above the longitudinal axis to below the longitudinal axis in a direction away from the handle portion when the longitudinal axis is horizontal.