# US 10,441,861 B1 · Hittable protective bat covers

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- Number: US 10,441,861 B1
- Document ID: US10441861B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/904,145
- Filed: 2018-02-23
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2017-06-06
- Applicants: Erik Mattern; Steven C Schinko
- Inventors: Erik Mattern; Steven C Schinko
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441861B1

## CPC

- A63B 60/60: specially adapted for bats
- A63B 59/50: Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
- A63B 60/46: Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
- A63B 69/0002: {for baseball}
- A63B 2069/0008: {for batting}
- A63B 2102/18: Baseball, rounders or similar games
- A63B 2102/182: {Softball}
- A63B 2209/10: with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
- A63B 2220/16: Angular positions
- A63B 2220/53: Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
- A63B 2220/58: Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
- A63B 2220/833: Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

Protective covers for preventing damage to ball bats during batting practice are comprised of an impact force absorbing elastic sleeve which has through its length bore and a V-shaped notch extending forward from a rear transverse edge of the sleeve, dividing a rear length of the sleeve into opposed flaps, thus providing an enlarged entrance opening which facilitates insertion of a bat into the sleeve bore. A strap extending radially from one flap is releasably attachable by a closure fastener to the other flap, enabling the flaps to be cinched around and secured to a bat inserted into the sleeve bore. The protective covers may optionally have weights and/or friction strips positioned within the sleeve, and may optionally include an inertial sensor or impact force sensor and radio transmitter for transmitting signals representative of bat motions or impact forces exerted on the bat.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A protective cover for ball bats comprising a tubular sleeve having extending through its length a bore for insertably receiving a bat, said sleeve having extending forward from a rear transverse edge thereof a notch which divides a rear length of said sleeve into a radially spaced-apart first and second flap sections having therebetween an enlarged opening larger than the bore diameter of said sleeve, and a closure fastener for cinching said first and second flap sections into compressive contact with a bat inserted forward through said opening into said bore of said sleeve, the cover wherein said sleeve is made at least partially of an elastically stretchable material, and wherein said sleeve has a laminated construction including a first, outer abrasion resistant elastically stretchable material, a second, intermediate lamination made of an elastomeric material, and a third, inner lamination made of an elastically stretchable material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cover of claim 1 wherein said sleeve includes a fourth lamination bonded to the inner surface of said inner lamination, said fourth lamination being made of fabric sheet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The cover of claim 2 wherein said fabric is cotton.