Bat handle with optimal damping
AssigneeWilson Sporting Goods Co.
InventorsDouglas G. Guenther, Mark A. Fritzke, Bradley L. Gaff, Michael D. Eggiman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bat has an elongate tubular striking member of a first material, and an elongate handle member of a second material. The handle may be of composite material laid up in selected layers and orientation to produce selected weight distribution, strength, and stiffness and improved batting capabilities. The striking member and handle member may have juncture sections which are substantially rigidly interconnected through mating configurations.
Claims49
A bat capable of being tested with a modal analysis test assembly having first and second supports assemblies, the bat comprising:
- an elongate tubular striking member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a striking region intermediate the distal and proximal ends;
- and
- a separate handle member having a distal end and a proximal end, the handle member coupled to the striking member, the handle member being formed of a thermoplastic or fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material, the handle member having a damping ratio in the first bending mode of greater than or equal to 0.010 in a modal analysis test wherein the handle member is supported by the first support assembly adjacent the distal end of the handle member and the second support assembly adjacent the proximal end of the handle member,
- the bat configured for organized, competitive play.
A bat capable of being tested with a modal analysis test assembly having first and second supports assemblies, the bat comprising:
- a non-wooden, one-piece bat frame including a distal end, a proximal end, an elongate tubular striking portion and a handle portion, the handle portion including a tapered region, the handle portion being formed of a thermoplastic or fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material, the handle portion having a damping ratio in the first bending mode of greater than or equal to 0.010 in a modal analysis test wherein the handle portion is cut away from the striking portion at a first location where the tapered region of the handle portion has an outer diameter within the range of 1.9 to 2.25 inches and wherein the handle portion is supported by the first support assembly adjacent the proximal end of the bat frame and the second support assembly at the tapered region of the handle portion,
- the bat configured for organized, competitive play.
A bat capable of being tested with a modal analysis test assembly having first and second supports assemblies and in a three point bend stiffness test device having first and second supports, the bat comprising:
- an elongate tubular striking member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a striking region intermediate the distal and proximal ends;
- and
- a separate handle member having a distal end and a proximal end, the handle member coupled to the striking member, the handle member having first and second damping ratios in the first and second bending modes, respectively, of greater than or equal to 0.020 in a modal analysis test wherein the handle member is supported by the first support assembly adjacent the distal end of the handle member and the second support assembly adjacent the proximal end of the handle member, the handle member having a first bending mode frequency of greater than or equal to 100 Hz and less than or equal to 280, and a second bending mode frequency of greater than or equal to 450 and less than or equal to 1000 Hz, and the handle member having a resistance to bending along a longitudinal axis in the range of 10-900 lbs/in a three-point bend stiffness test wherein the handle member is transversely supported in a first direction by the first and second supports spaced apart a selected distance, with the first support adjacent the distal end of the handle member and the second support adjacent the proximal end of the handle member, and the handle member is transversely loaded in a second direction, opposite the first direction, at a location on the handle member in a region between 30% and 40% of the selected distance from the distal end of the handle member.
- the bat configured for organized, competitive play.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.