# US 7,611,428 B2 · Bat with flexible handle

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- Number: US 7,611,428 B2
- Document ID: US7611428B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/107,452
- Filed: 2008-04-22
- Published: 2008-09-04
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2006-04-21
- Assignees: Miken Sports, LLC
- Inventors: Biju Mathew; Matthew V. Vacek
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611428B2

## CPC

- A63B 59/50: Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
- A63B 60/06: Handles
- A63B 60/08: characterised by the material
- A63B 60/10: with means for indicating correct holding positions (A63B60/12 takes precedence)
- A63B 60/48: with corrugated cross-section
- A63B 60/52: with slits
- A63B 60/0081: {Substantially flexible shafts; Hinged shafts}
- A63B 2102/18: Baseball, rounders or similar games
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

Included herein is a bat for striking a ball. The bat comprises a barrel portion, transition portion attached to the barrel portion, and a handle portion attached to the transition portion. The handle portion includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of planes substantially parallel to the axis. The adjacent planes of the plurality of planes are positioned to define apertures substantially parallel to the axis. The planes and apertures are positioned to vary the flexibility of the handle and improve bat performance for a given swing speeds.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bat for striking a ball, the bat comprising:
a barrel;
a taper attached to the barrel; and
a handle attached to the taper, the handle including:
a circumference;
a central axis;
a plurality of longitudinal planes of material substantially parallel to the axis, wherein adjacent longitudinal planes are positioned to define longitudinal apertures substantially parallel to the axis;
a connecting piece substantially perpendicular to the plurality of longitudinal planes and intersecting the axis, the connecting piece including a width and a length, wherein the width varies along the length.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bat of claim 1, wherein the handle further includes:
a deflection characteristic responsive to a force substantially perpendicular to the central axis, the deflection characteristic increased by the apertures defined in the handle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The bat of claim 1, wherein each longitudinal aperture further includes a proximate end, each longitudinal plane further includes a distal end, and at least two of the proximate ends are offset.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The bat of claim 3, wherein the distal ends are rounded.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The bat of claim 3, wherein the distal ends conform to the shape of the circumference.