BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to athletic bats, and more specifically to a softball bat comprised of fiber-impregnated resin for improved hitting distance and reduced vibration.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Traditional athletic bats are comprised of wood or metal, which are expensive and consume valuable natural resources. A disadvantage of wood bats is that they frequently break during use and it is exceedingly difficult to design such bats for consistent performance, given their natural material. Metal bats, while more durable, have the tendency to transmit vibration down the shaft to the hands of the user, making hitting a ball an unpleasant experience.

[0005] Composite bats and related sporting goods are well known in the related art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,976 which issued to T. N. Jones on Oct. 15, 1985, discloses a reinforced plastic bat with a separate handle section that is softer than the hitting section. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,521 which issued to A. W. Mueller on Feb. 11, 1986, discloses a composite bat having a tapered aluminum spar encased in polyurethane foam in order to provide exceptional stiffness while providing freedom from excessive vibrations.

[0006] Sports articles comprised of fiber-resin composites are also well known in the related art. One such invention, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,545, teaches a two-piece metallic and composite golf shaft. This invention comprises a metallic tip that telescopingly fits into an upper composite section comprised of high-strength fibers such as carbon-graphite. The two pieces are bonded together with high-strength epoxy adhesive.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,745 which issued to Bohannon et al. on Jul. 18, 1989, discloses a fiber-reinforced article such as a filament-wound bat or bowling pin formed from a thermoplastic resin. The article comprises at least three layers of fiber reinforcement sheets, the fibers comprised of material such as glass or carbon fiber. Each layer comprises fibers that either: circumferentially, longitudinally or helically extend in relation to the article.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,247 which issued to C. Yeh on Jun. 5, 1990, discloses a fabrication method of a hollow racket made of carbon fiber. During this process, a hollow bat is made by coupling the mounting of a fiber sleeve tube with the cutting of fiber-woven board. Additionally, adhesive agents are filled into the bat body and the segments of an air-blowing tube are adhered to the interior wall of the bat body, where the air is expelled during heating, thereby preventing cracking of the bat.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No., 5,409,214 which issued to D. C. Cook on Apr. 235, 1995, discloses a baseball bat having a handle and a hitting portion comprised of wood. The handle may be made of either metal or fibrous composites. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,027 which issued to Christian et al. on Mar. 5, 1996, discloses a reinforced hockey stick blade and method of making same. The blade is constructed of resin impregnated with a plurality of reinforcement fibers, and may be placed onto the shaft of a hockey stick.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,158 which issued to Filice et al. on Jan. 14, 1997, discloses a shock-attenuating ball bat having a handle that extends into a taper portion and is nested within the barrel, the handle and the barrel separated by an elastomeric isolation union, thereby reducing shock transmitted from the barrel when a batter strikes a ball. The handle and/or the barrel may be comprised of fiber-impregnated resin.

[0011] Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,115 which issued to C. S. Baum on Apr. 29, 1997 discloses a composite bat with a cavitated core. The bat has a cellulose outer layer covering a layer of fiber-reinforced resin, which in turn surrounds a cavitated core that may also contain foam.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,908 which issued to Feeney et al. on Mar. 3, 1998, discloses a composite bat with a metal barrel, and a method of fabricating same. The bat has a frame having a recess and fabricated of a composite material of fibers in a matrix binder. A metal sleeve is inserted over the recess of the frame, which forms a hitting surface.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,811 which issued to G. M. Bird on Apr. 28, 1998, discloses a lightweight golf shaft having an inner and outer layer, each composed of graphite fiber and cured epoxy resin. A middle layer is composed of two foam half-forms or a single foam full form, thereby making the shaft lighter than conventional shafts. A method for making this shaft is also disclosed.

[0014] French Patent No. 2,462,266 which issued to Technique du Verre Tisse and was published on Feb. 13, 1981, discloses a laminated racquet shaft reinforced with parallel and crossed filaments lain up in separate layers to maintain alignment of the shaft. These filaments may be constructed of glass, boron, carbon, silica or aromatic polyamide. Additionally, French Patent No. 2,560,551 which issued to M. Verna and was published on Sep. 6, 1985 discloses a method of making reinforced plastic hollow articles by wrapping plain or resin-impregnated fibers about a multi-piece mandrel and modifying the resultant form by means of a press to obtain a taut profile with tight radial packing of the layers of fibers.

[0015] Japanese Patent No. 3,247,365 which issued to Mistubishi Rayon K. K. and was published on Nov. 5, 1991, discloses a composite bat comprising a foam core material covered by a back up pipe which is in turn covered by fiber-reinforced plastic. Finally, Japanese Patent No. 564,671 which issued to Mizuno Corp. and was published on Mar. 19, 1993, discloses a fiber-reinforced plastic bat and method of making same. An outer shell member is formed on a core which is given the shape of a bat when reinforced fiber and thermoplastic resin fiber is wound about the shaft. The thermoplastic resin fiber is melted by heat and forms a matrix, thereby impregnating the reinforced fiber therein.

[0016] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a ball bat solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention provides a bat having a body with a hollow central cavity and having a barrel, a taper portion and a handle. The body is comprised of resin impregnated with multiple (e.g., five) braid-woven socks, the socks being constructed of carbon fiber and glass fiber, some of the socks extending the length of the body, while others of the socks extend the length of the barrel. This particular composition allows a slight deformation of the body, thereby creating a trampoline or springboard effect, adding to the velocity of a hit ball.

[0018] Additionally, an aluminum sleeve is press-fit inside the barrel in order to dissipate the kinetic energy when the ball impacts the bat, energy which would otherwise be transmitted down the shaft to sting the batter's hands. Additionally, a flexible end cap is present on the end of the barrel to properly weight the bat, and to further aid in the deformation of the body, thereby increasing the trampoline effect of the bat.

[0019] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a fiber-impregnated resin ball bat having the necessary strength to withstand the impact forces of a projectile, while providing a trampoline or springboard effect to for added velocity of the projectile.

[0020] It is another object of the invention to provide a ball bat that effectively dissipates the kinetic energy generated by a collision with a ball, without reducing the effectiveness of the bat.

[0021] It is a further object of the invention to provide a resin impregnated bat that may be easily manufactured and marketed.

[0022] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0023] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.