US20020016230A1 - Baseball or softball bat - Google Patents

Baseball or softball bat Download PDF

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Publication number
US20020016230A1
US20020016230A1 US09/891,996 US89199601A US2002016230A1 US 20020016230 A1 US20020016230 A1 US 20020016230A1 US 89199601 A US89199601 A US 89199601A US 2002016230 A1 US2002016230 A1 US 2002016230A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
impact portion
bat
baseball
sweet spot
softball bat
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US09/891,996
Inventor
Masaaki Okuyama
Kazunori Misono
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mizuno Corp
Original Assignee
Mizuno Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mizuno Corp filed Critical Mizuno Corp
Assigned to MIZUNO CORPORATION reassignment MIZUNO CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MISONO, KAZUNORI, OKUYAMA, MASAAKI
Publication of US20020016230A1 publication Critical patent/US20020016230A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B59/00—Bats, rackets, or the like, not covered by groups A63B49/00 - A63B57/00
    • A63B59/50—Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
    • A63B59/58—Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball characterised by the shape
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B59/00—Bats, rackets, or the like, not covered by groups A63B49/00 - A63B57/00
    • A63B59/50—Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
    • A63B2102/18—Baseball, rounders or similar games
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
    • A63B2102/18—Baseball, rounders or similar games
    • A63B2102/182—Softball

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improvement of a baseball or softball bat hereinafter referred to as a bat).
  • the present invention provides a high-performance bat having a large sweet area that can achieve a good slugging distance even when a ball is hit with a portion other than a sweet spot, by forming the outer shape of the impact portion of the bat to have an intermediate tapering portion or recessed portion in the longitudinal direction.
  • the conventional bat has been necessary to reduce the impact portion in length so that the diameter of the impact portion is made large with less weight. As such, the conventional bat has a small sweet area.
  • the conventional bat has an impact portion having a perimeter of a linear or gentle convex curve in the longitudinal direction.
  • the stroke may result in a foul ball on the first base side.
  • the present invention aims at providing a bat which has such a large sweet area that a certain level of rebound performance is ensured even if a ball is hit with a portion at some distance from a sweet spot, and which may reduce the occurrence of foul balls.
  • the baseball or softball bat of the present invention includes an impact portion which has a smaller diameter at a sweet spot than at the other locations of the impact portion, and which has a recessed external shape in the longitudinal direction.
  • the outline of a recessed part of the impact portion may be a curve, straight line, arc, or ellipse.
  • the perimeter of the recessed part has a curvature radius of 200-1000 cm.
  • the diameter of the impact portion increases from the sweet spot toward the leading edge and grip end of the bat.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bat according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of a bat according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a graph showing a comparison result of rebound performance between the bat of the present invention and the conventional bat.
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the conventional bat.
  • a bat 1 of the present invention has a smaller diameter at a sweet spot 3 of an impact portion 2 that gives the maximum bounce to a ball than at the other locations of impact portion 2 .
  • Impact portion 2 has a recessed outer shape. More specifically, impact portion 2 has a perimeter of an intermediate tapering shape in the longitudinal direction.
  • the recessed shape is obtained with the diameter of impact portion 2 being minimum at the location of sweet spot 3 and gradually increasing toward a leading edge 4 and a grip end 5 of bat 1 .
  • bat 1 has a large sweet area and exhibits less reduction in rebound performance because of the larger diameters of impact portion 2 .
  • the outline of the recessed portion is desirably part of a curve, and especially an arc or ellipse with a curvature radius of 200-1000 cm. However, it may be part of a straight line as shown in FIG. 2.
  • Bat 1 can be made of various materials including wood, metal, fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) and the like. Bat 1 of the present invention can be made of any material.
  • bat 1 is formed by turning, followed by reinforcement by resin injection or the like.
  • bat 1 is formed by the conventional manufacturing method and then processed to have a tapering impact portion 2 with use of a metal roller or the like.
  • bat 1 is formed to have a tapering impact portion 2 with use of a mold having the corresponding shape.
  • Bat 1 does not necessarily have to be formed of a single material, but may be formed of different materials.
  • a tapering tubular member of FRP may be used for impact portion 2 of metal bat 1
  • a tapering metal tubular member may be used for impact portion 2 of FRP bat 1 .
  • Table 1 and FIG. 3 show a comparison result of rebound performance between baseball bat 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 and conventional baseball bat 1 shown in FIG. 4.
  • Present invention Conventional example Distance from Diameter Rebound Diameter Rebound grip end (mm) (mm) Coefficient (mm) Coefficient L1 480 69.0 0.560 63.0 0.480 L2 580 64.5 0.585 63.0 0.560 L3 680 63.0 0.600 63.0 0.600 L4 780 64.5 0.580 63.0 0.550
  • sweet spot 3 portion about 680 mm from the grip end
  • the rebound coefficient decreases as away from sweet spot 3 .
  • bat 1 of the present invention exhibits only a slight decrease in rebound coefficient because of the increasing diameter of the impact portion, having a large sweet area.
  • the diameter of the impact portion at the sweet spot is minimum and then the diameter gradually increases toward the leading edge and grip end of the bat.
  • the decrease in rebound performance is not considerable because of the increasing diameter of the impact portion.
  • the bat has a large sweet area.
  • the intermediate tapering shape of the impact portion helps the ball hit with the end of the impact portion to be directed to a fair zone.
  • the occurrence of foul balls and hence game length are reduced.

Abstract

A sweet spot 3 of an impact portion 2 has a smaller diameter than the other portions of the impact portion 2, whereby the impact portion 2 has an intermediate tapering shape in the longitudinal direction. Thus, even if hit with a portion at some distance from the sweet spot, rebound performance is not significantly reduced. Therefore, a bat having a large sweet area and capable of reducing the occurrence of foul balls is obtained.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of the Invention [0001]
  • The present invention relates to an improvement of a baseball or softball bat hereinafter referred to as a bat). The present invention provides a high-performance bat having a large sweet area that can achieve a good slugging distance even when a ball is hit with a portion other than a sweet spot, by forming the outer shape of the impact portion of the bat to have an intermediate tapering portion or recessed portion in the longitudinal direction. [0002]
  • 2. Description of the Background Art [0003]
  • The greater diameter of an impact portion tends to provide a smaller stiffness for elliptic deformation and hence give higher rebound performance to a ball. Then, it is generally known that a bat which gives excellent rebound performance can be effectively designed by making the diameter of an impact portion as large as possible. [0004]
  • On the other hand, if the diameter of the impact portion is too large, the bat becomes too heavy for a hitter to take a comfortable swing. If such a large diameter is to be maintained with less weight, sufficient strength is not obtained. [0005]
  • Then, to give improved rebound performance to the conventional bat, it has been necessary to reduce the impact portion in length so that the diameter of the impact portion is made large with less weight. As such, the conventional bat has a small sweet area. [0006]
  • As shown in FIG. 4, the conventional bat has an impact portion having a perimeter of a linear or gentle convex curve in the longitudinal direction. Thus, if a right-handed batter hits a rather outside ball with the impact portion near a leading edge, the stroke may result in a foul ball on the first base side. [0007]
  • On the other hand, if a right-handed batter hits a rather inside ball with the impact portion near a grip end, the stroke may result in a foul ball on the third base side. [0008]
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • Therefore, the present invention aims at providing a bat which has such a large sweet area that a certain level of rebound performance is ensured even if a ball is hit with a portion at some distance from a sweet spot, and which may reduce the occurrence of foul balls. [0009]
  • The baseball or softball bat of the present invention includes an impact portion which has a smaller diameter at a sweet spot than at the other locations of the impact portion, and which has a recessed external shape in the longitudinal direction. [0010]
  • The outline of a recessed part of the impact portion may be a curve, straight line, arc, or ellipse. The perimeter of the recessed part has a curvature radius of 200-1000 cm. [0011]
  • Preferably, the diameter of the impact portion increases from the sweet spot toward the leading edge and grip end of the bat. [0012]
  • The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.[0013]
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bat according to the present invention. [0014]
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of a bat according to another embodiment of the present invention. [0015]
  • FIG. 3 is a graph showing a comparison result of rebound performance between the bat of the present invention and the conventional bat. [0016]
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the conventional bat.[0017]
    • DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • Now, the embodiment of the present invention will be described. [0018]
  • Referring to FIG. 1, a [0019] bat 1 of the present invention has a smaller diameter at a sweet spot 3 of an impact portion 2 that gives the maximum bounce to a ball than at the other locations of impact portion 2. Impact portion 2 has a recessed outer shape. More specifically, impact portion 2 has a perimeter of an intermediate tapering shape in the longitudinal direction.
  • The recessed shape is obtained with the diameter of [0020] impact portion 2 being minimum at the location of sweet spot 3 and gradually increasing toward a leading edge 4 and a grip end 5 of bat 1. Thus, even if hit with the portion other than sweet spot 3, bat 1 has a large sweet area and exhibits less reduction in rebound performance because of the larger diameters of impact portion 2.
  • The outline of the recessed portion is desirably part of a curve, and especially an arc or ellipse with a curvature radius of 200-1000 cm. However, it may be part of a straight line as shown in FIG. 2. [0021]
  • [0022] Bat 1 can be made of various materials including wood, metal, fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) and the like. Bat 1 of the present invention can be made of any material.
  • If made of wood, [0023] bat 1 is formed by turning, followed by reinforcement by resin injection or the like.
  • If made of metal, [0024] bat 1 is formed by the conventional manufacturing method and then processed to have a tapering impact portion 2 with use of a metal roller or the like.
  • If made of FRP, for example, [0025] bat 1 is formed to have a tapering impact portion 2 with use of a mold having the corresponding shape.
  • [0026] Bat 1 does not necessarily have to be formed of a single material, but may be formed of different materials. For example, a tapering tubular member of FRP may be used for impact portion 2 of metal bat 1, or a tapering metal tubular member may be used for impact portion 2 of FRP bat 1.
  • Table 1 and FIG. 3 show a comparison result of rebound performance between [0027] baseball bat 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 and conventional baseball bat 1 shown in FIG. 4.
    Present invention Conventional example
    Distance from Diameter Rebound Diameter Rebound
    grip end (mm) (mm) Coefficient (mm) Coefficient
    L1
    480 69.0 0.560 63.0 0.480
    L2 580 64.5 0.585 63.0 0.560
    L3 680 63.0 0.600 63.0 0.600
    L4 780 64.5 0.580 63.0 0.550
  • As is apparent from the above result, sweet spot [0028] 3 (portion about 680 mm from the grip end) exhibits the highest rebound (restitution) coefficient, and the rebound coefficient decreases as away from sweet spot 3.
  • Although [0029] conventional bat 1 exhibits a considerable decrease in rebound coefficient as away from sweet spot 3, bat 1 of the present invention exhibits only a slight decrease in rebound coefficient because of the increasing diameter of the impact portion, having a large sweet area.
  • In the present invention, the diameter of the impact portion at the sweet spot is minimum and then the diameter gradually increases toward the leading edge and grip end of the bat. Thus, if hit with the portion other than the sweet spot, the decrease in rebound performance is not considerable because of the increasing diameter of the impact portion. As such, the bat has a large sweet area. [0030]
  • Further, the intermediate tapering shape of the impact portion helps the ball hit with the end of the impact portion to be directed to a fair zone. Thus, the occurrence of foul balls and hence game length are reduced. [0031]
  • Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims. [0032]

Claims (6)

What is claimed is:
1. A baseball or softball bat, wherein a sweet spot of an impact portion has a smaller diameter than other portions of said impact portion, and said impact portion has a recessed outer shape in a longitudinal direction.
2. The baseball or softball bat according to claim 1, wherein an outline of a recessed part of said impact portion includes a curve.
3. The baseball or softball bat according to claim 2, wherein the outline of the recessed part of said impact portion is part of an arc or ellipse.
4. The baseball or softball bat according to claim 3, wherein the outline of the recessed part has a curvature radius of 200-1000 cm.
5. The baseball or softball bat according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of said impact portion increases from said sweet spot toward a leading edge and grip end of said bat.
6. The baseball or softball bat according to claim 1, wherein the outline of the recessed part of said impact portion includes a straight line.
US09/891,996 2000-06-28 2001-06-26 Baseball or softball bat Abandoned US20020016230A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2000-194132(P) 2000-06-28
JP2000194132A JP2002011131A (en) 2000-06-28 2000-06-28 Bat for baseball or softball

Publications (1)

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US20020016230A1 true US20020016230A1 (en) 2002-02-07

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US (1) US20020016230A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2002011131A (en)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040152545A1 (en) * 1999-09-15 2004-08-05 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Ball bat having an insert with variable wall thickness
US6872156B2 (en) * 2001-05-02 2005-03-29 Mizuno Corporation Baseball or softball bat, bat base member and elastic sleeve
US7214152B1 (en) 2005-05-23 2007-05-08 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat having a sleeve with slots
US7361106B1 (en) 2005-05-23 2008-04-22 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat having a sleeve with slots
US7377867B1 (en) 2005-05-23 2008-05-27 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat having a sleeve with holes
US7377868B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2008-05-27 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat with flexible handle
US7749115B1 (en) 2008-04-02 2010-07-06 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat with circumferentially aligned and axially segmented barrel section
US20110172035A1 (en) * 2009-10-30 2011-07-14 Frank Contardi Gregory Methods and apparatuses for training athletes
US20110224033A1 (en) * 2010-03-10 2011-09-15 Steven Alan Wabnitz Mass Distributive Bat For Sports
US9669277B1 (en) 2013-12-06 2017-06-06 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat with performance governing barrel and vibration dampening connection
US10159878B2 (en) 2015-08-27 2018-12-25 Easton Diamond Sports, Llc Composite ball bat including a barrel with structural regions separated by a porous non-adhesion layer
US10940377B2 (en) 2018-06-19 2021-03-09 Easton Diamond Sports, Llc Composite ball bats with transverse fibers
US11013967B2 (en) 2017-07-19 2021-05-25 Easton Diamond Sports, Llc Ball bats with reduced durability regions for deterring alteration
US11167190B2 (en) 2017-07-19 2021-11-09 Easton Diamond Sports, Llc Ball bats with reduced durability regions for deterring alteration
US11185749B2 (en) 2018-09-14 2021-11-30 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat having at least on disc along the length of the bat barrel
US11660512B2 (en) 2018-02-12 2023-05-30 Easton Diamond Sports, Llc Double-barrel ball bats

Cited By (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6949038B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2005-09-27 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Ball bat having an insert with variable wall thickness
US20040152545A1 (en) * 1999-09-15 2004-08-05 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Ball bat having an insert with variable wall thickness
US6872156B2 (en) * 2001-05-02 2005-03-29 Mizuno Corporation Baseball or softball bat, bat base member and elastic sleeve
US7534180B1 (en) 2005-05-23 2009-05-19 Miken Sports, Llc Bat having a sleeve with slots
US7214152B1 (en) 2005-05-23 2007-05-08 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat having a sleeve with slots
US7294073B1 (en) 2005-05-23 2007-11-13 Miken Sports, Llc Bat having a sleeve with holes
US7361106B1 (en) 2005-05-23 2008-04-22 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat having a sleeve with slots
US7377867B1 (en) 2005-05-23 2008-05-27 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat having a sleeve with holes
US7534179B1 (en) 2005-05-23 2009-05-19 Miken Sports, Llc Bat having a sleeve with holes
US7611428B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-11-03 Miken Sports, Llc Bat with flexible handle
US20080214338A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-09-04 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc Bat With Flexible Handle
US20090253540A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2009-10-08 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc Bat With Flexible Handle
US7377868B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2008-05-27 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat with flexible handle
US20100009787A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2010-01-14 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc Bat With Flexible Handle
US8206250B1 (en) 2008-04-02 2012-06-26 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat with circumferentially aligned and axially segmented barrel section
US7955200B1 (en) 2008-04-02 2011-06-07 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat with circumferentially aligned and axially segmented barrel section
US7749115B1 (en) 2008-04-02 2010-07-06 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat with circumferentially aligned and axially segmented barrel section
US8317640B1 (en) * 2008-04-02 2012-11-27 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat with circumferentially aligned and axially segmented barrel section
US20110172035A1 (en) * 2009-10-30 2011-07-14 Frank Contardi Gregory Methods and apparatuses for training athletes
US20110224033A1 (en) * 2010-03-10 2011-09-15 Steven Alan Wabnitz Mass Distributive Bat For Sports
US9669277B1 (en) 2013-12-06 2017-06-06 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat with performance governing barrel and vibration dampening connection
US10159878B2 (en) 2015-08-27 2018-12-25 Easton Diamond Sports, Llc Composite ball bat including a barrel with structural regions separated by a porous non-adhesion layer
US11013967B2 (en) 2017-07-19 2021-05-25 Easton Diamond Sports, Llc Ball bats with reduced durability regions for deterring alteration
US11167190B2 (en) 2017-07-19 2021-11-09 Easton Diamond Sports, Llc Ball bats with reduced durability regions for deterring alteration
US11660512B2 (en) 2018-02-12 2023-05-30 Easton Diamond Sports, Llc Double-barrel ball bats
US10940377B2 (en) 2018-06-19 2021-03-09 Easton Diamond Sports, Llc Composite ball bats with transverse fibers
US11185749B2 (en) 2018-09-14 2021-11-30 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Bat having at least on disc along the length of the bat barrel

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: MIZUNO CORPORATION, JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:OKUYAMA, MASAAKI;MISONO, KAZUNORI;REEL/FRAME:011936/0774

Effective date: 20010621

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION