Performance adjusting attachment for a ball bat and method of using same

Abstract

An attachment for a ball bat having a proximal knob end includes a member having first and second opposing surfaces. The first surface is configured to be fixedly attached to the knob end of the bat. The member has a predetermined weight that is sufficient to adjust the performance of the bat.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An attachment for a ball bat having a proximal knob end, the attachment comprising: 
 a member having first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface configured to be fixedly attached to the knob end of the bat, the member having a predetermined weight, the weight being sufficient to adjust the performance of the bat.    
     
     
         2 . The attachment of  claim 1  wherein the predetemined weight is at least 0.5 ounces.  
     
     
         3 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined weight is within the range of 0.5 to 3.0 ounces.  
     
     
         4 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the second opposing surface includes indicia selected the group consisting of graphical indicia, alphanumeric indicia, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The attachment of  claim 4 , wherein the indicia is applied to the second surface of the member by a means selected from the group consisting of engraving, screen printing, pad printing, etching, painting, embossing and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The attachment of  claim 4 , wherein the indicia further includes at least one marking representative of bat specifications, advertising information, source data, at least one trademark, and at least one certification mark.  
     
     
         7 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the member is a disk.  
     
     
         8 . The attachment of  claim 7 , wherein the first surface is generally concave and generally conforms to the knob end of the bat.  
     
     
         9 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the member is a generally annular member.  
     
     
         10 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the member further comprises a shear pin outwardly extending from the first surface.  
     
     
         11 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the member, when fixedly secured to the knob end of the bat, reduces the batted ball speed of the bat by at least 0.5 feet per second.  
     
     
         12 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the member, when fixedly secured to the knob end of the bat, reduces the batted ball speed of the bat by at least 1.5 feet per second.  
     
     
         13 . A ball bat comprising: 
 an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis having a handle portion and a primary hitting portion; the handle portion including a knob having a knob end surface, at least a portion of the knob end surface being generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and    a member having first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface of the member fixedly coupled to the knob end surface, the member having a predetermined weight, the weight being sufficient to adjust the performance of the bat.    
     
     
         14 . The bat of  claim 13  wherein the predetemined weight of the member is at least 0.5 ounces.  
     
     
         15 . The bat of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined weight of the member is within the range of 0.5 to 3.0 ounces.  
     
     
         16 . The bat of  claim 13 , wherein the second opposing surface includes indicia selected the group consisting of graphical indicia, alphanumeric indicia, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The bat of  claim 16 , wherein the indicia is applied to the second surface of the member by a means selected from the group consisting of engraving, screen printing, pad printing, etching, painting, embossing and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The bat of  claim 16 , wherein the indicia further includes at least one marking representative of bat specifications, advertising information, source data, at least one trademark, and at least one certification mark.  
     
     
         19 . The bat of  claim 13 , wherein the member is a disk.  
     
     
         20 . The bat of  claim 19 , wherein the first surface is generally concave and generally conforms to the knob end of the bat.  
     
     
         21 . The bat of  claim 13 , wherein the member is a generally annular member.  
     
     
         22 . The bat of  claim 13 , wherein the member further comprises a shear pin outwardly extending from the first surface.  
     
     
         23 . The bat of  claim 22  wherein the knob includes an aperture, and wherein the shear pin extends at least partially into the aperture.  
     
     
         24 . The bat of  claim 13 , wherein the member is fixedly coupled to the knob by fastening means, and wherein the fastening means is selected from the group consisting of at least one fastener, an adhesive, welding, bonding, adhesive tape, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The bat of  claim 13 , wherein the member, when fixedly secured to the knob end of the bat, reduces the batted ball speed of the bat by at least 0.5 feet per second.  
     
     
         26 . The bat of  claim 13 , wherein the member, when fixedly secured to the knob end of the bat, reduces the batted ball speed of the bat by at least 1.5 feet per second.  
     
     
         27 . A method of adjusting the performance of a ball bat, the method including the steps of: 
 obtaining a bat having a handle portion and a primary hitting portion, the handle portion including a knob having a knob end surface;    obtaining a member having first and second opposing surfaces, the member having a predetermined weight for adjusting a performance characteristic of the bat; and    fixedly coupling the member to the knob end surface of the bat.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the predetemined weight of the member is at least 0.5 ounces.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the predetermined weight of the member is within the range of 0.5 to 3.0 ounces.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of applying indicia to the second surface of the member, and wherein the indicia is selected the group consisting of graphical indicia, alphanumeric indicia, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the indicia is applied to the second surface of the member by a means selected from the group consisting of engraving, screen printing, pad printing, etching, painting, embossing and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the indicia further includes at least one marking representative of bat specifications, advertising information, source data, at least one trademark, and at least one certification mark.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the member further comprises a shear pin outwardly extending from the first surface, wherein the knob includes an aperture, and wherein the shear pin extends at least partially into the aperture.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of fixedly coupling the member to the knob end surface of the knob is performed by applying an adhesive to at least one of the first surface of the member and the knob end surface, and placing the first surface of the member and the knob end surface together.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the adhesive is an adhesive tape.