Baseball Bat

Abstract

A baseball bat having a sleeve surrounding a portion of the narrow exterior surface of the bat for prevention of scattering of splinters and wood projectiles should the bat shatter during use. The sleeve is formed of wound fabric and secured mechanically at both ends to the exterior surface of the bat. The securement using a groove or ridge and traverse fibers engaged with the sleeve allows the sleeve to stretch and absorb energy and prevents a total separation of the heavy end of the bat from the handle from becoming airborne where it could cause serious injury.

1 . A baseball bat comprising:
 a baseball bat having a center axis therethrough and having a length extending from a knob on a first end to a distal end, said baseball bat having a central portion in-between said first and second ends and having an exterior surface;   a sleeve circumferentially engaged upon said exterior surface, said sleeve extending for a sleeve length between a first end adjacent to said knob, to a second end extending to said central portion; and   means to mechanically engage said second end with said exterior surface, whereby said distal end after a separation of from said first end of said baseball bat occurring in said central portion, is restrained by said sleeve.   
   
   
       2 . The baseball bat of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 means to mechanically engage said first end with said exterior surface of said bat at a position adjacent to said knob.   
   
   
       3 . The baseball bat of  claim 1  wherein said means to mechanically engage said second end with said exterior surface comprises one of a ridge rising above said exterior surface or a recess formed into said exterior surface and having said first end constrictively engaged over said ridge or within said recess. 
   
   
       4 . The baseball bat of  claim 2  wherein said means to mechanically engage said first end with said exterior surface comprises one of a ridge rising above said exterior surface or a recess formed into said exterior surface and having said second end constrictively engaged over said ridge or within said recess. 
   
   
       5 . The baseball bat of  claim 1  wherein said sleeve is formed of fibers wound around said exterior surface of said baseball bat. 
   
   
       6 . The baseball bat of  claim 2  wherein said sleeve is formed of fibers wound around said exterior surface of said baseball bat. 
   
   
       7 . The baseball bat of  claim 3  wherein said sleeve is formed of fibers wound around said exterior surface of said baseball bat. 
   
   
       8 . The baseball bat of  claim 4  wherein said sleeve is formed of fibers wound around said exterior surface of said baseball bat. 
   
   
       9 . The baseball bat of  claim 3  wherein said means to mechanically engage said first end additionally comprises secondary fibers engaged with said first end and running traverse to said center axis. 
   
   
       10 . The baseball bat of  claim 4  wherein said means to mechanically engage said first end and said means to mechanically engage said second end, both comprise secondary fibers engaged with said first end and second end respectively, and running traverse to said center axis. 
   
   
       11 . The baseball bat of  claim 8  wherein said means to mechanically engage said first end and said means to mechanically engage said second end, both comprise secondary fibers engaged with said first end and second end respectively, and running traverse to said center axis. 
   
   
       12 . The baseball bat of  claim 1  wherein said sleeve length is between 45 to 65 percent of said length of said bat. 
   
   
       13 . The baseball bat of  claim 7  wherein said sleeve length is between 45 to 65 percent of said length of said bat. 
   
   
       14 . The baseball bat of  claim 8  wherein said sleeve length is between 45 to 65 percent of said length of said bat. 
   
   
       15 . The baseball bat of  claim 5  wherein a portion of said fibers are wrapped at an angle to said center axis between 40 and 60 degrees. 
   
   
       16 . The baseball bat of  claim 8  wherein a portion of said fibers are wrapped at an angle to said center axis between 40 and 60 degrees. 
   
   
       17 . The baseball bat of  claim 11  wherein a portion of said fibers are wrapped at an angle to said center axis between 40 and 60 degrees. 
   
   
       18 . The baseball bat of  claim 16  additionally comprising a secondary layer of said fibers underneath said fibers wrapped at said angle, said secondary layer of fibers being substantially parallel to said center axis. 
   
   
       19 . The baseball bat of  claim 17  additionally comprising a secondary layer of said fibers underneath said fibers wrapped at said angle, said secondary layer of fibers being substantially parallel to said center axis. 
   
   
       20 . A method for constructing the bat of  claim 10 , comprising the steps of:
 forming one of a ridge or a groove at positions to be occupied by said first end and said second of said sleeve;   winding said fibers around said bat to form said sleeve circumferentially upon said exterior surface of said bat; and   winding said secondary fibers around said bat and engaging said first end and said second end to said ridge or said groove.