Bat With Flexible Handle

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.

1 . A bat for striking a ball, the bat comprising:
 a barrel portion;   a transition portion attached to the barrel portion; and   a handle portion attached to the transition portion, the handle portion including:
 a circumference; 
 a longitudinal axis; 
 a plurality of planes substantially parallel to the axis, each plane including a distal end, and adjacent planes are positioned to define apertures substantially parallel to the axis with each aperture including a proximate end; 
 a cross piece positioned substantially perpendicular to the plurality of planes and intersecting the axis, the cross-piece including a thickness and a length; and 
 wherein the apertures, planes, and cross piece in the handle are positioned to provide a response to a force substantially parallel to the planes and substantially perpendicular to the cross piece that is flexible relative to a stiffer response to a force substantially perpendicular to the planes and substantially planer to the cross piece. 
   
   
   
       2 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness is substantially uniform along the length. 
   
   
       3 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the proximate ends are aligned. 
   
   
       4 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the proximate ends are offset. 
   
   
       5 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the distal ends are rounded. 
   
   
       6 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the distal ends conform to the shape of the circumference. 
   
   
       7 . The bat of  claim 1 , the handle including a deflection characteristic responsive to a force substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the deflection characteristic is increased by the apertures defined in the handle. 
   
   
       8 . The bat of  claim 1 , further including at least one externally positioned support positioned on the handle to regulate the flexibility of the handle. 
   
   
       9 . The bat of  claim 8 , wherein the externally positioned support is positioned substantially parallel to the axis of the handle. 
   
   
       10 . The bat of  claim 8 , wherein the externally positioned support is spirally shaped. 
   
   
       11 . 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 with adjacent longitudinal planes positioned to define longitudinal apertures substantially parallel to the axis, each longitudinal plane including a distal end, each longitudinal aperture including a proximate end and at least two of the proximate ends are offset; 
 a connecting piece substantially perpendicular to the plurality of longitudinal planes and intersecting the axis and including a width and a length. 
   
   
   
       12 . The bat of  claim 11 , 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. 
   
   
       13 . The bat of  claim 11 , wherein the width is substantially uniform along the length. 
   
   
       14 . The bat of  claim 11 , wherein the distal ends are rounded. 
   
   
       15 . The bat of  claim 11 , wherein the distal ends conform to the shape of the circumference.