Bat with reinforcing wrap

Abstract

A softball or baseball bat comprising a plurality of strips of wood assembled to form a solid material is disclosed. The bat can comprise bamboo, or other suitable material, that provides the necessary hardness, while using a more economical and renewable resource than conventional hardwoods. The plurality of strips can be assembled to form a solid block, which can be shaped into a bat blank. Then blank can comprise a handle portion, a transition portion, and a barrel portion. The bat can further comprise a reinforcing sleeve disposed proximate the handle portion and the transition portion. The finished bat can further comprise a protective and decorative coating.

1 . A system comprising:
 a bat blank, having a barrel, a taper, a handle, and a knob, and formed from a plurality of wooden strips glued together to form a unitary blank; and   a reinforcing sleeve, comprising a plurality of reinforcing fibers disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the bat, disposed proximate the taper, the handle, or both, reinforcing the bat.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing sleeve comprises fiberglass adhered to the bat blank with resin. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the resin comprises polyester resin. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the resin comprises epoxy resin. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing sleeve comprises pre-impregnated carbon fiber. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wooden strips comprise strips of bamboo. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the acute angle is between 15 degrees and 60 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the acute angle is 45 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacture comprising:
 applying adhesive to a plurality of wooden strips;   assembling the wooden strips into a unitary wooden block;   shaping the unitary wooden block into a rough bat blank comprising a barrel, taper, handle, and knob;   placing a reinforcing sleeve over the bat blank proximate the taper, the handle, or both;   adhering the reinforcing sleeve to the bat blank with a resin; and   curing the resin to harden the reinforcing sleeve;   wherein the reinforcing sleeve comprises a plurality of reinforcing fibers disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the bat.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 shaping the bat blank with reinforcing sleeve into a final bat blank; and   sanding the surface of the final bat blank to provide a smooth surface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 painting the sanded final bat blank.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 applying decals to the final bat blank.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein shaping the unitary wooden block is performed on a lathe. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising compressing the plurality of wooden strips after assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein epoxy resin is applied to the plurality of wooden strips prior to assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcing sleeve comprises fiberglass. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcing sleeve comprises carbon fiber. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising vacuum bagging the bat blank and reinforcing sleeve prior to curing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the acute angle is between 15 degrees and 60 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the acute angle is 45 degrees.