Composite bat with varying barrel thicknesses

Abstract

A baseball or softball bat includes a composite bat body having a handle and a barrel extending from the handle. The bat body is of a variable thickness along a length thereof. A generally tubular, resilient sleeve is disposed adjacent to an exterior of the barrel intermediate ends of the bat body. The bat body and sleeve are interconnected with one another such that the sleeve and bat body provide a generally continuous exterior surface of the bat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A baseball or softball bat, comprising:
 a composite bat body including a handle and a barrel extending from the handle;   a generally tubular, resilient sleeve being disposed adjacent to an exterior of the bat body; and   means for interconnecting the bat body and sleeve in a coaxial relation;   wherein the bat body is of a variable thickness along a length thereof, at least a portion of the barrel of the bat body being thinner than the handle and/or end of the barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of metal or composite material having greater impact absorption and resistance characteristics than the composite bat body. 
     
     
         3 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is disposed over the thinner portion of the barrel and defines a ball striking portion of the bat. 
     
     
         4 . The bat of  claim 4 , wherein the ball striking portion of the bat has a predetermined BBCOR. 
     
     
         5 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the composite body is comprised of a plurality of layers of composite material, and wherein at least a portion of the barrel comprises fewer layers of composite material than the handle and end of the barrel. 
     
     
         6 . The bat of  claim 5 , wherein the portion of the barrel is comprised of 20 or fewer layers of composite material. 
     
     
         7 . The bat of  claim 5 , wherein the portion of the barrel is comprised of 5 or fewer layers of composite material. 
     
     
         8 . The bat of  claim 5 , wherein the handle and the end of the barrel are comprised of up to 40 layers of composite material. 
     
     
         9 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the interconnecting means includes an annular recess disposed at an end of the barrel of the bat body, for receiving an end of the sleeve therein. 
     
     
         10 . The bat of  claim 9 , wherein the end of the sleeve is tapered for engagement with the annular recess. 
     
     
         11 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein interconnection of the sleeve and the bat body provides a generally continuous exterior surface of the bat. 
     
     
         12 . A baseball or softball bat, comprising:
 a composite bat body including a handle and a barrel extending from the handle, the bat body being comprised of layers of composite material, a portion of the barrel defining a ball striking portion being comprised of fewer layers of composite material than the handle and an end of the bat such that the bat body has a variable thickness along a length thereof;   a generally tubular, resilient sleeve comprised of metal or composite material having greater impact absorption and resistance characteristics than the composite bat body being disposed adjacent to an exterior of the barrel intermediate ends of the bat body including over the ball striking portion of the barrel; and   means for interconnecting the bat body and sleeve in a coaxial relation wherein a portion of the bat body overlaps the sleeve;   wherein interconnection of the sleeve and the bat body provides a generally continuous exterior surface of the bat.   
     
     
         13 . The bat of  claim 12 , wherein the ball striking portion of the bat has a predetermined BBCOR. 
     
     
         14 . The bat of  claim 12 , wherein the ball striking portion of the barrel is comprised of 20 or fewer layers of composite material. 
     
     
         15 . The bat of  claim 12 , wherein the ball striking portion of the barrel is comprised of 5 or fewer layers of composite material. 
     
     
         16 . The bat of  claim 12 , wherein the handle and the end of the barrel are comprised of up to  40  layers of composite material. 
     
     
         17 . The bat of  claim 12 , wherein the interconnecting means includes an annular recess disposed at an end of the barrel of the bat body, for receiving an end of the sleeve therein. 
     
     
         18 . The bat of  claim 17 , wherein the end of the sleeve is tapered for engagement with the annular recess. 
     
     
         19 . A baseball or softball bat, comprising:
 a composite bat body including a handle and a barrel extending from the handle, the bat body being comprised of layers of composite material, a portion of the barrel defining a ball striking portion being comprised of fewer layers of composite material than the handle and an end of the bat such that the bat body has a variable thickness along a length thereof; and   a generally tubular, resilient sleeve comprised of metal or composite material having greater impact absorption and resistance characteristics than the composite bat body being disposed adjacent to an exterior of the barrel intermediate ends of the bat body including over the ball striking portion of the barrel;   wherein the ball striking portion of the bat has a predetermined BBCOR.   
     
     
         20 . The bat of  claim 19 , wherein the ball striking portion of the barrel is comprised of 20 or fewer layers of composite material. 
     
     
         21 . The bat of  claim 19 , wherein the ball striking portion of the barrel is comprised of 5 or fewer layers of composite material. 
     
     
         22 . The bat of  claim 19 , wherein the handle and the end of the barrel are comprised of up to  40  layers of composite material. 
     
     
         23 . The bat of  claim 19 , including means for interconnecting the bat body and sleeve in a coaxial relation wherein a portion of the bat body overlaps the sleeve. 
     
     
         24 . The bat of  claim 23 , wherein interconnection of the sleeve and the bat body provides a generally continuous exterior surface of the bat. 
     
     
         25 . The bat of  claim 23 , wherein the interconnecting means includes an annular recess disposed at an end of the barrel of the bat body, for receiving an end of the sleeve therein. 
     
     
         26 . The bat of  claim 25 , wherein the end of the sleeve is tapered for engagement with the annular recess.