Bat with bifurcated internal cavities

Abstract

A tubular bat is provided whereby at least one diaphragm is located within the internal cavity of the bat. The diaphragm is fastened at its peripheral edge to the inner surface of the bat wall, thereby dividing the internal cavity into two separated cavities, thus creating two sweet spots, or shifting the existing sweet spot forward towards the distal end of the bat. This improves player performance by providing an expanded number of optimal hitting zones or by moving the optimal hitting zone farther from the bat handle.

1 . A tubular bat for striking a ball, the bat comprising:
 a handle portion for gripping;   a tubular barrel portion;   a tubular taper portion connecting the handle portion and the barrel portion, wherein the barrel portion and the taper portion have an internal diameter and include an internal cavity and a bat wall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and   at least one diaphragm located within the internal cavity, the at least diaphragm having a peripheral edge, the at least one diaphragm fastened at the peripheral edge to the inner surface of the bat wall, thereby dividing the internal cavity into at least two cavities.   
     
     
         2 . The tubular bat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one diaphragm is a circular, disc-shaped diaphragm, and wherein the at least one diaphragm spans the entire internal diameter of the bat. 
     
     
         3 . The tubular bat of  claim 1 , wherein the bat has a sweet spot and wherein the at least one diaphragm is located approximately at the sweet spot of the bat. 
     
     
         4 . The tubular bat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one diaphragm has a thickness of between about 0.0625 inches and about 10% of the internal diameter of the bat. 
     
     
         5 . The tubular bat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one diaphragm has a weight of between about 0.18 ounces and about 3 ounces. 
     
     
         6 . The tubular bat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one diaphragm has a stiffness of at least 100 pound-inches. 
     
     
         7 . The tubular bat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one diaphragm has a strength of at least 5,000 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         8 . The tubular bat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one diaphragm is solid. 
     
     
         9 . The tubular bat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one diaphragm includes an integral supporting ring located on the peripheral edge of the at least one diaphragm for attaching the at least one diaphragm to the inside surface of the bat wall, the supporting ring having a width greater than the thickness of the at least one diaphragm. 
     
     
         10 . The tubular bat of  claim 9 , including an annular gap located between the inner surface of the bat wall and an outer surface of the supporting ring, wherein the bat wall is able to deform by a predetermined amount into the annular gap upon contact with the ball before contacting the diaphragm, thereby providing a limited trampoline effect. 
     
     
         11 . The tubular bat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one diaphragm is located within the taper portion of the bat. 
     
     
         12 . The tubular bat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one diaphragm comprises an outer U-shaped ring portion and an inner disc portion, and an annular gap located between the outer ring portion and the inner disc portion, wherein the bat wall is able to deform by a predetermined amount upon contact with the ball before the outer ring portion of the at least one diaphragm contacts the inner disc portion of the at least one diaphragm, thereby providing a limited trampoline effect. 
     
     
         13 . The tubular bat of  claim 1 , wherein the bat includes two diaphragms located with the internal cavity, each diaphragm having a peripheral edge, each diaphragm fastened at the peripheral edge thereof to the inner surface of the bat wall, thereby dividing the internal cavity into three cavities. 
     
     
         14 . A tubular bat for striking a ball, the bat comprising:
 a handle portion for gripping;   a tubular barrel portion;   a tubular taper portion connecting the handle portion and the barrel portion, wherein the barrel portion and the taper portion have an internal diameter and include an internal cavity and a bat wall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and   at least one diaphragm located within the internal cavity, the at least one diaphragm including a supporting ring having an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface of the supporting ring being attached to a peripheral edge of the at least one diaphragm, the outside surface of the supporting ring being fastened to the inner surface of the bat wall, thereby dividing the internal cavity into at least two cavities.   
     
     
         15 . The tubular bat of  claim 14 , including an annular gap located between the inner surface of the bat wall and the outer surface of the supporting ring, wherein the bat wall is able to deform by a predetermined amount into the annular gap upon contact with the ball before contacting the at least one diaphragm, thereby providing a limited trampoline effect. 
     
     
         16 . The tubular bat of  claim 14 , wherein the bat has a sweet spot and wherein the at least one diaphragm is located approximately at the sweet spot of the bat. 
     
     
         17 . The tubular bat of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one diaphragm is located within the taper portion of the bat. 
     
     
         18 . A tubular bat for striking a ball, the bat comprising:
 a handle portion for gripping;   a tubular barrel portion;   a tubular taper portion connecting the handle portion and the barrel portion, wherein the barrel portion and the taper portion have an internal diameter and include an internal cavity and a bat wall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and   at least one diaphragm located within the internal cavity, the at least one diaphragm having a peripheral edge, the at least one diaphragm fastened at the peripheral edge to the inner surface of the bat wall, thereby dividing the internal cavity into at least two cavities, wherein the at least one diaphragm comprises an outer U-shaped ring portion and an inner disc portion, and an annular gap located between the outer ring portion and the inner disc portion, wherein the bat wall is able to deform by a predetermined amount upon contact with the ball before the outer ring portion of the at least one diaphragm contacts the inner disc portion of the at least one diaphragm, thereby providing a limited trampoline effect.   
     
     
         19 . The tubular bat of  claim 18 , wherein the bat has a sweet spot and wherein the at least one diaphragm is located approximately at the sweet spot of the bat. 
     
     
         20 . A tubular bat for striking a ball, the bat comprising:
 a handle portion for gripping;   a tubular barrel portion;   a tubular taper portion connecting the handle portion and the barrel portion, wherein the barrel portion and the taper portion have an internal diameter and include an internal cavity and a bat wall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and   at least one closed-end tubular insert located within the internal cavity, the at least one closed end tubular insert having at least one closed end, wherein the at least one closed end forms a diaphragm that spans the entire internal diameter of the bat, thereby dividing the internal cavity into at least two cavities.   
     
     
         21 . The tubular bat of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one closed end is located approximately at the sweet spot of the bat. 
     
     
         22 . The tubular bat of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one closed end is located within the taper portion of the bat. 
     
     
         23 . The tubular bat of  claim 20 , having two closed-end tubular inserts located within the internal cavity, each closed-end tubular insert having at least one closed end, wherein the at least one closed end of each closed-end tubular insert forms a diaphragm that spans the entire internal diameter of the bat. 
     
     
         24 . The tubular bat of  claim 23 , wherein the closed ends of each closed-end tubular insert are located adjacent one another. 
     
     
         25 . The tubular bat of  claim 20 , further including at least one open-ended tubular insert located within the internal cavity, the open-ended tubular insert having two open ends.