Multi-component bat and assembly process

Abstract

A baseball or softball bat includes an elongated handle having an interconnection member at one end. The handle is inserted through a bat barrel to position the interconnection member within the bat barrel, with the remainder of the handle extending outwardly from the bat barrel. The bat barrel and the interconnection member are attached to one another. The interconnection member may be turned relative to the bat barrel to engage threads of the interconnecting member and a connection region of the bat barrel to attach the interconnecting member and handle to the bat barrel. A knob and a grip are associated with the handle and an end cap attached to an open end of the bat barrel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for assembling a baseball or softball bat, comprising the steps of:
 providing a bat barrel having a first open end, a second open end generally opposite the first open end and an inner connection region adjacent to the second open end;   providing a handle having a first end, a second generally opposite end, and an interconnecting member disposed adjacent to the first end, at least a portion of the interconnecting member having an outer surface configuration corresponding to the connection region of the bat barrel;   inserting the second end of the handle into the first open end of the bat barrel and passing the second end of the handle through the second open end of the bat barrel until the interconnecting member is disposed at the connection region of the bat barrel; and   attaching the interconnecting member to the connection region of the bat barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the inner connection region of the bat barrel is threaded and the outer surface of the interconnection member is threaded, and wherein the attaching step comprises threadedly interconnecting the handle to the bat barrel. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , including the step of locking the handle to the bat barrel. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , including the step of attaching an end cap to the first open end of the bat barrel. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , including the step of associating a knob and a grip with the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , including the step of inserting the first end of the handle into an opening of the interconnecting member. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , including the steps of aligning an aperture of the interconnecting member with an aperture of the handle, and inserting a pin through the aligned apertures. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , including the step of attaching a sheath over at least a portion of the handle, the sheath defining a grip and a knob at an end thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A baseball or softball bat manufactured by a process comprising the steps of:
 providing an elongated handle having an interconnection member at one end;   inserting the handle through a generally cylindrical bat barrel to position the interconnection member within the bat barrel with the remainder of the handle extending outwardly from the bat barrel; and   threadedly attaching the interconnection member to bat barrel.   
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , including the step of attaching an end cap to a first open end of the bat barrel. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 9 , including the step of associating a knob and a grip with the handle. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 9 , including the step of inserting an end of the handle into an opening of the interconnecting member. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 9 , including the steps of aligning an aperture of the interconnecting member with an aperture of the handle, and inserting a pin through the aligned apertures. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 9 , including the step of attaching a sheath over at least a portion of the handle, the sheath defining a grip and a knob at an end thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 9 , including the step of turning the interconnection member relative to the bat barrel to engage threads of the interconnecting member and a connection region of the bat barrel to attach the interconnecting member and handle to the bat barrel.