Vibration damper end knob for baseball and softball bats

Abstract

A vibration damper end knob for a baseball or softball bat includes a core having a base disposed outside of a handle of the bat and a shaft extending from the base and into the handle. A sleeve is disposed between the shaft and an inner surface of the handle. An elastomeric sheath is configured to extend at least partially over the core and onto an exterior of the handle adjacent to an end thereof. The sheath and the base of the core cooperatively form an end cap of the bat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vibration damper end knob for a baseball or softball bat having a hollow handle, the end knob comprising:
 a core including a base and a shaft extending from the base and into the handle;   a sleeve disposed between the shaft and an inner surface of the handle; and   a sheath configured to extend at least partially over the core and onto an exterior of the handle adjacent to an end thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 1 , wherein the core is comprised of a rigid material. 
     
     
         3 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the core is disposed outside of the handle adjacent to the end of the handle. 
     
     
         4 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 3 , wherein the shaft of the core is tubular. 
     
     
         5 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 4 , wherein the base of the core includes at least one aperture in communication with the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 5 , wherein the base of the core includes a plurality of apertures spaced from one another about a periphery of the base and in communication with the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of a vibration dampening material. 
     
     
         8 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 3 , wherein the sheath is comprised of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         9 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 8 , wherein the sheath comprises an annular portion disposed over at least a portion of the base of the core, and a cover shell extending from the annular portion and over a portion of the handle adjacent to the end thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 9 , wherein the base of the core and the annular portion of the sheath cooperatively form an end cap of the bat. 
     
     
         11 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 9 , wherein the sheath extends over apertures formed in the base of the core. 
     
     
         12 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 9 , wherein the cover shell has a tacky texture. 
     
     
         13 . A vibration damper end knob for a baseball or softball bat having a hollow handle, the end knob comprising:
 a core comprised of a rigid material and including a base disposed outside of the handle adjacent to an end of the handle and a shaft extending from the base and into the handle;   a sleeve disposed between the shaft and an inner surface of the handle; and   a elastomeric sheath comprising an annular portion disposed over at least a portion of the base of the core, and a cover shell extending from the annular portion and over a portion of the handle adjacent to the end thereof.   
     
     
         14 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 13 , wherein the shaft of the core is tubular. 
     
     
         15 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 14 , wherein the base of the core includes at least one aperture in communication with the shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 15 , wherein the base of the core includes a plurality of apertures spaced from one another about a periphery of the base and in communication with the shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 13 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of a vibration dampening material. 
     
     
         18 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 13 , wherein the base of the core and the annular portion of the sheath cooperatively form an end cap of the bat. 
     
     
         19 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 15 , wherein the sheath extends over the at least one aperture formed in the base of the core. 
     
     
         20 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 13 , wherein the cover shell has a tacky texture. 
     
     
         21 . A vibration damper end knob for a baseball or softball bat having a hollow handle, the end knob comprising:
 a core comprised of a rigid material and including a base disposed outside of the handle adjacent to an end of the handle and a shaft extending from the base and into the handle;   a sleeve disposed between the shaft and an inner surface of the handle; and   a elastomeric sheath comprising an annular portion disposed over at least a portion of the base of the core, and a generally frustroconical cover shell extending from the annular portion and over a portion of the handle adjacent to the end thereof;   wherein the shaft of the core is tubular and the base of the core includes at least one aperture in communication with the shaft;   wherein the sheath extends over the at least one aperture formed in the base of the core; and   wherein the base of the core and the annular portion of the sheath cooperatively form an end cap of the bat.   
     
     
         22 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 21 , wherein the base of the core includes a plurality of apertures spaced from one another about a periphery of the base and in communication with the shaft. 
     
     
         23 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 21 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of a vibration dampening material. 
     
     
         24 . The vibration damper end knob of  claim 21 , wherein the cover shell has a tacky texture.