Sports device with robust marking

Abstract

A sport device includes a longitudinal body comprising a handle, a barrel and two opposing endpoints. The longitudinal body comprising a first end adjacent the handle and a second end adjacent the barrel, wherein the first end is opposite the second end. The longitudinal body further comprising a knob at the first end. The knob is adapted to receive a marking, wherein the marking is arranged to be robust and protect the marking from deterioration. The sport device according to the invention can be arranged in many different ways with many different components, and is generally arranged to provide a baseball bat having a marking that is easily visible and long-lasting.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A sports device, comprising:
 a longitudinal body having a handle and a barrel;   a first end adjacent said handle;   a second end adjacent said barrel, wherein said first end is opposite said second end;   a knob at said first end; and   a marking in said knob, wherein said knob is adapted to receive said marking.   
     
     
         2 . The sports device of  claim 1 , said marking comprising:
 a label; and   a protective layer covering said label.   
     
     
         3 . The sports device of  claim 2 , wherein said protective layer prevents external elements from contacting said label. 
     
     
         4 . The sports device of  claim 2 , wherein said label provides information related to at least one characteristic of said sports device. 
     
     
         5 . The sports device of  claim 2 , wherein said label comprises alphanumeric characters. 
     
     
         6 . The sports device of  claim 2 , wherein said label comprises symbols. 
     
     
         7 . The sports device of  claim 1 , said knob further comprising:
 a cavity; and   at least one sidewall adjacent said cavity, wherein said marking is received by said cavity and adjacent said at least one sidewall.   
     
     
         8 . The sports device  claim 1 , wherein said marking partially extends beyond said knob. 
     
     
         9 . The sports device of  claim 1 , wherein said marking is substantially flush with said knob. 
     
     
         10 . The sports device of  claim 1 , wherein said sports device is a wood baseball bat. 
     
     
         11 . The sports device of  claim 1 , wherein said marking is disk-shaped and said knob is correspondingly shaped to receive said marking. 
     
     
         12 . The sports device of  claim 2 , wherein said label is coupled to said protective layer. 
     
     
         13 . The sports device of  claim 7 , wherein a thickness of said marking is substantially equivalent to a depth of said cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The sports device of  claim 2 , wherein said protective layer is formed of a transparent material. 
     
     
         15 . A wood bat, comprising:
 a longitudinal body;   a knob at a first end, said knob comprising a cavity adapted to receive a label; and   a transparent layer on said label in said cavity, wherein said transparent layer adapted to seal said label within said cavity and filling said cavity.   
     
     
         16 . The wood bat of  claim 15 , wherein said transparent layer is coupled to said label, said label and transparent layer corresponding to the shape of said cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The wood bat of  claim 15 , wherein said transparent layer is deposited on said label and cured to correspond to the shape of said cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The wood bat of  claim 15 , wherein said label comprises a plurality of alphanumeric characters adapted to provide information related to at least one characteristic of said wood bat. 
     
     
         19 . The wood bat of  claim 15 , wherein the weight of said label and transparent layer is substantially equivalent to the weight of the wood removed from said wood bat in forming said cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The wood bat of  claim 19 , where a second cavity is formed at a second end of said bat to accommodate for the weight of said label and transparent layer, wherein said second cavity is opposite said knob.