Bat With Performance Governing Barrel And Vibration Dampening Connection

Abstract

A bat for striking a ball comprises an axis, a handle, and a barrel. The handle includes a knob end, an attachment end, and a length separating the knob end from the attachment end. The barrel includes an end cap end, a barrel portion, a barrel length, and a transition section. The transition section is operatively attached to the attachment end of the handle. The bat can include a joint connecting the transition section to the attachment end while separating the barrel from the handle. Further, the bat can include an internal tubular member operatively attached to the end cap end and positioned within the barrel. A knob can be attached to the knob end of the handle while an end cap can be attached to the end cap end of the barrel. A grip can be attached to the handle adjacent the knob.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bat for striking a ball, comprising:
 a handle;   a barrel having an end cap end, a barrel portion with a preferred hitting area, and a transition section, the preferred hitting area of the barrel portion spaced between the end cap end and the transition section, the transition section connected to the handle;   an end cap operatively attached to the end cap end; and   an internal tubular member positioned within the barrel and operatively attached to the end cap end, the internal tubular member extending toward the transition section and including an outside diameter, wherein the outside diameter increases proximate to the preferred hitting area of the barrel portion and the outside diameter is radially spaced from the preferred hitting area of the barrel portion.   
     
     
         2 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the preferred hitting area of the barrel portion includes an axial length; and   the outside diameter of the internal tubular member is substantially consistent from the end cap end to the axial length of the preferred hitting area of the barrel portion and is increased along the axial length of the preferred hitting area of the barrel portion.   
     
     
         3 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the preferred hitting area of the barrel portion has a starting location spaced from the end cap end and an ending location positioned between the starting location and the transition section; and   the outside diameter of the internal tubular member increases proximate the starting location and the increased outside diameter ends proximate the ending location of the preferred hitting area.   
     
     
         4 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the preferred hitting area of the barrel portion deflects upon contact with a ball and the increased outside diameter of the internal tubular member restricts that deflection. 
     
     
         5 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the internal tubular member is fixed to the end cap. 
     
     
         6 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the internal tubular member and the end cap are fixed to the end cap end of the barrel by a mechanical fixture. 
     
     
         7 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the internal tubular member and the end cap are fixed to the end cap end of the barrel by adhesion. 
     
     
         8 . The bat of  claim 1 , where the handle, barrel, and internal tubular member are comprised of composite. 
     
     
         9 . A bat for striking a ball, comprising:
 a barrel including an end cap end, a barrel portion and a transition section;   an end cap attached to the end cap end of the barrel; and   an internal tubular member attached to the end cap, the internal tubular member extending toward the transition section, the internal tubular member including a first portion adjacent the end cap and having a first outside diameter, and a second portion on an opposite side of the first portion from the end cap and having an enlarged second outside diameter, the enlarged second outside diameter of the internal tubular member being radially spaced from the barrel portion of the barrel so that upon contact of the barrel portion with a ball adjacent the enlarged second outside diameter the barrel portion deflects and the enlarged second outside diameter of the internal tubular member restricts the deflection of the barrel.   
     
     
         10 . The bat of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the barrel portion of the barrel includes a preferred hitting area located adjacent the enlarged second outside diameter of the internal tubular member.   
     
     
         11 . The bat of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the enlarged second outside diameter of the internal tubular member reduces performance of the bat when hitting a ball in the preferred hitting area.   
     
     
         12 . The bat of  claim 11 , wherein:
 areas of the bat adjacent the preferred hitting area have a relatively higher performance level than they could have in the absence of the internal tubular member, for a given maximum allowed performance level of the bat.   
     
     
         13 . The bat of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the preferred hitting area is located in a range of from four to eight inches from the end cap end.   
     
     
         14 . The bat of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the preferred hitting area is located in a range of from five to seven inches from the end cap end.   
     
     
         15 . The bat of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the outside diameter of the internal tubular member increases abruptly from the first outside diameter to the second outside diameter in a step.   
     
     
         16 . The bat of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the outside diameter of the internal tubular member increases smoothly in a taper from the first outside diameter to the second outside diameter.   
     
     
         17 . The bat of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the internal tubular member is attached to the end cap by a mechanical fixture.   
     
     
         18 . The bat of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the internal tubular member is attached to the end cap by adhesion.   
     
     
         19 . The bat of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the internal tubular member has a constant internal diameter.   
     
     
         20 . A bat for striking a ball comprising:
 a handle;   a barrel having an end cap end, a barrel portion with a preferred hitting area, and a transition section, the transition section connected to the handle, the preferred hitting area of the barrel portion including a starting location spaced from the end cap end and an ending location positioned between the starting location and the transition section;   an end cap;   an internal tubular member attached to the end cap, the internal tubular member extending toward the transition section and including a consistent internal diameter, an increasing outside diameter, and a length, wherein the increasing outside diameter is substantially consistent from the end cap end to the starting location of the preferred hitting area of the barrel portion, expands proximate the starting location, and ends proximate the ending location of the preferred hitting area;   wherein the preferred hitting area of the barrel portion deflects upon contact with a ball and the increasing outside diameter of the internal tubular member restricts that deflection; and   wherein the internal tubular member and the end cap are fixed to the end cap end of the barrel.