Ball bat with an external wall in the barrel region

Abstract

A ball bat includes a handle and a main barrel. An external wall or sleeve is positioned around the main barrel and separated from the main barrel by a gap. The gap provides a bat barrel with relatively low stiffness and high radial compliance, resulting in performance advantages and improved feel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball bat, comprising:
 a handle and a main barrel oriented longitudinally relative to each other;   an external barrel wall positioned over the main barrel and separated from an outer surface of the main barrel by a gap;   at least one spacing element positioned between the main barrel and the external barrel wall to hold the main barrel in spaced relationship to the external barrel wall.   
     
     
         2 . The ball bat of  claim 1  wherein the gap extends approximately 0.040 to 0.200 inches in a radial direction such that the external barrel wall is separated from the main barrel by this distance. 
     
     
         3 . A ball bat, comprising:
 a handle and a barrel oriented longitudinally relative to each other; and   an external sleeve positioned over the barrel and separated from an outer surface of the barrel by a gap.   
     
     
         4 . The ball bat of  claim 3  further comprising an end cap attached to a distal end of the bat, wherein the end cap includes a longitudinally inwardly projecting spacer positioned between the barrel and the external sleeve to hold the barrel in spaced relationship to the external sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The ball bat of  claim 3  further comprising at least one spacing element positioned between the barrel and the external sleeve to hold the barrel in spaced relationship to the external sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The ball bat of  claim 5  wherein the at least one spacing element comprises at least two rings spaced longitudinally from each other. 
     
     
         7 . The ball bat of  claim 5  wherein the at least one spacing element is positioned substantially at a distal end of the barrel. 
     
     
         8 . The ball bat of  claim 7  wherein the at least one spacing element is the only spacing element positioned between the barrel and the external sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The ball bat of  claim 3  wherein a proximal end of the external sleeve is attached to the barrel or the handle via an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The ball bat of  claim 3  wherein the ball bat further includes a tapered region located longitudinally between the handle and the barrel, wherein a proximal end of the external sleeve is attached to the tapered region via an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         11 . The ball bat of  claim 3  wherein the gap extends from a region adjacent to a distal end of the barrel to at least a proximal end of the barrel. 
     
     
         12 . The ball bat of  claim 3  wherein the gap extends approximately 0.040 to 0.200 inches in a radial direction such that the external sleeve is separated from the barrel by this distance. 
     
     
         13 . The ball bat of  claim 3  wherein the gap is at least partially filled with an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         14 . The ball bat of  claim 13  wherein the elastomeric material is selected from the group consisting of foam, rubber, and thermoplastic urethane. 
     
     
         15 . The ball bat of  claim 3  wherein the external sleeve is mechanically locked to the barrel. 
     
     
         16 . The ball bat of  claim 3  wherein the handle and the barrel comprise a one-piece, integral construction. 
     
     
         17 . The ball bat of  claim 3  wherein the barrel comprises a first composite material, and the sleeve comprises a second composite material. 
     
     
         18 . The ball bat of  claim 17  wherein the first composite material is the same material as the second composite material. 
     
     
         19 . A ball bat, comprising:
 a handle and a barrel oriented longitudinally relative to each other; and   an outer wall positioned over the barrel and separated from an outer surface of the barrel by a gap; and   means for physically separating at least a portion of the outer wall from at least a portion of the barrel.   
     
     
         20 . The ball bat of  claim 19  wherein the gap extends approximately 0.040 to 0.200 inches in a radial direction such that the outer wall is separated from the barrel by this distance.