Baseball/softball bat with shock dissipation characteristics and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

A baseball or softball bat includes a handle having a grip portion adjacent to a first end thereof and a second end disposed within a proximal end of a barrel. The second end of the handle defines a recess having a cross-sectional configuration which is less than the cross-sectional areas of the handle immediately adjacent thereto. A vibration dampening sleeve is disposed over the recess and has an outer surface which engages an inner surface of the proximal end of the barrel. The sleeve may be interlockingly or threadedly engaged to the inner surface of the barrel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A baseball or softball bat, comprising:
 a barrel having a proximal end and a distal end;   a handle comprising a first end having a grip portion adjacent thereto, and a second end disposed within the proximal end of the barrel and defining a recess having a cross-sectional configuration which is less than the cross-sectional areas of the handle immediately adjacent thereto; and   a vibration dampening sleeve disposed over the recess and having an outer surface which engages an inner surface of the proximal end of the barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the sleeve generally conforms to the recess. 
     
     
         3 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the recess has a generally concave cross-sectional configuration along a longitudinal axis thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the recess includes a first sloped region. 
     
     
         5 . The bat of  claim 4 , wherein the recess includes a second sloped region, the first and second sloped regions converging towards an area of smallest cross-sectional area of the recess. 
     
     
         6 . The bat of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first sloped region or second sloped region prevents axial movement of the sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a tapered portion intermediate the recess and the grip portion. 
     
     
         8 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a shoulder adjacent to the recess preventing axial movement of the sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes projections which interlockingly engage depressions formed on the inner surface of the barrel. 
     
     
         10 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve and the inner surface of the barrel are threadedly connected to one another. 
     
     
         11 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of an elastic polymer material. 
     
     
         12 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is molded onto the recess. 
     
     
         13 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the recess includes projections extending into the sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The bat of  claim 13 , wherein rotational movement of the sleeve is prevented by the projections of the recess. 
     
     
         15 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel and the handle are comprised of a composite material. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a baseball or softball bat, comprising the steps of:
 providing a barrel having a proximal end and a distal end;   providing a handle comprising a first end having a grip portion adjacent thereto, and a second end defining a recess having a cross-sectional configuration which is less than the cross-sectional areas of the handle immediately adjacent thereto;   molding a sleeve comprised of a material having vibration dampening characteristics over the recess;   attaching the second end of the handle to the proximal end of the barrel such that the sleeve and an inner surface of the barrel engage one another.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the attaching step includes the step of interlockingly engaging the sleeve with an inner surface of the barrel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein molding step comprises molding a sleeve having projections which matingly engage depressions formed on the inner surface of the barrel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the attaching step includes the step of threadingly engaging the sleeve and an inner surface of the barrel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the providing steps comprise providing a barrel and a handle comprised of a composite material. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , including the step of preventing axial movement of the sleeve by providing stops bordering the recess. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , including the step of preventing rotational movement of the sleeve by configuring the recess to extend into the sleeve.