Shock and vibration absorbing system for baseball and softball bats

Abstract

A shock and vibration absorbing system includes a shock and vibration dampener disposed within a handle or tapered section of a bat. The dampener includes at least one elastomeric dampening element for supporting a mass in suspension within the bat without the mass contacting an inner surface of the bat. The dampening elements include a body having the mass extending therethrough and a plurality of spaced apart projections having distal ends in contact with an inner surface of the bat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shock and vibration absorbing system for baseball and softball bats, comprising:
 a bat having a handle at a first end thereof and a barrel at a generally opposite end thereof and a tapered section intermediate the handle and barrel; and   a shock and vibration dampener disposed within the handle or tapered section, the dampener including:   a mass; and   at least one dampening element for supporting the mass in suspension within the bat without the mass contacting an inner surface of the bat;   wherein the at least one elastomeric dampening element comprises a body having the mass extending therethrough and a plurality of spaced apart projections having distal ends thereof in contact with an inner surface of the bat.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bat is comprised of a metal or composite material. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dampener is disposed within the handle between an end of the handle and the tapered section. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the dampener is disposed within ten inches of the end of the handle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mass is between 0.5 and 3.5 inches in length. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mass comprises a rod extending longitudinally within the bat. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the dampening element comprises a generally cylindrical disc and the projections comprise a plurality of spaced apart teeth extending radially outward from the disc. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mass weighs 0.5% to 10% of a total weight of the bat. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , including a retainer disposed adjacent at least one end of the dampener for maintaining the location of the dampener within the bat. 
     
     
         10 . A shock and vibration absorbing system for baseball and softball bats, comprising:
 a bat having a handle at a first end thereof and a barrel at a generally opposite end thereof and a tapered section intermediate the handle and barrel; and   a shock and vibration dampener disposed within the handle or tapered section, the dampener including:   an elongated mass extending longitudinally within the bat; and   a plurality of elastomeric dampening elements for supporting the mass in suspension within the bat without the mass contacting an inner surface of the bat in spaced relation to one another along a length of the mass;   wherein the elastomeric dampening elements comprise a body having the mass extending therethrough and a plurality of spaced apart projections having distal ends thereof in contact with an inner surface of the bat;   wherein the bat is comprised of a metal or composite material; and   wherein the mass weighs 0.5% to 10% of a total weight of the bat.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the dampener is disposed within the handle between an end of the handle and the tapered section. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the dampener is disposed within six inches of the end of the handle. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the mass is between 0.5 and 3.5 inches in length. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the body of the dampening element comprises a generally cylindrical disc and the projections comprise a plurality of spaced apart teeth extending radially outward from the disc. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , including a retainer disposed adjacent to at least one end of the dampener for maintaining the location of the dampener within the bat. 
     
     
         16 . A shock and vibration absorbing system for baseball and softball bats, comprising:
 a bat comprised of metal or composite material having a handle at a first end thereof and a barrel at a generally opposite end thereof and a tapered section intermediate the handle and barrel; and   a shock and vibration dampener disposed within the handle, the dampener including:   a mass between 0.5 and 3.5 inches in length extending longitudinally within the bat; and   at least two elastomeric dampening elements spaced apart from another along a length of the mass for supporting the mass in suspension within the bat without the mass contacting an inner surface of the bat;   wherein the elastomeric dampening elements comprise a generally disc-shaped body having the mass extending therethrough and a plurality of spaced apart teeth extending radially outward therefrom and having distal ends thereof in contact with an inner surface of the bat; and   wherein the mass weighs 0.5% to 10% of a total weight of the bat.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the dampener is disposed within six inches of the end of the handle. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , including a retainer disposed adjacent to at least one end of the dampener for maintaining the location of the dampener within the bat.