Athletic handle for decreasing hand injuries, improving swing and improving performance

Abstract

Handles for athletic equipment, such as baseball bats. The handles include two different portions, or sides, each configured to achieve different results. A first portion has a flared shape and no knob, and is configured to interface with the hypothenar side of a batter/user's hand in a way that it promotes the gliding of the handle/knob over his or her hypothenar area, hamate bone and other anatomic areas included in such. A second portion has a least a partial knob and is configured to interface with the user's little finger with a protuberance that engages the little finger, wherein the engagement of the little finger facilitates better grip, a pivot point for proximal part to glide across hypothenar eminence of hand and better performance of the bat (or other athletic equipment) being used.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A handle for sports equipment comprising:
 a first portion having a flared shape and no knob;   a second portion having at least a partial knob; and   an axis extending along a vertical axis of the handle and separating the first and second portions.   
     
     
         2 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is configured to interface with the hypothenar side of a user's hand. 
     
     
         3 . The handle of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion is configured to interface with the hypothenar side of the user's hand in a way that decreases pinpoint loading or overloading of one anatomic structure. 
     
     
         4 . The handle of  claim 3 , wherein the anatomic structure is selected from the group consisting of the user's hypothenar area and the user's hamate bone. 
     
     
         5 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes a groove configured to unload the user's hypothenar area and the user's hamate bone. 
     
     
         6 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is configured to interface with the little finger of a user's hand. 
     
     
         7 . The handle of  claim 6 , wherein the at least partial knob of the second portion includes a protuberance that is configured to engage the user's little finger. 
     
     
         8 . The handle of  claim 7 , wherein the protuberance is configured to facilitates better grip, a pivot point for proximal part to glide across hypothenar eminence of the user's hand and better performance of the athletic equipment with which the handle is used. 
     
     
         9 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least partial knob of the second portion includes an added weight, whereby balance, feel, swing path, pivot and hypothenar glide of the athletic equipment is improved. 
     
     
         10 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the athletic equipment is selected from the group consisting of baseball bats, tennis rackets and golf clubs.