Patent ID: 8029391
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A bat comprising: a handle portion configured to be grasped by a player and a barrel, wherein the barrel has a first wall and a concentric second wall, wherein the first wall comprises a first group of layers and the second wall comprises a second group of layers, and wherein a release film layer is disposed between the first wall and the second wall; the first wall having a first axial portion and a second axial portion; the first wall having an outermost layer and a first composite body, wherein the outermost layer contacts the first composite body along the first axial portion; wherein the first composite body includes a first wall innermost layer having unidirectional fibers positioned at a first low angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat and a first wall outer layer having unidirectional fibers positioned at a first high angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat, wherein the first wall outer layer is positioned concentrically outward of the first wall innermost layer so that the first wall outer layer surrounds the first wall innermost layer, and wherein a first wall series of layers including at least three layers positioned between the first wall innermost layer and the first wall outer layer, wherein each layer in the first wall series of layers includes unidirectional fibers at angles different from the first low angle and the first high angle, and wherein the angles of the unidirectional fibers in any two successive layers of the first wall series progress by about 15 degrees; the first wall having a first stiffening layer disposed between the outermost layer and the first composite body along the second axial portion; wherein an outer surface of the first stiffening layer contacts the outermost layer and wherein an inner surface of the stiffening layer is attached to the first composite body; wherein the first composite body has a first inner diameter generally corresponding to the first axial portion and a second inner diameter generally corresponding to the second axial portion; and wherein the first outer stiffening layer displaces the first composite body radially inward along the second axial portion so that the second inner diameter of the outer composite body is less than the first inner diameter of the outer composite body; the second wall having a third axial portion and a fourth axial portion; the second wall having a second composite body, wherein the second composite body contacts the release film layer along the third axial portion; wherein the second composite body includes a second wall innermost layer having unidirectional fibers positioned at a second low angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat and a second wall outer layer having unidirectional fibers positioned at a second high angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat, wherein the second wall outer layer is positioned concentrically outward of the second wall innermost layer so that the second wall outer layer surrounds the second wall innermost layer, and wherein a second wall series of layers including at least three layers positioned between the second wall innermost layer and the second wall outer layer, wherein each layer in the second wall series of layers includes unidirectional fibers at angles different from the second low angle and the second high angle, and wherein the angles of the unidirectional fibers in any two successive layers of the second wall series progress by about 15 degrees; the second wall having a second stiffening layer disposed between the release film layer and the second composite body along the fourth axial portion; wherein a second outer surface of the second stiffening layer contacts the release film layer and wherein an inner surface of the second stiffening layer is attached to the second composite body; wherein the second composite body has a third inner diameter generally corresponding to the third axial portion and a fourth inner diameter generally corresponding to the fourth axial portion; and wherein the second stiffening layer displaces the second composite body radially inward along the fourth axial portion so that the fourth inner diameter of the second composite body is less than the third inner diameter of the second composite body; and wherein the second axial portion generally aligns with the fourth axial portion.