Abstract:
Apparatus to add weight to an athletic ball striking bat, having a taper along the bat length, comprising in combination a sleeve sized to extend about the bat at the taper location, the sleeve having associated retention means to engage the bat at a zone along said taper to resist lengthwise removal of the sleeve off the bat during bat swinging, a weight or weights carried by the sleeve.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/262,734 filed Oct. 1, 2002. 
     
    
     
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to swinging of ball strikers, as for example baseball bats; more particularly it concerns practice or warm-up swinging of such strikers or bats having weight added to them.  
           [0003]    When athletes who handle ball strikers warm-up, or train, they commonly use two strikers, and swing them in unison a few times to loosen muscles. Holding and swinging two strikers is awkward, uncomfortable, and does not achieve the right feel, needed as by gripping and swinging only one striker but one striker does not achieve additional weight as can be provided by two strikers. There is need to overcome this dilemma, in a simple, effective and efficient manner, as is now provided by the present invention. In a similar manner, there is need to provide improvements as respects devices for adding weight to ball strikers such as baseball bats, for example.  
           [0004]    There is also need for a weight holding device that can be easily attached to and removed from a bat, and which positively and safely retains the added weight to the bat.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is a major object of the invention to provide a simple and effective device or apparatus that meets the above need. Basically, the device is adapted for use in a ball striker or bat having a taper or tapered surface, along its length, and includes:  
           [0006]    a) a sleeve sized to extend about the bat at the taper location,  
           [0007]    b) the sleeve having associated retention means to operatively engage the bat at a zone along said taper to resist lengthwise removal of the sleeve off the bat during bat swinging,  
           [0008]    c) a weight or weights carried by the sleeve.  
           [0009]    As will be seen, the weight or weights are typically carried at a location or locations proximate the ball striking zone; and the retention means is spaced from the weight or weights, and has an arcuate interior surface to arcuately engage the bat at arcuately spaced locations.  
           [0010]    It is a further object to enable bat reception through the sleeve, so that the bat handle projects from the sleeve, the engaged zone of the bat typically located between the handle and weight or weights. The latter may be located in a pocket or pockets formed by or attached to the sleeve.  
           [0011]    An added object is to provide the retention means to include a retainer at the inner side of the sleeve, and which has an inner surface to engage the bat taper, such inner surface having a configuration defined by one of the following  
           [0012]    i) generally cylindrical  
           [0013]    ii) tapered, lengthwise of the sleeve  
           [0014]    A yet further object it to provide a first pulling device on the sleeve to enable manual pulling of the sleeve endwise along the bat during close fitting assembly of the sleeve to the bat. A second pulling device may be provided on the sleeve to enable manual pulling of the sleeve endwise along and off the bat. Such devices may comprise pullers such as loops projecting at the sleeve exterior.  
           [0015]    Another object is to provide the weight or weights to comprise a deformable mass or masses of surface configuration, at or proximate the bat “sweet spot”.  
           [0016]    An added object is to provide a retainer having an inner surface characterized by at least one of the following:  
           [0017]    i) conical shape  
           [0018]    ii) tapered  
           [0019]    iii) cylindrical  
           [0020]    iv) consisting of metal  
           [0021]    v) consisting of non-metal  
           [0022]    vi) consisting of plastic  
           [0023]    Another aspect of the invention concerns provision of a method of use of the sleeve as described, in any of its forms, that includes  
           [0024]    i) relatively advancing the sleeve in a first direction onto the bat to position the associated retention means at or along the bat taper,  
           [0025]    ii) practice swinging the bat,  
           [0026]    iii) and subsequently relatively retracting the sleeve off the bat in second direction opposite the first direction.  
           [0027]    That method may include use of deformable weight or weights carried by the sleeve in spaced relation to the retainer, as well as the step of allowing said weight or weights to deform during bat swinging.  
           [0028]    These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which: 
       
    
    
     DRAWING DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 is a front side elevation showing an elongated sleeve-type receptacle receiving a ball striker such as a baseball bat;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1, showing a modification;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 3 and 4 are side views of two types of retainers usable in the sleeve of FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 1, showing another modification;  
         [0033]    FIGS.  6 - 9  are three-dimensional views of further modifications;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 10 is a section taken through a modification having inner, outer and intermediate sleeve construction;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 11 is a section taken through a modification having inner and outer sleeve construction;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 12 and 13 are side views of modifications having different weight position;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 14 is a section taken through a sleeve assembled to a bat, and showing retainer and weight positioning;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the retainer seen in FIG. 14;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of a modified retainer, of the type shown in FIG. 15;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 17 is a view like FIG. 15, but showing a conical retainer; and  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 18 is a view showing a modified form of sleeve attachment retainers and  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 19 is a view of a modified sleeve, retainer and weight structure;  
         [0043]    FIGS.  20 - 27  show modification; and  
         [0044]    [0044]FIGS. 28, 29 and  30  are sections taken on lines  28 - 28 ,  29 - 29  and  30 - 30 - in FIG. 0.27.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0045]    Referring to FIG. 1, an athletic ball striker, in the form of a bat  10  has a surface taper along its length, in region  11 . That taper may be defined by a conical section of the bat, between handle  10   a , and the bat sweet spot or region  10   b . The forward end of the bat is seen at  10   c.    
         [0046]    A sleeve  13  is provided and sized to be received endwise on the bat, in direction  14 . As shown, its assembly onto the bat is arrested in the sleeve position shown, extending about taper region  11 , as well as about the sweet spot region  10   b . The sleeve may for example consist of flexible plastic material.  
         [0047]    The sleeve has associated retainer means to engage the bat, at taper region  11 , and to resist lengthwise renewal of the sleeve off the bat, in direction  14 . That retainer means may take the form of an annular retainer ring indicated at  15 . FIGS. 14 and 15 show the retainer engaging the bat tapered surface, at  16 , with interference, to resist further forward movement along the bat. The sleeve  17  is attached to the retainer, or carries the retainer as at  18 , so that the sleeve is likewise retained against further forward movement on and along the bat. The attachment  18  may be a bond, or the retainer may be mechanically attached to the sleeve, as by a fastener or fasteners. Sleeve material may extend between the retainer and the bat.  
         [0048]    Retainer  115  is shown in FIG. 17 as generally conical, and as having conical inner and outer surfaces  15   a  and  15   b . FIG. 16 shows the modified retainer  25  as comprising an annular ring  25   a  and having a coating  25   b  on it, such as a plastic coating, serving to engage the bat surface without scoring it. FIG. 18 shows a retainer  26  in the form of a ring, and having an annular recess  26   a . A clamping ring  27  extends about recess  26   a , and clamps a portion  13   b  of the sleeve into the recess, to secure the sleeve to the retainer  26 .  
         [0049]    The sleeve  13  in FIGS. 1 and 14 carries a weight or weights  20 , spaced forwardly of the retainer  15  at location  116 . See space  21  in FIG. 14. That space may be of selected length, and may be almost eliminated to place the weights very near the retainer; however, as shown, the retainer  15  is located between location  116  and the bat handle. That weight or weights may consist of a mass of deformable material such as metallic granules continued in a pocket or pockets  23  (see in FIG. 14) integral with the sleeve. Such pockets hold the granules in close conformity to the bat surface at location  116 , and the pockets may themselves be flexible to enhance such conformity, so that the bat overall configuration remains generally the same, whether or not the sleeve is applied and retained. This may be promoted by forming the pockets in elongated, narrow configuration, and spaced about the bat as indicated by the weight locations seen in FIG. 1. The weights are preferably located adjacent region  116 . The pockets may be sewn to the sleeve.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 2 shows a sleeve  30  received on bat, and held against forward dislodgement by annular retainer  31 . A first device, such as loop  32  is provided on or attached to the sleeve forward side portion  30   a , for enabling manual pulling of the sleeve forwardly along the bat during assembly. A second device, such as loop  33 , is provided on or attached to the sleeve rearward side portion  30   b , for enabling manual pulling of the sleeve rearwardly along the bat, during disassembly off the bat  34 . FIG. 4 shows the conical retainer  31 , similar to  115  and FIG. 3 shows a modified retainer  32 , in the form of a cylinder, similar to  15 .  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1. The sleeve  13  is split at V-shaped edges  13   e  and  13   f  that extend lengthwise and form a triangle. Stretchable resilient fabric or material such as SPANDEX is provided at  36 , and attached to the sleeve along the triangular edges of the sleeve split, of selected length. This allows the sleeve to resiliently expand, for reception on a larger diameter bat, and to fit or adjust to a range of bat diameter sizes.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIGS. 6, 7,  8  and  8   a  schematically show multiple sections  40   a  and  40   b  of a sleeve assembly  40 . Inner sleeve  40   a  carries an annular retainer at  41  and weights at  42 . Outer section  40   b  fits telescopically over section  40   a , to form the assembly  40 . An end portion  40   b ′ of  40   b  may be pulled back over the retainer  41  and sewn in position at  43 .  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 9 shows a bat  50 , with a thickened sleeve  51  fitting over the bat sweet spot region. A retainer  52  is attached to the sleeve at its end, and may be attached as during molding of the sleeve, as for example if it is made of rubber or plastic. Solid metallic weights  53  fit into pockets  54  in the sleeve itself.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 10 is a cross section that shows an inner sleeve  60  fitting on a bat and carrying weights at  61 ; and an outer sleeve  62  fitting over the inner sleeve. The bat is shown in cross section at  63 . FIG. 11 shows an inner sleeve  64  fitting on a bat, and an outer sleeve  65  fitting over sleeve  64  and carrying weights at  66 . The weights may be carried in pockets in the sleeves. The sleeve carrying the weights may be firm, and the sleeve not carrying weights may be flexible.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 12 shows a sleeve  70  on a bat  71 , and removable weights  32  carried in pockets  74  that can be opened and closed, as via a flap  73 . FIG. 13 shows a sleeve  80  on a bat  82 , with weights  83  extending about, or annularly about the bat axis, and carried by the sleeve. See retainers at  90  in FIGS. 12 and 13.  
         [0056]    In FIG. 19, bat  140  extends through sleeve  141 . Weights  142  are carried by the sleeve as shown, and are spaced about the sleeve axis  143 . An annular metallic retainer  144  is carried by the sleeve, and engages the bat tapered surface  145 , at annular edge locus  146 , to return the sleeve to the bat as during practice swinging. The bat handle extends in direction  147 .  
         [0057]    Sleeve material  141   a  extends leftwardly beyond the retainer. An insert ring  148  of material is located leftwardly of the retainer, inwardly of material  141   a . Ring  148  may consist of plastic, and acts as a spacer to keep sleeve end material  141   a  from caving in, or bunching, toward the bat, to interfere with bat separation from the sleeve in direction  149 . The sleeve and its end material may be flexible. Ring  148  is typically carried by the sleeve.  
         [0058]    In the FIG. 20 modification, elements are as follows:  
         [0059]    [0059] 200 —a sleeve with open ends at  200   c  and  200   d    
         [0060]    [0060] 201 —weights carried by the sleeve, and spaced about the sleeve at selected positions. They can be solid, or flowable in plastic or fabric bags, secured to an inner portion of the sleeve.  
         [0061]    [0061] 202 —a ring shaped retainer, of any material, or coated with vinyl or rubber, extends about the sleeve near sleeve smaller end  200   d , to retain the sleeve to the bat, which enters at end  200   c.    
         [0062]    [0062] 203 —Retainer straps that extend crosswise over the retainer, and may be sewed to the sleeve, to position the retainer and hold it in position.  
         [0063]    [0063] 200   a —Sleeve portion with greater taper than sleeve portion  200   b.    
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 21 has the following elements:  
         [0065]    [0065] 210 —sleeve  
         [0066]    [0066] 211 —weights carried by the sleeve, as in FIG. 20.  
         [0067]    [0067] 212 —a flap carrying VELCRO  212   a  (hook or pile)  
         [0068]    [0068] 210   a —sleeve portion carrying VELCRO  212   b  (pile or hook) to receive adjustable attachment to VELCRO  212   a , to control the size of the sleeve end portion  210   a  that extends closely about the bat, i.e. is retained to the bat, to retain the sleeve and weights to the bat.  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 22 has the following elements:  
         [0070]    [0070] 220 —inner sleeve section of larger diameter to fit various sizes of bat diameters  
         [0071]    [0071] 221 —inner sleeve section of smaller diameters, to fit over a bat  222  narrower section  222   a  seen in FIG. 23.  
         [0072]    [0072] 223 —Sewn together end junctions of  220  and  221 . See also sew lines  224  and  225   
         [0073]    [0073] 224 —sleeve end opening  
         [0074]    [0074]FIG. 23 has the following elements:  
         [0075]    [0075] 230 —outer sleeve that fits over inner sleeve  202   
         [0076]    [0076] 231 —weights associated with the sleeve, and carried by either.  
         [0077]    [0077] 232 —Annular retainer, carried by inner sleeve (for example), and having inside wall  232   a . Retainer can be secured by a fabric piece sewn to inner wall of sleeve.  
         [0078]    [0078] 233 —ring of stiff foam or other material, to act as a spacer or positioner for sleeve excess fabric end  230   a.    
         [0079]    [0079] 230   b —sleeve inside wall.  
         [0080]    [0080]FIG. 24 shows the following elements:  
         [0081]    [0081] 240 —outer wall sleeve  
         [0082]    [0082] 241 —inner sleeve, with larger diameter section  241   a    
         [0083]    [0083] 242 —weights carried by  240  or  241   
         [0084]    [0084] 243 —ring shaped retainer  
         [0085]    [0085] 244 —straps sewn over the retainer, and onto either sleeve, to position the retainer. Other retainer holding means can be used.  
         [0086]    [0086] 245 —Outer sleeve end slits, sewn together to narrow the sleeve end  240   a  to effectively taper the sleeve to fit a bat taper.  
         [0087]    [0087]FIG. 25 has the following elements:  
         [0088]    [0088] 250 —fabric sleeve  
         [0089]    [0089] 251 —cut-outs at one end of  250 , to eliminate excess fabric in the retainer area, for example at  252   
         [0090]    [0090] 253 —sleeve  250  sew line  
         [0091]    [0091] 254 —sleeve end flaps, between cut-outs, to be sewn together as in FIG. 26.  
         [0092]    [0092]FIG. 26 has the following elements, associated with FIG. 25:  
         [0093]    [0093] 255 —sewn together edges of flaps  254 , to provide a reduced diameter sleeve section  250   a , the larger diameter sleeve section  250   b  fitting many different size bat barrels  
         [0094]    [0094] 256 —weights  
         [0095]    [0095]FIG. 27 has the following elements:  
         [0096]    [0096] 260 —open end sleeve or outer sleeve that fits onto a bat  265   
         [0097]    [0097] 261 —frame (plastic or metal) associated with or carried by sleeve, to extend about inserted bat  
         [0098]    [0098] 262 —weights carried by the frame in pockets  262   a , and spaced about the bat.  
         [0099]    [0099] 263 —sleeve retainer, that extends about the bat, to endwise position the sleeve and frame on the tapered bat, as described above  
         [0100]    [0100] 264 —frame ring  
         [0101]    [0101] 264   a —inside wall  
         [0102]    [0102] 265 —open area  
         [0103]    [0103] 266 —foam or added plastic sleeve.  
         [0104]    FIGS.  28 - 30  are sections, taken in FIG. 27, and show the positions of weight  262  relative to frame members  270 . Zone  271  can be an additional plastic sleeve, extending about the frame. Also, the weight pockets can be spaced about the axis  273 , between frame members.