Patent Publication Number: US-7220195-B1

Title: Bat method of choking up on a bat

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to bat gripping devices and more particularly pertains to a new bat gripping device for aiding a person in choking up on a bat to reduce the overall effective length of the bat. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of bat gripping aids is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,246 describes a device which is positionable around a bat to aid a person in gripping the bat. Another type of bat gripping device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,533 again includes a device extendable around a bat for improving the grip of a bat. Still yet another such device is found U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,046. 
   While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device which forms a false butt of the bat to assist a person in properly choking up on the bat. Most batters, and particularly children, inherently move there hands down to the butt of a bat when gripping a bat. For this reason, the device should be easily positionable around a bat adjacent to the butt of the bat so that a person holding the bat may use an edge of the device as a false butt for guiding their hands to a proper position. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a panel that has a top side, a bottom side, a first side edge, a second side edge, a top edge and a bottom edge. The panel comprises a plurality of layers. The plurality of layers at least includes a bottom layer, a middle layer and a top layer. The bottom layer comprises an elastomeric material, the middle layer comprises a gel material, and the top layer comprises a cloth material. A coupler is configured to selectively secure the panel in a tubular configuration. A bat has a handle terminating in a butt. The panel is extended around the handle so that the bottom side abuts the bat and the bottom edge is positioned adjacent to the butt and the tubular configuration is attained. The panel is then secured in the tubular configuration with the coupler. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first shape of a panel of a method of choking up on a bat according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second shape of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a third shape of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  1 — 1  of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  of  FIG. 4  of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 9  thereof, a new bat gripping device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     FIGS. 1–3  show variations of the device as to its outer shape whereas  FIGS. 4 and 5  show a first embodiment of materials and  FIG. 6  and show a second embodiment of materials. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 9 , the bat method of choking up on a bat  10  generally comprises a panel  12  that has a top side  14 , a bottom side  16 , a first side edge  18 , a second side edge  20 , a top edge  22  and a bottom edge  24 . The panel  12  comprises a plurality of layers. The plurality of layers includes at least a bottom layer  26  positioned adjacent to the bottom side  16 , a top layer  28  positioned adjacent to the top side  14  and a middle layer  30  positioned between the top  28  and bottom  26  layers. The bottom layer  26  comprises an elastomeric material and the middle layer comprises  30  a conventional a gel material used for cushioning. The top layer  28  comprises a cloth material which is preferably a synthetic cloth material, such as nylon. A lip  32  is attached to and extends along a length of the top edge  22 . The lip  32  extends upwardly from the top side and is comprised of an elastomeric material. The top  28 , bottom  26  and middle  30  layers may be held together with an adhesive, or secured together along their edges. The gel layer may be positioned within a flexible container. The panel in  FIG. 2  has a convex outer surface and may be comprised of shape memory material such as an elastomer. 
   A coupler is configured to selectively secure the panel  12  in a tubular configuration. In the first embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the coupler comprises a hook and loop coupler that includes a first mating member  34  and a second mating member  36 . The first mating member  34  is attached to the top side  14  and extends along the first side edge  18 . The second mating member  36  is attached to the bottom side  16  and extends along the second side edge  20 . The coupler of the second embodiment includes a memory retention plate  38  positioned between the bottom  26  and middle  30  layers. The memory retention plate  38  comprises a resiliently bendable material, such as a plastic or metal, which is configured to retain a tubular shape. The memory retention plate  38  of this type can typically be opened up and popped into a concave shape and then the process is reversed to pop the plate  38  into a tubular shape. 
   A bat  40  is included which has a handle  42  terminating in a butt  44 . The panel  12  is extended around the handle  42  so that the bottom side  16  abuts the bat  40  and the bottom edge is positioned adjacent to the butt  44  and the tubular configuration is attained. The panel  12  is then secured in the tubular configuration with the coupler. A person then places their hands adjacent to the top edge so that the panel  12  acts as butt extension for the bat  12  and assists the person in choking up on the bat. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.