Patent Publication Number: US-6334823-B1

Title: Laminate maple baseball construction

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO COPENDING APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/073,473, filed May 6, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,910, which is a continuation-in-part of 08/789,041, filed Jan. 28, 1997, abandoned for a Maple Bat Construction. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the design of wooden baseball bats such as laminate maple bats and, more particularly, to an improved laminate baseball bat construction which is assembleable from a plurality of individual pieces initially secured together with high strength adhesive and which provides a more break-resistant construction while taking advantage of the ability to construct a bat from various scrap pieces and which may also possess a larger diameter barrel. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Baseball bats, particularly those constructed of wood laminate bats various composite bats, are well known in the prior art. The most well known of ash wood laminate bats utilizes several laminates within the handle portion of the bat. Composite bats, or those constructed of more than one type or piece of a selected wood, utilizes various types of wrappings and resins incorporated within the handle portions. This methodology has resulted in “dead” feeling bats which, when utilized by young hitters, cannot provide the precise hitting that is required for solid wood bats. Many young careers in baseball fail because they are imparted with bad hitting mechanics taught by current laminate wood, plastic and metal bats. Additional aspects of prior art bats include the lower grades of wood such as ash, and which are utilized in prior art laminate bats, are generally not as resilient as in higher grades of wood. This results in a ball not traveling as far once it has been hit with a specified degree of force and speed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,481, issued to Tanguay et al., is directed to a reinforced baseball bat wrapping and indicates, at column 1, lines 35-45, that such wrappings have been attempted in the art for such things as maple and mahogany bat designs. However, Tanguay further states that such maple and mahogany bat designs, up to that point in time, would not be economically practicable due to their incidence of breakage. It is well also well known in the earlier art that such bat compositions as mahogany and maple were at the time unsuitable owing to the denser natures of such wood and the relatively primitive nature of earlier manufacture which could not overcome such problems as weight, brittleness and curly graining which made manufacture of such bats for the purpose of game play nearly impossible. 
     Wooden laminate ash bats, die cast aluminum and magnesium alloy bats are also known in the art, however such bats are not all authorized for professional league play. Accordingly there is still a need in the art for a durable laminate wood bat construction with performance characteristics equal to the solid maple bat in performance, durability, longevity and most importantly the feel of a solid wood baseball bat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention is a laminate baseball bat formed from a plurality of individual pieces of maple wood, and preferably from ten solid pieces of wood adhesively assembled together to form an initial bat blank. As previously stated, the laminate bat construction of the instant invention makes possible the creation of a durable maple bat from a plurality of individual pieces adhesively secured together into a blank and turned to construct a durable and resilient article. 
     The bat construction includes an elongate extending member provided as a solid square cross sectional shape and which extends in preferred variants to lengths of up to 36′. The elongate extending member typically includes no laminations and has a first knob end and a second barrel end. The knob end of the elongate member is surrounded by a first plurality of first, second, third and fourth laminated pieces of solid maple. Each of the first through fourth pieces have a specified length, typically no more than 2′, are outwardly tapered in cross sectional dimension, the result being that, upon adhesively securing them together, they provide the adhesively assembled bat blank with an evenly aligned and enlarged knob end prior to turning of the blank in the lathe machine. 
     A second plurality of first, second, third and fourth elongated and laminated pieces of maple, these each extending in a preferred embodiment to an overall length of at least 24′, are likewise outwardly tapered in cross sectional dimension and are adhesively secured around a preselected length of the main extending member corresponding to an intermediate length and barrel end length and excluding a handle length of the main member. To provide ideal weighting and performance characteristics to the bat, a second remote end of the main extending member terminates, in the preferred variant, three to six inches short of the corresponding ends of the second plurality of elongated and laminated pieces of maple. 
     An end cap, typically two inches in length, is inserted into the hollow recess of the barrel end and closes off the hollowed interior of the barrel. It is also envisioned within the scope of the invention that the main member may be one solid and continuous piece terminating at the barrel end and obviating the need for the end cap. It is desirous to have an internally hollowed and axially running section of the barrel, since maple is by nature a denser wood than conventional ash and the axially extending hollowed interior provides the additional feature of resiliency and weighting to the bat. During the turning process of the adhesively assembled bat blank, a “cupping” or recessing is machined into the exposed barrel end of the end cap insert. The degree and curvature of the cavitation formed within the recessed end is made possible by the higher specific gravity exhibited by maple, as opposed to ash, and which further contributes to weight reduction, control and resiliency of the bat. 
     In most instances, the handle contains no laminations and the grain direction of the bat is determined by placing a label on top of the grain of the handle. Two ribbons that typically occur along the entire length of a solid maple bat will be hidden by the laminations surrounding the square handle portion at the barrel end of the bat. The solid handle is the heart of the bat and gives the feel of a solid maple bat. This handle portion is surrounded by four biased cut approximately two inch long laminate pieces of solid maple to make up the circumference of the knob and the heel taper from the handle portion to the integral knob at the first end. An outwardly tapered and intermediate portion extends from the handle portion and in turn is integrally formed with a ball hitting barrel portion, the barrel portion terminating at a second end. This intermediate portion and second end is connected by the square handle is again surrounded by four biased cut approximately twenty four inch long pieces of solid maple to make up the circumference of the outwardly tapered and intermediate portion extends from the handle portion and in turn is integrally formed with a ball hitting barrel portion at a second end. Within this lamination of the barrel portion a three to six inch section of the handle square is removed. At the second end of the laminated barrel portion a two-inch handle section is inserted to complete the monologue construction of the laminate maple bat barrel. The adjustment of the length of this hollow space enables manufacture of predetermined models of game acceptable weight bats. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following specification, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a lengthwise elevation view of a completed bat constructed from the laminate maple blank construction according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is end elevational view of the multi-piece and laminate maple bat and illustrating the “cupping” or recessing of the exposed barrel end according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a lengthwise elevational view of the laminate maple blank and illustrating in phantom of the desired configuration of the bat to be constructed by the turning operation as well as the hollowed interior aligned with the barrel end according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an end view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3  and illustrating the assembled view of the knob end of the laminate maple blank according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an end view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  3  and illustrating the barrel end of the laminate maple blank according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the multi-piece maple blank construction according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a further sectional view enlarged to show the substantially cylindrical shaped and recessed barrel end cavity of the maple bat construction according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is an end view of the recessed barrel cavity shown in FIG.  7  and according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a laminate and multi-piece baseball bat  10  is illustrated and which is assembled according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The bat  10 , as previously stated, is capable of being constructed of a plurality of ten individual pieces of maple wood, several of which are laminated. The pieces are initially assembled together as an adhesively secured bat blank, the blank subsequently being mounted within a turning machine and subsequently lathe machined to its desired end configuration. 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, the bat  10  includes a knob end  12 , a handle  14 , an intermediate length  16  and a barrel end  18 . Referring further to the perspective end view of FIG. 2, the barrel end  18  is further defined by a projecting annular end rim  20 , within which is defined a cupped or recessed interior cavity  22 . Reference is also made to the sectional side and end views of FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively, and which also illustrates the ability to form a first recessed or cupped shape as defined by the surface  22  or, alternatively, according to a further configuration defined by and annular side wall  24  and an interconnecting and annular end wall  26 , which can be arranged in any desired angular relationship, and which defines a larger recessed cavity as compared to the surface  22 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3-6, a collection of views of a multi-piece maple bat blank  28  are illustrated which includes a lengthwise elevational view, first and second end views, and exploded view. The bat construction includes an elongate extending member  30  provided as a solid square cross sectional shape (and having first, second, third and fourth interconnected and planar faces as is clearly evident from the illustrations) and which extends in preferred variants to lengths of up to 36″ and with a cross sectional dimension of up to 2.5′ along each of first, second, third and fourth faces. 
     The elongate extending member  30  typically includes no laminations and has a first knob end  32  and a second barrel end  34 . The knob end  32  of the elongate member  30  is surrounded by a first plurality of first  36 , second  38 , third  40  and fourth  42  laminated pieces of solid maple. Each of the first through fourth pieces  36 - 42  have a specified axial length, typically no more than 2′, and which are outwardly tapered in cross sectional dimension from first inner faces equal in cross sectional dimension to the opposingly facing surfaces of the square shaped knob  32  to second parallel and outwardly faced surfaces. The laminate pieces  36 - 42 , upon being adhesively secured together in a circumferential and interconnecting fashion and around the opposingly facing surfaces of the knob end  32  of the extending member  30 , provide the adhesively assembled bat blank  28  with an evenly aligned and enlarged knob end prior to turning of the blank in the lathe machine. As is most clearly evident from the end view of FIG.  4  and the exploded view of FIG. 6, an epoxy adhesive (indicated at  43  in FIG. 6) is applied to the opposing inner faces of each of the knob end pieces  36 - 42  as well as to their interengaging and angled sides and in order to create a tight and complete bonding of the pieces together. It is also envisioned that a durable adhesive, such as an epoxy based adhesive (commercially known as a “carpenters glue”) is utilized for securing the various individual pieces of the maple bat blank together and it has been found that such an adhesive provides a desirable and optimum degree of retaining force to the finished item  10 . 
     A second plurality of first  44 , second  46 , third  48  and fourth  50  elongated and laminated pieces of maple are provided, these each extending in a preferred embodiment to an overall length of at least 24″, and are likewise outwardly tapered in cross sectional dimension in similar fashion to each of the first plurality of laminate knob end pieces  36 - 42 . Each of the second plurality of elongate and laminated pieces  44 - 50  are adhesively secured, again in a circumferential, interengaging and surrounding fashion (just as previously described with reference to the first plurality of knob end pieces  36 - 42 ) against the first, second, third and fourth opposing and facing sides of the main extending member  30  and in the same fashion and utilizing the same type of epoxy based or like adhesive as previously described. The arrangement of the second plurality of laminate barrel pieces  44 - 50  correspond to both an intermediate length and barrel end length (consistent with the positions shown at  16  and  18  of the finished product  10  as illustrated in FIG. 1) of the bat blank and excluding a handle length (as further illustrated at  14  in FIG. 1) of the main member  30 . The cross sectional dimensions of each of the second plurality  44 - 50  of laminate pieces can be equal to those of each of the first plurality  36 - 42  of knob end laminate pieces, but are preferably somewhat greater in cross section and as is evidenced by the cutaway end view of FIG.  5 . The preferred variant of the present invention contemplates each of the elongated and second plurality of laminate pieces  44 - 50  extending substantially planar in axial direction, combined with being substantially trapezoidal in cross sectional shape. It is however further understood that each of the laminate pieces  44 - 50  may, within the scope of the invention, be initially provided with an outward taper in its axially running direction to facilitate the subsequent turning process. As previously described, the objective is to provide a finished end product according to the desired and turned configuration  10  and this is also illustrated in phantom in FIG.  3 . 
     To provide ideal weighting and performance characteristics to the bat, the barrel end  34 , or second remote end of the main extending member  30 , terminates three to six inches short of the corresponding ends of the second plurality of elongated and laminated pieces of maple  44 - 50  and as is evidenced by the axially extending recessed volume  51  as defined both in phantom in the lengthwise elevational view of FIG.  3  and the exploded view of FIG.  6 . An end cap  68 , typically two inches in axial length and equal in cross section to the main extending member  30 , is adhesively secured in inserted fashion into the hollow recessed volume  51  of the barrel end  34  and closes off the hollowed interior of the barrel as illustrated. It is desirous to form the internally hollowed recessed volume  51  at a selected axially running range along the barrel, since maple is by nature a denser wood than conventional ash and the axially extending hollowed interior provides the additional feature of resiliency and weighting to the bat. It is also contemplated that the main member  30  can extend as one solid piece the same axial distance as the elongated and laminated pieces of maple  44 - 50 . Accordingly, it is not necessary, in every embodiment to incorporate an extending recessed volume  51  with an attachment end cap insert  68 , as is taught in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     During the turning process of the adhesively assembled bat blank, and in addition to the shaping and forming processes along the axially extending knob end, handle, intermediate portion and barrel end portion, the additional “cupping” or recessing is machined into the exposed barrel end of the end cap insert  68  and in the manner as has been previously described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. As previously stated, the degree and curvature of the cavitation formed within the recessed end is made possible by the higher specific gravity exhibited by maple, as opposed to ash, and which further contributes to weight reduction, control and resiliency of the bat. 
     The adhesively assembled maple bat blank, as identified in the collective illustrations of FIGS. 3-6, is axially mounted within a conventional turning machine (not shown) once the applied epoxy adhesive or carpenters glue is allowed a sufficient period to gel and harden. At that point, the generally elongated and rectangular cross sectionally shaped blank construction is turned within the machine and so as to fashion the finished bat  10 , within which is formed the axially recessed volume  51  and the inwardly “cupped” barrel end. 
     As was also previously stated, the advantages of constructing the maple bat from multiple pieces include the ability to utilize otherwise wasted scrap at considerable material savings. The multi-piece laminate construction is further significant in that it permits the incorporation of the hollowed recessed volume  51  in axially extending fashion along the barrel length of the bat, with the result that significantly improved performance and weighting characteristics are imparted into the finished product, and this is further significant when considering that maple by its nature is somewhat denser in material composition as opposed to ash and therefore takes advantage of interior recessing  51  and end face “cupping” of the bat in order to maintain its weight within relevant league requirements. Finally, the composite bat design, and particularly with the use of appropriately sized laminate pieces  44 - 50 , allows the formation of larger cross section barrel sections  18  without creating a significant degree of material scrap and machine process input, and which would otherwise be required in a situation where a single elongate piece of maple would be required for turning and which would have to possess a minimum cross sectional dimension along its entire length at least equal to or greater than the maximum dimension of the barrel end of the finished bat. 
     Having described my invention, it is evident that it discloses a multiple piece and composite maple bat construction which is a novel improvement over the prior art. Additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. In particular, the polygonal cross sectional shape of the main extending member and the pluralities of knob end pieces and laminated barrel pieces could be modified within the scope of the invention, such as by forming the main member in a triangular cross section interengaged by a first plurality of three knob end pieces and a second plurality of three elongate barrel laminate pieces. Additional variants could contemplate a main member with a pentagonal, hexagonal or other cross sectional shape, however common sense would dictate that a lesser number of sides would be preferable in view of the evident increase in fabricating and assembling of a bat blank which would otherwise be attendant with larger pluralities of knob end pieces and barrel pieces.