US20110092323A1

US20110092323A1 - Superior results dual handgrip sports bat

Info

Publication number: US20110092323A1
Application number: US12/661,957
Authority: US
Inventors: Chuck Morsa; Steve Morsa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-26
Filing date: 2010-03-26
Publication date: 2011-04-21

Abstract

A bat especially useful for a plurality of sport applications offering superior power, distance, speed, comfort, and control is disclosed which includes a larger diameter impact section, a smaller diameter gripping section, and a transition section therebetween. The smaller diameter gripping section may in some embodiments be configured at least to provide two reverse conical grips whereby not just one but both of the batter's hands can more tightly and firmly grip bats. In modifications of the dual reverse conical grips, the gripping section can be formed of modified oval configuration, modified elliptical configuration or tapered configuration. Embodiments include increased and/or decreased diameter and/or circumference handle/gripping areas for both hands.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority benefit from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/211,255, entitled Superior Results Dual Handgrip Sport Bat, filed on Mar. 26, 2009, naming Chuck Morsa and Steve Morsa as inventors. The entirety of such provisional patent application is incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSERED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owners have no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

ABSTRACT NOTICE

As it is an abstract only and therefore in no way exhaustive of the present inventions numerous possible forms and embodiments, it is to be understood that the present inventions Abstract is not intended to, and should accordingly not be used to, either limit the scope of the claims or to limit the invention to any particular embodiment(s) or to (a) precise form(s).

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to the field of bats, and more particularly to the field of improved handle and gripping portions of sports bats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous prior art attempts have been made to improve a bat and its functional characteristics. These improvements range from various materials used in the construction of the bat to various design configurations and components of the bat.
Specifically, there have been prior art attempts to improve the handle portion of the bat, including attempts to improve the components that comprise the handle and the griping portion of the handle. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,889 appears to disclose a grip used in association with a bat that has variable weight capabilities using adjustable mass within the hollow portion of the handle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,145 appears to disclose a baseball bat having multiple grips, the upper grip permitting rotation about the inner grip in an effort to aid hitting a ball with that bat.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,528 appears to disclose a friction grip used on the handles of bats having a permanent tacky feel that is respondent to heat and perspiration of a user of the bat where the grip has a plastic film at the end.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,722 appears to disclose a bat grip device having a pair of gripping elements individually positionable upon the bat and having specific hand and finger shaped contours.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,924 appears to disclose an artificial bat end device for temporarily adjusting the length of the bat by adding ring layers having a thickness sufficient to simulate the butt end of a bat.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,659,605 appears to disclose a wooden baseball bat with two circular beads placed at each end of the bat's handle portion for the purpose of definitively limiting where the hands are to be positioned on the bat.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,387 appears to disclose a baseball practice bat having a slideable handle portion and finger locator portions molded into the handles to attempt to instruct a user in how to better hit a ball with the practice bat.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,821,218 appears to disclose a ball bat with an inflatable grip using an inflatable tubular sleeve accepting the handle portion of the bat and allowing air to be pumped into and released from the sleeve allowing a batter to selectively pressurize the rigidity and size of the grip.
U.S. Design Pat. No. D461,214 appears to disclose a bat with two knobs or beads in the lower portion of the bat.
U.S. Ser. No. 10/365,772 appears to disclose a bat with a gripping area having a cross-section shape of either an ellipse or an oval.
U.S. Ser. No. 11/732,569 appears to disclose a bat with finger grooves and protrusions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,247 to Magadini appears to disclose a metallic bat utilizing a gripping portion configured with a single reverse conical, wide oval, or modified elliptical grip for the (normally) smaller two fingers of the lower hand of the batter.
Magadini therefore provides an improved grip only to one (the lower) hand of the batter; not to both of a batter's hands as does the present invention. This is an important and valuable difference and distinction, as both hands play critical roles in how useful and effective a bat is in maximizing the hitting ability of its users.
There is accordingly then a need for bats featuring improved gripping for both of the batters hands.

SUMMARY NOTICE

As it is a summary only and therefore in no way exhaustive of the present inventions numerous possible forms and embodiments, it is to be understood that the present inventions Summary is not intended to, and should accordingly not be used to, either limit the scope of the claims or to limit the invention to any particular embodiment(s) or to (a) precise form(s).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The bat of the present invention is formed of any one or combination of suitable material or materials; including but not limited to wood and/or aluminum and/or other metals and/or plastic and/or other materials.
The bat is produced in a manner to form a handle or grip portion, a barrel or impact portion, and a transition zone therebetween to smoothly transform from the smaller diameter portion to the larger diameter portion.
In some embodiments the handle or grip portion is further configured to provide for two truncated, reverse conical grip areas to comfortably receive the smaller two fingers of the upper and lower hands of the user in a manner to inherently provide more strength, safety, power and bat speed when the bat is in use.
The bat construction of the present invention will seem conventional in all respects as to appearance, general configuration and manufacturing technique, with the exception that; in some embodiments; within the handle or grip portion will be two areas which are tapered endwardly in the form of a truncated conical configuration.
Optionally, the handle or grip portion could be otherwise formed to anatomically fit the bottom and top hands of the batter as they grip the bat to thereby increase the strength and power of the batter's grip.
In other embodiments a wide oval or a modified elliptical cross sectional configuration could be employed for each hand.
In another embodiment, the gripping portion of the bat is tapered twice for each of a batter's two hands; whereby each such tapered section has its own suitably sized cap to increase grip and reduce the chance of the bat leaving batter's hands during the batter's swing. A variation of this embodiment would be a tapered-twice bat with just one cap at the very end of the bat instead of two caps.
Preferably; yet by way of example and not limitation; the transition from the larger diameter portion of the handle or grip portion to the smaller diameter may be in the form of two truncated, gentle conical configurations.
Alternately, the two gripping areas could be in the configuration of wide ovals or elliptical shapes as is most convenient and comfortable for each hand of the batter to thereby enhance the strength of the grip of the batter's hands as they grasp the bat.
In another embodiment, each of the two gripping areas could even be of different configurations, i.e., as where one gripping area is a truncated, gentle conical configuration while the other gripping area is a wide oval or elliptical shape.
In still another embodiment, the handle or grip portion could include two indented and/or reduced-circumference areas to more easily accept the two smaller fingers of each hand.
The instant invention is not to be limited to being constructed of any particular material or materials; nor limited to any particular size, weight, or other physical characteristics (i.e. color) beyond those disclosed herewith.
It is to be understood that the unique and valuable aspect (the inventive concept) of the instant invention centers primarily on the use of a “two-hands” handle or gripping section whereby the last two fingers of both hands of a bat user receive the benefits of a reduced diameter and/or circumference section of each handle or gripping area where these “last two” fingers; being herein defined as those two fingers farthest from the index finger and thumb (when the hand is fully opened); wrap around the bat. These two fingers are also generally known as the fourth or “ring” finger and the fifth, “little,” or “pinky” finger.
In practice, and in order to meet the needs and desires of all; and especially so given the wide and varied differences in the width, length, and overall size of human hands and fingers between people; as well as the personal preferences of each batter; this inventive feature provides for bats offered with virtually any suitable size and type of two-hands handle or gripping section with reduced circumference portions where the last two fingers of a bat user grips the bat.
It is to be understood that the two gripping areas of each handle or gripping section are not to limited to any particular location within the bat's gripping and/or handle section and may therefore be located anywhere within the bat's gripping and/or handle section.

DRAWING NOTICE

As they are merely a small embodiment sampling and therefore in no way exhaustive of the present inventions numerous possible forms and embodiments, it is to be understood that the present inventions Figures are not intended to, and should accordingly not be used to, either limit the scope of the claims or to limit the invention to any particular embodiment(s) or to (a) precise form(s).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is prior art; all other FIGs are not.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a metallic baseball or softball bat construction showing a lower-hand-only then-inventive grip configuration embodiment of the previously-referenced, prior-art Magadini invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the handle/gripping area in one embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the handle/gripping area in another embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the handle/gripping area in still another embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the handle/gripping area in yet another embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates the handle/gripping area in even another embodiment of the instant invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes and are subject to many variations in structure and design.
The present invention is not limited to any particular bat for striking a ball, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
Although specific terms are used in a the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention or its claims.
Additionally, all publications and patents disclosed herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. If there be any conflict in terms/terminology/nomenclature between these incorporated publications and patents and the instant invention, the terms/terminology/nomenclature of the instant invention will control.
Wherever and whenever possible, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 from prior-art and previously-referenced Magadini bat 10. The bat 10 in general appearance is similar to the existing prior art bats used in sports like baseball and softball, and comprises a small diameter handle or grip portion 12 which is adapted to be grasped by the user (not shown). The bat 10 further comprises an enlarged barrel or impact portion 14 and a transition zone or tapered portion 16 therebetween in a well known manner. The handle or grip portion 12 terminates endwardly in an enlarged, metallic knob 20, which knob can be affixed to the handle portion by welding or other suitable metal treatment in a known, secure manner. The enlarged knob 20 defines the lower end of the bat and is employed to prevent the bat 10 from slipping from the grip of the user upon swinging at a ball. Preferably, when in use, the handle or grip portion 12 is covered in conventional manner by a rubberized sleeve or tape to further enhance the grip of the user upon the bat 10.
As now seen and appreciated in the non-prior-art FIG. 2 of the instant invention; the two individual gripping areas 12 are upwardly formed with uniform diameter sections 24 which extend from the lower end of the transition zone 16 towards the lower end 22 of the bat handle portion 12. Two enhanced gripping zones or areas 26 are formed between and within the area delineated by the end 22 of the handle or grip portion and the lower end of the uniform diameter section 24.
As illustrated, the two enhanced gripping zones 26 are configured in the shape of truncated cones wherein the conical configuration tapers gently downwardly toward the lower bat end 22. The enhanced gripping zones 26 can be formed to correspond essentially to the width of the lower two fingers of each hand of the batter (not shown). The enhanced gripping zones 26 can taper downwardly from the bottom of the transition zone, thereby providing two end areas 28 of reduced diameter to enable each of the lower or smallest two fingers of the batter's lower hand to more tightly grip the bat in a manner to provide greater strength, safety, power and bat speed.
By fabricating the lower ends of the enhanced gripping zones 26 of smallest diameter(s) of the bat, the small finger (not shown) of each of the batter's hands can more completely encircle the handle or grip portion 12 than heretofore was possible with bat grip portions of uniform diameter.
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated modified grip portions 30 having larger, uniform diameter sections 32 similar in diameter and length to the uniform section 24 and smaller, configured enhanced gripping zones 34 of a length considerably shorter than the uniform diameter sections 32. As illustrated, the enhanced gripping zones 34 are not uniform in diameter, but rather, are configured to wide modified ovals or generally elliptical cross sections configuration of shape designed to anatomically fit the lower hands of the batter as each hand grips the bat.
By carefully forming the modified, enhanced gripping zones 34 to naturally fit the contours of both hands of the user as s/he grips the bat, the batter will be given greater confidence in their swing and will be able to grasp the bat with increased strength, safety, control, and power than would otherwise be possible with conventional bats having completely cylindrical handle or grip portions of uniform diameter; or from the “lower-hand-only” bat(s) of Magadini. As illustrated, the lower ends of each of the enhanced gripping zones are preferably smaller in diameter than each of the upper ends.
In FIG. 4, there is illustrated another modified grip portions 36 which comprise conventional, upper, uniform diameter sections 38 and lower, shorter, modified elliptical cross section enhanced gripping zones 40. The modified enhanced gripping zones 40 illustrated in FIG. 4 are preferably fabricated to generally modified elliptical cross sectional configurations having one end portions 44 of lesser diameter and one end portions 42 of greater diameter to thereby enhance the strength of each of the batter's hand grip as both hands grasp the enhanced gripping zones 40.
FIG. 5 is an embodiment featuring two reduced-circumference areas designed to receive the lower two fingers of each hand.
FIG. 6 is an embodiment featuring both two reduced-circumference areas designed to receive the lower two fingers of each hand while also providing two increased-circumference areas to receive the other three fingers of each hand.
As can now be appreciated, the handle or grip portion of a sports bats featuring non-uniform diameters and/or circumferences are able to impart more of the strength and energy of the batter (not shown) to the bat; while additionally providing improved feel and control of the bat; through the more effective and efficient engagement of the lower two fingers of each of the batters hands; thereby providing superior results to the batter.
Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention and its claims.
The invention is not to be limited to any particular description(s) or embodiment(s), and is therefore intended to include any and all such forms, versions, embodiments, and equivalents.

Claims

1. A bat comprising:

a bat body having a generally cylindrical, upper, impact portion of a first, larger diameter; a generally cylindrical, lower, handle portion of a second, smaller diameter; and a transition zone intermediate the impact portion and the handle portion;

the impact portion terminating upwardly in a closed end and the handle portion terminating downwardly in a knob, the knob having a diameter and circumference greater than the diameter and circumference of the handle portion at the point where said handle portion meets said knob; and

the handle portion containing one upper and one lower non-uniform diameter gripping areas each with a larger diameter section and a lower, smaller diameter section; each lower, small diameter section terminating downwardly and the large diameter section terminating upwardly.

2. The bat of claim 1 wherein the lower area of each of the two gripping areas is shaped in longitudinal cross section in a truncated conical configuration.

3. The bat of claim 1 wherein the lower area of each of the two gripping areas is shaped in a longitudinal cross section in a modified oval cross sectional configuration.

4. The bat of claim 1 wherein the lower area of each of the two gripping areas is shaped in longitudinal cross section in a modified elliptical cross sectional configuration.

5. The bat of claim 1 wherein the small diameter section of the lower gripping area terminates at said knob.

6. The bat of claim 1 wherein the small diameter section of the upper gripping area terminates at a knob.

7. The bat of claim 1 wherein said gripping areas are immediately adjacent to each other.

8. The bat of claim 1 further comprising a second knob located in the handle portion.

9. A bat comprising two areas of reduced circumference within its handle portion.

10. The bat of claim 9, wherein each of said areas are of the same circumference.

11. The bat of claim 9, wherein each of said areas are of a different circumference.

12. The bat of claim 9, further comprising two areas of increased circumference within its handle portion.

13. The bat of claim 12, wherein each of said increased circumference areas are of a different circumference than each other.

14. A bat comprising two areas within its handle portion; each area of greater circumference than any circumference of its transition zone.

15. The bat of claim 14, further comprising wherein each of said areas are of a different circumference than each other.

16. The bat of claim 9, further comprising two knobs within its handle portion.

17. The bat of claim 10, further comprising two knobs within its handle portion.

18. The bat of claim 12, further comprising two knobs within its handle portion.

19. The bat of claim 14, further comprising two knobs within its handle portion.

20. The bat of claim 15, further comprising two knobs within its handle portion.