Pressurized sports hitting implement

Abstract

A light weight, pressurized hitting implement, such as a baseball bat, is disclosed that has a one piece outer shell having both a striking portion and a handle portion. The striking portion end of the outer shell furthest from the handle portion is open and a tubular element is inserted therein and pressurized to provide improved rigidity and rebound to the hitting implement. There is a support means cap attached to the open end of the striking portion to provide protection against splitting of the open end of the hitting implement during use, and to retain the pressurized tubular element inside the outer shell of the hitting implement.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sports hitting implement comprising: 
 a one piece outer shell having both a striking portion and a handle portion, the outer shell being hollow; and    a pressurizable element mounted inside the hollow striking portion, the pressurizable element being pressurized to improve the hitting quality of the hitting implement.    
     
     
         2 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the end of the outer shell furthest from handle portion is open.  
     
     
         3 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the pressurizable element is inserted inside the hollow striking portion through the open end of the outer shell, and is then pressurized.  
     
     
         4 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the hollow outer shell has inside walls and when the pressurizable element is inflated it contacts the inside walls.  
     
     
         5 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 4  further comprising a support means around the outside of the outer shell adjacent the open end of the outer shell.  
     
     
         6 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the pressurizable element includes an inflation valve used to pressurize the pressurizable element after it is inserted into the open end of the outer shell, and the inflation valve is accessed at the open end of the outer shell.  
     
     
         7 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 6  wherein after the hitting implement is completely assembled the valve of the pressurizable element is accessible at the open end of the outer shell, and the pressurization of the pressurizable element may be changed by a use of the hitting implement.  
     
     
         8 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 7  further comprising a support means around the outside of the outer shell adjacent the open end of the outer shell.  
     
     
         9 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the pressurizable element is inserted inside the hollow striking portion through the open end of the outer shell, and is then pressurized.  
     
     
         10 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the hollow outer shell has inside walls and when the pressurizable element is pressurized it contacts the inside walls.  
     
     
         11 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the pressurizable element comprises an inflation valve used to pressurize the pressurizable element after it is inserted into the open end of the outer shell, and the inflation valve is accessed at the open end of the outer shell.  
     
     
         12 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 11  wherein after the hitting implement is completely assembled the valve of the pressurizable element is accessible at the open end of the outer shell, and the pressurization of the pressurizable element may be changed by a use of the hitting implement.  
     
     
         13 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the hollow outer shell has inside walls and when the pressurizable element is pressurized it contacts the inside wall.  
     
     
         14 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the pressurizable element comprises an inflation valve used to pressurize the pressurizable element after it is inserted into the open end of the outer shell, and the inflation valve is accessed at the open end of the outer shell.  
     
     
         15 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 14  wherein after the hitting implement is completely assembled the inflation valve is accessible at the end of the outer shell furthest from the handle portion.  
     
     
         16 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 15  wherein after the hitting implement is completely assembled the valve of the pressurizable element is accessible at the open end of the outer shell, and the pressurization of the pressurizable element may be changed by a use of the hitting implement.  
     
     
         17 . A sports hitting implement comprising: 
 a one piece outer shell having both a striking portion and a handle portion, the outer shell being hollow; and    a compressable element mounted inside the hollow striking portion, the compressable element improving the hitting quality of the hitting implement.    
     
     
         18 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the compressable element is inserted inside the hollow striking portion and presses against the inside of the striking portion of the hollow outer shell.  
     
     
         19 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the outer shell furthest from handle portion is open, and the compressable element is inserted inside the hollow striking portion through the open end of the outer shell.  
     
     
         20 . The sports hitting implement in accordance with  claim 19  wherein the compressable element is closed cell foam that is compressed and inserted into the open end of the outer shell and is allowed to decompress to contact and press against the inside of the hollow striking portion of the hitting implement.