Shock absorbing baseball bat and method of manufacturing

Abstract

A bat that has shock absorbing and vibrational damping properties as well as enhanced strength and flexibility and method of manufacturing. Such properties are imparted by laminating under pressure a biaxially braided tubular overlay member formed from a hybrid of carbon fibers and aramid fibers to the handle portion of the bat.

1 . A bat comprising: 
 a bat having a hitting portion and a handle portion;    a tubular biaxial braided overlay member laminated to the handle portion of said bat;    said overlay member comprising a hybrid of carbon fibers and aramid fibers;    said laminated overlay member having shock absorbing properties.    
   
   
       2 . A bat as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the lamination of said overlay member to said handle portion of said bat comprises the steps of: 
 applying a thermosetting material to said overlay and said handle portion so that said overlay is substantially saturated with said thermosetting material;    wrapping at least a portion of the bat with a suitable material to compress the overlay to the bat handle; and    heating the thermosetting material under appropriate conditions to accomplish at least partial setting of the thermosetting material.    
   
   
       3 . A bat as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said bat is a baseball bat.  
   
   
       4 . A bat as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said bat is a softball bat.  
   
   
       5 . A bat as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said laminated overlay member reduces handle vibration by approximately sixty percent when compared with a bat without any grip.  
   
   
       6 . A bat as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the overlay member is formed with a substantially equal number of carbon fibers and aramid fibers.  
   
   
       7 . A bat as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the overlay member is formed with alternating strands of carbon fibers and aramid fibers.  
   
   
       8 . A bat as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the overlay member is formed with a plurality of strands of carbon fiber alternating with a plurality of strands of aramid fibers.  
   
   
       9 . A bat as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the overlay member is laminated with a thermosetting resin matrix to the handle portion of the bat.  
   
   
       10 . A bat as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said thermosetting resin matrix is an epoxy system.  
   
   
       11 . A bat as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said thermosetting resin matrix is an epoxy-amine system.  
   
   
       12 . A bat as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said laminated overlay member reduces handle vibration by approximately sixty percent when compared with a bat without any grip.  
   
   
       13 . A bat as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said overlay is compressed to said bat handle under a pressure of at least approximately 150 pounds per square inch.  
   
   
       14 . A bat as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said suitable wrapping material comprises cellophane shrink wrap.  
   
   
       15 . A bat as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said overlay is compressed to said bat handle under a pressure of at least approximately 150 pounds per square inch.  
   
   
       16 . A bat as set forth in  claim 19  wherein said laminated overlay member reduces handle vibration by approximately sixty percent when compared with a bat without any grip.  
   
   
       17 . A bat as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the overlay member is formed with a substantially equal number of carbon fibers and aramid fibers.  
   
   
       18 . A bat as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the overlay member is formed with alternating strands of carbon fibers and aramid fibers.  
   
   
       19 . A bat as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the overlay member is formed with a plurality of strands of carbon fiber alternating with a plurality of strands of aramid fibers.