Modified bat for sports training and method of making the same

Abstract

A training and practice bat is formed to include a hollow core region extending through both the handle and the barrel. An aperture is formed in the bat that allows for a fluidic material (water, sand, etc.) to be poured into the bat and thus modify the weight and “feel” of the bat as it is swung. A removable plug is engaged with the aperture to retain the fluidic material within the hollow core region. The movement of the bat during the swing causes the fluidic material to shift from the handle to the barrel, accelerating the movement of the bat during the swing and improving the hitter's performance.

1 . A training bat for practicing a hitter's swing, the training bat comprising: 
 a handle portion including a first termination for gripping by the hitter;    a barrel portion, extending from the handle portion and including a second, opposing end termination, for striking a ball, wherein the handle and barrel portions include an interior cavity region along the full extent thereof from the first end termination to the second end termination;    an aperture for introducing fluidic material into the interior cavity region such that the fluidic material transfers from the first end termination to the second end termination as the bat is swung; and    a removable plug inserted within the aperture for allowing access to said cavity region to introduce/remove fluidic material to/from said cavity region of said training bat as the hitter's proficiency changes.    
   
   
       2 . The training bat as defined in  claim 1  wherein the aperture and removable plug are disposed in the termination of the handle portion.  
   
   
       3 . The training bat as defined in  claim 1  wherein the aperture and removable plug are disposed in the temiination of the barrel portior.  
   
   
       4 . The training bat as defined in  claim 1  wherein the bat is formed of wood.  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . The training bat as defined in  claim 1  wherein the bat is formed of metal.  
   
   
       7 . The training bat as defined in  claim 6  wherein the bat is formed of aluminum.  
   
   
       8 . The training bat as defined in  claim 1  wherein the removable plug comprises a threaded plug and the aperture comprises a threaded aperture.  
   
   
       9 . The training bat as defined in  claim 1  wherein the removable plug comprises a force-fit plug.  
   
   
       10 . A method of making a training bat for improving a hitter's proficiency, the method comprises the steps of: 
 a) providing a bat with a hollowed-out core region extending from the handle through the full extent of the barrel and an aperture;    b) adding a predetermined amount of a preselected fluidic material to the hollowed-out core region; and    c) plugging the aperture to prevent the preselected fluidic material from escaping from the training bat such that the preselected fluidic material transfers from the handle to the opposing end of the barrel as the bat is swung.    
   
   
       11 . The method as defined in  claim 10  wherein the method further comprises the step of. 
 d) increasing the amount of the preselected fluidic material as the hitter's proficiency increases.    
   
   
       12 . The method as defined in  claim 10  wherein in performing step b), water is used as the preselected fluidic material.  
   
   
       13 . The method as defined in  claim 10  wherein the performing step b), sand is used as the preselected fluidic material.  
   
   
       14 . The method as defined in  claim 10  wherein in performing step c), a threaded plug is used, in association with a threaded aperture in the bat, to prevent the preselected fluidic material from escaping.