Bat with an identification device

Abstract

A system and method for positively identifying a sports bat to ensure the bat has not been tampered or otherwise altered after manufacture includes an RFID tag that is embedded in the bat during the manufacturing process. The RFID tag stores information related to the individual bat. In competition, the information stored in the embedded RFID tag is read using an RFID reading device. If a bat is modified or otherwise altered after manufacture, the RFID tag will be damaged or missing from the modified bat. In that case, the RFID reading device will be unable to properly read the RFID tag and the information stored on the tag, and the bat may be considered “not approved for play.” In a similar fashion, the RFID tag may also be used to track and maintain inventory control, while ensuring the bat remains in the same condition as when it was manufactured.

1 . A sports bat identification system comprising: 
 a sports bat;    an RFID tag embedded in the sports bat, the RFID tag storing the data indicative of the sports bat;    an RFID reading device with a display, the RFID reading device adapted to read the data indicative of the sports bat stored in the RFID tag embedded in the sports bat and to display the read data.    
   
   
       2 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sports bat database adapted to store data indicative of the sports bat.  
   
   
       3 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 2 , wherein the RFID reading device is further adapted to compare the data indicative of the sports bat read by the RFID reading device to the data stored in the sports bat database to determine if a match exists and to display a message indicating the results of the comparison.  
   
   
       4 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 3 , wherein the RFID reading device is further adapted to display a message indicating that the sports bat is not approved for play if the RFID data indicative of the sports bat read by the RFID reading device does not match the RFID data stored in the sports bat database.  
   
   
       5 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 3 , wherein the RFID reading device is further adapted to display a message indicating that the sports bat is not approved for play if no RFID data indicative of the sports bat is read by the RFID reading device.  
   
   
       6 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 3 , wherein the RFID reading device is further adapted to display a message indicating that the sports bat is approved for play if the RFID data indicative of the sports bat read by the RFID reading device matches the RFID data stored in the sports bat database.  
   
   
       7 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 3 , wherein the RFID reading device is further adapted to display a message indicating that the sports bat is not approved for warranty consideration if the RFID data indicative of the sports bat read by the RFID reading device does not match the RFID data stored in the sports bat database or if no RFID data indicative of the sports bat is read by the RFID reading device.  
   
   
       8 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 3 , wherein the RFID reading device is further adapted to display a message indicating that the sports bat is approved for warranty consideration if the RFID data indicative of the sports bat read by the RFID reading device matches the RFID data stored in the sports bat database.  
   
   
       9 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 1 , further comprising an RFID tag writer adapted to write the RFID data indicative of the sports bat to the RFID tag.  
   
   
       10 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the sports bat comprises a composite material.  
   
   
       11 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 10 , wherein the composite material includes a polymer.  
   
   
       12 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 10 , wherein the composite material includes a resin matrix encapsulating reinforcement fibers.  
   
   
       13 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the sports bat comprises a metallic material.  
   
   
       14 . A sports bat comprising:. 
 a cylindrical barrel portion including a target area of intended contact with a ball,;    a handle portion of a smaller cross-sectional dimension than the barrel portion of the sports bat;    a tapered middle portion connecting the cylindrical barrel portion and the handle portion;    a knob portion located at the end of the handle portion opposite the tapered middle portion, the knob portion having a larger cross-sectional dimension than the handle portion of the sports bat; and    an RFID tag embedded within the sports bat.    
   
   
       15 . The sports bat of  claim 14 , wherein the embedded RFID tag is embedded within the barrel portion of the sports bat.  
   
   
       16 . The sports bat of  claim 14 , wherein the embedded RFID tag stores data indicative of the sports bat, the data readable by an RFID reading device.  
   
   
       17 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 14 , wherein the sports bat comprises a composite material.  
   
   
       18 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 17 , wherein the composite material is a polymer.  
   
   
       19 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 17 , wherein the composite material comprises a resin matrix encapsulating reinforcement fibers.  
   
   
       20 . The sports bat identification system of  claim 14 , wherein the sports bat comprises a metallic material.  
   
   
       21 . A method for identifying a sports bat comprising: 
 storing data indicative of the sports bat in a sports bat database;    writing the data indicative of the sports bat from the sports bat database to an RFID tag; and    embedding the RFID tag in the sports bat.    
   
   
       22 . The method for identifying a sports bat of  claim 21 , wherein the stored data includes sports associations for which the bat is approved for play.  
   
   
       23 . The method for identifying a sports bat of  claim 21 , wherein the stored data includes at least one of model number, serial number, manufacturing company name, date of manufacture, SKU number, stock number, cost, sales price, and ship date.  
   
   
       24 . The method for identifying a sports bat of  claim 21 , further comprising reading the data indicative of the sports bat stored in the RFID tag embedded in the sports bat with an RFID reading device.  
   
   
       25 . The method for identifying a sports bat of  claim 24 , further comprising comparing the data indicative of the sports bat read by the RFID reading device to data stored in a sports bat database to determine if a match exists.