Reinforced baseball bat

Abstract

A baseball bat is provided that includes a wooden structure having a barrel portion at a first end, a knob at a second end opposite the first end, and a grip portion disposed between the first and second ends; a first reinforcing collar disposed over the wooden structure a first distance from the second end; and a second reinforcing collar disposed over the wooden structure a second distance from the second end. The first distance is preferably greater than the second distance sufficient to create a separation between the first and second collars.

1 . A baseball bat comprising:
 a wooden structure having a barrel portion at a first end, a knob at a second end opposite the first end, and a grip portion disposed between the first and second ends;   a first reinforcing collar disposed over the wooden structure a first distance from the second end; and   a second reinforcing collar disposed over the wooden structure a second distance from the second end, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance sufficient to create a separation between the first and second collars.   
   
   
       2 . The baseball bat of  claim 1 , wherein the first distance is between about 14 and about 16 inches and the second distance is between about 7 inches and about 9 inches. 
   
   
       3 . The baseball bat of  claim 1 , wherein the bat has an overall length and wherein the first distance is between about 34% and about 38% of the overall length, and the second distance is between about 17% and about 21% of the overall length. 
   
   
       4 . The baseball bat of  claim 1 , wherein the first collar has a height that is between about 1 and about 3 inches, and the second collar has a height that is between about 2 and about 4 inches, and wherein the height of the second collar is greater than the height of the first collar. 
   
   
       5 . The baseball bat of  claim 1 , wherein the bat has an overall length and the first collar has a height that is between about 2% to about 6% of the overall length, and the second collar has a height that is between about 4% and about 8% of the overall length, and wherein the height of the second collar is greater than the height of the first collar. 
   
   
       6 . The baseball bat of  claim 1 , wherein each of the collars has a major inner diameter and a minor inner diameter, and wherein the major diameter of the first collar is greater than the minor diameter of the first collar, the major diameter of the second collar is greater than the minor diameter of the second collar, and the major diameter of the second collar is greater than the minor diameter of the first collar. 
   
   
       7 . The baseball bat of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the collars comprises a metal. 
   
   
       8 . The baseball bat of  claim 7 , wherein the metal comprises at least one of steel, aluminum, titanium, and an alloy thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The baseball bat of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the collars is adhered to the wooden structure. 
   
   
       10 . The baseball bat of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the collars has an inner surface that contacts the wooden structure, the inner surface comprising a rough texture. 
   
   
       11 . The baseball bat of  claim 1 , wherein the wooden structure comprises a plurality of grooves having approximate dimensions of the first and second collars, and wherein the first and second collars fit flush within the grooves. 
   
   
       12 . The baseball bat of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second collars comprises a C shaped cross section. 
   
   
       13 . The baseball bat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and second collars comprises a welded seam at an opening of the C shaped cross section. 
   
   
       14 . The baseball bat of  claim 1 , wherein the wooden structure comprises a first part and second part that are assembled after placing the first and second collars onto the wooden structure. 
   
   
       15 . The baseball bat of  claim 14 , wherein one of the parts of the wooden structure is the knob. 
   
   
       16 . The baseball bat of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the parts of the wooden structure comprises a dowel and the other part has a hole that accommodates the dowel.