Support structure

Abstract

Support structures and bats such as those that may be used in the game of baseball are disclosed herein. Certain embodiments include a plurality of appendages within a bat barrel that both arc toward the bat barrel and form an arc adjacent to the inside of the bat barrel. Sport structures having a central hub within the barrel of a bat are also disclosed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . a bat comprising:
 a. a bat barrel having a central axis, a bat barrel internal radius, and a bat barrel internal arc radius;   b. a first appendage;   c. wherein the first appendage has a first appendage first portion that is adjacent to the bat barrel;   d. wherein the first appendage first portion has a first appendage first portion arc radius greater than 80% of the bat barrel internal arc radius;   e. wherein the first appendage has a first appendage second portion that is located further from the bat barrel than the first appendage first portion;   f. wherein the first appendage second portion has a first appendage second portion arc radius less than or equal to 80% of the bat barrel internal arc radius;   g. a second appendage;   h. wherein the second appendage has a second appendage first portion that is adjacent to the bat barrel;   i. wherein the second appendage first portion has a second appendage first portion arc radius greater than 80% of the bat barrel internal arc radius;   j. wherein the second appendage has a second appendage second portion that is located further from the bat barrel than the second appendage first portion;   k. wherein the second appendage second portion has a second appendage second portion arc radius less than or equal to 80% of the bat barrel internal arc radius;   l. wherein the first appendage and the second appendage are connected within the bat barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The bat of  claim 1  wherein the first appendage and the second appendage are directly connected to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The bat of  claim 1  wherein the first appendage and the second appendage are connected to each other by a central structure. 
     
     
         4 . The bat of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. a third appendage; 
 b. wherein the third appendage has a third appendage first portion that is adjacent to the bat barrel; 
 c. wherein the third appendage first portion has a third appendage first portion arc radius greater than 80% of the bat barrel internal arc radius; 
 d. wherein the third appendage has a third appendage second portion that is located further from the bat barrel than the third appendage first portion; 
 e. wherein the third appendage second portion has a third appendage second portion arc radius less than or equal to 80% of the bat barrel internal arc radius. 
 
     
     
         5 . The bat of  claim 4  wherein the first appendage, the second appendage, and the third appendage are connected to each other by a central structure. 
     
     
         6 . The bat of  claim 1  further comprising a cylindrical sleeve within the barrel of the bat. 
     
     
         7 . The bat of  claim 6  wherein the cylindrical sleeve has a plurality of internal structures that protrude from the cylindrical sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The bat of  claim 7  wherein the first appendage and the second appendage are frictionally fit within the cylindrical sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The bat of  claim 1  wherein the first appendage second portion has a first appendage second portion arc radius less than or equal to 50% of the bat barrel internal arc radius. 
     
     
         10 . The bat of  claim 1  wherein the first appendage second portion has a first appendage second portion arc radius less than or equal to 40% of the bat barrel internal arc radius. 
     
     
         11 . The bat of  claim 1  wherein the first appendage second portion has a first appendage second portion arc radius greater than or equal to 10% of the bat barrel internal arc radius. 
     
     
         12 . The bat of  claim 1  wherein the first appendage second portion has a first appendage second portion radial section that is oriented radially with respect to the bat barrel. 
     
     
         13 . The bat of  claim 1  wherein the first appendage first portion has a first appendage first portion perpendicular section that is oriented perpendicular to a first line oriented radially from the central axis. 
     
     
         14 . A support structure comprising:
 a. a central hub structure having a central axis and a hub structure height;   b. a plurality of curved spokes attached to the central hub structure;   c. wherein the plurality of curved spokes each have a curved spoke height substantially equivalent to the hub structure height;   d. wherein the plurality of curved spokes each have a curved spoke length extending to a support structure maximum radial distance;   e. wherein the support structure maximum radial distance is measured from the central axis;   f. wherein the support structure is located within the support structure maximum radial distance;   g. wherein the plurality of curved spokes each have an outer portion;   h. wherein each of the outer portions of the plurality of curved spokes forms a first set of surfaces;   i. wherein the first set of surfaces lies along the support structure maximum radial distance;   j. wherein each of the plurality of curved spokes have an internal spoke portion;   k. wherein each of the internal spoke portions has an arcing portion.   
     
     
         15 . The support structure of  claim 14  wherein each of the internal spoke portions have an arc segment having an arc segment radius of at least 10% of the support structure maximum radial distance. 
     
     
         16 . The support structure of  claim 14  wherein each of the internal spoke portions have an arc segment having an arc segment radius that is at most 90% of the support structure maximum radial distance. 
     
     
         17 . The support structure of  claim 14  wherein each of the internal spoke portions have an arc segment having an arc segment radius that is at most 80% of the support structure maximum radial distance. 
     
     
         18 . The support structure of  claim 14  wherein each of the internal spoke portions have an arc segment having an arc segment radius that is at most 50% of the support structure maximum radial distance. 
     
     
         19 . The support structure of  claim 14  wherein the support structure is arranged and configured to fit securely within the barrel of a bat. 
     
     
         20 . The support structure of  claim 14  wherein the support structure is arranged an configured to resist compression of a barrel of a bat when positioned within the barrel of the bat.