Bat with barrel inner tube weight

Abstract

A ball bat includes a handle portion, a barrel portion, an inner tube extending within the barrel portion and a weight axially secured within the inner tube within the barrel portion. The barrel portion has an outer wall about a hollow interior. The inner tube extends along an axis within the hollow interior and is radially spaced from and out of contact with the outer wall.

1 . A ball bat extending along a longitudinal axis, the bat comprising:
 a handle portion;   an end cap;   a barrel portion having an outer wall about a hollow interior;   a weight having a first end, a second end and an outer annular groove; and   an inner tube directly connected to the end cap, the inner tube extending from the end cap towards the handle portion along the axis within the hollow interior and radially spaced from and out of contact with the outer wall, the inner tube containing the weight and having a weight receiving portion continuously encircling the weight without interruption from the first end of the weight to the second end of the weight without interruption, the portion having an interior surface projecting into the outer annular groove of the weight to retain the weight against movement along the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A ball bat extending along a longitudinal axis, the bat comprising:
 a handle portion;   a barrel portion having an outer wall about a hollow interior;   an inner tube extending along an axis within the hollow interior and radially spaced from and out of contact with the outer wall;   a weight axially secured within the inner tube within the barrel portion; a second weight secured within the inner tube within the barrel portion;   a first retainer retaining the weight in place relative to the inner tube;   a second retainer retaining the second weight in place relative to the inner tube; and   a mass of material encapsulating the weight and the second weight within the inner tube, the mass of material providing the first retainer and the second retainer.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The ball bat of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube extends along the handle portion. 
     
     
         16 . The ball bat of  claim 11  comprising an end cap, wherein the inner tube extends to and is connected to the end cap. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The ball bat of  claim 1  further comprising a pivot joint between the inner tube and the barrel portion, wherein the pivot joint comprises a curved concave surface facing the axis and a curved convex surface abutting the curved concave surface. 
     
     
         19 . The ball bat of  claim 18  further comprising a second pivot joint between the inner tube and the barrel portion, the second pivot joint being spaced from the first pivot joint, wherein the second pivot joint comprises a second curved concave surface facing the axis and a second curved convex surface abutting the second curved concave surface. 
     
     
         20 . The ball bat of claim, wherein the inner tube extends along the handle portion. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The ball bat of  claim 11  further comprising a pivot joint between the inner tube and the barrel portion. 
     
     
         24 . The ball bat of  claim 23  further comprising a second pivot joint between the inner tube and the barrel portion, the second pivot joint being spaced from the first pivot joint. 
     
     
         25 . The ball bat of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube resiliently stretches and wraps about the weight. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The ball bat of  claim 1 , wherein the weight is formed from a castable material. 
     
     
         32 . A ball bat extending along a longitudinal axis, the bat comprising:
 a handle portion;   an end cap;   a barrel portion having an outer wall about a hollow interior;   a weight having a first end, a second end and an outer circumferential detent;   an inner tube directly connected to the end cap, the inner tube extending from the end cap towards the handle portion along an axis within the hollow interior and radially spaced from and out of contact with the outer wall, the inner tube containing the weight; and   a mass of material within the inner tube and encapsulating the weight so as to continuously extend from the first end to the second end, covering the first end and the second end of the weight to retain the weight against movement along the axis.