Baseball bat

Abstract

A baseball bat may be provided as part of a baseball training kit and a method of training a baseball player. The bat may include an internal tube sized to accommodate a plurality of cylindrical weights. Similarly sized cylindrical spacers, having significantly less mass than the weights, may also be inserted into the internal tube. Players can select different weight resistances by selecting which of a plurality of spacers and weights should be inserted, and in which order. A cap may be provided proximate the handle in order to secure the weights and spacers within the internal tube.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A baseball training kit comprising:
 a baseball bat having a handle and a barrel, the bat including a tube extending through the interior of the bat along a longitudinal axis of the bat, the tube having a tube length;   a plurality of weights insertable within the tube, the plurality of weights including at least a first weight having a first length and a second weight having a second length;   a plurality of spacers insertable within the tube, the plurality of spacers including at least a first spacer having the first length and a second spacer having the second length; and   a removable cap proximate to the handle of the bat for sealing the tube,   wherein the each of the plurality of weights and spacers include a channel provided on an outer surface of each of the plurality of weights and spacers, the channel extending longitudinally across each of the plurality of weights and spacers.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1  further comprising a resilient member attached to the removable cap and insertable into a portion of the tube. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first length is between 5 to 9 times the second length. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of weights includes one first weight and one to three second weights, and the plurality of spacers includes one first spacer and one to three second spacers. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 4  further comprising a resilient member attached to the removable cap and insertable into a portion of the tube, and
 wherein the tube length is equal to the resilient member in a compressed state plus the first length and one to three second lengths. 
 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is composed of aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the outer circumference of each of the spacers and weights is approximately the same as an inner circumference of the tube. 
     
     
         8 . A method of baseball training comprising:
 providing a baseball bat having a handle and a barrel, the bat including
 a tube having a tube length and an inner circumference, the tube extending through the interior of the bat along a longitudinal axis of the bat, and 
 a removable cap proximate the handle and dimensioned to seal the tube; 
   selecting at least one of a plurality of weights, each weight having either a first length or a second length, each weight having an outer circumference approximately the same as the inner circumference of the tube, and each weight having a channel extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the weight;   optionally selecting at least one of a plurality of spacers, each spacer having an outer circumference approximately the same as the inner circumference of the tube, each spacer having either the first length or the second length, each spacer having a channel extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the spacer, and the selected weights and the optionally selected spacers having a collective length equal to or less than the tube length;   inserting the selected weights and optionally selected spacers into the tube through the handle of the bat;   sealing the tube by attaching the removable cap; and   repeatedly swinging the baseball bat.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the cap further includes a resilient member insertable into the tube, and
 wherein a collective length resilient member in a compressed state plus the selected weights and optionally selected spacers are equal to the tube length. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first length is between 5 to 9 times the second length. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first length is greater than half the tube length. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one weight or spacer having a first length is selected. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a maximum of three weights or three spacers having a second length are included in the plurality of weights and spacers.