Baseball bat

Abstract

Baseball bats described herein may have handle, throat and/or barrel portions that include non-circular cross-sections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A baseball bat comprising:
 a barrel having a baseball-striking surface that has a cross-section with a circular perimeter that defines a center point;   a longitudinal axis extending substantially throughout the baseball bat, being perpendicular to the circular cross-section and intersecting the center point,   a handle having a grip portion that has a cross-section with a non-circular perimeter that is symmetrical about an axis-of-symmetry;   a major axis of the non-circular perimeter that intersects the non-circular perimeter at a first endpoint and a second endpoint; and   a midpoint on the major axis that is spaced from the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The baseball bat of  claim 1  wherein the major axis is parallel to the axis-of-symmetry. 
     
     
         3 . The baseball bat of  claim 1  wherein the major axis is spaced from the axis of symmetry. 
     
     
         4 . The baseball bat of  claim 1  wherein the handle further comprises a knob. 
     
     
         5 . The baseball bat of  claim 4  wherein the knob is skewed. 
     
     
         6 . The baseball bat of  claim 1  wherein the cross-section perimeter defines a concave region. 
     
     
         7 . The baseball bat of  claim 1  wherein the cross-section perimeter defines a generally oblong shape. 
     
     
         8 . The baseball bat of  claim 7  wherein the cross-section perimeter defines an oval shape. 
     
     
         9 . The baseball bat of  claim 8  wherein the cross-section perimeter defines an ellipse. 
     
     
         10 . The baseball bat of  claim 8  wherein the cross-section perimeter is more pointed proximate the first endpoint than the second endpoint. 
     
     
         11 . A baseball bat comprising:
 a bottom end;   a barrel portion defining a baseball-striking surface and further defining a longitudinal axis;   a handle portion having a plurality of cross-sections that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, defining respective perimeters;   a first region of the handle portion having one or more non-circular cross-sections, wherein:   each of the non-circular cross-sections defines a respective major axis with a front endpoint and a rear endpoint;   each of the non-circular cross-sections defines a respective central line that is substantially perpendicular to the respective major axis and that intersects the longitudinal axis;   each non-circular cross-section defines (1) a forward distance from the respective front endpoint to the respective central line, (2) a rearward distance from the respective rear endpoint to the respective central line, and (3) a distance of the respective cross-section from the bottom end;   the forward distance differs from the rearward distance, for respective cross-sections; and   the length of at least one cross-section major axis that is more proximate the bottom end exceeds the length of at least one cross-section major axis that is less proximate the bottom end.   
     
     
         12 . The baseball bat of  claim 11 , wherein each cross-section of the first region has a minor axis, such that each respective minor axis intersects the respective major axis at a midpoint of the respective minor axis. 
     
     
         13 . The baseball bat of  claim 11 , wherein each cross-section of the first region has a minor axis with a midpoint, such that each respective minor axis intersects the respective major axis at an intersection point that is spaced from the respective minor axis midpoint. 
     
     
         14 . The baseball bat of  claim 11 , wherein the major axes of the cross-sections in the first region reside substantially in a single plane. 
     
     
         15 . The baseball bat of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the cross-section perimeters in the first region is generally oblong. 
     
     
         16 . The baseball bat of  claim 15 , wherein the perimeter of at least one generally oblong cross-section perimeter defines a shape that is more pointed, proximate the respective major-axis front endpoint, and less pointed at the respective major-axis rear endpoint. 
     
     
         17 . The baseball bat of  claim 11 , further comprising a knob adjacent the bottom end, wherein the knob abuts the first region. 
     
     
         18 . The baseball bat of  claim 11 , further comprising a knob adjacent the bottom end, wherein the first region is spaced from the knob. 
     
     
         19 . The baseball bat of  claim 11 , wherein the handle includes raised areas that define regions shaped for receiving a user's fingers. 
     
     
         20 . The baseball bat of  claim 11 , wherein a first part of the first region is formed separately from a second part of the first region. 
     
     
         21 - 63 . (canceled)