Baseball or softball bat with adjustable sound generator

Abstract

A baseball or softball bat having a sound generator disposed therein. A resilient member retains a knocker in relation to an inner surface of the bat when the sound generator is in an inactive, at-rest state. Upon an impact of the barrel with an object, the resilient member flexes or is deformed causing the knocker to strike an inner surface of the bat and generate a simulated bat impact sound.

1 . A baseball or softball bat, comprising:
 a handle;   a barrel extending from the handle;   a vibration dampener disposed within the barrel that dampens or eliminates vibrations from the barrel to the handle when the barrel strikes an object; and   a sound generator disposed within the bat comprising a knocker attached to a resilient member, wherein upon an impact of the barrel with an object, the resilient member flexes or is deformed causing the knocker to strike an inner surface of the bat and generate a simulated bat impact sound.   
     
     
         2 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient member comprises a spacer of a resilient material that retains the knocker in relation to the inner surface of the bat when the sound generator is in an inactive state. 
     
     
         3 . The bat of  claim 2 , wherein the spacer supports the knocker in spaced relation to the inner surface of the bat when the sound generator is in the inactive state. 
     
     
         4 . The bat of  claim 2 , wherein the spacer nominally contacts the inner surface of the bat in the inactive state. 
     
     
         5 . The bat of  claim 2 , wherein the spacer is attached to the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The bat of  claim 2 , wherein the spacer is attached to an end cap of the barrel. 
     
     
         7 . The bat of  claim 6 , including a connector extending between the end cap and the spacer. 
     
     
         8 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the knocker is comprised of a metal or a similar hard material so as to generate the simulated bat impact sound upon striking the inner surface of the bat. 
     
     
         9 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the sound generator is attached to an end cap of the barrel. 
     
     
         10 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the sound generator is attached to a portion of the handle extending into the barrel. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A baseball or softball bat, comprising:
 a handle;   a barrel extending from the handle;   a sound generator disposed within the barrel comprising a knocker attached to a resilient member, wherein upon an impact of the barrel with an object, the resilient member flexes or is deformed causing the knocker to strike an inner surface of the barrel and generate a simulated bat impact sound;   wherein the knocker is comprised of a metal or a similar hard material so as to generate the simulated bat impact sound upon striking the inner surface of the barrel; and   wherein the resilient member comprises a spacer of a resilient material that retains the knocker in relation to the inner surface of the barrel when the sound generator is in an inactive state   wherein the sound generator is attached to a portion of the handle extending into the barrel.   
     
     
         13 . The bat of  claim 12 , wherein the spacer supports the knocker in spaced relation to the inner surface of the barrel when the sound generator is in the inactive state. 
     
     
         14 . The bat of  claim 12 , wherein the spacer nominally contacts the inner surface of the barrel in the inactive state. 
     
     
         15 . The bat of  claim 12 , wherein the spacer is attached to the handle. 
     
     
         16 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration dampener comprises an elastic polymer material that is attached to the handle. 
     
     
         22 . The bat of  claim 21 , including external threads formed on the vibration dampener that are engaged with internal threads of the barrel to connect the handle to the barrel. 
     
     
         23 . The bat of  claim 12 , including a vibration dampener disposed within the barrel that dampens or eliminates vibrations from the barrel to the handle when the barrel strikes an object. 
     
     
         24 . The bat of  claim 23 , wherein the vibration dampener comprises an elastic polymer material that is attached to the handle. 
     
     
         25 . The bat of  claim 24 , including external threads formed on the vibration dampener that are engaged with internal threads of the barrel to connect the handle to the barrel.