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 bat comprising:
 a body comprising a first material, the body defining an exterior surface with a top end and a bottom end;   a barrel portion having a barrel cross-section with a substantially circular perimeter that defines a center point;   the barrel cross-section defining a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the barrel cross-section, the longitudinal axis intersecting and extending through the exterior surface, near the top and bottom ends, at respective upper and lower intersection points, and otherwise within the exterior surface;   a handle portion that includes the bottom end;   the handle portion defining a maximum forward distance, measured along a first line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, from a first point on the longitudinal axis to a first location on the exterior surface of the handle portion that is farthest forward of the longitudinal axis;   the handle portion defining a maximum rearward distance, measured along a second line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, from a second point on the longitudinal axis to a second location on the exterior surface of the handle portion that is farthest rearward of the longitudinal axis;   the handle portion also having a flared region;   the flared region defining a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the cross-section having a major axis; and   portions of the exterior surface, in the flared region, defining a front edge and a rear edge, wherein the distance from the longitudinal axis to the front edge, measured along respective lines perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, is greater than the distance from the longitudinal axis to the rear edge, for each point of the longitudinal axis throughout the flared region;   wherein the maximum rearward distance from any portion within a region of the rear edge to the longitudinal axis is less than half of the maximum forward distance between the front edge and the longitudinal axis wherein the region is between 1 inch and 1.5 inches from the bottom end of the handle portion.   
     
     
         2 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion comprises plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises metal. 
     
     
         4 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion has a region with at least one cross-section that defines a substantially circular perimeter thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the distance from the longitudinal axis to the front edge is not less than the distance from the longitudinal axis to the rear edge, for each point of the longitudinal axis that is within the flared region. 
     
     
         6 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the flared region is non-circular and defines a perimeter having an oblong shape. 
     
     
         7 . The bat of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the handle has cross-sections that are flatter on a first side and a second portion of the handle further away from the bottom end of the handle portion than the first portion has cross-sections that are flatter on a second side opposite the first side.