Abstract:
A method of making a hollow metal ball bat having a wall thickness along the length thereof that is substantially uniform thereby providing a weight ratio for the handle and barrel portions of the bat that approximates the diameters of the handle and barrel portions. The handle portion of the bat is formed by a swaging process which reduces the diameter of a portion of a metal tube blank, having generally a uniform diameter and wall thickness, on a mandrel having a substantially uniform diameter. The mandrel is effective to maintain the uniform wall thickness of the blank by forcing the metal thereof to flow longitudinally from the end of the blank forming the handle portion of the bat.
Abstract:
A tubular bat body having an apertured end closure covering one end of the bat body. A cover element secured to the end closure. The cover element having a head disposed generally adjacent the outer surface of the end closure and a shank extending into the closure aperture and in contact with the aperture defining surface. An anchor section formed as an extension of the shank having shoulder means in locking engagement with the closure inner surface. The anchor section may have pilot means for facilitating insertion of the shank into the closure aperture. The cover element or indicator has means providing information regarding one or more bat properties. The shank may have a generally web-like configuration with substantially parallel opposed marginal edges and stiffener fins may be provided. The anchor section may be substantially triangular with the base of the triangle serving to provide locking shoulders and the other sides providing the pilot surfaces.
Abstract:
An end plug for a hollow ball bat. The end plug has a substantially rigid inner plug member and a resiliently compressible outer plug member secured to the inner member. The outer plug member has a periphery provided with a generally cylindrical lower portion and an upper portion separated from the lower portion by an outwardly open annular recess. The inner plug member has a generally radially outwardly directed stabilizer portion which extends radially outwardly at least to a position adjacent to the periphery of the outer plug member. The outwardly directed stabilizer portion of the inner plug member may be divided into a plurality of individual stabilizer segments and may be provided with underlying reinforcing members. A hollow ball bat having a generally cylindrical barrel portion and a generally cylindrical handle portion. At least one of the barrel and handle portions terminating in an open end provided with a transversely inwardly directed flange which is engaged within the annular recess of the end plug to provide an effective mechanical joint between the bat and the end plug. The composite end plug serves to provide both sound and vibration deadening means and integral structural reinforcing means resisting relative axial movement between the end plug and the ball bat.
Abstract:
A method of making a hollow bat including providing a hollow bat body having a handle portion at one end and a barrel portion at the other with at least one end terminating in an opening. Providing an end plug having a transverse end wall and a generally cylindrical depending body portion having at least one annular groove therein. Deforming the end plug or the end portion of the bat body defining the open end to establish an interlocking joint between the bat body and end plug. The bat body has a radially inwardly directed flange at the opening defining end of the bat in circumferential engagement with the annular groove of the end plug. In one form of the method the open end of the hollow bat is provided with a radially inwardly directed flange at the open end. The end plug is composed of resiliently compressible material and is positioned in axial alignment with the bat body at a position spaced from the flange. Relative axial closing movement is established between the plug and the bat body in order to compress the resilient plug radially and establish entry of the plug into the bat body. Movement is terminated when the radial bat flange is seated in the annular groove. In another form of the method the end plug is positioned partially within the open end of the bat and the joint is effected by reforming the annular free edge of the open end radially inwardly to establish an inwardly directed flange in the bat body in circumferential engagement with the annular groove. The bat body may be composed of an electrically conductive material and the flange formation effected by a magnetic field generated by means not physically contacting the bat body. A hollow metal bat body having a handle at one end and a barrel portion at the other end. An end plug having a transverse end wall and depending generally cylindrical body portion provided with an outwardly open annular recess. The body portion disposed within one end of the hollow metal bat and the open end within which said plug is disposed terminates in a radially inwardly directed flange which has its free end disposed within the annular recess.