Ball bat exhibiting optimized performance via selective placement of ...

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US007361107B2

(12) United States Patent

Giannetti et al.

(io) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent:

US 7,361,107 B2 *Apr. 22, 2008

(54)

(51)

(52) (58)

(56)

(73) Assignee: Easton Sports, Inc., Van Nuys, CA (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

(21) Appl. No.: 11/457,542

(22) Filed: Jul. 14, 2006

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2006/0247078 Al Nov. 2, 2006

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation of application No. 10/903,493, filed on Jul. 29, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,115,054.

Int. CI.

A63B 59/06 (2006.01)

U.S. CI 473/567

Field of Classification Search 473/564 568,

473/457, 519, 520 See application file for complete search history.

References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 1,611,858 A 12/1926 Middlekauff

A ball bat exhibits improved barrel performance in regions located away from the "sweet spot" of the bat barrel, as a result of strategic placement of interface shear control zones ("ISCZs") in the barrel. The ball bat includes a barrel having a first region adjacent to the tapered section of the ball bat, a second region adjacent to the free end of the barrel, and a third region located between the first and second regions, that includes the sweet spot of the barrel. The first and second regions each include at least one interface shear control zone. The third region includes at least one fewer interface shear control zone than at least one of the first and second regions. ISCZs may also be strategically placed in the bat handle and/or the tapered section of the ball bat to improve the compliance and overall performance of the ball bat.

18 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets