Decorative bat
A method and apparatus for producing a highly attractive, decorative baseball bat. The apparatus of the invention enables the manufacture of decorative baseball bats that exhibit a wide variety of attractive designs. More particularly, the apparatus includes a uniquely configured, inexpensive masking member that can be slipped over the barrel of the bat so as to make selective portions of the baseball bat during the sandblasting step of the method of the invention.
1. A method of making a decorative metal baseball bat having a barrel portion comprising the steps of:
(a) circumscribing at least a portion of the barrel portion of the baseball bat with a generally cylindrically shaped masking member having a plurality of openings formed therein to form a processing subassembly;
(b) controllably rotating said processing subassembly;
(c) directing a stream of abrasive particles toward said rotating processing subassembly in a manner to permit the abrasive particles to pass through the openings in said masking member and to impinge upon portions of the baseball bat to form an abraded baseball bat; and
(d) anodizing said abraded baseball bat.
2. The method as defined in claim 1 in which the baseball bat is constructed of aluminum.
3. The method as defined in claim 1 in which said masking member has a plurality of triangularly shaped openings formed therein.
4. The method as defined in claim 1 in which said masking member has a plurality of oval shaped openings formed therein.
5. An apparatus for making a decorative baseball bat having first and second ends comprising:
(a) abase;
(b) gripping means mounted on said base for gripping the baseball bat, said gripping means comprising a first, generally cup-shaped member for gripping the first end of the baseball bat and a second generally cup-shaped member for gripping the second end of the baseball bat;
(c) a generally cylindrically-shaped masking member circumscribing at least a portion of the baseball bat, said masking member having a plurality of openings therein;
(d) rotating means operably associated with said gripping means for controllably rotating said gripping means and the baseball bat; and
(e) abrading means disposed proximate said generally cylindrically shaped masking member for directing a stream of abrasive product particles toward the baseball bat to form an abraded baseball bat.
6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which said rotating means comprises motor means carried by said base for controllably rotating said first generally cup shaped member.
7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said sandblasting means comprises a sandblasting nozzle and in which said apparatus further includes means for controllably moving said sandblasting nozzle relative to said masking member.