Filament wound bat and winding and molding method therefore
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for manufacturing a bat having an exterior and a hollow interior. The method consists of successive steps of placing a first layer of filament onto a rotating mandrel while simultaneously applying resin to the first layer; winding additional layers of filament around the first layer without resin; and vacuum transfer molding additional resin onto the filament layers so that the additional resin impregnates these layers. The apparatus consists of a mandrel; a mandrel holder allowing rotation of the mandrel; a resin applicator adjacent the mandrel of the same length as the mandrel; a filament winder for winding filament onto the mandrel; and a vacuum transfer molding apparatus. A bat made by this method is also disclosed. The present invention also relates to a resin bath to apply resin to a line of filament.
1. A bat having a cap end, a knob end, a barrel, and a taper, the bat comprising:
a first layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat;
a second layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the first layer;
a third layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the second layer;
a fourth layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the third layer;
a fifth layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the fourth layer;
a sixth layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the fifth layer;
a seventh layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the sixth layer;
an eight layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the seventh layer;
a ninth layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the eighth layer;
at least one outer layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the ninth layer; and
a release layer between the ninth layer and the at least one outer layer.
2. The bat of claim 1 further comprising
a release layer between any two of the layers.
3. The bat of claim 1 further comprising
a second resin applied to the at least one outer layer.
4. The bat of claim 1 further comprising
a surface finish around the at least one outer layer.
5. The bat of claim 1 further comprising a first resin applied to the first layer that leaves the eighth layer dry.
6. A bat having a cap end, a knob end, a barrel, and a taper, the bat comprising:
a first layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat;
a second layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the first layer;
a third layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the second layer;
a fourth layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the third layer;
a fifth layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the fourth layer;
a sixth layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the fifth layer;
a seventh layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the sixth layer;
an eight layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the seventh layer;
a ninth layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of less than 20 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the eighth layer;
at least one outer layer of filament from proximal the cap end having a fiber angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat around the ninth layer; and
a first resin applied to the first layer that leaves the eighth layer dry.