Multi-piece ball bat connected via a flexible joint
View Patent ↗A multi-piece ball bat includes a first section including a hitting portion, and a second section including a handle portion. A flexible joint connects the first section to the second section. The flexible joint may be a structural joint, such as a spring member, a mechanical locking joint, or a pneumatic or hydraulic joint, or it may be a non-uniform and/or non-continuous elastomeric joint.
1. A multi-piece ball bat, comprising:
a barrel section including a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end including a tapered section;
a handle section including a proximal end and a distal end, with the distal end of the handle section including an enlarged member in contacting interference fit with an inner surface of the tapered section; and
an alignment spring connected to an inner surface of the barrel section and in engagement with a distally facing end of the enlarged member for restoring the handle section and the barrel section into axial alignment.
2. The ball bat of claim 1 wherein the alignment spring is connected to an inner surface of the tapered section of the barrel section.
3. The ball bat of claim 1 further comprising a notch in the distally facing end of the enlarged member, wherein the alignment spring includes a protruding portion positioned in the notch and in engagement with the distally facing end of the enlarged member.
4. The ball bat of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the barrel section comprises a low-friction bearing surface.
5. The ball bat of claim 4 wherein the enlarged member includes a low-friction outer surface.
6. The ball bat of claim 4 wherein the enlarged member includes a high-friction outer surface.
7. The ball bat of claim 1 wherein the alignment spring is bonded, welded, or pinned to the inner surface of the barrel section.
8. The ball bat of claim 1 wherein the handle section is not bonded to the barrel section, and the alignment spring is not positioned radially between the handle section and the barrel section.
9. A multi-piece ball bat, comprising:
a barrel section including a proximal end and a distal end;
a handle section including a proximal end and a distal end; and
a bladder containing a hydraulic fluid connecting the proximal end of the barrel section to the distal end of the handle section.
10. The ball bat of claim 9 wherein the bladder is adhesively bonded to an inner surface of the barrel section and to an outer surface of the handle section.
11. The ball bat of claim 9 wherein the bladder is located at least partially in the handle section of the ball bat.
12. The ball bat of claim 9 wherein the hydraulic fluid comprises an electrorheological fluid.