Baseball bats described herein may have handle, throat and/or barrel portions that include non-circular cross-sections.
1. A bat comprising:
a body, comprising metal, the body having an exterior surface with a top end and a bottom end;
a barrel portion having a barrel cross-section with a substantially circular perimeter that defines a center point;
the barrel cross-section defining a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the barrel cross-section, the longitudinal axis intersecting the barrel cross-section at approximately the center point, the longitudinal axis intersecting and extending through the exterior surface, near the top and bottom ends, at respective upper and lower intersection points, and otherwise within the exterior surface;
a handle portion that includes the bottom end;
the handle portion defining a maximum forward distance, measured along a first line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, from a first point on the longitudinal axis to a first location on the exterior surface of the handle portion that is farthest forward of the longitudinal axis;
the handle portion defining a maximum rearward distance, measured along a second line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, from a second point on the longitudinal axis to a second location on the exterior surface of the handle portion that is farthest rearward of the longitudinal axis;
the handle portion having a region with at least one cross-section that defines a substantially circular perimeter thereof;
the handle portion also having an asymmetrically flared region extending from an upper boundary to a lower boundary, wherein the lower boundary approximately coincides with the first line and includes the first location on the exterior surface of the handle portion, and the upper boundary is more proximate the top end;
the asymmetrically flared region defining a non-circular cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the non-circular cross-section having a major axis, wherein the major axis increases continuously throughout the asymmetrically flared region, from the upper boundary to the lower boundary; and
portions of the exterior surface, in the asymmetrically flared region, defining a front edge and a rear edge, wherein the distance from the longitudinal axis to the front edge, measured along respective lines perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, is greater than the distance from the longitudinal axis to the rear edge, for each point of the longitudinal axis throughout the asymmetrically flared region.
2. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the distance from the longitudinal axis to the front edge increases continuously throughout the asymmetrically flared region, from the upper boundary to the lower boundary.
3. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the distance from the longitudinal axis to the rear edge increases continuously throughout the asymmetrically flared region, from the upper boundary to the lower boundary.
4. The bat of claim 2 , wherein the distance from the longitudinal axis to the rear edge increases continuously throughout the asymmetrically flared region, from the upper boundary to the lower boundary.
5. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the distance from the longitudinal axis to the front edge exceeds the distance from the longitudinal axis to the rear edge, for each point of the longitudinal axis that is within the asymmetrically flared region.
6. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the maximum forward distance exceeds the maximum rearward distance.
7. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the front edge and the rear edge are substantially co-planar.
8. The bat of claim 7 , wherein the front edge, the rear edge and the longitudinal axis are substantially co-planar.
9. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the non-circular cross-section defines a perimeter having an oblong shape.
10. The bat of claim 9 , wherein the non-circular cross-section defines a perimeter having an ovoid shape.
11. The bat of claim 9 , wherein the non-circular cross-section defines a perimeter having an elliptical shape.
12. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the distance from the upper boundary to the lower boundary of the asymmetrically flared region occupies at least 2 inches, measured along the longitudinal axis.
13. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the distance from the upper boundary to the lower boundary of the asymmetrically flared region occupies at least 3 inches, measured along the longitudinal axis.
14. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the distance from the upper boundary to the lower boundary of the asymmetrically flared region occupies at least 4 inches, measured along the longitudinal axis.
15. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the distance from the upper boundary to the lower boundary of the asymmetrically flared region occupies at least 5 inches, measured along the longitudinal axis.
16. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the distance from the upper boundary to the lower boundary of the asymmetrically flared region occupies at least 6 inches, measured along the longitudinal axis.
17. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the second point is between the first point and the lower intersection point.
18. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the lower intersection point is between the first point and the second point.
19. The bat of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises aluminum.
20. The bat of claim 4 , wherein the body comprises aluminum.
21. The bat of claim 6 , wherein the body comprises aluminum.