Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Brent R Slater

Sean S Epling

Richard E Moritz

Mark A Fritzke

Ty B Goodwin

Robert T Thurman

Joshua S Stenzler

Edwin D Vander Pol

Ryan M Raagas

Brian S Hayes

A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis and configured for testing under an accelerated break-in test. The bat includes a barrel portion that includes an inner surface and is formed of a fiber composite material having wall thickness of at least 0.100 inch. The fiber composite material includes at least first and second plies. The first ply includes a first plurality of fibers aligned adjacent to one another and a first resin, and the second ply includes a second plurality of fibers aligned adjacent to one another and a second resin. The inner surface of the barrel portion defines at least one annular groove. The at least one annular groove creates an ABI fuse region of the barrel portion. The ABI fuse region forms a crack initiation location when the bat is subjected to the accelerated break-in test.

Ball bat including a fiber composite barrel having an accelerated break-in fuse region

A bat customization method includes the steps of capturing images of a batter's swing, determining a swing plane angle of the batter's swing at ball impact at a middle elevation of a strike zone of the batter based upon the captured images, and providing a bat for the batter. The bat has circumferentially spaced launch angle boosters. Each of the launch angle boosters extends along the axis at an angle based upon the determined swing plane angle.

Ball bat including ball launch angle boosters

A ball bat including one of a left-hand configuration designated for a left-handed batter and a right hand configuration designated for a right-handed batter. The left hand configuration is different than the right hand configuration. The ball bat further includes one of a left-hand indicia indicating the left hand configuration and a right hand indicia indicating the right hand configuration.

A ball bat for impacting a ball and extending along a longitudinal axis may include a handle portion and a barrel portion coupled to the handle portion. The barrel portion may include circumferentially spaced launch angle boosters. Each of the launch angle boosters extend along the axis at an angle of at least 3&#xb0; and no greater than 12&#xb0; from the longitudinal axis.

A ball bat barrel has an interior surface and a luminescent layer on the interior surface. The luminescent layer, upon being charged, emits light that indicates tampering with the interior surface.

Ball bat barrel with luminescent interior

A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis. The bat includes a barrel portion defining a primary tubular ball impact region. The barrel portion is formed of a fiber composite material. The fiber composite material includes at least first and second plies. The first and second plies include first and second pluralities first and second resins, respectively. Substantially all of the first and second pluralities of fibers of the first and second plies are generally aligned to define first and second angles with respect to the axis, respectively. The angles are each within the range of 45 to 90 degrees. Each of the plies is sized to extend about the full circumference of the barrel portion. The first and second pluralities of fibers are sectioned such that the fibers do not continuously extend about the full circumference of the impact region.

Ball bat including a fiber composite component having high angle discontinuous fibers

A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis. The bat includes a barrel portion defining a primary tubular region. The tubular region is formed of a fiber composite material having wall thickness of at least 0.100 inch. The fiber composite material includes at least first and second plies. The first and second plies include first and second pluralities of fibers and first and second resins, respectively. Substantially all of the first and second pluralities of fibers of the first and second plies are aligned to define first and second angles of 45 to 90 degrees with respect to the axis, respectively. The first and second plies have opposite polarities and are positioned with the second ply applied over the first ply. The first and second pluralities of fibers are sectioned such that the fibers do not continuously extend about the full circumference of the tubular region.

Growing community of inventors

Vancouver, WA, United States of America

Brent R Slater