Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Precor Incorporated

Brian S Hayes

Sean S Epling

Bradley L Gaff

Mark A Fritzke

Brent R Slater

Richard E Moritz

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.

A ball bat extending about a axis, and including a barrel portion formed of a fiber composite material. The material includes first and second plies arrangements. The first and second ply arrangements define first and second ply arrangement thicknesses, respectively. The first and second arrangements include at least one ply having first and second plurality of fibers and first and second resin, respectively. The first and second arrangements define at least one first angle and second angle with respect to the axis, respectively. Each of the at least one first angle is of the same angular polarity and each of the at least second angle is of the same angular polarity. The first angle is of opposite polarity of the second angle. The ratio of the first and second arrangement thicknesses is at least 1.5. The first arrangement is positioned over and within 0.002 in of the second arrangement.

Ball bat having improved structure to allow for detection of rolling

A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis. The bat includes a handle and a barrel portion. The barrel portion has a total length and includes a barrel rolling detection region having a length of at least two inches. The detection region is formed of a fiber composite material. The composite material includes at least first and second plies. The first and second plies each include first and second pluralities of fibers aligned adjacent to one another and first and second resins, respectively. 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 first ply is positioned over and within 0.002 in of the second ply. The first and second angles are each within the range of 20 to 80 degrees. The first and second angles are substantially the same.

Growing community of inventors

Benicia, CA, United States of America

Brian S Hayes