Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Joshua S Stenzler

Robert T Thurman

Mark A Fritzke

Ty B Goodwin

Sean S Epling

Bradley L Gaff

Brent R Slater

Jeffrey A Flood

Richard E Moritz

Ryan M Raagas

Edwin D Vander Pol

Glen R Mason

Jeffery A Flood

An adjustable knob assembly for a ball bat having a tubular handle portion extending about a longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a base and an annular knob. The base includes an end wall and a cylindrical outer wall extending from the end wall. The outer wall is configured to be fixedly coupled to a proximal end of the handle portion of the bat. The outer wall includes a first set of interlocking structure. The annular knob includes an inner radial surface defining a central opening. The inner radial surface includes a second set of interlocking structure. The first and second sets of interlocking structure are positionable between at least a first locked knob position and a second locked knob position.

Adjustable knob assembly for a ball bat

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 bat customization system for use with a processing unit of an electronic device. The system includes a first sensing bat, at least one sensor carried by the first sensing bat, and a wireless transmitter for transmitting signals from the sensors. The at least one sensor is configured to detect characteristics of at least one test swing of the first sensing bat. The signals represent the detected characteristics. A non-transient computer readable medium containing computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to identify a recommended bat based on the characteristics detected by the at least one sensor carried by the first sensing bat. The programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate data relating to the at least one test swing.

Bat customization system

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

An apparatus for engagement with a barrel of a bat includes a cup and at least one cover. The cup is secured for securement to a distal end of the barrel of the bat. The cup defines a cavity and includes a first connector portion. The at least one cover has a second connector portion cooperating with the first connector portion to releasably secure the cover to the cup over the cavity.

A bat including a barrel, a barrel taper, a first connector portion carried by the barrel taper, a handle, and a second connector portion extending from the handle portion. The barrel has a distal portion, a proximal portion and an internal bore. The barrel taper axially engages the proximal portion of the barrel from within the internal bore. The second connector portion cooperates with the first connector portion to axially draw the barrel taper against the internal bore to connect the barrel to the handle.

An apparatus for releasable attachment to a handle of a ball bat includes a base fixedly coupled to a proximal end of the handle of the bat, and at least one knob releasably coupled to the base. The base includes knob-engaging structure. The knob includes base-engaging structure to cooperate with the knob engaging structure to inhibit rotation of the knob with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Joshua S Stenzler