Composite bat with metal barrel area and method of fabrication

Claim 1

A method of fabricating a ball bat comprising the steps of: providing a bat frame in a generally cylindrical configuration having an essentially cylindrical hitting area terminating in a generally spherical closed end and having a handle area remote from the hitting area terminating in a short radially enlarged knob and with a tapering transition zone intermediate the hitting area and the handle area, the bat frame being fabricated of a composite material of linearly aligned fibers in a matrix binder; providing an annular insert, the insert being fabricated of aluminum with an interior cylindrical surface and with radially extending parallel end faces and having a cylindrical exterior surface; positioning the insert around the frame in the hitting area; positioning the bat frame and insert into a mold having an internal configuration corresponding to the exterior configuration of the bat to be fabricated; and applying heat and pressure to the bat frame and insert, the heat and pressure being sufficient whereby a recess is formed in the hitting area, the recess being in a cylindrical configuration having an annular inner face in contact with the interior face of the insert, parallel end faces at ends of the recess in contact with the and faces of the insert and an opened annular exterior essentially coextensive with the exterior surface of the insert, the heat and pressure also being sufficient to cure the bat frame; and removing the bat frame and insert from the mold to thereby provide a unitary ball bat with an aluminum insert in the hitting area.

Claim 2

A method of fabricating a ball bat comprising the steps of: providing a bat frame in a generally cylindrical configuration having an essentially cylindrical hitting area terminating in a generally spherical closed end and having a handle area remote from the hitting area terminating in a short radially enlarged knob and with a tapering transition zone intermediate the hitting area and the handle area, the bat frame being fabricated of a composite material of linearly aligned fibers in a matrix binder; providing an annular insert, the insert being fabricated of aluminum with an interior cylindrical surface and with radially extending parallel end faces and having a cylindrical exterior surface; positioning the insert around the frame in the hitting area; positioning the bat frame and insert into a mold having an internal configuration corresponding to the exterior configuration of the bat to be fabricated; and applying heat and pressure to the bat frame and insert, the heat and pressure being sufficient whereby a recess is formed in the hitting area, the recess being in a cylindrical configuration having an annular inner face in contact with the interior face of the insert, parallel end faces at ends of the recess in contact with the and faces of the insert and an opened annular exterior essentially coextensive with the exterior surface of the insert, the heat and pressure also being sufficient to cure the bat frame; and removing the bat frame and insert from the mold to thereby provide a unitary ball bat with an aluminum insert in the hitting area.