Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090197712 | BALL BAT EXHIBITING OPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE VIA SELECTIVE PLACEMENT OF INTERLAMINAR SHEAR CONTROL ZONES - A ball bat exhibits improved barrel performance in regions located away from the “sweet spot” of the bat barrel, as a result of strategic placement of interface shear control zones (“ISCZs”) in the barrel. The ball bat includes a barrel having a first region adjacent to the tapered section of the ball bat, a second region adjacent to the free end of the barrel, and a third region located between the first and second regions, that includes the sweet spot of the barrel. The first and second regions each include at least one interface shear control zone. The third region includes at least one fewer interface shear control zone than at least one of the first and second regions. ISCZs may also be strategically placed in the bat handle and/or the tapered section of the ball bat to improve the compliance and overall performance of the ball bat. | 08-06-2009 |
20090221388 | FEEDBACK-PROVIDING SPORTING GOODS ITEM - A sporting goods item, such as a ball bat, includes a sensor located on or in a body of the item. The sensor detects vibrations produced by an object's impact against the item. The detected vibrations are used to determine the quality or location of the impact, or other information about the impact. An optical or audible feedback element located on or in the item visually or audibly provides information about the impact. | 09-03-2009 |
20100105504 | BALL BAT INCLUDING VISUAL INDICATION OF WHETHER INTERNAL STRUCTURAL TAMPERING WITH THE BALL BAT HAS OCCURRED - A ball bat includes a barrel having a radially inner surface. Graphics, or an indicator layer including graphics, that provide a visual indication of whether tampering, such as shaving, has occurred to the radially inner surface of the barrel are affixed to, applied to, or integral with the radially inner surface of the barrel. A transparent or translucent cap, or a cap including a window, is optionally attached to an end of the barrel to provide visual inspection of the internal graphics. The cap itself may additionally or alternatively include internal observable features, or external engraved or etched features, that make the cap difficult to replicate or counterfeit. | 04-29-2010 |
20100160095 | BALL BAT WITH GOVERNED PERFORMANCE - A ball bat includes a barrel in which one or more stiffening elements or damping elements, or both, are located. The stiffening or damping elements may be positioned at a variety of locations, and may have a variety of configurations, for selectively reducing the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the bat's moment of inertia. | 06-24-2010 |
20110077111 | BALL BAT INCLUDING A TAMPER-RESISTANT CAP - A ball bat includes a transparent or translucent cap attached to a bat barrel. One or more security labels are bonded or otherwise attached to the cap and the barrel such that removal of the cap damages or destroys the one or more security labels, providing an indication that the cap has been removed and that tampering with the interior of the bat may have occurred. | 03-31-2011 |
20110124447 | BALL BAT INCLUDING INTEGRAL BARREL FEATURES FOR REDUCING BBCOR - A ball bat includes a barrel having one or more integral features for selectively stiffening regions of the barrel. The barrel may include an indented region forming a rib projecting inwardly into the barrel. Alternatively, one or more inwardly projecting lips may be formed on adjoining barrel sections that are bonded, welded, or otherwise attached to each other, such that an integral, internal rib is formed in the barrel. The internal rib stiffens the barrel, thus reducing the barrel's BBCOR. One or more integral ribs may be provided at any desired barrel locations for selectively limiting the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the moment of inertia of the ball bat. In another embodiment, a joint, to which two barrel sections are bonded, welded, or otherwise attached, includes an inwardly projecting member that stiffens the barrel, thus reducing the barrel's BBCOR. | 05-26-2011 |
20110165976 | BALL BAT INCLUDING MULTIPLE FAILURE PLANES - A composite ball bat includes multiple failure planes within a barrel wall. By including multiple failure planes in a barrel wall, the bat exhibits a drop in performance when subjected to rolling or other extreme deflection, with no temporary increase in barrel performance. Because the barrel performance does not increase, the ball bat is able to comply with performance limitations imposed by regulatory associations. | 07-07-2011 |
20110195808 | BALL BAT HAVING A SEGMENTED BARREL - A ball bat includes a segmented or decoupled barrel, which reduces the axial stiffness and BBCOR of the barrel, while providing little or no increase in the bat's moment of inertia. Segmenting the barrel, alone or in combination with other performance-reducing features, may be used to lower the BBCOR (or other specified performance characteristic) of the ball bat below the performance limits of a given regulatory association or other governing body. | 08-11-2011 |
20120142461 | BALL BAT INCLUDING MULTIPLE FAILURE PLANES - A composite ball bat includes multiple failure planes within a barrel wall. By including multiple failure planes in a barrel wall, the bat exhibits a drop in performance when subjected to rolling or other extreme deflection, with no temporary increase in barrel performance. Because the barrel performance does not increase, the ball bat is able to comply with performance limitations imposed by regulatory associations. | 06-07-2012 |
20120231905 | BALL BAT INCLUDING MULTIPLE FAILURE PLANES - A composite ball bat includes multiple failure planes within a barrel wall. By including multiple failure planes in a barrel wall, the bat exhibits a drop in performance when subjected to rolling or other extreme deflection, with no temporary increase in barrel performance. Because the barrel performance does not increase, the ball bat is able to comply with performance limitations imposed by regulatory associations. | 09-13-2012 |
20120252610 | BALL BAT INCLUDING INTEGRAL BARREL FEATURES FOR REDUCING BBCOR - A ball bat includes a barrel having one or more integral features for selectively stiffening regions of the barrel. The barrel may include an indented region forming a rib projecting inwardly into the barrel. Alternatively, one or more inwardly projecting lips may be formed on adjoining barrel sections that are bonded, welded, or otherwise attached to each other, such that an integral, internal rib is formed in the barrel. The internal rib stiffens the barrel, thus reducing the barrel's BBCOR. One or more integral ribs may be provided at any desired barrel locations for selectively limiting the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the moment of inertia of the ball bat. In another embodiment, a joint, to which two barrel sections are bonded, welded, or otherwise attached, includes an inwardly projecting member that stiffens the barrel, thus reducing the barrel's BBCOR. | 10-04-2012 |
20130035181 | BALL BAT WITH GOVERNED PERFORMANCE - A ball bat includes a barrel in which one or more stiffening elements or damping elements, or both, are located. The stiffening or damping elements may be positioned at a variety of locations, and may have a variety of configurations, for selectively reducing the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the bat's moment of inertia. | 02-07-2013 |
20130165279 | BALL BAT INCLUDING A REINFORCED, LOW-DURABILITY REGION FOR DETERRING BARREL ALTERATION - A ball bat includes one or more low-durability regions fortified by one or more reinforcing elements. If the reinforcing element is altered or removed, the durability of the ball bat is significantly reduced. For example, if the ball bat is subjected to internal shaving or external rolling in an attempt to increase the bat's performance, the reinforcing element would de removed or damaged such that the durability of the bat is reduced to the point that the ball bat's performance remains below a specified limit. | 06-27-2013 |
20130274039 | BALL BAT WITH GOVERNED PERFORMANCE - A ball bat includes a barrel in which one or more stiffening elements or damping elements, or both, are located. The stiffening or damping elements may be positioned at a variety of locations, and may have a variety of configurations, for selectively reducing the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the bat's moment of inertia. | 10-17-2013 |
20140213395 | BALL BAT INCLUDING MULTIPLE FAILURE PLANES - A composite ball bat includes multiple failure planes within a barrel wall. By including multiple failure planes in a barrel wall, the bat exhibits a drop in performance when subjected to rolling or other extreme deflection, with no temporary increase in barrel performance. Because the barrel performance does not increase, the ball bat is able to comply with performance limitations imposed by regulatory associations. | 07-31-2014 |
20140243120 | MULTI-PIECE SHAFT FOR A LACROSSE STICK - A multi-piece shaft for a lacrosse stick includes a first section connected to a second section at a joint. The joint may be located at various shaft regions to provide a desired kick point within the shaft. In one embodiment, an outer surface of the first shaft section is separated from an inner surface of the second shaft section via an elastomeric isolator. The elastomeric isolator may be an adhesive material that bonds or secures the outer surface of the first shaft section to the inner surface of the second shaft section. Two or more of these joints optionally may be included in the lacrosse shaft. | 08-28-2014 |
20140274491 | SPORTING-GOOD IMPLEMENT WITH ROTATABLE HANDLE - A sporting-good implement, such as a ball bat or a lacrosse stick, includes a first handle section rotatably connected to a second handle section. The second handle section may be attached to or integral with a tapered region or barrel region of a ball bat, or with a shaft section or head of a lacrosse stick, or with another sporting-good feature. This rotatable engagement allows the relative position of the user's hands to change during the course of a swing, shot, or pass, ideally placing the user's hands in a position to generate improved power or control. | 09-18-2014 |
20140274497 | SPORTING-GOOD IMPLEMENT WITH ROTATABLE HANDLE - A sporting-good implement, such as a ball bat or a lacrosse stick, includes a first handle section rotatably connected to a second handle section. The second handle section may be attached to or integral with a tapered region or barrel region of a ball bat, or with a shaft section or head of a lacrosse stick, or with another sporting-good feature. This rotatable engagement allows the relative position of the user's hands to change during the course of a swing, shot, or pass, ideally placing the user's hands in a position to generate improved power or control. | 09-18-2014 |
20140342856 | BALL BAT WITH GOVERNED PERFORMANCE - A ball bat includes a barrel in which one or more stiffening elements or damping elements, or both, are located. The stiffening or damping elements may be positioned at a variety of locations, and may have a variety of configurations, for selectively reducing the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the bat's moment of inertia. | 11-20-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090106149 | GLOBAL COMPLIANCE PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR A MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM - A money transfer system generally includes a rules database, a customer database, a transaction processing system, and an administrator port. The rules database includes information representative of transaction rules. The transaction rules include transaction type-based rules, point of entry-based rules, customer-based rules, and transaction location-based rules. At least some of the transaction rules include an aggregation threshold. The customer database includes information representative of customers' transaction histories. The transaction processing system is connected to the rules database and customer database and generally includes point of entry ports, a customer identifier, a rules coordinator, an aggregation engine, and a transaction rules service. The point of entry ports receive transaction requests from points of entry and provide transaction responses to the points of entry. Based on information received in transaction requests, the customer identifier identifies customers and the rules coordinator determines applicable transaction rules. The aggregation engine determines aggregation values as a function of customers' transaction histories. The transaction rules service determines whether information received in the transaction requests meets the applicable transaction rules, generates transaction responses requesting additional information if additional information is needed to meet the applicable transaction rules, causes the aggregation engine to determine aggregation values if the applicable transaction rules include aggregation thresholds, generates transaction responses, and updates the customer database as a function of the transaction responses. Transaction responses authorizing transactions are generated if the information received in the transaction requests, including any information received in response to additional information requests and any aggregation values, meet the applicable transaction rules. Transaction responses denying transactions are generated if the information received in the transaction requests, including any information received in response to additional information requests and any aggregation values, do not meet the applicable transaction rules. The administrator port communicates rule update information and the transaction processing system updates the rules database as a function of the rule update information. | 04-23-2009 |
20110282790 | GLOBAL COMPLIANCE PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR A MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM - An improved money transfer system includes a rules database, a customer database, and a transaction processing system. The rules database includes information representative of transaction rules, at least some of which include an aggregation threshold. The customer database includes information representative of customers' transaction histories. The transaction processing system is connected to the rules database and customer database and includes point of entry ports, a customer identifier, a rules coordinator, an aggregation engine, and a transaction rules service. The point of entry ports receive transaction requests from points of entry and provide transaction responses to the points of entry. Based on information received in transaction requests, the customer identifier identifies customers and the rules coordinator determines applicable transaction rules. The aggregation engine determines aggregation values as a function of customers' transaction histories. The transaction rules service determines whether information received in the transaction requests meets the applicable transaction rules and causes the aggregation engine to determine aggregation values if the applicable transaction rules include aggregation thresholds. The transaction rules service generates transaction responses based upon the information received in the transaction requests along with any information received in response to any requests for additional information and any aggregation values, and updates the customer database as a function of the transaction. | 11-17-2011 |
20130325720 | GLOBAL COMPLIANCE PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR A MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM - An improved money transfer system. A rules database includes transaction rules that include an aggregation threshold. A customer database includes customers' transaction histories. A processing system receives transaction requests from points of entry and provides transaction responses. Based on information received in transaction requests, the processing system identifies customers and determines applicable transaction rules. An aggregation engine determines aggregation values as a function of customers' transaction histories. A transaction rules service determines whether information received in the transaction requests meets the applicable transaction rules and causes the aggregation engine to determine aggregation values if the applicable transaction rules include aggregation thresholds. Transaction responses are generated by the processing system in response to any aggregation values and other information. | 12-05-2013 |