ROLLED BASEBALL BAT

摘要

An improved laminated bat is presented using a wood inner core that maintains a constant “feel” to the bat when a ball is struck. The use of a wood inner core further ensure consent thermal expansion and bending as the bat is used to impact a ball. Progressively narrower veneer sheets of wood are heated to bond thermoset glue on the inner core to approximate the finished contour of the bat. Veneer layers are also pressed onto the bat thereby providing a completely bonded bat with any air bubbles removed when the last layer of veneer is rolled onto the bat. This reduces the amount of post processing of the bat and results in a nearly finished shape when the veneer is applied. The overlapping wood grain increases the strength of the bat and eliminated inconsistencies with hitting a ball at a particular side of the bat.

主权项

1. A method for making a rolled baseball bat comprising:
starting with an inner wooden dowel that provides a constant structural member; applying a plurality of veneer sheets that are applied initially to said inner wooden dowel and then to said inner wooden dowel with previously applied veneer sheet or plurality of veneer sheets wherein each of said plurality of veneer sheets includes two rotations around said inner wooden dowel or said previously applied veneer sheet; said plurality of veneer sheets having a skived ends; a grain direction of each successive plurality of veneer sheet runs in a perpendicular direction; odd numbered veneer sheets further include an interior flex joint, wherein said interior flex joint leads away from a barrel of said rolled baseball bat; applying a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) and applying force to an elongated bar against said inner wooden dowel and to said inner wooden dowel and said plurality of veneer sheets; rolling said veneer sheets and said at least one layer of bonding material onto said inner wooden dowel while applying pressure from said elongated bar to bond said plurality of veneer sheets to said inner wooden dowel and any previously bonded veneer sheets while expelling air and bubbles from said plurality of veneer sheets; subjecting said bat to a pressure tank; finish sanding said bat; pocketing a hole for a knob in said inner wooden dowel; bonding said knob to said pocket, and applying an Epoxy or Polyurethane finish.