摘要 |
A ball bat includes an aluminum, or other metal, tubular sleeve co-molded or post-mold bonded onto a predominantly cylindrical composite, or other non-metal, ball bat handle. An aluminum, or other metal, knob is attached to the metal tubular sleeve, via welding or another suitable attachment method. A barrel end closure, e.g. a barrel cap, may be attached to the end of the bat barrel in a similar manner. In such a case, a metal insert is co-molded, or post-mold bonded, onto the barrel end of the bat. A metal barrel cap is then welded to the metal insert to close the end of the ball bat. Alternatively, a cap retention device may be co-molded, or post-mold bonded, onto the barrel end of the bat. A plastic, or other suitable material, cap is then attached to the cap retention device.
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