TOMONIDANUSO10029389B1 OLDIN QUINN (12 ) United States Patent ( 10 ) Patent No. : US 10 , 029 ,389 B1 Baker (45 ) Date of Patent: Jul. 24 , 2018 ( 54) CONCENTRIC GROWTH RING BASEBALL ( 56 ) References Cited BAT U . S . PATENT DOCUMENTS (71 ) Applicant: Teddy Howard Baker, Burnesville , NC 2015 /0144226 A1 * 5/ 2015 Suthar ...... B27K 1 /00 144 / 356 (US ) 2015/ 0265893 A1* 9 /2015 Ledoux, Jr...... B27D 1/ 086 144 / 355 (72 ) Inventor: Teddy Howard Baker, Burnesville , NC (US ) OTHER PUBLICATIONS John Swartzwelder, The Simpsons S03E17 , Homer at the Bat , Feb . ( * ) Notice : Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 20 , 1992 , Fox network , 2 : 20 - 3 :01 . * patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U .S .C . 154 (b ) by 0 days . * cited by examiner Primary Examiner — Matthew G Katcoff (21 ) Appl. No. : 15 /530 , 348 (57 ) ABSTRACT A baseball bat fabricated from a limb of a tree , procured without harvesting any of the tree 's trunk . Because of this (22 ) Filed : Dec . 30 , 2016 technique , the process of the present invention is much less wasteful. Many bats can be fabricated from a single tree , without felling the tree itself . The process of fabrication of (51 ) Int. Cl. the present invention is drawn to working with the properties B27M 3 /22 ( 2006 . 01 ) of the harvested tree limb. In this manner, a billet is A63B 59 /52 ( 2015 .01 ) fabricated on a lathe with its center placed concentric with the center of the tree limb , thusly concentric with the limb ' s (52 ) U .S . CI. growth rings. By doing so , the growth rings within the limb CPC ...... B27M 3 /22 ( 2013 .01 ) ; A63B 59 /52 will not be bisected during fabrication of the billet. When the (2015 .10 ) billet is further turned on a lathe to shape the billet into a (58 ) Field of Classification Search baseball bat, the growth rings within the limb will be CPC ...... B27M 3 / 22 , A63B 59 / 50 ; A63B 59/ 52 ; minimally bisected , thus increasing the strength of the A63B 59 /80 ; B27D 1 /086 baseball bat of the present invention , as compared to the USPC ...... 473/ 564 baseball bats of the prior art . See application file for complete search history. 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets

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Identify a desired tree

Procure a tree limb absent any tree trunk

Form a cylindrical billet concentric with tree limb ' s growth rings

Determine baseball bat' s intended use

S5a Baseball game bat Baseball practice bat S5b

Place denser portion of billet Place denser portion of billet Sba at the baseball bat handle end at the baseball bat barrel end S66 of lathe of lathe

Form a baseball bat concentric with growth rings S7

FIG . 10 US 10 ,029 , 389 B1 CONCENTRIC GROWTH RING BASEBALL mance as well as tuned for more productive training . In this BAT manner a baseball bat with less density and weight at its barrel will swing faster for higher performance . Further, a TECHNICAL FIELD baseball bat with greater density and weight at its barrel will 5 swing with greater resistance for more productive training . The present invention relates to a baseball bat, and more In accordance with these and other objects , which will particularly a baseball bat fabricated concentrically with the become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now growth rings of a tree limb . be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. BACKGROUND 10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Traditional baseball bats are made of a variety of trees such as ash trees , maple trees, red oak trees , hickory trees, FIG . 1 is a cross section of a baseball bat formed by the poplar trees , or nearly any variety of tree . Ash and maple method of the present invention . trees are the most popular variety of trees used to make 15 FIG . 2 is a perspective view of a baseball bat formed by baseball bats . These trees must reach a trunk diameter of the method of the present invention . greater than 12 inches. Nearly fifty years of growth is FIG . 3 is a cross section of a tree showing an orientation required for an ash tree to reach a minimum size required for of a baseball bat that would be formed by the method of the harvesting to manufacture baseball bats . These trees are then present invention . cut, limbed , split , and placed in a lathe . The lathe turns and 20 FIG . 4 is a perspective view of a knob of a baseball bat shaves the splits of wood into cylinders known as billets . formed by the method of the present invention . These billets are placed into a lathe that shapes the billets FIG . 5 is a perspective view of a baseball game bat formed into a baseball bat complete with a knob , handle , and barrel. by the method of the present invention . This process is wasteful as nearly half the ash tree is FIG . 6 is a perspective view of a tree showing an unacceptable for making baseball bats . The limbs of the tree 25 orientation of a portion of limb to be harvested to form a are completely wasted . Further , the natural seams of the ash baseball bat by the method of the present invention . wood , present between growth rings , weaken the bat. These FIG . 7 is a cross section of a tree showing an orientation seams are not taken into consideration when producing of a baseball game bat that would be formed by the method billets or bats . Even further, the billets and eventual baseball of the present invention . bats are made of wood of consistent density without the 30 FIG . 8 is a perspective view of a baseball practice bat possibility of tuning a varying density along the length of the formed by the method of the present invention . bat . FIG . 9 is a cross section of a tree showing an orientation The present invention addresses these and other problems of a baseball practice bat that would be formed by the of traditional methods of manufacturing baseball bats . method of the present invention . 35 FIG . 10 is a depiction of the method of the present SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION invention . The baseball bat of the present invention is fabricated in DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ways to solve the drawbacks of the prior art . Initially , the present invention is fabricated from a limb of 40 FIG . 1 shows is a cross section of a baseball bat formed a tree , procured without harvesting any of the tree ' s trunk . by the method of the present invention . The baseball bat of Because of this technique , the process of the present inven - FIG . 1 comprises a handle ( 2 ) and a barrel ( 3 ) . The handle tion is much less wasteful. Many bats can be fabricated from ( 2 ) is from at the proximal end ( 4 ) of the baseball bat ( 1 ) . a single tree , without felling the tree itself . The barrel is formed at a distal end (5 ) of the baseball bat ( 1 ) . The process of fabrication of the present invention is 45 The center ( 10 ) of the baseball bat ( 1 ) runs the length of the drawn to working with the properties of the harvested tree baseball bat ( 1 ) from the proximal end ( 4 ) to the distal end limb . In this manner, a billet is fabricated on a lathe with its ( 5 ) . center placed concentric with the center of the tree limb , FIG . 2 shows a perspective view of a baseball bat ( 1 ) thusly concentric with the limb ' s growth rings . By doing so , formed by the method of the present invention . FIG . 4 is a the growth rings within the limb will not be bisected during 50 view of just the knob of the baseball bat ( 1 ) . As can be seen fabrication of the billet. When the billet is further turned on in FIGS . 1 , 2 . and 4 , the baseball bat is formed concentric a lathe to shape the billet into a baseball bat , the growth rings with the concentric growth rings of the tree limb . within the limb will be minimally bisected , thus increasing FIG . 3 shows a cross section of a tree ( 100 ) showing an the strength of the baseball bat of the present invention , as orientation of a baseball bat ( 1 ) that would be formed by the compared to the baseball bats of the prior art . 55 method of the present invention . The tree ( 100 ) includes a The baseball bats of the prior art are fabricated of har - trunk ( 101) and a limb ( 102 ) . The limb ( 102 ) has a center vested wood with a consistent density . By procuring a tree ' s growth ring (110 ) running along its length at a center of the limb that does not contain any of the tree ' s trunk , the billets limb , as is shown in FIG . 3 . and the eventual bats will have a varying density . Being that FIG . 5 is a perspective view of a baseball game bat formed the density of the limb is greater nearer the tree ' s trunk , the 60 by the method of the present invention . FIG . 8 is a perspec center of gravity of the billet and the eventual baseball bat tive view of a baseball practice bat formed by the method of will be shifted from the center of the billet towards the end the present invention . The arrows in FIGS . 5 and 8 are of the billet that was fabricated from the portion of the limb representations of the densities of the baseball bats . Each that was situated closer to the tree ' s trunk . arrow extends a varying length of the baseball bat to Taking into consideration this varying density of the limb , 65 delineate sections that would have an equivalent weight if billet, and eventual bat , the process of the present invention these sections were cylinders with identical diameters , as is ideally fabricates baseball bats tuned for greater perfor - the case with billets . Therefore , longer arrows and sections US 10 ,029 , 389 B1 are required in areas of the limbs, billets , and baseball bats as is shown in FIG . 8 . Step 7 ( S7 ) requires forming a in less dense areas to each the weight represented by shorter baseball bat concentric with the growth rings, as is shown in arrows in more dense areas. Because of this density dispar - FIGS . 1 , 2 , and 4 . ity , the smaller arrows nearer the handle and the knob of the While preferred embodiments of the present invention baseball bat will have greater weight in identically sized 5 have been described above , it is understood that variations sections in FIG . 5 . Further, the longer arrows nearer the and modification will be apparent to those skilled in the art , handle and knob of the baseball bat will a lesser weight in without departing from the scope and spirit of the present identically sized sections in FIG . 8 . These sections con invention . The scope of the present invention , therefore, is to stantly vary based on the orientation of the baseball bat with be determined solely by the following claims. respect to how the limbs, billets , and baseball bats are harvested from the tree. As is shown in FIG . 7 , if the limbs, What is claimed : billets , and baseball bats are harvested from the tree with the 1 . A method of forming a baseball game bat from a tree knob and handle closer to the trunk , then a baseball gamebat limb , the method comprising: will be produced with a center of gravity (CG ; as indicated 15 a first step of procuring a tree limb from a tree , the tree by the center line in FIG . 5 ) closer to the knob and handle , limb having concentric growth rings ; as is shown in FIG . 5 . As is shown in FIG . 9 , if the limbs, a second step of forming the limb into a cylindrical billet billets , and baseball bats are harvested from the tree with the having a diameter and a central longitudinal axis that is barrel closer to the trunk , then a baseball practice bat will be perpendicular to the diameter , produced with a center of gravity ( CG ; as indicated by the 20 wherein the growth rings are concentrically formed center line in FIG . 8 ) closer to the distal end of the baseball with respect to the diameter of the cylindrical billet bat, as is shown in FIG . 8 . and the growth rings extend along said central lon FIG . 6 is a perspective view of a tree (100 ) showing an gitudinal axis of the cylindrical billet ; orientation of a portion ( 1000 ) of a limb ( 102 ) to be a third step of determining a more dense portion and a less harvested to form a baseball bat by themethod of the present 25 dense portion of the cylindrical billet: invention . As is depicted in FIG . 6 , the portion ( 1000 ) to be harvested from the limb ( 102 ) does not include any of the a fourth step of forming the cylindrical billet into the tree ' s ( 100 ) trunk (101 ) . In this manner , the entire tree ( 100 ) baseball game bat , does not need to be harvested . This approach is much less wherein the forming step includes forming one portion wasteful and much more environmentally friendly than the 30 of the cylindrical billet into a barrel and an adjacent traditional approach of felling an entire tree in order to make portion of the cylindrical billet into a handle , the baseball bats . handle has a smaller diameter than the barrel, FIG . 10 is a depiction of the method of the present wherein the handle is formed from the more dense invention . Step 1 (S1 ) requires identifying a desired tree portion of the cylindrical billet and the barrel is ( 100 ) . In most cases an ash tree of nearly 50 years in age is 35 formed from the less dense portion of the cylindrical required to produce acceptable baseball bats . But trees of billet, varying types and ages are contemplated in the present wherein the baseball game bat has a handle end which invention . Step 2 (S2 ) require procuring a tree limb absent is closer to the handle , a barrel end which is closer any tree trunk . By harvesting only the tree limb ( 102 ) and to the barrel, a diameter and a central longitudinal leaving the tree trunk ( 101 ) ( see: FIG . 6 ) , the tree ( 100 ) will 40 axis perpendicular to the diameter running from the not need to be sacrificed to produce baseball bats of the handle end to the barrel end , present invention . Step 3 ( S3 ) requires forming a cylindrical wherein , after the baseball game bat is formed , the billet concentric with the tree limb ' s growth rings. As can be center of gravity of the baseball game bat is closer to seen in FIGS . 1 - 4 , the growth rings within the limb will not the handle end than to the barrel end , and the growth be bisected during fabrication of the billet , thus increasing 45 rings are concentrically formed with respect to the the strength of the baseball bat of the present invention , as diameter of the baseball game bat and the growth compared to the baseball bats of the prior art . Step 4 (S4 ) rings extend along the central longitudinal axis of the requires a determination of the intended use of the baseball baseball game bat. bat . As is shown in FIGS . 5 and 7 - 9 , the orientation of the 2 . A method of forming a baseball practice bat from a tree limb , billet , and baseball bat within the lathe will be opposite 50 limb, the method comprising : for the baseball game bat shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 and for the a first step of procuring a tree limb from a tree , the tree baseball practice bat shown in FIGS . 8 and 9 . Steps 5a and limb having concentric growth rings ; 6a (S5a and S6a ) require for production of a baseball game a second step of forming the tree limb into a cylindrical bat that the billet be placed into a lathe with the denser billet having a diameter and a central longitudinal axis portion of the billet at the baseball bat handle end of the 55 that is perpendicular to the diameter , lathe . Steps 5b and 6b (S5b and S6b ) require for production wherein the growth rings are concentrically formed of a baseball practice bat that the billet be placed into a lathe with respect to the diameter of the cylindrical billet with the denser portion of the billet at the baseball bat barrel and the growth rings extend along said central lon end of the lathe . By this technique and as is shown in FIG . gitudinal axis of the cylindrical billet ; 7 , if the limbs , billets , and baseball bats are harvested from 60 a third step of determining a more dense portion and a less the tree with the knob and handle closer to the trunk , then a dense portion of the cylindrical billet ; baseball game bat will be produced with a center of gravity a foufourth step of forming the cylindrical billet into the (CG ) closer to the knob and handle , as is shown in FIG . 5 . baseball practice bat, As is shown in FIG . 9 , if the limbs , billets , and baseball bats wherein the forming step includes forming one portion are harvested from the tree with the barrel closer to the trunk , 65 of the cylindrical billet into a handle and an adjacent then a baseball practice bat will be produced with a center portion of the cylindrical billet into a barrel, the of gravity (CG ) closer to the distal end of the baseball bat , handle has a smaller diameter than the barrel, US 10 , 029 ,389 B1 wherein the handle is formed from the less dense portion of the cylindrical billet and the barrel is formed from the more dense portion of the cylindri cal billet , wherein the baseball practice bat has a handle end 5 which is closer to the handle , a barrel end which is closer to the barrel, a diameter and a central longi tudinal axis perpendicular to the diameter running from the handle end to the barrel end , wherein , after the baseball practice bat is formed , the 10 center of gravity of the baseball game bat is closer to the barrel end than to the handle end and the growth rings are concentrically formed with respect to the diameter of the baseball practice bat and the growth rings extend along the central longitudinal axis of the 15 baseball practice bat. * * * * *