Claims for Patent: 7,794,340

Summary for Patent: 7,794,340

Title:	Adjustable length training bat
Abstract:	A training bat includes an elongated handle, an elongated barrel and a locking mechanism. The handle and the barrel are coupled together in a longitudinally adjustable manner such that an overall length of the training bat as defined by the handle and the barrel is adjustable. The barrel including a hitting portion configured to contact a ball during use. The locking mechanism is configured to lock the handle in a longitudinal position relative to the barrel by twisting at least one of the handle and the barrel relative to the other of the handle and the barrel in a first direction and to unlock the handle by twisting the at least one of the handle and the barrel relative to the other of the handle and the barrel in a second direction opposite the first direction.
Inventor(s):	Mauer; Donald (St. Paul, MN), Knutson; Gregory (St. Paul, MN), Mauer; James (Minnetonka, MN)
Assignee:	Quickswing, Inc. (St. Paul, MN)
Application Number:	11/626,291
Patent Claims:	1. A training bat comprising: an elongated handle; an elongated barrel, the handle and the barrel being coupled together in a longitudinally adjustable manner such that an overall length of the training bat defined by the handle and the barrel is adjustable, the barrel including a hitting portion configured to contact a ball during use; and a locking mechanism configured to lock the handle in a longitudinal position relative to the barrel by twisting at least one of the handle and the barrel relative to the other of the handle and the barrel in a first direction and to unlock the handle by twisting the at least one of the handle and the barrel relative to the other of the handle and the barrel in a second direction opposite the first direction, the locking mechanism comprising a spindle and a cuff configured to threadably engage the spindle; wherein the overall length of the training bat defined by the handle and the barrel is adjustable to and configured to be locked at any overall length between 24 and 36 inches corresponding to a readily available length of a game bat. 2. The training bat of claim 1, wherein each of the barrel and the handle include an elongated, hollow, and substantially cylindrical member. 3. The training bat of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is coupled to a first end of the handle, the first end of the handle and the locking mechanism being received by and enclosed within the barrel. 4. The training bat of claim 3, wherein the spindle extends from a first end of the handle and defines a tapered and threaded portion. 5. The training bat of claim 3, wherein the handle includes a plurality of demarcations each corresponding to a readily available length of a game bat. 6. The training bat of claim 1, wherein at least one of the barrel and the handle includes a stop limiting longitudinal movement of the barrel relative to the handle. 7. The training bat of claim 1, in combination with a plurality of weighted plugs configured to be selectively coupled with at least one of the barrel and the handle. 8. The training bat of claim 1, wherein the hitting portion is substantially smaller in diameter than a hitting portion of a game bat to facilitate an improvement in hitting accuracy. 9. The training bat of claim 1, wherein the handle includes demarcations indicating longitudinal positions of the barrel relative to the handle that correspond with predetermined overall lengths of the training bat that are similar to readily available lengths of game bats. 10. The training bat of claim 1, wherein the hitting member of the has an outside diameter of less than two inches. 11. The training bat of claim 1, wherein each of the handle and the barrel are formed of steel. 12. A batting aid comprising: means for hitting a ball including means for facilitating an improvement in hitting accuracy; means for increasing grip of a user on the batting aid, the means for increasing grip being positioned substantially opposite and on a separate member than the means for hitting; means for adjusting a longitudinal position of the means for hitting relative to the means for increasing grip; means for twistably locking and unlocking the means for hitting in the longitudinal position relative to the means for increasing grip; means for preventing movement of the means for hitting the ball over the means for increasing grip; and means for adjusting a weight of the batting aid. 13. The batting aid of claim 12, wherein the means for twistably locking is coupled to the means for increasing grip via a shaft; the means for twistably locking including threadable means for increasing a force applied to an internal surface of the means for hitting. 14. A training bat comprising: an elongated handle; an elongated barrel, the handle and the barrel being coupled together in a longitudinally adjustable manner such that an overall length of the training bat defined by the handle and the barrel is adjustable, the barrel including a hitting portion configured to contact a ball during use; and a locking mechanism configured to lock the handle in a longitudinal position relative to the barrel by twisting at least one of the handle and the barrel relative to the other of the handle and the barrel in a first direction and to unlock the handle by twisting the at least one of the handle and the barrel relative to the other of the handle and the barrel in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the locking mechanism is coupled to a first end of the handle, the first end of the handle and the locking mechanism being received by and enclosed within the barrel, wherein the locking mechanism includes a spindle and a cuff, the spindle extending from the first end of the handle and defining a tapered and threaded portion, the cuff being configured to threadably engage the spindle, wherein twisting the at least one of the handle and the barrel relative to the other of the handle and the barrel in the first direction causes the cuff to move on the tapered and threaded portion such that the overall diameter of the cuff is stretched thereby increasing a force the cuff applies to an inside surface of the barrel to lock the handle in a longitudinal position relative to the barrel, and wherein the handle includes a plurality of demarcations each corresponding, to a readily available length of a game bat. 15. The training bat of claim 14, in combination with a plurality of weighted plugs configured to be selectively coupled with at least one of the barrel and the handle. 16. The training bat of claim 14, wherein the hitting portion is substantially smaller in diameter than a hitting portion of a game bat to facilitate an improvement in hitting accuracy. 17. The training bat of claim 14, wherein at least one of the barrel and the handle includes a stop limiting longitudinal movement of the barrel relative to the handle.

Details for Patent 7,794,340

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Emergent Biosolutions Canada Inc.	BAT	botulism antitoxin heptavalent (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) - (equine)	Solution	125462	03/22/2013		2026-01-23