Stoves and furnaces – Heaters – Chemical
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-06-19
Yeung, James C. (Department: 3743)
Stoves and furnaces
Heaters
Chemical
C126S229000, C126S263030, C219S759000, C206S315100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247469
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to warmers for sporting devices for preventing damage thereto when used under cool ambient conditions and for enhancing the performance thereof, and more particularly, to a warmer for a sporting element used for striking another element, which warmer is conformable in intimate contact with the sporting element and includes a microwave heatable element or substance for the warming function.
BACKGROUND ART
In recent years, technological developments in the area of sporting elements used for striking other elements, such as bats used for striking a ball or the like, have resulted in the use of advanced metallic alloys such as aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, and the like, in the construction of the sporting elements. Typically the sporting element includes a barrel or head having a thin sidewall of the metal alloy enclosing a space containing air alone, air contained in a bladder of elastomeric material, or a foamed polymeric material. Such alloys include, but are not limited to, CU-31 alloy and C405 alloy, now commonly used in bats for baseball and softball.
One problem discovered with sporting elements made with such new materials, including the above referenced alloys, is that the material turns brittle in colder weather, making it more likely for a dent or crack to be formed in the wall of the sporting element upon violent or forceful contact with another element, such as a ball. For this reason, many manufacturers do not recommend using bats made from such alloys if the temperature is below 65° F. Many such bats lack a warranty, such that a player assumes all risks of using such bat under ambient temperature condition of below 65° F.
Reference Blair U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,705 issued Nov. 17, 1997 which discloses an aluminum baseball or softball bat warmer which attempts to address the aforementioned problem. Also reference Whitaker, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,528 issued Nov. 5, 1991 which disclosed a heated golf bag apparatus for warming golf clubs and related elements. Reference further Hendricks U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,362 issued Oct. 8, 1985 which discloses a golf ball heater. However, none of the known devices provide a simple, convenient, easy to use and compact warmer for sporting elements. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a warmer for a sporting element used for striking another element is disclosed, the sporting element to be warmed including a sidewall having a predetermined shape enclosing a space, the warmer including an inner layer of thermally conductive material defining a cavity having a shape adapted for receiving at least a portion of the sporting element to be warmed with the inner layer of the warmer in intimate relation therewith; an outer layer of thermal insulating material at least substantially containing the inner layer; and an intermediate layer comprising at least one microwave heatable element or substance disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer, the microwave heatable element or substance, when heated, transferring heat to the sporting element through the inner layer.
According to a preferred embodiment, the present warmer is adapted for warming a bat for baseball or softball, the bat having an elongate neck and a head or barrel wider than the neck, the inner layer of the warmer defining a cavity adapted for receiving the head or barrel and a desired portion of the neck of the bat with the inner layer in generally conforming relation therewith, and the at least one microwave heatable element or substance being disposed between the inner and outer layers for warming the bat.
According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the present warmer is adapted for warming a golf club, the golf club having an elongate shaft and a head wider than the shaft, the inner layer of the warmer forming a cavity adapted for receiving the club head with the inner layer in generally conforming, intimate relation therewith, and the at least one microwave heatable element or substance being disposed between the inner and outer layers for warming the club head.
The microwave heatable element or substance can be permanently disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer, the entire warmer being insertable into a microwave oven to heat the microwave heatable element or substance. Alternatively, the microwave heatable element or substance can be contained in a removable packet so as to be heatable while still in the warmer, or separately therefrom.
According to another preferred aspect of the invention, a heatable element can be removably or permanently located in a hollow portion or cavity of the sporting element, such as the barrel of a bat. The heatable element can be heated by the warmer through the sidewall of the sporting element while in place within the hollow portion or cavity, or removed and placed in the warmer, either alone or with the sporting element, then placed back into the hollow portion or cavity of the sporting element prior to use, for maintaining the sporting element warm for a long time. According to another aspect of the invention, the heatable element itself can be microwaveable, so as to be heated in a microwave oven, then placed in the sporting element.
It is an important object of the present invention to warm or heat the sporting element by transfer of heat from the heated element or substance to enhance performance of the sporting element and to prevent damage to the sporting element in use under ambient temperatures of about 65° F. and below, and in this regard, a wide variety of commercially available heatable elements and substances can be used with satisfactory results. For instance, the microwave heatable element or substance can include, but is not limited to, a wide variety of commercially available heatable gel packs, or a mixture of a liquid phase material including a microwave active fluid and a solid phase material including phase-change particles suspended in the liquid phase. As still another alternative, the microwave heatable element or substances can include a mixture of a first powder including calcium silicate impregnated with a microwave sensitive material, and a second powder comprising calcium silicate impregnated with a phase change material.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2733710 (1956-02-01), Zibell
patent: 4451383 (1984-05-01), Arrhenius
patent: 4545362 (1985-10-01), Hendricks
patent: 4793532 (1988-12-01), Cash
patent: 4880953 (1989-11-01), Manker
patent: 5062528 (1991-11-01), Whitaker, Jr.
patent: 5211949 (1993-05-01), Salyer
patent: 5424519 (1995-06-01), Salee
patent: 5513629 (1996-05-01), Johnson
patent: 5588529 (1996-12-01), Speck
patent: 5630961 (1997-05-01), Salee
patent: 5660751 (1997-08-01), O'Rorke et al.
patent: 5687705 (1997-11-01), Blair
patent: 5695067 (1997-12-01), Harvey
patent: 5786574 (1998-07-01), Garnett
patent: 5804266 (1998-09-01), Salyer
Haverstock, Garrett & Roberts LLP
Yeung James C.
LandOfFree
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