Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with container – enclosure – or support for material...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-07
2001-04-24
Pelham, Joseph (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with container, enclosure, or support for material...
C206S315100, C312S236000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06222159
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for warming baseball or softball bats above ambient temperature.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Since 1839 when baseball was invented and 1887 when softball was invented, it has always been known that it is difficult to bat in cold weather. This is true, in general, because there is a reduction in the elasticity of the bat and ball as temperatures decrease. In addition, the ball does not travel as far in dense cold air.
Aluminum bats were introduced for amateur baseball play in 1970 to reduce operating costs caused by wooden bat breakage. Operating costs have been reduced with aluminum bat usage in all playing conditions except one. If the game is played in temperatures below 60° F., aluminum bats have a tendency to dent and crack. Since high-end, thin-walled aluminum bats retail for more than $250 each, the cost of supporting a team can increase significantly in cold weather.
During the past five years, there has been an effort to improve aluminum bat performance in cold weather and further reduce operating costs. Most of the innovations have attempted to solve the problem by providing a blanket or sleeve to cover individual bats prior to being placed in service by the batter.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,574 to Garnett discloses a cylindrical insulated sleeve that uses a battery to supply DC current to a heating wire to warm the hitting portion of a baseball bat. U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,705 to Blair discloses an aluminum baseball or softball bat warmer that uses a convective heat source below a bat chamber separated from an outer container by an air space to warm a single bat.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a means to heat multiple bats in a single container for amateur baseball and softball team play.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a means of warming multiple baseball or softball bats in a single device to improve bat performance while reducing the likelihood of bat damage. Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
In accordance with the invention, a warmer for baseball or softball bats has an insulated, elongated, exterior container with a closed bottom and a top with a series of circular holes. A heat chamber is formed at the bottom of the exterior container by a retainer that connects open-ended, vertical tubes through the holes in the top. Bats placed inside these tubes extend beyond the bottom of the tubes and are retained by a height adjusting retaining grate that is positioned according to the level of league play. After the bats are in position, caps are placed on the top end of the tubes to seal the bats in place. A convective heat source is positioned in the heat chamber. In use, warmed air from the convective source rises through the retaining grate warming the bat barrels in the heat chamber as well as the bat handles positioned in the tubes.
The invention summarized above comprises the construction hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated by the subjoined claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3707279 (1972-12-01), Kaiser
patent: 3800863 (1974-04-01), Bauman, Jr.
patent: 4418930 (1983-12-01), Ryan, Jr.
patent: 5062528 (1991-11-01), Whitaker, Jr.
patent: 5341927 (1994-08-01), Coyner
patent: 5687705 (1997-11-01), Blair
patent: 5786574 (1998-07-01), Garnett
patent: 5834738 (1998-11-01), Wilson
patent: 5975293 (1999-11-01), Fowler
Pelham Joseph
Rankin, Hill Porter & Clark LLP
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