PINE TAR APPLICATOR FOR BASEBALL BATS AND METHOD OF USE

This application is a Non-Provisional Utility Application of currently pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/268,548, filed 17 Dec. 2015.

This invention relates to baseball accessories.

More particularly, the present invention relates to the application and use of pine tar and faux pine tar materials.

In baseball, pine tar is applied to the handles of baseball bats. Because of its texture, pine tar improves a batter's grip on the bat and prevents the bat from slipping out of the batter's hands during hard swings. Major League Baseball still requires players to use wooden bats. Since they can be quite slippery, league rules allow players to add up to 18 inches of pine tar to aid in grip. The better the grip on the bat, the more loosely a player can grip it, allowing for more “pop” and less stinging when contact is made with the ball.

Conventionally, pine tar has been applied to the handle of a bat by use of a pine tar stick or a pine tar rag. In both instances, pine tar is applied to the handle of the bat in the desired location. Often, pine tar is applied to the handle of the bat at the throat, between the grip and the barrel. In this manner, the player can reach down the bat and obtain as much or as little pine tar as desired before returning the hands to the grip area of the handle.

While this method has proved effective, there are drawbacks. Specifically, a build-up of pine tar can occur on the handle of the bat. Additionally, the pine tar on the bat can prove to be messy when the bat is stored after use. Removal of pine tar is very difficult, generally requiring a solvent and much scrubbing.

It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pine tar applicator which is easily coupled to a baseball bat.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pine tar applicator which allows for quick and easy removal of pine tar from a baseball bat.

Briefly, to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the instant invention, a pine tar applicator for use on baseball bats is provided. The pine tar applicator includes a base sheet having a first side and a second side, a pine tar layer coating at least a portion of the first side of the base sheet, a cover sheet overlying and covering the pine tar layer, an adhesive layer overlying at least a portion of the second side of the base sheet, and a protective sheet overlying and covering the adhesive layer.

In a specific aspect the adhesive layer includes a contact adhesive having an adhesive strength sufficient to securely affix the base sheet to a bat under normal use, while having a release point allowing separation of the base sheet from the bat under greater loads resulting from peeling the sheet from the bat. The base sheet incudes opposing longitudinal edges positionable longitudinally along a length of a bat, and opposing transverse edges positionable transverse to a longitudinal axis of the bat. A perforated strip extends between opposing transverse edges. The adhesive layer is omitted from the perforated strip to facilitate removal when the strip is removed along the perforation.

Also provided is a method of using a pine tar applicator with a baseball bat. The method includes the steps of providing a baseball bat including a knob at one end from which extends a handle having a grip portion and a throat portion, a barrel extends from the handle and terminates in an end. Also provided is a pine tar applicator including a base sheet having a first side and a second side, a pine tar layer coating at least a portion of the first side of the base sheet, a cover sheet overlying and covering the pine tar layer, an adhesive layer overlying at least a portion of the second side of the base sheet, and a protective sheet overlying and covering the adhesive layer. The method includes removing the protective sheet from the adhesive layer, wrapping the base sheet around the handle of the baseball bat at the throat with the adhesive contacting the bat, and removing the cover sheet to expose the pine tar layer.

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to FIG. 1 which illustrate a baseball bat generally designated 10. Baseball bat 10 is a conventional bat 10 including a knob 12 at one end from which extends a handle 14 having a grip portion 15 and a throat portion 17, a barrel 18 extending from handle 14 and terminating in an end 19. A pine tar applicator generally designated 20 is coupled to and carried by bat 10 intermediate grip portion 15 and barrel 18 generally at throat portion 17. While pine tar is used primarily on wooden bats, it will be understood that other bats are included, including aluminum bats, composite bats and the like.

With additional reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, pine tar applicator 20 includes a base sheet 22 which is a flexible sheet material such as paper, plastic, woven fabric and the like, having opposing sides 23 and 24. Side 23 carries a pine tar layer 25 coating at least a portion thereof. A cover sheet 27 covers layer 25 prior to application. It will be understood, that pine tar includes the traditional pine tar material conventionally used in baseball as well as faux pine tar, pine tar substitutes and other sticky materials applied to a baseball bat grip to enhance a player's grip. Opposing side 24 of base sheet 22 carries an adhesive layer 29. Adhesive layer 29 preferably includes a contact adhesive which will only partially cure. This is a releasable adhesive that will release upon an applied pressure. In other words, adhesive later 29 employs an adhesive which does not fully cure, remaining “tacky” when applied to handle 14 of bat 10. The adhesive strength and the release point of the adhesive being important to allow removal of base sheet 22 when desired while preventing slipping of base sheet 22 when a batter grasps it. The adhesive strength is sufficient to securely affix base sheet 22 to bat 10 under normal use, while having a release point allowing separation of base sheet 22 from bat 10 under greater loads resulting from peeling sheet 22 from bat 10. “Normal use” means the batter momentarily gripping applicator 20 to obtain pine tar. Adhesive layer 29 is covered by a protective sheet 30 before application to bat 10. Adhesive layer 29 can entirely cover base sheet 22 or only portions, such as the edges, strips along the length or the like.

In operation, protective sheet 22 is removed from adhesive layer 29. Base sheet 22 incudes opposing longitudinal edges 42 and 44 positioned longitudinally along the length of bat 10, and opposing transverse edges 46 and 48 positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis of bat 10. Base sheet 22 is wrapped around bat 10, preferably at throat 17, with adhesive layer 29 contacting the surface of bat 10. At this point, cover sheet 27 is removed from pine tar layer 25, exposing it for use. Base sheet 22 can have various dimensions, but should have a length of at least a hand along longitudinal edges 42 and 44. The length of edges 46 and 48 should be sufficient to encircle handle 14 of bat 10. While edges 42 and 44 can be made shorter, the width of a hand makes it more functional. Thus, edges 42 and 44 are preferably 2-6 inches, while the length of edges 46 and 48 are preferably 4-6 inches.

Applicator 20 can be removed simply by peeling it from bat 10, but in a preferred embodiment, included in base sheet 22 is a perforated strip 50 extending between edge 46 and edge 48, and having a tab 52. Adhesive layer 29 can be omitted from this strip to facilitate removal if desired. When this strip is removed along the perforation, applicator 20 can be easily peeled from bat 10.

Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof, which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is: