WO2023140744A1

WO2023140744A1 - Cricket bat and auxiliary handle for a cricket bat

Info

Publication number: WO2023140744A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2023/050001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen Francis LEARY
Original assignee: Leary Stephen Francis
Priority date: 2022-01-18
Filing date: 2023-01-18
Publication date: 2023-07-27
Also published as: AU2023208827A1; GB2631175A

Abstract

A cricket bat, and/or a cricket bat, includes a cross-bat grip for a batter's bottom hand. The cross-bat grip extends laterally generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bat and allows the batter to maintain a more natural palm-up grip on the bat with the bottom hand during a straight-bat shot. In some examples the cross-bat grip extends at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the bat. The bat preferably maintains the conventional handle extending along the longitudinal axis of the bat to allow for a conventional top hand grip of the bat. In some examples a second cross-bat grip is provided for the upper hand. In some examples the bottom hand cross-bat grip is facilitated as an auxiliary handle engageable with the bat and which may be removed when a batter has become more skilled at other elements of a straight-bat shot such as top hand grip, foot movement, head position etcetera.

Description

Cricket Bat and Auxiliary Handle for a Cricket Bat

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cricket bats and in particular to cricket bat handles. The invention also relates to an auxiliary handle for a cricket bat.

Background to the invention

Cricket involves a bowler delivering a cricket ball from one end of a pitch to a batter (batsman) standing at the other end of the pitch. The batter's role is to protect his stumps and/or to play run scoring shots (or hits) on the delivered balls. Batting shots may be broadly divided into straight (or vertical) bat shots and cross (or horizontal) bat shots.

An important part in successful batting is to have correct hand placement both before and during the playing of a shot. The top hand (left hand for a right-handed batter and right hand for a left-handed batter) is used to firmly grip the bat handle - palm-down near its top, or distal, end. The top hand must remain fixed and stationary on the handle throughout a shot. The bottom, or opposite, hand grips the bat - palm-up - below the top hand towards the proximal end of the handle. The bat handle is gripped less firmly with the bottom hand which must often pivot and move slightly when a batting shot is played.

One of the most important shots, or groups of shorts, to learn early in cricket are the defensive and straight bat shots. Straight bat shots are considered the safest while batting as the entire blade of the bat is opened to the line of the ball and so the batter has a better chance of connecting with the ball. Straight bat shots require the bottom hand to pivot and move slightly down the handle to grip the handle between the thumb and index finger while playing the short. It is a common mistake for new or novice batters to over grip the handle with the bottom hand in the manner of a golf club or baseball bat while attempting a straight bat shot.

Summary of the invention

It is a first object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary handle for a cricket bat that ameliorates the aforementioned issue with bottom hand grip for new or novice batters. It is a second object of the present invention to provide a cricket bat which ameliorates the aforementioned issue with bottom hand grip for new or novice batters.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide a cricket training aid to assist in training a batting technique to new or novice batters.

It is a forth object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary handle for a bat, or a cricket bat, which provides the public with a useful.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an auxiliary handle for a cricket bat, and/or a cricket bat, which includes a cross-bat grip for a batter's bottom hand. The cross-bat grip extends laterally generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bat and allows the batter to maintain a more natural palm-up grip on the bat with the bottom hand during a straight-bat shot. In some examples the cross-bat grip extends at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the bat. The bat preferably maintains the conventional handle extending along the longitudinal axis of the bat to allow for a conventional top hand grip of the bat. In some examples a second cross-bat grip is provided for the upper hand. In some examples the bottom hand cross-bat grip is facilitated as an auxiliary handle engageable with the bat and which may be removed when a batter has become more skilled at other elements of a straight-bat shot such as top hand grip, foot movement, head position etcetera.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an auxiliary handle for a cricket bat having a body with a toe at one end, a shoulder at the other end, a striking face on a first side of the body, a rear face on a second opposing side of the body, a pair of edges extending from the toe to the shoulder along lateral sides of the body, a longitudinal axis parallel with the edges, and a handle extending from the shoulder along the longitudinal axis of the body; the auxiliary handle including: an attachment portion engageable with a cricket bat at a proximal end of the handle, or the rear face of the bat, and a generally cylindrical grip portion coupled with the attachment portion such that when the attachment portion is engaged with a cricket bat the grip portion extends in a direction generally across the body at an acute angle of between 60 and 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis.

In some examples the attachment portion includes a pair of laterally opposed flanges, the grip portion extending between distal ends of the opposed flanges. In some examples the laterally opposed flanges are, in use, turned away from the striking face for positioning the grip portion rearward of a plane of the rear face.

In some examples the auxiliary handle further includes a clamp portion adapted to engage with the striking face side of the bat to secure the attachment portion with the opposing rear side of the bat.

In some examples the attachment portion includes an engagement face having a profile adapted to partially engage with the rear face of the bat.

In some examples the engagement face profile is adapted to simultaneously engage with the proximal end of the handle.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided cricket bat in combination with auxiliary handle as herein defined.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided cricket bat including: a body with a toe at one end, a shoulder at the other end, a striking face on a first side of the body and a rear face on a second opposing side of the body, a pair of edges extending from the toe to the shoulder along lateral sides of the body, a longitudinal axis parallel with the edges, a first handle for accommodating a top hand of a batter, and a second handle for accommodating a bottom hand of a batter, wherein the second handle is positioned proximate the shoulder end of the body, and the second handle includes a cylindrical grip extending in a direction generally across the body at an acute angle of between 60 and 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis.

In some examples the first handle includes a cylindrical grip extending parallel with the first axis.

In some examples the first handle includes a cylindrical grip extending in a direction generally across the body at an acute angle of between 60 and 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis. In some examples the bat further includes a pair of arms extending parallel with the longitudinal axis from a respective edge of the body, the first handle supported between distal ends of the arms, and the second handle supported between proximal ends of the arms.

Yet further aspects of the invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following description and viewing the attached drawings, which are given by way of example only to illustrate the invention.

Examples of some aspects of the invention are illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Brief description of the drawings

One or more examples of the invention will be described below by way of example only, and without intending to be limiting, with reference to the following drawings, in which: figure 1 is a schematic illustration of front and side views of a cricket bat, figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a forward straight-bat defensive cricket shot, figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a straight-bat cricket shot, figure 4 is a schematic illustration of rear and side views of a cricket bat in combination with an auxiliary handle according to the invention, figure 5 is a second schematic illustration of a cricket bat and the auxiliary handle, figure 6 is a third schematic illustration of a cricket bat the auxiliary handle, figure 7 is a schematic illustration of an example cricket bat according to the invention, figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a cricket bat in combination with another example of an auxiliary handle according to the invention, figure 9 is a schematic illustration of a cricket bat in combination with yet another example of an auxiliary handle according to the invention, figure 10 is a schematic illustration of a cricket bat in combination with the auxiliary handle illustrated in figure 9, and figure 11 illustrates a typical palm-up grip of the auxiliary handle.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 illustrates front and side views of a cricket bat 10. The bat includes a body 12 having a toe 14 at its lower distal end and a shoulder 16 at its top or proximal end. The front side of the body includes a striking face and the opposing side includes a rear face 20 comprising the swell and spine of the bat. A pair of edges 22, 24 extend from the toe 14 to the shoulder 16 along lateral sides of the body 12. The bat has a first longitudinal axis A parallel with the edges 22, 24 and a second perpendicular axis B perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis extending across body from one edge 22 to the other edge 24. A longitudinal cylindrical handle 26 extends from between the shoulders 16 along the first longitudinal axis A for accommodating hands 28, 30 of a batter.

Referring to figures 2 and 3, in a conventional straight-bat cricket shot, the top hand 28 (left hand for a right-handed batter and right hand for a left-handed batter) is used to firmly grip the bat handle - palmdown near its top, or distal, end 261. The bottom, or opposite, hand 30 grips the bat - palm-up - below the top hand towards the proximal end 262 of the handle. While playing a shot, in particular a straight bat shot, the top hand 28 remain fixed and stationary on the handle throughout a shot. The bat handle is gripped less firmly with the bottom hand 30 which must pivot and move slightly when a batting shot is played. The bottom hand pivots such that while playing the shot the handle is loosely griped between the thumb 301 and index finger 302 with the palm facing upwardly. This is a unique hand grip among bat and ball sports, where for example it is more common and natural to grip the handle firmly with the bottom hand in the manner of a golf club or baseball bat while attempting a shot.

Figures 4 to 6 illustrate a cricket bat provided with one example of an auxiliary handle 40 which includes a cross-bat grip 42 for a batter's lower or bottom hand 30. The cross-bat grip 42 extends laterally generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the bat and allows the batterto maintain a more natural palm- up grip on the bat with the bottom hand 30 during a straight-bat shot. In other examples (not shown) the cross-bat grip 42 extends in a direction generally across the body at an acute angle 0(theta) of between, say, 60 and 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis A. The bat maintains the conventional handle 26 extending along the longitudinal axis A of the bat to allow for a conventional top hand 28 grip of the bat. The bottom hand cross-bat grip 42 is facilitated as an auxiliary handle 40 engageable with the bat and which may be removed when a batter has become more skilled at other elements of a straight-bat shot such as top hand grip, foot movement and head position.

In one example the auxiliary handle 40 has an attachment portion with an engagement face having a profile adapted to partially engage with the rear face 20 of the bat, and to simultaneously engage with the proximal end 262 of the handle such that the auxiliary handle 40 straddles the shoulders 16 of the bat. A clamp portion 46 has an engagement face adapted to engage with the striking face side 18 of the bat and handle to secure the attachment portion 44 with the opposing rear side of the bat. Releasable fasteners 48 extend between the clamp portion 46 and attachment portion 44. In some examples the releasable fasteners 48 include an Allen head. In some examples the releasable fasteners 48 include an Hex head. In some examples the releasable fasteners 48 include an Torx head. In some examples, illustrated in figure 8, the releasable fasteners include a toolless latch 148. In some examples the toolless latch is a toggle latch. In some examples the toolless latch is a pair of transversely opposed toolless latches positioned adjacent opposite edges of the bat. In some examples the toolless latch is a toolless latch longitudinally opposed at opposite edges by pivot pins 150 pivotally connecting the clamp portion 46 and attachment portion 44. In some examples the toolless latch is a single toolless latch transversely opposed at an opposite edge 149 by a tab, pin, hook or hinge that releasably secures the opposite edge 149.

The attachment portion 44 includes a pair of laterally opposed rearwardly turned flanges 50, 52. The rearwardly turned flanges 50, 52 are turned away from the striking face 18 for positioning the cross-bat grip portion 42 rearward of a plane of the rear face 20.

In some examples the auxiliary handle 40 is positioned to span between the bat body 12 and handle 26 with the shoulder 16 occupying an intermediatory position below the cross-bat grip 42. This places the hand in a correct longitudinal position on the handle. An infill filet 116 can be used between the clamp portion 46 and attachment portion 44 that extend above shoulder 16. In other examples of the invention a cricket bat has a cross-bat grip integrally formed with the bat. Although preferably an auxiliary handle example allows the cross-bat grip to be removed once a batter has become more skilled at other elements of a straight-bat shot. In figure 7, for example, an integral cross-bat handle bat includes a pair of parallel arms 56 and 58 extending parallel with the longitudinal axis A from respective edges 22 and 24 of the bat. A first handle 54 having a first cross-bat grip for accommodating a top hand 28 of a batter extends between distal ends of the pair of parallel arms 56 and 58. A second handle having a second cross-bat grip 42 for accommodating a bottom hand 30 of a batter extends between proximate ends of the pair of parallel arms 56 and 58 adjacent the shoulders 16 of the bat.

The present invention generally provides an attachment (or a fully redesigned cricket bat), that has a 'cross-bat' handle or grip that is at approximate right angles to a conventional cricket bat handle. This might be for one or both hands. The cross-bat handle places the hands in a more natural positions to play with a straight bat by adding a bottom (and possibly top hand) hand grip that is at right angles across the bat. This allows the bottom hand to fully grip the bat during the entire straight bat cricket shot. The invention may be used as a training tool to help coach the correct playing of straight bat shots or be used in cricket matches.

By rotating the grip of the bottom hand the grip is in a more natural position and stronger as the hand position stays the same throughout the straight shot. By placing the hand(s) in a more natural position it is easier to keep the bat in a straight (vertical) position and more firmly grip the bat, giving more control. This hand position still allows batters to play cross-bat strokes, but the easiest and most natural shot to play is now straight. The batter-in-training can start to appreciate the benefits of straight bat shots in defence or attack and once they have learnt the mechanics of the shot they can progress to playing it without the aid of the attached grip. More advanced cricketers can use the grip to help focus on other aspects of their straight shot technique (footwork, keeping the head down etc).

For the novice cricketer it also helps to put them in a correct stance and makes the back lift very easy (most first-time cricketers look like they are setting up to hit golf balls). The cross-bat grip also increases bat stability during ball contact as it helps prevent the rotation of the bat if the ball is hit off-centre, as the grip is supported down the sides of the bat rather than rotating around the axis of the bat handle.

When a cricket ball hits the bat off-centre from the bats axis (down the centre of the bat in line with the vertical handle) the bat will rotate or twist in the batters' hands, resulting in a loss of power and direction. This is because the bat can easily rotate in the hands when held by the roughly circular conventional handle that follows the bats axis. The cross-bat grip transfers support from the bats axis to the sides (edges) of the bat and therefore transfers more stability and power to shots hit 'off-centre.'

Due to the more natural position of the hands, the cross-bat grip may also make it easier to 'switch hit' - changing from a right-handed to left-handed stance. Something that is becoming more common due to the T20 game.

In illustrated examples the cross-bat grip 42 extends laterally generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the bat, or generally parallel to the perpendicular axis B. In other examples (not shown) the cross-bat grip 42 extends in a direction generally across the body at an acute angle 0 (theta) of between, say, 60 and 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis A. In yet other examples the angle 0 (theta) is adjustable by a user between, say, 60 and 90 degrees to an angle most comfortable for the user to maintain a more natural palm-up grip on the bat with the bottom hand 30 during a straight-bat shot. Preferable the angle 0 (theta) is between 60 and 90 degrees, or between 70 and 90 degrees, or between 60 and 70 degrees, or between 70 and 80 degrees. In examples of a bat according to the invention having upper and lower cross-grip handles, the two cross-grip handles may each have a different angle 0 (theta).

One or more aspects and alternatives of the invention have been described by way of example only. It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred aspects and alternatives described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be included within the present invention. The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the drawings and/or specification, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

Where reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents, those equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any country in the world.

Claims

1. An auxiliary handle for a cricket bat having a body with a toe at one end, a shoulder at the other end, a striking face on a first side of the body, a rear face on a second opposing side of the body, a pair of edges extending from the toe to the shoulder along lateral sides of the body, a longitudinal axis parallel with the edges, and a handle extending from the shoulder along the longitudinal axis of the body; the auxiliary handle including: an attachment portion engageable with a cricket bat at a proximal end of the handle, or the rear face of the bat, and a generally cylindrical grip portion coupled with the attachment portion such that when the attachment portion is engaged with a cricket bat the grip portion extends in a direction generally across the body at an acute angle of between 60 and 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis.

2. The auxiliary handle of claim 1 wherein the attachment portion includes a pairof laterally opposed flanges, the grip portion extending between distal ends of the opposed flanges.

3. The auxiliary handle of claim 2 wherein the laterally opposed flanges are, in use, turned away from the striking face for positioning the grip portion rearward of a plane of the rear face.

4. The auxiliary handle of any one of claims 1 to 3 further including a clamp portion adapted to engage with the striking face side of the bat to secure the attachment portion with the opposing rear side of the bat.

5. The auxiliary handle of any preceding claim wherein the attachment portion includes an engagement face having a profile adapted to partially engage with the rear face of the bat.

6. The auxiliary handle of claim 5 wherein the engagement face profile is adapted to simultaneously engage with the proximal end of the handle.

7. A cricket bat in combination with the auxiliary handle of any preceding claim.

8. A cricket bat in combination with the auxiliary handle for a cricket bat: the cricket bat including a body with a toe at one end, a shoulder at the other end, a striking face on a first side of the body, a rear face on a second opposing side of the body, a pair of edges extending from the toe to the shoulder along lateral sides of the body, a longitudinal axis parallel with the edges, and a handle extending from the shoulder along the longitudinal axis of the body; the auxiliary handle including an attachment portion engageable with a cricket bat at a proximal end of the handle, or the rear face of the bat, and a generally cylindrical grip portion coupled with the attachment portion such that when the attachment portion is engaged with a cricket bat the grip portion extends in a direction generally across the body at an acute angle of between 60 and 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein the attachment portion includes a pair of laterally opposed flanges, the grip portion extending between distal ends of the opposed flanges, and optionally wherein the laterally opposed flanges are, in use, turned away from the striking face for positioning the grip portion rearward of a plane of the rear face.

10. The combination of any one of claims 8 or 9 further including a clamp portion adapted to engage with the striking face side of the bat to secure the attachment portion with the opposing rear side of the bat.

11. The combination of any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the attachment portion includes an engagement face having a profile adapted to partially engage with the rear face of the bat, and optionally wherein the engagement face profile is adapted to simultaneously engage with the proximal end of the handle.

12. A cricket bat including: a body with a toe at one end, a shoulder at the other end, a striking face on a first side of the body and a rear face on a second opposing side of the body, a pair of edges extending from the toe to the shoulder along lateral sides of the body, a longitudinal axis parallel with the edges, a first handle for accommodating a top hand of a batter, and a second handle for accommodating a bottom hand of a batter, wherein the second handle is positioned proximate the shoulder end of the body, and the second handle includes a cylindrical grip extending in a direction generally across the body at an acute angle of between 60 and 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis.

13. The cricket bat of claim 12 wherein the first handle includes a cylindrical grip extending parallel with the first axis.

14. The cricket bat of claim 12 wherein the first handle includes a cylindrical grip extending in a direction generally across the body at an acute angle of between 60 and 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis.

15. The cricket bat of claim 14 further including a pair of arms extending parallel with the longitudinal axis from a respective edge of the body, the first handle supported between distal ends of the arms, and the second handle supported between proximal ends of the arms.