초록

Performance of a sport equipment, such as a ball bat, is measured by applying a force through a spring of known elastic properties to compress the sport equipment and indicating compliance of the sport equipment to a known standard based on the compression of the sport equipment.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for testing performance of an article of sporting equipment comprising: a first member, wherein the first member is arranged to support the article of sporting equipment;a second member, wherein the second member is arranged to compress the support equipment;a spring of known spring

1. An apparatus for testing performance of an article of sporting equipment comprising: a first member, wherein the first member is arranged to support the article of sporting equipment;a second member, wherein the second member is arranged to compress the support equipment;a spring of known spring elasticity abutting the second member;a third member, wherein the third member is arranged to transmit a force through the spring member and the second member to the article of sporting equipment;a force applier, wherein the force applier is arranged to apply the force to the third member;an indicator;a first gap, wherein the first gap corresponds to a distance x0 related to compression and movement of the spring; anda second gap, wherein the second gap corresponds to a distance D0 specified in a standard for the article of sporting equipment,wherein the indicator is arranged to indicate compliance when the first gap closes before the second gap in response to the compression of the article of sporting equipment, andwherein the indicator is arranged to indicate non-compliance when the second gap closes before the first gap in response to the compression of the article of sporting equipment. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the article of sporting equipment comprises a ball bat. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: first and second rods, wherein the first member is fixedly secured to the first and second rods, wherein the second and third members are mounted so as to slide on the first and second rods, wherein the spring comprises first and second springs mounted so as to slide between and with the second and third members on the first and second rods, andwherein the force applier comprises fourth and fifth members, wherein the fourth member is fixedly secured to the first and second rods, wherein the fifth member is arranged to operate through the fourth member so to apply the force to the third member. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the distance x0 corresponds to distances that the second and third members move during compression of the article of sporting equipment. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: first and second rods, a center member, and a separator, wherein the first member is fixedly secured to the first and second rods, wherein the second and third members and the center member are mounted so as to slide on the first and second rods,wherein the spring comprises first and second springs mounted so as to slide between and with the center and third members on the first and second rods,wherein the second member is between the first member and the center member,wherein the separator is arranged to adjust a separation distance between the second and center members,wherein the force applier comprises fourth and fifth members, wherein the fourth member is fixedly secured to the first and second rods, wherein the fifth member is arranged to operate through the fourth member so to apply the force to the third member,wherein the first gap is between the first and center members, wherein the second gap is between the third and center members, wherein the difference x0 corresponds to distances that the second and third members move during compression of the article of sporting equipment. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the indicator comprises first and second sensory signaling devices, wherein the first sensory signaling device is arranged to be energized first if the first gap closes first, and wherein the second sensory signaling device is arranged to be energized first if the second gap closes first. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the indicator further comprises a third sensory signaling device, and wherein the third sensory signaling device is arranged to provide an indication when the article of sporting equipment is first touched by the second member. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an elastic member, wherein the elastic member is mounted to one of the second and center members and is arranged to apply a pre-load to the article of sporting equipment. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the elastic member is arranged to center the force applied by the second member to the article of sporting equipment. 10. An apparatus for testing performance of an article of sporting equipment comprising: a first member, wherein the first member is arranged to support the article of sporting equipment;a second member, wherein the second member is arranged to compress the support equipment;a spring of known spring elasticity abutting the second member;a third member, wherein the third member is arranged to transmit a force through the spring member and the second member to the article of sporting equipment;a force applier, wherein the force applier is arranged to apply the force to the third member;an indicator arranged to indicate compliance of the article of sporting equipment to a known standard based on the compression of the article of sporting equipment by the force applier acting through the second and third members and the spring, andwherein the indicator comprises a distance indicator arranged to indicate an amount of distance that the article of sporting equipment compresses. 11. An apparatus for testing performance of an article of sporting equipment comprising: an elastic member, wherein the elastic member is arranged to support the article of sporting equipment on a surface thereof, and wherein the elastic member includes a gap;a stop supported by the elastic member; anda force applier,wherein the force applier applies force to the article of sporting equipment and compresses the article of sporting equipment between the force applier and the surface of the elastic member, andwherein the force applier, the gap, and the stop cooperate to indicate compliance or non-compliance of the article of sporting equipment to a known standard as the force applier compresses the article of sporting equipment. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the article of sporting equipment comprises a ball bat.