Other

Schutt Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Ronald W Bartoli

A removable pitching rubber comprised of a pitching pad and a rigid metal plate secured to the pad, at least one metal post extending downwardly from the plate for insertion into a prearranged ground anchor embedded in the ground so as to provide a stationary mount for the pitching rubber. In one embodiment of the invention, a pair of spikes extend downwardly from the bottom of the plate relatively adjacent the ends of the plate, with the spikes, when embedded in the ground, serving to prevent the movement of the outer edges of said pitching pad and plate.

Removable pitching rubber

A removable pitching rubber comprising a pitching pad and a rigid metal plate removably connected to the pad, and at least two metal posts extending downwardly from the plate for insertion into prearranged ground anchors embedded in the ground so as to provide a stationary mount for the pitching rubber. The removable connection between the plate and the pad permits the pad to be separated from the plate and replaced when worn. The plate is formed with a downwardly turned lip at each longitudinal edge, the lips penetrating the ground when the pitching rubber is installed to stabilize the rubber.

A deformable base having top and peripheral walls and resiliently deformable interior ribs is formed with a recess in the interior central crown region, the recess being defined by a central web to which a mounting plate is removably attached. The plate is elevated above the ground-engaging parts of the base as a result of which the central web and plate can be downwardly depressed when vertical impact forces caused by a runner contacting the crown region are encountered. This downward depression together with the resiliency of the ribs provides a more uniform absorption of vertical impact forces across the entire top surface of the base thereby eliminating hard and soft areas likely to cause injury.

Deformable base construction

A low profile impact absorbing base in which the base comprises downwardly and outwardly tapering top and peripheral walls which collectively define a hollow interior except for resilient deformable ribs, and a central hub integrally formed with the top wall of the base. A separate post is mounted on a carrier sleeve, with the post being constructed to fit into an embedded retaining sleeve or capable of being inserted directly into the ground. The outside surface of the carrier sleeve and the inside surface of the central hub are complementarily configured so that the post and sleeve can be inserted upwardly into the central opening in the hub and frictionally retained therein. The thickness and spacing of the ribs are such that the ribs can be laterally inwardly deformed as a result of sliding impact forces so that such forces can be absorbed without injury to the player. The base is relatively low in height thereby providing an additional safety factor in that players normally tend to slide over the base as opposed to sliding directly into a side wall of the base causing the noted lateral inward deformation.

Impact absorbing base

In an energy absorbing base for a baseball field, a molded rubber base includes a hollow underside. Ribs arranged in a chevron-like pattern are positioned within this hollow underside, to absorb the impact energy of a player sliding into the base. The ribs are configured so that the edges of the flexing base deflect downwardly as the impact energy is absorbed. The energy absorbing capacity of the base is a function of both the material of which it is made and the dimensions of the ribs.

Growing community of inventors

Penn Valley, CA, United States of America

Ronald W Bartoli