BASES, HOME PLATES, AND PITCHER'S RUBBERS FOR USE ON SYNTHETIC TURF INFILL MATERIAL
A base, a home plate, and a pitcher's rubber for use on synthetic turf infill material for playing baseball includes an upper portion in the shape of the at least one of base, home plate, and a pitcher's rubber, and a lower portion comprising a plurality of downwardly-depending projections extending about ½ inch to about 1 inch below a bottom surface of the upper portion. The plurality of downwardly-depending projections is engageable with the synthetic turf infill material for playing baseball.
1 - 30 . (canceled)
31 . A base for use on a synthetic turf infill material for playing baseball, said base comprising:
an upper portion in the shape at least one of a first base, a second base, or a third base;
a lower portion comprising a plurality of downwardly-depending projections extending about ½ inch to about 1 inch below a bottom surface of said upper portion, and a length of said downwardly-depending projections being greater than a width of said downwardly-depending projections; and
wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections is engageable with the synthetic turf infill material for playing baseball.
32 . The base of claim 31 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections is disposed in a center portion of the bottom surface of the upper portion and spaced away from the edges of the upper portion.
33 . The base of claim 31 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections is spaced a distance of at least about 2 inches from the edges of the upper portion.
34 . The base of claim 31 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections cover about 40 percent of the entire bottom surface of the upper portion.
35 . The base of claim 31 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises an upper width and a lower width, and wherein said upper width being about twice the lower width.
36 . The base of claim 31 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises a flat lower surface.
37 . The base of claim 31 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections is disposed in a center portion of the bottom surface of the upper portion and spaced away from the edges of the upper portion, said plurality of downwardly-depending projections is spaced a distance of at least about 2 inches from the edges of the upper portion, said plurality of downwardly-depending projections cover about 40 percent of the entire bottom surface of the upper portion, and said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises an upper width and a lower width, and wherein said upper width being about twice the lower width.
38 . The base of claim 37 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises a flat lower circular surface.
39 . The base of claim 31 wherein said upper portion comprises a plurality of ribs for strengthening said upper portion.
40 . The base of claim 31 wherein at least one of said upper portion and said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises a generally resilient material.
41 . The base of claim 31 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections is disposed normal relative to said bottom surface of said upper portion.
42 . The base of claim 31 wherein said downwardly-depending projections comprises an upper diameter of about ¼ inch and a lower distal diameter of about ⅛ inch.
43 . The base of claim 31 wherein said lower portion comprises a density of said downwardly-depending projections of about 1 projection to about 2 projections per square inch.
44 . The base of claim 31 wherein said upper portion comprises a first material, said lower portion comprises a second material, and said second material being more resilient than said first material.
45 . The base of claim 31 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections generally defines a pattern within a circle spaced from a peripheral edge of said upper portion.
46 . The base of claim 31 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections is generally arranged in a plurality of concentric circles.
47 . A home plate for use on a synthetic turf infill material for playing baseball, said home plate comprising:
an upper portion in the shape the home plate;
a lower portion comprising a plurality of downwardly-depending projections extending about ½ inch to about 1 inch below a bottom surface of said upper portion, and a length of said downwardly-depending projections being greater than a width of said downwardly-depending projections; and
wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections is engageable with the synthetic turf infill material for playing baseball.
48 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections are disposed in a center portion of the bottom surface of the upper portion and spaced away from the edges of the upper portion.
49 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections are spaced a distance of at least about 2 inches from the edges of the upper portion.
50 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections cover about 35 percent of the entire bottom surface of the upper portion.
51 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises an upper width and a lower width, and wherein said upper width being about twice the lower width.
52 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises a flat lower surface.
53 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections are disposed in a center portion of the bottom surface of the upper portion and spaced away from the edges of the upper portion, said plurality of downwardly-depending projections are spaced a distance of at least about 2 inches from the edges of the upper portion, said plurality of downwardly-depending projections cover about 35 percent of the entire bottom surface of the upper portion, and said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises an upper width and a lower width, and wherein said upper width being about twice the lower width.
54 . The home plate of claim 53 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises a flat lower circular surface.
55 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein said upper portion comprises a plurality of ribs for strengthening said upper portion.
56 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein at least one of said upper portion and said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises a generally resilient material.
57 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections is disposed normal relative to said bottom surface of said upper portion.
58 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein said downwardly-depending projections comprises an upper diameter of about ¼ inch and a lower distal diameter of about ⅛ inch.
59 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein said lower portion comprises a density of said downwardly-depending projections of about 1 projection to about 2 projections per square inch.
60 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein said upper portion comprises a first material, said lower portion comprises a second material, and said second material being more resilient than said first material.
61 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections generally defines a pattern within a circle spaced from a peripheral edge of said upper portion.
62 . The home plate of claim 47 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections is generally arranged in a plurality of concentric circles.
63 . A pitcher's rubber for use on a synthetic turf infill material for playing baseball, said pitcher's rubber comprising:
an upper portion in the shape the pitcher's rubber;
a lower portion comprising a plurality of downwardly-depending projections extending about ½ inch to about 1 inch below a bottom surface of said upper portion, and a length of said downwardly-depending projections being greater than a width of said downwardly-depending projections; and
wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections is engageable with the synthetic turf infill material for playing baseball.
64 . The pitcher's rubber of claim 63 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections is disposed in a center portion of the bottom surface of the upper portion and spaced away from the edges of the upper portion.
65 . The pitcher's rubber of claim 63 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections are spaced a distance of at least about 2 inches from the edges of the upper portion.
66 . The pitcher's rubber of claim 63 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises an upper width and a lower width, and wherein said upper width being about twice the lower width.
67 . The pitcher's rubber of claim 63 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises a flat lower surface.
68 . The pitcher's rubber of claim 63 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections are disposed in a center portion of the bottom surface of the upper portion and spaced away from the edges of the upper portion, said plurality of downwardly-depending projections are spaced a distance of at least about 2 inches from the edges of the upper portion, and said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises an upper width and a lower width, and wherein said upper width being about twice the lower width.
69 . The pitcher's rubber of claim 68 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises a flat lower circular surface.
70 . The pitcher's rubber of claim 63 wherein at least one of said upper portion and said plurality of downwardly-depending projections comprises a generally resilient material.
71 . The pitcher's rubber of claim 63 wherein said plurality of downwardly-depending projections is disposed normal relative to said bottom surface of said upper portion.
72 . The pitcher's rubber of claim 63 wherein said downwardly-depending projections comprises an upper diameter of about ¼ inch and a lower distal diameter of about ⅛ inch.
73 . The pitcher's rubber of claim 63 wherein said upper portion comprises a first material, said lower portion comprises a second material, and said second material being more resilient than said first material.