Patent Application
20090124436
1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to equipment in baseball and softball. More specifically, the invention relates to bases that are used in the games of baseball and softball.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In the United States and Canada and in many East Asian, Latin American and Caribbean countries, the games of softball and baseball are very popular.
Familiarity with the basic concepts of the rules of baseball and softball are assumed, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know the rules intimately. However, the rules of baseball and softball provide for markers known as bases that are positioned at the four corners of a diamond, up to 90 feet in distance depending upon the age level of the players or whether baseball of softball is being played. Three of the bases are commonly referred to as bags, because they are short boxes that are placed on the surface of the ground and rise up one to three inches in height. The fourth base, known as home plate, is much thinner and rises above the ground less than ½ inch.
These bases are commonly held in position in a number of ways. For example, major league teams and other organized baseball leagues generally use hollow, square metal posts or anchors located in the ground at the proper base locations. Stanchions that are attached to the bottom of the bases are placed in the hollow posts/anchors. In this manner, the bases are firmly and fixedly, yet removably positioned for play. Runners naming to the bases do not have to fear that the bases will slide as the runner slides into or steps on the base. This method requires digging a hole into the ground, placing a concrete bed in the hole, setting the anchor/post in the concrete bed and repacking the dirt around the post/anchor. This can be accomplished on a dedicated baseball field.
A second common type of base uses spikes that are driven into the ground that are attached to straps. The straps are cinched tight to the base and the spikes that hold the base in position.
A third common category of common bases is called “throwdown bases.” These bases typically are formed from a single piece or molded rubber or vinyl. These bases are generally thinner than, official bases.
Another type of base uses a magnet to secure a base having a bottom metal material. Dislodgement of the base exposes the magnet which can be poorly seen due to dirt and dust accumulating on it.
Other types of bases use either an oversized hole to receive an anchor for the base or can use protruding rubber tips which are inserted in openings formed in a substrate and trapped therein until a sufficient force is applied to the base. Such rubber tips are not able to be freely removed from the substrate.
Moreover, youth baseball leagues have recently mandated that a base is displaced from its position when a runner slides into it. Put another way, leagues are requiring a base that will move when a lateral load is applied. The difficulty is designing such a base that will not substantially move when the runner merely runs across the base, i.e. when the load applied is a combination of a lateral load and a vertical load.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for detachable/removable baseball and softball bases that will not substantially move when a runner runs across it and yet will detach when a runner slides in with sufficient force.
In general, in one aspect, the present invention features a quick release base system that includes a base platform and a removable base. The base platform includes a bottom platform surface and a top platform surface. The top platform surface is positioned above the bottom platform surface. The top platform surface includes platform prongs. The platform prongs are substantially perpendicular to the top platform surface and extend away from the top platform surface and away from the bottom platform surface. The removable base rests on top of the base platform, and the removable base includes an interior base surface. The interior base surface includes base prongs. The base prongs are substantially perpendicular to the interior base surface and extend away from the interior base, and the platform prongs interact with the base prongs to create a lateral restraining force between the base platform and the removable base.
In general, in another aspect, the present invention features a removable base. The removable base includes an interior base surface and an exterior base surface positioned above the interior base surface. The removable base further includes base prongs attached to the interior base surface. The base prongs are uniformly spaced in a grid on the interior surface. The base prongs are substantially perpendicular to the interior surface and extending away from the interior surface.
In general, in another aspect, the present invention features a base platform. The base platform includes a bottom platform surface and a top platform surface that is positioned above the bottom platform surface. The base platform further includes platform prongs that are attached to the top platform surface. The platform prongs are uniformly spaced in a grid on the top platform surface. The platform prongs are substantially perpendicular to the upper platform surface and extend away from the upper platform surface and away from the bottom platform surface.
In general, in another aspect, the present invention features a method for using a base system. The method includes providing a base platform. The base platform includes a bottom platform surface and a top platform surface. The top platform surface is positioned above the bottom platform surface. The top platform surface includes platform prongs. The platform prongs are substantially perpendicular to the top platform surface and extend away from the top platform surface and away from the bottom platform surface. The method further includes providing a removable base. The removable base rests on top of the base platform, and the removable base includes an interior base surface. The interior base surface includes base prongs. The base prongs are substantially perpendicular to the interior base surface and extend away from the interior base, and the platform prongs interact with the base prongs to create a lateral restraining force between the base platform and the removable base. The method further includes subjecting the removable base to a high-impact potential external lateral force such that the removable base detaches from the base platform as a result of the high-impact potential external lateral force.
Details of particular embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and in the description below. Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
Details of particular embodiments of the invention are set forth in the description below and in the accompanying drawings. Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
Referring to
As described in more detail below, the base platform 102 interacts with the removable base 104 to create a lateral (direction parallel to x-y plane) restraining force between the base platform 102 and the removable base 104. The resulting lateral restraining force restrains the lateral movement of the removable base 104 relative to the base platform 102. Accordingly, the removable base 104 does not detach from the base platform 102 when a relatively small external lateral force (e.g., a low-impact potential lateral force) is applied to the removable base 104. The removable base 104 can detach from the base platform 102 when a relatively large external lateral force (e.g., a high-impact potential lateral force) is applied to the removable base 104 so as to make the prongs 110 and 118 of the removable base 104 and base platform 102 to bend sufficiently to allow detachment. An example of a low-impact potential external lateral force is a player running or walking over the base 104 at a relatively low speed. An example of a high-impact potential external lateral force is a base runner sliding into the base 104 at a relatively high speed.
For example, when an embodiment of the removable base 104 designed for youth play is subjected to a static force that is 25 lbs or more and directed at a 30° angle (lateral force 21.7 pounds or greater) with respect to the playing field, the removable base detaches from the base platform 102. The same removable base 104 detaches from the base platform 102 when a static force that is 10 lbs or more is applied at an angle of 45° (lateral force 7.1 pounds or greater) with respect to the playing field.
When an embodiment of the removable base 104 designed for adult play is subjected to a static force that is 40 lbs or more and directed at a 30° angle (lateral force 24.5 pounds or greater) with respect to the playing field, the removable base detaches from the base platform 102. The same removable base 104 detaches from the base platform 102 when a static force that is 17 lbs or more is applied at an angle of 45° (lateral force 12.0 pounds or greater) with respect to the playing field.
The base platform 102 of the base system 100 includes a bottom platform surface 106 and a top platform surface 108 that is positioned e.g., 1-2 inches, above the bottom platform surface 106. The base platform 102 is made of a sturdy and deformable material, such as rubber, so that it can absorb impacts from a sliding ball player should it be used as a base when the removable base 104 is detached. The top platform surface 108 includes a set of platform prongs 110. In one embodiment, the platform prongs 110 are integrally attached perpendicularly to the top platform surface 108 and extend away from the top platform surface 108. As described below, attributes of the platform prongs 110 such as height, shape and material can vary depending on the desired use of the base system 100 (e.g., depending on whether the base system 100 is used by adults or children).
The base platform 102 of the base system 100 can further include a stanchion 112 attached to the bottom platform surface 106. The stanchion 112 can be substantially perpendicular to the bottom platform surface 106 and extend away from the bottom platform surface 106 (and away from the top platform surface 108). The stanchion 112 can include a stanchion tube 112a and a rectangular stanchion plate 112b. The stanchion plate 112b can be affixed to the bottom platform surface 106, e.g., by nuts 112c, screws, glue, and so on. Preferably, eight bolts engaged with eight openings 113 (see
The removable base 104 that rests on top of the base platform 102 includes an exterior base surface 114 and an interior base surface 116. The exterior base surface 114 can be of any known construction and is preferably of standard size and shape used for baseball and/or softball. A chevron rib structure can be employed to the exterior base surface 114 such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,000,447 and 5,415,395, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such a chevron structure aids in absorbing the impact energy of a sliding player. The interior base surface 116 underlies the chevron structure and includes a set of base prongs 118. In one embodiment, the base prongs 118 are attached perpendicularly to the interior base surface 116 and extend away from the interior base surface 116. As described below, attributes of the base prongs 118 such as height, shape and material can vary depending on the desired use of the base system 100 (e.g., depending on whether the base system 100 is used by adults or children).
The platform prongs 110 and the base prongs 118 can be arranged in a variety of ways as long as, when the removable base 104 rests on top of the base platform 102, the platform prongs 110 interact with the base prongs 118 to create a lateral restraining force between that base platform 102 and the removable base 104. In one embodiment, when the removable base 104 rests on top of the base platform 102, the platform prongs 110 mesh with the base prongs 118, that is, the platform prongs 110 rest in the spaces between the base prongs 118, as illustrated in
Referring to
As explained above, the platform prongs 110 interact with the base prongs 118 to create a lateral restraining force between the base platform 102 and the removable base 104, and the resulting lateral restraining force restrains the lateral movement of the removable base 104. Accordingly, the removable base 104 does not detach from the base platform 102 when a low-impact potential lateral force is applied to the removable base 104, but the removable base 104 can detach from the base platform 102 if a high-impact potential lateral force is applied to the removable base 104. It may be desirable to adjust the threshold for the high-impact potential lateral force, depending on the use of the base system 100. For example, the threshold for the high-impact potential lateral force may be relatively high if the base system 100 is used in an adult game. If the base system 100 is used in a youth game, on the other hand, the threshold for the high-impact potential lateral force may be lower.
A number of factors can determine how much lateral force, if applied to the removable base 104, would be sufficient to detach the removable base 104 from the base platform 102. These factors include, for example, density, height, shape, spacing, and material of the platform prongs 118 and the base prongs 118. For example, a relatively small lateral force would be sufficient to detach the removable base 104 from the base platform 102 if the prongs 110, 118 are sparsely spaced, if the prongs 110, 118 are relatively short, or if the prongs 110, 118 are made of relatively soft material, or material that has a low coefficient of friction.
In embodiment designed for youth play and mentioned previously, the prongs 110, 118 are cylindrical in shape with 0.125 inches in diameter and 0.344 inches in height. The height of the prongs 110, 118 can range from 0.25 inches to 0.50 inches, wherein the longer the prongs are made the greater the lateral force is needed to achieve detachment. The prongs can have other dimensions and cross-sectional shapes, such as polygonal cross-sectional shapes (pentagons or hexagons, for example). The prongs 110, 118 are each arranged on a rectangular grid of 12 inches by 12 inches with uniformly spaced horizontal and vertical lines, wherein prongs in each line are separated from one another by a constant distance d equal to approximately 0.5 inches. In addition, prongs of one line are offset from prongs of an adjacent line by an amount equal to one half the separation d as shown in
In another embodiment designed for adult play and mentioned previously, the prongs 110 of the base platform 108 are sized/shaped positioned/arranged in the same manner as described previously with respect to the youth play embodiment. In this embodiment, the prongs 118 of the removable base 104 are the same size and shape as in the youth play embodiment. The prongs 118 are arranged on a rectangular grid of 12 inches by 12 inches with uniformly spaced horizontal and vertical lines, wherein prongs in each line are separated from one another by a constant distance d equal to approximately 0.25 inches. In addition, prongs of one line are not offset from prongs of an adjacent line as shown in
It should be mentioned that when the removable base 104 rests on the base platform 108 in the manner described previously, a curved, convex inner shoulder 115 of the removable base 104 rests on a complementarily shaped concave outer shoulder 117 of the base platform 108. The shoulders 115, 117 extend along each side of the removable base 104 and base platform 108, respectively. Having the shoulder 115 rest on shoulder 117 aids in retaining the removable base 104 on the base platform 108 as runner rounds the base. In particular, when the runner cuts the corner of the base by stepping on an inner (as viewed from home plate) corner of the removable base 104, the engagement between the shoulders 115, 117 provides additional stability to the base so that the possibility of detachment is reduced. Besides reducing detachment, the shoulders 115, 117 allow for easy and quick placement of the removable base 104 on the base platform 108.
Should the removable base 104 be detached from the base platform 108, the base platform 108 can act as a regular base until play is halted at which time the removable base 104 can be placed back on the base platform 108 in the manner described previously. The base platform 108 is made of a deformable plastic material that will absorb some of the shock of a player sliding into it. The base platform 108 and its prongs 118 are preferably of a distinct color, such as orange, that will make it easy for the players and umpires to locate the platform when it is temporarily acting as a base.
The foregoing description is provided to illustrate the invention, and is not to be construed as a limitation. Numerous additions, substitutions and other changes can be made to the invention without departing from its scope as set forth in the appended claims.
