PORTABLE PITCHING MOUND

Abstract

A portable pitching mound having multiple mound sections connected to one another. The mound sections have at least one side wall having a lower edge. On a first mound section a flange extends outwardly and upwardly from the lower edge to form a receiving slot. A second mound section has a lower edge that fits within the receiving slot to connect the first mound section to a second mound section.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a portable pitching mound, and more particularly, to a portable pitching mound having multiple mound sections that are easy to assemble.

Portable pitching mounds are known in the art. Larger pitching mounds, due to their size and weight, include multiple mound sections that are connected to one another. There are a number of ways that the mound sections are connected to one another. Unfortunately, these connections mean the mounds are complex, expensive to manufacture, or difficult to assemble. Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a device that addresses these deficiencies.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a portable pitching mound that is easy to assemble.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a portable pitching mound having a connecting means that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objectives will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art based upon the following written description, drawings and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable pitching mound having a plurality of mound sections. The mound sections have an outer edge, a top surface, and at least one inner or side wall having a lower edge.

On a first mound section, a flange extends outwardly and upwardly from the lower edge to form a receiving slot. A second mound section has a lower edge that fits within the receiving slot to connect the first mound section to the second mound section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a portable pitching mound;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a portable pitching mound;

FIG. 3 is an end view of mound sections;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a mound section; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a mound section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, a portable pitching mound 10 includes a plurality of mound sections 12 removably connected to one another. The mound can have any number of mound sections 12. In one example, the mound 10 has a first or center section 14 having an outer end 16, an inner end 18, a top surface 20, and side walls 22. Preferably, the outer end 16 is arcuate and engages a ground surface 24.

The top surface 20 angles upwardly from the outer end 16 toward the inner end 18 to a transition line 26. The top surface 20 dwells in a horizontal plane from the transition line 26 to the inner end 18. The side walls 22 have a first section 28 that is straight and perpendicular to the inner end 18 and an angled section 30 that angles outwardly from the straight section 28 to the outer end 16.

The side walls 22 and inner end 16 have a lower edge 32 that engages the ground surface 24 and has a flange 34 that extends upwardly and outwardly at an angle from the lower edge 32 to form a receiving slot 36.

Outer mound sections 38 have an outer edge 40 that is preferably arcuate, one or more inner or side walls 42, and a top surface 44 that angles or curves upwardly from the outer edge 40 to the inner walls 42. The inner walls 42 have a lower edge 46 that is adapted to be received within the receiving slot 36 of the center section 14.

Alternatively, the lower edge 46 of the outer mound sections 38 have a flange 48 that extends upwardly and outwardly from the lower edge 46 to form a receiving slot 36 formed to receive a lower edge 46 from an adjacent outer section 38 or a lower edge 32 from the center section 14.

In another example, the center section 14 has a first outer end 16, a second outer end 52, a top surface 20 and side wall 22 that include the receiving slots as previously described. The top surface 20 angles upwardly from both the first outer end 16 and the second outer end 52 to transition lines 26. Between the transition lines 26 the top surface dwells in a horizontal plane parallel to the ground. Accordingly, a portable pitching mound has been disclosed that, at the very least, meets all the stated objectives.

Claims

1. A portable pitching mound comprising: a first mound section having at least one side wall having a lower edge that extends outwardly and upwardly at an angle to form a receiving slot; anda second mound section having at least one side wall with a lower edge wherein the second mound section is connected to the first mound section by placing the lower edge of the second mound section within the receiving slot of the first mound section.

2. The mound of claim 1 wherein the first mound section is a center section having an outer end, an inner end, a top surface, and a pair of side walls.

3. The mound of claim 1 wherein the first mound section is an outer section having an outer edge and a top surface.

4. The mound of claim 1 wherein the first mound section is a center section having a pair of outer ends, a top surface, and a pair of side walls.

5. The mound of claim 1 wherein the at least one side wall has a straight section and at least one angled section that angles outwardly from the straight section.

6. A portable pitching mound comprising: a first mound section having a pair of side walls having a lower edge that extends outwardly and upwardly at an angle to form a receiving slot; anda second mound section having at least one side wall with a lower edge wherein the second mound section is connected to the first mound section by placing the lower edge of the second mound section in the receiving slot of the first mound section.

7. The mound of claim 6 wherein the pair of side walls each have a straight section and at least one angled section that angles outwardly from the pair of side walls.