Bases, home plates, and pitcher's rubbers for use on synthetic turf infill material

Abstract

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.