Forms for constructing a foundation for batter's and catcher's boxes, and supporting a home plate

Abstract

A form for constructing a foundation for batter’s and catcher’s boxes and supporting a home plate in a support structure of a synthetic turf field for playing baseball or softball includes a hollow frame comprising an open upper surface and an open lower surface, the hollow frame sized to extend under the batter’s and catcher’s boxes, and a home plate frame supportable by the hollow frame, the home plate frame having a cavity for receiving the home plate.

1 . A form for constructing a foundation for batter’s and catcher’s boxes and supporting a home plate in a support structure on a synthetic turf field for playing baseball or softball, the form comprising:
 a hollow frame comprising a peripheral side defining an open upper surface and an open lower surface, the hollow frame sized to extend under the batter’s and catcher’s boxes; and 
 a home plate frame spaced within the peripheral side and supportable by the hollow frame, the home plate frame having a cavity for receiving the home plate. 
 
     
     
         2 . The form of  claim 1  wherein the peripheral side is sized to correspond with the peripheral edge of the striping or line markers for the batter’s and catcher’s boxes. 
     
     
         3 . The form of  claim 1  wherein the hollow frame comprises a plurality of prefabricated hollow frame sections. 
     
     
         4 . The form of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of prefabricated hollow frame sections comprises a plurality of side members and a plurality of cross-members, and wherein the home plate frame is supportable on at least one of the cross-members. 
     
     
         5 . The form of  claim 1  further comprising at least one drain tube having a passageway opening into the cavity of the home plate frame, and a lower end disposed adjacent to a bottom of the hollow frame. 
     
     
         6 . The form of  claim 1  wherein the home plate frame comprises:
 a bottom of having an irregular pentagon shape; and 
 a surrounding sidewall comprising a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side, and a fifth side. 
 
     
     
         7 . The form of  claim 1  wherein the home plate frame comprises an outwardly-extending lip, the outwardly-extending lip disposed at an elevation higher than the elevation of the hollow frame. 
     
     
         8 . The form of  claim 1  wherein the hollow frame comprises a constant peripheral height. 
     
     
         9 . The form of  claim 1  wherein the hollow frame comprises:
 a prefabricated central frame section, a prefabricated right-handed batter’s box section, a prefabricated left-handed batter’s box section, and a prefabricated catcher’s box section; 
 the home plate frame fixedly attached to the prefabricated central frame section; 
 the plurality of prefabricated hollow frame sections comprising prefabricated features for aligning the plurality of prefabricated frame sections for assembly; and 
 wherein the assembled hollow frame comprises a planar T-shaped configuration. 
 
     
     
         10 . The form of  claim 1  wherein the hollow frame comprises:
 a prefabricated first frame section, a prefabricated second frame section, and a prefabricated third frame section; 
 the home plate frame fixedly attached to the prefabricated first frame section; 
 the plurality of prefabricated hollow frame section comprising prefabricated features for aligning the plurality of prefabricated hollow frame sections for assembly; and 
 wherein the assembled hollow frame comprises a planar rectangular-shaped configuration. 
 
     
     
         11 . The form of  claim 1  further comprising a tray supportable in the cavity of the home plate frame for use in adjustably positioning the home plate in the home plate frame. 
     
     
         12 . The form of  claim 11  further comprising a plurality of members for adjustably orientating the tray in the home plate frame. 
     
     
         13 . The form of  claim 1  wherein:
 the hollow frame comprises a plurality of prefabricated hollow frame sections comprising first alignable apertures for receiving fasteners therethrough for assembling the plurality of prefabricated hollow frame sections; 
 the plurality of prefabricated hollow frame sections comprises notches for locating and supporting rebar; and 
 the plurality of prefabricated hollow frame sections comprises holes for locating stakes for anchoring the assembled plurality of prefabricated hollow frame sections to the support structure. 
 
     
     
         14 . The form of  claim 1  wherein the hollow frame and the home plate frame comprise metal. 
     
     
         15 . The form of  claim 1  further comprising:
 concrete disposed in the hollow frame; and 
 synthetic turf disposed over the cured concrete and a portion of the home plate frame. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 supporting the form of  claim 1  on the support structure relative to a location of a baseball diamond;   providing uncured concrete in the form;   providing synthetic turf over the cured concrete in the form; and   installing the home plate in the cavity of the home plate frame.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 providing a rubber layer between the synthetic turf and the cured concrete in the form. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 removing a replaceable synthetic turf portion sized to extend over the cured concrete in the form; and 
 providing a replacement synthetic turf portion over the cured concrete in the form. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 providing a plurality of prefabricated frame sections, each of the plurality of prefabricated frame sections defining a hollow frame section having an open upper surface and an open lower surface, and one of the plurality of prefabricated frame sections comprising a home plate frame;   positioning and assembling the plurality of prefabricated frame sections on a support structure of a field for playing baseball or softball, the plurality of assembled prefabricated frame sections sized to extend under batter’s and catcher’s boxes and support the home plate frame;   providing uncured concrete in the assembled prefabricated hollow frame sections and around the home plate frame;   forming an upper surface of the uncured concrete;   providing synthetic turf over the cured concrete filled assembled prefabricated frame sections; and   installing a home plate in the home plate frame.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein:
 the forming comprises forming an upper surface of the uncured concrete using upper portions of the plurality of prefabricated frame sections. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein:
 the providing synthetic turf over the cured concrete filled assembled prefabricated frame sections comprises providing a rubber layer between the synthetic turf and the surface of the cured concrete. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the providing comprises providing a replaceable synthetic turf portion extending over and corresponding to the surface of the cured concrete filled prefabricated frame sections. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the positioning and assembling comprises aligning predetermined positioning features of adjacent prefabricated frame sections. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the positioning and assembling comprises: 
 positioning rebar in notches in the plurality of prefabricated sections; and 
 installing stakes through predetermined holes in at least some of the prefabricated sections and into the support structure. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the providing comprises:
 providing the uncured concrete around at least one drain tube having an upper end opening into a cavity of the home plate form and a lower end disposed adjacent to the support structure. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the prefabricated hollow frame sections comprise metal.