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Artificial pitching pad

  • US 4,666,155 A
  • Filed: 02/04/1985
  • Issued: 05/19/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In combination with a pitcher'"'"'s mound constructed from earthen material, an artificial pitching pad device adapted for implantation in said earthen material comprising:

  • a generally rigid open top base member adapted for implanatation in said earthen material having a rigid base surface and an upwardly extending outer rim defining the outer limits of said base surface around the entire perimeter thereof;

    said outer rim terminating in an upper free edge around the perimeter of said base member;

    said open top generally hollow base member being contoured in a manner to follow the exterior contour of an earthen pitcher mound when implanted thereon;

    an integral pitching pad constructed from a resilient friction material having an upper generally resilient contoured pitching surface said pitching pad member generally bounded by said outer rim of said base member and having a thickness which generally exceeds the height of said rim so that said impanted base member may be implanted in said earthen material in a concealed manner with said resilient pitching surface being exposed above ground for supporting said pitcher generally at ground level in a natural manner;

    a planar rear support surface included in said resilient pitching surface;

    a depressed ledge formed in said rear support surface for receiving and containing a pitching abutment block;

    said depressed ledge including a rear wall terminating in a pair of side walls, each side wall extending forwardly from said rear wall and extending to a front line of said depressed ledge, a pair of rear support walls, each being joined to a said side wall at said front line and diverging outwards to the edge of said resilient pitching surface;

    a foot supporting surface formed in said resilient contoured pitching surface adjacent and forward of said front line of said ledge for supporting a foot of a pitcher in a pitching position with said foot resting against a front wall of said pitching abutment block;

    a runway support surface included in said resilient contoured pitching surface forward of said foot support surface for accommodating the full extent of forward movement of a pitcher following delivery of a pitch; and

    anchor means carried by said ledge means for affixing said pitching abutment block within said depressed ledge and simultaneously to said earthen material in which said base member is implanted.

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