Molded fiberglass pitcher's portable indoor/outdoor mound, and methods of constructing and utilizing same

• US 5,058,889 A
• Filed: 03/26/1991
• Issued: 10/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank I. Burton
• Original Assignee: Frank I. Burton
• Inventors: Burton, Frank I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US07/674,979
• Time in Patent Office: 210 Days
• Field of Search: 273/25
• US Class Current: 473/452
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

A portable pitching mound assembly including a mound body and home plate attachment. The mound body includes depressions adjacent the pitching rubber and on the forward slope of the mound. These depressions are filled with soil to simulate field conditions. The mound body may be provided in several interlocking sections to provide easy movement of the assembly for indoor or outdoor use. The upper surface of the mound body includes an abrasive surface for non-skid footing.

Claims

1. A portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly, comprising;

a generally circular, convex-shaped mound body to be supported on a playfield surface, said body having a substantially planar lower support portion and an upper surface portion substantially parallel to said lower support portion, said upper surface portion being at the highest point of said mound body;

a pitching rubber positioned in said upper surface portion;

a first depression surrounding said pitching rubber and within said upper surface portion, said depression being filled with flowable soil-like material to the level of said upper surface portion said mound further having a forward facing shaped area adjacent said upper surface portion and

a second depression in said forwardly facing sloped area filled with flowable soil-like material sloped to conform with said forwardly facing sloped area.

2. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 1, wherein:

a home plate is attached to said forward sloped area by calibrated lines such that said mound body and said home plate are a fixed distance apart.

3. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said pitching rubber includes markings thereon for proper foot location.

4. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said flowable soil-like material in said first depression provides a footing area for the pitcher;

said flowable soil-like material in said second depression provides a landing area for the pitcher'"'"'s feet after completion of the pitch delivery; and

said flowable soil-like material provides field-like conditions on said mound body.

5. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said mound body comprises molded fiberglass and said flowable soil-like material comprises sand.

6. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said forward sloped area has markings thereon for foot location in said second depression.

7. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said assembly is used indoors or outdoors for training purposes.

8. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said first depression has sufficient depth to permit grooming of said flowable soil like material to an individuals preferences.

9. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the upper surface of said mound body includes an abrasive surface for better footing.

10. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly, comprising:

a generally circular, generally convex-shaped mound body to be supported on a playfield surface, said body having a substantially planar lower support surface portion on an upper surface portion substantially parallel to said lower surface portion, said upper surface portion being area at the highest point of said mound body;

a pitching rubber positioned in said upper surface portion;

a first depression surrounding said pitching rubber and within said upper surface portion, said depression filled with flowable soil-like material to the level of said upper surface portion;

said mound further having a forward facing sloped area adjacent said upper surface portion a second depression in said forwardly facing sloped area filled with flowable soil-like material sloped to conform with the said forwardly faced sloped area; and

said mound body provided in a series of interlocking sections for easy transportation.

11. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 10, wherein:

a home plate is attached to said forward sloped area by calibrated lines such that said mound body and said home plate are fixed distance apart.

12. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 10, wherein:

said pitching rubber includes markings thereon for proper foot location.

13. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 10, wherein:

said flowable soil-like material in said first depression provides a footing area for the pitcher;

said flowable soil-like material in said second depression provides a landing area for the pitcher'"'"'s feet after completion of the pitch delivery; and

said flowable soil-like material provides field-like conditions on said mound body.

14. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 10, wherein:

said mound body comprises molded fiberglass and said flowable soil-like material comprises sand.

15. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 10, wherein:

said forward sloped area has markings thereon for foot location in said second depression.

16. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 10, wherein:

said assembly is used indoors or outdoors for training purposes.

17. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 10, wherein:

said first depression has sufficient depth to permit grooming of said flowable soil-like material to an individuals preferences.

18. The portable pitcher'"'"'s mound assembly of claim 10, wherein:

the upper surface of said mound body includes an abrasive surface for better footing.