Base anchor indicator and plug

• US 6,142,882 A
• Filed: 03/06/1995
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anchor Sports I Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Anglea Turf Concepts, Inc.
• Inventors: Anglea, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US08/398,752
• Time in Patent Office: 2,073 Days
• Field of Search: 273/32.5, 273/55 R, 116/63 R, 116/63 C, 116/312, 116/313, 116/314, 116/316, 116/322, 116/209, 116/222, 116/173, 404/6, 404/10, 404/12, 404/32, 404/15
• US Class Current: 473/150
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0013 Baseball bases

Abstract

A device used to plug an opening into and locate a receptacle in an anchor to a base employed on a playing field. The device has an elastic body that has a shape sufficiently large to extend across the opening of the receptacle. A flexible indicator is connected to the body and indicates the location of the body. The body is made from an elastomeric material capable of being deformed to insert a portion of the body through the opening into the receptacle and expands to form a plug across the opening to prevent access of dirt into the receptacle. The flexible indicator has a length sufficient to extend from the body and for a sufficient distance to be observed when the body is mounted with the receptacle and is sufficiently flexible to be deflected during ground care operations of the playing field and be visible after such ground care operations.

Claims

1. A device used for plugging an opening into and locating a receptacle in an anchor to a base employed on a playing field, comprising:

an elastic body having a shape sufficiently large to extend across the opening, said body being made from an elastomeric material capable of being deformed to insert a portion of said body through the opening and expanded to form a plug across the opening;

a flexible indicator connected to said body to indicate the location of said body, said flexible indicator having a length sufficient to extend from said body when mounted with the receptacle disposed below a surface of the playing field and to extend above the playing field surface for a sufficient distance to be observed, and being sufficiently flexible to be deflected during ground care operations of the playing field and be visible after such ground care operations; and

connecting means for securing a connecting portion of said flexible indicator within said body while allowing a visible portion of said flexible indicator to extend outwardly of said body.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said elastic body further including the shape being a block that has a cross-section generally conforming to and larger than a cross-section of the opening.

3. A device used for plugging an opening into and locating a receptacle in an anchor to a base employed on a playing field, comprising:

an elastic body having a shape sufficiently large to extend across the opening said body being made from an elastomeric material capable of being deformed to insert a portion of said body through the opening and expanded to form a plug across the opening; and

a flexible indicator connected to said body to indicate the location of said body, said flexible indicator having a length sufficient to extend from said body when mounted with the receptacle disposed below a surface of the playing field and to extend above the playing field surface for a sufficient distance to be observed, and being sufficiently flexible to be deflected during around care operations of the playing field and be visible after such ground care operations, said flexible indicator further including a plurality of bristle-like members.

4. A device used for plugging an opening into and locating a receptacle in an anchor to a base employed on a playing field, comprising:

an elastic body having a shape sufficiently large to extend across the opening, said body being made from an elastomeric material capable of being deformed to insert a portion of said body through the opening and expanded to form a plug across the opening; and

a flexible indicator connected to said body to indicate the location of said body, said flexible indicator having a length sufficient to extend from said body when mounted with the receptacle disposed below a surface of the playing field and to extend above the playing field surface for a sufficient distance to be observed, and being sufficiently flexible to be deflected during around care operations of the playing field and be visible after such ground care operations, said flexible indicator further including a bundle of threads twisted together.

5. A device used for pluging an opening into and locating a receptacle in an anchor to a base employed on a playing field, comprising:

an elastic body having a shape sufficiently large to extend across the opening, said body being made from an elastomeric material capable of being deformed to insert a portion of said body through the opening and expanded to form a plug across the opening;

a flexible indicator connected to said body to indicate the location of said body, said flexible indicator having a length sufficient to extend from said body when mounted with the receptacle disposed below a surface of the playing field and to extend above the playing field surface for a sufficient distance to be observed, and being sufficiently flexible to be deflected during ground care operations of the playing field and be visible after such around care operations; and

connecting means for securing a connecting portion of said flexible indicator to said body while allowing a visible portion of said flexible indicator to extend outwardly of said body, said connecting means further including a clamp secured to the connecting portion of said flexible indicator and fastening means for fastening the clamp and the connecting portion of said flexible indicator to said body.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

said connecting means further including the fastening means being an adhesive.

7. A device as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said flexible indicator further including a plurality of elongated bristle-like members, the bristle-like members being folded back upon themselves to form a fold within the connecting portion of the bristle-like members; and

said connecting means further including a clamp securing the plurality of bristle-like members to one another in close proximity to the fold and fastening means for fastening the clamp and connecting portion of the bristle-like members to said body.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said connecting means further including the fastening means being an adhesive.

9. A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said flexible indicator further including the fold of the plurality of elongated bristle-like members being in close proximity to a point substantially midway between opposed ends of the members.

19. A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said flexible indicator further including the fold of the plurality of elongated bristle-like. members being in close proximity to a point substantially midway between opposed ends of the members.

10. A device used for plugging an opening into and locating a receptacle in an anchor to a base employed on a playing field, comprising:

an elastic body having a shape sufficiently large to extend across the opening to form a plug, said body being made from an elastomeric material capable of being deformed to insert a portion of said body through the opening and expanded to form a plug across the opening;

a flexible indicator connected to said body to indicate the location of said body, body being made from an said flexible indicator having a length sufficient to extend from said body when mounted with the receptacle disposed below a surface of the playing field and to extend above the playing field surface for a sufficient distance to be observed, and being sufficiently flexible to be deflected during ground care operations of the playing field and be visible after such ground care operations; and

removing means connected to said body for removing said body from the opening after ground care operations on the playing field have been completed and before a base is connected to the anchor.

11. A device as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said flexible indicator further including a plurality of bristle-like members.

12. A device as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said removing means being flexible and including a bundle of threads twisted together.

13. A device as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said removing means further including the bundle of threads twisted together forming a cord having sufficient strength to withdraw said body from the receptacle.

14. A device as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

connecting means for securing a connecting portion of said flexible indicator and a connecting portion of said removing means to said body while allowing a portion to be observed above the playing field surface.

15. A device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said connecting means further including a clamp secured to the connecting portion of said flexible indicator and said removing means and fastening means for fastening the clamp and the connecting portions of said flexible indicator and said removing means to said body.

16. A device as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said connecting means further including the fastening means being an adhesive.

17. A device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said flexible indicator further including a plurality of elongated bristle-like members, the bristle-like members being folded back upon themselves to form a fold within the connecting portion of the bristle-like members;

said removing means being flexible and including a bundle of threads twisted together, the bundle of threads twisted together forming a cord having sufficient strength to withdraw said body from the receptacle; and

said connecting means further including a clamp securing the plurality of bristle-like members and an end of the cord to one another in close proximity to the fold, and fastening means for fastening the clamp and connecting portions of the bristle-like members and removing means to said body.

18. A device as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

said connecting means further including the fastening means being an adhesive.