US-12623137-B2 - Portable pitching lane for softball

US12623137B2US 12623137 B2US12623137 B2US 12623137B2US-12623137-B2

Abstract

Novel and advantageous portable pitching lanes for softball are disclosed. In one embodiment, a pitching lane for softball is disclosed comprising a foundation layer, a surface layer, and a pitching rubber. The portable pitching lane is movable from place to place when not in use, but does not move when in use.

Inventors

Andrew Kerr
John Robert Pieritz, JR.
Michael Lee Sampson
Douglas Michael Kratz

Assignees

ONE CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20190916

Claims (14)

1 . A portable pitching lane comprising: a front edge; a back edge; a rigid foundation layer extending from the front edge to the back edge, wherein the foundation layer is configured to be flush to ground during use, wherein the foundation layer includes two sets of at least two receptacles each set being provided at a different position between the front edge and the back edge, such that the pitching rubber can be positioned at two different distances from home plate without moving the portable pitching lane; a housing provided in each of the receptacles; a surface layer positioned over the foundation layer and configured to be parallel to the ground during use, wherein the surface layer comprises a first portion and a second portion and wherein the first portion is configured for removal and replacement without requiring removal of the second portion; and a pitching rubber having at least two studs, each for receipt by one of the housings of the foundation layer for removably affixing the pitching rubber to the portable pitching lane, wherein the pitching rubber can be positioned at two different distances from home plate without moving the portable pitching lane, wherein when the pitching rubber is in position on the surface layer, the pitching rubber extends upwardly from the surface layer, and wherein the pitching rubber may be removed from the portable pitching lane; wherein the portable pitching lane weighs at least about 120 pounds such that it resists movement when in use.
2 . The portable pitching lane of claim 1 , wherein the surface layer comprises artificial turf.
3 . The portable pitching lane of claim 1 , further comprising ribs on a bottom surface of the foundation layer, the ribs being configured for assisting distributing weight.
4 . The portable pitching lane of claim 1 , wherein the surface layer comprises a plurality of component pieces, wherein one of the plurality of component pieces is affixed to the foundation layer in a manner such that the one of the plurality of component pieces can be replaced without requiring replacement of other component pieces.
5 . The portable pitching lane of claim 4 , wherein one of the plurality of component pieces is fixed to the foundation layer using a hook and loop fastener and can be replaced without requiring replacement of other component pieces.
6 . The portable pitching lane of claim 1 , wherein the portable pitching lane has a length of between about 6.5 feet and about 8.5 feet and a width between about 2.5 feet and 4.5 feet.
7 . The portable pitching lane of claim 1 , further comprising a rubber pad between the foundation layer and the surface layer.
8 . The portable pitching lane of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a bore for receiving the stud of the pitching rubber.
9 . The portable pitching lane of claim 1 , wherein the portable pitching lane is positioned at a distance from a home plate and wherein the foundation layer includes a plurality of sets of two receptacles, each of the sets being at a different position between the front edge and the back edge, such that the pitching rubber can be positioned at a plurality different distances from home plate without moving the portable pitching lane.
10 . A portable pitching lane comprising: a front edge; a back edge; a rigid foundation layer having ribs on a bottom surface thereof, the ribs being provided on a bottom surface of the foundation layer spaced such that weight from landing on the pitching lane is dispersed and shock is absorbed; a receptacle provided in the foundation layer; a housing provided in the receptacle; a surface layer positioned over the foundation layer and configured to be parallel to the ground during use, the surface layer comprising first and second portions, each of the first and second portions comprising artificial turf, wherein the first portion is configured for removal and replacement without requiring removal of the second portion; a pitching rubber having a stud for receipt by the housing for removably affixing the pitching rubber to the pitching lane, wherein the pitching rubber extends upwardly from the surface layer when in position, wherein the pitching rubber may be removed from the portable pitching lane; and one or more removable spikes extending downwardly from the foundation layer.
11 . The portable pitching lane of claim 10 , wherein the portable pitching lane is positioned at a distance from a home plate and wherein the foundation layer includes three sets of receptacles for receiving the pitching rubber, each set being provided at a different position between the front edge and the back edge, such that the pitching rubber can be positioned at 3 different distances from home plate without moving the portable pitching lane.
12 . The portable pitching lane of claim 10 , further comprising a granulated strip for positioning on a bottom surface of the foundation layer.
13 . The portable pitching lane of claim 10 , wherein the foundation layer includes an insertion hole correlating to each removable spike for receiving the removable spike.
14 . A portable pitching lane comprising: a front edge; a back edge; a rigid foundation layer extending from the front edge to the back edge, wherein the foundation layer is configured to be flush to ground during use, wherein the foundation layer includes two sets of at least two receptacles each set being provided at a different position between the front edge and the back edge, such that the pitching rubber can be positioned at two different distances from home plate without moving the portable pitching lane; ribs on a bottom surface of the foundation layer, the ribs being configured for assisting distributing weight; a housing provided in each of the receptacles; a surface layer positioned over the foundation layer and configured to be parallel to the ground during use; and a pitching rubber having at least two studs, each for receipt by one of the housings of the foundation layer for removably affixing the pitching rubber to the portable pitching lane, wherein the pitching rubber can be positioned at two different distances from home plate without moving the portable pitching lane, wherein when the pitching rubber is in position on the surface layer, the pitching rubber extends upwardly from the surface layer, and wherein the pitching rubber may be removed from the portable pitching lane; wherein the portable pitching lane weighs at least about 120 pounds such that it resists movement when in use.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous pitching lanes for softball. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous portable pitching lanes for softball. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. There is a need in the art for a device that protects artificial turf at the pitching lane of a softball field. Turf fields are used as opposed to real grass and clay fields to eliminate mud and prevent rain-outs. However, artificial turf can be damaged or destroyed, particularly at the pitching lane of a softball field. During fast-pitch softball, a pitcher drags her foot as she throws the ball, which can expose the turf to tears or other damage. The repeated motion of dragging the foot across turf in the same general area of the pitching lane can cause a large depression to occur in the base layer beneath the turf. This type of damage can occur quickly. For example, within a single game the turf can be damaged or destroyed, and/or a disruptive depression can develop in the base layer beneath the turf, which can be expensive and time-consuming to repair and/or negatively affect pitching performance. Softball is frequently played in tournaments that occur over a number of days with multiple teams rotating play on a number of fields. Artificial turf at the pitching lane of a field can sustain damage during play and the extent of damage that occurs over multiple fast-pitch softball games, such as the number of games typically played over the course of a tournament, can cause the softball pitching lane to become unusable. At least because softball has only relatively recently been played on artificial turf, no satisfactory solution has been developed that is cost-effective, easily maneuvered, adaptable for use with players of different age groups, and that does not affect the pitchers feel of the mound as she pitches. Accordingly, quick and imperfect solutions have been improvised that allow play to continue. One solution has been to add rubber protective pellets over the damaged turf between each game. The goal with this is that the rubber pellets help the turf stand up and prevent it from tearing. This requires continually adding pellets and continually back-filling to keep the turf in working condition. While this solution temporarily addresses the damage to the turf, it does not correct the depression that occurs in the base layer of the turf. Other solutions that have been attempted include using a sand and water mix that is poured over large sections of the turf on the pitching lane. While there may be some protective component to this solution, it is very messy and the water evaporates, requiring more of the mix to be applied, resulting in a great deal of sand in the turf. Thus, these remedies are not satisfactory. Therefore, there is a need in the field for a solution that is cost-effective, prevents, eliminates, or quickly repairs or replaces damaged turf, and prevents a depression from forming in the base layer of the turf. Further, there is a need for a solution that can be used with players of all ages and that can be easily moved on and off the field or from one field to another. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. The present disclosure, in one or more embodiments, relates to a portable pitching lane. The portable pitching lane may comprise a foundation layer, a surface layer, and a pitching rubber. The portable pitching lane is movable from place to place when not in use but does not move when in use. In another embodiment, a foldable portable pitching lane is provided including a first component piece and a second component piece. The first component piece comprises a first piece foundation layer and a first piece surface layer. The second component piece comprises a second piece foundation layer and a second piece surface layer. A hinge connects the first component piece to the second component piece. The foldable portable pitching lane is movable from place to place when not in use, but does not move when in use. While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description