Double First Base System

Abstract

This patent application is for a baseball and softball safety base systems generally, and more specifically a double first base system with a removable secondary side base portion.

1 . A double base system comprising:
 a base plate including a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion having a top side and a bottom side, the top side of the top portion having a surrounding beveled edge and means for fastening, the bottom side having at least one edge adapted to removably receive an attachment device, the bottom portion including a shaft having a top end and a bottom end, with the top end being connected to substantially a middle of the bottom side of the top portion and extending substantially perpendicularly away from the bottom side of the top portion, the bottom portion being adapted to mate with and be held in position by a base anchor;   a first base top including reciprocal means for fastening located on a bottom side of the first base top that are adapted to be releasably connected to the fastening means on the top portion of the base plate; and   a second base top including a base portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a side wall having a top and a bottom and the side wall extending completely around and downwardly away from a bottom edge of the top surface and a bottom edge of the bottom surface and the bottom of the side wall defining a base edge around the bottom of the second base top, and an integral connector flange as the attachment device and where the integral connector flange has a first wall extending downwardly and away from an edge of the bottom surface and then a second wall extending substantially perpendicularly and away from a bottom of the first wall and substantially parallel to and away from the bottom surface of the base portion, the integral connector flange being adapted to be removably connected to one of the at least one edge on the bottom side of the base plate so that the second base top is located immediately adjacent to the first base top.   
   
   
       2 . The double base system of  claim 1  wherein the fastening means comprise:
 a plurality of nipples adapted to releasably engage the reciprocal fastening means on the first base top.   
   
   
       3 . The double base system of  claim 2  wherein the reciprocal fastening means comprise:
 a plurality of fastening recesses adapted to releasably engage the plurality of nipples on the base plate.   
   
   
       4 . The double base system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one edge of the bottom side of the base plate is adapted to removably receive an attachment device comprises:
 a plurality of recesses separated by a plurality of tabs along the at least one edge of the bottom side of the base plate.   
   
   
       5 . The double base system of  claim 4  wherein the second wall of the integral connector flange comprises:
 a plurality of extensions separated by a plurality of tab openings defined in and extending through the second wall and the plurality of extensions and the plurality of tab openings are adapted to removably receive the plurality of recesses and the plurality of tabs along the at least one edge of the bottom side of the base plate.   
   
   
       6 . The double base system of  claim 5  wherein when the plurality of tabs along the at least one edge of the bottom side of the base plate are inserted into the plurality of tab openings defined in and extending through the second wall and the base plate is connected to the base anchor and placed against a section of ground above the base anchor, the base plate removably secures the second base top in position on top of a section of ground next to the base plate. 
   
   
       7 . The double base system of  claim 5  wherein the second wall of the integral connector flange further comprises:
 a groove along a portion of the second wall through which the plurality of tab openings are defined and extend.   
   
   
       8 . The double base system of  claim 7  wherein the first wall of the integral connector flange comprises:
 at least one notch adapted to cooperate with at least one detent on the base plate to further secure the second base top to the base plate and the first base top.   
   
   
       9 . The double base system of  claim 1  wherein the top surface of the second base top has a substantially convex shape. 
   
   
       10 . The double base system of  claim 9  wherein the top surface of the second base top comprises:
 a plurality of parallel grooves oriented perpendicular to the integral connector flange.   
   
   
       11 . The double base system of  claim 10  wherein the bottom surface of the second base top has a substantially concave shape. 
   
   
       12 . The double base system of  claim 11  wherein the bottom surface of the second base top further comprises:
 a plurality of parallel ridges running substantially parallel to each other across and extending away from the bottom surface of the second base top and oriented perpendicular to a plane along the base edge of the second base top.   
   
   
       13 . The double base system of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of parallel ridges extend beyond the plane along the base edge and the part of the parallel ridges extending beyond the plane along the base edge of the second base top have a substantially pointed end. 
   
   
       14 . The double base system of  claim 13  wherein a cross-section of the part of the parallel ridges extending beyond the plane along the base edge of the second base top has a substantially triangular shape. 
   
   
       15 . A double base system comprising:
 a base plate including a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion having a top side and a bottom side, the top side of the top portion having a surrounding beveled edge and means for fastening, the bottom portion including a shaft having a top end and a bottom end with the top end being connected to substantially a middle of the bottom side of the top portion and extending substantially perpendicularly away from the bottom side of the top portion, the bottom portion being adapted to mate with and be held in position by a base anchor;   a first base top having a top side, a bottom side, a contiguous first base side wall having a top and a bottom and the first base side wall extending completely around and downwardly away from a bottom edge of the top surface, the bottom side including reciprocal means for fastening that are adapted to be releasably connected to the fastening means on the top portion of the base plate, the first base top further including at least one fastening element recess on at least one side of the first base side wall; and   a second base top including a base portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a second base side wall having a top and a bottom and the second base side wall extending completely around and downwardly away from a bottom edge of the top surface and a bottom edge of the bottom surface and the bottom of the second base side wall defining a base edge around the bottom of the second base top, and at least one fastening element as the attachment device located on a single side of the second base side wall with the at least one fastening element being adapted to be removably connected to the least one fastening element recess so that the second base top is located immediately adjacent to the first base top.   
   
   
       16 . The double base system of  claim 15  wherein the fastening means comprise:
 a plurality of nipples adapted to releasably engage the reciprocal fastening means on the first base top.   
   
   
       17 . The double base system of  claim 16  wherein the reciprocal fastening means comprise:
 a plurality of fastening recesses adapted to releasably engage the plurality of nipples on the base plate.   
   
   
       18 . The double base system of  claim 15  wherein the at least one fastening element recess on at least one side of the side wall comprises:
 a plurality of fastening element recesses on the at least one side of the first base side wall, wherein the plurality of fastening element recesses are equidistantly spaced along the length of the one side of the first base side wall and positioned in a substantially linear arrangement to each other.   
   
   
       19 . The double base system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one fastening element being adapted to be removably connected to the least one fastening element recess comprises:
 a plurality of fastening elements on a single side of the second base side wall, wherein the plurality of fastening elements are equidistantly spaced along the length of the single side of the second base side wall and positioned in a substantially linear arrangement to each other and wherein the spacing and positioning of the plurality of fastening elements and the plurality of fastening element recesses is substantially identical to permit the removable connection of the plurality of fastening elements with the plurality of fastening element recesses.   
   
   
       20 . The double base system of  claim 19  wherein the at least one side of the first base side wall and the single side of the second base side wall are adapted to be aligned along a first base line on a ball field so that the entirety of the second base top is located in foul territory and is removable from the first base. 
   
   
       21 . The double base system of  claim 20  wherein the second base top is adapted to be dislodged from the first base top upon the application of sufficient force supplied by a player sliding into the second base top. 
   
   
       22 . The double base system of  claim 15  wherein the top surface of the second base top has a substantially convex shape. 
   
   
       23 . The double base system of  claim 22  wherein the top surface of the second base top comprises:
 a plurality of parallel grooves oriented perpendicular to the single side of the second base side wall.   
   
   
       24 . The double base system of  claim 23  wherein the bottom surface of the second base top has a substantially concave shape. 
   
   
       25 . The double base system of  claim 24  wherein the bottom surface of the second base top further comprises:
 a plurality of parallel ridges running substantially parallel to each other across and extending away from the bottom surface of the second base top and oriented perpendicular to a plane along the base edge of the second base top.   
   
   
       26 . The double base system of  claim 25  wherein the plurality of parallel ridges extend beyond the plane along the base edge and the part of the parallel ridges extending beyond the plane along the base edge of the second base top have a substantially pointed end. 
   
   
       27 . The double base system of  claim 26  wherein a cross-section of the part of the parallel ridges extending beyond the plane along the base edge of the second base top has a substantially triangular shape. 
   
   
       28 . The double base system of  claim 15  wherein the at least one fastening element recess on at least one side of the first base side wall comprises:
 at least one circular opening and slotted groove on one side of the first base side wall, wherein each of the at least one circular opening and slotted grooves is adapted to receive a fastening element into the circular opening and permit the fastening element to slide along a length of the slotted groove away from the circular opening and removably engage the slotted groove.   
   
   
       29 . The double base system of  claim 28  wherein the at least one circular opening and slotted groove is located on a side along a first base line and oriented so that each circular opening is arranged closer to a home plate when the first base top is installed in at a first base position on a ball field and each slotted groove extends away from the circular opening and away from the home plate. 
   
   
       30 . The double base system of  claim 28  wherein the at least one circular opening and slotted groove is located on a side along a first base line and oriented so that each circular opening is arranged away from a home plate when the first base top is installed in at a first base position on a ball field and each slotted groove extends away from the circular opening and toward the home plate. 
   
   
       31 . The double base system of  claim 15  wherein the second base top has a height less than one half a height of the first base top. 
   
   
       32 . The double base system of  claim 1  wherein the second base top has a height less than one half a height of the first base top. 
   
   
       33 . A double base system comprising:
 a base plate including a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion having a top side and a bottom side, the top side of the top portion having a surrounding beveled edge and means for fastening, the bottom side having at least one edge adapted to removably receive an attachment device, the bottom portion including a shaft having a top end and a bottom end, with the top end being connected to substantially a middle of the bottom side of the top portion and extending substantially perpendicularly away from the bottom side of the top portion, the bottom portion being adapted to mate with and be held in position by a base anchor, the bottom portion further including at least one threaded recess in the bottom side of the top portion adapted to engage a reciprocally threaded fastener element;   a first base top including reciprocal means for fastening located on a bottom side of the first base top that are adapted to be releasably connected to the fastening means on the top portion of the base plate; and   a second base top including a base portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a side wall having a top and a bottom and the side wall extending completely around and downwardly away from a bottom edge of the top surface and a bottom edge of the bottom surface and the bottom of the side wall defining a base edge around the bottom of the second base top, and an integral connector flange as the attachment device and where the integral connector flange has one or more finger portions each constructed to frictionally engage at least two interior side walls of a corresponding one of a plurality of cavities of the bottom surface and then a second wall extending substantially perpendicularly and away from a bottom of the first wall and substantially parallel to and away from the bottom surface of the base portion, the integral connector flange being adapted to be removably connected to one of the at least one edge on the bottom side of the base plate and adapted to removably be held in place by the one or more finger portions when at least one of said finger portions engages its corresponding cavity of the bottom portion of the second base top so that the second base top is located immediately adjacent to the first base top.