Portable Pitching Rubber

Abstract

A pitching rubber having a pad and a plurality of angled spikes connected to the pad and extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the pad for insertion into a surface, including artificial turf, carpeting and matting, so as to provide a stationary and portable pitching rubber for use both indoors and outdoors. Methods of making and using the portable pitching rubber of the present invention are also described.

1 . A portable pitching rubber adapted to be firmly but removably mounted to an:
 underlying surface, comprising:   a pad having two longitudinal and two transverse sides for use in training and sporting exercises; and   a plurality of spikes extending downwardly at an angle from a bottom surface of the pad and adapted to be removably received by the surface.   
   
   
       2 . The portable pitching rubber of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of each spike of the plurality of spikes is imbedded in the pad. 
   
   
       3 . The portable pitching rubber of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spikes are spaced along the two longitudinal sides of the pad. 
   
   
       4 . The portable pitching rubber of  claim 3 , wherein additional spikes are spaced along the two transverse sides of the pad. 
   
   
       5 . The portable pitching rubber of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the spikes is in a direction toward an outer edge of the bottom surface of the pad and away from a center point of the bottom surface of the pad. 
   
   
       6 . The portable pitching rubber of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of angled ports below the bottom surface of the pad. 
   
   
       7 . The portable pitching rubber of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the spikes are threaded for connecting the spikes to the ports. 
   
   
       8 . The portable pitching rubber of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of angled ports pass completely through the pad. 
   
   
       9 . The portable pitching rubber of  claim 8 , further comprising studs extending through the entire thickness of the pad for housing the spikes wherein the studs are contained within the plurality of angled ports. 
   
   
       10 . The portable pitching rubber of  claim 1 , wherein the spikes are selected from the group consisting of nails, screws and tacks. 
   
   
       11 . The portable pitching rubber of  claim 1 , wherein the spikes are made of metal. 
   
   
       12 . The portable pitching rubber of  claim 1 , wherein the removably received portion of the spikes is about ½ to ¾ inches in length. 
   
   
       13 . The portable pitching rubber of  claim 1 , wherein the spikes protrude the bottom surface of the pad at about ½ to ¾ inches from an outer edge of the bottom surface. 
   
   
       14 . A method of making a portable pitching rubber, comprising the steps of:
 (a) forming a piece of material to a desired size and shape to make a pad;   (b) attaching a plurality of spikes to the pad such that the spikes extend downwardly at an angle from a bottom surface of the pad and are adapted to be removably received by an underlying surface.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said attaching step comprises screwing the plurality of spikes into ports located below the bottom surface of the pad. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said attaching step comprises screwing the plurality of spikes into studs connected to angled ports located below the bottom surface of the pad and extending through the entire thickness of the pad until a bottom portion of the spikes protrudes beyond the bottom surface of the pad. 
   
   
       17 . A method of using a portable pitching rubber, the rubber comprising a pad and a plurality of spikes attached to the pad, comprising the steps of:
 (a) placing the pitching rubber on a surface with the spikes contacting the surface; and   (b) applying pressure to a top surface of the pad until the pitching rubber is removably secured to the surface,   wherein said surface is an artificial material.   
   
   
       18 . The method  claim 17 , wherein the artificial material is selected from a group consisting of artificial turf, carpeting and matting materials.