Bases for baseball and softball

Abstract

A base for baseball or softball including a bottom surface wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface includes a prepared surface having a higher coefficient of friction than the surface in its unprepared state and wherein the base will move from its resting position when a human body applies a lateral force thereto, the force being low enough to avoid substantial injury to the human body, but will remain in position when a force applied to the base includes a downward force component that is substantial in comparison to the lateral force component.

1 . A base for baseball or softball comprising a bottom surface wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface comprises a prepared surface having a higher coefficient of friction than the surface in its unprepared state and wherein the base will move from its resting position when a human body applies a lateral force thereto, the force being low enough to avoid substantial injury to the human body, but will remain in position when a force applied to the base comprises a downward force component that is substantial in comparison to the lateral force component. 
     
     
         2 . The base of  claim 1  wherein the prepared surface comprises a plurality of laterally arranged and parallel grooves. 
     
     
         3 . The base of  claim 1  wherein the prepared comprises a plurality of raised nodules. 
     
     
         4 . The base of  claim 3  wherein the nodules are regularly spaced. 
     
     
         5 . The base of  claim 2  wherein the groove are from about 1/16″ to 1/64″ of an inch deep and about 1/16″ to 1/64″ of an inch wide. 
     
     
         6 . The base of  claim 1  wherein the prepared surface is applied to the bottom of the base. 
     
     
         7 . The base of  claim 6  wherein the prepared surface extends past the bottom surface of the base. 
     
     
         8 . The base of  claim 1  wherein the prepared surface is molded into the bottom of the base. 
     
     
         9 . The base of  claim 1  wherein the base does not interlock with the surface upon which it is placed. 
     
     
         10 . The base of  claim 1  further comprising a marker portion placed below the prepared surface, the marker portion not being attached to the base. 
     
     
         11 . The base of  claim 10  wherein the marker portion is anchored to the ground. 
     
     
         12 . The base of  claim 11  wherein the marker portion is anchored to the ground by inserting a stanchion attached to the marker portion into a receiver that is buried in the ground. 
     
     
         13 . The base of  claim 10  wherein marker portion comprises a roughen surface for contacting the prepared surface. 
     
     
         14 . The base of  claim 10  wherein the marker portion comprises a fabric. 
     
     
         15 . The base portion of  claim 14  wherein the fabric is a false grass material. 
     
     
         16 . A base for baseball or softball comprising a bottom surface wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface comprises a surface that has a coefficient of friction sufficient to allow the base to move from its resting position when a human body applies a lateral force thereto, the force being low enough to avoid substantial injury to the human body, but will remain in position when a force is applied to the base comprising a downward force component that is substantial in comparison to the lateral force component and wherein the base requires generally no upwardly force component to cause the base to move laterally when the lateral force is applied. 
     
     
         17 . The base of  claim 16  further comprising a marker portion placed below the prepared surface, the marker portion not being attached to the base. 
     
     
         18 . A base for baseball or softball comprising a bottom surface wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface comprises a prepared surface having a higher coefficient of friction than the surface in its unprepared state and wherein the base will move from its resting position when a human body applies a lateral force thereto, the force being low enough to avoid substantial injury to the human body, but will remain in position when a force applied to the base comprises a downward force component that is substantial in comparison to the lateral force component, the base having no component that interlocks with a surface below it. 
     
     
         19 . The base of  claim 18  further comprising a marker portion placed below the prepared surface, the marker portion not being attached to the base.