Pitching Rubber

Abstract

The present invention is directed to pitching rubbers for baseball. More particularly, the invention relates to a four-sided, solid pitching rubber which provides an all-in-one durable construction with improved performance characteristics. Included in embodiments is a pitching rubber comprising: a rubber body with a hollow core lengthwise through a rectangular block; wherein the hollow core has a width or diameter of 50% or less of block width; and wherein the rubber body has a Shore A hardness of about 80-95. Preferred pitching rubbers comprise a rectangular block with an overall weight ranging from 30-50 pounds, and/or a rubber body comprising cis-1,4 polyisoprene, and/or providing no insert, such as a PVC or aluminum insert, for placement in and supporting of the hollow core during use. Pitching rubbers according to embodiments of the invention are capable of resisting packing and tamping weight without deformation of the rubber body.

1 . A pitching rubber comprising:
 a rubber body with a hollow core lengthwise through a rectangular block;   wherein the hollow core has a width or diameter of 50% or less of block width;   and wherein the rubber body has a Shore A hardness of about 80-95.   
     
     
         2 . A pitching rubber comprising:
 a rubber body with a hollow core lengthwise through a rectangular block;   wherein the rectangular block has a width, height, and length of respectively about 6×6×24 inches and the hollow core has a width or diameter of 3 inches;   and wherein the rubber body has a Shore A hardness of about 80-95.   
     
     
         3 . A pitching rubber comprising:
 a rubber body with a hollow core lengthwise through a rectangular block;   wherein the rectangular block has a width, height, and length of respectively about 4×4×18 inches and the hollow core has a width or diameter of 2 inches;   and wherein the rubber body has a Shore A hardness of about 80-95.   
     
     
         4 . The pitching rubber of  claim 1 , wherein the rectangular block has an overall weight ranging from 25-60 lbs. 
     
     
         5 . The pitching rubber of  claim 2 , wherein the rectangular block has an overall weight ranging from 25-60 lbs. 
     
     
         6 . The pitching rubber of  claim 3 , wherein the rectangular block has an overall weight ranging from 25-60 lbs. 
     
     
         7 . The pitching rubber of  claim 1 , wherein the rectangular block has an overall weight ranging from 30-50 lbs. 
     
     
         8 . The pitching rubber of  claim 2 , wherein the rectangular block has an overall weight ranging from 30-50 lbs. 
     
     
         9 . The pitching rubber of  claim 3 , wherein the rectangular block has an overall weight ranging from 30-50 lbs. 
     
     
         10 . The pitching rubber of  claim 1 , wherein the rectangular block has an overall weight of about 40 lbs. 
     
     
         11 . The pitching rubber of  claim 2 , wherein the rectangular block has an overall weight of about 40 lbs. 
     
     
         12 . The pitching rubber of  claim 3 , wherein the rectangular block has an overall weight of about 40 lbs. 
     
     
         13 . The pitching rubber of  claim 1 , wherein the rubber body has a Shore A hardness of about 80-90. 
     
     
         14 . The pitching rubber of  claim 2 , wherein the rubber body has a Shore A hardness of about 80-90. 
     
     
         15 . The pitching rubber of  claim 3 , wherein the rubber body has a Shore A hardness of about 80-90. 
     
     
         16 . The pitching rubber of  claim 1 , wherein the rubber body comprises cis-1,4 polyisoprene. 
     
     
         17 . The pitching rubber of  claim 2 , wherein the rubber body comprises cis-1,4 polyisoprene. 
     
     
         18 . The pitching rubber of  claim 3 , wherein the rubber body comprises cis-1,4 polyisoprene. 
     
     
         19 . The pitching rubber of  claim 2  with no insert for placement in the hollow core. 
     
     
         20 . The pitching rubber of  claim 3  with no insert for placement in the hollow core.