Abstract: This patent application is for a baseball and softball home plate system generally, and more specifically a home plate system with changeable top plate sections and an up-tight bevel.

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.

Abstract: An athletic base system is provided having a ground support structure that releaseably secures an athletic base thereto, the ground support structure having an upper base-mounting surface, and a member for securing the structure in position relative to the ground, the base mounting surface having a fastening element in the form of a nipple having at least one relief zone within the volume occupied by the nipple to facilitate inward deflection of radially extending parts of the nipple when the nipple is joined with a nipple receiving recess on the bottom of the base as the base is being mounted on the ground support structure.

Abstract: A ground support structure and a base system are provided in which the ground support structure is configured to have a recessed area disposed inside a peripheral rim, into which a base or a drag plate may be inserted and fastened. The associated base has a principal lower surface and a ground support-engaging lower protrusion that has a fastener corresponding to at least one fastener on an athletic device mounting surface disposed in the recess of the ground support structure. The drag plate is configured to substantially fill the entire area of the recess, and to provide an upper planar surface that is essentially flush with the peripheral rim on the ground support structure.

Abstract: A marker light device includes a bendable printed circuit board, a group of light emitting diodes disposed on the bendable printed circuit board and electrically connected thereto, and a power source electrically connected to the bendable printed circuit board, thereby causing the illumination of the group of light emitting diodes. The bendable printed circuit board includes an electronic circuit for intermittently turning the group of light emitting diodes on and off at a predetermined time interval to provide a flashing light. The bendable printed circuit board, when folded such that the opposite ends thereof substantially meet, includes two panels such that the group of light emitting diodes disposed on the first panel faces in a direction generally opposite to the group of light emitting diodes disposed on the second panel, whereby the light emitting diodes project light in substantially parallel beams.

Abstract: A base and ground anchor system uses a resilient fastening arrangement to severably hold the base so as to minimize the likelihood of injury to a sliding base runner, the ground anchor for the base having a pair of handles extending from the sides thereof to facilitate placement and correct positioning of the anchor in the ground, and the base having design features which provide varying severability characteristics of the base from the ground support system. Included among the base design features are the provision of integral channels in the base bottom, the provision of a two-piece base cover, wherein the base top may be of a different hardness and/or thickness than the base bottom which has fastening recesses therein to severably attach to the ground support, and the provision of a range of base cover hardnesses foam core densities, and numbers of fastener recesses from which a base can be designed according to the level of play in which the base will be used.

Abstract: A communication interface circuit for interfacing a processor with a plurty of application devices is provided. Circuitry monitors input/output (I/O) addresses passed on the processor's data transfer bus and provides a first enable signal when an I/O addresses indicates that operation of the communication interface circuit has been requested by the processor. Control logic, in response to the first enable signal, is then given access to configuration data passed on the data transfer bus associated with the one I/O address. The control logic interprets the data and produces a second enable signal in accordance therewith. A plurality of programmable controllers, in response to the second enable signal, are initialized by the configuration data. The interface circuit is then configured for a selected one of the application devices in terms of timing control, interrupt control and direct memory access control (DMA).

Abstract: A base and ground anchor system uses a resilient fastening arrangement to severably hold the base so as to minimize the likelihood of injury to a sliding base runner, the ground anchor for the base having a pair of handles extending from the sides thereof to facilitate placement and correct positioning of the anchor in the ground, and the base having design features which provide varying severability characteristics of the base from the ground support system. Included among the base design features are the provision of integral channels in the base bottom, the provision of a two-piece base cover, wherein the base top may be of a different hardness and/or thickness than the base bottom which has fastening recesses therein to severably attach to the ground support, and the provision of a range of base cover hardnesses foam core densities, and numbers of fastener recesses from which a base can be designed according to the level of play in which the base will be used.

Abstract: The invention is a protective type mitten or glove for use as a toy with which to play with a kitten, cat, or similar sharp toothed and/or clawed animal (i.e., raccoon, ferret, etc.). The glove extends well up the forearm past the wrist, nearly to the elbow. The invention is provided with eyes and/or a nose that rattles. In addition, it has a protective material, such as heavy denim, leather, vinyl or the like, between the outer covering and the inner lining. Alternatively, if the protective inner material is sufficently protective to a hand and arm, the lining may be omitted.

Abstract: A plurality of bases and ground anchor system uses a resilient fastening arrangement to severably hold the base so as to minimize the likelihood of injury to a sliding base runner. Each base has a unibody exterior having fastener receiving holes disposed therein. Within the interior of the unibody resilient exterior is foamed material. The fastening arrangement of each base being such that each fastener has a characteristic whereby a different degree of lateral force is required to release the base from the ground support.

Abstract: A base and ground anchor system uses a resilient fastening arrangement to severably hold the base so as to minimize the likelihood of injury to a sliding base runner. The base uses a unibody exterior having fastener receiving holes disposed therein. Within the interior of the unibody resilient exterior is foamed material. A method of making the base uses rotational molding. By varying the cover thickness and/or foam density of the base, different severability characteristics are obtained. A method of using the base includes selecting the appropriate base dependent upon the cover thickness and/or foam density.A tool includes a blade specifically adapted for cleaning dirt from the ground anchor.

Abstract: A ground anchor locator plug is specifically constructed to avoid being damaged by field dragging equipment. The locator plug, which is made of elastomeric material, has an annular ridge which surrounds an annular dirt-retaining recess in which a locator pin is disposed. The recess retains dirt to prevent the plug from being overly obtrusive upon a ball field.

Abstract: A fastener includes a pad element having number of connecting prongs having two locking ridges disposed thereon. The top locking ridges, which are disposed closest to the tip of the prongs, are smaller than the lower locking ridges, thereby facilitating easy alignment of the unisex fasteners of a mating pad. Back prongs on the pad are used for connecting the pad to a surface of an article having holes for receiving the back prongs such that the connecting prongs are positioned to face upwardly from the surface. The fastener is adapted for use in yieldably or separably anchoring a baseball base in place on a playing field ground support attachment having like-constructed fastener prongs whereby injury to a runner sliding into the base will be minimized due to yielding under a relatively low force or separating under a relatively high force of the fastener prongs upon contact thereof.

Abstract: A breakaway safety base for use in playing baseball where the base is secured to a ground support by resilient deformable interengageable members carried on both the base and support which form a plurality of physical connections securing the base to the support. High-injury potential lateral loading forces on the base shear the connections to free the base for lateral movement across the support.

Abstract: A breakaway safety base for use in playing baseball where the base is secured to a ground support by resilient deformable interengageable members carried on both the base and support which form a plurality of physical connections securing the base to the support. High-injury potential lateral loading forces on the base shear the connections to free the base for lateral movement across the support.