Abstract:
The present invention provides a baseball base securing device comprising a buried hollow receiving tube and a spring biased cover. Generally, the baseball base, having a downwardly extending anchor member is receivable by and removable from the receiving tube. The spring biased cover is insertable into the receiver and positionable between a flush position and a retracted position within the receiver. The cover is in the flush position just under the surface, when the anchor of the baseball base is removed from the receiver. The cover is traversed to the retracted position when the anchor of the baseball base is inserted into the receiving tube. The cover, including a air permeable seal around the perimeter, and in contact with the sidewall of the receiving tube pushes dirt out from the receiving tube when the anchor of the base is being removed therefrom, and the cover prevents environmental debris or dirt from entering the receiver when the anchor is not inserted into the receiver.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     (Not Applicable) 
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     (Not Applicable) 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method securing sports equipment to a field playing surface. More particularly, the invention comprises an improved apparatus and method for removably securing a baseball base to the infield of a baseball field. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Baseball is a popular sport in the United States and internationally. The sport is played at many levels beginning from children&#39;s amateur baseball through college and professional baseball. In the more organized baseball leagues, bases are secured to the baseball field to prevent movement during the game. A variety of devices have been adapted to allow bases to be secured and then later removed. 
     The necessity to provide bases that are removably attachable to the playing field arises for a number of reasons. It is desirable to remove the base from the field to avoid prolonged exposure to the environment which would have a deleterious effect on the base. Further, many fields are multipurpose sports fields and it is important to be able to remove the bases to allow other sports to be played without the base secured to the field. Also, during maintenance of the field&#39;s surface, it is desirable to remove the bases. 
     In order to be removably attachable to the playing surface, conventional bases include base anchors affixed to the bottom surface of the base to secure the base to the ground. A number of known base anchors are used to secure bases. Most typically, bases include a male square metal shaft protruding downwardly from the bottom of the center of the base. A square hollow female shaft embedded vertically in the ground receives male shaft via an opening slightly larger than the male shaft. The bottom of the hollow female shaft is installed approximately one to one and a half feet below field grade and is usually set in cement and placed at first, second and third base locations of a playing field. It is estimated that currently, the above described base and anchor is used in approximately 90% of fields used by organized baseball leagues. 
     The above described female shaft anchors are set in the ground at designed base locations depending on the level of play. For example, fields may have a distance of 54 feet for little league play, 60 feet for girls softball, 65 feet for mens softball,70 and 80 feet of Pony level baseball and 90 feet for highschool and major league baseball. The anchors are permanently installed in the ground to accommodate the base for what ever level of game is played. A playing field may have 5 or 6 different anchor locations at one time but only one set of bases is set at a time. 
     After use, the base is removed from the female shaft and a rubber plug is installed in the opening of the female shaft in order to prevent debris from falling into the hollow void thereof. The base is stored for use in the next game. The rubber plugs vary in size from 2 inches in diameter to 6 in diameter, and approximately one inch in height. Square plugs are also utilized. With the rubber plugs in place, the dirt area of the playing field is raked and machine dragged in order to keep the field flat and ready for the next teams use. While the field is being raked and dragged the buried female base anchors are covered with dirt and left covered until the next games are played. In many instances, the fields are raked and dragged by the players or coaches who may easily lose the rubber plugs or they may easily forget to install the plugs and the anchors fill with dirt and rocks. In some cases rakes or dragging equipment will snag the plugs removing them, and causing the void to fill with unwanted material. 
     The filling of the void of the buried female shaft with unwanted material is so prevalent that manufacturers of baseball bases and accompanying anchors sell a small spoon to be used in conjunction with the equipment in order to remove the dirt and debris. Removing of the debris with the spoon device is difficult and time consuming. Each time the field is used, someone must first locate the desired anchor by measuring from a permanently installed home base to the general area of the anchor. The anchor is located by random prodding in the dirt in the general location. Once the plug is removed, the base shaft is placed into the anchor and pushed down to ground level and it is ready for use, sometimes with great difficulty. Frequently debris gets into the shaft of the anchor when removing the plug in which case the small spoon is used to remove the soil. In many cases, if the dirt and rocks are not removed completely, the installers must use great force to push the bases down to ground level. Dirt and rocks may wedge between the anchor shaft and the base shaft and can not be pulled apart. When this happens, the ground anchor must be unburied, removed from the field and new anchor installed. The removed anchor is then discarded, most times along with the frozen base. 
     Because the amateur leagues do not have the benefit of professional grounds keepers, the securing and later removal of the bases to the field surface must be completed by league officials, coaches, umpires or the players themselves. Thus, there is a great need to provide a baseball base securing device which prevents unwanted dirt and debris from entering the open vertical shaft thus, reducing the time and effort associated with base installation. In addition, there is a great need to provide a base securing device which eases the identification of a buried base shaft. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a baseball base securing device which is engageable with a baseball base. The present invention is utilized with a standard baseball base having a downwardly extending anchor which is received by a hollow buried receiving tube member of the present invention. The receiving tube has an aperture which is sized and configured to receive the anchor. When not in use, a cover closes off the receiving tube. The cover is supported by a spring member located within the body of the receiving tube. The cover is traversable between a flush position and a retracted position. The cover is biased such that the flush position is normal. The cover is biased with a compression spring. 
     The spring defines a biasing force at the flushed position and the retracted position. Generally, the spring force at the flush position is sufficient to push dirt out from the aperture, and the spring force at the retracted position is less than a total weight of the base. A collapsible cord is attached to the cover to regulate the cover to the flushed position. 
     The cover has a cross-sectional dimensions virtually identical to that of the base&#39;s downwardly extending member which is received by the aperture of the receiving tube. As such, the aperture is configured as a square hole. Specifically, the size of the cover is slightly smaller than the size of the aperture of the receiver such that the cover may be inserted into the receiver and traversable between a flush position and the retracted position. In this regard, when the anchor of the base is removed from the receiver, the cover pushes debris and dirt out of the receiver as the anchor is being removed from the housing. 
     A flexible seal circumvents the cover. In particular, the seal continuously contacts the outside perimeter of the cover and the inside perimeter of the aperture and inside surface of the receiving tube. The seal is fabricated from a material that is resilient and weather resistant. Additionally, the seal should be permeable to air but not dirt and other debris. In this regard, the seal further displaces dirt out from the receiver as the anchor is being removed from the housing. By way of example and not limitation, the seal may be fabricated from foam, rubber, closed cell rubber or open cell rubber. 
     A visual indicator is attached to the receiving tube. The locator is attached to the receiver such that it is visible above the dirt when the anchor is removed from the housing. The visual indicator has long bristles that are resilient such that it may deform when the bases is inserted into the housing and resiliently push above the surface of the ground when the base is removed therefrom. Typically the locator is oriented and attached to the housing such that the locator is normal to the ground. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These as well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art baseball base securing system; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base securing system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded cross sectional view of the receiving tube of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded cross sectional view of the cover for the receiving tube; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the baseball base securing system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The detailed description as set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention, and does not represent the only embodiment of the present invention. It is understood that various modifications to the invention may be comprised by different embodiments and are also encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     The most common baseball base securing device used in present day amateur baseball is shown FIG. 1 (prior art). The problems associated with the use of the prior art device shown in FIG. 1 is discussed in detail in the Background. FIG. 1 shows a common method of removably securing a baseball base to the playing field. A base  2  having an elongate anchor  4  protrudes below the bottom surface of the base  2  and is engageable with receiving tube  6 . In order to secure the receiving tube  6  to the field, the tapered bottom end  8  of the receiving tube  6  is inserted into cement to form block  10 . The tapered bottom end  8  aids in securing the receiving tube  6  within the cement block  10 . The cement block  10  along with the receiver tube  6  is buried into the ground  11  of the playing field. 
     While the base  2  is secured in the receiving tube  6 , dirt and other debris from the environment will enter the receiving tube  6  through the aperture  12 . After play, the anchor  4  may be pulled out of the receiving tube  6  for storage. Dirt and other debris that enters the receiving tube  6  during play still resides therein. In this regard, the dirt that entered the aperture  12  of the receiver  6  at times wedges itself in between the anchor  4  and the walls of the receiving tube  6  such that removal of the anchor  4  from the receiving tube  6  may be impossible. When the bases  2  are in storage, a rubber stopper  14  is placed over the aperture  12  of the receiving tube  6  so as to prevent debris from the environment from entering the aperture  12 . When the base  2  needs to be reinserted, the dirt and debris that entered the aperture  12  of the receiving tube  12  must be removed such that the anchor  4  of the base  2  may be inserted into the aperture  12  of the receiving tube  6 . Typically, the removal of the dirt and other debris is accomplished with a specially adapted spoon  16 . 
     Referring to the drawings for the purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and not for the purposes of limiting alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention, in particular, FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the baseball base securing device  20  of present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, a base system  18  is provided wherein the same includes a standard base  2  (see FIG. 1) and a base securing device  20 . The base  2  includes an anchor  4 . The base securing device  20  comprises a receiving tube  22  and a cover  50 . 
     Typically, the base system  18  is utilized in an environment which has an abundant supply of debris which potentially may fall into the internal mechanism of the base securing device  20 . For example, the base system  18  may be used to secure base  2  used in the game of baseball to a playing field. In this regard, commonly, the base system  18  is surrounded by lose dirt or other debris. 
     In relation to the base  2 , the same defines opposed top and bottom surfaces  26 ,  28  (see FIG. 2) and a central segment (not shown). The anchor  4  is physically attached to the bottom surface  28  of the base  2 . In particular, the anchor  4  is perpendicularly attached thereto at the central segment (not shown). The physical attachment between the base  2  and the anchor  4  must be sufficient to withstand the forces applied to the base  2  during its normal course of use. For example, in relation to baseball, the physical connection must be sufficient for a player to step on and slide into the base  2 . The anchor  4  defines a body portion  30  and a distal end portion  32 . The anchor  4  is generally an elongate member having a square cross section. The base  2  is standard and widely used, and is the same base described in association with the prior art device of FIG.  1 . 
     Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the receiving tube  22  is an elongate member having an aperture  24  defining a generally square tube. The receiving tube  22  defines an outside surface  34 , inside surface  36 , and opposed top and bottom surfaces  38  and  40 . An aperture  24  extends from the top surface  38  to the bottom surface  40  of the receiving tube  22 . The aperture  24  is sized to receive the anchor  4  of the base  2 . In the shown embodiment, the anchor  4  and receiving tube  22  have square cross sections to allow the mating of the anchor  4  into the aperture  24  of the receiving tube  22 ; however, it is contemplated by the present invention that the anchor  4  may have another shape, and the receiving tube  22  would like wise be a hollow tube with a shape to match the cross sectional shape of the anchor  4  to facilitate the matching of the tube  22  and anchor  4 . 
     The square configuration of the receiving tube  22  is sized such that the anchor  4  may be inserted therein with a snug fit. In this regard, the largest cross section of the anchor  4  is less than the size of the aperture  24  of the receiving tube  22 . The size differential between the anchor  4  and aperture  24  of the receiving tube  22  is such that dirt and other small particles do not prevent the anchor  4  from sliding out from the aperture  24  of the receiving tube  22 . In particular, when the anchor  4  is inserted into the aperture  24  of the receiving tube  22 , dirt and other debris may work its way in between the anchor  4  and the inside surface  36  of the receiving tube  22 . In the prior art, dirt and other debris that works between the anchor  4  and the inner wall of the receiving tube  6  creates friction which increases the force required to remove the anchor  4  from the tube  6 . In the embodiment shown in the present invention, the aperture  24  and the inner cross section of the receiving tube  22  is greater than a standard sized aperture  24  of a standard receiving tube  6  to avoid friction problems associated with debris. 
     The top surface  38  of the receiving tube  22  defines the aperture  24 . The base securing device  20  is buried into the ground  11  such that the top surface  38  is below the level of the ground  11  such that players will not trip over unused base securing devices  20  at other locations on the playing field. Preferably, the top surface  38  is approximately one inch to two and one half inches below the level of the ground. Additionally, when the anchor  4  is fully inserted into the aperture  24  of the receiving tube  22 , the bottom surface  28  of the base  2  rests upon the ground and not upon the top surface  38  of the receiving tube  22 . As discussed above, the anchor  4  is perpendicularly attached to the base  2 . The receiving tube  22  is formed from a square metal tube, and it is contemplated that it may be manufactured from any rigid material such as steel, aluminum, plastics, or any other suitable material for which the base system  18  will be used. 
     The outside surface  34  of the receiving tube  22  includes a elongate rigid bar  42  of flat metal affixed generally perpendicular to the receiving tube  22 . Preferably, the bar  42  is a flat rectangular sheet of rigid material having opposed pairs of longitudinal and lateral edges  44 ,  46 . Although a flat member is contemplated, any elongate bar may be used. The bar  42  is attached to the outside surface  34  of the receiving tube  22 . The bar  42  is affixed to the bottom portion of the receiving tube  22  such that the bar  42  is located within the cement block  10  (see FIG.  5 ). By way of example and not limitation, the bar  42  may be attached to the receiving tube  22  through welding. In use, the bottom portion of the receiving tube  22  is set in cement to form the block  10 . As shown in FIG. 5, the distal end of the bottom portion of the receiving tube  22  is not set in cement. The resultant cement block  10  (shown in FIG. 5) and the exposed portion of the receiving tube  22  is buried in the ground  11  with the aperture  24  exposed to the surface for receiving a base anchor  4 . The distal end of the bottom portion of the receiving tube  22  which is not set in cement is placed in gravel  47 . A purpose of the bar  42  is to prevent the removal of the receiving tube  22  from the cement block  10 . Additionally, the bar  42  prevents rotational movement of the receiving tube  22  within the cement block  10 . The bar  42  may be manufactured from any rigid material such as metal, steel, aluminum, plastics or any other suitable material for which the base system  18  will be used. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, disposed on the bottom surface  40  of the receiving tube  22  is a bottom plate  48 . One of the purposes of the bottom plate  48  is to retain the spring  90  within the receiving tube  22 . The bottom plate  48  includes a sheet portion  52  and a protrusion portion  54 . The protrusion portion  54  is coaxially aligned with the sheet portion  52  such that the sheet portion  52  matches the bottom surface  40  of the receiving tube  22 . Optionally, the protrusion portion  54  includes recessed area. The sheet portion  52  provides a seal between the bottom plate  48  and the receiving tube  22 . Additionally, the sheet portion  52  behaves as a stop for the protrusion portion  54  such that the protrusion portion  54  is not freely slidable within the receiving tube  22 . Furthermore, the sheet portion  52  may have a plurality of weep holes  53 . The weep holes  53  are located on the sheet portion  52  at the recessed area. As discussed above, the distal end of the bottom portion of the receiving tube  22  is not set in cement (see FIG.  5 ). In this regard, the bottom plate  48  having weep holes  53  are also not set in cement but is exposed to the gravel  47  (see FIG.  5 ). As a result, the weep holes  53  drain any moisture that might accumulate within the receiving tube  22 . The number of weep holes  53  are increased as the requirement to drain moisture from the receiving tube  22  is increased. 
     More particularly, in relation to FIG. 5, the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 2-5 is installed into the ground  11  in the following manner. A hole in the ground  11  is made which is approximately 18 inches deep and 18 inches round. Gravel  47  is placed at the bottom of the hole. Preferably, approximately six inches of gravel  47  is placed at the bottom of the hole. The bottom portion of the receiving tube  22  is inserted into the gravel  47 . Preferably, approximately one inch of the bottom portion of the receiving tube  22  is inserted into the gravel  47 . Cement is filled on top of the gravel  47  and surrounds the bottom portion of the receiving tube  22 . Preferably, approximately six inches of cement is filled on top of the gravel  47 . Dirt is filled on top of the cement. Preferably, approximately six inches of dirt is filled on top of the cement so that people will not hit the cement as the dirt is pushed out of the way after people repeatedly slide into the base  2  thereby pushing the soil away. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a spring  90  is disposed within the aperture  24  of the receiving tube  22  between the bottom plate  48  and the cover  50 . Preferably, the spring  90  is a compression spring, and the bottom of the spring  90  is nested within the recessed area of the protrusion portion  54  of the bottom plate  48 . In this regard, the spring  90  biases the cover  50  flush with the upper surface  38  when the anchor  4  is removed from the receiving tube. The spring force must be sufficient to traverse the cover  50  from a retracted position to a position flush with upper surface  38 . The spring force of the spring  90  with the base removed and the cover  50  at the flush position is approximately two pounds. The spring force at the retracted position is less than the weight of the base  2  and anchor  4 , and is approximately 8 to 10 pounds of force. In this regard, the spring  90  cannot eject the anchor  4  and base  2  from the receiving tube  22 . Additionally, the spring  90  does not bottom out when the anchor  4  is fully inserted therein. 
     The length of the receiving tube  22  is sufficient to contain the cover  50 , spring  90  and anchor  4 . The top of the spring  90  is nested in the recess of a housing  60  of the cover  50  at its bottom portion (see FIG.  3 ). Additionally, the spring  90  is positioned so as to be located in the recess of the protrusion portion  54  of the bottom plate  48 . In this regard, the respective recesses are sized and configured to receive the spring  90 . Both recesses are for the purpose of positioning the spring  90  within the receiving tube  22 . 
     As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3, a cord  92  is attached to the cover  50  and the bottom plate  48 . Preferably, the cord  92  is placed through the spring  90 . The cord  92  is attached to the cover  50  on the top end and attached to the bottom plate  48  on the bottom end. A purpose of the cord  92  is to regulate the cover  50  to the flushed position and to force the spring  90  into a biased, constantly tensioned, position. In particular, the spring  90  places the cord  92  in tension when the cover  50  is flush with the top surface  38 . Another purpose of the cord  92  is to provide the spring  90 , the bottom plate  48  and the cover  50  as one complete unit which may be removably inserted into the receiving lube  22 . When the anchor  4  is inserted into the receiving tube  22 , the cord  92  collapses into the spring  90 . 
     Referring particularly to FIG. 4, there is shown a cross sectional exploded view of the cover  50  of the present invention. The cover  50  includes a seal  58  and the housing  60 . The housing  60  is preferably a single unit which has a top and bottom portion  62 ,  64  separated by a groove  66 . The top portion  62  has a top surface  68  which has a greater surface area compared to the cross-section of the anchor  4 . In this regard, when the base  2  having the anchor  4  is inserted into the receiving tube  22 , the seal  58  does not contact the anchor  4  thereby preventing any harm that might occur to the seal  58  from the anchor  4 . The bottom portion  64  has a greater footprint than the top portion  62 . The bottom portion  64  on its lower side has a recessed area which receives the spring  90  to locate the spring  90  within the receiving tube  22 . By way of example and not limitation, the housing  60  may be manufactured from plastic, hard rubber or neoprene material. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the seal  58  is affixed to the housing  60  at the groove  66 . Generally, the seal  58  is manufactured from a resilient material. Preferably, the seal material is permeable to air and water but impermeable to dirt and other undesired debris. By way of example and not limitation, the seal  58  may be manufactured from foam, rubber, foam rubber, closed cell rubber or open cell rubber. Referring to FIG. 4, the seal  58  has an inside perimeter  70 , an outside perimeter  72  and a thickness  74 . The thickness  74  of the seal  58  is sized and configured to fit the width of the groove  66  on the housing  60 . The inside perimeter  70  of the seal  58  is configured to be similar to the configuration of the groove  66  formed on the housing  60 . The inside perimeter  70  of the seal  58  is sized such that it is slightly smaller than the groove  66 . The outside perimeter  72  of the seal  58  is configured to be similar to the configuration of the inside surface  36  of the receiving tube  22 . The outside perimeter  72  of the seal  58  is sized to be slightly larger than the inside surface  36  of the receiving tube  22  when the seal  58  is located on the groove  66  of the housing  60 . 
     The cover  50  is inserted into the aperture  24  of the receiving tube  22 , as shown in FIG.  2 . In this regard, the cover  50  is made traversable between a position flush with the upper surface  38  and a retracted position when the anchor  4  is inserted into the receiving tube  22 . FIG. 2 depicts the cover  50  being flush with the upper surface  38  of the receiving tube  22 . The cover  50  is in the retracted position when the anchor  4  of the base  2  is inserted into the receiving tube  22  (not shown). The cover  50  is flush with the upper surface  38  when the anchor  4  of the base  2  is removed from the receiving tube  22 . 
     As discussed above, the seal  58  is in direct contact with the inside surface  36  of the receiving tube  22 . The significance of which is better appreciated in an example of the operation of the base system  18 . In the operation of the base system  18 , the anchor  4  of the base  2  is inserted into the receiving tube  22  when the field is being prepared for baseball. In this regard, a person will clear the top surface  38  of the receiving tube  22  and cover  50  from any debris or dirt thereon. Thereafter, the anchor  4  is inserted into the receiving tube  22 . During the insertion, the cover  50  traverses the receiving tube  22  from the flush position with the upper surface  38  to a retracted position. During game time, players will step on and slide into the bases  2  which causes dirt and other debris to fall between the anchor  4  and the receiving tube  22 . After the game, the anchor  4  is removed from the receiving tube  22  and placed in storage. During the removal, the cover  50  traverses the receiving tube  22  from the retracted position to a position flush with the upper surface  38 , and any dirt or debris that may have fallen between the anchor  4  and the receiving tube  22  is ejected out from the receiving tube  22  by the cover  50 . More specifically, by the seal  58  of the cover  50 . In this regard, the seal  58  must apply a sufficient pressure continuously and circumferentially about the inside surface  36  of the receiving tube  22  to eject dirt and other debris out of the receiving tube  22  when the cover  50  traverses from the retracted to flushed position. Additionally, the inside perimeter  70  of the seal  58  must snugly fit in the groove  66  of the cover housing  60  such that repeated cycling of the cover  50  between the retracted position and the position flush with the upper surface  38  will not dislodge the seal  58  from the housing  60 . As a result, only the top surface  38  of the receiving tube  22  and cover  50  need be cleared to re-insert the anchor  4  into the receiving tube  22 . In contrast, in the prior art, dirt that has fallen into the receiving tube  22  needs to be cleared before the insertion of the anchor  4  therein. Additionally, in the prior art, the spoon  16  and rubber stopper  14  needs to be stored away; whereas, in the present invention, only the base  2  is detachable from the base securing device  20 . 
     As stated above, the seal  58  is fabricated with material that is permeable to air but not to dirt or other undesirable debris. In this regard, the air is allowed to pass through the cover  50  such that the cover  50  may easily traverse the receiving tube  22  from the retracted position to a position flush with the upper surface  38 . Conversely, when the anchor  4  is inserted into the receiving tube  22 , the air trapped under the cover  50  within the receiving tube  22  must exit as the anchor  4  is inserted into the receiving tube  22 . In this regard, the air may pass through the air permeable seal  58 . Alternatively, the weep holes  53  provides an exit and entrance for air to pass into and out of the receiving tube  22 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2 and 3, a locator  96  may be attached to the receiving tube  22 . The locator  96  is a plurality of elongate bristles. The locator  96  is attached to the top of receiving tube  22  such that the top end of the locator  96  is visible above ground level when the anchor  4  is not inserted into the receiving tube  22 . The locator  96  is fabricated from a resilient material in that it bends back when a base  2  is in place, and springs back up when the base  2  is removed. The color of the locator  96  may be any color which is easily locatable in the environment in which the base securing device  20  resides. By way of example and not limitation, the locator  96  may be orange when the base system  10  is used in a brown dirt field. In this regard, a purpose of the locator  96  is to make the location of the receiving tube  22  readily determinable when debris and dirt may be covering the receiving tube  22 . Different colors may be used for different levels of play. 
     It should be noted and understood that with respect to the embodiments of the present invention, the materials suggested may be modified or substituted to achieve the general overall resultant high efficiency. The substitution of materials or dimensions remains within the spirit and scope of the present invention.