Patent Abstract:
An apparatus for cleaning the surface of a base, comprising: a base; a plurality of apertures flush with the surface of said base, said apertures being connected to a plurality of sub-channels and wherein said apertures are adapted to expel air; at least one air chamber operatively connected with said plurality of sub-channels; a main channel connected with said at least one air chamber; wherein said main channel is supplied from an air compressor; and a main valve located between said at least one air chamber and said main channel, wherein said main valve regulates the air flow from said main channel to said at least one air chamber, said valve being further adapted to close said main channel.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally related to an apparatus and system for cleaning baseball field bases and/or locations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During a baseball game, a player or players may slide onto bases in their bid to score home runs. In doing so, dirt, dust, debris and/or mud would normally end up on the base in question. In many instances, the game would have to be delayed because the umpire and/or cleaners would have to stop the game to go to the base to clean it. Additionally, as the game progresses, the base may accumulate dust and debris that land on the base. As a result, the base ends up being dirtied and hard to see over time by both players and umpires. Clean bases are needed as they are more visible by the players and most especially the umpires who need to make play calls. 
     As such, there is a need for an apparatus and system that would enable the efficient cleaning of the base thereby enabling players to see the base as they slide or dive toward it. There is also a need for an apparatus and system that enables remote cleaning of the base, which would obviate the need for an umpire and/or a cleaner to go out to the base during a game to clean the base. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus, system and method for cleaning the surface of a baseball field base where the apparatus may comprise of a base, and one or more apertures which are positioned within the base. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the apertures may be adapted to expel air and may also be connected to one or more sub-channels. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more apertures may be positioned flush with the surface of the base. The envisioned apparatus may also comprise of one or more air chambers which are operatively connected with the one or more sub-channels. The apparatus may further comprise of a main channel connected with the one or more air chambers, where the main channel is supplied from an air compressor. The apparatus may also comprise of a main valve located between the one or more air chambers and the main channel, where the main valve regulates the air flow from the main channel to the one or more air chambers. The valve may also be further adapted to close the main channel. 
     In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, one or more sides of the base may comprise of a visual display. The visual display may be a variety of things, including, without limitation, an LED display, an advertising screen etc. or combination thereof. The visual display may also perform a variety of functions. 
     In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the base may comprise of sensors which detect dust, debris and/or mud on the base. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the sensors may be adapted to effect a blast of air from the air compressor. In an alternate embodiment, the sensors may be programmed to activate the air compressor once a certain amount of dust, debris, mud etc. has been detected on the surface of the base. 
     In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the air compressor may be programmed to supply air at predetermined times. As such, the air compressor may operate either independently of input or with input from a user using the apparatus or operating the system. 
     In yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the base may further comprise of a visual device for aiding a user in determining when to activate the air compressor. In yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the visual device may be used to detect the presence of dust, debris and/or mud on the base. 
     In a further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more apertures may be positioned to ensure efficient cleaning of the base. In one embodiment, the apertures are inclined at different angles to effect direct and indirect air blasts to clean the base. 
     In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a base cleaning system is envisioned. The system, in one aspect of an embodiment, may comprise of an air compressor, a controller, one or more bases, a plurality of conduits or channels used to supply air to the bases. In one aspect of an embodiment of the invention, the controller may be either stationary or wireless. In another aspect, the air compressor may operate at predetermined intervals. In another aspect, the predetermined intervals may be programmed at the controller. 
     In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating a system for cleaning baseball locations is disclosed. In one aspect, the method may include the steps of detecting dust, debris, dirt, mud or other obstacles at one or more locations, activating an air compressor to supply air to the one or more locations, directing air from the air compressor to the one or more locations, regulating the flow of said supplied air at the one or more locations, and using the supplied air to clean the one or more locations. 
     In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the method may further include the step of monitoring the one or more locations. This may be made possible by using a variety of visual devices including cameras. 
     In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the method may further include the step of activating a pre-determined schedule for supplying air to the one or more locations. 
     In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the method may further include the step of displaying information at the one or more locations. 
     In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the method may further include the step of effecting an automatic blast of air at the one or more locations upon the detection of dust, debris, dirt, mud or other obstacles. In one aspect, detection of dust, dirt, debris or other obstacles may be made possible using a variety of sensory devices including, without limitation, infra-red devices. 
     In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the method may further include the step of transmitting an activation signal wirelessly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of aspects of embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the claims and drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a general layout of a baseball field showing the field&#39;s bases according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a system according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention showing a fixed controller device &amp; location. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a system according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention showing the use of a wireless controller. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a perspective view of a base according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a bottom view of a base according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates a side view of a base according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3D  illustrates a sectional view of a base according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a flow chart of an operational process flow according to an exemplary aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  Illustrates a flow chart of another operational process flow according to an exemplary aspect of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is now described in more detail by reference to the exemplary drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the various views. This is for convenience only and is not intended to limit the application of the present invention. In fact, after reading the following description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the following invention in alternate embodiments. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a general layout of a baseball field  100  according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention is shown. As seen, baseball field  100  has three regular bases  102 A,  102 B,  102 C, home base  102 D and pitcher&#39;s mound  102 E (“locations”) where all of these bases and the pitcher&#39;s mound may have the same configuration and structural form or makeup. It should be noted that the number of locations may vary or differ and may include other positions not identified as “bases” or “pitcher&#39;s mound.” 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2A , a system  200  according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention showing a fixed controller device &amp; location  202  is shown. Here, fixed controller device &amp; location  202  is used to control the operation of air compressor  204 . In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, an operator (e.g. an umpire and/or cleaner) may activate the air compressor  204  once the operator realizes that a base or some bases have been obscured by dirt, debris and/or mud. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the dust, dirt, mud and/or obstacles may be detected using a variety and/or combination of sensors and monitoring devices any one of which may use infra-red technology. Once air compressor  204  is activated, it sends a supply of air through conduits  206 A- 206 E to bases  102 A through  102 D and pitcher&#39;s mound  102 E of baseball field  100 . In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a visual device  208  may be strategically positioned to view bases  102 A through  102 D and pitcher&#39;s mound  102 E. As such, an umpire or cleaner would be able to readily determine whether a base or bases need to be cleaned or not. Visual device  208  may send its video feed back to fixed controller device &amp; location  202  or to any designated location. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2B , an exemplary aspect of the present invention showing the use of a wireless controller  210  is shown. Here, the air compressor  204  may be controlled and/or activated by a wireless controller  210 . An operator may be anywhere with the wireless controller  210  which transmits a signal to data receiver  212  which may be in operative communication with air compressor  204 . Data receiver  212  then sends the desired control to air compressor  204 . In one aspect, the control may be for air compressor  204  to supply only one base or any number of bases  102 A- 102 D and/or pitcher&#39;s mound  102 E with air to clean their respective surfaces. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, air compressor  204  may be activated at predetermined intervals. Air compressor  204  may also be pre-programmed to operate at certain designated times on a predetermined schedule. 
     In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a smoke generator  214 , may be connected with air compressor  204 . As such, wireless controller  210  may send a signal for smoke generator  214  to generate smoke and send it to a base, desired base(s) and/or pitcher&#39;s mound  102 E through air compressor  204 . In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a visual device  208  may also be present. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, visual device  208  may be part of a base  102 . In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, visual device  208  may be a separate device from base  102 . Visual device  208  may aid an operator or user in determining when to activate the air compressor. In yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the visual device may also be used to detect the presence of dust, debris and/or mud on the base. In a further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, visual device  208  may be used to monitor the accumulation and/or detection of dust, debris, mud or obstacles at the base. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3A  a perspective view of a base  102 A according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention is shown. Here a plurality of apertures  302  is shown on the surface of base  102 A. It should be noted that discussion/description of the invention as it pertains to base  102 A is purely illustrative and not limiting as the same discussion/description may be applicable to bases  102 B- 102 D, pitcher&#39;s mound  102 E and/or any other location in the system. In one aspect of an embodiment of the invention, the apertures  302  may be equidistant from each other. In another aspect, the apertures  302  may be at random positions from each other. In yet another aspect, apertures  302  may be positioned to ensure cleaning of the surface of base  102 A including the positions between apertures. In yet another aspect, apertures  302  may be positioned at angular positions to ensure blasts of air at angles to clean the surface and also to collide and bounce back onto spots in between apertures  302 . In yet another aspect of the invention, the apertures  302  are positioned flush with the surface of base  102 A. In yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, base  102 A is also installed in its position using ground supports  306  as shown. 
     Also seen in  FIGS. 3A &amp; 3C  is visual display  304 . Visual display  304  may be a variety of things, including, without limitation, an LED display, an advertising screen etc. or combination thereof. Visual display  304  may also perform a variety of functions, including a display of a team&#39;s logo as shown in  FIG. 3C . In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, visual display  304  may have a ticker tape with displayed advertisements. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3B , a bottom view of a base  102 A according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention is shown. Here conduit  206 A is shown entering base  102 A from the bottom. Conduit  206 A supplies air from air compressor  204  once air compressor  204  has been activated to operate and supply air to one or any number of bases  102 A- 102 D and/or pitcher&#39;s mound  102 E. Air then flows from conduit  206 A into base  102 A. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3D , a sectional view of a base  102 A according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention is shown. As shown, conduit  206 A supplies air from air compressor  204  passing through main valve  308 , which, in one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, may function to regulate the air flow top air chamber  310 . Upon opening of main valve  308 , the air flows into air chamber  310  before subsequently exiting base  102 A via apertures  302 , which in turn cleans the surface of base  102 A. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the air supplied by air compressor  204  may remain in the conduit/conduits  206  until main valve  308 , as shown in  FIG. 3D  opens. The operation of main valve  308  may be automatic or manual. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, main valve  308  may be controlled from controller device  202 . Once main valve  308  is opened, air flows into air chamber  310 . In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there may more than one air chamber. In a further aspect, each air chamber may be supplied separately by a separate conduit or air channel while also having individual valves to regulate the flow of air from air compressor  204 . In a yet further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, an automatic blast of air may be supplied to base  102 A upon detection of dust, dirt, mud and/or obstacles on its surface. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart showing an operational process flow  400  according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The process may begin in step  402  with the monitoring of the bases or locations. Monitoring, in one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, may be implemented by a visual device such as visual device  208 . Following the monitoring of the location(s) in step  402  is step  404  where it is determined whether the monitored location(s) is obscured by dirt, dust, debris, mud and/or other obstacles. An umpire or operator viewing the video feed from visual device  208  may, in step  404 , determine that a certain location may need to be cleaned. Once this has been determined, air compressor  204  may be activated in step  406  to start supplying air to the location. Once activated, air compressor  204  then supplies the designated location(s) with a blast/supply of air or smoke as shown in step  408 . Upon reaching the designated location, the air flow to the location&#39;s air chamber  310  may be regulated by main valve  308 , an operation as shown in step  410 . The supplied air may then be utilized in step  412 , upon release, to clean the surface of the location. Following this cleaning operation, the umpire and/or operator may, in step  414 , make another determination as to whether the location needs additional cleaning or not. If additional cleaning is needed, the process proceeds back to step  406  with the umpire and/or operator activating air compressor  204  to supply more air to the location. If not, the process ends. 
     In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the umpire and/or operator may activate air compressor  204  using controller device  202  or wireless controller  210 . In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, air compressor  204  may be activated to supply the designated location with smoke generated by smoke generator  214 . In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, LED display may be activated by controller device  202  or wireless controller  210  with the displayed information transmitted via wire and/or wirelessly. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a flowchart showing another operational process flow  500  according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The process may begin with the monitoring of the location(s) as shown in step  502 . The process then proceeds to step  504  where the system determines whether the activation of air compressor  204  has been programmed into the system or not. If it is determined that activation of air compressor  204  has been programmed, the process proceeds to step  506  where the activation schedule for air compressor  204  is implemented. If no activation schedule has been pre-programmed for air compressor  204 , then the process proceeds to step  508  where the monitor (be it either the umpire and/or an operator) makes a determination as to whether the location(s) require cleaning. If the answer to this decisional block is in the affirmative, then air compressor  204  is activated as shown in step  510 . If not, then the process proceeds to step  502  for continued monitoring. An activation schedule may, in one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, dictate when air compressor  204  is to be activated, duration of air compressor  204 &#39;s operation, amount of air to be supplied etc. 
     Once air compressor  204  has been activated in step  510 , air compressor  204  then supplies the designated location(s) with air as shown in step  512 . In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, air compressor  204  may also supply, based on an umpire&#39;s/operator&#39;s selection, smoke as generated by smoke generator  214 . 
     The system, in step  514  then determines whether operation of main valve  308  is pre-programmed into the system or not. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, it may be determined in step  514  whether operation of main valve  308  is to be either pre-programmed (automatic) or manual. If operation of main valve  308  is determined to have been pre-programmed into the system (for example, at controller  202 ), the regulation schedule of main valve  308 , in step  516 , is then implemented. In one aspect, the regulation of main valve  308  may allow a certain amount of air flow into air chamber  310 . In another aspect, main valve  308  may be opened or closed depending on the regulation schedule. If the operation is determined to not have been pre-programmed, then in step  518 , main valve  308  regulates the air flow to air chamber  310  as air compressor  204  is activated under normal conditions. 
     The air flow into air chamber  310  is then used, in step  520  to clean the surface after which an umpire and/or operator in step  522  determines whether the surface is clean or whether additional cleaning is required. If it is determined that the surface is clean, the process ends. If not, the process proceeds to step  512  where air compressor  204  is further activated to supply air to the location for additional cleaning. 
     Although this present invention has been disclosed with reference to specific forms and embodiments, it will be evident that a great number of variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, steps may be reversed, equivalent elements may be substituted for those specifically disclosed and certain features of the present invention may be used independently of other features—all without departing from the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1