Abstract:
A baseball home plate with laser beams arrangement is disclosed. The home plate has laser assemblies disposed along its edges emitting laser beams in the vertical direction. When a baseball thrown by a pitcher crosses over a path with one of the laser beams, the baseball is illuminated by a distinct laser spot. This permits an umpire to easily determine whether or not the baseball laterally passed through the strike zone and call the pitch a ball or a strike accordingly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to a baseball home plate with laser beams arrangement. More specifically, this invention is a solution to the problem of accurately determining whether, in a baseball game, a pitch is a ball or a strike with respect to the home plate. Baseball fans know that a home plate umpire is charged with the duty of monitoring strike/ball calls at the home plate. A ball is a pitch which does not enter the strike zone, whereas a strike is a pitch that causes any part of the ball to pass through any part of the strike zone. Horizontally, the strike zone is the area over the home plate, while vertically, the strike zone consists of the area between the butter&#39;s chest and knees. 
     Specifically, from the umpire&#39;s vantage point behind the home plate, it is easy to see the height of a pitch. It is also not difficult to call a strike when a ball passes over the center of the home plate. The difficulty arises when a ball passes over the edge of the home plate. When this happens, it is not uncommon at baseball games to have disagreements as to whether the pitch is a ball or a strike. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The baseball home plate with laser beams arrangement solves the problem of disputed strike/ball calls by an umpire, in such cases. A polygon shaped baseball home plate has a plurality of laser assemblies disposed along its front and side edges. Each laser assembly comprises a top lens mounted flush with the upper surface of the baseball home plate, a laser diode and drive circuit controlled to emit a laser beam through the top lens in the vertical direction. There are provided two switches that can turn on and off two groups of laser beams. When a baseball thrown by a pitcher crosses over a path with one of the laser beams, the baseball is illuminated by a distinct laser spot. This permits an umpire to easily determine whether or not the baseball passed through the strike zone and call the pitch a ball or a strike accordingly. Further, if the game is taped, viewing the tape in slow motion will allow to see whether the baseball was illuminated by a distinct laser spot and resolve the doubt if there are conflicting claims of whether there was a ball or a strike. The baseball home plate of the present invention can also be used for pitching practice by allowing a pitcher to see whether a baseball thrown by the pitcher is illuminated by the laser spot or not. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 shows top sectional view of the baseball home plate with laser beams arrangement of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows a side sectional view of the baseball home plate with laser beams arrangement of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 shows an enlarged portion of the side sectional view of the baseball home plate with laser beams arrangement of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 shows an enlarged portion of the side sectional view of the baseball home plate with laser beams arrangement according to the embodiment comprising a cushion means. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     This invention will be better understood with the reference to the drawing figures FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG.  3  and FIG.  4 . The same numerals refer to the same elements in all drawing figures. 
     Viewing simultaneously FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, numeral  10  indicates a baseball home plate. Baseball Home Plate  10  has a polygon shape and has an upper surface, indicated by numeral  100 , mounted flush with the ground. Numeral  20  indicates side edges. Side Edges  20  are opposite and parallel to one another. Numeral  30  indicates a front edge. Front Edge  30  is perpendicular to Side Edges  20 . 
     Numeral  40  indicates through passages. A plurality of Through Passages  40  is disposed along Side Edges  20  and Front Edge  30 . Each of Through Passages  40  has an axis substantially perpendicular to Upper Surface  100 . Numeral  50  indicates a laser assembly. One Laser Assembly  50  is fixedly mounted within each of Through Passages  40 . Further, Through Passages  40  are shown as cylindrical bores. However, Through Passages  40  can be rectangular in shape, or any other shape suitable to accommodate Laser Assemblies  50  therein. 
     Each Laser Assembly  50  comprises a top lens indicated by numeral  120 . Top Lens  120  is mounted flush with Upper Surface  100 . Each Laser Assembly  50  also comprises a laser diode and drive circuit controlled to emit a laser beam through Top Lens  120  in the direction substantially perpendicular to Upper Surface  100 . 
     Numeral  60  indicates a recessed chamber. Recessed Chamber  60  is disposed within a lower surface of Baseball Home Plate  10  indicated by numeral  110 . Numeral  70  indicates a battery power source. Battery Power Source  70  is for providing electrical power to each of the drive circuits of Laser Assemblies  50 . Battery Power Source  70  is removably mounted within Recessed Chamber  60 . 
     Numeral  80  indicates a first switch. First Switch  80  is disposed within Lower Surface  110 . First Switch  80  can be selectively placed in an on position and in an off position and is electrically connected to Battery Power Source  70  and to the drive circuits disposed along Side Edges  20 . Placing First Switch  80  in the on position energizes the drive circuits disposed along Side Edges  20 . 
     Numeral  90  indicates a second switch. Second Switch  90  is disposed within Lower Surface  110 . Second Switch  90  can be selectively placed in an on position and in an off position and is electrically connected to Battery Power Source  70  and to the drive circuits disposed along Front Edge  30 . Placing Second Switch  90  in the on position energizes the drive circuits disposed along Front Edge  30 . 
     Viewing now FIG. 3, numeral  130  indicates a laser beam. Laser Beam  130  is emitted by Laser Assembly  50  through Top Lens  120  in the direction substantially perpendicular to Upper Surface  100 . Numeral  140  indicates a baseball. Baseball  140  is shown in FIG. 3 while crossing path with Laser Beam  130 . This causes Baseball  140  to be illuminated by a distinct laser spot, indicated by numeral  150 . Viewing Distinct Laser Spot  150  permits an umpire to easily determine that Baseball  140  has passed through the strike zone and call a strike accordingly. Because Baseball  140  is round, Distinct Laser Spot  150  appears on the arc of Baseball  140 . Therefore, Distinct Laser Spot  150  is visible to the people viewing the pitch at and above eye level. 
     Top Lenses  120  and/or Laser Assemblies  50  or any part thereof can be replaced if damaged. Replacement may also be required in order to emit a broader, less intense Laser Beam  130 . Emitting a broader, less intense Laser Beam  130  may be desirable for little league games where butters stand closer to Baseball Home Plate  10  and risk exposure by a more intense Laser Beam  130 . 
     An alternative embodiment of this invention provides cushion means in order to protect Laser Assemblies  50  from shock caused by the impact between a baseball player and Baseball Home Plate  10 , as well the impact caused by any other object coming into a contact with Baseball Home Plate  10 . Cushion means protect the players as well. This embodiment is described in reference to FIG.  4 . 
     Viewing now FIG. 4, numeral  160  indicates a side surface. Side Surface  160  is defined between Upper Surface  100  and Lower Surface  110  along the perimeter of Baseball Home Plate  10 . Numeral  170  indicates a first cushion means. First Cushion Means  170  is disposed on Upper Surface  100  and it is affixed to Upper Surface  100  by way of adhesive or any other suitable means. Numeral  180  indicates an opening. First Cushion Means  170  comprises a plurality of Openings  180  that expose the corresponding Top Lenses  120  thus permitting Laser Beams  130  to pass through First Cushion Means  170 . 
     Numeral  190  indicates a second cushion means. Second Cushion Means  190  is disposed on Side Surface  160  and it is affixed to Side Surface  160  by way of adhesive or any other suitable means. 
     Numeral  200  indicates a third cushion means. Third Cushion Means  200  is disposed on Lower Surface  110  and it is affixed to Lower Surface  110  by way of adhesive or any other suitable means. Third Cushion Means  200  comprises a means for access to the battery power source indicated by numeral  210 , means for access to the second switch indicated by numeral  220 . 
     Means for Access to the Battery Power Source  210  permits access to Battery Power Source  70  through Third Cushion Means  200  and can be done as a removable lid. Similarly, Means for Access to the Second Switch  220  permits access to Second Switch  90  through Third Cushion Means  200  and can also be done as a removable lid. Third Cushion Means  200  further comprises a means for access to the first switch (not shown in FIG. 4) which is identical to Means for Access to the Second Switch  220  and permits access to First Switch  80  through Third Cushion Means  200 . 
     Further, each of First Cushion Means  170 , Second Cushion Means  190  and Third Cushion Means  200  further comprises an inner layer indicated by numeral  230 , an outer layer indicated by numeral  250  and a mid layer indicated by numeral  240 . Mid Layer  240  is positioned between Outer Layer  250  and Inner Layer  230 . Outer Layer  250 , Mid Layer  240  and Inner Layer  230  are integrally bound to one another by way of an adhesive, a thermal process or any other suitable means. 
     Outer Layer  250  is comprised of a relatively rigid material. Suitable material for Outer Layer  250  is synthetic resin of a relatively hard nature, such as polyamide (nylon) or polyurethane or similar material. 
     Inner Layer  230  is comprised of a relatively resilient material having a first modulus of elasticity. Mid Layer  240  is also comprised of a relatively resilient material having a second modulus of elasticity. The first modulus of elasticity is higher than the second modulus of elasticity. This combination of the relatively rigid Outer Layer  250 , resilient Mid Layer  240  and resilient Inner Layer  230  (Inner Layer  230  being softer or more elastic than Mid Layer  240 ) protects Laser Assemblies  50  from shock caused by the impact between various objects and Baseball Home Plate  10 . 
     First Cushion Means  170 , Second Cushion Means  190  and Third Cushion Means  200  can be replaced, when necessary, either entirely or only partially around desired locations on Baseball Home Plate  10 . 
     The above-described preferred embodiment of the invention is exemplary only, and is not exhaustive of the scope of the invention. Specifically, this invention is not limited to the game of baseball and can be used for softball and other ball games. Consequently, the invention is intended to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects.