Patent ID: 8216095

Claim:
An artificial pitching mound apparatus, comprising in combination: an artificial pitching rubber including a first fillable component filled with a first type of microbeads of a first pre-determined size and shape, wherein interactions between individual surfaces of the first type of microbeads or pellets determines a first feel and a first resistance for the artificial pitching rubber and wherein the first type of microbead includes silicone, polystyrene, polypropylene, prolene, or composite material microbeads or combinations thereof and the artificial pitching rubber further including a cover component for covering the first fillable component; an artificial pitching stride component including a deformable tapered fillable component filled with a plurality of microbeads of a second pre-determined size and shape, wherein the second type of microbead includes silicone, polystyrene, polypropylene, prolene or composite material microbeads or combinations thereof, the deformable tapered fillable component comprising a first higher height at a first end and tapers to a second lower height at a second end, and a second cover component for the tapered fillable component, wherein interactions between individual surfaces of the second type of microbeads of the second pre-determined size and shape determines a deformability, a second feel and a second resistance different from the first feel and resistance of the first fillable component, wherein the first fillable component and tapered fillable component absorb impacts and the tapered fillable component provides deformability thereby preventing or reducing repetitive injuries from impacting the artificial pitching stride component and prevents slipping and provides safer starting and landing surfaces than those provided by a pitching mound constructed of non-deformable non-fillable components; an artificial mound component including the artificial pitching rubber with the first fillable component filled with a first type of microbeads of a first pre-determined size and shape on a top surface at a first end in contact with the artificial pitching stride component including the deformable tapered fillable component filled with a plurality of microbeads of a second pre-determined size and shape which slopes downward from the first end to a second end, wherein the artificial mound component exceeds a width and length of artificial pitching rubber artificial mound component by a pre-determined length and width to provide support for the artificial pitching rubber and the artificial pitching stride component; and a top surface layer of the artificial pitching mound apparatus including artificial grass with plurality of groups of fibers that have been tufted on a porous backing that resemble real grass and wherein the plurality of groups of fibers are water resistant and the porous backing insures the proper water drainage from the top surface layer and off the artificial pitching mound apparatus.