With over a month until spring training starts up, we wanted to give you some much-needed baseball content by highlighting IP-related baseball patents. You can’t have baseball without the bases. While leveraging the ktMINE Search App, I found a number of base patents dating all the way back to 1972 – leading me to explore the evolution of the baseball base.
Baseball Base Ground Fastening Device
One of the very first base patents found in the ktMINE IP Platform was the baseball base ground fastening device patented in 1972. This particular patent focuses on anchoring the base to the ground with a screw-like structure. This loop design prevents the base from coming up upon contact. Another unique design element of this particular base is the two bent rods that form an X shape across the bottom of the base. This X design helps disperse force upon impact.
Source: Found in the ktMINE Search App
Base Marker for Baseball
Alfred D. Gardetto took a look at the home base back in 1973 and knew that he could improve the design. In July of 1976, Alfred was granted the following patent for base marker for baseball. His patent focuses on two spikes of unequal length used for fastening the plate to the ground – once again preventing the base from moving upon contact. This plate also features a pair of clips located on the right, recessed portion of the base to safely store.
Source: Found in the ktMINE Search App
Movable Bases for Softball and Baseball Playing Fields Â
Patented in 1990 by Ronald E. Brandon, movable bases for softball and baseball playing fields focus on the ability to be struck by sliding players. This unique base design includes slots extending diagonally across the lower surface permitting the base to yield when a player slides into it. Spring elements are attached to return the base to a normal at-rest position after being moved as a result of contact by a player.
Source: Found in the ktMINE Search App
Baseball Base
The following patent for a baseball base was applied for in 2019, granted in 2021, and is now owned by Major League Baseball Properties Inc. The Baseball Base patent includes a post for insertion into the ground with a base portion atop the post. The base also includes a reinforcement plate. The X-plate, which we have seen in many other patents above, has four posts arranged in an X orientation.
Source: Found in the ktMINE Search App
The majority of patents surrounding the baseball base over the course of the last 50 years have been focused on energy absorption and reinforcement. Many of the patents highlighted here contain an X shape design element to help disperse force upon impact. It will be interesting to see in the future if base patents continue to build off of this core design element. For now, we must sit back and wait until baseball finally returns on February 26th.  [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
