Abstract: A practice backdrop for hockey and other sports includes a flexible backdrop sheet, e.g. vinyl plastic impregnated cloth. Connectors support the backdrop sheet from its upper edge. An impact-dampening weight is connected to the backdrop sheet near its lower edge to help the backdrop sheet absorb the impact of a hockey puck or ball which strikes it. A removable and replaceable target sheet that has a frontal area which is smaller than the backdrop and can be formed from cloth is overlaid against the front surface of the backdrop to serve as an object for a player to shoot at and to help cushion the impact of shots fired at the backdrop. Lifting cords elevate and simultaneously fold both the backdrop and target into contiguous horizontally extending accordion folds in which horizontal folds of the target are lapped between horizontal folds of the backdrop material.

Abstract: A game is provided including a plurality of playing pieces for being stacked. An elongated striking stick is provided for knocking out a bottommost one of the playing pieces of the stack.

Abstract: A method of playing a game on a rink including a center planar playing surface surrounded by a ramped area which in turn is surrounded by an upper platform area. Two goals are provided opposite to one another on the planar playing surface. Each player utilizes a modified lacrosse stick used to manipulate a ball into the opponent's goal. Unlike, lacrosse, the ball may be rolled on the ground as in hockey, although the main movement of the ball will be airborne from net to net. Passing maneuvers are caught, carried, rolled or thrown.

Abstract: A projectile trap is provided having three groups of suspended polyurethane sheets. The polyurethane sheets are processed so as to have high cut and tear resistance properties and low rebound properties. The hardness of the polyurethane sheets increases from the first group of sheets at the front of the bullet trap, which are first contacted by a bullet, to the third group of polyurethane sheets at the rear of the bullet trap. The polyurethane sheets are suspended in the bullet trap by a keying arrangement which ensures that individual polyurethane sheets of a particular group may only be placed at specific locations in the bullet trap.

Abstract: A license plate observation game is played by passengers traveling in an automobile by reading information on official bureaus of motor vehicle license plates, recording that information and scoring points directly from the recorded information or derivatives thereof. Points are scored by attributing values to the alphanumeric characters and pictures or images on the license plates and to the origin of the license plate. Each number on the license plate is worth its numerical value. Each alphabetic character on the license plate is attributed one point. Additional points may be gained by correlating specific alphanumeric combinations, abbreviations or variations to proper names and words from both the alphabetic and numeric characters. Players enhance their scores by making the most favorable alphanumeric correlations possibly discernable from the license plates.

Abstract: An adjustable basketball standard includes a mast, a backboard and rim, a support arm for holding the backboard and rim, and a clamp assembly for attaching the support arm to the mast. The clamp assembly is configured to slide along the backboard to enable the user to move the backboard and rim to a desired height. Unlike many of the prior art configurations, the adjustable basketball standard does not move the backboard and rim horizontally with respect to the boundaries of the playing surface. Additionally, the adjustable basketball standard is easy to use and provides a greater variation of heights at which the backboard may be placed.

Abstract: The invention provides a backboard which is mountable on any wall surface, and which may be readily removed from the wall surface without leaving a mark or disfiguring the surface. The backboard is made of a thin, flexible sheet of material with a rear surface which firmly attaches to a wall, is held against the wall and is removable from the wall without marking the wall. A basketball rim and support is mounted on a lower position on the backboard material by a double-stick foam tape. One side of the foam tape adheres to the backboard in a pre-marked space. A vertical member of a support is attached to the other face of the foam tape, and a horizontal hoop is cantilevered from the support. A fabric net hangs down from the hoop to slow the descent of a ball which is used with the backboard. The net may be formed of lightweight flexible plastic filaments. The plastic rim and support may be molded of a high strength, lightweight reinforced plastic material.

Abstract: A strong, compact, rugged and inexpensive support system to solidly stabilize a conventional rectangular polyethylene foam archery target. System includes a right support (30) and a left support (20), each manufactured from a single piece of elongated material. Each support includes an upper member (21), a base member (22), a radiused intersection (23) and insertion fingers (24) which are pressed into the target to form the target and supports assembly. The supports system utilizes the target itself for structural rigidity without requiring that the supports (20 and 30) be joined to the ground (or surface upon which the target rests). Additional embodiments include ground anchors (51, 52, 60, 70) for use outdoors and protective bumpers (80) for use indoors. Support system includes means for providing a multiplicity of possible target angles to archer. Supports may be assembled such that they form carrying handles for transportation.

Abstract: A pick-up game includes a plurality of elongated strands each having an identical bead attached to one end. Attached to the other end of each strand is an animal shaped figure of a distinct color. Each strand and its attachments constitute a game piece. The object of the game, which is played by more than one player, is to choose a bead and withdraw the strand to which that bead is attached (from a pile formed from a plurality of game pieces) in the hope of pulling out a game piece that matches the game piece originally selected by each player at the beginning of the game. When a newly selected game piece is dissimilar to the game piece originally selected by the player, the newly selected game piece is returned to the pile taking care not to disturb the random order of the game pieces. The players continue to alternately withdraw game pieces from the pile until one player becomes the winner by being the first to successfully withdraw all the game pieces matching the originally selected game piece.

Abstract: A golf dart game played upon a circular playing field having a playing field center and having a plurality of hole wedges extending from the playing field center. The hole wedges are divided into sections which include hazard sections and desired sections. Hole indicia numbered one through eighteen is located adjacent to each of the hole wedges, so that each hole wedge is assigned a distinct sequential hole number. The game is played in rounds, wherein each round is associated within a particular hole wedge, known as the current hole wedge. The player throws three darts per round, and aims them at the desired sections in the current hole wedge. Points are accumulated by landing darts on the desired sections. Points may be deducted when darts land on hazard sections or outside the current hole wedge. Points from all rounds are tabulated to determine a winner.

Abstract: In one aspect, a correlated set of individually numbered golf club iron heads progresses from a high numbered head to a low numbered head. Individual heads have a front striking face, a rear face, a sole, a toe, a heel and a hosel. The front striking faces of heads within the set individually have a total planar area defining a progressively decreasing loft angle in going from the high numbered head to the low numbered head. For at least two chosen pairs of heads within the set, the striking face total planar area of individual heads within each chosen pair increases in size in going from the higher numbered head to the lower numbered head in the pair. In another aspect, a correlated set of individually numbered golf club iron heads comprises at least a 3-iron head, a 4-iron head and a 5-iron head. The hosel is provided relative to the sole to provide a different and increasing lie angle in sequentially progressing from the 3-iron head to the 5-iron head.

Abstract: The invention relates to a basketball retrieval device that is connected to a basketball pole. The retrieval device comprises an elongated pole that vertically extends from the basketball pole up to a upper horizontal support arm. The upper support arm supports a screen or net that hangs down behind the backboard. The ball hits the retrieval device and causes the ball to roll back onto the court instead of landing off the court. A lower support arm is attached to the bottom of the basketball pole and secures the bottom of the net in tension.

Abstract: An interactive contest system is provided which permits competition among a plurality of remote participants. The system includes a central controller, storage devices for storing a Contest Roster from which each participant selects a team roster, a plurality of Touch-Tone.TM. telephones linked to the controller, and a publication such as a newspaper distributed to all participants. Each participant's team roster is evaluated on a periodic basis according to a formula for calculating each member's score employing a database of variable performance statistics which reflect the roster members' actual performances. Team roster totals are compared for discrete periods of competition to determine which participants have accumulated the highest score.

Abstract: A tabletop miniature horseshoes game for use in private residences which includes a substantially horizontal playing surface and a pair of miniature posts to be used as the target for tossed miniature horseshoes. An embodiment for use in commercial establishments provides a token means to activate the game, a means to change and display each players score, a means to keep track of and display game time, and a means to lower the posts when the game is over. The commercial establishment game may also incorporate a vending machine to dispense the 1/10th scale horseshoes to be used with the game.

Abstract: A training mannequin for sparring and self-defense training is disclosed which employs a life-size mannequin torso in place of the traditional punching bags. The mannequin torso provides more realistic training and provides anatomically correct references as well as lifelike reaction and feel when struck. The mannequin is made from an outer skin filled with a flexible interior foam. The outer skin is formed from a flexible material which returns to its original shape even after it is deformed by a strong blow. This resilience allows the mannequin to absorb virtually unlimited blows without losing its shape, structure or feel. Further, the three dimensional nature of the mannequin allows training in realistic circumstances and from angles not possible with traditional punching bags.

Abstract: With the use of a smaller tube which fits inside the nock end of a arrow shaft and the smaller tube having molded in it spiraled grooves which acts upon dimples that are molded in the arrow shaft body and when the bowstring drives the smaller tube into the arrow shaft causeing the whole arrow shaft to spinn, the results of which allows the arrow shaft to oscillate less, fly stright without vanes, and faster with more peneration and will enter a close range target stright.

Abstract: A device to enable people to play the sports game of step/curb ball at virtually any site (location). The unit is designed to be filled with water to impart mass, density and stability so that resilient (rubber, tennis, ect.). Balls thrown (pitched) at it will be reflected onto the field of play at high velocities and long distances-creating a multitude of Baseball-like situations ranging from "strike-outs" to "grand-slam home runs". This portable set of steps will have a removable, netted backstop to prevent errantly-thrown and/or deflected balls from travelling behind the unit into foul territory. Retractable foul lines will emanate from the base unit, by means of spool mechanisms affixed to each of two (2) molded angular projections positioned at each front-side of the base unit just above ground level. When these foul lines are unwound from their spool mechanisms, they will automatically form the prescribed boundaries/dimensions of the Baseball-like playing field.

Abstract: A target stand for providing a sturdy lightweight device for holding a target above a surface. The target stand includes the target stand 10 generally comprises a base frame with a pivot bar interposed between the side bars of the base frame. One of the ends of the pivot bar is pivotally coupled to one of the side bars of the base frame while the other end of the pivot bar is pivotally coupled to the other side bar of the base frame. A pair of spaced apart elongate extension arms are included each having a pair of opposite ends. A first end of each of the extension arms is coupled to the pivot bar. A target holder is provided having a seat portion and a pair of spaced apart holding panels coupled to the seat portion of the target holder. A second end of each of the extension arms is coupled to the seat portion of the target holder. The holding panels of the target holder are adapted for holding a target board.

Abstract: a modified structure of a dart-board comprised of a dart-board, made of paper board, plastic or other magnetic susceptible material, with surface divided into a multiple of scoring segment; a magnetic inductor made of magnetic inducing material provided behind and in the same size and shape of the dart-board to attract the dart point to land at; and a support frame with its inner contour having the same size and shape as that of the dart-board and the magnetic inductor to house both dart-board and magnetic inductor, a ring locking shield protruding inward provided to the edge of said opening to latch both dart-board and magnetic inductor; featuring that slits are provided without magnetic inductor at boundary line to abutted segments on the dart-board corresponding to the magnetic inductor so that when a dart with magnetic point lands on said boundary line, the dart will naturally be attracted by and guided to the segment to score.

Abstract: An automated indoor pistol range target carrier has an overhead power rail along which a target-supporting, -lighting and -rotating carriage travels toward and away from the firing line. The carriage supports, rotates, repositions and lights the target and is controlled by and feeds back information as to the target's position to a central controller. Portions of the power rail are electrically insulated one from the other and function as bus bars to carry d.c. current used to operate motors and circuits in the trolley without using electrical cables. Electrical pickups in the form of wheeled trolleys wipe the bus bars to supply power to motors and lights to operate the various target carrier systems. All system components are located within the carriage which may easily be removed from the rail for service without requiring the disconnection of any power cords or cables.