Abstract: The present invention provides for electrical devices and methods for evaluating athletic performance. A shock sensor is attached to an athlete or a suitable target such as a punching bag. When the athlete subjects the shock sensor to a shock with a magnitude which equals or exceeds the shock sensor sensitivity, an electrical effect is generated which is processed by a control means. The control means can be programmed for a delay period which precedes the performance evaluating cycle. The athlete's reaction time and shock magnitude can be measured and displayed. The devices and methods are suitable for evaluating athletic performance even if the athlete does not contact a target or an another object such as in simulated martial arts combat wherein there is no body contact between the athletes.

Abstract: A training device for developing hand-eye coordination in a child. The device includes a housing with front and rear walls, two side walls, an open top end and a bottom end. The housing also has a plurality of openings formed in the front wall of the housing adjacent the bottom end thereof. A plurality of tubes with upper and lower ends are secured in the housing. The lower end of each of the tubes is connected to one of the openings formed in the front wall of the housing. Secured to the top end of the housing is a hollow four walled removable insert. The insert serves to direct an object toward the open top end of the housing so that the object can randomly enter and pass through one of the tubes and out an associated opening in the front wall of the housing.

Abstract: A game toy provides amusement that cannot be obtained with games simulating actual contests, so that players can compete over the number of pieces held by avoiding loss of pieces. The game toy has piece retention means 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d for keeping the player's pieces in predetermined positions, a moving object 3 for moving the pieces from the positions when it collides with the pieces, collision prevention means 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d being operated by the player to prevent collision between the pieces and the moving object when the moving object approaches the pieces, a support means 5 for supporting the moving object 3 so that it can freely spin vertically, and a drive means for rotating the support means 5 around the vertical axis.

Abstract: A testing and training system for measuring and assessing leg reaction movement sequence of a subject includes a test field having a plurality of load sensing target positions defining vectored movement paths for the subject, the field and target positions being replicated on a video screen positioned frontally with respect to the subject with visual cues presented on the screen directing movement between positions with hardware and software processing the cues and signals from the target positions to determine time intervals associated with changes in loading during the movement and determining reaction movement sequence parameters based thereon.

Abstract: A game apparatus combines a rotatably mounted nozzle with propulsion and indexing mechanisms to provide a game in which players assume positions radially spaced about the nozzle's axis of rotation and actuate the propulsion mechanism as necessary to divert the nozzle's output orifice from pointing toward their individual positions. The apparatus further employs a timer to control the discharge of water or other material from the nozzle toward a player position selected by the indexing mechanism.

Abstract: A toy arcade game has a plurality of spaced parallel vertical tracks. A moving object (here a monkey) is mounted on each track to drop under gravity to the bottom of the track. An endless belt drives the object up the track. If a push button is pressed quickly enough, the object drops back to the bottom. It is not pushed quickly enough the object reaches the top of its climb. The object of the game is to push the buttons quickly enough to keep any of the objects from reaching to top of the track.

Abstract: An alphabet learning and word forming game is presented which utilizes a round ball having letters on its surface and four pick-up sticks. The surface of the alphabet ball is made of a material that is readily attached to one end of the pick-up stick. This attaching mechanism may be a vinyl ball and a pick-up stick having suction cups on one end or it may be a ball covered with a clear adhesive pile surface and a pick-up stick with a VELCRO hook surface on one end. The ball is rolled between players and the pick-up stick is attached to the ball such that one letter is underneath the pick-up stick each time it is rolled. The players accumulate points for forming words during a set time period from the letters which they have obtained through catching the ball with the stick. If the player is dissatisfied with the letters that he has, the ball may be re-rolled to him to obtain a new letter with a penalty of one point for each re-rolling. One point is awarded for each word formed.

Abstract: A method for conducting racing events begins with the determination of the number of lanes to be utilized in all of the individual races of the overall competition. Each racing competition includes a plurality of individual sprint races preferably equal in number to the predetermined number of lanes being utilized. Each competitor for the entire racing competition is assigned a predetermined speed ranking, and then the competitors are aligned for the individual sprint races. The competitor with the highest speed ranking is aligned in the first lane of the first sprint, and subsequent competitors in order of descending speed ranking are aligned in the first lane of subsequent sprints until the first lane of each individual sprint is filled. The remaining competitors are then aligned in the second lane of each sprint, again in descending speed ranking order. Any subsequent lanes are aligned in the same fashion.

Abstract: A game apparatus includes a motorized bucket assembly, a plurality of game balls, and a plurality of shovel elements which are operative for scooping up the game balls and placing them in the bucket assembly. The motorized bucket assembly includes a bucket element which is rotatably supported on a pair of wheels, and one of the wheels includes a discontinuous surface thereon so that the bucket element is periodically turned as it is moved across a supporting surface. The bucket assembly further includes a spring biased plunger which is operative for shooting the game balls outwardly from the bucket element through an aperture in the outer wall thereof while the bucket element is moved across the supporting surface. An on/off switch is provided for selectively energizing a drive for the bucket assembly and a handle is attached to the switch so that the drive is energized when the handle is pushed downwardly, and de-energized when the handle is pulled upwardly.

Abstract: An amusement system for use by one or more participants includes weapons which may be carried, aimed and triggered by the participants to fire objects, such as paint balls, or electromagnetic energy, such as laser light. The participants wear sensors which generate signals upon participant being "hit" by an emission. The system includes a structure having a series of elongated passageways. Each passageway is divided by a central wall into a pair of trackways which lead from common entrance area at one end to a gaming area at the opposite end. Viewing areas in which the activities of the participants in the gaming area may be observed are disposed adjacent to the gaming area. Sensors are disposed along the passageways and in the gaming areas to detect the positions and activities of the participants to provide the signals to a central computer.

Abstract: A shadow board game is provided and includes a shadow casting device used in conjunction with a board game for fun by the players. Acts acted out in shadow casting can be simulated in shadow by actual physical contact during the play of the game by the players from instructions taken from a game board. The player with the highest points at the end of the game wins.

Abstract: A response speed and accuracy measurement device includes a multidigit code generator for generating a multidigit code of numeric or alphabetic characters or other symbols. A start switch causes a code to be generated and displayed for a limited time duration. The operator then attempts to enter the last displayed code as quickly as possible using the data entry keys of a keyboard. A timer measures the operator's response time. A comparator checks the entered code against the displayed code for detecting a match. An output is generated in the event of a match to indicate the operator's response time.

Abstract: A multidimensional equilateral angular game playing apparatus and method include electronically controlled, life-sized obelisk "opponents" in the vertex of each angle. A sound generator and multiple lighted targets are mounted upon variously angled surfaces of each obelisk so that a target becomes momentarily active when its light is illuminated and a sound generator mounted upon the obelisk holding the target is actuated. The sequence of targets presented to a player and the time duration of each activation may be selected in a random manner by electronic controls. A single player strikes activated targets using thrusting and sweeping motions of a double-sided, padded playing staff. Upon successfully striking a target, the sound generator upon which obelisk the target is mounted emits a tone verifying the success of the strike, a point is added to a total sum of successful strikes, the target is deactivated and the next target is immediately presented to the player.

Abstract: A toy game apparatus includes a plurality of independent character figure body portion segments which are rotatably received on a bent rod so that they extend upwardly from a base and a plurality of upwardly facing, hand-like ball receiving elements on each of the body portion segments. The apparatus further includes a sound responsive operating mechanism for rotating the bent rod to shift the body portion segments back and forth in response to a predetermined level of sound. The apparatus is operative in an amusement game wherein game players are required to assemble balls in the ball receiving elements and wherein talking or laughing sounds produced by game players cause the operating mechanism to rotate the bend rod to shift the body portion segments back and forth.

Abstract: A hammering game apparatus has a pair of mechanically articulated hammer devices coupled with a base mounting a motor-driven revolving platform. The platform has a plurality of pegs protruding through it. One or more players attempt to hammer down the pegs into the base with the hammer device(s). The pegs are driven from a raised position to a lower position on the platform with two longer pegs engaging a stop beneath the platform when driven sufficiently down into the platform. The platform is spring-supported and is pressed down towards the base to raise the pegs back to the raised position.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus for use with a telephone network which supports standard DTMF tones and to which is connected telephone stations capable of generating standard DTMF tones wherein the gaming apparatus generates and transmits DTMF tones to a calling telephone station, receives response DTMF tones from a player at the calling station and compares the transmitted and received DTMF tones to determine if there is a match.

Abstract: A kit and method are provided for developing one's reflexes, which also may be used as a toy or game. The kit includes a strand, such as a nylon string, having a length greater than six feet and a given outside diameter, and at least one--and preferably a number of--tubular shuttles having a length of less than about a foot and having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the strand. A blinder, such as an eye patch or a batting helmet for restricting a user's peripheral vision, is provided too. Hooks or clasps may be provided at the ends of the strands to facilitate attachment, and a turnbuckle can be utilized to adjust the tension of the strand. The shuttles may be plastic tubes that are slit along their length for easy attachment or detachment, and may have streamers attached to them. In use, one end of the strand is attached higher than the second end or a central portion of the strand, and the shuttle is slid upwardly on the strand.