Abstract: A collapsible pinata hoist to eliminate the need for finding a large tree or other pinata rope support structure when it is desired to have a pinata at a gathering such as a birthday party or other celebration. The collapsible pinata hoist includes a V-shaped base assembly, a vertical support pole assembly, a horizontal support pole and pulley assembly, two brace members each having an element locking pin receiving aperture at both ends thereof, a number of element locking pins and a flexible pinata pulling tether member. The flexible pinata tether member is threaded through pulley assemblies provided at each end of the horizontal support pole and has one end attached to a pinata and the other end free to be pulled on by a pinata handler to allow for lifting and lowering of the pinata while a person is trying to break the pinata open with a stick.

Abstract: A stand for a vertical pole support for a tether ball type game includes a base which can contain ballast and a lid, through which the pole passes and a formation on its floor for receiving the end of the pole. The lid and base are attached by a two stage attachment arrangement. The first stage includes inter-engageable tongue and groove formations which are capable of attachment and detachment by application of finger pressure, and the second stage includes locking devices at points around the periphery of the base container for a positive lock of the lid to the base, so that the first stage cannot be broken other than by the use of excessive force having regard to the conventional use of the stand.

Abstract: A batting practice device comprising a resiliently flexible and elongate retaining rod, a target member coupled to a distal end of the elongate retaining rod, and a clamping structure for clamping a proximal end of the elongate retaining rod to an environmental structure, such as chain link fence. The target member may be coupled directly to the distal end of the elongate retaining rod as by having the elongate retaining rod pass through a bore hole in the target member. A fixed or selectively removable ball stop may retain the target member on the elongate retaining rod. The clamping structure may incorporate a first clamping block and a second clamping block and a threaded clamping nut that selectively presses the blocks together. The first and second clamping blocks can have first and second elongate clamping furrows for engaging adjacent strands on a chain link fence.

Abstract: A ball hitting practice device featuring a practice ball slidably located upon a tether. The tether is attached to a support structure thereby placing the practice ball in a target position to be hit by a user. The support structure may be mounted to a base, driven into the ground, or attached to a wall. The ball is slidably mounted to the tether and is positioned in a target position for striking by a user by a ball positioner also located on the tether in a fixed position that is either adjustable or permanent. Once struck during use, the practice ball and attached tether wrap around the support structure and may be aided in the return to the target position by an elongated biasing device attached to the distal end of the tether and the support structure or another fixed point of attachment. An optional cam may be used to adjust the radius of a vertical post of the support structure thereby allowing the user to alter the return speed of the ball to the target position by adjusting the cam.

Abstract: A portable ball batting practice apparatus for attachment to a pre-existing support includes an elongated member having two ends. The elongated member is attached at one of its ends, via a rotational hub assembly, to one end of a two-ended rotatable arm. The other end of the rotatable arm is secured to a ball. By employing opposing stops within the rotational hub assembly, the rotational hub assembly allows both right and left handed hitters to utilize the apparatus and produces a directed “pitch” for a user to hit. Incorporated into the elongated member is a releasable anchoring system for attaching the elongated member to the support.

Abstract: A portable dual batter trainer device that includes a collapsible support stand; a trainer top plate assembly secured to the collapsible support stand; and two tethered batting balls suspended from the trainer top plate assembly. In a preferred embodiment the portable dual batter trainer device also includes a removable fabric safety divider securable to the collapsible support stand between the two tethered batting balls.

Abstract: An apparatus for soccer kicking practice comprises a means of attaching a tether comprising a cord and elastic strip to a soccer ball in a manner allowing the ball to freely rotate with respect to the tether providing kicking and spinning of the ball and return of the ball to the user in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A golf practice device comprised of a base having on the top surface a section of artificial turf and a positioning support. A rod is pivot mounted to the front end of the positioning support and the leading end of the rod is pivot mounted to a ball to form the directional control mount. The rod of the directional control mount is inserted such that the ball enters a threaded section, at the bottom end of which is the connection rod of a swivel mount having an internal spherical-shaped space, and until the threaded section is situated laterally against the ball of the direction control mount. This enables assembly to the swivel mount so that the ball of the direction control mount is contained in the swivel fitting of the swivel assembly. The swivel mount and the connection rod at the top and bottom ends of the swivel assembly are structurally coordinated with a golf ball at the bottom end of another rod forming the golf ball assembly.

Abstract: A horizontal arm is cantilevered from a lock position location so that a ball is suspended by a line from the free end of the arm. The line extends through the arm and exits at the lock position location so that the height of the ball can be adjusted by controlling an appropriate length of line. The arm is designed to allow the ball to drop free when its momentum is spent without the line becoming wrapped around the arm. The lock position location includes a position locator that extends from the arm and has a polygonal cross-section. The position locator is received by a complementary lock position receptor in the form of a recess with a polygonal cross-section that complements the cross-section of the lock projection. The attachment permits the ready dismantlement of the arm for storage or transport to another location, while simultaneously providing against inadvertent rotation of the arm during ball handling or ball hitting practice. It also permits easy adaptation to different sports--e.g.

Abstract: A batting training system having a ball supported by a tether from a horizontal arm that includes a ball capturing device for capturing the ball after it is struck and preventing the ball from spinning rapidly around the horizontal arm after being struck by a batter.

Abstract: A batting practice device for use by a person acting as a pitcher and another person acting as a batter. A pole has a first end placed on the ground and a second end held substantially vertically. The pole is longer than the height of the pitcher, but is not permanently mounted in the ground. The pitcher prevents substantial movement of the first end of the pole by placing a foot in an anchoring loop provided at the first end of the pole. A line is operatively attached, via a freely rotating mount, to the second end of the pole. The line has a swivel connection to prevent twisting of the line. The line is operatively connected to a ball via a ball harness. The ball harness has two straps sewn together, with the ends of the respective straps having loops for receiving one end of the line. Various sizes of conventional balls can be easily inserted and removed from the ball harness.

Abstract: A ball striking device is adapted to be mounted on a vertical mounting surface having retention structure thereon. The device includes a clip removably attached to and suspended from the retention structure of the vertical mounting surface. A mounting member having a substantially horizontally extending support arm provided with a free end and a substantially vertically extending pivot leg is engageable with the clip in order that the mounting member is swingably supported relative to the clip and the vertical mounting surface. A ball is attached directly to the free end of the support arm and is adapted to be struck by a moving object. An elastic arrangement extends between the pivot leg and the vertical mounting surface for establishing the position of the ball before being stuck and controlling the return of the ball after being struck.

Abstract: The invention relates to an item of games and sport equipment in which an rebounding body (1), preferably a ball, is connected to a variable-length distancing or pull cord (2), is guided by way-of a sliding and deviating member (6), and is provided with a handle region (8). By pivoting a swing-providing device the rebounding body orbits and the direction of the rebounding body is reversed by the rebounding effect. The radius of the trajectory of the rebounding body is altered by guiding (pulling or loosening) of the distancing or pull cord. The direction of the trajectory is caused by changing the movement of the swing-providing device.

Abstract: A batting practice apparatus having a lower support base with a vertically disposed upright support assembly with at least one horizontally disposed extension arm located over a conventional home plate. A tethered suspended ball simulating a baseball in appearance is located near the end of the arm over a lower home plate. The ball may be suspended from different arm positions correlated to the different home plate positions for different simulated thrown balls after they have passed over different parts of a lower home plate within the "strike zone". Added features include a counter for counting the number of ball rotations for struck balls around its their section arm extensions and height adjustments for the extension arms relative to the upright support. A motor may impart motion to the suspended baseball to simulate a thrown ball in flight as the batter attempts to strike it.

Abstract: A ball practice device including a base secured with a plurality of cushioning pads on the base, a telescopic post erected on the base having an elbow tube telescopically held on the post, and a practice ball and a counterweight ball having a weight slightly heavier than that of the practice ball with the two balls generally symmetrically disposed on opposite ends of a T-shaped connector which is rotatably engageable with a horizontal tube portion of the elbow tube, with the practice ball and the counterweight ball linearly aligned to be perpendicular to the horizontal tube portion of the elbow tube, whereby upon hitting of the practice ball, the practice ball and the counter weight ball will be rotated about the horizontal tube portion, and when stopped, the practice ball will be automatically restored upwardly ready for next hitting while the counterweight ball is gravitationally pendent downwardy.

Abstract: An elongated arm is rotatably connected to a pivot shaft mounted between a base and a canopy. The elongated arm extends radially between the canopy and the base and extends beyond the perimeter of the base and the canopy. Attached to the free end of the arm and suspended just beyond the perimeter of the canopy and the base is a toy character. In use, as a pet swats the toy character, the arm is rotated about the pivot shaft which initiate a fixed orbital motion of the character about the perimeter of the cap and the base.

Abstract: A device for practicing hitting a ball is disclosed. The device comprises a support arm. A ball is suspended from the support arm such that the ball swings generally vertically in a substantially upright plane of rotation when the ball is struck substantially squarely. A selectively adjustable mechanism provides for a plurality of different, substantially upright rotational planes in which the ball can swing on the support arm when the ball is struck squarely, to thereby permit practice of different hitting skills depending upon which vertical rotational plane has been selected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a batting practice machine for baseball which can repeatively practice batting technique to get a feel for push or pull-hitting the ball depending on its location, and satisfy the continuous practice of batting motion by rapidly return the ball to the batting point, as well as effectively preventing the from breakdown due to the impact on batting.

Abstract: A batting practice device is attachable to any of various existing permanent fixtures, suitably a post. The device includes a mounting bracket attachable to the fixture, the bracket supporting a receiving tube. The tube has an opening for interlockably receiving a rod with a portion extending from the bracket in a cantilevered horizontal fashion. A metal bushing is rotatably mounted and captured on the rod portion extending from the plate. A piece of rope has a first and second end. A ball is provided. The first end of the rope is affixed to the ball. The second end is secured to the bushing.

Abstract: A batting practice device with adjustable mounting means comprises a support pole having an inboard end including mounting devices and an outboard end including a swivel joint; the swivel joint comprising a plurality of swivel hooks with a projection member, an eye screw and a central swivel member, the eye screw having a first end formed in a generally circular configuration and a second end formed as a screw, the second end being coupled to the outboard end of the support pole, the first swivel hook being positioned within the first end of the eye screw with its projection member coupled to the central swivel member, the projection member of the second swivel hook being coupled to the central swivel member; and a ball, a rope being coupled to the ball and secured to the second swivel hook of the swivel device.

Abstract: An outdoor overhead arch forms a unique support for an appliance, such as a batting aid having a tethered ball. The arch is formed as two vertical posts, two slanted posts, and an upper horizontal post. The posts are connected to one another by elbow sections. The vertical posts are supported in ground mounted sleeves so that they may be manually lifted from the ground. The sleeves receive the vertical posts to a sufficient depth of penetration to provide rigid vertical support. Illustratively, should the tether of the batting aid become wound around the horizontal post to which it is attached, it is easily reached when the appliance is manually lowered. The appliance is readily removed from the sleeve for seasonal storage, and is readily reerected. The sleeve has a cap for safety and to prevent clogging when not in use. The cap may be formed to have a shallow recess, so that the sleeve serves as a golf hole. A variation shows the arch spanning a swimming pool.

Abstract: A portable ball batting practice apparatus for attachment to a pre-existing support includes an elongated member having two ends. The elongated member is attached at one of its ends to two tethers. The first tether is resilient and the second tether is a fixed-length tether. Both ends of the two tethers not attached to the elongated member are secured to a single ball. Incorporated into the elongated member is a releasable anchoring system for attaching the elongated member to the support.

Abstract: A racquet sports training device which can be used by one person alone, either indoors or outdoors, and which enables the user to hit a ball with the racquet and have the ball returned to him thereby allowing repeated hitting and even while the user is on the run. An elastic cord is connected at one end to a ball of the type for hitting by the racquet during playing of the particular sport, and there is provided a component for releasably connecting the opposite end of the cord to the racquet. A swivel is connected to the cord in a manner preventing tangling of the cord during use of the training device. As a result, the user can practice hitting the ball with the racquet, and after each time the ball is hit in a direction away from the racquet the elastic cord returns the ball in a direction toward the racquet.

Abstract: A game system includes two uprights formed of three telescoping sections. The lower section extends into a base which is positioned into the supporting surface or related ground. A plurality of securing structures are positioned along the length of each upright to receive a net. The net has at least two elastically-deformable straps extending away therefrom for securing the net to the uprights for use at least two sports. Alternate game structure may be secured to the upright, including a tetherball, a soccer ball, a soccer net, a golf ball receiving net, and a baseball practice structure. Also, net-securing structure may be secured to one of the uprights to receive a net for storage.

Abstract: A tethered ball apparatus includes an attachment assembly for attachment to a rigid support. A swivel assembly is connected to the attachment assembly, and an elastic cord is connected to the swivel assembly. A cord receiver includes an externally threaded screw portion, and the elastic cord is connected to the cord receiver. A ball assembly includes an internally threaded anchor embedded in a portion of the ball assembly, and the externally threaded screw portion of the cord receiver is screwed into the internally threaded anchor. In one embodiment, the attachment assembly includes a support-attaching screw eye. In another embodiment, the attachment assembly includes a strap assembly which contains a quantity of a hook-containing fabric and a quantity of a complementary loop-containing fabric. The swivel assembly includes a swiveling strap eye bolt snap. The elastic cord is comprised of bungee cord material. The cord receiver includes a ball-attaching screw eye.

Abstract: A new and improved device for practicing baseball hitting comprising a vertically extending post which has a plurality of spaced apertures formed therein. Further included is a base which has an upstanding centrally located brace adapted to be coupled to the post. The base is fabricated of high density polyethylene. Next included is a horizontally extending arm formed of a semi-rigid elastomeric material. The arm has an interior end and an exterior end, with an intermediate portion coupling therebetween. The intermediate portion is of a greater area adjacent the interior end than the exterior end. The interior end is formed with a bore extending therethrough. The bore has an internal diameter adapted to slidably fit over the exterior diameter of the post. The exterior end of the arm is formed in the size and shape of a baseball for being struck by a player swinging a bat.

Abstract: A baseball is connected by a rope to a swivel at a top end of a pole that has its bottom end anchored to the ground.

Abstract: A volleyball training device has a bracket, a turnable support turnably mounted on the bracket turnably about an axis, at least one ball, a ball holder which holds the ball and is connected with the turnable support so as to turn together with the latter, the ball holder being formed as a substantially curved element extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis, so that when an attacking strike is delivered by a player against the ball, the ball together with the ball holder and the support is turned about the axis in the plane.