Abstract: A sport training apparatus for projecting a ball into the air for training an athlete in the proper technique of hitting or catching the ball. The apparatus includes ball projecting means and a spring connected thereto for movement between a cocked state and an actuated state. The spring is held in the cocked state by a partial vacuum automatically developed within an air chamber which is created when a piston enters a cylinder. To cock the apparatus for use, the ball projecting means is pushed down which, in turn, causes the piston to enter the cylinder and create the air chamber. A check valve is connected to the air chamber to provide unrestricted air exit from the air chamber as the piston enters the cylinder. A pneumatic control release is connected to the air chamber for allowing ambient air to enter the air chamber for releasing some or all of the partial vacuum to actuate the spring thereby causing the ball projecting means to propel the ball into the air where it can be hit or caught by the athlete.

Abstract: An apparatus for baseball batting training. The apparatus includes a rigid-wall cylindrical tube with means to support a baseball at one end thereof. A striker movable within the tube, is latched against a preselected force of a coil spring, and is rapidly urged toward the baseball for impingement therewith to propel the baseball upward a distance corresponding to the preselected force of the spring. When the striker is pushed down, a pin is visually extended and retracted to engage a selected one of a plurality of latching detentes to hold the striker in a cocked position. Upon release of the pin, the spring loaded striker is urged rapidly upward to impact with the baseball and propel the baseball into the hitting zone of a waiting batter. The inside diameter of the rigid-wall tube is larger than the small end of a baseball bat to allow the bat to be pushed into the tube and reset the apparatus for another use.

Abstract: A towel supporting fixture is provided with a one piece special plateau having a rigid frictional upper surface means formed integral wherewith. The special plateau is held by a bracket so that towels or other similar articles placed thereon are secured thereto substantially completely by frictional engagement. The frictional surface is omni directional and towels can be removed by pulling in any direction. The plateau may be planar in configuration or it may be a horizontally disposed ring held in spacial relation by the bracket. Also the plateau may be removably secured to the bracket so that plateaus of different configurations can be interchanged with brackets of the same or different design.

Abstract: A tool for use with a circular-blade power saw to facilitate removal of the circular saw blade from the power driven shaft connected thereto. The tool is of a one piece configuration comprising a body portion, a nose portion and a circular blade engaging portion between the body portion and the nose portion. The tool is inserted into the slot formed in the support surface of the saw table and wedged against the circular saw blade. With the circular blade held against rotation in this manner, the lock nut holding the circular saw blade to the power shaft can be removed.

Abstract: The game includes a multi-sided hollow game box with an opening in the top thereof. A set of selector switches are arranged in a row on each side of the box, and a set of indicators are arranged in a similar row on each side of the box. The selector switches are positioned in registry with the indicators. The opening in the top of the box is provided with means for receiving a game card. The game card has a question printed on it as well as plurality of multiple choice possible answers, only one of which is correct. The game card has the correct answer coded thereon. A code reader is located within the box and is activated by the game card. The code reader is coupled to the indicators to energize those indicators corresponding to the correct answer. The selector switches have lights associated with them and when a switch is actuated its associated light will become energized and remain energized.

Abstract: An electric resistance heating element for use in appliances such as dishwashers includes a mounting grommet having a resilient body portion sized to be forcibly urged through an aperture formed in a bulkhead of the appliance. A neck portion formed integral with the resilient body portion has an axial extent substantially equal to the thickness of the bulkhead receiving the grommet and a width to substantially fill the aperture. A head portion formed integral with the neck portion overlies the aperture on the side opposite that of the resilient body portion. A passage is formed axially through the body portion, neck portion and head portion to receive the end of a heating element therethrough. A flared tubular ferrule or conical tubular ferrule is provided at the end of the body portion to receive sealing cement for permanently securing the mounting grommet to the heating element inserted therethrough.