Abstract: A roller skate wheel is described wherein the weight of wheel is significantly reduced by employing a bushing bearing instead of the usual ball bearing in at least one side of the wheel. The bushing is formed of Peek material so as to provide the necessary strength and low friction necessary to provide desirable skating characteristics.

Abstract: A durable, composite safety baseball or softball for practice or training purposes having a dual layer core comprised of an inner core of closed cell urethane and an outer core layer of relatively open cell urethane and covered with an outer cover of real or simulated leather which is softer than a conventional game ball and is thus less injurious to players and spectators. The ball is harder than prior practice balls and has payability characteristics substantially the same as conventional game balls when hit, thrown or caught.

Abstract: An inline roller skate includes a large number of small, light weight wheels arranged along a downwardly convex arcuate line to form a rocker. Braking elements are disposed along a common axis with at least some of the wheels, the braking elements may take the form of various surfaces of revolution, such as conical, cylindrical, ellipsoidal or semispherical. The braking elements are arranged to contact the skating surface when the skater shifts his foot to a direction perpendicular to his direction of movement and leans back on his skate so as to perform an "ice skating" type braking action.

Abstract: This invention relates to a thumb protector for a protective athletic glove, such as used in hockey, lacrosse, and motorcycle racing. The thumb protector involves two elements secured dorsally to the thumb stall and thumb receiving area of the glove, which cooperate to allow opposable thumb movement while still providing superior protection against external blows and injury due to hyper-extension and over-extension. As another aspect of the invention, the thumb-piece of the thumb protector is ergonomically configured to approximate the contour the metacarpalphalangeal joint will typically assume when the wearer is lightly gripping an athletic stick or handlebar.

Abstract: A two-piece hockey stick shaft and blade joint system employing wax to hold the elements together during play, which may also include provision of a "pre-load" force acting between a shaft socket and blade tennon to increase frictional resistance to separation of the blade and the shaft so as to require a sustained steady pull be applied to separate the elements, the wax being substantially solid at temperatures encountered during play and flowable at elevated temperatures, for example such as might be attained in the shaft to blade connection by application of warmth from the hands or application of water heated sufficiently.

Abstract: An inline hockey roller skate and wheel which includes braking and tread elements. The two elements have surfaces formed of a tough resilient material, such as urethane, disposed over a strong cage like frame. The frame and the tough resilient material provide a tread element which is a relatively hard surface so as to provide a fast wheel. The tread element is formed with an air chamber in the tough resilient material so as to be more easily deformable during the braking action. The braking element is arranged to contact the skating surface when the skater shifts his foot to a direction perpendicular to his direction of movement and leans back on his skate so as to perform an "ice skating" type braking action. The braking element is thus deformed and flattened against the skating surface to provide a larger foot print to improve gripping the surface for better cornering and ice hockey type stops.

Abstract: An adjustable ball backstop is disclosed comprising a frame and an elasticly stretched net having upper and lower generally rectangular sections, the lower section being disposed at a fixed angle relative to the vertical and the upper net section being easily adjustable such that the plane of the upper net section may be positioned at a selected angle so as to selectively direct a ball or other projectile back at a selected angle to facilitate practice of sports such as baseball, softball, tennis and the like.

Abstract: A vibration dampened hand held implement such as a ball bat, archery bow or hammer is provided with a vibration dampening system comprising a chamber having a low modulus viscoelastic elastomeric vibration dampening member freely moveable therein to bounce back and forth between and move out of phase with the chamber walls to rapidly dampen unwanted lower frequency vibrations of the implement.

Abstract: A shock attenuating hollow bat including a barrel having a proximal taper segment and a separate handle having a distal tapered segment providing an enlarged shape at the distal end of the handle, the tapered segment of the handle fitting within the proximal taper segment of the barrel, the relative sizes of the enlarged distal end of the handle and the interior of the barrel at its proximal end providing a mechanical interference preventing the barrel from sliding distally off the handle, the barrel and handle elements being joined by an elastomeric isolation union between the inner surface of the barrel taper segment and the outer surface of the handle taper segment to form an integral bat having reduced shock transmission to the hands of a batter in the event of an off-center hit.