Abstract: A protective foam material and pads are disclosed herein. The material is a rounded foam pellet having a hole through the center of the pellet. The pellets may be arranged and interconnected to form a pad. These pads may be applied to persons, animals, or other objects for protective functions.

Abstract: A movable elevator assembly for adjusting the height of a basketball goal is provided herein. The elevator assembly includes a first strut and a second strut. A locking assembly is attached to the second strut and is movable along the fixed first strut. The locking assembly includes a lock, such as a spring that grips the lower strut in a rest position and can be activate to release the first strut. By moving the lock up or down the fixed strut, the height of the basketball goal can be moved up or down. This allows a user to select any desired height for the basketball goal.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes capturing data about motion of a sports object caused by one or more athletes manipulating the sports object, transmitting the captured data out of the sports object wirelessly in real time while the one or more athletes are still manipulating the sports object, and presenting information that incorporates the captured data about motion of the sports objects with one or more wearable devices.

Abstract: A computer-implemented data acquisition method includes obtaining motion data telemetrically from a wireless transmitter mounted on or inside a sporting device that is handled by athletes in an athletic event, and presenting the data to viewers of the sporting event. The data includes motion data that is captured while the sporting device is being used in the athletic event and represents motion of the sporting device captured by one or more motion sensors connected to the wireless transmitter.

Abstract: A protective foam material and pads are disclosed herein. The material is a rounded foam pellet having a hole through the center of the pellet. The pellets may be arranged and interconnected to form a pad. These pads may be applied to persons, animals, or other objects for protective functions.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes instructing a human player to perform a plurality of different actions in a determined order with a physical basketball, including actions of bouncing the physical basketball, and obtaining, with one or more electronic sensors, data that characterizes motion of the physical basketball being handled by the human player who is performing the instructed actions at a location. The method also includes communicating the data from the sensors to a console videogame system that is proximate to the location, and graphically representing, in a videogame displayed on a display device, performance by the human player, the performance being affected by the captured data, the representation of performance by the human player being compared against a standard of performance.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes capturing data about motion of a sports object caused by one or more athletes manipulating the sports object, transmitting the captured data out of the sports object wirelessly in real time while the one or more athletes are still manipulating the sports object, and presenting information that incorporates the captured data about motion of the sports objects with one or more wearable devices.

Abstract: This document provides a computer-implemented method that includes placing an athletic ball containing a battery on an inductive charging device; generating an electric or magnetic field, or both with the inductive charging device; receiving energy from the field or fields via a receptor located inside the athletic ball; and charging a battery inside the athletic ball using the received energy. This document also provides devices and methods for detecting events with an instrumented player-controllable game device, such as an event of a basketball or soccer ball passing through a goal.

Abstract: A two-layer leak-proof ball comprises a sheath layer (1), an intermediate body layer (2), a winding yarn layer (3), an inner body layer (4) and a two-layer protective layer (5). The intermediate body layer (2), the winding yarn layer (3), the inner body layer (4) and the two-layer protective layer (5) are tightly set successively at the inside of the sheath layer (1). Also disclosed is the manufacturing method of the two-layer protective layer (5) of the two-layer leak-proof ball. High air-sealed bromide butyl mucilage is injected at the inside of the inner body layer (4), and vulcanized at low temperature, thus a glue film is formed at the inner wall of the inner body layer (4). The inner bag of the two-layer leak-proof ball has high tightness and long service life.

Abstract: An athletic protector, such as an athletic cup, with regions formed of the same compositional material, which is more rigid in one such region than in another such region.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes instructing a human player to perform a plurality of different actions in a determined order with a physical basketball, including actions of bouncing the physical basketball, and obtaining, with one or more electronic sensors, data that characterizes motion of the physical basketball being handled by the human player who is performing the instructed actions at a location. The method also includes communicating the data from the sensors to a console videogame system that is proximate to the location, and graphically representing, in a videogame displayed on a display device, performance by the human player, the performance being affected by the captured data, the representation of performance by the human player being compared against a standard of performance.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes capturing data about motion of a sports object caused by one or more athletes manipulating the sports object, transmitting the captured data out of the sports object wirelessly in real time while the one or more athletes are still manipulating the sports object, and presenting information that incorporates the captured data about motion of the sports objects with one or more wearable devices.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes instructing a human player to perform a plurality of different actions in a determined order with a physical basketball, including actions of bouncing the physical basketball, and obtaining, with one or more electronic sensors, data that characterizes motion of the physical basketball being handled by the human player who is performing the instructed actions at a location. The method also includes communicating the data from the sensors to a console videogame system that is proximate to the location, and graphically representing, in a videogame displayed on a display device, performance by the human player, the performance being affected by the captured data, the representation of performance by the human player being compared against a standard of performance.

Abstract: A method of making a game ball having a carcass comprising a foamed intermediate layer and a plurality of raised seams made from an outer layer is disclosed. The foamed intermediate layer may be formed from two sheets of foamed material. The sheets are shaped to have leaves that can be folded into the shape of a hemisphere with no gaps between adjacent leaves. The sheets are placed around a bladder, an outer layer is placed around the sheets, and the combination is heat molded. The seams are not made from strips of seam material placed on the outer layer of the carcass.

Abstract: A training device for passively supporting a gymnast while learning and practicing handstands and handstand turns is herein disclosed. In some embodiments, the device has a base, an apparatus attachment attachable to the base for a gymnast to practice on various pieces of gymnastics equipment, and a supporter that may be set at a desired height to provide passive support to a gymnast. The support may be fastened or engaged to a tower, which is mounted to or positioned along the base.

Abstract: A protective foam material and pads are disclosed herein. The material is a rounded foam pellet having a hole through the center of the pellet. The pellets may be arranged and interconnected to form a pad. These pads may be applied to persons, animals, or other objects for protective functions.

Abstract: In some aspects, the invention relates to a inflation independent sports ball comprising a foam core 15 and an outer covering 10, wherein the sports ball is selected from the group consisting of a football, a basketball, a volleyball and a soccer ball, wherein the sports ball 5 is devoid of an inflatable air bladder. In other aspects, the invention relates to a sports ball having a diameter and comprising a synthetic leather outer covering 10 at least partially covering a polyurethane foam core 15, wherein the foam core further comprises at least one internal compartment and a cylindrical body spanning at least part of the length of the diameter of the sports ball. In other aspects, the invention relates to a sports ball having an outer covering and a foam core, wherein the foam core 15 is not filled with foam entirely throughout its internal volume, but rather includes space for air.