Abstract: A backstop for placement around a goal to stop sport projectiles from traveling beyond the outer edge of the goal, the backstop includes a material implement having a goal acceptance aperture located substantially central to the bottom edge and extending towards the top edge. The backstop includes an attachment mechanism that secures the material implement to the goal. The backstop further includes at least one bracket that is operable to attach to the goal frame. A support structure extends from the at least one bracket and is operable to support the material implement to extend beyond the outer edge of the goal.

Abstract: A remote-controlled retriever for collecting a ball on a sports playing surface and for controllably releasing the ball includes a front end ball collector having two spaced-apart blades defining a ball collection space. Each blade includes a passive or an active detent for retaining the collected ball in the collection space until a programmed or manually-directed release toward a target location such as a tennis baseline. The retriever includes a processor-controller for controlling and directing the retriever during a retrieval session.

Abstract: A skating aid comprising novelty figure, such as a snowman, from which a stick or handle, similar to the handle of the hockey stick, protrudes is described. The base of the novelty figure typically has two flat sections proximate its bottom angled relative to each other with the first flat section defining a storage position of the aid when it is not in use, and the second flat section defining a skating position for the aid when in use.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to improved ergonomic hockey sticks and hockey goalie sticks having shafts and paddles with variable geometric shapes and facets for enhanced gripping ability, and methods for the production thereof.

Abstract: A swing analysis system is disclosed herein. The swing analysis system includes a motion capture system comprising at least one motion capture device configured to detect motion of one or more body segments of a user and generate first output data, and further configured to detect the motion of a head and/or face of the user, a hand and/or fingers of the user, and/or an object being manipulated by the user, and generate second output data; and at least one data processing device operatively coupled to the motion capture system, the at least one data processing device configured to determine one or more swing performance parameters for the user using first positional information of the one or more body segments of the user, and/or second positional information for the head and/or face of the user, the hand and/or fingers of the user, and/or the object being manipulated by the user.

Abstract: A connection device that facilitates easy manual connector assembly and disassembly, however, having the ability to semi securely hold the connectors together with a progressive frictional interference fit that can be disassembled with some additional manual frictional force, further, the connector assembly can desirably have a rotational lock interface to prevent inadvertent relative rotation between the connector assembly, in addition the connector assembly would have piloting interface to add bending moment resistance to the connector interface.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a ball gaming system such as a roulette wheel apparatus, and in particular to a ball launcher for use in a gaming system such as a roulette wheel apparatus and to a gaming system such as a roulette wheel apparatus comprising the ball launcher, wherein the ball launcher includes a ball shuttle for transporting a ball from at least one ball-receiving station to at least one launch tube. According to the present invention, said ball shuttle is configured to move to a reject-ball station in response to a reject-ball signal to transport any old and/or defective ball to said reject-ball station instead of said at least one launch tube.

Abstract: A putter assembly, configured to facilitate improved alignment by enabling the face angle of the putter to be properly aligned with the hole, including: (a) an elongated shaft; (b) a putter head; (c) a grip; (d) an image sensor, wherein the image sensor is associated with at least one of the putter head and the elongated shaft; (e) a display, wherein the display is in communication with the image sensor; and (f) an energy source, wherein the energy source is in electrical communication with the image sensor and the display.

Abstract: A practice target that includes: a front face; a rear face; a side face with a plurality of pockets, including first and second sets of pockets into which are disposed first and second sets of magnets. The first and second sets of magnets are identical in shape but are oriented opposite each other so that when the practice targets are stacked they have mutual attraction instead of being repelled by like magnets. The magnets include notches/cutouts/protrusions/etc. that match with similar structures in the pockets to hold them in place in the pockets. There are off-center pin holes through the magnets that make sure that they are oriented correctly during injection molding. There are netting grooves between the plurality of pockets and a tether aperture with a tether for attaching to a net.

Abstract: Disclosed is an educational board game having a game surface and associated physical gaming elements that cooperatively simulate distinct phases of a supply chain, in which different physical gaming elements and game board segments correspond to those distinct supply chain phases. Mating, player-specific (e.g., color coded) material game pieces represent materials that may be combined to form a simulated product. Combined game pieces representing player-specific products may then be moved across the game board with players paying various supply chain costs and receiving payment for product sales through the segments of the supply chain. A random number generator, such as one or more dice, in combination with various cards, are used by the players to determine the occurrence of various supply chain risks, values, and projections as the players progress through the segments of the supply chain to ultimate sale of finished products.

Abstract: A compound bow may feature the ability to pre-store energy before the drawing back of the draw string. Various embodiments contemplate that this may allow an archer to draw back the draw string or cable, and upon reaching the let off region of the compound bow's draw profile, cause the pre-stored energy to be transferred to the energy being stored by the bow. Various embodiments contemplate that this addition of pre-stored energy may give the archer more energy, held in the draw string or cable, to transfer to an arrow upon release, propelling it at greater speeds than would have been achieved with a compound bow of equal draw weight that does not feature an energy storage mechanism. Various embodiments contemplate that a system may provide for a return position of the draw.

Abstract: A lighting and scorekeeping system particularly applicable to leisure games is disclosed herein. The system is further applicable to games played to a score of twenty-one. Additionally, the system can be operated and customized locally or remotely with a wireless ad hoc network. Light arrays are programmable and/or addressable and uniquely laid out. One or more epoxy inlays are included for ambiance and partial light transmission. In a preferred embodiment, the system is configured to a cornhole game board.

Abstract: A removable cover for a lacrosse stick of the type having an elongated hollow shaft having an outer surface and an inner surface and an interior channel extending therethrough and a free end portion with an open end which serves as a handle portion of said lacrosse stick. The cover includes an end cap configured and dimensioned to be removably mountable in a friction fit manner on the free end portion of the hollow shaft. The end cap has a head portion and an elongated, resilient hollow body portion attached to said head portion and insertable into the open end of the free end portion of the hollow shaft.

Abstract: A block may comprise a base comprising a first block side comprising a first side plane and a connective protrusion coupled to the base and extending distally outwardly and substantially perpendicularly from the first side plane. The connective protrusion may comprise a center pillar coupled to the base extending distally outward from the first side plane, a base portion coupled to the center pillar and the base and extending axially and substantially perpendicularly from the center pillar in a first direction, and an overhang portion coupled to the center pillar extending axially and substantially perpendicularly from the center pillar in a second direction opposite the first direction such that there is an overhang space between the first side plane and the overhang portion. The block may further comprise additional connective protrusions, and the connective protrusions of multiple blocks may enable the coupling of such blocks.

Abstract: A game board for playing a bag toss game and methods for playing and scoring the same are provided. A playing surface includes a hole located at a distal half thereof and sized to receive a bag tossed therethrough. A leg located at a distal half of the game board permits angling the playing surface relative to a ground surface. A scoring indicator is selectively attachable to a number of attachment mechanism provided at a series of locations along the playing surface. Scoring lines are provided at the game board in association with the attachment mechanism so that the scoring indicator may be secured adjacent to one of the scoring lines to indicate a current score of the bag toss game.

Abstract: The invention discloses a target disc holder which comprises a cross beam, several connecting tubes, several clamping plates and several supporting members; wherein the clamping plates are detachably fixed at both ends of the cross beam; the supporting members are detachably fixed on the clamping plates; the supporting members comprise several supporting tubes; and the connecting tube is fixedly inserted into each of the supporting tubes. The target disc holder is convenient to disassemble and assemble, is easy to repair and replace, and has low cost. With a unique structural design and reasonable use of materials, the target disc holder has stronger stability and does not collapse after being shot.

Abstract: A breakaway basketball rim, includes a base plate; a rim; and a collapsible assembly to which the base plate and the rim are affixed. The collapsible assembly further includes: a control subassembly affixed to the base plate and the rim; and a bearing subassembly horizontally disposed between the control subassembly and the rim.

Abstract: A pickleball paddle assembly a head having a front side, a back side and a perimeter edge. The perimeter edge includes a top edge, a bottom edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A central portion of each of the front and back sides is planar. A handle is attached to and extends downwardly from the from the bottom edge of the head. A plurality of inserts is provided and the perimeter edge has a plurality of wells extending therein that are each configured to releasably receive and retain one of the inserts. Each insert of the plurality of inserts defines a weight such that a weight of the head is selectively altered by inserting one or more of the inserts into one or more of the wells.

Abstract: A training device to practice wedge shots on a golf course and a method of using the training device are described. The training device includes a base with one or more retaining elements to releasably retain a head of the wedge while the wedge shaft is angled backward and thereby demonstrate an approximate optimal angle at which a user should hold the wedge when practicing the wedge shot. A user places the device on a surface, like a sand trap or rough, and inserts the wedge so that the head is retained by the retaining elements while the shaft in angled backward. The user stands on one side of the device, removes the wedge from the retaining elements, shifts the wedge to an opposite side of the device while maintaining the demonstrated angled alignment of the shaft, and initiates a golf swing to hit the ball back onto the green.

Abstract: An aluminum lighted nock with an external switch preferably includes a nock body, a light unit, a compression spring and a power source. The nock body preferably includes a string portion and a shank portion extending from one end of the string portion. A string receiver is formed in the other end of the string portion. A battery bore is formed through the shank portion and into the string portion. A light hole is formed through a bottom of the battery bore. The light unit preferably includes a top hat LED, a LED housing and a slide pin, which is slid into the battery bore. The pin battery is pressed into the battery bore. The shank portion is inserted into a nock end of an arrow. The top hat LED is pushed back during a launch of the arrow and creates an electrical connection with the power source.