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.

Abstract: A baseball bat swing training method includes the steps of attaching a leg coupler to a lead leg of a batter adjacent to a knee of the batter. The leg coupler is configured to be extendable around the lead leg. A baseball bat is provided having a grip terminating with a knob. A tether is attached to the baseball bat grip adjacent to the knob. The tether is attached to the leg coupler. The tether includes a resiliently stretchable area and an area resistant to stretching. A length of the tether is adjusted such that the tether is taut as the batter is positioned in a set position before the batter moves toward a batting swing load position. Resistance to stretching of the tether increases as the batter moves to the batting swing load position.

Abstract: A golf club shaft includes a shaft body having a butt end and a tip end, and a counterweight member on an outer periphery of the shaft body between the butt and tip ends. The counterweight member is made of a fiber composite material configured in a way that the counterweight member has a color visually distinguishable from that of the shaft body.

Abstract: A game table and to a game equipment for playing a ball game with legs. The game table includes a table top structure with a see-through table top surface. The table top structure has a first and second table top ends and a first and second table top sides extending between the first and second table top ends. The game table further includes a first table side wall and a second table side wall extending downwards from the table top structure. The first and second table side walls being arranged to form a channel-like game space together with the table top structure, the channel-like game space having a first opening and a second opening at opposite ends of the channel-like game space.

Abstract: A volleyball training apparatus has a laterally extending arm supported on a riser. A resilient member such as a spring is operably connected within the arm. The resilient member is connected to a flexible connector, such as a cable, that is connected to a volleyball. A series of spacers retains the volleyball away from the rigid arm. The height of the arm may be adjustable to locate the volleyball at a desired height. After a user strikes the volleyball, the volleyball is displaced from its original static position, but quickly is snapped back into the static position by the resilient member pulling the volleyball toward the arm against the spacers.

Abstract: Basketball goals may incorporate folding rim assemblies which can be packaged and transported pre-mounted to certain backboard assemblies. Alternately, folding rim assemblies can be sold separately or packaged with a backboard for on-site mounting. Some basketball rim assembles may incorporate a break-away mechanism using a leaf spring. The leaf spring biases the rim bracket and resiliently resists downward pivotal movement of the rim bracket and rim. When the rim is rotated downward under an applied force, the leaf spring is flexed, biasing the rim to return to a static playing position when the force is removed.

Abstract: A target device for target practice. The target device is foldable from a planar cardboard material sheet into a three-dimensional housing having lifted target extensions. The target extensions can be formed or printed with a target shape, or a separate target label can be applied over the target extension. The target extensions can include a tab cut therein that can be folded outward to change the angle of the target extensions relative to the shooter user.

Abstract: A hockey-stick includes a blade and a shaft. The blade includes a heel region, a toe region spaced longitudinally from the heel region, and a mid-region located between the heel region and the toe region. The blade optionally also includes a hosel to which the shaft is attached. One or more tuning rods or similar structures are positioned in the blade to increase the blade's stiffness to substantially match the stiffness of the shaft. The tuning rods are optionally located in the mid-region of the blade and may extend into the hosel and, in some cases, into the shaft or the toe region.

Abstract: A construct for a hockey stick blade and paddle structure having a spine that protrudes from a back face and provides structural rigidity, as well as recessed areas that reduce the mass of the paddle structure.

Abstract: A sporting goods merchandising display for a sports stick and ball package, as for playing the sports of ball hockey and lacrosse, wherein a sports ball having a diameter D1 is captured between spaced apart circular holes, each having a diameter D2 less than the diameter D1, in an open-ended packaging sleeve removably locked at a fixed position on the sports stick. Such packaging combines the sports stick and ball to prevent separation while on display but permits tactile access to the product components by sporting goods customers. A purchaser can easily remove the packaging sleeve to separate the product components without the aid of a cutting instrument.

Abstract: A three-dimensional throwing game target apparatus includes platforms, bridge members, connectors and stanchions. The platforms include an outer wall and a platform receptacle ring that is adapted to receive a cup. Each of the bridge members include at least one bridge receptacle ring and a plurality of elongated girders extending outwardly from the bridge receptacle ring. The bridge members and the platforms may be detachably connected to one another in a horizontal plane. The stanchions are assembled to the platforms to support the receptacle rings at a plurality of different heights. The platforms, bridge members, connectors and stanchions may be assembled together to support the platform receptacle rings at selected vertically and horizontally spaced locations.

Abstract: A cover for a blade of a hockey stick are described wherein the cover includes a substantially flat bottom surface that is designed to lay flat against the surface of ice. The cover is designed and configured to be used to on the ice by a new or novice skater who holds the shaft of the hockey stick while skating and uses the stick and cover combination as a balancing aid.

Abstract: A construct for a hockey stick that includes a shaft having with variable cross-sectional geometry. The shaft may include one or more portions with pentagonal and heptagonal cross-sections that increase the bending stiffness of the hockey stick shaft.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying components within pinball machines. In some embodiments, a device may include a physical object coupled to an actuator via a flexible link, the physical object configured to interact with a pinball within a playfield of a pinball machine under control of the actuator. In other embodiments, a pinball machine may include a physical object configured to directly or indirectly interact with a pinball during a pinball game, the physical object coupled to an area within a playfield of the pinball machine other than a playable surface accessible to the pinball during a pinball game, the physical object suspended above the playable surface. In yet other embodiments, a pinball machine may include a plastic playfield cover configured to cover a playfield of the pinball machine, the plastic playfield cover configured to provide a player with access to one or more physical objects within the playfield.