Abstract: A word game assembly for play by two or more players includes for each player a play grid of horizontal and vertical rows of adjacent areas and a supply of alphabetical letter designating play pieces receivable on the grid areas in a competitive attempt to form words. A player operated random selector and indicator device, such as a spinnable top having side facets marked with different symbols, is used to determine the nature and procedure of play for effecting a series of plays. For instance, each player may select play pieces and place them on an associated play grid to form words in dependence upon the indicated random selection resulting from a spin of the top. In one embodiment of the word game assembly, a portion of the play grid is rotatable.

Abstract: A primarily African and African-American history education game device for several players having a stationary disc base with pins for alternately mounting two concentric rows of movable slot cards. Educational subject matter is inscribed on slot cards. Supported on the base is a smaller rotating disc having one radially located opening pointer to expose the "start" position at the start of a game and subject matter on slot cards mounted on the base smaller diameter concentric row when rotated. When the locking pin locks the smaller rotating disc relative to the base the rotating disc conceals all slot card subject matter and exposes the "start" position. No slot cards are in the exposed larger diameter concentric row when the rotating disc opening exposes the "start" position.

Abstract: A broadhead (10) includes a pair of upper blades (24) and a pair of lower blades (26) which are held within slots (20 and 22, respectively) in a cylindrical body (14) while the arrow is in flight. Upon impact with an animal, a plunger tip (12) slides into the cylindrical body (14) and the upper and lower blades (24 and 26, respectively) are forced to their open position by acting against the cam surfaces (38 and 44) positioned within the cylindrical body (14). A C-shaped ring (48) performs the functions of holding the plunger tip (12) in its extended position in flight and locking the blades (24 and 26) in their open position upon impact.

Abstract: An electronic, poker-type game which provides a player with an opportunity to increase the amount wagered, and therefore to increase a winning payout, even after the player has received a definite indication that the player has won. A preferred video game embodiment allows a player to increase his wager after reviewing a first display of a plurality of cards.

Abstract: A racket comprises a head frame having a catgut string threaded therethrough to form a striking surface therein, and a handle extending from the throat portion of the head frame. The head frame has at least one elongate, penetrating aperture formed thereon, with each aperture being separated from the outer periphery thereof by a pair of aligned ribs disposed to either side of the plane of the striking surface to define a receiving space therein. An elongate, elastic element having a generally T-shaped cross-section can be mounted in each receiving space with a central longitudinal protrusion thereon resting between the ribs. The elastic elements serve to adjust the weight and balance of the racket and absorb concomitant shock generated by the impact of a ball with the striking surface.

Abstract: A motorized mobile robot carries a person and is articulated and controlled by joysticks and foot pedals or by remote control to simulate the sport of boxing by effecting punches and blocks upon a like robot. Fluid motor driven wheels propel the robot in forward, rearward, lateral, turning, and spinning movements. An upper frame above the wheel base defines an enclosure having a generally humanoid configuration including a torso with an interior seat for supporting a person within the enclosure in a sitting position. A pair of independently movable arm assemblies connected at each side of the torso are driven by fluid actuators and each has a shoulder portion pivotally movable relative to the torso, an upper arm portion pivotally movable relative to the shoulder portion, and a forearm portion pivotally movable relative to the upper arm portion with a padded boxing glove at the outer end.

Abstract: A putter type golf club head including a rear cavity defined by heel and toe weights including secondary weights positioned on the top surface of said heel and toe weight masses between said cavity and the extremities of the golf club. The invention contemplates varying the size and height of the secondary weight members to provide precise weight adjustment thereon.

Abstract: A golf club head made of a fiber-reinforced resin, at least the outermost layer of the face thereof being composed of a cloth-reinforcing material impregnated with a matrix resin containing whiskers mixed therein so that the edges of the scoring lines will be composed of the matrix resin containing the whiskers mixed therein.

Abstract: An improved temperature control fluid circulating system for automatically cooling a temperature control fluid in a thermal blanket with a thermoelectric cooling device having a cold side and a hot side when powered by electricity wherein the temperature control fluid is cooled by the cold side of the cooling device and pumped to, through, and from the blanket through first and second conduits. The system includes a device for powering the cooling device with pulse width modulated electrical signals; a device for sensing the temperature of fluid flowing within each of the conduits; a device coupled to the sensing device for calculating from the sensed temperatures an indication of the temperature of the fluid flowing within the blanket; and a device associated with the powering device for modifiying the temperature of the fluid by controlling the pulse width modulation of the power supplied to the thermoelectric cooling device.

Abstract: An animated jigsaw puzzle in which a support base carries in fixed relationship a variety of jigsaw puzzle pieces in a fixed configuration when assembled, the animation includes portions of the jigsaw puzzle pieces which are adapted to move in various mechanical manners, and a drive linkage connecting the animated motion to an underlying drive train contained below the support tray coupled through a drive belt to a prime mover for use by a young child.

Abstract: A block, as of molded plastic, having a recess in which is mounted the standard control of a TV game, that standard control having push buttons for controlling the game displayed on the TV screen. Levers are mounted in the block, and wheel manually rotated for rocking the levers; the levers repeatedly depress the push buttons.

Abstract: A protective strip comprises a base strip and a cover strip, the base strip having a plurality of catgut holes thereon and providing an aperture between the catgut holes, the cover strip having a plurality of pins protruding from a bottom surface thereof for inserting into the apertures on the base strip.

Abstract: A playing device for learning how to play chess designed in the form of a chess teaching computer comprises a housing having on its top a board divided into sixty-four squares of equal size and taking up in its interior a chess computer whose signal inputs and outputs are connected with the individual squares. The improved arrangement is such that the chess computer (5) is connected with an additional program memory means (9) which is also disposed within the housing (2) and contains a plurality of practice positions (11) in a stored form, a switch (14) is disposed on the side beside the board (3) for switching over the electrical connection between the individual squares (4) each having a control switch (7) and the chess computer (5) to the program memory means (9), and the leads (12) of the practice positions (11) contained in the program memory means (9) are each connected with a control switch (7) of the squares (4).

Abstract: A sports racket, especially a tennis racket, having reduced tendancy to transmit vibrational energy to the arm of the user, having a bow portion, and a hollow space within or surrounding said bow portion fully packed with spherical plastic beads such as low density polystyrene beads.

Abstract: A device for relieving tennis elbow and that is mountable on the strings of a sports racquet, the device being defined by an elongated flexible, rubber-like strap having dampening characteristics and that is formed with a plurality of transversely extending external ribs thereon in spaced apart longitudinal relation, the flexible strap being interwoven between adjacent longitudinally extending strings of the racquet, wherein the ribs as formed on the flexible strap define stops for locating the flexible strap in a positive position on the longitudinally extending strings for preventing the lateral shifting of the flexible strap thereon.

Abstract: A teaching method is disclosed for computer systems that permit longer sequences of user actions such as keypresses or selection via pointing to be replaced by shorter sequences of user actions (abbreviations), which method shows the user the abbreviation by either highlighting the characters or sounding beeps or pronouncing the characters of the abbreviation whenever the user neglects to use the abbreviation. The method thus teaches the user the abbreviations while he/she is doing normal work.

Abstract: A mechanical game device for use with rolling balls. The device includes a base block with a plurality of ball receiver pockets that are visible to the player. Located in the base block are a plurality of code blocks adapted for selective insertion in the base block in interchangeable side-by-side relation. Each block has a column of vertical holes that align with the vertical holes of adjacent code blocks to form rows of holes, one hole of each row being a code hole. The base block and code blocks define a number of concealed passages or race means adapted to guide balls through the device to one of a plurality of receiver pockets.

Abstract: A portable facial vaporizing device comprising first and second opposing fabric sections joined together along a bottom edge thereof and at adjacent portions of back and front edges thereof to form an interior pocket adapted to contain a volume of hot water. A hanging arrangement is disposed on upper back portions of said fabric portions for supporting said device on a spigot of a bath or sink such that hot water leaving said spigot will flow into said interior pocket and form a contained volume of hot water therein. At least a major portion of upper edges of said fabric portions are unjoined or free and thus form an opening for admitting and surrounding the face of a person using the device such that the person's face is exposed to vapors from said volume of hot water in said interior pocket. A disposable version may be formed from an inexpensive fabric.

Abstract: This invention discloses a novelty golf club having a bendable shaft made of a special, non-tempered aluminum with a plastic sheath thereabout for allowing hot tempered golfers to take out their frustrations on a golf club. The golf club can remain bent and placed in the golf bag as a joke or novelty.

Abstract: This invention relates to a category of golf clubs ranging from the driver to a seven wood, and ranging from a one iron to high lofted sand wedges. Each club within this category of golf clubs will provide superior playing characteristics compared to prior art golf clubs because of the lower axial inertia exhibited by the club heads of the present invention. For this invention, lower axial inertia is defined as lower rotational inertia about the club shaft longitudinal axis. The lower axial inertia is achieved by a reduction of the club head center of gravity to club shaft centerline distance when compared to a prior art club head. To achieve said reduction of the club head center of gravity to club shaft centerline distance, the present invention will utilize a special club head heel-sole-toe weighting configuration and a special method of hosel to club head heel attachment.