Abstract: A batter training and protection system and method are shown. A protector for protecting an infield area is provided with a plurality of indicia situated thereon or integrally formed therein to define a plurality of target areas, respectively. The indicia may comprise a plurality of material segments, a plurality of colors, patterns, graphics or the like in order to define the plurality of target areas at which a player may practice bunting a baseball.

Abstract: A three-piece solid golf ball comprising a rubber-based core inner layer, a rubber-based core outer layer, and a polyurethane elastomer-based cover, wherein the core inner layer has a JIS-C hardness of 50–85, the core outer layer has a JIS-C hardness of 70–90, the JIS-C hardness of the core outer layer at its surface minus the JIS-C hardness of the core inner layer at its center is 20–30, and the cover has a Shore D hardness of 46–55 and a gage of 1.1–2.1 mm is improved in rebound, travel distance, controllability, feel on impact and durability.

Abstract: A method of playing a side game is provided in combination with a game of chance such as Pai Gow Poker where a dealer hand of playing cards is dealt to a dealer and a player hand of playing cards is dealt to a player. The method includes receiving a side game wager from the player, wherein after dealing the dealer hand and the player hand, all playing cards from the dealer hand and player hand are combined into a combined hand. The side game wager is resolved according to the playing cards in the combined hand. Typically, the side game wager is resolved according to non-poker combinations, such as characteristics of the playing cards including card color, picture cards or the like.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a body and a striking plate. The body includes a recess in a front side thereof. A plurality of positioning protrusions project from a perimeter of the striking plate. When the striking plate is inserted into the recess of the body, the positioning protrusions plastically deform and engage with an inner perimeter delimiting the recess, thereby positioning the striking plate in the recess and simplifying assembling and positioning for a subsequent welding procedure. In another embodiment, the positioning protrusions project from the inner perimeter delimiting the recess, and when the striking plate is inserted into the recess of the body, the positioning protrusions plastically deform and engage with the perimeter of the striking plate.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus including a variable display unit configured to variably display a plurality of symbols, a front side display unit located in front of the variable display unit and configured to enable viewing of the symbols displayed by the variable display unit, a backlight, which is set in the front side display unit to light up the symbols displayed by the variable display unit, an internally winning prize determiner configured to determine an internally winning prize and a stopping controller configured to stop the varying of display of the variable display unit based on a result of determination by the internally winning prize determiner. A prize is awarded if a stopped state displayed on the variable display unit, which is caused by the stopping controller, matches a prescribed stopped state.

Abstract: A golf club head whose head volume is in a range of from 355 to 450 cc comprises a hollow body comprising a face portion and sole portion each made of a metal material, and the hollow body has a structure producing a ball-hitting sound whose maximum sound pressure level occurs around 6.3 kHz.

Abstract: A game system including twenty-four cards, each respective card having respective top and bottom portions, each characterized by the following respective first and second suit-rank pairings: Ace of Spades and Nine of Hearts, King of Spades and Ten of Hearts . . . Nine of Spades and Ace of Hearts; Ace of Clubs and Nine of Hearts . . . Nine of Clubs and Ace of Hearts; Ace of Spades and Nine of Diamonds . . . Nine of Spades and Ace of Diamonds; Ace of Clubs and Nine of Diamonds . . . Nine of Clubs and Ace of Diamonds. A game is played by first forming two two-player teams and then equally distributing all of the cards to the players. Distribution of the cards is followed by bidding, naming a trump suit, taking tricks, accumulating points, and declaring the first team to exceed a predetermined number of points the winner.

Abstract: An automated goalkeeper assembly includes a track having a length; a goalie structure; and a base that supports the goalie structure on top of the track. The base has wheels and a motor cooperating with at least one of the wheels for moving the goalie structure along the length of the track. A player, for example, a hockey player or a soccer player, can practice scoring goals against the goalie structure. The goalie structure is preferably inflatable, and the track is preferably constructed from a plurality of track sections. The track preferably has grooves and the base preferably has flanges that cooperate with the grooves to keep the base secured in the track when the player bumps into the goalie structure. All of the components of the goalkeeper assembly can be provided as a kit that can be assembled and disassembled as desired.

Abstract: A combined football/basketball game is provided. In the game, initially an offensive team attempts to score a touchdown against a defensive team pursuant to an American rules football style of game play. When the offensive team scores a touchdown, the mode of game play shifts to a basketball-mode in which the offensive team attempts to make a basketball shot to score additional points against the defensive team. When the ball is controlled by the defensive team during basketball mode, i.e., after a missed shot or a made shot by the offensive team, the defensive team becomes the offensive team and attempts to score a touchdown in football mode. The game continues in this manner until the end of the time allotted for playing the game.

Abstract: An iron type golf club head includes a primary club head body composed of metal. The primary club head body includes a striking face and a facing wall opposite the striking face. The club head also includes a polymeric body secured to the facing wall of the primary club head body, wherein the polymeric body is secured opposite the striking face of the primary club head body.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having at least one recessed portion for securely receiving at least one weight member. The weight member includes a lid with a plurality of protrusions respectively received in receiving portions of the recessed portion. At least one of the protrusions has a weight different from those of other protrusions. The lid has a symmetric shape the same as that of the recessed portion of the body, allowing the lid to be mounted in the recessed portion in one of at least two orientations that correspond to at least two different locations of a center of gravity of the golf club head, thereby allowing rapid change in the center of the gravity of the golf club head.

Abstract: A lacrosse head having protrusions on its top and/or bottom edges, which improve ball control. Preferably, the protrusions on the top edge protrude toward the interior of the lacrosse head and the protrusions on the bottom edge protrude away from the interior of the lacrosse head. In a further embodiment, the lacrosse head has a top protrusion disposed on the top edge of a sidewall, and a bottom protrusion on disposed on the bottom edge of the sidewall, such that any height of the lacrosse head frame, inclusive of the top protrusion and the bottom protrusion, does not exceed a specified sidewall height, even though the sum of the height of the sidewall, the height of the top protrusion, and the height of the bottom protrusion, measured separately and nonlinearly, exceed the specified sidewall height.

Abstract: A soccer goal pad comprises an integrally formed foam body for overlying the playing surface of a goal post. The pad is self retained on the post. The goal pad provides impact-cushioning along the playing surface so as to reduce the risk of injury, while minimizing its affect on the trajectory and speed of a soccer goal bouncing off of the padded post. A method of making the goal pad is disclosed.

Abstract: A gaming system (1) comprises a primary wagering facility (6) which is us able by a player to place an initial wager on a turn of a game of blackjack, and a secondary wagering facility (7) which automatically places a side wager on the same turn of the game of blackjack. the system provides for two blackjack hands, a first one for the player and a second one for a dealer. The system includes an accumulation facility (10) which accumulates a fixed portion of the wager in a pooled jackpot. The side wager relates to an outcome of a first three cards dealt in the player's hand. In particular, the side wager is deemed to be successful if one or more of the first three cards dealt in the player's hand is of a predetermined rank, or is of a particular suite, or both. In order to increase the appeal of the gaming system, the predetermined rank is selected to be a seven, and the particular suite is selected to be diamonds.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a dual core component. The dual core comprises an interior center component formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof. The dual core also comprises a core layer disposed about the center component, formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof. The present invention golf ball may further comprise an outer core layer that surrounds the dual core. The resulting multi-layered golf ball of the present invention provides for enhanced distance without sacrificing playability or durability when compared to known golf balls.

Abstract: An iron type golf club head is provided with an annular trench including: an upper side trench portion that is positioned above the horizontal border line on the face surface through the sweet spot; and a lower side trench portion that is positioned beneath the above described border plane, and a ratio (Wu/Wd) of the average trench width Wu of the upper side trench portion to the average trench width Wd of the lower side trench portion is in the range of 2.5 to 5.0.

Abstract: An option in the card game of Blackjack according to which the player pays a fee to buy the option to roll a single die and the outcome, a number between one and six, inclusive, is added to the total point value of the player's cards.

Abstract: An illuminated golf ball comprised of an outer translucent layer and cover, and a spherical inner core of translucent plastic, filled with chemiluminescent liquid, such as Cyalume.TM. The two components of the chemiluminescent liquid are held separate by a membrane or partition within the inner core. The chemiluminescent liquids are activated by being mixed with each other by the pulling of a cord, or the pulling or pushing of metal pin, or by impact from a golf club, which breaks or tears the membrane or partition. In a preferred form the golf ball will be made to comply with USGA guidelines. Thus, the golf ball will provide improved visibility in low light conditions and be of near equal weight distribution to provide performance and flight characteristics similar to standard, non-luminescent, golf balls.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a golf club head body and a weight member mounted in a recession of the golf club head body. The weight member includes at least one solder channel for receiving solderable filler. The weight member is mounted in the recession of the golf club head body before a brazing process for bonding the weight member with the golf club head body. During the brazing process, the solderable filler is melted and fills a gap between the weight member and walls delimiting the recession of the golf club head body to thereby increasing bonding strength between the weight member and the walls delimiting the recession of the golf club head body.

Abstract: A toy includes a base member and coupling member. In one embodiment, the base member has, for example, three attachment posts. The coupling member is configured to be removably coupled to any one of the attachment posts. The coupling member is also configured to be removably coupled among the three attachment posts. In one embodiment, the coupling member includes three projections that define a receiving portion. The receiving portion is configured to receive at least a portion of any one of the attachment posts. The projections of the coupling member are configured to be coupled among the three attachment posts. In another embodiment, the base member includes a prearranged play area that has a spherical portion, a cylindrical portion, and a wall portion. The coupling member is configured to be removably coupled to the spherical portion, the cylindrical portion, and the wall portion of the base member.