Abstract: The present invention is a putting tool to assist a golfer. The putting tool comprises a box like structural housing having a cavity therein. The housing is further defined by a top wall, bottom wall, back wall, first side wall, and an opposing second side wall. The front of the housing defines an opened an entry way for inserting foam into the cavity of the housing. An elastic band covers the front opening of the housing. At a predetermined location on the elastic band, a target is incorporated onto the band. Thus, when the golf ball hits the elastic band, the ball bounces off the band and automatically returns back to the putter.

Abstract: A bag throwing game for a plurality of players. One embodiment of the game includes a target bag having a pair of opposite sides. An indicia applied to one side of the target bag and covering a portion but not the entire side thereof. Throwing bags are provided for each player or team. Each player's throwing bags having sides of a different color than the throwing bags of the other player. The throwing bags are sufficiently large to cover the indicia of the target bag. A second embodiment of the invention includes a target bag having sides of opposite, distinctive colors with different and distinctive colored indicia on each side, totaling four distinctive colors. The throwing bags for each team have opposite sides of different, distinct colors, The first team's throwing bags each having one side of a first color and a second side of a fourth color.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are improved targets suitable for cutting with an edged weapon. In an embodiment the target may be a traditional straw mat target held together by a hydraulic binder composition. In yet other embodiments, the target may be made of multiple layers of synthetic materials to give different properties. One embodiment is a target with an inner portion and an outer portion. The outer portion may be selected from a material that gives the appropriate initial cutting properties while the inner portion provides a cutting resistance. In addition, shaped targets having multiple differing cutting surfaces are disclosed, as is a method for creating a target to simulate a predefined sequence of cuts.

Abstract: A pressure grip for a goalie hockey stick includes a support boot and a hand grip. The support boot includes a paddle portion and a handle portion. An inside perimeter of the paddle portion is sized to receive a paddle of the hockey stick and an inside perimeter of the handle portion is sized to receive a handle of the hockey stick. A thumb grip preferably extends from the handle portion. A grip slot is formed through the handle portion to receive the hand grip. The hand grip preferably includes a pivotal handle, a projection plate and at least one spring. The pivotal handle and the projection plate are pivotally retained by the support boot. The at least one spring is preferably retained in the pivotal handle. The projection plate includes a plurality of projections. The plurality of projections dig into the handle of the hockey stick.

Abstract: A ball retriever comprising a main member forming a first closed loop, a base member forming a second closed loop with the main member foldably attached to the base member, a fabric portion smaller in area than a spatial plane defined by the first loop, straps connecting the fabric portion to the main member, and a support to sustain the main member against the base member while maintaining a substantial angle between the main member and the base member.

Abstract: An archery target is manufactured by stacking a plurality of layers of foam with the bottom surface of an upper layer engaging the top surface of a lower layer in face-to-face engagement to form a stack having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces. The foam layers are compressed and the layers of foam are secured to each other by applying heat to the side surfaces such that a plurality of target faces of at least partially melted foam are formed. The layers of foam are further integrated to one another by applying a heated rod through the entire stack to form at least one hole extending through the layers. The archery target is capable of being used in a stand-alone arrangement having at least four target faces and could be used as an insert for a three-dimensionally shaped target shell.

Abstract: A target apparatus includes a bracket for attachment to a goal frame member such that a front of the bracket faces a forward direction perpendicular to a front goal plane of the goal, a back of the bracket faces a rearward direction and a defensive area side is adjacent a defensive area of the goal. A target defines a front target plane and a projectile receptacle. A target hinge connects the bracket and target such that the target is located adjacent the defensive area side, such that the target is rotatable relative to the bracket between a forward target position in which the front target plane is perpendicular to the forward direction and a deflected target position and such that the front target plane is rearward of the front of the bracket in the forward target position. A biasing mechanism urges the target to rotate toward the forward target position.

Abstract: A portable ball rebound game includes a ball for being thrown at a rebound panel. Generally the rebounding surface of the rebound panel defines a compound curve to minimize the predictability of any rebound trajectory. Preferably the rebounding surface models the surface of a rock.

Abstract: A method providing a self-dispensing additive for buffering a projectile trapping medium and passivating spent projectiles trapped therein. The additive is a buffering compound formed as blocks of low-density foamed-concrete that self-dispenses the additive when contacted by the fired projectiles. The blocks contain dry components that may include one or more of low-solubility phosphate compounds, low-solubility aluminum compounds, iron compounds, sulfate compounds, and calcium carbonate mixed with a cementing material, water, and an aqueous-based foam in substantially stoichiometric amounts. The aqueous-based foam is added in a quantity sufficient to adjust the density of the block to neutral buoyancy in the projectile-trapping medium. The additive chemically stabilizes the medium while also passivating projectiles, in particular heavy-metal projectiles, trapped in the medium.

Abstract: A backstop for a street hockey goal comprising left and right stanchions with a net fastened therebetween with a strut fastenable to a hockey goal for supporting the net in a deployed position. Once deployed the net exceeds the height of the hockey goal and extends beyond said goal to the left and right. The base of each stanchion matingly engage each other when in the folded position with the net having a partial slit vertically extending with fasteners that attach to their respective stanchions when in the folded position.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a universal shaft fitting for a cue stick comprises a universal adapter with an extension having external threads, adapted to be bonded into the butt end of a shaft of a cue stick, and an insert adapted to be bonded to internal threads of the universal adapter. The insert also includes internal threads for detachably mating a pin attached to another segment of a cue stick. Other embodiments include universal shaft fittings with various pin configurations and universal shaft fittings that do not utilize an insert. The universal shaft fittings may be utilized as components of a kit for adapting shafts to receive segments of cue sticks with various pin configurations. The universal shaft fittings may also be utilized in a method of supplying shafts to fit segments of cue sticks.

Abstract: A vandal resistant sports goal net clip, or fastener, for attaching nets to the frames of sports goals. The fasteners are difficult to remove by hand and require the use of a separate tool to attach and remove the net from the frame. Sports goal assemblies and methods of securing nets to goal frames are also disclosed.

Abstract: Bag toss game target assemblies that include a deck and a base unit. The deck includes at least one through-aperture dimensioned to allow a bag to pass entirely therethrough. The base unit has a bottom portion that is configured to rest on a generally horizontal surface and a top portion that is configured to support the deck during game play. In one preferred embodiment, the base unit further includes an open-top storage receptacle that is covered by the deck during game play, but can be accessed by moving the deck independent of the base unit. In another preferred embodiment, the deck from at least target assembly can be removed from its corresponding base unit, and the corresponding base unit can be nested beneath and partially within the base unit of another target assembly.

Abstract: A golf practice green apparatus is provided which is capable of transforming between multiple configurations. A first configuration is best suited for actual use as a target green on a golf driving range or the like. In a second configuration the effective width or other dimension of the apparatus is significantly reduced to allow for practical and legal transportation of the golf practice green apparatus over a roadway.

Abstract: A collar for a bat. The bat includes a barrel, a taper extending from the barrel, and a handle extending from the taper opposite the barrel. The handle includes a knob and a grip. The collar is slideably positioned on the grip between the knob and the taper to secure the grip to the handle. The collar includes a circumferential wall, a plurality of securing members positioned on the circumferential wall to engage the grip, and the collar is slideably preferably positioned on the handle between the grip and the taper. The securing members removably secure the collar to the grip and in turn removably secure the grip to the handle.

Abstract: A sports goal is provided having a pair of vertically extending posts and an interconnecting cross bar, wherein at least one of the posts and the cross bar include a curvilinear section. The posts extend from bottom ends adjacent a playing surface to upper ends interconnected with the cross bar, wherein the bottom ends of the posts and the junctions with the cross bar are located at the vertices of a rectangle.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a hockey stick comprising a shaft and a blade, the shaft including a top side, a bottom side, a front side, a back side, an upper end, a lower end, and a length extending between the upper end and the lower end, the shaft including a first straight section and a second section. The first section extends from the lower end of the shaft to the second section and the second section extends from the first section to the upper end of the shaft. The second section is disposed at an angle relative to the first section, the angle being defined generally along a plane extending from the top side of the shaft to the bottom side of the shaft, wherein the second section starts at about ½ to about ? of the length of the shaft from the lower end of the shaft.

Abstract: A tamper deterring end cap for a bat. The bat includes a barrel, a taper, and a handle. The end cap comprises first and second elements integrally formed together such that attempted separation of the two elements distorts at least one of the elements. The second element can be integrally formed within the first element and the first element can include a securing member fixing the end cap to the barrel.

Abstract: A composite hockey stick having a tubular hollow rectangular shaft and a blade is disclosed. The shaft comprises an inner layer and an outer layer, each of the inner and outer layers are formed of uni-directional substantially continuous fibers disposed in a hardened resin matrix and wrapped and molded around a middle elastomer layer. A new manufacturing method is also disclosed in which a cured hollow tubular composite hockey stick shaft is inserted between the front and back faces of an un-cured composite hockey stick blade and the blade is then cured in a mold around the hockey stick shaft to form a unitary composite hockey stick.

Abstract: A baseball bat is described having of an elongated cylindrical handle portion for gripping, a cylindrical barrel portion for striking and a tapered cylindrical mid-section connecting the handle portion and the barrel portion, wherein at least the barrel portion is tubular and is constructed solely of a polymer composite material with a three-dimensional fiber reinforcement architecture resulting in improved durability versus conventional polymer composite bats, without any sacrifice in playing performance. Also disclosed are polymer composite baseball bats where the polymer composite material includes between 85% and 100% fiberglass reinforcement fibers, and/or where the central cavity is filled with a damping material such as polymeric foam or a low-density granular material, and/or where the bats are constructed of multiple layers of intertwined tubular braid forms using a precision molding process.