Abstract: An electric dartboard includes a base, a dart frame, a plurality of score blocks and a touch sensor. A positioning ball and a resilient member are disposed at a predetermined position of the base. The dart frame, rotatably in 360 degrees, is disposed in the receiving zone, and the dart frame includes an upper frame body and a lower frame base. A plurality of first positioning recesses are formed on an outer periphery of the frame base for receiving the positioning ball therein. Score blocks are disposed between the frame body and the frame base, while the touch sensor is disposed between the receiving zone and the dart frame. The dart frame and the score blocks can rotate in 360 degrees relative to the base.

Abstract: A multi-walled, tubular baseball bat has a barrel portion with a mid-section wherein the radial stiffness of the overall barrel wall varies along the barrel length to provide an enlarged sweetspot, improved soft feel and performance, plus unique sounds upon impact. The bat has a frame with a barrel portion of consistent diameter. A secondary member, or members, of tubular form extend internally along the barrel. The secondary member provides the required radial stiffness variation by: 1) variations in the thickness of the wall of the secondary member or by, 2) secondary members with unique geometric external surface profiles or by, 3) the presence of functional air cavities, with or without closed ends, between the main bat frame and the secondary member or members or by, 4) the presence of numerous annular secondary members located side by side less than one-half the length of the barrel portion.

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 composite ball bat includes an exposed region of transparent or translucent material, which provides a visual indication of whether delamination has occurred in the ball bat. As a result, an observer can determine, via visual inspection, whether delamination has occurred, and, if it has, can remove the bat from regulated play.

Abstract: A hockey stick for training a person in stick handling, having elongate upper stick portion, an elongate lower stick portion, an elongate coupling member, and an elongate middle stick portion. The elongate upper stick portion is configured to be gripped by a control hand of the person. The elongate lower stick portion has a blade member extending outwardly therefrom. The elongate coupling member rigidly couples the upper stick portion to the lower stick portion. The elongate middle stick portion is positioned between and collinear with the upper stick portion and the lower stick portion and is configured to be gripped by a directional hand of the person. The middle stick portion is rotatably coupled to the elongate coupling member so that rotation of the upper stick portion causes the lower stick portion and the blade member to rotate without rotating the middle stick portion gripped by the directional hand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for playing ball sports including softball. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for deterring the modification of ball bats. The bat comprises a barrel, a sweet spot, a transition area, a handle, and an end knob. Within the barrel are found supports used to reinforce the structural integrity of the bat to deter users from crushing the bat, causing the bat to fall outside the legal classification of bats allowed by the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA). The supports are made out of a lightweight durable composition. The supports are held in place by a retaining member. Multiple supports and retaining members may be used.

Abstract: A hockey stick having a composite blade and a shaft is disclosed. The composite blade includes a heel section that is recessed relative to the front and back faces of the blade. The recessed heel section is configured to be received by a hockey stick shaft or an adapter member configured to connect the blade to the shaft. The composite blade preferably comprise a foam inner core overlaid preferably with substantially continuous fibers disposed in a matrix material and may include an internal bridge structure extending from one side of the blade to the other. The blade may also be preferably comprised of a core comprising non-continuous fibers disposed within a matrix material. In another aspect, processes for manufacturing the previously described hockey stick blade(s) are described.

Abstract: A mobile practice target is described, which includes a framework comprising a base support and at least one substantially vertical support extending above the base support and an angled support above the vertical support, together with a pocket comprising a resilient material having at least one front opening parallel to the vertical support capable of receiving a football propelled from the horizontal direction, and a top opening parallel to the angled support for receiving a propelled football from above. A baffle is secured to the top of the front opening which can absorb the momentum of the propelled football and/or deflect the propelled football downward into the pocket. A mobility means associated with the base support is provided to facilitate transport of the mobile practice target. The mobile practice target captures and contains propelled footballs and prevents them from bouncing out of the pocket when traversing the front opening.

Abstract: A system that holds clay targets for the purposes of target practice which comprises interchangeable single and double tier target holders for holding clay targets, paper targets, or swinging metal targets is herein disclosed. The target holders are approximately forty-eight (48) inches in length and are connected at each end to a vertical tube which slides over a steel leg post that is subsequently inserted securely into a grade surface. The leg posts are approximately forty-eight (48) inches in height and are provided with a foot peg to aid in the grade surface insertion process. The double tiered target holders are particularly designed for clay pigeon targets and comprise channels lined with self-adhesive felt strips to aid in keeping the clay pigeon targets in position and prevent sliding. The invention is envisioned to be utilized with small caliber handguns and rifles such as BB guns, pellet rifles, .22 caliber rifles, and the like.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a foldable, portable, apparatus for use as an operant conditioning basketball shooting practice aid by retrieving and returning shots at the hoop. The apparatus is comprised of a dismountable trough assembly depending from crossbar slots of a support assembly frame. The trough assembly includes ball collection panels each mounted on separated ball runway tubes or rails with the legs of a track extender-deflector inserted into the tubes. The deflectors are adapted to be configured for quick interchangeability from one configuration to another to deliver the ball to various locations to center or side court.

Abstract: The invention consists of a blade for a hockey stick, comprising: a blade portion, with a forehand side and a backhand side and a loop extending from the one or both sides of the blade portion, with the loop dimensioned to enclose a hockey puck.

Abstract: A golf putting training device including a circular target having a substantially flat body having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces. A bumper formed of rubber or an elastomeric polymer is attached to or integral with the peripheral edge of the target. The upper surface of the target has a plurality of substantially equally spaced-apart primary lines extending from the center to the peripheral edge to form a lane between each adjacent pair of primary lines. The width of each lane is substantially the width of a regulation hole. The circular target can be divided into partially circular targets having a 90 degree, 180 degree, or 270 degree circumference.

Abstract: A sports bat, such as a baseball or softball bat, is electro-deposited with a nanostructured metal. Bats made from aluminum alloys or other metals may be electro-deposited with varying thicknesses of nanostructured metals such as nickel, nickel iron, cobalt phosphorous, or similar materials. The bat substrate alloy can be any metal or alloy. The coating may be done using an electro-deposition process.

Abstract: A multi-sports ball/disk return net system and a method thereof that consistently returns a ball/disk hit, kick, thrown or struck into it back toward a user and that is portable and easy to assemble and disassemble. The multi-sports ball/disk return net system has a frame and a net mounted on or across the frame. The net forms an upper U-shape forward bulging pillow having a square net pattern and a lower U-shape channel or hammock with the square pattern at the opposite ends of the U-shape channel being skewed to become diamond shapes. The net is configured to cause a projectile propelled into the U-shape pillow to drop down to the U-shape channel, which funnels the ball to the lowest and central point of the U-shape channel for discharge toward the user.

Abstract: A hockey stick comprising a shaft portion and a blade portion, the shaft portion including means having preformed stresses to induce a flexural resistance at about mid-span so as to create in the shaft portion induced stresses which are neutralized as stresses are further induced in the shaft portion at impact on the blade portion to thereby provide a stiffer and more rigid shaft portion.

Abstract: A target system having a base, a stationary member inclined from the base and having a cap, a rotating tube having a cap and positioned over the stationary tube, a bearing between the caps of the stationary member and the rotating tube to permit substantially free rotation of the rotating tube, and a plurality of target sides secured to the rotating tube, with impact of a fired round onto one of the target sides initiating movement of the rotating tube relative to the stationary member.

Abstract: A ball kicking-training apparatus has a base which vertically supports a post having a rotatable axle whose top end is provided with a ball and socket device. The ball component of the ball and socket device is attached to an arm whose opposite end is attached to the ball to be kicked by the user of the apparatus.

Abstract: A replaceable cue tip assembly is provided to enable the easy and quick replacement of tip pads of cue sticks. The cue tip assembly includes a tip ferrule that is attachable to a cue stick shaft or to conventional shaft ferrule. It also includes a tip pad holder to which a tip pad is to be fixed. The tip pad holder has a non-threaded conical surface that seats upon a mating non-threaded conical surface of the tip ferrule. The outside diameter of the tip ferrule may be less than local thickness of the cue shaft under certain conditions. Various means of connecting the tip pad holder and the tip ferrule together are disclosed. Cue sticks having the replaceable cue tip assemblies are also disclosed as are tip pad holder tools for use in attaching and removing the tip pad holders.

Abstract: An electronic dart game allowing players to control and more closely simulate the offensive and defensive strategies of a game of football when compared to other dart games with a football theme. Each player can use remaining time on the clock to advantage, and continue play in first down increments, as long as minimum yardage gains are made in the time intervals allowed. The player starts anew with four darts each time a first down is achieved. Darts can score yard gains, yard losses, passes, fumbles, and interceptions. Punting and field goals can be attempted if clearly indicated in advance of throwing a dart. One distinction from a real football game is that there are no time outs, and players cannot stop the clock. A main computer control chip preferably coordinates the game board and scoring/control board used and maintains all aspects of the game in sequence once play begins.

Abstract: The football handoff trainer includes a vertical stand having a base and a post extending upwardly therefrom. The post includes a support and a vertically positionable extension telescopingly received by the support. An arm is pivotally coupled to the extension and includes a football holder extending therefrom at an end opposite the stand. The football holder releasibly retains a football and cooperates with the arm to simulate a football handoff.