Abstract: A cover for use on a basketball goal system. The cover includes a face plate which is configured with a channel for receiving the tip of a force-applying implement and is further configured to extend generally over the goal mounting mechanism of the goal such that the face plate provides a protective shield over the goal mounting mechanism when mounted to a goal. The face plate includes a pair of holes through which rim braces may extend when the cover is attached to a basketball goal for use in mounting the cover to the goal.

Abstract: A novel dart is equipped with a dart point contraction system which allows the dart point to contract into the body or barrel of the dart as when the dart point impacts wire, or staples and the like which surmount boundaries of denominated regions of a dart board. The dart body defines a cylindrical cavity into which the downstream end of the dart point can reciprocatingly travel since it also is cylindrical and comes to rest against the dart body at the end of its travel. It is as a result of kinetic energy of flight that even though the dart point may have impacted a boundary wire or even a denominated region of the dart board, dart "bounce-out" is inhibited by the momentum of dart point upstream end travelling into the dart body housing. Because of a tapered furrel in the front portion of the dart body, the whole dart point system furrel and point may be simply removed as by (strongly) pulling or to be replaced most conveniently with a simple extraction tool.

Abstract: A target practice device for improving an outside shot is mountable on any place on the rim of the basketball goal that has an available surface, i.e. any pan of the rim that does not also have a hook supporting the net. The target can be placed on the rim so that the target-face can be at various angles ranging from 90 degrees (with respect to the ground) to 0 degrees. The target is designed so that it will retract readily to the force of an incoming basketball. When the ball's trajectory is completed, the target returns to its equilibrium position. The device can be mounted on to, and without damaging or altering any part of, a standard basketball goal.

Abstract: A basketball goal for indoor play in an area bounded by a wall having an access door set therein, the height of the goal being adjustable to a desired elevation. The goal includes a hoop from which a net is suspended, the hoop being supported on a fixture attached to the front section of a pantograph whose rear section is provided with a mounting bracket that hitches onto the upper edge of the door, whereby the hoop projects outwardly from the wall in a horizontal plane. The pantograph is angularly adjustable to raise or lower the front section thereof with respect to the rear section while maintaining these sections in parallel relation whereby the hoop may be set to an elevation suitable for play.

Abstract: An adjustable basketball goal generally includes a movable support, telescoped within a vertically mounted fixed support, and a hydraulic, water-powered drive mechanism for enabling the raising or lowering of a basketball rim connected to the upper end of the movable support. The drive mechanism includes a dual-compartment water piston and is powered by a conventional garden hose using ordinary household water pressure. With appropriate adjustments made to the water piston, the drive mechanism may be alternatively operable by pneumatic pressure as well as hydraulic pressure. A valve is included for enabling manual control of the drive mechanism. The adjustable basketball goal may also include a rotatable coupling between the movable and fixed supports such that the basketball rim may be rotated 360 degrees about an axis defined by the vertically mounted supports.

Abstract: A muscle memory basketball training aid and method is provided. The training aid includes a pair of base assemblies and a rectangular frame detachably coupled to the base assemblies. The frame includes a pair of shooting bars and a pair of end bars detachably coupled to the shoot bars. A pair of extension members are detachbly coupled to the base assemblies and to the frame. A locking device is provided that enables longitudinal adjustment of the extension members relative to the base assemblies, for adjusting the height of the frame assembly relative to the base assemblies. The locking device enables each extension member to be adjusted independently of the other, so that the frame assembly may extend obtusely above the base assemblies, to accommodate plural users of different heights.

Abstract: A radio controlled vehicle having a device attached to the front of the vehicle for scooping and retaining a playing ball in a retaining area. The ball is scooped and captured by driving the vehicle towards the ball with sufficient velocity to guide it between channeling rails and through a flexible retaining barrier which prevents further escape of the ball during vehicle maneuvering. The vehicle also includes a ball propelling device which is capable of forcefully dislodging the ball from its retaining area and imparting a velocity to the ball away from the vehicle. This system can be used to play a game whereby the bounds of a playing area and goals are defined, and players maneuver their vehicles within this area. Players capture the free ranging ball, maneuver it towards a goal, aim and shoot the ball in an attempt to score. Errant in-bound shots would then be re-captured, re-maneuvered, and re-shot during the course of play.

Abstract: An improved basketball goal assembly that combines buttressed side support arms, an L-brace, and at least one center plate brace to provide greater structural integrity to the goal. A horizontal section of the L-brace is attached at one end to the hoop, and a vertical section extends from the opposite end. Each side support is attached to the hoop on one end and to the vertical section of the L-brace on the other end. Each arm may have a bend proximate its attachment end to the hoop, allowing the arms to avoid obstruction of the aperture defined by the hoop. The basketball goal is mounted to a backboard along a back side of the vertical section of the L-brace. Each part of the goal provides enhanced support to the others for overall synergistic integrity. Deformation and failure of the goal as a whole is drastically reduced under conditions of strenuous use.

Abstract: Reusable, mechanically powered Paint Ball Grenade utilizing 0.68 or smaller diameter paint balls. Accepting and storing said paint balls between its upper and lower sections and behind a fingerguard. The device is designed to be grasped in such a way as to engage one or more safety interlocks during the removal of the safety pin. Once thrown downrange the actuator will function upon impact allowing the grenade halves to collapse with the force of the primary spring, crushing the paint balls against cutters and causing the paint to be hydromechanically dispersed about the exterior of the device. The device may be reloaded by expanding the two halves, thus compressing the primary spring, reinserting the safety pin, and reloading new paint balls.

Abstract: A basketball goal unit is disclosed having a first mounting plate for attachment to a backboard, a second mounting plate pivotally mounted to the first mounting plate, a rim supported from the second mounting plate, and a resilient member located between and in contact with the first and second mounting plates, the resilient member acting to bias the second mounting plate to a normal use position, wherein the resilient member is compressed and the second mounting plate is permitted to pivot a specified amount toward the first mounting plate when the rim receives a force having a downward component greater than a threshold level. Thereafter, the second mounting plate automatically pivots back to its normal use position due to the biasing action of the resilient member.

Abstract: An easy to use, self-adjusting device for creating a visual representation of the region within which a hockey puck must travel to score a goal from any position in front of a goal has two retractable cords which are attached at one end to a hockey stick and at the other to retractable spring take-up reels. The reels are releasably attached to the goal by a hook and loop fastener. Each cord extends from the reel to an elastic bungee-cord-type band that extends to a releasable clip connected to a removable bracket on the hockey stick. The cords are extended and retracted from the reel with movement of the hockey stick away from the goal to visually define the region of puck travel, and to permit on-the-fly demonstration of possible puck trajectories to both an offensive player and a goaltender, aiding these students in developing their hockey playing skills.

Abstract: A basketball net device for mounting on a raised basketball hoop including a generally tubular netting having upper net cords. A flexible annular member made of plastics material includes a hoop engaging portion which is generally channel-shaped in cross-section for a substantial portion of the circumference of the annular member. There are holes for connecting the upper net cords to the annular member. A circumferential section has an outer portion of the hoop engaging portion cut-away, leaving only a narrow inner portion thereof that engages the inner half of an upper surface of the hoop. The device can be readily removed from the hoop by pulling down on it and thereby pulling it through the hoop. Preferably the netting has closure devices, such as Velcro tape strips, for temporary closing off the opening at the bottom end of the netting. These devices are used to prevent a basketball from passing completely through the netting and for mounting the device on the hoop.

Abstract: A basketball shot training device is described for improving the shooting skills of the user including an elongated member adapted to be strapped to the user's forearm and a hemispherical finger and hand engagement element configured as a portion of a basketball facing the elongate member so as to be engagable with the user's fingers and hand. A resistance member pivotally mounts the hemispherical engagement element to resist movement from a retracted position to an extended position by flexing the hand, fingers and wrist against the resistance in a manner closely simulating the execution of a basketball shot. As the resistance member is being actuated, the hemispherical engagement element is also partially rotated against a resistive force so as to more accurately simulate a basketball shot.

Abstract: A removable basketball netting assembly is disclosed for use with a basketball goal which includes a backboard, a rim, and a support ledge to secure; the rim to the backboard. The assembly includes a ring having a first portion and a second portion where the first portion has two opposing sides, a top, an interior surface, and at least one opening through the top of the first portion. The second portion includes a top, one side, and an interior surface. The first and second portions are removably engaged with the rim whereby the second portion accommodates the support ledge. A plurality of protrusions integral to the interior surface of the two sides are included for temporarily securing the ring to the rim. A plurality of cutouts through the ring are provided for receiving upper cords of a net so that the net depends from the ring. A placement device is utilized for engaging and disengaging the ring with the rim.

Abstract: A dart flight stem comprises a metal root portion attached by screw thread to a dart barrel. A flight-holding portion is mounted on the root portion for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the flight stem. A shaft extends axially from the flight-holding portion into a complementary bore extending axially from the adjoining end of the root portion. The shaft has a circumferential groove and the peripheral metal wall in the root portion is locally crimped to form radially inwardly peripheral projections in the circumferential groove around the shaft, whereby the flight holding portion is held captive on said root portion. The dart flight stem made by a method of selecting root portion with screw threads at the front end for attachment to a dart barrel. A flight holding portion is mounted on the rear end of the root portion. An axial blind bore is provided in the root portion to establish a rotating fit with a shaft on the flight holding portion.

Abstract: A training device for developing hand-eye coordination in a child. The device includes a housing with front and rear walls, two side walls, an open top end and a bottom end. The housing also has a plurality of openings formed in the front wall of the housing adjacent the bottom end thereof. A plurality of tubes with upper and lower ends are secured in the housing. The lower end of each of the tubes is connected to one of the openings formed in the front wall of the housing. Secured to the top end of the housing is a hollow four walled removable insert. The insert serves to direct an object toward the open top end of the housing so that the object can randomly enter and pass through one of the tubes and out an associated opening in the front wall of the housing.

Abstract: A portable ball ring for sports such as basketball or netball for use with a vehicle has a main support frame and a secondary support frame. The main support frame is attached to the vehicle, usually the tow bar, and is supported by the secondary support frame. The portable ball ring can be folded and collapsed and still remain attached to the vehicle allowing it to be transported without having to be disassembled.

Abstract: An adjustable basketball standard which may be assembled with a conventional backboard and goal to form a portable basketball system is disclosed. Embodiments include either a pole alone or the pole and a hollow ballast-receiving base which supports the pole. The pole includes a tubular inner pole section, a tubular outer pole section, and at least two fasteners. In the assembled system, the fasteners normally hold the inner pole section in a fixed position relative to the outer pole section. However, the fasteners may be released to permit telescopic movement of the inner pole section inside the outer pole section to change the pole's height. An insertion end of the inner pole section has an outwardly extending flare which acts as a bearing. The flare also works with a neck on the outer pole section to prevent accidental removal of the inner pole section. The outer pole section includes a base pole section and a middle pole section connected by a permanent fastener-free pole joint.

Abstract: A target hitting game machine includes a cover member being formed with an opening; a target having an effective hitting area on a portion of the surface thereof, the target being rotatably disposed in the cover member and partially exposed through the opening during the rotation; a drive mechanism which rotates the target; an exposure detector which detects that the effective hitting area of the target is exposed through the opening; a hit detector which senses that the target is hit by a player; and a successful hitting determinator which is in responsive to the exposure detector and the hit detector and determines a successful hitting that the effective hitting area is hit.

Abstract: A support arm for attaching a basketball backboard to a pole is disclosed. The support arm includes two support members configured with flanges extending generally along a longitudinal axis of the support arm. The flanges have a toothed configuration in the shape of a square wave which includes a plurality of tabs and recesses. The support members are capable of mating engagement with each other wherein the tabs along each of the flanges of the first support member engage the corresponding recesses of the respective flanges of the second support member, thereby disposing engaged flanges at an angle with respect to each other. The support members are configured with a substantially C-shaped cross section. The support members are attached to each other with bolts, thereby eliminating the need for welding. Means are also provided attaching one end of the support arm to the basketball backboard and the other end to a pole.