Abstract: A stackable block is provided which may be constructed as a traditional toy or as a beverage container. The block includes six sides. Furthermore, the block includes at least one projection which projects from one of the block's sides. Each projection is square so as to include a face and four sidewalls. Furthermore, it is preferred that each projection include a ridge forming a recess between the square projection's face and a block's side. Furthermore, each block includes at least one slot formed into one of the block's sides. This slot extends the entire side of a block and forms an elongate cavity sized for receipt of a projection. Preferably, each slot includes parallel opposed flanges sized to project into a projection's recesses.

Abstract: A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis. The bat includes a handle portion, a barrel portion and an injection molded element non-removably attached to the handle member. The barrel portion has a proximal region and a distal region spaced apart by a central region. The element has a tapered proximal region and barrel engaging region. The barrel engaging region of the element non-removably engages the proximal region of the barrel portion. The bat has a total length measured from a proximal end of the handle portion to a distal end of the barrel portion. The handle portion has a length that is less than 70 percent of the total length.

Abstract: An attachable basketball training device including a substantially semicircular inverted R-shaped clamp having a curved right portion, a curved left portion, a linear middle portion, and a continuous bottom opening. Each of the right portion, the left portion, and the middle portion has an interior lip and an exterior lip. A horizontal slot is medially disposed through the interior lip of the middle portion of the clamp, with a tab slidably engageable within the slot. A plurality of slits is disposed through the interior lip of each of the right portion of the clamp and the left portion of the clamp. Each of a plurality of vertical projections has a looped top section and a linear sword-shaped bottom section. The top section of each of the plurality of vertical projections is disposed through each of the plurality of slits. The clamp is removably attachable to a basketball hoop.

Abstract: In one implementation, a game apparatus includes a base with a playing surface that has (i) a first end with a first designated area for cups and (ii) a second end; a game piece; a tether that attaches the game piece to the base so as to permit the game piece to move freely within the tether's range; and a first launcher that includes a mechanism to launch the game piece as a projectile, the first launcher being positioned at or around the second end to launch the game piece toward the first designated area for cups, wherein the first designated area for cups and at least a portion of the first launcher are within the tether's range.

Abstract: A dealing shoe structure comprises a card shoe, a card pusher device and a fixing lever. The card shoe includes a card-receiving space for receiving the poker cards, an installation space arranged below the card-receiving space, and a card-support inclined board separating the installation space from the card-receiving space. The card-support inclined board includes a control hole interconnecting with the installation space and the card-receiving space. The card pusher device is arranged in the card-receiving space and on the card-support inclined board. The fixing lever is arranged inside the installation space and includes a pivotal point pivotally connected with the card shoe; a protrudent pillar extending through the control hole into the card-receiving space. The protrudent pillar blocks the card pusher device to stay on the upper region of the card-receiving space to increase convenience of placing poker cards.

Abstract: An exemplary hockey puck includes a gyroscope within an outer shell. An exemplary method of controlling movement of a hockey puck includes holding a gyroscope within an outer housing of a hockey puck.

Abstract: A billiard rack is provided that includes a frame that extends around an interior space that is configured to receive a set of billiard balls resting on a bed of a billiard table. A bottom side of the frame includes a lower opening in which the upper portions of the set of billiard balls are able to extend therein. The frame also includes an inner wall having at least one cam surface that extends at least partially around the interior space and that tapers inwardly in directions from the lower opening to an upper opening. When the frame is placed on the set of billiard balls resting on the bed of the billiard table, the at least one cam surface is configured to contact all of the peripheral billiard balls of the set of billiard balls; and urge the set of billiard balls together without the rack contacting the billiard table.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dart game system. The dart game system includes a dart game device, multiple external facilities, and a control unit configured to control the dart game device and the multiple external facilities. The dart game device includes a dart target having a plurality of point regions, a sensing unit configured to sense a hit to the dart target by a dart, a light source unit configured to output light, and a sound source unit configured to output sound. The multiple external facilities includes additional light source units configured to output additional light, and additional sound source units configured to output additional sound. The control unit is configured to control the light source units and the sound source units to output light or sound according to patterns, which depend on an occurrence of an event.

Abstract: A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis and includes a handle portion, a barrel portion, an injection molded element, and a tubular insert. The handle portion has a generally uniform outer diameter. The barrel portion has proximal and distal regions spaced apart by a central region. The element includes a tubular inner wall defining a longitudinal bore. The element is non-removably attached to the handle member. The element includes a tapered proximal region, a barrel engaging region, and an insert engaging region for engaging the insert. The insert engaging region includes a stop for inhibiting longitudinal movement of the insert. The barrel engaging region non-removably engages the proximal region. The bat having a total length measured from a proximal end of the handle portion to a distal end of the barrel portion. The handle portion has a length that is less than 70 percent of the total length.

Abstract: A sole surface f8 of a head 2 includes a first sole region R1. An outer edge of the region R1 includes a first edge line Eg1, a second edge line Eg2, a third edge line Eg3, and a fourth edge line Eg4. The line Eg1 is inclined so as to come closer to a face surface toward a toe side. The line Eg2 is inclined so as to come closer to the face surface toward a heel side. The line Eg3 is inclined so as to come closer to the face surface toward the heel side. The line Eg4 is inclined so as to come closer to the face surface toward the toe side. The lines Eg1 to Eg4 are joined to form a single line.

Abstract: Systems and methods for basketball shot training and an apparatus therefore are disclosed. In one embodiment, the providing a basketball shot training apparatus includes a first arm extending from a web, a second arm extending from the web, a cavity defined by the first and second arm and the web, a first-arm band disposed on and surrounding a portion of the first arm, and a second-arm band disposed on and surrounding a portion of the second arm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable pitching mat having a first side with a first end and a second end, wherein the first side is substantially flat and has a weight attached proximal to the first end; a second side, wherein the second side engages an artificial turf substrate with a plurality of anchors; and a pitching rubber on the first side proximal to the first end. Also provided is a portable mat having a first side with a first end and a second end, wherein the first side is substantially flat; a second side, wherein the second side has a plurality of recessed regions; and a plurality of substrates, wherein each of the plurality of substrates comprises a first face that reversibly engages one of the plurality of recessed regions on the second side; and a second face that engages an artificial turf surface with a plurality of anchors.

Abstract: A motion analyzing apparatus includes a first calculation unit that calculates a position of a first line segment representing a direction in which a rod-like part of a sporting tool extends in a stationary state, a second calculation unit that calculates the position of the first line segment at hitting, and a third calculation unit that specifies a virtual plane formed by the first line segment in the stationary state and a second line segment representing a ball hitting direction, wherein a relation between the virtual plane and the first line segment at the hitting is compared.

Abstract: A drop target bank assembly including: a plurality of drop target units mounted next to each other on a drop target bank bracket; wherein each of the plurality of drop target units includes: a target; a trip mechanism; a reset mechanism; and a sensor; wherein the trip mechanism is configured to move the target from a first position to a second position; wherein the reset mechanism is configured to move the target from the second position to the first position; wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether the target is at the first or second position; and wherein the trip mechanism and the reset mechanism in a drop target unit are individually activated independent of other drop target units.

Abstract: A volleyball practice assembly includes a target unit that may be mounted to a support thereby facilitating the target unit to have a ball launched toward the target unit. The target unit registers when the ball strikes the target unit thereby facilitating the target unit to aid in accuracy training with respect to the ball. A control circuit is coupled to the target unit and the control circuit detects when the ball strikes the target unit. A remote unit is provided. The remote unit is in communication with the target unit such that the remote unit controls operational parameters of the target unit.

Abstract: A bean bag or other item toss device, system, and method that includes a housing having an angled top surface with an opening in the top surface, as well as a method of construction thereof. In some versions, at least a portion of the top surface may be opened or removed to allow access to a cooling area therebeneath. The opening in the top surface may include a passage or conduit so as to allow items tossed thereinto to pass through the cooling area to an open space beneath the device, allowing retrieval of the tossed item, without the tossed item having contacted the interior of the cooling area.

Abstract: A mobile device and system which simulates human motion. The device includes a base with a drive system for providing motion to the device. A receiver is provided which controls the drive system the receiver receives wireless control signals. Pads and a self-stabilizing component are provided on the device. The device accurately mimics the unpredictable motion of a human motion to provide a safer alternative to live interaction to increase participant safety and decrease the incidence of injuries during practice or drill sessions. The system includes at least one mobile device. The mobile device includes: a base having a drive system for providing motion to the device; a receiver which controls the drive system the receiver receives wireless control signals; and self-stabilizing component provided on the device. The system also includes a transmitter for transmitting the control signals to the receiver.

Abstract: A golf club head having a thin topline and improved sound is disclosed herein. The golf club head, which preferably is a three-piece iron-type head, comprises a body with truss supports linking a lower body portion of the iron with a top portion. This configuration creates an iron with the sound and feel of a closed cavity back iron and the performance and mass properties of an open cavity back iron. The golf club head also includes a partial face cup comprising a striking face and a lower flange and a dampening element filling at least a portion of a cavity between the body and the face cup. The dampening element comprises a portion that is compressed within the cavity and another portion that is adhered to the rear surface of the striking face.

Abstract: A two-part hockey stick having a hockey stick blade and a hockey stick shaft joined together at a joint. The hockey stick has a blade with a neck, a heel, and a toe. The joint has a male joint portion on an end of the shaft, which has heel and opposed toe walls, each of which extend away from a distal surface of the shaft and terminate at a mating surface. The heel wall is disposed on a side of the joint adjacent to a heel of the blade, and is longer than the toe wall. The mating surface extends between the heel and toe walls. The joint also has a hollow female joint portion disposed in a neck of the blade. The male joint portion mates with the female joint portion, thereby joining the shaft to the blade and forming the hockey stick.

Abstract: A golf club head having a connection assembly with a non-metallic component possessing unique relationships that offer increased durability, weight sayings, and reduced manufacturing costs.