Abstract: An improved hockey puck for use on unsmooth surfaces such as streets and parking lots consisting of two generally equal sized disks. Sandwiched between the two disks is an energy absorbing member or members. Springs or foam washers can serve as these members. The two disks are loosely connected together so that only one will receive the direct impact from striking a imperfection in the street or other playing surface. The energy absorbing members dampen the forces transferred between the two puck disks. This results in a puck which can travel across rough surfaces with a greatly reduced likelihood of tumbling or bouncing. The improvement of the hockey puck specifically consists of the addition of a fortifying member positioned within either or both disks of the improved hockey puck.

Abstract: An exemplary gaming system, in one implementation, provides active interaction between one or more players and the gaming system. Such an exemplary gaming system includes a receptacle with one or more holes to receive first gaming objects thrown at it. Chambers attached to a rigid member on the receptacle receive and store second gaming objects that are later released into one or more different spatial directions. An intermediate surface operably connected to a mechanical or an electrical triggering mechanism is included in the receptacle. When the first gaming object falls into the receptacle and hits the intermediate surface, the intermediate surface causes activation of the triggering mechanism to directly or indirectly propel the second gaming objects, through the chambers, into one or more different spatial directions. A hand or foot lever allows players to reset the triggering mechanism for the next game.

Abstract: An exemplary gaming system, in one implementation, provides active interaction between one or more players and the gaming system. Such an exemplary gaming system includes a receptacle with one or more holes to receive first gaming objects thrown at it. Chambers attached to a rigid member on the receptacle receive and store second gaming objects that are later released into one or more different spatial directions. An intermediate surface operably connected to a mechanical or an electrical triggering mechanism is included in the receptacle. When the first gaming object falls into the receptacle and hits the intermediate surface, the intermediate surface causes activation of the triggering mechanism to directly or indirectly propel the second gaming objects, through the chambers, into one or more different spatial directions. A hand or foot lever allows players to reset the triggering mechanism for the next game.

Abstract: A slingshot with handle guard and palm plate is disclosed. The slingshot includes a handle, a pair of forward facing arms with band attachment devices, an arm brace and a retaining clip for securing the arm brace to the handle. The handle includes a plurality of grooves adapted to receive a palm plate at various locations along the length of the handle. The handle further includes a groove formed therein for engaging one end of a handle guard as well as a recess for receiving the other end of the handle guard, which is secured by the retaining clip. The handle further includes a bore formed therethrough for accessories, such as stabilizers, dampeners, storage containers and the like.

Abstract: A training device for thrown or pitched balls at a target is disclosed, especially useful for basketball training, in which a hyperbolic paraboloid surface deflects the approaching ball at a known angle in a manner in which the returned ball will strike a mat. The mat includes indicia which can be diagnostically useful in determining the proper correction to the throw or pitch.

Abstract: A rollover switch has a housing carrying a depressible cover coupled to a switch whereby a depression of the cover in response to contact being made between the cover and an object movable across a first surface of a playfield of an amusement game functions to activate the switch. A mounting collar is sized to be positioned within an opening formed in the playfield wherein the opening extends between a second surface of the playfield and the first surface of the playfield. The mounting collar and the housing of the switch assembly have cooperating features that allow the switch assembly to be adjustably mounted within the mounting collar to thereby allow the cover to be positioned at a desired location relative to the first surface of the playfield.

Abstract: A front cabinet panel piece, a back panel cabinet piece, a first side cabinet panel piece, and second side cabinet panel piece, each having a plurality of pre-formed openings, are arranged relative to one another to form an amusement game cabinet. The plurality of pre-formed openings are used to accept a corresponding plurality of knock-down hardware pieces each including a fastener locking component and a fastener. The fastener locking components are held within respective first ones of the pre-formed openings and the fastener is inserted into second ones of the pre-formed openings that are aligned with the first ones of the plurality of pre-formed openings. Each fastener is mated to its corresponding fastener locking component to complete assembly of the amusement game cabinet. The assembled amusement game cabinet is used to support a playfield and the playfield, in turn, is used to provide additional structural support to the amusement game cabinet.

Abstract: A training bat has a central rod extending through the longitudinal length of the bat. A knob may be located at a proximal end of the bat. A handle located immediately distal to the knob may slide along the length of the rod. A cone section may be located distal to the handle. The knob and cone section may limit the longitudinal sliding of the handle. A barrel section may be located distal to the cone section. If the barrel section includes an interior chamber, the distal end of the barrel section may include a removable cap. Weights, springs, pins and other objects may be located inside the barrel section. Electrical components or other devices may also be included in the cone section, barrel section or cap. The handle may include an acoustic chamber and an amplifying chamber to provide for emission of a sound when the bat is swung. The acoustic chamber and amplifying chamber may also incorporate safety features.

Abstract: A ball bat includes one or more stiffeners configured to provide an attenuating surface that limits the bat barrel's elastic deformation as the barrel deflects radially inwardly as a result of a particularly violent bat to ball collision. The stiffener is spaced apart from the inner surface of the barrel a predetermined distance to form a gap, wherein the gap extends only partially around the inner circumference of the barrel. The presence of the gap extending only partially around the barrel circumference provides multiple hitting profiles around the bat's circumference, with the best performance occurring adjacent the gap, and a reduced performance at all other locations around the bat's circumference.

Abstract: A balloon with a lighting/sounding device includes a balloon body and a lighting/sounding device secured onto a wall of the balloon body, wherein the lighting/sounding device is secured onto the balloon wall via an external cover. The lighting/sounding device is secured via the external cover, which facilitates setting and installation of the lighting/sounding device and simplifies a configuration structure thereof so as to reduce manufacturing costs, and such a structure will not affect the inflation and use of the balloon but provides more convenient decoration and entertainment.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body and a weight-balancing device. The head body is formed with a weighting recess. The weight-balancing device includes a coupling unit having a surrounding wall threadedly engaging the weighting recess, and an intelligent monitoring unit disposed inside the coupling unit. The intelligent monitoring unit includes a shell that is made of a signal-transmittable material and that is partially exposed form the surrounding wall, an intelligent monitoring element that is disposed in the shell and that is operable to detect data related to performance characteristics of a golf swing, and a wireless transmitter that is coupled to the monitoring element and that is operable to output the data.

Abstract: A shooting target apparatus has a base, a body connected to the base, and an inlet valve connected to the body, adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid. The first valve provides for a one-way intake of fluid. A socket is formed on the body, in which the socket is formed as a threaded adapter having sidewalls and the threaded adapter has an adapter upper surface. A seal mounted to the adapter upper surface, a surface in which the body and the seal include a pathway therein formed to channel fluid between the first valve and the seal, the threaded adapter being shaped and configured to removably receive a target.

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

Abstract: The night puck has a median plane contiguous with a circumference thereof. The centroid of the puck is located at an intersection of the axis of rotation of the puck with the median plane. A cylindrical cavity extends therein along the natural axis of rotation. This cylindrical cavity has a thin membrane-like bottom wall. A series of holes extend radially along the median plane from the cylindrical cavity to the circumference of the puck. An electronic module is mounted in the cylindrical cavity. This electronic module comprises a battery and has a center of gravity that is located on the centroid of the puck. A push-button switch is held against the membrane-like bottom wall for operation of the switch by a depression of the membrane-like bottom wall. A series of diodes are mounted in the radial holes and are connected to the electronic module, for illuminating rays of lights around the puck.

Abstract: A mobile device which simulates player motion, the device includes a ball drive, omni-directional members, at least one motor, a controller and pads. The ball drive provides rolling motion to the device. The omni-directional members are positioned proximate to and in engagement with the ball drive. The at least one motor is connected to the omni-directional members, the at least one motor providing the motive force to drive the omni-directional members and the ball drive. The controller controls the motor. The pads are positioned on the device. The device accurately mimics the unpredictable motion of a live player to provide a safe alternative to live play to increase player safety and decrease the incidence of injuries during practice sessions.

Abstract: A device (1) for ball-throwing training has a base (4) and at least two vertical guide posts (30, 31) longitudinally adjusted relative to each other. One end of one of the guide posts (30) is positioned at the base (4) and a distal end of another guide post (31) is positioned at the spacer element (35). A covering surface (2) is fixed to the spacer element (35) so as to at least partially obscure the view of a throwing target, and has an extendible screen (20) and a stretch frame (23). The spacer element (35) is arranged, on the side of the guide post (31) that lies opposite the stand base, in such a manner that the covering surface (2) normally is arranged at right angles to the spacer element (35). In that position, the ground projection areas of covering surface (2) and stand base (4) do not overlap.

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: A athletic training assembly includes a base that may be positioned on a support surface. A pair of guide rods is each movably coupled to the base. Each of the pair of guide rods is curved between a first end and a second end of the pair of guide rods. The first end and the second end of each of the pair of guide rods is coupled together. The pair of guide rods forms a crescent shape. A user slidably engages an athletic implement to each of the pair of guide rods. The athletic implement travels upwardly and downwardly between the first and second ends of the pair of guide rods when the user swings the athletic implement. The pair of guide rods retains the athletic implement on a correct trajectory. The user is trained in swinging the athletic implement in the correct trajectory.

Abstract: A shooting target apparatus which can be used for mounting air-pressurized containers as targets in shooting ranges. When the pressurized container is hit by a projectile, the sound of a small explosion provides an added excitement in the shooting experience. The container can also be partially filled with a fluid or granular material to create an added visual effect of an explosion.