Abstract: A compact table tennis-type apparatus is provided including a pair of tabletops placed horizontally apart and inclined downwardly toward each other. Support structure is provided for mounting the tabletops in stationary position relative to each other and the support structure may include a first form for partial support from a card table or the like and partial support from the floor upon which the card table rests or a second form operative to support the tabletops solely from an associated card table. In addition, paddle structures including handgrips which substantially require the paddles to be used by a game player in a "punching" manner are provided and one form of the disclosed apparatus utilizes tabletops which may be removably hingedly connected together in order to form a hollow carrying case.

Abstract: An amusement device, specifically a board game simulating nuclear conflict between two players representing the United States and Soviet Union in which the participants assume alternate roles of attacker and defender. The game's object is for a player to destroy 21 of his opponent's 36 targets (designated as "COUNTERFORCE" and "COUNTERVALUE" targets). The game consists of a playing surface featuring outlines of the two countries (ref num 1,3) with the various targets on an alphanumeric grid pattern, playing pieces representing "missiles" used by both players in attack and defense (ref num 12,13), "Launch Coordinate" and "Target Coordinate" cards (ref num 9-10) which provide a random means for determination of both origin and destination of attacking missiles, "Megadeath" markers (ref num 14) which signify that a target has been destroyed, lists of targets, and dice which govern movement of attacker and defender missiles.

Abstract: A dampening mechanism for sports implements such as tennis rackets comprising an elongated vibratable member formed of an elastomeric, energy absorbing material. The vibrational member is integral with a grommet strip which mates with the underside of the yoke of the racket and the string holes therethrough. The unit is held firmly to the frame, with the vibrational member fixed within the throat of the frame below the yoke, by the strings when the racket is strung.

Abstract: A table tennis robot with right and left servers, oscillatory motion, top spin and bottom spin, right and left side spin, combination of spins, or no-spin modes, variable ball speeds, and continuous recycling of balls, to provide a human player with challenging practice serves.A ball catching net is located at one end of the tennis table. Balls caught by the net fall into a pan located below the table and are then fed upward by suction of a fan into a chamber. The chamber distributes balls one at a time into a vertical tube. At its bottom, the tube has right and left branches. A ball deflecting vane is adjustable to selectively direct a ball into either the right or left branch. The branches lead, respectively, to a right server and a left server. Each server has a rotating ball drive wheel. The output port of the right server has adjustable guide rails to impart high top spin to a ball. The output port of the left server has adjustable guide plates to impart various types of spin to a ball.

Abstract: A flexible weighted device for the purpose of practice or warm-up formed from a moldable plastic resin with an integrally molded weight at an outer portion and a stiffening device at an inner end. The configuration simulates a bat or the like with standard dimensional appearance with a grippable handle and an outer portion designed to strike a ball. The bat has a flexible intermediate portion with sufficient resiliency to bend and discharge substantial amounts of inertial momentum at the end of a swing, thereby preventing injury to the user.

Abstract: A surgico-athletic device to be worn by an athlete for preventing or reducing inflammation, further injury and the discomfort of tennis elbow including upper and lower inelastic armbands (2, 4) which encircle the arm above and below the elbow is disclosed. There is an element (6) in the form of an inelastic strap connecting the armbands to control the distance between them and to limit the arm from being fully extended. The armbands are made of inelastic padded woven fabric and are of a length sufficient to encircle the arm. Hook and pile securing material (20, 22) permits the armbands to be adjustably tightened around the arm above the biceps and below the elbow. Liners (60) may be provided to prevent skin from being pinched or squeezed by fastening loops (28).

Abstract: A folding tennis table having a pair of planar surfaces, each being one half of the table playing surface. The halves are hingedly connected at adjacent edges by support structure. The support structure is comprised of four brackets, two brackets being placed on the lower surface of each table half. A brace is retained between a pair of brackets, one bracket being on each surface. An extension bar is pivotably attached to each brace and a leg frame. The leg frame is hollow and has a leg telescopically extending therethrough. The leg is provided with a swivel bar so as to be pivotably attached to allow the table to be folded in one step.

Abstract: A method for stringing a molded bow limb which at its remote end receives an axle assembly in a preformed axle mount at the end of the bow which includes a recess for receiving an axle cover, a pair of axle covers being provided at either end of the axle and molded with the axle in position. Thus when the axle cover assembly is mounted in the axle assembly mount at the end of the bow, precision of orientation results, no machining is required, and the force of the bow string and/or cable once in place will hold the axle in place. At the opposite end of the bow, a butt slot is provided to engage a bolt or other pin on the limb mount, and a keeper plate engages a recess in the limb mount so that that end of the bow limb is also secured in place and held in place by the force of the strings.

Abstract: An elastic wristband includes a narrow strip or patch of VELCRO material secured to the inner surface thereof. When training a right-handed athlete in propering swinging of a baseball bat, the wristband is worn on the athlete's left wrist, with the VELCRO patch positioned over and pressed against the athlete's skin covering the "leading" end of his wrist bone. The VELCRO produces a stimulation of the skin, due to relatively sharp points of the VELCRO material, This directs the athlete's attention to the location of the sensation enabling him to concentrate on that point and "aim" it as he swings the bat, thus enabling him to avoid erroneous "rolling" of his wrist during the swing before contact between the bat and a baseball. The wristband is also useful in training an athlete to maintain proper orientation of his wrist during the sequence of motions required for throwing a baseball, swinging a golf club, and during throwing of a bowling ball.

Abstract: An instrument according to the present invention comprises a casing, an exposed working head with an associated movable element, an actuating link slidably mounted relative to the casing for moving the element and an actuator mechanism with a control portion for sliding the actuating link. The actuating link is biased slidably in a first direction relative to the casing which urges the jaws, blades, etc. to a closed position. Upon radially depressing the control portion, the actuator mechanism causes the actuating link to move against the spring bias slidably in a direction opposite to the first direction. Structure is provided to selectively lock the jaws on the working head in an open position. Successive depressions of the control portion of the actuator mechanism alternatingly lock the jaws open and closed. Because the jaws are urged to a closed position, the user does not have to maintain constant closing pressure during use yet the user has the ability to easily lock the jaws in an open position.

Abstract: A device is adapted to be used in conjunction with a racquet for tennis or for a similar sport, and wherein the racquet is strung with a plurality of strings under a certain tension. The strings extend in a mesh along longitudinal and transverse directions so as define a plurality of rectangles. Each rectangle has sides of predetermined dimensions, and is bounded by a pair of adjoining strings extending along the longitudinal direction. Another pair of adjoining strings extends along the transverse direction. At least one plate of elastic material is adapted for being emplaced in one rectangle so as to engage at least two adjoining strings, and is of such dimensions so as to, upon emplacement, deform the so engaged strings so that they are spread apart by a distance exceeding the predetermined dimension by about 2 to 3 millimeters. Thus the so engaged strings are subjected to a supplemental tension exceeding the certain tension. In a preferred embodiment a weight is attached to the plate.

Abstract: An improved clip (15) and method for supplying hygienic projectiles (22) to a ballistic implant gun (10). The clip (15) includes a plurality of cylindrical chambers (20) which each contain a projectile or bioligical bullet (22). The clip (15) also includes indexing recesses (27) which automatically advance the clip (15) transversely of the gun's housing to supply a projectile (22) to the gun (10) after the preceeding projectile has been discharged. The clip (15) further includes a stop mechanism (14) which notifies the user when all of the bullets (22) have been discharged. This stop mechanism comprises a transverse rib (14) located at one end of the clip (15). After the final bullet has been discharged, the rib (14) can be advanced to align with the gun's firing chamber. When the bolt of the gun hits and is stopped by the rib (14), the gun (10) is prevented from further operation until the user replaces the empty clip ( 15) with one containing additional projectiles (22).

Abstract: A pair of spaced, resiliently tired wheels are mounted on a base for axial rotation in a common plane, the spacing between the wheels being less than the diameter of a ball to be thrown and the rotational speed of each wheel being adjustable independently of the other. The base is supported on a universal mounting ball by means of a socket located on the base at the center of gravity of the assembly of base and components supported thereon. The universal mounting ball is supported at the upper end of an angularly bent support arm, whereby to afford angular adjustment of the rotational plane of the wheels infinitely in all directions about the common pivot of the mounting ball, between horizontal and vertical positions. Electrical controls are provided for controlling the speed of rotation of the coacting wheels.

Abstract: An underwater speargun consisting of two spears that are independent of each other. This underwater speargun is capable of 2 rapid discharges of spears or 2 simultaneous discharges of spears. Accidental firing is prevented due to the safety blocking the trigger until the trigger and the safety trigger are squeezed rearward at the same time. Grooved tracks and front spear guides help insure the spear propels out of the gun in a straight path.

Abstract: An improved implement for use in playing the game of tennis and the like wherein the handle assembly associated therewith is sloped or offset in one or more planes relative to the longitudinal equilibrium axis of the implement to facilitate and enhance the gripping and manipulation of the implement during the course of play and enable a user to achieve a more comfortable range or wrist movement without sacrificing implement position and without overloading or overstressing the wrist, forearm and/or elbow of the user. The present handle assembly includes a grip portion having a longitudinal axis which intersects the axis of longitudinal equilibrium of the implement at an angle of approximately 13.5.degree. (.+-.4.degree.) in the plane of the planar surface of the implement head assembly.

Abstract: A board game simulating golf. The game has an annular golf course playing surface which maps fairway surface and a contiguous array of hazards with a grid of radial distance lines and annular direction lines on it. Highly preferred embodiments provide infinite variation in golf hole characteristics by virtue of a rotational partial overlay having its own map portions combinable with varying exposed map portions of the base board. Preferred embodiments also include a top member providing a movable tee and a shot distance gauge. Two sets of random determiners simulate golf shots.

Abstract: A bow is provided including a rigid central portion and opposite end flexive limbs. The central portion defines a handgrip extending longitudinally of the central portion and a sight window spaced slightly from the handgrip bound by peripheral thin plate portions supporting the corresponding limb from the handgrip. The window is elongated longitudinally of the central portion and gradually tapers in width toward the corresponding limb and more sharply tapers in width toward the handgrip. The window is provided with an arrow rest incorporating a central post and at least one transverse rod including an outer end mounted for adjustable longitudinal shifting and an inner end closely adjacent and to one side of the upper end of the post. The adjacent ends of the post and rod include hair tufts for engaging an arrow in the rest position.

Abstract: An archery bow having side by side launching and bending bowstrings, the bending bowstring drawn one or more times as a preliminary to firing of the bow to bend the bow limbs, which bent limbs are released only at firing after drawing and releasing both bowstrings, to accelerate an arrow nocked in the launching bowstring. Bending mechanisms are mounted to the bow handle and are operated by the bending bowstring, to wind up a pair of load cables attched to the limb tips onto capstan elements released at firing. A mechanical advantage is achieved in the bending mechanisms to reduce the effort required to bend the limbs by drawing of the bending bowstring.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving the hitting technique of baseball players, suitable for use in training right and/or left hand hitters includes a stride limiting apparatus having an adjustable elongated restraining member for limiting the length of a player's stride during hitting of a baseball, a pair of removable and adjustable cuff members disposed proximate each ankle of the player utilizing the apparatus and a non-resilient adjustable restraining device affixed to each of the cuff members.

Abstract: The invention relates to a chess-type game for two players, comprising a board and chessmen, the board being uniformly divided into playing positions and having n distinguished boundaries. The chessmen of each player comprise a king, a plurality of pawns and a plurality of major pieces. Each of the major pieces is included in even amounts, the major pieces comprising a prince, a bishop, a rook and a knight. The board is square and is uniformly divided into 81 squares with nine squares on each side. Each player is provided with two of each of the major pieces so that each player has the followiong chessmen: a king, nine pawns and eight major pieces, namely, two princes, two bishops, two knights and two rooks.