Abstract: A golf ball storage and dispensing apparatus includes a dispenser unit and a storage unit connected to the dispenser unit and adapted to store a plurality of golf balls. An actuator mechanism is mounted in the dispenser unit, the golf balls being fed from the storage unit to the actuator mechanism. The actuator mechanism comprises a motor including a power source, an arm mechanism pivotable about a support shaft between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position, and a gear train assembly having a series of interacting toothed gear wheels, the gear train assembly being intermediate the motor and the arm mechanism. The actuator mechanism also comprises a reciprocating rod between the gear train assembly and the arm mechanism, the rod being axially moved by the gear train assembly and having its other end connected to the support shaft of the arm mechanism. A switch is also provided for activating the actuator mechanism.

Abstract: For use in suturing: (a) Thin steel needle put into flesh (using a tool) on one side of the wound until anchor fixed to a needle engages flesh. At that time point of needle will protrude. Anchor crimped on the protruding side; (b) Anchors are in ball form with square cavities to accept projections on hand tool; (c) Plier-like tool used to grab anchors has projection which fits into anchor cavities; (d) dispenser for needle/anchor assembly and dispenser for crimp-on anchor provide for quick removal in sterilized condition.

Abstract: Projectile slide-pushers for crossbows. These slide-pushers are made of rigid material and each has a bottom surface conforming to upper outer surface of a crossbow barrel. A common surface on the projectile slide-pusher functions as both a projectile pusher and catch engaging surface. These slide-pushers perform longitudinal motions, parallel to and along the cross bow barrel during shooting.

Abstract: An apparatus for playing a plurality of bingo cards, simultaneously. Sets of numbers, stored on a plurality of bingo cards, are read by a plurality of card readers. Each number called, during the play of bingo, is input manually into storage. A comparison of each called number with the previously stored sets of numbers results in a match or no match. If a match exists, an LED located below the card number lights to indicate the number on the bingo card(s) which matches the number called.

Abstract: An arrow rest for an archery bow which is readily laterally adjustable and has an arrow support which pivots forwardly and downwardly upon movement of the arrow shaft and fletching across it and automatically returns to an initial predetermined position after discharge. The arrow rest mounts in a hole through the handle portion of the bow, and provides easy lateral adjustment or complete replacement of the rest in the field.

Abstract: A tennis training device includes a rod secured vertically above the tennis court net and having three successive length sections demarked by different colors to guide a tennis player regarding the height of the ball as it passes over the net. The rod is preferably three feet long and each section is one foot in length. Support for the rod is achieved by an extension rod connected end-to-end with the marked rod and inserted through plural interstices of the net. An extension rod may be secured to the top of the marked rod to suspend an apertured target member used for practicing serves. One of the marked/support rods may be provided with two pairs of apertures which cooperate with respective support pins to secure the rod to a chain link fence.

Abstract: A sternum closure device for closing the sternum of a patient comprising a head portion, tail portion and flexible spine portion. The head portion includes a locking tang to prevent backward movement of the spine portion once it is received and engaged in the head portion. The spine is made of a biocompatible metal coated with a biocompatible polymer along part of its length. One end of the spine is sharpened to serve as a needle. The tang pierces the polymer and locks against a serration of the spine. A method of using the sternum closure device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled game having an optical sensor for reading bar codes on cards. The cards visually depict a combination of number, size, color and shape that is represented by the bar code. Instructions and responses with respect to player card selection are indicated by a synthesized voice chip coordinated with a liquid crystal display facial caricature.

Abstract: A board game which simulates a racing event, such as a horse race. The game includes a game board having a plurality of parallel racing tracks disposed thereon; a pair of gaming dice for determining the play of the game; and a plurality of playing pieces which are moved along the respective racing tracks during the play of the game. Upon commencement of the game, the dice are rolled to determine which ones of a predetermined number of playing pieces are to be "scratched" from the subsequent race. The remaining playing pieces are placed in the starting positions on the respective tracks and are advanced along the respected tracks in accordance with the roll of the dice. A plurality of sets of playing cards are dealt out randomly to the players. Each set of playing cards is comprised of a plurality of numbered cards corresponding to the numbers of respective ones of the playing pieces.

Abstract: An attachment for a string tracking apparatus for a bow and arrow of a type having a container of string with one end thereof attached to an arrow nocked onto the string of such bow. The string tracking apparatus is utilized to cause the end of the string to follow the flight of the arrow so that a bow hunter can find the arrow, or game which has been penetrated by the arrow, by merely following the string leading thereto. A clip is attached to the handle of the bow at a position adjacent to the arrow for holding the portion of the string, which has been unwound from the container, adjacent to the arrow and adjacent to the bow handle to minimize the risk that the string will get caught on a branch or otherwise permit more than a desired amount of string to flow from the container prior to shooting the arrow from the bow.

Abstract: A pool table having a playing surface with which ball accommodating pockets are associated. Pocketed balls are conveyed by a runway system via a trap toward a compartment at one end of the table that is accessible to a player. The trap has a gate magnetically latched in closed position so as to prevent passage of the object balls into the compartment until such time as a coin control mechanism is operated to effect unlatching and opening of the gate. The gate is maintained in its open position for a sufficient period of time to permit the passage of all the object balls from the trap to the compartment. Following movement of the last object ball past the gate the latter returns automatically to its closed, latched position.

Abstract: A bowstring apparatus for use with an archer's bow comprising a pair of ring members each rotatably mounted on an axle pin with a tip interconnector attachably securing each limb tip to each axle pin and further interconnecting each axle pin to each other to enable each ring member to rotate about a parallel axle pin axis relative each other and with an arc member axially spaced on the axle pin and securely attached to the ring member so as to permit simultaneous rotation about the axle pin when the ring member rotates. A flexible cord member secures together each distal end of the arc member to enable simultaneous tensioning when the ring members are tensioned.

Abstract: An improved surgical fastener system comprising staples and receivers with flanges on the staple legs interlocking with openings in the receiver.Each staple is of polymeric material and U-shaped with a pair of parallel legs joined by a bridging member. Each leg is tapered from a large cross section at the bridging member to a pointed end. There are at least two spaced flanges on each leg with the area between those flanges being cut away. Each flange extends only part way around the circumference of a leg.

Abstract: A racket body formed of composite materials in which the shaft portion of the handle, two branches of a throat portion and a frame portion, which can be completed by a bridging portion, adjoin in end to end relationship and have cores and sheaths composed of different materials. The sheaths are comprised of fiber webs or braids impregnated with synthetic resin, the fibers differing along the length of the racket from at least one portion to another, while the orientations of the fibers with respect to the axes of the respective cores can differ from place to place as well. The end portions of thetwo branches of the throat are axially offset from one another so as to avoid the formation of a rupture zone.

Abstract: There is provided a new and useful tendon approximator comprising a slide bar, a pair of needle arms mounted on the slide bar, at least one of which is slidably mounted for movement over a range of positions on the slide bar, each arm comprising an elongated member extending outwardly from the bar, having a transverse groove near the outer end thereof and a needle sleeve extending longitudinally therethrough, the groove bisecting the sleeve; and a clamp for securing each at least one arm at any desired position in the range.

Abstract: A lightweight baseball base having gently inclined edges and an elastomeric filler material. The top of the base has a lateral dimension of between 50% to 65% of the total base lateral dimension, with the remainder equally divided between opposed inclined edges. The elastomeric filler is a shaped foam pad with a non-porous cover. The cover is fastened to a bottom support plate which has a tubular sleeve extending therefrom for anchoring the base.

Abstract: A b-b loading device which in a first preferred embodiment is characterized by a tubular-shaped loader having an internal cavity, a loading slot located near one end of the loader and a loading head characterized by a nozzle and nozzle bore at the opposite end, with a pair of flexible loading guides disposed adjacent to and spanning the nozzle and nozzle bore in the loading head for loading b-b's from the loader into a b-b gun. The b-b's are dispensed through the nozzle bore from the housing cavity and are guided into an opening in the gun barrel by means of the loading guides. In a second preferred embodiment the b-b loading device is characterized by a detachable loading head which is threaded to a bottle for coating the b-b's and in a third embodiment, the b-b loading device includes a loading head which is removably attached to a hollow, b-b-containing cylinder fitted with a pocket clip.

Abstract: A body portion has a finger grip aperture therein and a slot on the forward edge arranged to receive a bowstring. A catch assembly pivotally supported on an upright axis extends into the slot and has a first position arranged to hold the bowstring in the release device and a second position arranged to release the bowstring. A trigger is mounted on the top of the body portion and operates an upright pin slidable in the body portion between a first position behind the catch assembly to hold the catch assembly in holding engagement on a bowstring and a second position disengaged from the catch assembly for allowing the latter to pivot and release the bowstring. The front of the body portion has a bore for receiving an arrow nock, such bore being of a size to also receive a bowstring nock stop. The slot which leads in from the front end of the body member is of less width than the bowstring nock stop whereby the release device will hang on the string nock stop for ready use.

Abstract: A compact easily maneuverable archery bow comprising a handle, flexible limbs extending forward of a said handle, a bowstring, and structure coupling the bowstring and the resilient limbs so that as the bowstring is drawn back rearwardly of the handle the limbs are pulled inwardly back toward the front of the handle to provide force needed for propelling an arrow or the like.

Abstract: A slingshot is provided and consists of a forked handle, a missile receiving pouch and resilient members connecting the pouch to the handle whereby the resilient members are solid cylindrical rubber tubes to improve operating efficiency of the slingshot. In a modification the forked handle is angularly adjustable for greater accuracy.