Abstract: A device for setting a golf ball and tee. The device includes an upper handle portion connected to a lower gripper portion by an elongated tubular stem portion, the upper handle portion including a pivotal trigger member. The lower gripper portion includes a pair of jaw members pivotal about a pin member. A cable member is located within the elongated tubular stem portion and communicates the pin and trigger members, allowing the normally open jaw members to be brought together to hold a golf ball and tee upon activation of the trigger member. A stand member is attached to the elongated tubular stem portion adjacent its lower end, and includes a spike member extending downwardly therefrom. A golf ball stop member configured to prevent contact between a golf ball and the upper portions of the jaw members extends between the jaw members.

Abstract: An action skill toy that is intended to be juggled by being repeatedly thrown and caught in one hand or between both hands of a user. The action skill toy has a central hub area and rigid appendages that extend away from the central hub area. Each of the rigid appendages has a first end within the central hub area and a free second end that extends out of the central hub area. Each of the rigid appendages is coupled at a pivot joint to another of appendages within the central hub area. This enables each of the rigid appendages to rotate about a pivot joint in a common plane of rotation. To facilitate the grasping of the rigid appendages during juggling, each of the appendages has an enlarged area near its free end. The enlarged areas also provide space for the mounting of illumination units.

Abstract: An American style football including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, a cover assembly, a lacing and an electronic circuit. The bladder includes a valve assembly and a pocket that are symmetrically spaced about a longitudinal plane. The cover assembly includes at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder. One of the first and fourth cover panels extending over the valve assembly and the other of the first and fourth cover panels extending over the pocket. The lacing extends along the longitudinal plane and coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The electronic circuit is retained by the pocket. The electronic circuit includes at least one sensor and the electronic circuit being configured to produce a signal to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to multi-dimensional puzzles for teaching, entertainment, and construction. One embodiment of the invention comprises two forms, one planar and one non-planar, which comprise a plurality of protrusions and recesses. These forms may be assembled by selectively interconnecting the various protrusions and recesses to create multi-dimensional shapes such as a cube, cylinder, and sphere among many other possibilities.

Abstract: A sports ball comprising a cover having an outer substrate surface is provided. The cover may include plurality of panels, wherein each panel has a respective panel surface. The panel surfaces of the respective panels collectively comprise the outer substrate surface of the cover. A surface texture is disposed upon and additively applied to the outer substrate surface. The surface texture is disposed on the respective panel surfaces in customizable, panel-specific, predefined panel arrangements. The surface texture defines surface profile that includes an alternating and repeating series of land areas and raised portions, wherein each raised portion is positioned between a plurality of land areas. The raised portions extend from the outer substrate surface and are formed from a dimensional ink, wherein each of the plurality of raised portions has a terminus that is spaced apart from the outer substrate a height of greater than about 0.05 millimeters (mm).

Abstract: A ball for sports play such as a soccer ball comprises three layers: a standard outer cover layer and a standard inner or bladder layer along with an intermediate layer of panels. These panels have three portions: a portion and extending into recesses formed by stitching together of the outer panels; a middle portion extending on the inside over the stitching; and a third portion which is disposed between the bladder and the middle portion having a size position and extent sufficient to produce elevations in the central areas of exterior panels in the outer cover layer.

Abstract: A ball includes a bladder and multi-layer cover. The multi-layer cover includes an outer layer and an intermediate layer between the outer layer and the bladder. The intermediate layer is formed of a plurality of perforated panels. In at least one embodiment, the plurality of perforated panels are foam panels defining an array of apertures. In at least some embodiments, the array of apertures in the intermediate layer are detectable by one or more human senses via the outer layer.

Abstract: A ball for small-sided play having the same characteristics as a standard soccer ball, but with reduced rebound and no added filler is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making a throwable paintball is provided. The method includes providing a first solution of sodium alginate and water; a second solution of water, glycerin, cornstarch, calcium chloride and dye; introducing the second solution into the first solution, forming the paintball; rinsing the paintball; heating the paintballs and storing the paintball in a glycerin and water solution. A throwable paintball manufactured according to the method is also provided.

Abstract: Tubular projectile devices are disclosed herein. An exemplary tubular projectile device includes a spheroid frame having a long axis and a short axis. Further, the exemplary tubular projectile device includes a tubular medial section coupled with the spheroid frame; a first bicone comprising an exterior first cone congruent with an interior first cone, the first bicone being terminal along the long axis of the spheroid frame and coupled with the spheroid frame; and a second bicone comprising an exterior second cone congruent with an interior second cone, the second bicone being terminal along the long axis of the spheroid frame and coupled with the spheroid frame. The exemplary tubular projectile device may be a football.

Abstract: A button assembly includes a back member, a socket or a stud secured with an eyelet or a rivet to the back member and a shell crimped onto the back member. Indicia may be disposed on the exterior surface of the shell. The button assemblies, each with a unique image, can be used to form a puzzle or provide a method of personal expression or a method of communication.

Abstract: An adjustable training golf tee is provided. The adjustable training golf tee may include a top body, a stem and a base. The top body may have a first side and a second side, wherein the second side forms a concentric threaded recess, wherein the first side forms a concentric stem aperture communicating the first side to the threaded recess. The stem may have a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is dimensioned and adapted to rest a golf ball thereon. The base may include a threaded flange and a spike perpendicularly joined thereto, wherein the threaded recess is dimensioned and adapted to rotatably mate with the threaded flange, and wherein the stem aperture is dimensioned and adapted to be slidably receive the stem secured to the base.

Abstract: The jigsaw puzzle includes a baseplate used with attachable puzzle pieces. The baseplate has multiple upward-facing engagement mechanisms that are engaged with corresponding and complementary puzzle piece rear-facing engagement mechanisms. The rear-facing engagement mechanisms and the complementary puzzle piece rear-facing engagement mechanisms are designed so as to leave a space between the bottom of the puzzle piece and the top surface of the baseplate to facilitate removal of the puzzle pieces. An optional pry tool can be inserted in to the space to easily remove the puzzle pieces after play, storage, or display. An optional hanger/joiner can be utilized to hang the completed puzzle vertically and/or to join two baseplates to create increased play opportunities.

Abstract: In order to provide a puzzle that allows young children to enjoy puzzle games easily and pleasantly, a puzzle 1 has a housing main body 10 and a puzzle shaft 40 provided in the housing main body 10. The puzzle shaft 40 includes a shaft and a piece 30. The shaft is provided with rotation of the shaft centers fixed. A plurality of pieces that is rotatably provided around the shaft center of the shaft along a shaft center direction of the shaft via the shaft and a ratchet mechanism, and puzzle patterns are provided to outer periphery of the shaft around the shaft center. The ratchet mechanism is made up of ratchet teeth formed on the outer periphery of the shaft and a ratchet pawl provided to the piece via an elastic portion.

Abstract: A luminous ball is provided, including a sphere, at least one covering spliced to wrap the sphere, at least one seam formed on an edge of the covering, a plurality of thread apertures disposed at two sides of the seam, at least one thread penetrating the plurality of thread apertures to stitch the edge of the covering between the two sides of the seam, and a light-emitting device disposed in the sphere. The light-emitting device includes a light-emitting unit, a power unit, and an electrical insulating unit breaking an electrical connection between the light-emitting unit and the power unit. The electrical insulating unit is removable. The electrical connection between the light-emitting unit and the power unit is provided when the electrical insulating unit is removed such that lights emitted by the light-emitting unit penetrate the sphere and are visible through the seam and the thread apertures.

Abstract: Recreational footballs with rotor assemblies are provided herein. An example football includes a plurality of struts forming a prolate spheroid frame; and one or more rotor assemblies each having a plurality of blades, the one or more rotor assemblies being disposed within the prolate spheroid frame, the one or more rotor assemblies changing at least one aerodynamic aspect of flight of the recreational device when air passes through the prolate spheroid frame and rotates the plurality of blades of the one or more rotor assemblies.

Abstract: A hand-held puzzle game having an outer cube-shaped puzzle surrounding an inner spherical puzzle. An embodiment of the invention provides a six-sided, two-by-two cube puzzle containing a spherical puzzle with nine floating two-color parts and six pole centers, three of which are V-shaped to restrict rotation in some directions. The outer cube and inner sphere puzzles maybe solved independently, or the two puzzles may be solved jointly to solve the entire puzzle.

Abstract: A golf tee set is provided with a keeper for preventing a tee from flying into a driving range or being lost, in which a first golf tee is tethered to a second golf tee, wherein a first point of attachment of the tether to the first golf tee is free of interfering force on at least the first golf tee, and wherein the tether is constructed of a filament having less weight, stiffness and resistance to twisting compared to a minimum weight, stiffness and resistance necessary to cause interference with the first golf tee loaded with a golf ball. The improved tether system avoids using holes in the tee, which can lead to breakage during play, and is removable to allow the user to select different tees for different game circumstances.

Abstract: A performance golf tee is a support for a golf ball to offset the golf ball from a ground surface. The performance golf tee includes a tee shaft, a ball mounting support, a ground insertion spike and a directional indicator. The ball mounting support is connected to the tee shaft to support a golf ball on a front support extrusion and a pair of rear support extrusions. The front support extrusion and the pair of rear support extrusions reduce friction by offsetting the golf ball from the remainder of the ball mounting support. The ground insertion spike is connected to the tee shaft, opposite to the ball mounting support, to allow the present invention to more efficiently penetrate the ground surface. The directional indicator indicates the orientation of the performance golf tee to optimally reduce friction when the golf ball is struck.

Abstract: An object, such as a soccer ball, is provided with perforated, interior panels disposed between an interior inflatable bladder and an outer covering which is stitched together from a plurality of individual panels. The stitching process produces raised portions surrounding the interior sides of the outer covering. These raised portions define recesses into which the perforated interior panels are disposed. The recess-filling panels overlie the ridges which are hard and whose hardness is counteracted by these preferably perforated panels. This provides a smooth surface against which the inflatable bladder rests. Additional flexure is also provided by perforating one or more of the layers in the outer covering.