Abstract: A golf tee includes a highly flexible plastic body having an enlarged head with a concave surface for receiving a golf ball, and an axial through-bore. A hard plastic stem, having an outer surface continuous with that of the body, is attached to the body by means of a spear integral with the stem and having a groove thereon for snap engagement within a ridge within a lower portion of the bore. A ball marker is removably installed in the upper end of the bore.

Abstract: The invention relates to a play feature for a pinball game able to assume a plurality of scoring positions. Various embodiments are disclosed, including two-position targets and four-position targets. The devices are actuated by a solenoid which cooperates with a cam to provide linear or rotary output to change the target position. The solenoids are actuated by a switch associated with the targets. The positions of the targets are sensed to provide different scoring values for each of the different positions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a self-contained batting practice apparatus including a cage or enclosure preferably formed by resilient flexible material supported within an exterior frame so that a batted ball only engages a flexible surface. A ball throwing unit is arranged to throw a ball from one end of the cage to a batter positioned at the opposite end. A batted ball engages the flexible cage walls and drops to the bottom, which is sloped so that the ball rolls to an opening and drops therethrough to a conveyor system which recycles the ball to the throwing unit through a ball control unit which delivers the balls in timed sequence for repeated throws to the batter.

Abstract: This golf tee is made from a manufactured, square, cardboard paper box that is wrapped with a lightweight, waterproof, adhesive tape. When not folded flat, this equilateral tee box opens to form a diamond wedge which may be aimed in the desired direction of flight when teeing up. The base perimeter of the wedge, interrupted by a serration on each side, will hug the ground surface while the upper perimeter seats the ball, whose weight bolsters upright stability. One of these fully-opened tees, serving as a retaining band, will bundle into a six-pack, up to five of these different sized, collapsed tees when not in playing use.

Abstract: A table tennis training device comprises a frame (10) extending the width of the table and having a pliant screen (28) associated therewith to provide a back stop for table tennis balls. A wall (18) of L-shape cross-section is attached to and extends between frame (10), and has a series of alternate rises and falls in its base portion. A table tennis ball projecting device attached to frame (10) comprises a source of compressed air having first and second outlets. The first outlet is in operative communication with a first type ejector tube (42) having foot-operated means for regulating the entry of balls therein. The second outlet is in operative communication with a plurality of second type ejector tubes (66) extending through wall (18) and located to correspond to the gully formed between adjacent falls of the base portion.

Abstract: A baseball practice apparatus including a batting tee and a swing guide that serves as a positive indication of the outer radius of a batter's swing whereby a batter will know if the rear elbow is dropped or if the wrists are prematurely broken in the swing. Each of the batting tee and the swing guide members are adjustable in height whereby differences in stances and batters' heights can be compensated for with the equipment.

Abstract: A ball capturing tennis net assembly for use with a conventional tennis net which is stretched across the center of a tennis court between two support posts so as to extend at a predetermined height above the playing surface of the tennis court, includes first and second ball capturing nets stretched between the two support posts across the center of the tennis court in substantially parallel, spaced relation to the conventional tennis net and at a height lower than the predetermined height on opposite sides of the conventional tennis net; and first and second spacer members which space the first and second ball capturing nets away from the conventional net at the center thereof, each spacer member including a base adapted to sit on the tennis court for supporting the respective spacer member, a vertical support extending upwardly from the base substantially to the lower height, a transverse member extending outwardly and away from the upper end of the vertical support, and a rope holder at the free end of th

Abstract: A multi-purpose ball expelling apparatus which can be used with repeated operations for the training of baseball fielders, batters and pitchers comprising in combination a special netted frame in which a ball can be thrown, collected and pass into a special ball expelling machine which can be adjusted to expell the ball as a grounder, pop-fly or straight pitch. An inverted U-shaped frame is in a generally vertical plane and has a net stretched tightly across it. A brace is connected to each side leg of the U. A rectangular frame is supported in a generally horizontal plane by the U-shaped frame and braces. A second net is also stretched tightly across the rectangular frame. The rectangular frame downward somewhat toward its front edge to direct a ball into the expelling machine. A third net is attached to the top of the U-shaped frame and hangs loosely down to the net on the rectangular frame. This third net has a rectangular opening which serves as a baseball pitching target.

Abstract: A bat handle for attachment to plastic bottles or containers in the form of an elongated tubular plastic handle having an internally threaded tubular end portion for threaded engagement with the threads normally provided on the neck of a plastic beverage bottle or other similar bottles or containers to form a combination bat handle and bottle that can be used in the nature of a baseball bat, softball or the like so that children may use the combination handle and bottle as a toy bat for batting lightweight balls such as hollow plastic or rubber balls with or without apertures in the periphery thereof, foam plastic balls, sponge rubber balls, inflated balls and the like. The bat handle is simulative in color, shape and apearance to an actual bat handle and includes a knob on the end thereof remote from the internally threaded end portion.

Abstract: A floor hockey puck has a generally cylindrical configuration. A felt-like layer is carried between two oppositely located, leather-like end discs and stitching is used to connect the end discs to the felt-like central layer.

Abstract: An automatic ball pitcher includes an elongated cylindrical member having a top end and a support means for maintaining said top end at a desired height and position. A ball or spherical object is inserted into the elongated member and dispensed out the top end of said elongated member when a volume of water is introduced into said elongated member. Inlet means are employed for regulating the introduction of the water into said elongated member and outlet means are further employed to release the water from said elongated member once said ball has been dispensed. After the ball is dispensed, it free falls by the force of gravity until it is hit by the swing of a bat, racquet or other device.

Abstract: A training aid for baseball hitters to assist in keeping a batter's lead arm flexed in a proper hitting stance. The training aid has a first cuff which attaches to the batter's forearm. A second cuff is attached to the batter's upper arm and one or more elastic straps are connected between the two cuffs.

Abstract: System for retrieving balls outside the normal playing area of a game such as table tennis or the like. The system includes a channel for receiving the balls to be retrieved, a ball receptor in a convenient location of the playing area, and a circulating air system for conveying the balls along the channel and from the channel to the receptor. A blower is provided to draw balls through a duct and into the receptor and to propel the balls along the channel to a transfer point where the balls will move from the channel and into the duct.

Abstract: A strap is woven back and forth through six openings in a body member to form two pockets, one for the thumb and the second for the remaining four fingers, and the ends of the straps are secured through cooperative Velcro-type fasteners to the two strap portions forming the two pockets. The body member may be used by right- or left-handed persons by simply turning it over whereby the front-ball side for a right-hand user now becomes the rear-hand side for a left-hand user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device which presents a batter with a moving ball simulating a ball which has been thrown or pitched. The device is designed to swing a tethered ball in a substantially horizontal path, thereby presenting a batter with a moving baseball. The tether extends through a hollow shaft and has one of its ends attached to a ball and its other end attached to a clamp; the clamp being adjustable along the outer surface of the hollow shaft. The shaft is supported on a base and is rotatable relative to the base by a motor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a baseball pitcher's practice target comprised of a backstop first target frame supporting a net for receiving a ball and rebounding the ball back to the pitcher. A second target attached to the frame and in front of the first target. The second target being constructed from a plurality of cross-links which define an adjustable rectangular strike zone. A third target is attached to the frame and in front of the second target. The third target is comprised of a disk suspended from the frame by a flexible member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tennis training ball and a method of its use. The surface of the ball is covered with markings of alphanumeric and/or geometric indicia. The indicia is intentionally made large to the extent that they can be easily distinguished by a player at the instant the ball comes in contact with his racket. During play, a player is required to name a particular pattern of indicia the instant the ball comes in contact with his racket.

Abstract: A device to allow an object to be hit and which will return the object to its original position. The device is comprised of an object for hitting with an opening through the center allowing attachment to an elastic member suspended at the upper end to a solid object and retained in a given position at the lower end by any suitably weighted mechanism or solid object. This device will allow one to hit the object for hitting with the object for hitting being continously returned to the original hitting position.

Abstract: A ball tossing device includes a tossing mechanism and a foot pedal assembly which is manually depressible for actuating the tossing mechanism to toss a ball upwardly into the air so that it can be hit with a bat. The tossing mechanism includes a timer assembly which delays the ball tossing action of the device by a predetermined delay interval so that a batter can assume a fully ready position before the ball is tossed into the air.

Abstract: A tennis training apparatus having a vertical tubular support stand support by a base. A horizontal tubular member is attached at one of its ends to the top end of the vertical support stand. A rotatable support head is attached to the other or outer end of the horizontal support. The rotatable head is attached to the horizontal support such that its axis of rotation is parallel but offset from the longitudinal axis of the horizontal support. A flexible filamentary line is threaded along the longitudinal axis of the horizontal and vertical supports and the rotatable head; one end of the filamentary line is threaded through the wall of the vertical support. The other end of the filamentary line is attached to a ball attachment structure.