Abstract: A pitching aid is shown which includes a backstop having sides which define an open interior with a front facing opening. A target is suspended from the backstop within the open interior to define a three dimensional strike-zone. The target has a rigid top and a rigid bottom suspended from the rigid top by flexible sides. Flexible cables connect the rigid bottom to the backstop to suspend the target in tension within the open interior.

Abstract: A game device including a bordered playing field having a number of pockets formed in the field to receive target balls. The device includes a star-shaped rack having five spaced compartments, each of which receives and aligns a group of three target balls in a broken ring around a centrally positioned target ball. The shooter ball is positioned outside the ring and the game player uses a cue stick to strike and propel the shooter ball toward an appropriate target ball. The height of the playing field is adjustable and the playing field rotates to provide convenient access to elderly or handicapped players. The device is also conveniently disassembled for storage or shipping.

Abstract: A portable seat for catchers positioned behind home plate which lessens the strain on the knees and legs of the catcher and thereby helps the catcher maintain top performance and extends his life as a catcher, the seat comprising a base plate adapted to being placed on a level surface, a vertically extending heavy duty coil spring having the bottom end thereof fixedly attached to the top of the base and the upper end removable attached to the bottom of a horizontally placed seat, the seat preferably being of the bicycle type narrowing in the front for the catcher's leg and having springs underneath to permit bending to the side and providing a comfortable position for the catcher.

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 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: 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 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: 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: 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 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: An indoor baseball game includes apparatus comprising a rectangular enclosure having netting walls and roof, a playing surface of synthetic grass or the like within the enclosure has a minature baseball diamond marked thereon and a bonus "home run" area is defined on the wall of the enclosure behind second base, a "running line" is marked on the diamond 11.5 meters past home, first and second bases, and must be reached by a runner to avoid being "out", before the baseman on the proceeding base contacts the base with the ball in hand. Various parts of the walls of the enclosure are defined as providing bonus bases when the batter hits the ball so as to contact such parts. Bonus bases are in addition to those achieved by running and to which safe passage is ensured. A complete set of rules for playing the game are set forth.

Abstract: A floor hockey puck is formed of two separate materials, the first being harder, less compressible and more dense than the second so as to provide mass and strength to the puck. The second material is softer and more resilient than the first so as to provide the resilience necessary for the proper handle of the puck and also to reduce bodily harm on contact with players. The two separate materials may be arranged in layers through the body of the puck.

Abstract: A racket sport teaching aid device comprises a frame that includes a pointing member. Unexpectedly good results are achieved when a weight is attached to the lower end of the frame. The weighted frame physically maintains the face of the racket perpendicular to the plane of the ground at both the back swing and at the ball impact point. The weighted frame serves the triple functions of stabilizing the head of the racket at the time of impacting the ball, of maintaining the head of the racket at a proper angle with respect to the ground, and of providing a directional guide to be visually observed by the player. This helps the player both to remember to maintain the racket head at impact at a proper angle with respect to the ground and actually physically assists the player in performing this task. The device also assists the player in following through on the stroke such that the follow-through is up and in the direction of the intended shot.

Abstract: A portable pitching mound is disclosed which is comprised of a concave horizontally disposed shell member which has a pitching rubber area. A first receptacle is indented into the surface of the shell member and is located immediately forwardly of the pitching rubber. A second indented receptacle portion is located in the forward portion of the shell member. A quantity of earthen material is located in each of the indented receptacle portions, and the earthen material is graded to conform to the contour or shape of the shell member.

Abstract: A learning device for infants is provided which includes two mirrors in a frame means adapted to be positioned substantially perpendicular to each other and wherein at least one mirror is provided with a shade. A movable rod with a handle and arm is rotatably mounted between the two mirrors. An object is connected to the arm which can be moved by the infant. The device also includes a transparent retainer having a movable shade. The retainer is adapted to house an object connected to a flexible line that can be moved by the infant. A series of timer devices can be included which are manipulated by the infant.

Abstract: A batting aid for training a batter to keep his eyes on the ball thrown by the pitcher while the batter is swinging at the ball. The aid includes structure connected between the batter's helmet worn by the batter and the shoulder of the batter that will restrict movement of the batter's head during his swing at the ball. One embodiment employs a flexible strap which passes through the helmet and is secured about the batter's shoulder. Another verison uses a rigid member connected at an end to the helmet and at its opposite end with the batter's shoulder. Additional structure can be added to the opposite side of the helmet which engage the batter's opposite shoulder to further restrict the tendency of the batter to turn his head away from the pitched ball and lose eye contact with it during his swing.

Abstract: A ball-game device comprising a baffle wall arranged on a transportable stand is characterized by the fact that the baffle wall has a front surface designed in the shape of a spherical indentation, and there is provided a frame. The frame surrounds the baffle wall and is supported on the stand. The baffle wall is, in turn, supported on the frame by means of at least one flexible fastening element.

Abstract: An apparatus for semiautomatically teeing up golf balls utilizing very low air pressure as an operating medium. Balls are loaded onto a contoured dish at the upper end of an open ended upright cylinder and pass from the dish into a flexible tube wrapped helically around the outside of the cylinder. The lower end of the tube is blocked by a ball dispenser. When a user trips a lever on the ball dispenser, one ball is permitted to roll to a stop above a hole in the hitting mat directly above the air operated teeing device. The teeing device includes a teeing tube attached vertically above an expandable chamber and extending just to the top surface of the hitting mat. A very low pressure stream of air constantly flows through the chamber and escapes via the teeing tube. When a golf ball comes to rest above the teeing tube, the escape of air is terminated, causing the expandable chamber to fill, thereby raising the teeing tube and the ball to the teed height.

Abstract: The invention comprises a score marker for tennis including a base pierced with three slots arranged in U form. Each slot is provided with a cursor associated with positioning means which in the case of the two parallel slots enables retention of the cursor in four predetermined positions so as to display the points 0, 15, 30 and 40 and in the case of the third slot enables retention of the cursor in three predetermined positions in which it indicates in the central position equality of the players and in the end positions to which player the advantage belongs.