Abstract: Disclosed is a collapsible assembly for adjustably supporting a net for pitching back, rebounding, or otherwise returning various types of game balls, the assembly including first and second U-shaped stand members, each having a crossbar and a pair of spaced apart leg elements, the cross bar being adapted for engaging a horizontal surface such as a floor or the ground, and the upper ends of the leg elements mounted to a pair of hub plates from which the leg elements diverge at a substantial angle to form a stand. An inverted U-shaped net support member has its lower ends connected to the hub plates by way of mechanism that allows the support member to be angularly adjusted about a horizontal axis and releasably locked at a chosen orientation.

Abstract: An outdoor baseball practice facility including a playing surface with a plurality of adjacent stations arranged thereon. Each station of the present invention includes a homeplate with angularly diverging baselines extending away therefrom to define a playing field therebetween. The baselines of any one station overlap the baselines of one or more adjacent stations. The baselines of each station have a distinguishable appearance from the baselines of other adjacent stations to allow a batter to better appreciate whether a struck ball remains within a specified playing field. Each station of the present invention furthermore includes an apparatus for presenting balls at an elevated distance above the homeplate of each station. A homerun area on the playing surface is disposed a predetermined distance away from the homeplate of each station.

Abstract: An adjustable ball support device for holding a ball stationary in an elevated position in order that the ball may be struck by a bat, club or the like. The device has particular utility for supporting a baseball in a number of positions to enable the ball to be struck by a baseball bat. The ball support device is easily adjustable and is less susceptible to damage than prior devices. The ball support device which is easily assembled and disassembled and is relatively compact when disassembled.

Abstract: A baseball pitching machine is disclosed preferably employing a counterrotating wheel type baseball launch subsystem pitching a series of baseballs and a computer controlled system for selecting the type and percentage of pitches, pitcher and batter characteristics, strike zone areas and other parameters to provide a meaningful batting training session. The pitching machine includes a ball transport subsystem including a carousel for receiving and transporting baseballs in sequence to a position adjacent the counter rotating wheels. While being transported, each baseball stops at seam orienting stations where seam rotators rotate the baseball to provide a commanded seam orientation for the particular pitch selected. The baseball is oriented by the ball orienter for insertion in the launch subsystem. A computer allows the selection by the operator of a variety of pitches, random or selected order.

Abstract: A baseball instructional device and method for use teaches a hitter how to properly hit a ball depending on the location at which the ball is thrown by the pitcher. The device is capable of positioning a baseball, softball, or other ball, at proper hitting positions relative to the hitter, thus teaching the hitter when and where to swing to make proper contact with the ball. In addition to positioning the ball relative to the hitter, the device is provided with visual indicators to assist in teaching the hitter the proper location for striking the ball with the bat.

Abstract: A gauntlet athletic sled for use by football trainers has a sled frame with spaced apart side sections defining a runway between them from a front end to a rear end. A front to rear extending series of readily removable, position adjustable inflated resilient arms project from the side sections laterally into the runway to create a predetermined obstacle path simulating the arms and hands of would be tacklers, which must be deflected aside to permit passage of the runner down the pathway. The varied pressure of arm inflation controls the resistance to passage of the runner proceeding down the runway.

Abstract: A resistance device for a baseball bat including a cylindrical sleeve dimensioned for receiving a barrel of a baseball bat therein. The cylindrical sleeve has an open lower end for receiving the barrel therein. A chute portion is provided that is comprised of an essentially planar and flexible rectangular sheet. The sheet has a plurality of straps extending outwardly from opposing long side edges thereof for adjustable securement to the cylindrical sleeve.

Abstract: A tennis serve/stroke training and exercise apparatus. constituting a belt to be worn about the waist. The belt has attached thereto at a point on the belt portion extending across the back one end of an elongated elastic tether. The opposite end of the tether is connected to a handle adapted to be grasped in the hand by the person using the apparatus. The tether is of such length that grasping the handle in the hand while the belt is donned places the handle above one shoulder. For a right-handed person, the handle will be brought into position above the right shoulder, while the tether will extend diagonally across the wearer's back from near the left side thereof. Thus, with the handle in the hand, when the arm is straightened, or swung forwardly as is done when a tennis ball is served, the muscles involved in this motion are tensioned and exercised.

Abstract: A self-storing billiard table includes a table top with ball pockets and side cushions. A support frame is disposed below the table top to support it. A plurality of retractable support legs are also provided to support the billiard table. A first set of support legs is located near a first side of the billiard table, and a second set of support legs is located near a second side of the billiard table. The first set of support legs is retractably connected to the support frame. A plurality of wheels are also retractably connected to the support legs. At least one retractable ram pivotally supports the billiard table when moved from an upright storage position to a horizontal playing position, and from a horizontal playing position to an upright storage position.

Abstract: At improved centrifugal batting practice machine of the type having a tethered ball that is repeatedly revolved past a hitter by a generally horizontal rotating arm is disclosed. The rotating arm is mechanically coupled to a vertically disposed, motor-driven shaft within a vertical frame that is fixedly attached to a base support. A height adjustment mechanism is interposed between the motor-driven shaft and the rotating arm to permit incremental adjustment thereof in a vertical plane such that the ball is presented to a batter at the desired vertical height. The batting practice machine includes functional features that produce a random pattern in the pitches delivered by batter. In one embodiment the batting practice machine is placed in a condition of imbalance by the removal of detachable pads or feet from the base support to produce a random pattern in the pitches.

Abstract: A pin table for a bowling pin spotting/respotting device is fabricated from stamped sheet metal and has lips around the periphery of the sheet metal pin table, as well as around each of a plurality of pin openings through the pin table. The sheet metal pin table is generally planar in configuration and has a plurality of pin openings. The lips extend upwardly around the periphery of the pin table and around the periphery of each of the openings. The lips provide sufficient rigidity to the pin table to enable its manufacture from stamped sheet metal rather than a more expensive aluminum casting. A respot actuating assembly for use with the aforementioned table includes a respot cam link mechanism, a pair of crank arms and an adjustable stop mechanism for limiting rotation of the crank arms. Linkage connects the crank arms to the respot cam link mechanism and to multiple pairs of gripper rods for gripping and releasing a plurality of bowling pins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mat for training proper stance for a pool player. The mat comprises linear indicia marked thereon for alignment with respect to a cue held by the player and hand position indicia marked on the linear indicia for positioning of the mat directly below the player's rear hand when properly held on the cue. Further indicia are marked on the mat for proper location and orientation of the player's right and left feet when the mat has been oriented and positioned with respect to a cue and a cue ball to be hit on the basis of the linear and hand position indicia. When properly used, this mat enables a pool player to quickly and easily understand and adopt a proper stance, resulting in improved consistency of pool playing.

Abstract: A pool ball racking system for tightly and evenly racking a set of pool balls in preparation for a beginning player's break. The system comprises an equilateral triangular racking frame within which the set of pool balls are placed. The racking frame is placed upon a napped felt surface of a pool table, with the pool balls located therein. A vibrating device secured to the racking frame is activated and causes the pool balls to resonate and settle into the nap of the felt surface, thus firmly setting the pool balls in place.

Abstract: A device for conditioning the tip of a pool cue includes a hand-held housing containing a motor and two or more separate tip conditioning mechanisms separately powered by the motor. The pool cue can be inserted into one opening in the housing for subjecting the cue tip to a scuffing action. The pool cue can be inserted into a second opening in the housing in order to apply chalk to the cue tip surface. Preferably the housing contains a powder dispenser for supplying moisture-absorbing powder to the hands of the pool player.

Abstract: A training device for preventing a batter from overstriding and causing a batter to feel an attempt to overstride is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a length of material, one-half of the length of which is approximately equal to a maximum desired stride length for a batter. The ends of the material are joined at a central location, so that the material forms a loop. A pair of adjustable sliding rings are provided along the material, and each adjustment member cooperates with a portion of material to form respective, separate ankle loops. The adjustment members are slid along the material toward the central location to define relatively large ankle loops through which a user may pass his or her feet, and thereafter, the adjustment members are slid toward the respective ankles to snugly fit around the user's ankles.

Abstract: A score display assembly for pool tables having a front wall and a rear wall that are detachably secured together to form a housing. There are 15 vertically oriented discs rotatably mounted in the housing and their upper perimeter extends through their respective slots in the top of the housing. Each disc has a window in the front wall for identifying indicia on the front surface of the respective discs. A plurality of suction cups are secured to the rear wall of the score display assembly for detachably securing it to the side wall of a pool table immediately above a ball return chamber.

Abstract: A practice device for the throwing of a football, the device consisting of a football and an elasticized cord and an adjustable wrist support band with a means for connecting the cord between the football at one extremity and the wristband at its opposite extremity in combination with a means for causing to develop a spiralling trajectory when thrown.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple and yet fully functional billiard bridge head guiding apparatus which permits angular control of a cue stick at both three axis compound angles and at an adjustable height off the billiard or pool table. Two gimbals are utilized in which the cue holding inner gimbal may be rotated about: 1) the longitudinal axis of a bridge stick; 2) the end longitudinal axis of a straight, bent, or curved elongated shaft; and 3) an axis normal to that of second axis above. In addition, the radial displacement of the gimbal from the first axis above is adjustable by means of shaft elongation. The bridge head does not require use of a custom bridge stick, but rather any cue stick is useable.

Abstract: A new billiard cue bridge comprising a roughly H-shaped base which supports a generally upside down U-shaped vertical standard attached at the cross-bar of the base. The attachment is hinged at the cross-bar in a manner that permits the vertical standard to be latched in the vertical position and to fold down substantially flat with the base in the horizontal position. Mounted on the vertical standard are upper and lower slidable members. The upper slidable member includes a hole through which a pool or billiard cue may be passed and supported. Located in the upper portion of the hole is a small friction pad that permits the bridge to be lifted and repositioned by the cue. The lower slidable member functions as an optional positive lock to assure that the vertical standard remains in the latched vertical position when in use.

Abstract: Time consuming, unreliable leveling of the playing surface of a billiard table is eliminated in a billiard table including a base frame (10) adapted to be supported above the underlying terrain by legs. The base frame has an upper top plate (12) of generally rectangular configuration and a slate bed made up of at least two slate sheets (24) with planar upper surfaces (26) disposed in a generally side by side abutting relation overlying the top plate (12). A plurality of nuts (52) are secured to the top plate (12) at predetermined locations thereon and a plurality of leveling screws (62) are provided, one for each nut (52). Each leveling screw includes a threaded shank (62) received in the associated nut (52) in a radially outwardly directed flange (64) at one end of the shank at the interface of the top plate (12) and the slate sheets (24) and engaging one of the slate sheets (24).