Abstract: A small, lightweight golf ball teeing device is disclosed for allowing a golfer to tee up a golf ball without bending over using a golf club as a handle for the device. A housing positions the golf ball over the golf tee. A delayed urging means is used to clamp the ball and tee to the housing. While the tee is inserted into the ground, the delayed urging means compresses and rebounds slowly releasing the ball and tee from the device. Gripping fingers are positioned on top of the housing to provide a secure, aligned attachment to a golf club grip. An opening in the housing permits horizontal golf tees to be scooped up without bending. A clip is incorporated with the housing to provide attachment to golf bags, belts, etc.

Abstract: A batting practice device includes a base frame, a flexible tube having a lower portion fixedly mounted on the base frame, and a target object detachably mounted on the upper portion of the flexible tube.

Abstract: A tether for a ball; the tether formed from a primary shock cord having a first spring constant and a secondary shock device having a second spring constant. The primary shock cord and differential shock devices may be connected together by way of a swivel in order to enable natural movements of the ball. In order to reduce the possibility of failure of the tether, the different spring constants selected for the primary shock devices and the differential shock device.

Abstract: The ball tracker is designed to do trick shots on a pool table or a flat surface such as a table or floor, with a ball catcher that takes the place of a pool table pocket. The invention has different length tracks for the balls to roll on the directions you want it to go. It has directional guides for left and right turns, 45.degree., 90.degree., 120.degree. or other means for turns. It also has a ball jumper so the cue ball can jump over another ball.When the tracks are attached to the directional turns you can make the ball go to any direction you want it to. This invention allows non-skilled pool shooters to make fantastic trick shots. It is a whole new concept of pool.

Abstract: A swing training device is described, comprising a base assembly, a height adjustable stanchion on the base assembly and a spring for flexing built into the stanchion. An adjustable seat for steadying a hitter astride the stanchion, so as to help the hitter to perform a proper weight shift through the executing of a pre-swing stage and a swing stage for hitting a ball. Methods for training a tennis player using the swing training device are also described.

Abstract: A coin operated pool table is provided with ball collection channels formed in a sheet of material substantially co-extensive with and supported in the base below the table top such that the sheet prevents escape of the balls and protects the table top components housed in the base.

Abstract: A net mounting assembly for use in playing the game of table tennis is disclosed. The net mounting assembly comprises a pair of net brackets with each net bracket including a net post to which a standard table tennis net may be secured. Each net bracket also includes an extension arm which is pivotally mounted to the net post. A stop is provided for preventing the net post from pivoting beyond a position substantially perpendicular to the table tops. Also included is an attachment assembly which corresponds to each net bracket. The attachment assembly secures the corresponding net bracket while permitting the net bracket to pivot relative to the table. The attachment assembly is further configured to slidably engage the extension arm, thereby permitting the tension of the net to be adjusted and the extension arm to thereafter be secured in place.

Abstract: A training device for batters which aids a batter in practicing and developing the batting swing including an upright member having a number of arm engagement fittings. The upright member has a horizontal member attached at approximately its midpoint, for supporting the device on a support structure, typically a toprail of a fence. The upright member is secured to the fence or other support structure by a tensionable strap. A horizontal arm is removably mountable in any of the vertically oriented arm engagement mechanisms. A tether depends by its first end from the horizontal arm. A ball is slideably adjustable along the tether. The second end of the tether is attached to the support structure to limit travel of the ball and tether. Because the training device for batters has a number of locations along the length of the upright member at which the horizontal arm member is mountable, the device may be attached to and used on support structures having a variety of heights.

Abstract: A golf tee includes an elongated shaft and an enlarged head. The head is crown-shaped, with six sides that form six points where adjoining sides meet. The sides, which extend outwardly from a center section on which the ball sits, are downwardly bowed to follow the contour of a golf ball. The sides thus engage the golf ball along their lengths, with the points extending slightly along the upward curvature of the ball. The points prevent the ball from inadvertently rolling off of the tee, but do not adversely affect the flight of a properly hit ball, since they do not extend sufficiently far along the upward curvature.

Abstract: A sewing rubber American football includes a rubber made ball cover having a valve hole thereon and a rubber bladder, which is disposed within the ball cover, having a predetermined shape and a valve stem mounted thereon and extended through the valve hole of the ball cover. The ball cover includes four elliptical cover pieces sewn edge to edge together. Each cover piece includes an outer elliptical rubber skin and an inner elliptical fabric pad integrally attached underneath the rubber skin. A top surface of the rubber skin provides a plurality of protruding pebbles evenly distributed all over the top surface. The rubber skin has a coarse bottom surface full of bumps and dents for gripping with the fiber of the fabric pad so as to firmly united with the fabric pad. Thereby, the rubber skin is reinforced by the fabric pad to form the tough and rigid cover piece which is able to be sewn easily. A ball cover made of such cover pieces is easily be grasped and thus has good slippery resistibility.

Abstract: A stroke training and exercise device includes a hand-grip portion having the configuration of the handle of a tennis racket, a throat portion similar to a tennis racket, but a much smaller head band within which is secured, either permanently or detachably, a monolithic disk or "head" that selectively incorporates variable weights that cause the device to simulate the weight and balance of various types of tennis rackets.

Abstract: A batting practice device is attachable to any of various existing permanent fixtures, suitably a post. The device includes a mounting bracket attachable to the fixture, the bracket supporting a receiving tube. The tube has an opening for interlockably receiving a rod with a portion extending from the bracket in a cantilevered horizontal fashion. A metal bushing is rotatably mounted and captured on the rod portion extending from the plate. A piece of rope has a first and second end. A ball is provided. The first end of the rope is affixed to the ball. The second end is secured to the bushing.

Abstract: A ball or object ejecting device is disclosed which is useful as an automatic pitching machine. The device includes a support guide for supporting a ball to be ejected, a flexible impacting member for impacting against a supported ball at a large velocity for thereby forcibly ejecting the ball from the support guide, an actuating mechanism for cyclically actuating the impacting member in a predetermined cycle period, a mechanism for supplying a plurality of balls, one at a time, to the support means in the predetermined cycle period, and the actuating means also actuates the ball supplying mechanism simultaneously as it actuates the impacting member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for training doubles tennis team players on the proper relative positions to be maintained during active doubles play. Such apparatus incorporates a tether between the players arranged to disconnect when the force on the tether exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: A tilt and roll support for pool tables and other game tables having a frame attached to the underside of the table. The opposite ends of the frame have pivot shafts which are axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the table. Support assemblies at the ends of the table are pivotally about the pivot shafts so the table may be rotated between a vertical stored position and a horizontal use position. The lower portion of the support assemblies are retractable against the bottom of the table for storage and may be extended to a vertical position. The lower portion of the support assemblies are on rollers or casters and are extendible so the weight of the table may be transferred to the tilt and roll supports for movement and storage. When the table is in use, the table is supported on conventional legs.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a sliding cue for gaming tables are shown and described. Each embodiment has a front portion for being held generally stationary in the user's front hand on the table and a back portion for being held in the user's back hand and for being moved forward and backward relative to the front portion. This forward and backward relative motion allows the user to accurately aim his shot, while holding the cue tip stably and generally motionless against or near the ball. The final forward motion of the back portion results in an impact between some part of the back portion and some part of the front portion, thus transferring kinetic energy to the front portion and, thus, to the tip of the front portion, so that the tip impacts the ball and completes the shot. An air-venting or regulating system may be included to adjust the amount of cushioning of the relative movements of the front and back portion of the cue.

Abstract: A pitching/throwing device comprising a first ball, a second ball, and connector for connecting the first and second balls to each other. In the preferred embodiment, the balls are standard baseballs and the connector comprises a dowel screw. During use, the student holds the device by either ball and grips the ball in the appropriate manner for the pitch being thrown. Then, depending on the pitch to be thrown, the student flips or throws the ball to another while trying to impart the appropriate rotation to the ball. Because of the changed center of gravity resulting from the interconnection of the two balls, the act of imparting the desired rotation is made easier and the rotation of the ball is readily observable. This process is performed in several steps to first focus on the appropriate wrist/hand action and then to focus on the full arm delivery. The device can also be used by the student alone, by flipping the ball into the air while imparting the appropriate rotation to the ball.

Abstract: A batting practice device is attachable to any of various existing permanent fixtures. The device includes a mounting bracket attachable to the fixture, the bracket supporting a receiving tube. The tube has two opposing openings for interlockably receiving a rod with a portion extending from the bracket in a cantilevered horizontal fashion. A first metal support plate is transversely mounted on the rod portion extending from the bracket. A tire has a tread face and an inside wall. The tread face abuts the metal plate. A second metal support plate is located on the inside wall aligned with the first plate as to sandwich and support the tire for hitting the tire with a bat.

Abstract: A frame or rack for creating a compact formation of billiard balls on a table. The interior of the side walls of the frame is angled inward to urge the balls into a compact formation. Sleeves, attached to the frame, house support legs. The relationship between the sleeves and the support legs provides for and controls the motion of the frame and likewise, limits undesired motion of the frame until the frame is clear of the ball formation. The player's effort is limited to pressing down on the frame to compact the ball formation, while springs within the sleeves bias the frame upward. Spring loaded contacts or projections may be housed within the inner walls of the frame to reduce contact between the balls and the frame.

Abstract: A pneumatic ball launching apparatus propels a ball vertically upward into mid-air without imparting spin on the ball. A pneumatic cylinder is disposed vertically below the top surface of a ground supported platform in axial alignment with the center of an aperture in the top surface of the platform. The pneumatic cylinder has a spring return piston rod with a cup-shaped ball holder secured to its outer end. The cylinder is connected through a valve to a source of pressurized air and the valve is controlled by a timing device. The platform has a downwardly inclined forward portion which slopes inwardly and downwardly from each lateral side to form a central low portion at its forward end. A net extends vertically upward from the forward portion of the platform to catch balls which have hit.