Abstract: A portable and collapsible screen unfolds and extends to provide a wall, divider or backstop which has many uses. The screen can be used as a backstop for ball games, a wind block, a privacy screen, or anywhere a small divider, screen or barricade is needed. Two base poles support a main pole where all the poles extend telescopically and a screen is attached to the far ends of the extended main poles. Anchoring means and floor base means are connected to the poles. Additional frame members and nets can be attached to extend the screen and form various shapes.

Abstract: A training attachment useful in reinforcing proper glove positioning in the course of fielding a baseball includes a switch assembly that is provided with a switching lever and that is securable to the back of the glove. When thus secured the switching lever extends beyond the glove digit ends, to be deflected against the ground. A buzzer may then be attached to the body of the player connected by a harness to the switch. In this manner correct glove alignment in anticipation of the incoming baseball deflects the lever, thus exciting the buzzer.

Abstract: A hockey stick has a reinforced hockey blade which is equipped with a plastic bumper secured to the bottom edge thereof and a layer of glass fiber is coated on the surface of the blade by heat hardening art. Such processed hockey stick is flexible and durable against violent impact or collision in operation, making the operation life thereof longer.

Abstract: A ferrule mounted on one end of a billiard/pool cue shaft has greater compressibility than the compressibility of the shaft to compress on impact of a tip mounted on the ferrule with a ball to absorb a portion of impact forces and to provide easy outward flexure with minimal buckling of the end of the shaft during impact. A bore extends a predetermined distance from the one end of the shaft toward a butt end of the shaft. The bore in the shaft communicates with a bore in the ferrule when the ferrule is mounted on the shaft. The ferrule is mounted on the shaft by means of a tenon formed on one end of the shaft or on the ferrule, which tenon tightly engages the other of the ferrule or shaft. The tip has a smaller than conventional radius to centralize impact forces toward the line of stroke extending along the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A ball frame assembly 10 for use in a ball game played on a table. The ball frame assembly 10 comprises a base 12 slidably mounted in a frame 14. The base 12 comprises a triangular plate 16 having an upstanding wall 18 fixed on one side thereof. The base 12 further comprises a male locking component 20 fixed midway along an inside face of the wall 18. The base 12 also comprises a liner, in this example a rubber liner 27, covering an upper face of the triangular plate 16. The frame 14, in the shape of an equilateral triangle, has three interconnected sides or retaining walls 28A, 28B, 28C. Each of the two walls 28A, 28B have receiving means, in this embodiment a longitudinal groove 32, for slidably receiving each of the edges of the triangular plate 16. The frame 14 further comprises a female locking component 34 fixed to the retaining wall 28C in a position so that the male locking component 20 can mate therewith when the base 12 is in a closed position.

Abstract: A device used to assist in constructing and repairing a pitcher's mound on a playing surface in a baseball field. An upper limit to the pitcher's mound is indicated by a beam apparatus. The beam apparatus has a horizontal extension member for indicating a plane above the playing surface that lies substantially parallel to the playing surface. An angled extension member is disposed to angle down a slope from a point where connected to the horizontal extension member. A support device supports the horizontal extension member of the beam at a chosen position above the playing surface.

Abstract: A practice ball system for training in the playing of pool or pocket billiards. The system includes a cueball having a generally spherical outer surface extending about an axis of revolution circumscribed by a central meridian, and which is movable along a playing surface from impact by a cue having a tip of a given outer diameter. The cueball has first indicia on the outer surface defining the central meridian which is visually perceptible as the ball is moving along the playing surface for discerning the rotation of the ball. The system also includes an object ball having a generally spherical outer surface extending about an axis of revolution circumscribed by a central meridian, and which is movable along a playing surface from impact by the cueball. The object ball has a first hemisphere having an outer surface of a first color, and a second hemisphere having an outer surface of a second color generally contrasting with the first color.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a device for aiding the teaching and training techniques for hitting a baseball consisting of, a shirt to which is installed a flexible magnet within a tunnel to form a magnetic track which runs from the right front shoulder to the left front shoulder in an elliptical fashion; a baseball batting helmet with a chin strap attached thereto containing a magnetic sensor which contacts the magnetic track continuously as it travels from the right shoulder to the left shoulder as the batter swings at the ball; an alarm which notifies the batter of his position when he swings at the ball; an electrical power supply and means for connecting the power supply to the alarm and the magnetic sensor.

Abstract: A baseball practice device in which a baseball is releasably attached to a "Y" shaped tether system which, in turn, is supported by two horizontal arms arranged in a "Y" shaped configuration. The combination of the horizontal arms and the tether system allows simulation of a pitching environment where the baseball may be presented to the batter with a uniform and repeatable flight path to enhance batting practice.

Abstract: A centrally-bored, elongate body slidably receives rope therethrough, and a rope end tethers a ball thereat. At a handle end of the body, a clothesline tightener or foreshortener is used to clasp the handle-confined portion of the rope to prevent its movement through the body, however by withdrawal of the hollow shaft of the clothesline tightener, the rope is unclasped and can freely be drawn out of a pay out end of the handle, to lengthen the ball-tethered portion thereof, or drawn out of the handle end to foreshorten the ball-tethered portion thereof. The clothesline tightener is slidably and snugly held in the central bore of the body at the handle end thereof.

Abstract: A belt utilized for flag tag games includes an arrangement for detachably mounting flags thereon by utilizing a support which includes a plug connected to a web retainer by a stem. The plug is receivable in a resilient socket on the belt so as to emit a pop when pulled therefrom. The web retainer has a pair of transverse slots defining a bridge therebetween so that the belt may be passed through one slot and then be passed over the bridge and through the other slot. The flag includes a closed recess in one end thereof through which the plug and stem are inserted to secure the flag to the support. In accordance with one embodiment of the belt, the belt includes a buckle attached to one end, the buckle having a channel or groove adjacent the bottom edge thereof which faces the upper edge. A row of teeth projects from the upper edge toward the groove.

Abstract: A portable pitching mound includes a generally convex body member having detachably securable front and rear portions. The rear portion has top and bottom surfaces with a peripheral edge extending therebetween. The front portion is detachably secured to the rear portion along a portion of the peripheral edge. The front portion has a top surface that includes a hollow for receiving a dense soil mixture to make a realistic, yet portable pitching mound.

Abstract: A puck includes a top side, a bottom side and a peripheral surface, the top side having a plurality of first vent holes defined therein, the bottom side having a plurality of second vent holes defined therein and the peripheral surface having a plurality of third vent holes defined therein, a first passage defined through the puck and communicating with each pair of the closest first vent hole and third vent hole, a second passage defined through the puck and communicating with each pair of the closest second vent hole and the third vent hole such that when the puck slides on a surface, the first passages and the second passages guide air to flow therethrough so as to let the puck slide smoothly and in a straight direction.

Abstract: A training device for those sports and games which utilize an implement to strike a projectile is disclosed. A pressure sensitive switch is placed on the implement in the area where it is desired that the projectile be struck. Contact with the projectile will activate the switch, which closes a circuit. This closing will be indicated by a sound generator. Thus the player has practically instantaneous feedback on the contact area.

Abstract: A cue stick adapted for table sports includes a first portion having a tenon disposed at a first end thereof. The cue stick also includes a first joint disposed at a second end thereof and a second portion having a second joint adapted to mate with the first joint disposed at a first end of the second portion and a butt disposed at a second end thereof. The first and second portions comprise an elongated conic section when joined and have the tenon disposed at a narrower end of the conic section than the butt. The cue stick includes a raised straight edge having a length less than a distance separating the first joint from the tenon and attachment means for securing the raised straight edge to the first portion on an outside surface thereof and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof.

Abstract: A general purpose portable pitching, throwing, or kicking device comprised of a singular one-piece supporting base with centrally located apertures for holding two spaced apart vertical parallel uprights affixed with two horizontal parallel cross members for framing a strike zone in space. The strike zone frame is fully adjustable in height, and adjustable in width from the supporting base and may be easily disassembled for transport and storage. The strike zone frame may also be adjusted to form a non-parallel shape if desired to emphasize pitching techniques. The invention is adaptable to baseball, soccer training, archery practice, lacrosse players, or the like by an appropriate choice of strike zone frame shape, size, and position.

Abstract: A device for training batters to properly shift weight to the back leg at the beginning of a swing and to shift weight to the front leg during a swing when striking the ball in baseball and similar games. The device includes a first strap for fastening to the leading leg just above the knee and a second strap for fastening to the leading wrist, "leading" being the side towards a pitcher. An elongated member connects the two straps and comprises an elastic portion and an adjustable length portion, which includes a separable buckle so that the elongated member can be separated without removing either strap. In use, straps are emplaced on the knee and wrist and the adjustable length portion is adjusted to be taut but not stretched with the batter in the "ready" position. At the start of a swing, the hands move back, stretching the elongated member to encourage weight movement to the back leg.

Abstract: An attachment for bats designed principally for use in batting practice, comprising a thin wall tube of rubber-like material of length approximating the length of the contact zone of the bat. In one embodiment, the tube is closed at one end with the closed end covering the end of the bat. An edge rim of greater thickness is present in one embodiment to protect the end from tearing and in other embodiments, raised patterns are present on the external surface of the tube.

Abstract: A portable, remote controlled moving target device for throwing practice which includes a support cable for supporting and carrying a target on an adjustable target support. The adjustable target support includes a hollow upper stem portion and a hollow lower stem portion with a spring within the hollow stem portions that forces the two stem portions together and allows the user to adjust the position the angle or position between the target and the support cable. The adjustable target support is pulled along the support cable by an endless cable loop that is driven by a motor. A remote control transmitter and receiver are used for controlling the motor so that a player or user can interact with the target device and stop and reverse the motion of the target from the field, and thus allows the player to repeat target plays as desired or quickly stop the motion of the target in the event of an emergency.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus useful in teaching tennis skills to a player and has a wand having a tennis ball attached thereto pivotally mounted on a base so as to flex when the ball is struck by a tennis racket and also has a damper assembly extending between the wand and the base so as to rapidly damp out oscillations of the wand due to the tennis ball being struck by a tennis racket.