Abstract: A game apparatus consisting of a housing with a game playing surface. A ball is rolled on the playing surface by a conventional shooting device. The playing surface has openings and the ball, propelled from the front towards the rear end, falls into one of the openings, enters into the interior of the housing and rolls back towards the front end. One opening towards the rear end is designated as a "functional" opening and the interior of the housing has electrical wiring and a switching device for starting and stopping a motor which rotates a multi-disc assembly whenever the ball falls into the "functional" opening.

Abstract: A sound emitting ball has (a) a ball having an airtight bladder with an air injection valve, (b) a housing provided within the ball on the opposite side of the bladder with respect to the valve without interferring with the airtightness of the bladder, (c) a cover for concealing the housing, (d) a detector for detecting an application of external force to the ball, (e) a sound generator for generating a sound signal according to the signal from the detector, (f) a speaker for emitting sound according to the sound signal from the sound generator, and (g) a battery power source. The detector, sound generator, speaker, and battery power source are accommodated in the housing and the sum of the weights of the housing, cover, detector, sound generator, speaker, and battery power source are adjusted to a weight which does not substantially interfere with the impact resilience of the bladder and is substantially the same as the weight of the valve.

Abstract: Equipment to simulate the firing of at least one projectile from a gun at a target such that a beam of electromagnetic radiation replaces the projectile trajectory. A hand held simulator includes a projector for generating such a beam of light, the power of which is no greater than 40 mW, in response to the operating of a trigger. If aimed correctly at the target, which is retroreflective, the beam is reflected back to the equipment and the reflected beam is received by a receiver which includes a collection of components connected in series. In view of the low power of the beam and the large distance over which the equipment is designed to operate, the components forming the receiver are designed to differentiate a fairly weak signal form the background light.

Abstract: The golf club head comprises a shaped core body of material selected from synthetic and natural rubber and an outer shell closely surrounding substantially the entire surface of the core body of polymeric thermoplastic material selected from the group of polycarbonate, polyamide and polybutylene-terephthalate. According to a preferred embodiment, the golf club head further comprises a center core body embedded within the core body and consisting of closed envelope completely filled with liquid.

Abstract: An interactive trainer/prompter device serves to provide visual and synthetic-speech prompts to a human operative to achieve a task that requires skills that may be critical, but infrequently required. In favorable embodiment, the trainer/prompter device is employed for cardio pulmonary resuscitation. The device has a plurality of actuator push buttons and indicator lamps, and provides synthetic voice prompts. The human operative follows synthetic-speech instructions, and interacts with the device by depressing the appropriate push button, for example, to indicate that a victim is not breathing, or has no detectable pulse.

Abstract: A computer-assisted audio/visual teaching system which presents synchronized audio and visual instructional material to an individual student. Standard classroom components, including a microcomputer, television monitor, disk drive (or computer cassette recorder), and stereo cassette player are combined with an audio control module to present drill and practice and tutorial lessons containing written text and graphics, as well as recorded instructional narrative which is synchronized with a computer program. The audio control module allows computer-generated sound effects to be incorporated with recorded instructional narrative. A student observes the computer-driven visual portion of an instructional lesson on a television monitor and listens to the player-reproduced audio portion of the lesson through headphones. At selected intervals, the lesson presents questions or problems to which the student responds via a computer keyboard.

Abstract: A lottery selection device which is portable, lightweight and compact, so that it may be readily carried in a pocket or pocketbook of a player, yet will provide a hard surface upon which the lottery card can be marked while the player is waiting in line, as well as facilitate viewing of the numbers in the entry boxes and filling in of the desired choices. A preferred embodiment is disclosed, which is comprised of a base member within which a lottery card receiving slot and grid overlay are provided, and which provides a hard surface for supporting the card and a stencil framing the entry boxes. The support surface of the lottery card receiving slot is transparent and overlies an illumination source, so that the entry boxes and the numbers therein can be made more visible. To help the player decide on what numbers to select, a random number generating circuit and display is built into the base, whereby the player can generte random numbers of a desired number of digits, which can then be marked on the card.

Abstract: A video amusement game terminal for a gaming system for playing a game providing the illusion of skill. A game processor provides a video game presentation in response to player control wherein a prize award is disclosed through presentation of achievement by the player of a designated objective. The presentation provides to the player the illusion that the prize award is determined by player skill in achievement of the designated objective.

Abstract: An athletic ball comprising (a) a ball having an airtight bladder with an air injecting valve, (b) a housing provided with the ball on the opposite side of the valve without interfering the airtightness of the bladder, a detector for detecting an application of external force to the ball, an operation converter for converting the detected impact signal to a numerical information signal, a display for displaying the numerical information and/or for generating a sound according to the numerical information, and a battery power source; the converter, display and battery power source being accommodated in the housing, and the sum of the weights of all of the above elements being adjusted to the weight which does not substantially interfere the impact resilience of the bladder and is substantially the same as that of the valve.

Abstract: A puzzle comprises a cube having translucent faces with a light source behind each face. Gravity-sensitive or orientation-sensitive switches such as mercury switches, are connected to an electronic circuit acting to compare the switching states and switching movements of the switches with a programmed sequence held in a memory to determine whether and which of the light sources to illuminate. In use of the puzzle the faces will light up when a predetermined sequence of rotations about three orthogonal axes are performed correctly to match the switching sequences with the stored sequence.

Abstract: A system, method and station interface arrangement which permits video games to be played over a telephone network is disclosed. Communications delay between the games can be mitigated by transmitting local player position data to a remote game, the position data being detected at a local game during a current "generation" but the position data not being used by the local and remote games until the next generation and the transmission occurring during the time interval in which the current generation is being run at the local game. The position data can be encoded so that errors, e.g. transmission errors, may be detected. Detected errors may be corrected by retransmitting the priorly transmitted local position data. In addition, the games may be synchronized or resynchronized by transmitting a frame count along with the position data. The frame count may identify by order of succession the respective local and remote position data so that the games obtain and remain synchronized.

Abstract: A type of poker, slot or fruit machine of conventional construction but having on one or more of the drums or other symbol display elements a designated symbol. Whenever, the designated symbol appears on the pay line at the end of a play cycle the fact is recorded and one of a number of additional lights on the front of the machine is lighted. After a predetermined number of play cycles, preferably six or less, a prize is delivered depending on the number of times that the designated symbol has appeared on the pay line.

Abstract: A dart game for use with "safe" darts has enhanced electronic scorekeeping reliability. The dart game has a target including target sections for receiving thrown safe darts, the target sections being slidably mounted in a spider target frame. The spider and target sections are mounted in front of a pressure sensitive switch matrix for electronic sensing of dart hits. An apertured sheet of resilient material placed between the target sections and the switch matrix creates a gap through which an impacted target section must be displaced before it can compress and close an associated switch in the switch matrix, thereby enhancing the continuity and prolonging the duration of the switch contact. Ridges on the target section sides ensure ease of motion of the target section in the spider target frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for training to play golf. Above a black disc is coaxially held a detector comprising a phototransistor which monitors a surface of diameter equal to that of a golf hole less the diameter of a golf ball and which sends to an electronic circuit any variation of light due to the passage of a golf ball, this electronic circuit measures the duration of this variation, comparing it with a predetermined duration and signalling the probability of this ball dropping into a golf hole or passing above it or to the side.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a card game machine wherein a game player plays a card game such as poker or the like on a CRT image displaying screen while operating keys. For instance, in the conventional poker game machine, only five cards selected in the machine are displayed on the screen, while the present invention modifies this playing method in such a manner that all the cards are displayed in an aligned fashion in a turned-over state. In accordance with the present invention, selection of the cards is performed by the game player himself or herself, and therefore the game becomes more interesting and has the effect of eliminating a feeling of doubtfulness or distinct about the game machine.

Abstract: A system and method for limiting the motion of the motion platform of a vehicle simulator in which the motion platform is supported on a plurality of extensible members, the extension of the members being controlled by commands initiated by a user of the simulator. At least one absolute limit is set for at least one parameter such as position or velocity of the extension of each of the members, and the parameter is maintained within the limit. The commanded or actual magnitude of the parameter is monitored for each member relative to that members absolute limit, the member for which the monitored relative magnitude is the greatest is determined, and the limit determined for each of the other members is scaled down such that a movement of the motion platform which causes the parameter for any one member to reach its absolute limit also causes each of the other members to reach its scaled down limit at the same time.

Abstract: Two cylindrical stator magnetic poles are disposed with a suitable space therebetween, and a plunger is movably disposed within the two stator magnetic poles. A coil is wound around the outer periphery of the two stator magnetic poles, and a current flowing in the coil causes the plunger to advance forward. The current flow is interrupted before the plunger reaches the intermediate position between the two stator magnetic poles, and the plunger thereafter further advances by inertia and strikes a ball. After the ball is struck, the coil is again supplied with a current, and the plunger is in turn supplied with a magnetic force in a retreat direction.

Abstract: A mechanical and electronic apparatus which utilizes off-setting positive and negative muscle effort to provide a complete body muscle exerciser. The exerciser is constructed so that left side and right side symmetrical muscle groups are caused to work against one another, with one muscle group moving in extension providing resistance for the symmetrical muscle group to work thereagainst in contraction. A mechanical gear drive train is interposed between the opposing symmetrical muscle groups to transmit the forces exerted thereby, and to guide the user's limbs so that the directions of motion are exactly opposite, and to assure that one muscle group contracts simultaneously with the extension of the other. Electrical sensors are coupled to the mechanical drive train to indicate the resistance being experienced by each muscle group; and also to indicate the position of the muscle groups, that is, the distance they have moved in their excursion.

Abstract: A golf head body made as a casting of plastic or metal has a large cavity. A sole plate is attached to close the cavity. The parts are carefully finished by grinding and polishing prior to injection of foamable plastic. The cavity has a special configuration to provide fill holes that are independent of the sole plate. The mechanical strength of the club and installed shaft is not compromised; the foamable plastic, injected after finishing, is not affected by any heat generated by the finishing of the sole plate.

Abstract: A pinball type game includes a play surface having at least one target thereon adapted to be engaged by either of two game balls which can be propelled onto the play surface so as to traverses the play surface and return to a return end thereof. The two game balls are distinguished from each other by color or other indicia and each has a corresponding return and ejector mechanism controlled by a control circuit which enables only one ball to be on the play surface at any given time. The control circuit is operatively connected to the targets so as to receive a signal when a target is engaged by a game ball, and is operative to increase the normal game score so as to provide a bonus score when the targets are engaged by a selected one of the balls when on the play surface, thus providing an increase in scoring opportunity should the selected one of the balls being placed in play during a player's turn.