Abstract: A ball basket comprises an attachment loop, a net and a sensing unit. The net is fastened at one end thereof with the attachment loop which is in turn fastened with a goal frame. The sensing unit is composed of a connection string and a sensing body connected with the connection string fastened with the net. The sensing body is provided with an oscillatory power switch for controlling an audio-photo element capable of bringing about an audio-photo effect at such time when the sensing body is impacted by a ball.

Abstract: A basketball free throw training apparatus has a frame having a top horizontal bar. The horizontal bar is adjustably mounted for vertical positioning on the frame, so that the bar can be raised in a horizontal position with respect to the frame and with respect to the floor upon which the frame is mounted. A pair of upstanding closely spaced guidebars extend upwardly from the bar and have a horizontal space therebetween sufficiently wide to permit a basketball to freely pass therebetween. The frame has an extended arm thereon which can be pivoted to a horizontal position and which can extend between the frame and the backboard of a basket so that the frame is accurately positioned from the basket based upon the stature and shooting technique of the user of the equipment. This arm is length adjustable so as to accommodate the spacing requirements of persons of different stature and skill.

Abstract: A fabric-covered stuffed toy figure having a head hinged by a flexible neck to a torso to which are hinged arm and leg appendages. The fabric casing of the head is stuffed by an inflated balloon and the fabric casing of the torso is stuffed by another balloon, whereas the fabric sleeves of the appendages are stuffed by compressible padding. To facilitate packaging, storage and shipment, the figure can be collapsed by deflating the balloons, thereby flattening the head and torso, after which the hinged appendages may be folded over the flattened torso to reduce the space occupied by the figure.

Abstract: A recreational device which is designed for shooting baskets with a selected game ball includes a support structure consisting of a telescoping support column, four support arms which are assembled into the support column, an adapter for fixing the orientation of the support arms, and a base for positioning and stabilizing the support column relative to the ground. In addition to the support structure the recreational device includes a basket which is positioned at an elevated level and which includes an annular hoop and a net connected to the hoop in a conventional fashion. The four support arms are attached to the annular hoop for support. A manually operated adjustment ring is provided for changing the length of the support column and thereby enabling the user to set the desired height for the basket. The recreational device provides all the features of a basketball goal without the use of a backboard.

Abstract: A hand-held, self-contained, self-powered, submersible, portable water pump appliance having physical dimensions and weight enabling it to be hand-held and transportable by a person. The appliance can recirculate water in a pool of water, as in a bathtub or spa, and is useful for providing massage and stimulation to the body of a person.

Abstract: A system for aiding basketball players to improve their skill at successfully shooting the basketball from any place on the basketball court, by application of the principle of successive approximation. The system incorporates a three piece floor mat that covers one half of a basketball court, and a height adjustable basketball goal mounted upon a wheeled frame. The mat maps the floor of the half court with equidistantly spaced semicircles so that the distance to the basket can be readily determined. The semicircles radiate from the center of an imaginary point falling directly under the hoop and extending to both the endline and the side lines of the court. The basketball goal may be raised or lowered to allow application of the successive approximation principle. The wheeled frame also serves to store and move the mat.

Abstract: A billiards table comprises a playing bed (12) of sandwich construction having a playing surface which mimics the bounce of slate for a billiards ball, an edge member (16) for the surface formed of moulded plastics and having a cushioned surface, and legs (15) fixed to the underside of the table. The edge member (16) incorporates channel formations (21) to receive the balls, which communicate with the pockets through the edge. The playing surface may be cloth covered (as is conventional) or may have a simulated cloth surface moulded on a plastic top layer.

Abstract: A horse race game instrument which utilizes a simple running mechanism enabling running bodies to move and with which a horse race game can be enjoyably played on a table. A plurality of running bodies with a dummy of a horse or the like fit thereto being caused to move at different speeds on an oval-shaped running track formed in the top surface of a board body, a plurality of planar oval-shaped grooves are provided along the bottom of the running track, an endless belt is movably disposed in each of the grooves, a magnet is provided to an upper part of each of the running belts in order to move the running bodies by attraction, and a drive motor is provided under each of the running belts in order to move each of the running belts around along each of the grooves.

Abstract: A game kit including a pliable hop scotch mat, an electrical actuated sound producing component and a plurality of individual electrical switches disposed between layers of the mat and adapted to be individually closed by pressure from a game participant when stepping on each of the designated areas on the game mat. The individual switches are positioned on each of the designated step or hop locations on the game mat. A battery power supply and speaker(s) are provided in a control unit housing the sound producing component and are in electrical connection with circuity leading from each of the individual pressure switches. The produced sound may be ringing of a bell, an individual music note, or a sequence of notes collectively playing a musical tune.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a collapsible pitcher's practice cage including a frame and a fabric enclosure. The frame includes a first portion and a second portion. The frame second portion is pivotally coupled to the frame first portion so that the frame second portion is movable between a first position, where frame second portion is substantially perpendicular to frame first portion, and a second position, where frame second portion is substantially parallel to frame first portion. The fabric enclosure includes a rear wall and a bottom wall and is foldably coupled to the frame. Particularly, the rear wall is coupled to the frame first portion and the bottom wall is coupled to the frame second portion so that when the frame second portion is in the first position, the rear wall is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall, and so that when the frame second portion is in the second position, the rear wall is substantially parallel to the bottom wall.

Abstract: A basketball practice device wherein an auxiliary target ring or hoop is supported above a standard horizontal basketball hoop or ring in a plane that is disposed at an acute angle from the plane of the supporting ring. A curved basketball guide chute depends downwardly from the supporting ring for guiding a basketball falling through the supporting ring back toward a basketball shooter. This downwardly depending guide chute also serves as a handle mechanism for manipulating the practice device to rotate it on the standard basketball hoop or to remove from or mount it onto the standard basketball hoop.

Abstract: A device for practicing hitting a ball is disclosed. The device comprises a support arm. A ball is suspended from the support arm such that the ball swings generally vertically in a substantially upright plane of rotation when the ball is struck substantially squarely. A selectively adjustable mechanism provides for a plurality of different, substantially upright rotational planes in which the ball can swing on the support arm when the ball is struck squarely, to thereby permit practice of different hitting skills depending upon which vertical rotational plane has been selected.

Abstract: A kit for forming a court upon a generally planar playing surface. In a first embodiment, the kit comprises a plurality of pieces of tapes adhesively attachable to the playing surface wherein each tape of the plurality of tape is sized and configured to correspond with and represent a specific boundary of the court. In an alternative embodiment, the kit comprises a court overlay formed from a unitary piece of tape that may be spread out about the playing surface and adhesively attached thereto to thus form a given court. The tape utilized to form the court according to the present invention may be selected to have a desired adhesive property, texture, or reflective property.

Abstract: An athletic shooting aid adapted to be detachably mounted directly on the goal of a sporting event to provide a target at which the player aims and strikes with the game piece in order to improve the form and accuracy of the player's shooting. The device comprises a clamp which is removably attachable to the goal having a substantially straight elongated member extending from the clamp with a ball or bulk of material attached to the elongated member to serve as the target at which the player aims when shooting the game piece. The elongated member is adapted and configured to allow the ball to move when struck by the game piece in such a manner that the game piece deflects the ball without substantially affecting the trajectory of the game piece and to allow the ball to be repositioned after the game piece has passed through the goal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for random determination and use of a multiplicity of bits of information from a larger quantity of bits of information including the placing of individualized information on a number of semi-conductors, mixing the semiconductors in an air chamber, selecting one semi-conductor at a time, placing the semi-conductors as selected on individualized locations on a timing wheel, confirming the selection and placement of the semi-conductors; detecting the information carried by each semi-conductor selected; and using the information so selected.

Abstract: A device for limiting, controlling and disposing leached lead. Shooting is made through an elastic layer, providing a watertight cover which closes after the passage of a projectile, the latter subsequently being arrested in a projectile-arresting material kept in an enclosed space created by a watertight layer. Precepition water penetrating the minimal projection penetrating holes is drained via the arresting material, along the inclined insides of the watertight layer, down to a lowermost point where the water is collected by a drainage line. The drainage water is discharged through a pipe to a closed reservoir or to a filter.

Abstract: A basketball apparatus includes a base and a vertically reciprocating mechanism on the base. A hoop support is connected to the mechanism, such that motion of the mechanism causes motion of the hoop support. Also, a basketball hoop is attached to the hoop support, and an actuator pad is in communication with the mechanism such that the pad, when stepped on by a person driving to the hoop, activates the mechanism to thereby lower the hoop and facilitate a dunk.

Abstract: An adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of a backboard which includes an assembly to which the backboard is mounted, a rear assembly mounted to a pole or mast, with the rear assembly being stationary and the front assembly being slidably moved with respect thereto by way of a screw positioned therebetween.

Abstract: A flashcard type device and method adapted for education and entertainment for use by one or multiple participants and providing answers or solutions partitioned into a plurality of pre-defined discrete segments for providing the user with the option of selecting one or more of selected progressive hints or steps to the proper solution.

Abstract: A low profile vibrating floor mat includes a magnetic gap elastomer placed between vibrating magnetic laminates. The elastomer controls the magnetic gap and prevents the magnetic gap from physically collapsing due to the body weight. Upper and lower protective materials insulate the vibrating magnetic laminates from the environment while effectively transfering vibrating energy to the surface of the floor mat. The floor mat is able to withstand body weight.