Abstract: An interactive throwing game apparatus and method includes a longitudinal game table provided in an arcade game environment. An upright ball target is mounted across the front end of the game table at a location facing a human player standing at a player station adjacent to the rear end of the apparatus. A pitching mechanism recessed beneath the game table ejects individual balls toward the human player, who then attempts to throw each ball to a defined target. The object of the game is to cause the ball to impact the target area before a simulated runner visible along the game table reaches a finishing position adjacent to the ball target. Visual and audible messages are provided to the human player dependent upon the accuracy of each throw and the timed sequence at which a given ball impacts the target area in relation to the movement of the simulated runner.

Abstract: An improved spring assembly for driving the throwing arm of a ball throwing machine. The assembly is mountable on a central transverse drive shaft of the machine. It includes a primary spring with an outwardly extending loop for loading against an abutment as the shaft is rotated in a first direction about its axis and for unloading in the first direction upon disengagement of the abutment. A secondary spring assembly is mountable to the drive shaft and includes a looped end engaging the outwardly extending arm of the primary spring assembly at a point approximately midway along its length. The secondary spring loads against the loop of the primary spring in response to rotation of the drive shaft, and unloads to drive the first loop forcibly in the first direction upon disengagement of the abutment by the first loop.

Abstract: A compact, light-weight machine for throwing balls along a desired trajectory includes a housing with an arcuate track leading inwardly from an opening to an initial ball support station. A throwing arm is rotatably mounted within the housing and is connected to a torsion spring. A crank arm is provided on one end of the shaft to rotate the torsion spring and throwing arm against a stop pin that extends through the housing in the path of the throwing arm. The torsion spring stores energy provided through the crank arm as it is rotated about a central axis. When the spring is sufficiently loaded, the throwing arm will slip from engagement with the stop pin and forcibly move against a ball to move it arcuately around the track and outwardly through the opening. The machine is specially adapted for use with resilient balls that will deform both against the track and against the throwing arm.

Abstract: A plywood product utilizing a core panel produced from plywood strips salvaged from edge trim produced by conventional trimming operations during plywood production. The trim strips, having parallel side edges, are laid up side by side and edge glued to produce a flat core panel. Outer layers of veneer are glued at each side of the core panel to produce a resulting thick plywood structure suitable for building purposes. The method comprises the production of the strips, the composing of the strips into panels, and the final step of gluing veneers at each face of the core panel to produce a plywood product of greater thickness than most conventional plywood.