Abstract: The present invention in a particular embodiment can be characterized as a method of determining an outcome in a baseball game by determining an out in the event a ball is hit against one of a plurality of player cards; and determining a hit in the event the ball is not hit against one of the player cards, but rather is hit and comes to rest within a predetermined distance of one of the plurality of player cards. In a further embodiment, the present invention can be characterized as a baseball game employing a bat; a ball; a plurality of player cards, the baseball player cards including a baseball player card (or baseball trading card), and a player card stand, the baseball player card being separable from the player card stand to measure a number of baseball player card lengths from said player card stand that the ball comes to rest after being hit by the bat; and a game board including a baseball diamond thereon.

Abstract: There is disclosed a strapping machine for applying a plastic strap around an object, tensioning the strap and heat-sealing together overlapping portions of the strap, including a retractable heating member movable between the overlapping strap portions and a pressure-applying means including a pressure block with a tiltable universal joint coupling for pressing the overlapping strap portions against the heating element with a first relatively light pressure to melt the facing surfaces thereof. The heating element is withdrawn while the pressure-applying means presses the strap thereagainst with the first pressure, and then the melted strap portions are pressed together with a strong second pressure to complete the seal. A cam with a yieldable section controls the first pressure and a compression spring controls the second pressure. While retracted, the heating element is raised to a higher temperature for burn-off of strap residues.

Abstract: Strap feeding and tensioning apparatus is provided for use in a strapping machine to feed steel or plastic strapping in a loop around an object to be strapped and tension the strap loop about the object, providing maximum gripping force on the strap and minimum marring thereof. The apparatus includes a motor-driven drive wheel geared to a feed wheel, the drive wheel and feed wheel respectively having circumferential strap-engaging surfaces which cooperate frictionally to grip the strapping therebetween and move the strapping in a tensioning direction in response to rotation of the drive wheel. The axis of rotation of the feed wheel is shiftable about a fixed axis to accommodate movement of the feed wheel toward and away from the drive wheel, tensioning of the associated strap exerting a resultant force on the feed wheel tending to effect movement thereof about the fixed axis in a direction to increase the frictional gripping force exerted on the associated strap by the feed wheel and the drive wheel.

Abstract: A system for dispensing steel strapping material from a heavy coil thereof includes a pallet having laterally spaced-apart elongated feet and adapted for supporting the coil on its side with its axis disposed vertically to form a strapping material assembly, the pallet having a positioning hub for preventing horizontal movement of the coil thereon. A horizontal turntable is rotatably driven about a vertical axis by an air motor and it includes a pair of laterally spaced-apart elongated roller conveyor tracks for respectively receiving the pallet feet for rolling the pallet to a dispensing position on the turntable coaxial therewith. The track assemblies engage the sides of the pallet feet and cooperate with positioning bars spanning the ends of the track assemblies for limiting horizontal movement of the pallet, while a hold-down assembly cooperates with the turntable to prevent vertical movement of the pallet.