Abstract: A back exercise machine includes: a resistance element; a user support; a first movement element, the first movement element having: a column; and a first connecting element having a pivot point such that the user support is able to pivot about a first axis associated with the first connecting element, wherein the first connecting element is movably coupled to the column such that the first connecting element is able to move along a path defined by the column; and a second movement element, the second movement element having: a rail; and a second connecting element having a pivot point such that the user support is able to pivot about a second axis associated with the second connecting element, wherein the second connecting element is movably coupled to the rail such that the second connecting element is able to move along a path defined by the rail.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are described to effectively improve posture. The devices include a bar that is mounted vertically to a floor. The devices may also include resistance bands and/or straps, such that a person may exercise their postural musculature while stabilizing their back. Devices for mounting the bar to the ground and to a wall are discussed. The mounting devices may also include portions for receiving resistance bands. The bars may also be arranged in front a mirror to provide a studio setting for group exercises.

Abstract: A height-adjustable aerobic step is disclosed. The lower half of each supporting leg is disposed with a first positioning portion having two parallel first lateral plates and at least one first seizure portion on at least one first lateral plates, and the upper half of one extending leg is disposed with a second positioning portion which pivotally connects to the first positioning portion for the extending leg to be folded inwardly, or unfolded into a straight line with the supporting leg to elevate the height of rectangular step platform. The second positioning portion has two parallel second lateral plates which are respectively corresponding to and placed adjacent to the two first lateral plates, and sides of at least second lateral plates are disposed with at least one second seizure portion corresponding to the first seizure portion for fixing the position of the extending leg at different angles.

Abstract: Golf performance and equipment characteristics may be determined by analyzing the impact between a golf ball and an impacting surface. In some examples, the impacting surface may be a golf club face. The impact between the golf ball and the surface may be measured based on sound and/or motion sensors (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers, etc.). Based on motion and/or sound data, various equipment-related information including golf ball compression, club head speed and impact location may be derived. Such information and/or other types of data may be conveyed to a user to help improve performance, aid in selecting golf equipment and/or to insure quality of golfing products.

Abstract: A trampoline comprises multiple movement sensors associated with one or more parts of the trampoline which move when the trampoline is bounced on by a user such as the trampoline mat, and an electrical wiring loom which connects to the movement sensors to a controller or a common connector at another end of the wiring loom. Various sensor mount and wiring loom options are described.

Abstract: A method for optimizing the training of athletes, including the steps of during a test, measuring with a portable device (1) a series of acceleration values during a series of N short movements performed by the athlete. Then, calculating with the device a plurality of muscular parameters based on the series of acceleration values. The device then determines a set of training exercises personalized for the athlete, based on the muscular parameters and presents the said set of training exercises to the athlete. The device then verifies the execution of the training exercises.

Abstract: A system may include a receiving module and a conversion module. The receiving module may be for receiving location data associating video data depicting a real-world route with topographical location of the real-world route. The conversion module may be for creating an exercise program. The exercise program could include control signals representing changes to be made to one or more operating parameters of an exercise device as the video data depicting the real-world route is displayed to a user of the exercise device. The control signals may be based at least in part on the location data. The changes to the one or more operating parameters may correspond at least in part to one or more aspects of the real-world route.

Abstract: A polyurethane coating that is based on polyol mixture containing acrylic polyol and BEPD based caprolcatone polyol is disclosed herein. The polyurethane coating comprises a part A component and a part B component, with the part A component comprising an acrylic polyol, a BEPD polyol, a 3-Oxazolidineethanol, a fluorosurfactant, a hindered amine light stabilizer, a UV-absorber, an optical brightener, a dibutyltin dilaurate catalyst, and an organic solvent, and the part B component comprising an aliphatic polyisocyanate and an organic solvent.

Abstract: Golf balls having an inner core made of a foamed composition are provided. The core assembly preferably includes a foam inner core (center) and surrounding outer core layer. A cross-linked thermoplastic, preferably an ethylene acid copolymer ionomer, is used to form the foam composition. The core layers have different hardness gradients and specific gravity values. The ethylene acid copolymer is reacted with a metallic acrylate salt and peroxide free-radical initiator to form the cross-linked polymer. The foamed, cross-linked composition helps provide the inner core with good resiliency, thermal stability, and durability. Non-foamed thermoplastics or thermosets such as polybutadiene rubber may be used to form the outer core layer. The ball further includes a cover that may be multi-layered.

Abstract: A golf ball with a center core comprising polybutadiene and a clay material in an amount ranging from 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent of the center core is disclosed herein. Alternatively, the golf ball has a mantle layer with a blend of ionomer materials and a clay material in an amount ranging from 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent of the mantle layer.

Abstract: Tossing balls having a resilient skeletal body formed from a plurality of interconnected resilient ribs and defining an open internal volume and a plurality of passages between adjacent resilient ribs. The passages extend from an outwardly facing body portion of the body to the internal volume. The tossing balls may include an array of force-absorbing resilient fingers extending from the plurality of interconnected resilient ribs. The resilient fingers extend at least one of away from and toward the open internal volume. The tossing balls may have a nominal configuration in which the array of force-absorbing resilient fingers extends away from the open internal volume and is configured to cushion impact between the tossing ball and an external object. The tossing balls may include an everted configuration in which the resilient fingers that extended away from the open internal volume in the nominal configuration extend into the open internal volume.

Abstract: An aerodynamic golf club head producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces via the curvature of a crown section. At least a portion of the crown section may be composed of low density materials, including nonmetallic materials.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having a heel portion, a toe portion, a sole portion, and an outer surface, a strikeface having a geometric center, a head center of gravity, and a weight member including a weight pad. The weight member is configured to be repositionable by the user to a first position or a second position. The club head having the weight member in the first position shifts the head center of gravity toward the strikeface, and the club head having the weight member in the second position shifts the head center of gravity away from the strikeface.

Abstract: A golf club head having an exterior surface opposite the hollow golf club interior, the body having a center of gravity, wherein the body comprises an elongate weight receptacle, a weight retainer located in the weight receptacle, wherein the weight receptacle comprises a plurality of weight mounts, wherein the weight retainer is configured to slide along the weight receptacle between each of the plurality of weight mounts when the weight retainer is unlocked, and wherein the weight retainer is configured to reside in any of the plurality of weight mounts when the weight retainer is locked, and wherein the weight receptacle comprises a weight receptacle installation feature configured to receive the weight retainer, wherein the weight receptacle installation feature is located between two of the plurality of weight mounts, wherein the two of the plurality of weight mounts are located adjacent one another.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to golf club having a crown a sole and a face and a primary alignment feature including a paint or masking line which delineates the transition between at least a first portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with the shade or color of the face. In some embodiments the golf club has a primary alignment feature comprising a paint or masking line which delineates the transition between at least a first portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color and the area of shade or color of the face and the club head also includes a secondary alignment feature including a paint or masking line which delineates the transition between the first portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with the shade or color of the face; and a second portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with the shade or color of the first portion.

Abstract: A co-forged iron type golf club is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses a co-forged iron type golf club with the body portion made out of a first material and at least one weight adjustment portion monolithically encased within the body portion of the co-forged iron type golf club head without the need for secondary attachment or machining operations. The present invention creates of an iron type golf club head from a pre-form billet that already contains two or more materials before the actual forging process resulting in a multi-material golf club head that doesn't require any post manufacturing operations such as machining, welding, swaging, gluing, and the like.

Abstract: A golf club head including a hosel, a ball striking face, a sole extending aftward from a lower edge of the ball striking face, a crown extending aftward from an upper edge of the ball striking face, a skirt extending between the sole and the crown, a weight mount including a recess disposed on at least one of the sole, the crown, and the skirt, a weight member located in the recess, wherein the weight mount is configured to house the weight member in a plurality of positions within the weight mount, a retainer spanning the recess, wherein the weight mount comprises a bevel configured to receive a portion of the retainer, wherein the retainer comprises an angled abutment surface at a first end of the retainer configured to engage the bevel.

Abstract: A golf grip composed of multiple rubber compounds producing desirable properties within the golf grip.

Abstract: A golf club and/or shaft with improved weighting characteristic is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses to a golf club and/or shaft wherein the improved weighting distribution stems from an increase in the mass of the golf club and/or shaft at a specific distance away from the butt end or proximal end of the golf club to help increase the feel and minimize the dispersion of the golf shot by fine tuning the pull and or draw tendencies of a golf shot.

Abstract: An elongated hand thrown projectile comprises a projectile body having a forward end and a rearward end with a projectile axis extending between the forward end and the rearward end. A finger grip having a longitudinal grip axis is attached to the projectile body. In an exemplary embodiment, a thumb grip comprising a planar portion is attached to the projectile body at a position longitudinally between the projectile forward end and the finger grip. The thumb grip and the finger grip are separated by a distance such that the thumb and finger of a single hand can simultaneously grip the thumb grip and finger grip. The elongated hand thrown projectile assists a pitcher in learning to throw with a linear, single-plane motion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a batting stance training mat for teaching a proper batting stance. The batting stance training mat comprises a center panel, a first lateral panel, a second lateral panel, and an end panel. The center panel includes a home plate indicia that designates home plate. The first lateral panel and the second lateral panel each contain a plurality of indicia that designate foot placement of a user relative to the home plate indicia on the center panel. The end panel includes an indicia that designates foot placement of a second user relative to the home plate indicia. A plurality of fasteners are located on an outer perimeter of the device. In an alternative embodiment, each lateral panel contains three indicia, wherein each indicia on the lateral panels and the indicia on the end panel are pairs of shoe prints.

Abstract: A stickhandling tool has a first hockey stick blade, a second hockey stick blade, and a structural part with a cross member that connects to and laterally separates the first hockey stick blade and the second hockey stick blade to define a ball or puck receiving cavity between the first hockey stick blade and the second hockey stick blade.

Abstract: A bar securing apparatus for securing a weight bar to a weight rack or rack component, comprising: an upper end; a lower end; and, a cut-out located between the upper end and the lower end, sized and shaped for placement of a weight bar with a circular cross-section therein, wherein at least one of the upper end and the lower end is configured with at least one attachment point.

Abstract: A Smart-court system, adaptive to constrained sport environment, for enabling real time analysis and debriefing of sport activities is provided herein. The Smart-court system is comprised of: (i) an automatic recording system comprising a plurality of video cameras located in a court, arranged to real-time (RT) recording of a sport session and utilizing automatic calibration and stabilization module; and (ii) a data processing system comprising: (a) a capture module for grabbing a video stream; (b) an objects' detector module arranged to extract during the RT sport session, the objects from the foreground of each frame; (c) an event module for automatically analyzing, the motion and the activities of the tracked objects for automatically identifying and classifying events, creating a synchronized event log and calculating statistics that occurred during the RT sport session; and (d) a presentation module enabling to perform instant debriefing, combined biomechanical and tactical analysis of the video.

Abstract: A device for marking a starting point on a running track. A plurality of spikes is affixed to a bottom surface of a planar member. A top surface of the planar member can receive print thereon. The plurality of spikes can be inserted into a running track. A plurality of conical covers houses the plurality of spikes when the plurality of spikes is not inserted into a running track. The planar member can be rectangular with a spike disposed in each corner on the bottom surface.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for determining a target musculoskeletal activity cycle (MSKC) to cardiac cycle (CC) timing relationship. The method may include detecting a signal responsive to a cyclically-varying arterial blood flow at a location on a head of a user; providing a recurrent prompt at a frequency of the heart pump cycle using the signal, such that the signal correlates with a magnitude of blood flow adjacent to the location, and the recurrent prompt is provided to guide the user to time performance of a component of a rhythmic musculoskeletal activity with the recurrent prompt; and guiding the user to adjust a timing of the component of the rhythmic musculoskeletal activity to substantially maximize a magnitude of the signal. In some embodiments, the method further includes generating the recurrent prompt by amplifying the sound generated by the blood flow in or in proximity to an ear of the user.

Abstract: An athletic training system (200) has a data recording system (202) and a data engine (204). The data recording system (202) is configured to record an athletic competition event. The event may have a first team of players competing against a second team of players. The data engine (204) is configured to receive data associated with the recorded athletic competition event. The data engine (204) processes the data and displays the data as a replay of the event in animated form.

Abstract: A head and neck restraint device for high performance race car drivers. The device includes a yoke, a collar and a pair of legs. The yoke and/or collar are adapted to pivotably articulate with respect to the legs. At least a portion of each leg can flex in response to force.

Abstract: A front jaw for a touring ski binding, includes a base and at least one recess or transit opening in the base. Lateral sole retainers lie opposite each other in relation to a longitudinal axis of the front jaw each include a boot retainer pin and, in a pivoted-in state, co-operate with bearings formed on a ski boot, defining a pivoting axis for the boot extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the front jaw, and are adjustable between the pivoted-in state, where the bearings of the boot engage the boot retainer pins, and a pivoted-away state where the bearings of the boot are not engaged with the boot retainer pins; spring elements for tensioning the lateral sole retainers; a tensioning lever for moving the sole retainers from the pivoted-in state to the pivoted-away state to release the ski boot from a downhill skiing position or a walking position.

Abstract: A truck includes a base plate, a hanger, a kingpin, and a bushing assembly. The base plate includes a coupling portion and a contact portion. The kingpin is disposed within a portion of the hanger to rotatably couple the hanger to the base plate. The bushing assembly includes at least one bushing disposed in a recess of the contact portion and in contact with the hanger. The bushing assembly including a bushing adjustment coupled to at least one of the base plate or the hanger and configured to selectively engage the at least one bushing to transition the bushing assembly between a first configuration in which the at least one bushing exerts a first force in response to rotation of the hanger and a second configuration in which the at least one bushing exerts a second force different from the first force in response to rotation of the hanger.

Abstract: A board game which comprises of a plurality of playing pieces and a board. The board has a plurality of playing piece receptacles, with each receptacle having a playing piece support and a depression. By pressing part of the playing piece into the depression, easy removal of a playing piece can be achieved. The receptacles are formed when playing pieces are inserted in recesses that border each playing piece support. The recesses are defined at each end by a protrusion. The playing pieces can include an aesthetic dot in order to differentiate between which played used the playing piece.

Abstract: A video game processing apparatus for controlling progress of a video game is provided. An image display device is caused to display operating section images in an operating section image display area on a display screen in an arrangement pattern corresponding to arrangement positions of respective operating sections. The operating section images are operating section images respectively corresponding to the operating sections arranged in the operational input section. Identification display allowing a player to identify the operational function associated with the corresponding operating section is made for each of the group of operating section images. When to receive an operational input in response to an operation of any of the plurality of operating sections by the player, the video game processing apparatus carries out operation correspondence processing that indicates processing to exert an operational function associated with the operating section operated by the player.

Abstract: Acquiring an interactive digital content item including a plurality of content portions includes receiving a first set of the content portions that is less than an entirety of the content portions. A partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item is presented using the first set of content portions. A second set of the content portions is received while the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item is presented. Functionality is added to the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item using the second set of content portions without interrupting presentation of the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item.

Abstract: A controller receives a message from a first user terminal of user terminals belonging to a chat group. In a case where the type of the message is of a normal message, the controller transmits the message to each of the user terminals. In a case where the type of the message is selection of the game icon, the controller generates a game message according to logic corresponding to the game icon and transmits the game message to each of the user terminals.

Abstract: The fantasy sports contest application of the present invention alerts the user of necessary roster changes before an upcoming fantasy sports competition. The fantasy sports contest application may evaluate the user's team roster before an upcoming fantasy sports competition to ensure that all roster spots on the team roster are filled with athletes available for real-life competitions. The fantasy sports contest application may also identify roster changes and roster transactions that may be beneficial to a user's fantasy sports contest team roster. The fantasy sports contest application may recommend roster changes and roster transactions to the user by evaluating the performance of athletes using performance criteria. The performance criteria can be based on the past performance of athletes, either overall, or for certain situations. The performance criteria may be predefined by the system, user-editable, or any suitable combination thereof.

Abstract: A method is performed at a terminal for locking a target in a game application, the method comprising: obtaining input gesture information from a user on an operation interface of a game application; recognizing the gesture information to obtain a switching instruction of the game application corresponding to the gesture information; selecting an object category of virtual characters according to the switching instruction; locking a target virtual character in the object category according to a preset rule and performing an operation on the target virtual character; and after performing the operation, automatically repeating the locking and the performing operations on a next target virtual character in the object category until finishing a last virtual character in the object category.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having a processor to detect a gaming accessory stimulation associated with a programmable layer of a number of programmable layers. The processor identifies a substitute gaming accessory stimulation of the programmable layer of the number of programmable layers of the gaming accessory. The substitute gaming accessory stimulation of the programmable layer is associated with the gaming accessory stimulation of the programmable layer of the number of programmable layers, according to a user profile of a number of user profiles associated with a user account. Other predetermined associations of stimulations of the gaming accessory with other substitute accessory stimulations are recorded in other user profiles of the number of user profiles, and the substitute gaming accessory stimulation is provided to a computing device to manage a gaming software application. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for establishing communication between a portable electronic device and an electronic gaming machine within a gaming environment includes receiving wireless signal data transmitted from the portable electronic device, determining a wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine based on the wireless signal data, and based on a determination that the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine has increased, exceeded a predetermined threshold level, and leveled off for an amount of time exceeding a time threshold after becoming stronger, initiating a wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A device directed to a combination computing and input device. The computing device providing a plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sides are disposed between an electronic display screen and a back of the computing device. The input device communicates with the computing device and provides a pair of control modules adjacent to and confining the computing device on at least two opposing sides of the computing device. The input device further provides a structural bridge securing the pair of control modules one to the other, and a touch sensitive input module. The structural bridge adaptively and snugly accommodate the length of the computing device. A first of the pair of control modules features a retention mechanism communicating with the structural bridge. The retention mechanism adaptively secures the structural bridge such that the pair of control modules snugly accommodate the length of the computing device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed towards software based controllers. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention are configured to provide a software based controller capable of utilization with games provided through a console, handheld device or other computing device.

Abstract: An operating device includes a moving member that reciprocates, a motor that applies a force for moving forward and a force for moving rearward to the moving member, a position sensing unit that detects a position to which the moving member is moved, and a control device that varies a load applied to the motor in accordance with an output signal from the position sensing unit. According to the operating device, a reaction force that acts on a finger or the like can be changed in accordance with the position of the moving member that is operated by using a hand or the finger.

Abstract: A haptic peripheral includes a housing and a haptically-enhanced user input element. The haptically-enhanced user input element is configured to receive an input from a user, and includes a mechanical key having a keycap with a user contact surface configured to contact the user and a smart material actuator integrated onto the user contact surface of the keycap. The smart material actuator is configured to receive a control signal from a processor and is configured to deform at least a portion of the user contact surface relative to the keycap of the mechanical key in response to the control signal from the processor to thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the haptic peripheral. The haptic peripheral may also include a braking actuator coupled to the mechanical key to hold the mechanical key in a depressed position to indicate an inactive status to a user. In addition, the haptic peripheral and the haptically-enhanced user input element may be modular.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for wireless gaming with location determination are provided. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a gaming server; a wireless network at least partially covering a property, the wireless network comprising a plurality of signal detection devices; and a gaming communication device operable to transmit and receive gaming information to and from the gaming server via the wireless network. A location of the gaming communication device on the property may be determined based upon a signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the gaming communication device. Based upon the location of the gaming communication device on the property, a predetermined functionality of the gaming communication device may be enabled.

Abstract: Provided are a program, a control method, and an information processing apparatus which may provide an improved user interface on which a user may easily and efficiently execute various processes on a game content. The information processing apparatus may be caused to execute a game content specifying step of specifying a selected game content on the basis of first input operation data from an operation unit, a step of retrieving information from a storage unit, a step of specifying a direction from a start point to an end point of a second input operation on the basis of second input operation data from an operation unit, and an execution step of executing one process associated with the direction from the start point to the end point of the second input operation in the information from the storage unit on the selected game content.

Abstract: The present invention provides a program for a game that is executed at an electronic device that includes a display and a contact-type position input device, the program causing the electronic device to execute setting an operation reference position in a coordinate plane; determining whether a touch is being made on the contact-type position input device; setting an operation position in the coordinate plane in accordance with a touched position that is acquired; moving an object that is displayed on the display in the game, on the basis of the operation reference position and the operation position; saving the operation position as a displacement reference position; detecting a touched-position movement from the displacement reference position, the touched-position movement satisfying a predetermined condition; and resetting the operation reference position in the coordinate plane in a case where a touched-position movement satisfying the predetermined condition is detected.

Abstract: A controller for an electronic system includes a controller body having a handle portion, a tracking arc that is fixed to the controller body, and a hand retainer configured to physically bias a user's palm against an outside surface of the handle portion. A plurality of tracking sensors is disposed in the tracking arc, and are responsive to electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electronic system. An array of proximity sensors are spatially distributed around the outer surface of the handle portion, and are responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outside surface of the handle portion.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a game system equipped with a game space generating unit generating a virtual game space where the character acts, displays on a display unit connected to a game system together with the character acting in the game space, a character control unit which controls the character's action in the game space, a storing unit which stores a plurality of action pattern routines providing a predetermined action pattern of the character; and an action pattern set generating unit which generates an action pattern set of the character by reading a plurality of action pattern routines from the storing unit and selects more than two action pattern routine from the plurality of action pattern routines determining the order to perform and determining an action modification condition to modify the action pattern routine to be exercised from the selected action pattern routine from more than two action pattern routines.

Abstract: A server device that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a memory and a processor. The processor can identify first and second players present at first and second physical locations, to identify first and second boundary and topographical information of the first and second physical locations, to map the first and second boundary and topographical information of the first and second physical locations to a virtual gaming space, to capture first and second position and orientation information for the first and second players, to map the first and second position and orientation information to the virtual gaming space, to generate first and second virtual players corresponding to the first and second players, and to transmit to first goggles information representative of the second virtual player for display superimposed onto a transparent viewing apparatus for viewing of the virtual gaming space. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Various aspects of a system and a method for providing one or more game extensions in a gaming environment are disclosed herein. The one or more game extensions that correspond to a selected game are dynamically determined. The game is selected based on a user input at a computing device. The one or more game extensions are transmitted to the computing device. Each of the one or more game extensions are associated with one or more pre-defined configurable actions that are triggered based on user interaction with a respective game extension.

Abstract: A unified platform supports a plurality of game titles and diverse gaming devices to provide publishers and developers with a software development kit (SDK) including application programming interfaces (APIs) for creating multiplayer tournaments. Developers use the SDK to create tournament definitions and permission levels for tournament organizers. Tournament definitions specify configuration values as parameters the unified platform uses to create instances of multiplayer tournaments. Permission levels can define which tournament organizers are able to set up and manage tournaments and can define parameters to which they must adhere. The unified platform can store tournament definitions that are created by game publishers, game developers, or tournament organizers and can use the stored definitions to create tournament instances.