Abstract: A ball rebounding device for practicing kicking of a soccer ball. The inventive device includes a rebound panel for receiving an impact from a ball and directing the ball therefrom relative to an angle of incidence of the ball against the rebound panel. An anchor assembly is mounted behind the rebound panel for precluding motion of the rebound panel relative to a ground surface. Lateral guide panels can be coupled to opposed sides of the rebound panel to guide the ball in a desired direction.

Abstract: A portable game apparatus for playing curb ball or other ball game either indoors or outdoors, having a plurality of steps (1, 2 and 3) with means for supporting the steps in a flight such that the front face and top edge of each step provides a striking surface for a ball thrown at the apparatus. A net (4) is suspended between poles (5a and 5b) attached to the top edge (16) of the top step (3) and is preferably angled forwardly at approximately 45.degree.. The net (4) serves as a back stop to keep the ball (9) from going over the top step (3) and also to ricochet the ball (3) toward the striking surfaces underlying steps. The means for supporting the steps (1, 2 and 3) in a flight is provided by supports (7a and 7b) attached to the first and top steps (3) with dowels (8a and 8b) connected vertically between the supports (7a and 7b).

Abstract: A basketball practice system comprising a backboard made of a rigid or semi-rigid material and having a generally a planar configuration is disclosed. A frame structure is secured to the backboard and helps to support a guiding net configured and dimensioned to guide a basketball into a narrow port defined by the guiding net. Cross braces are secured between the frame structure and the backboard in order to give rigidity to the frame. Side deflection structure deflects balls which are moving to the left or right, away from the system and guiding them into the guiding net. This deflecting structure may comprise nets. A basketball net is positioned above the narrow port and a bendable tubular guiding member, which comprises a bendable tubular member has a spiral backbone and a skin secured to the spiral backbone, is coupled to the narrow port and configured to receive a ball and guide it toward a player using the inventive basketball practice system is disclosed.

Abstract: A practice device for the game of Hockey consisting of a body having at least two support members. The body is secured to an ice surface, such that the two support members are immediately adjacent the ice surface. A resilient rebound member extends between the two support members, such that the rebound member springs back with a resilient force when struck by a hockey puck thereby increasing the resulting rebound of the hockey puck.

Abstract: Apparatus for a ball game which includes a plurality of rigid sections which interengage with one another to form a member of rectangular outline which has an arcuate ball returning surface, a plurality of rods each of which is engaged with, and projects outwardly from, a respective section, and sheet material which is engaged under tension with outer ends of the respective rods to assist in maintaining the sections interengaged.

Abstract: A portable soccer goal with rebounding net to return a ball struck into the net. The frame of the goal is formed by a pair of vertical posts and a long horizontal tube and is secured to the ground by a pair of base supports. Pivotable struts further support the vertical posts. The net has a sleeve that positively joins the net to the frame over the entire horizontal length of the frame, and there is a resilient mainstay cord threaded into the net near the periphery. The net and mainstay cord are secured by hooks at the base supports, and the net is oriented to the outside of the struts. When the struts are spread outwards, the tension in the net is increased so as to be sufficient to rebound a ball struck into the net.

Abstract: A basketball game includes a housing having a basketball net member mounted to a second end wall extension, wherein a first conduit projects a ball relative to the extension for projection through an associated basketball hoop and to be received in one of a plurality of openings through a receptacle plate below the basketball hoop, with the openings arranged for providing varying points relative to one another and subsequent directing a game ball from the receptacle plate through an exit port.

Abstract: Soccer-Am, a version of the game of soccer, provides an additional small soccer goal, installed on top of each of the two soccer goals thus creating an opening space, free of a goal keeper.This opening space is an open window: an open invitation toward al players in the field of play, to shoot the ball more frequently at the goal for the purpose of higher scoring, and to offer a greater soccer spectacle to the American public. The difference between Soccer-Am and soccer is not only found in terms of "The Method of Scoring and the Goal"--but exists in the extended degree of excitement and motivation in the field of play: thus the emphasis is placed on the achievement of entertainment and completition through sport.

Abstract: A self-standing game assembly for indoor and outdoor use and having a standard including a bounce-back base supporting a height adjustable post. A post-mounted backboard projects upwardly from the post and a stress-responsive safety hoop or ring, pivotally secured at a base of the backboard, carries a hanging, tubular basket. The backboard is imprinted with indicia designating reference impact areas for use during the playing of various games involving a thrown ball directed toward the backboard. The base of the assembly is generally wedge-shaped, and is contoured to present to a ball dropped through the basket a pitched or angled impact face which serves to direct a ball which has fallen through the hoop, and which has then impinged on the pedestal to return toward a player positioned in front of and facing the backboard.

Abstract: A basketball shot return device is provided and consists of a base member placed on a basketball court directly under a rim and net of a basketball backstop. An upstanding support member is connected onto the base member, while an upstanding chute return member is connected onto the support member. A catcher member is connected onto the chute return member and is sized to fit against the bottom of the backboard of the backstop. When a player shoots at the rim the basketball will drop into the catcher member, travel down into the chute return member and exit therefrom to be returned to the player.

Abstract: The shield device shown herein is one to aid in soccer practice. An individual player can practice kicking a soccer ball into the apparatus and have it bounced back in his general area. The lower area of the shield comprises a back panel and two side panels connected at an angle to the back panel. Each panel is made of a sufficiently rigid material, such as a thick plywood, to absorb the impact of the kicked soccer ball. Above the panels there is a netting, such as nylon netting to guard against and intercept errant flights of the ball.

Abstract: A portable golf practice swing assembly having a vertically oriented four sided frame assembly having a net stretched between its sides and secured thereto. The bottom of the assembly has laterally spaced attachment legs that are secured to the forward end of laterally spaces side frame members. The other ends of the frame members are secured to a golf ball support structure positioned a predetermined distance in front of the assembly. It has a tee upon which is mounted a golf ball. Secured to the front end of the ball is a first restraint line whose forward end is connected at a Y connection point to a pair of safety lines whose front ends are secured to the respective laterally spaced side frame members of the assembly.

Abstract: An armor plate assembly comprising a plurality of U-shaped or J-shaped redirecting members for intercepting and guidingly redirecting incoming small arms fire. The preferred embodiment comprises a closely packed, rigidly held array of tubular members, each tubular member having an intercepting opening and an exit opening directed away from the object to be protected. Three- or four-sided tensoidal deflectors are disposed adjacent the intercepting openings to protectively cover the interstitial gaps left between the closely spaced tubes and to further guide incoming fire into the redirecting members.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to training devices for playing various ball games and, more particularly, to a new target for making training easier for players in sports such as soccer and the like, in which a ball is kicked or otherwise shot toward a net.This application is a continuation-in-part of allowed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/276,364, filed Nov. 23, 1988, now abandoned claiming priority of French application No. 87-16540 of Nov. 24, 1987.

Abstract: A ball return/target for racquet sports includes a resilient pad and at least one disk suspended from the pad by a filament. The pad is flexible polyurethane open cell foam of a thickness to cause a projectile hitting it to be deflected back at the source. The disk is a double thickness of fabric or like material with two faces, each face visually distinguishable from the other. When a projectile hits the suspended disk on one face, the disk rotates 180.degree. exposing the other face to give evidence that the target had been hit.

Abstract: A bullet directing machine used to redirect a bullet from its aimed path includes a back plate having a first section extending upwardly and rearwardly from the bottom to the top of the back plate, and a second section at the top of the first section turning through an angle forming a curve, concavely facing the front of the machine. A top section extends horizontally from the second section in a forward direction. A plurality of ribs extend normal to the first and second sections. A bullet impacting the bullet directing machine will travel upwardly and rearwardly along the first section of the backplate between two adjacent ribs to the second section whereat it is redirected through a curve to the top section.

Abstract: A soccer training device for guiding a soccer ball back to the approximate location from where it was kicked or thrown. The device comprises a frame, including an eave, and a net connected to the frame. The frame and net define a partially enclosed pocket wherein the ball is ultimately deflected by the eave and thereafter slowly guided back to the approximate location from where it was kicked or thrown. A brace supports the frame at an adjustable incline in order to roll the ball back to the practicing player and permit variable control of the return velocity of the ball.

Abstract: A target assembly that includes a housing in which are mounted a plurality of interceptors made of flexible, energy absorbing material that hang down behind a target face mounted thereon. Preferably, three such interceptors hang from a downwardly, rearwardly sloping rear wall of the housing. A continuous roll of adjacent target faces is mounted in the lower portion of the housing, each successive target face being hooked to the top of the housing for use. The target faces are made of a polymeric material having a color contrasting to the color of the interceptors.

Abstract: A rebound apparatus for practicing striking a ball with a racket. The apparatus has an elongated rectangular frame which is mounted on a base for pivotal adjustment about a horizontal axis. Mounted on the frame is a flexible material which is relatively loose along the width of the frame and relatively taut along the length of the frame. The upper end of the frame is curved out of the plane of the main portion of the frame, and this upper end supports a ball rebound surface. The flexible material may be secured at its upper end to the rebound surface. The length of the frame is adjustable. In use, a ball when hit by a racket will strike the flexible material, rebound upwardly against the ball rebound surface, and then rebound again in a direction back toward the player who hit the ball.

Abstract: A soccer training goal comprising, a goal frame with a net connected thereto which defines a goal space with a goal opening. An inclined plate is connected to the goal frame at the bottom of the goal space and is inclined downwardly toward the goal opening, whereby a soccer ball kicked into the goal space will initially be retained within the goal space by hitting the net, whereby the net absorbs the impact of the ball and then rolls out of the goal back to the practicing kicker. An adjustment device may be connected between the inclined plate and the goal frame to allow for the variation of the incline on the inclined plate to vary the speed at which the soccer ball leaves the goal space. The inclined plate may further be positioned vertically and provided with markings such as for example, numbers 1 to 10 to act as a soccer ball target to be utilized in accuracy shooting practice.