Did You Know...
...that in 1800 ether was first used by partyers as a fun diversion? Sniffing the gas led to hilarious and raucous laughter as people watched each other become more and more intoxicated and silly. Several doctors independently realized the value ether would have to anesthetize surgery patients. Of those who claimed rights to the "discovery," none had a happy ending. One had a seizure and died defending his rights. Another spent his life in an asylum because he had been denied acclaim. A third became addicted to chloroform and, in a New York City jail, he soaked a cloth in the drug, severed an artery and bled to death.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8152658 | Method and apparatus for analyzing a pitched ball Analysis of pitches to determine both their velocity and the location at which they arrive at the batter. The speed of the pitch is adjusted according to an adjustment value whose magnitude is a function of the location of the pitch relative to the batter. For examp... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8096900 | Mat for sport and games Mat for sport and games for detecting impact position of a movable object. The mat includes an outer layer and an inner layer, each with inlays of electrically conductive elements forming a pressure-sensitive switch distributed over the target area. The pressure sen... | 01/17/2012 |
| 7980967 | Programmable ball throwing apparatus The present invention includes programs, devices and methods for a programmable ball throwing machine that is able to eject balls to preset, programmed or manually-selected positions with programmable projection and travel characteristics. The present invention incl... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7775911 | Apparatus and method for training players in sports A ball-like target, which may be an actual ball used in playing a sport to be taught, for example in teaching batting to trainees, is attached to a rod, so that the trainer can precisely control the target's speed and attitude of the target during the entire course ... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7771293 | Basketball shooting training aid and method for its use The present invention provides a shooting aid for basketball players including a device worn by a basketball player to aid the player's shooting forearm to be kept parallel to the centerline of the body during the shooting motion without any apparatus restraints. Th... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7766770 | Programmable ball throwing apparatus The present invention includes devices, kits and methods for an automated ball feeding device for a ball throwing machine. The present invention provides an automatic ball feeding and throwing apparatus having a ball holding container with one or more sides and a bo... | 08/03/2010 |
| 7753811 | Grip training device A grip training device is used to teach a person the proper grip of a ball in usage. More specifically, the grip training device may take the form of a baseball having finger position indicia on it. The finger position indicia may be constituted in several different... | 07/13/2010 |
| 7727088 | Sliding impulse device A structure motivated by an impulse to slide over a surface, including: an impulse-receiving portion for receiving the impulse, the impulse-receiving portion defining a section of a generally semi-hemispherical structure and produced from a foam material patterned t... | 06/01/2010 |
| 7722485 | Tennis serve ball machine cum training device This invention, called Serve Assist, is an electro-mechanical ball machine for practicing the tennis serve. It helps a tennis student to practice serves by consistently dropping the ball in the desired location. It operates in one of two modes, an Auto-feed mode in ... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7691012 | Programmable ball throwing apparatus The present invention includes programs, devices and methods for a programmable ball throwing machine that is able to eject balls to preset, programmed or manually-selected positions with programmable projection and travel characteristics. The present invention incl... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7662052 | Batting training device A batting trainer has a stand with an upright post. A guide bar having forward and rearward ends is mounted to an upper end of the post between its forward and rearward ends. The guide bar being inclined relative to the post. A generally C-shaped ball support is mou... | 02/16/2010 |
| 7648430 | Sports vision training device A sports vision training device is formed from a piece of material having a thickness sufficient to interfere with an individual's ability to look down at a sporting object. The piece of material has an adhesive coating or layer for positioning the material on an in... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7618334 | Collapsible ball game practice device A collapsible ball game practice device is comprised of a plurality of sections, each section above a lower section being substantially collapsible into the lower section. Detent structure is provided on an upper portion of each lower section and a lower portion of ... | 11/17/2009 |
| 7575526 | Method and apparatus for analyzing a pitched ball Analysis of pitches to determine both their velocity and the location at which they arrive at the batter. The speed of the pitch is adjusted according to an adjustment value whose magnitude is a function of the location of the pitch relative to the batter. For examp... | 08/18/2009 |
| 7527567 | Device for attaching a soccer ball to a soccer kicking training apparatus A soccer kicking practice apparatus is provided with a domed bolt shaft receiver for mounting a soccer ball having a protruding threaded bolt to a soccer ball holder. In the alternative the soccer kicking practice may employ a soccer ball having a nut to receive a t... | 05/05/2009 |
| 7517290 | Practice device for softball pitchers A practice device for softball pitchers. The device is designed to help a pitcher develop better throwing mechanics by teaching proper spin, release, and follow through for various breaking pitches. Using the device consistently helps a pitcher improve technique, wh... | 04/14/2009 |
| 7497792 | Lacrosse training device A training device for use by a lacrosse player to practice checking an offensive player includes a main post extending upwardly from a base. An arm is operatively coupled to the main post and rotatable about a fixed point intermediate its proximal and distal ends. T... | 03/03/2009 |
| 7491139 | Collapsible ball game practice device A collapsible ball game practice device is comprised of a plurality of sections, each section above a lower section being substantially collapsible into the lower section. Detent structure is provided on an upper portion of each lower section and a lower portion of ... | 02/17/2009 |
| 7438653 | Athletic swing training device A device and method are provided for training a person to swing a bat or club while rotating the person's hips. The device includes a belt for attaching around a person's hips, a restraint device attached to the back side of the belt, and an anchor system slidably a... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7435194 | Method for practicing pitching and apparatus therefor A system for practicing pitching includes a batter mannequin which is selectively movable to a right handed batting position or to a left handed batting position. The batter also can be selectively moved toward and away from home plate, and has a head which automati... | 10/14/2008 |
| 7407451 | Lacrosse training device The invention relates to training devices for sports playing sticks with head frames. More particularly, the invention relates to weighted training devices that may be attached to a playing stick such as a lacrosse stick. The invention includes devices and methods f... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7407452 | Soccer targeting aid A targeting aid for use with goals characterized by opposing uprights and a crossbar has a first connector connected to the crossbar. A support extends rearwardly and downwardly relative to the first connector and connects to a second connector behind the goal plane... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7399241 | Pitch training system A pitch training system for indicating whether a thrown baseball has passed through a strike zone includes a zone assembly for detecting a baseball passing through the zone assembly. The zone assembly indicates when the baseball passes through a strike zone as deter... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7393290 | Sport ball storage and retrieval apparatus A combination of a ball storage rack and a ball feeder track provide an apparatus for basketball storage and consistent position retrieval of sport balls, such as basketballs and volleyballs, by a player. The apparatus comprises a frame configured with an upper port... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7374502 | Pitching training method and device A device for learning pitching technique for ball games and improving muscle strength through resistance training. The device, which consists of an elongated U shaped coiled tubular spring with a curved end and pair of straight parallel shaft portions with solid tip... | 05/20/2008 |
| 7367906 | Baseball practicing apparatus A baseball practicing apparatus includes two opposite upright frames, two opposite longitudinal rods mounted between the upright frames and provided with a plurality of first emitters and a plurality of first receivers respectively, and two opposite transverse rods ... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7364517 | Soccer practice apparatus A soccer practice apparatus to assist a user in practicing the ability to power kick, ball control, mid-volley and/or head a soccer ball. The apparatus can be formed from an arm assembly comprised of a primary arm member angled with a smooth bend to a substantially ... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7354360 | Method and apparatus for teaching a user how to hit a ball with a bat Disclosed is an apparatus for teaching a user how to hit a ball with a bat. The apparatus includes a telescopically adjustable tee assembly that is magnetically secured to an underlying base. A user can easily make adjustments to both the vertical height of the tee ... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7344457 | Retention of weighting on athletic striker Apparatus to add weight to an athletic ball striking bat, having a taper along the bat length, comprising in combination a sleeve sized to extend about the bat at the taper location, the sleeve having associated retention means to engage the bat at a zone along said... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7341529 | Football training device A device which is utilized during practice or other informal situation to teach a football player such as a quarterback or kicker to deliver a football around or over one or preferably a group of linemen. In one embodiment, the device includes a mechanism capable of... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7331885 | Bunting bat Bats that aid in bunting are disclosed herein. The bats generally include a rounded elongate shaft having a handle end and a contact end, and the handle end may have a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the contact end. In an embodiment, at least one indica... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7329210 | Vertical training apparatus A vertical training apparatus for allowing a user to practice striking and combinations of strikes against an opponent. The vertical training apparatus includes a stanchion member being designed for being coupled to a support surface whereby the stanchion member ext... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7303494 | Ball hitting training device A ball hitting training device is disclosed for allowing a user to practice swinging a bat at a ball. The ball hitting training device includes a base assembly for resting on a support surface. A ball support assembly supports a ball to be struck by a bat swung by t... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7300365 | Assembly for training hand/eye coordination An assembly for training the hand/eye coordination of an individual. The assembly comprises an unobstructed region where an individual maneuvers a training member through the unobstructed region. ... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7297077 | Bat exercise, practice, and training device An exercise, practice, and training device has a transition piece adjustably connected to a distal end of a handle. An action receiving element is bendably connected to a distal portion of the transition piece and extends distally therefrom. The action receiving ele... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7297078 | Ball sports training aid A ball sports training aid includes a shaft and a slidably engaged replica sports ball assembly with an integral damper that is actuated when a player swings the shaft. Integral swing diagnostics means indicate correct batting, pitching and throwing techniques. ... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7285061 | Sports skills training method and apparatus A method and apparatus for training sports skills for games including ice hockey, soccer, tennis and volleyball using one or more opponents or simulated opponents on the playing surface to train a player to strike the game object away from an opponent in addition to... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7281998 | Height adjustment mechanism for batting tee An improved height adjustment mechanism for a batting tee uses an adjustment screw that attaches a compressible washer assembly to the bottom of an inner telescoping member to spread a compressible washer, thereby increasing the diameter of the compressible washer a... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7278934 | Baseball catching and throwing system A baseball training device includes a target net from which balls will be fed to a unit that will throw the balls back to a player. The unit can be set to throw the balls in the air or on the ground so a variety of situations can be practiced. ... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7273428 | Baseball retrieval apparatus An apparatus for supporting a tethered baseball in position for batting practice and automatically retrieving the ball after it has been hit with a bat, which includes an adjustable height stand, a fishing reel and a variable speed motor connected thereto. Tethered ... | 09/25/2007 |
