Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7429225 | Tennis net lifter system and associated method A tennis net lifter system includes first and second portable lifter posts positioned adjacent to existing tennis net anchor posts in various positions. A mechanism is included for connecting the lifter posts to the anchor posts. A mechanism is included for telescop... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7429223 | Gate for a paddle and ball game The invention relates to a gate apparatus for a paddle and ball game, to a game including the same and to methods for playing the game. The gate apparatus comprises a frame for delimiting a closed region above the ground for a ball to be transferred therethrough and... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7311619 | Racquet and ball sport court and target system A system for training to play better at tennis includes indicia for indicating desired target areas of a tennis court and rules for determining points to be given for striking a desired target area. Preferably, points are given only on the last shot of a play. ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7195572 | Tennis court protection system A first surface is susceptible to inclement weather. The first surface has a pair of poles. A net is coupled between the poles. A cover has a lower face and a pair of sides. The cover has a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the cover. A drive assembly has a m... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7192030 | Ballgame A game of throw and catch where the object is for one team to get another team to drop or not catch a ball a predetermined number of times. A playing field has a first scoring area and a second scoring area distal from the first scoring area and an out-of-bounds are... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7186193 | Exercise training apparatus for tennis players A tennis ball holding apparatus includes a central tubular shaft that has a bore formed therein and has apertures formed along a length thereof. A base has legs radially extending outward from a central shaft bottom end and is monolithically formed with the central ... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7140986 | Tennis racquet equipped with a tennis ball retriever A highly specific type of hooked materials, when applied to the shoulder of a tennis racquet, have been found to tangentially hook onto the nap of a tennis ball and allow the ball to be lifted from the court. Hooked materials characterized as comprising a series of ... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7118489 | Golf swing training device Apparatus 10 for a golf swing training device comprising a golf club 20 with a shaft 24 with a grip 22 at one end and a club head 26 at the other end of the shaft with a cup 12 attached to the face 14 of the club head... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7063324 | Ball pitching game method The present invention discloses a bowling/pitching game that can be played virtually anywhere a substantially flat surface can be found and is enjoyable for adults as well as children. The playing field includes a distance marker and a scoring goal comprised of an o... | 06/20/2006 |
| 6878079 | Racquet game with foam ball and net stand apparatus A ball game assembly is disclosed for a ball game to be played with a tennis-type racquet, a net and a foam ball, whose speed and/or action is reduced to increase play activity. The tennis racquet is smaller than a conventional adult tennis racquet, e.g., a junior t... | 04/12/2005 |
| 6669583 | Paddle ball game A game is played by providing at least two hitting devices, a resilient projectile and at least two eight foot squares spaced twelve feet apart on a sand or grass surface. Two or four players hit the resilient projectile back and forth between opposed or ... | 12/30/2003 |
| 6077176 | Tennis court trainer An improved surface for a tennis court, the playing surface will have designated on it one or more locations to enable greater placement and accuracy in tennis shots. These physical locations are rectangular in nature and correspond in size to sectors or ... | 06/20/2000 |
| 6056653 | Tennis exercise device An exercise device for learning to guide a tennis racquet which includes an upwardly open ball track that is curved approximately like a horseshoe from a top view, and a support device by which the ball track is supported inclined on the ground in such a ... | 05/02/2000 |
| 5800278 | Apparatus for signaling proper alignment of user's eye and object to be struck A golf, tennis or baseball training apparatus to align the eyes, striking implement and stationary or moving ball to be struck, upon impact. A cap for the user has radiation emitting means mounted to project radiation along the vision path. A radiation de... | 09/01/1998 |
| 5722907 | Bat and ball game The invention is a novel athletic filed and outdoor game played thereon. The game uses bats, mitts, and a ball on a rectangular playing field where each team attempts to score points by hitting the ball into the other team's end zone. Specifically, the de... | 03/03/1998 |
| 5630589 | Apparatus and method of playing a paddle ball game Two posts have a thin, flexible barrier attached there-between. The barrier spans a hard playing surface which may be a driveway. Each post is supported from the ground in a substantially vertical position. The barrier includes a cord laced through gromme... | 05/20/1997 |
| 5615890 | No bounce no dunk recreation ball game A competitive recreational game including: a foam game ball with symmetrical air holes therethrough; at least one paddle, racquet or mitt per player; a vertical net attached to a frame with support posts; a ball return to player net for each opposing play... | 04/01/1997 |
| 5611539 | Pole sport court A game system includes two uprights formed of three telescoping sections. The lower section extends into a base which is positioned into the supporting surface or related ground. A plurality of securing structures are positioned along the length of each u... | 03/18/1997 |
| 5592245 | Apparatus for enhancing visual perception of selected objects in recreational and sporting activities To enhance perception of a yellow tennis ball while playing or watching a tennis game, the game is viewed through an optical filter mounted between the participant or spectator and the ball. The optical filter has predetermined transmittance having a pron... | 01/07/1997 |
| 5584479 | Basketball net device A basketball net device for mounting on a raised basketball hoop including a generally tubular netting having upper net cords. A flexible annular member made of plastics material includes a hoop engaging portion which is generally channel-shaped in cross-... | 12/17/1996 |
| 5584487 | No bounce no dunk air ball recreation game A competitive recreational game including: a foam game ball with symmetrical air holes throughout; a ball striking instrument selected from a choice of a racquet, a paddle or a pair of hand fitted foam mitts; an apparatus frame consisting of bases for a f... | 12/17/1996 |
| 5386992 | Police baton with ball bearing striking surface The invention relates to a police baton, or night stick containing multiple roller bearings imbedded in the shaft of the baton, such that they partially protrude from the surface of the shaft.... | 02/07/1995 |
| 5385350 | Net arrangement for a court for games A net arrangement for a court for playing a game resembling tennis or badminton comprising a pair of spaced apart parallel nets which are located transversely across the court thereby constituting two playing areas separated by a no-man's land, to make it... | 01/31/1995 |
| 5348293 | Tethered tennis game A game for use indoors or out having a pair of vertical posts supporting a net and a horizontal tube extending between the posts a short distance above the net. A sliding assembly is constrained to travel along the tube between two adjustable stops, the a... | 09/20/1994 |
| 5158282 | Line markers for tennis courts and the like Disclosed is a line marker for tennis courts and the like and particularly for clay courts. The line marker consists of a generally T-shaped strip of material of predetermined color and length. The T-shaped material has a vertical portion and a horizontal... | 10/27/1992 |
| 5056786 | Tennis ball retriever A ball retrieval concept or idea using hook and mesh components in engaging relationship to one another. Application of the two components in any fashion to retrieve a tennis ball. One being a racket with a section of hook material attached at the butt of... | 10/15/1991 |
| 5018746 | Field game apparatus and method The disclosed field game employs a soft, non-resilient ball not retaining a definite shape which is caught, manipulated and flung back and forth over a self-supporting scoring obstacle by players each using a racquet consisting of a flexible staff with a ... | 05/28/1991 |
| 4979754 | Portable beach game A game that is suitable for use on a beach or on similar loose granular soil wherein a ball is hit back and forth over a net. The net is suspended between two hollow supports over a foldable ground sheet that delineates part of the playing region. The she... | 12/25/1990 |
| 4962935 | Apparatus for playing a racquet and ball game in a confined space An apparatus for playing a racquet and ball game in a confined space comprises an enclosed playing arena having a generally rectangular playing area; upright walls surrounding said playing area; a roof extending over said playing arena and extending betwe... | 10/16/1990 |
| 4951946 | Portable folding game ramp A play enhancing game ramp for use in a game wherein opposing players exchange an elastic projectile between each player over a barrier on a playing surface. the preferred ramp for tennis use is employed in sets of three adjacent ramps which each includes... | 08/28/1990 |
| 4854589 | Game There is disclosed apparatus and methods for playing a game between two opposing sides. One version of the game is played on a board by two or more players. The board has a top surface with markings dividing the top surface into two areas of play and a ne... | 08/08/1989 |
| 4844478 | Racket game for beach and kit therefor A kit for racket game includes a plurality of rubber balloons which can be inflated with water, a net and posts and a plurality of special rackets and a carrier, as well as at least one ball. The rackets have a rigid frame for holding on opposite sides wi... | 07/04/1989 |
| 4834393 | Ball grabber The Ball Grabber is a concept or idea using the two components of the Velcro or any brand hook and loop fastening system. Using these two components in any form or manner to retrieve a tennis ball. One being a tennis ball constructed on the exterior surfa... | 05/30/1989 |
| 4824108 | Rebounding ball game A rebounding ball game comprising a circular planar horizontal court and a deflecting element having a spherical concave rebound surface mounted generally orthogonal to the court, such that a substantial portion of the rebound surface extends above the co... | 04/25/1989 |
| 4247099 | Tennis net center stay and measuring device A tennis net center strap is positioned over the center of a tennis net for anchoring to a mount in the playing surface of the tennis court. The strap is adjustable so that the height of the net may be set at 36 inches regardless of whether the mount for ... | 01/27/1981 |
| 4092024 | Support post for game net An elongate support post is held in an upright position by the lower end thereof which is detachably received in a socket extending subterraneously from the surface of a game court. The support member has a channel at the top thereof which receives the up... | 05/30/1978 |
| 4088317 | Portable tennis court A portable tennis court includes a net assembly consisting of two housings, wherein the net is contained on a reel assembly within one of the housing. The free end of the net assembly is affixed to a mounting rod contained in the other housing whereby the... | 05/09/1978 |
| 4078795 | Tension cable enclosure An enclosure with barriers hung from tension cables that are suspended from corner supports, each of which includes a pair of compression members and a tensile member. The compression members of each pair are disposed obliquely with respect to their assoc... | 03/14/1978 |
| 4047717 | Volley tennis game Each of a pair of portable basket members is held by a corresponding player of a corresponding one of two teams. A plurality of ball striking members are held by the remaining players of the teams. Each ball striking member comprises a frame having a net ... | 09/13/1977 |
