This disclosure describes a launcher and a projectile for fetch games with pets. The launcher, in certain implementations, may be used to pick up and launch the projectile that has a core to engage with a head of the launcher. Same size cores may be used in projectiles of different sizes, appearances, shapes, and materials (for different pets) such that a common launcher can be used.

The present invention presents an interactive communication training device that can be thrown and caught. The communication training device includes an information display viewable from outside the device, a microphone, a wireless transceiver and a microcontroller. A battery is contained inside the device to power electronic components. The microcontroller performs speech recognition to detect equivalence between speech information present in the microphone signal, and the information shown on the information display. Certain implementations may provide results of analytical speech processing applied to events of detected equivalence between speech information and the information shown on the information display.

A synthetic fiber ball and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The fiber ball includes a plurality of fibers having a predetermined length bound together with a fastening fiber at a central core. The fibers extend outwardly from the fastening fiber at the central core to form a generally spherical shaped ball. The fibers are heat shrunk in a spinning oven from a generally cylindrical shaped fiber bundle having a predetermined diameter to form the fiber ball. An illumination element is thereafter inserted into the fiber ball, for lighting the fiber ball when desired or upon impact.

An arrow golf system has a bow having a bowstring, an arrow having a shaft with a ball on one end with a fletching and a string nock on an opposite end, a starting location, a finishing location, and a capturing apparatus at the finishing location. A player shoots the arrow from the starting location with the bow, to a second location closer to the finishing location, retrieves the arrow at the second location, and shoots the arrow toward the capturing apparatus from the second location.

A launching and/or catching toy kit has a football and at least one associated slingshot. The football includes a generally elongated spheroidal body, a support non-movably attached to the body, a tail, and a first and a second elastic band hook oppositely disposed. The slingshot is configured to launch the football from a first user to a second user. The slingshot includes a handle and a pair of prongs connected and/or extending from the handle top. At least one elastic band is connected to each prong. Each of the at least one elastic bands are releasably captured by their respective first or second elastic band hook on the football during launching by the first user. When two slingshots are available, the users can shoot and catch the football between each other allowing for a game of catch.

A puck embedding at least one transmitter circuit, and a method for producing a puck embedding at least one transmitter circuit. To protect the electronics from displacement or damage, the puck employs a layered structure. The puck has a centrally located cavity, containing a carrier structure having a rigid shell, at least one transmitter circuit supported by the carrier structure, and a battery provided within the carrier structure. The battery is embedded in a first elastic material provided within the carrier structure. The carrier structure is embedded in a second elastic material provided within the centrally located cavity.

A non-spherical ball includes a plurality of shaped components secured together and forming a body of the non-spherical ball; a cylindrical exterior shape extending around a first axis of the body; a cube exterior shape extending around a second axis of the body; the cylindrical exterior shape and the cube shape intersect at a right angle; and the cube exterior shape minimizes roll of the non-spherical ball when thrown on the second axis; and the cylindrical exterior shape maximizes roll of the non-spherical ball when thrown on the first axis.

Closed cell foam articles, such as sports balls, and related manufacturing methods are disclosed herein. The article includes a main body made of closed-cell elastomeric resin foam having a density ranging between about 0.050 sg and about 0.800 sg after curing. Some articles are assembled by inserting a cured core into a main body so that the core is secured in the main body via an interference fit, and the core has one or more portions extending to the exterior surface of the main body such that the an exposed surface of the one or more exposed portions of the core blend substantially with the exterior surface of the main body.

Training balls are presented including: a solid sphere defining a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere; a tactile feature positioned along a first surface of the first hemisphere and substantially centered with the first hemisphere; a first grooved feature positioned along a second surface of the second hemisphere, where the first grooved feature includes a first body portion and a first pair of leg portions each extending from each end of the first body portion at a first congruent angle; and a second grooved feature positioned along the second surface of the second hemisphere, where the second grooved feature includes a second body portion and a second pair of leg portions each extending from each end of the second body portion at a second congruent angle.

A smoking implement is disclosed herein. In one exemplary embodiment, the smoking implement comprises a housing body having an air inlet port and an air outlet port; a nippleless cap attachable to the housing body at the air outlet port, the nippleless cap having an internally configured first channel; and a holder configured for holding a cigarette, the holder being securable to the nippleless cap in a manner that the holder is partially accommodated into the first channel and extends into an interior space of the housing body.