John R Barletta

US Patent:

6695723, Feb 24, 2004

Filed:

Mar 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/097047

Inventors:

Jose E. Leal - Stow MA
John F. Barletta - Southborough MA

Assignee:

Sport Fun, Inc. - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

A63B 7100

US Classification:

473417, 124 79

Abstract:

A propulsion member (e. g. a bat) has an external switch and an internally disposed transistor which transmits signals when the switch is manually closed. A receiver in a tee mechanism receives the signals and causes a tee in the mechanism to move upwardly from a rest position to an operative position. As the tee moves upwardly to the operative position, an element (e. g. a wiffle ball) moves on a ramp to a supportive position at the top of the tee. When the tee is in the operative position, a player holding the propulsion member swings the member against the ball. This is helpful to young children (e. g. eight (8) years old or younger) in learning how to hit a baseball.

US Patent:

6875136, Apr 5, 2005

Filed:

Apr 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/135136

Inventors:

Jose E. Leal - Stow MA, US
Hans E. Leal - Stow MA, US
John F. Barletta - Southborough MA, US

Assignee:

Sport Fun, Inc. - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

A63B069/00
F41B007/00

US Classification:

473451, 473417, 473422, 124 54, 124 16

Abstract:

A transmitter in a member (e. g. bat) transmits signals when a switch on the bat is pressed. A pop-up apparatus receives the signals. A member in the apparatus prevents an element (e. g. ball) from being popped upwardly in a first positioning of the member and provides for the element pop-up in a second positioning of the member. Normally disposed in the first position, the member is operable to the second position by the received signals. The apparatus includes a housing and a bin pivotally coupled to the housing to hold the element. The bin provides for a substantially vertical element pop-up in a first pivotal position and for an element pop-up with a horizontal component in a second position. In the vertical pop-up, a player hits the ball with the bat. In the other pop-up, the player catches the ball.

US Patent:

20030027672, Feb 6, 2003

Filed:

Mar 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/102253

Inventors:

Jose Leal - Stowe MA, US
John Barletta - Southborough MA, US

International Classification:

A63B043/00
A63B065/00

US Classification:

473/613000

Abstract:

A throwing device having a body, and a tail portion which extends away from one end of the body. The tail portion generally includes at least one fin, and the tail portion is configured such that the fin may be selectively oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the body so that the fin will tend to impart either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation to the device during flight, as selected by the user.

US Patent:

20030224885, Dec 4, 2003

Filed:

Jun 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/161833

Inventors:

Jose Leal - Stow MA, US
John Barletta - Southborough MA, US
Hans Leal - Stow MA, US
Donald Ullman - Fairfield CT, US

International Classification:

A63B043/06

US Classification:

473/570000

Abstract:

An illuminated game ball for use in playing a game at night. The ball includes a translucent outer wall that can be tinted with various colors, a light with rechargeable power source mounted in the interior of the ball, and an electrical connector mounted substantially flush with the outer surface of the ball that is connected to the power source. When it is desired to illuminate the ball for nighttime play an electrical power source is plugged into the connector for a short time to charge the rechargeable power source which then discharges through the light to illuminate same.

US Patent:

20040002284, Jan 1, 2004

Filed:

Jun 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/185335

Inventors:

Jose Leal - Stow MA, US
John Barletta - Southborough MA, US
Donald Ullman - Fairfield CT, US

International Classification:

A63H029/22

US Classification:

446/484000

Abstract:

An illuminated throwing toy is provided which is adapted to be thrown by a user for a flight through the air. The toy includes a hollow, inflatable, football-shaped head portion made of a flexible, translucent material, that is centered about a longitudinal axis, an elongate tail portion with fins that extend axially rearward from the head portion along the longitudinal axis, and a coupling, which interconnects the head and tail portions and allows the portions to be movable relative to each other, particularly to be rotatably movable about the longitudinal axis. The tail portion has a front section that is permanently affixed to rear of the football-shaped head portion and a rear section that comprises fins. The front section is permanently attached to the rear of the head portion and the rear section is removably attached to the front section. The front section of the tail portion comprises a light emitting diode (LED), batteries, a circuit for lighting the LED, and a switch for energizing the circuit with the batteries. The circuit has an off state, a first state in which it causes the LED to be continuously lit, and a second state in which it causes the LED to be periodically lit in a pulsed manne. The LED is in contact with the rear of the football-shaped head portion and when the LED is lit the translucent material from which the head portion is made conducts the light generated by the LED and appears to glow, causing the throwing toy to be visible under low light conditions.

US Patent:

20040082413, Apr 29, 2004

Filed:

Aug 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/228520

Inventors:

Jose Leal - Stow MA, US
John Barletta - Southborough MA, US
Donald Ullman - Fairfield CT, US

International Classification:

A63B059/06

US Classification:

473/564000

Abstract:

A light weight, pressurized hitting implement, such as a baseball bat, is disclosed that has a one piece outer shell having both a striking portion and a handle portion. The striking portion end of the outer shell furthest from the handle portion is open and a tubular element is inserted therein and pressurized to provide improved rigidity and rebound to the hitting implement. There is a support means cap attached to the open end of the striking portion to provide protection against splitting of the open end of the hitting implement during use, and to retain the pressurized tubular element inside the outer shell of the hitting implement.

US Patent:

20050103318, May 19, 2005

Filed:

Apr 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/832589

Inventors:

Jose Leal - Stow MA, US
John Barletta - Southborough MA, US

International Classification:

F41B011/00

US Classification:

124074000

Abstract:

A sports ball throwing apparatus is disclosed which may be used to propel projectiles including footballs, softballs soccer balls and model rockets and airplanes. The apparatus has a barrel the azimuth and elevation of which are adjustable for launching a projectile in different directions. A projectile having a cavity is mounted on the end of the barrel to be launched using air pressure stored in the apparatus. Safety is provided in that compressed air is not available until a projectile having a cavity is mounted on the end of the barrel and a switch closes a circuit to activate an air compressor. The switch may be placed at either end of barrel so long as it is operated when the projectile is fully mounted on the barrel. In addition, a seal inside the base of the projectile is used to seal the barrel so that compressed air is not available until the projectile is fully mounted on the barrel. Spiral flight of the projectile is provided by helical grooves on the outside of the barrel that engage protrusions on the inside of the projectile cavity when the projectile is mounted on the barrel for launching. When the projectile is launched the protrusions ride along the helical grooves and impart a spiral spin to the projectile. To assist in the spiral spin of the projectile there are straight grooves on the surface of the projectile and at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the projectile. Air passing over the moving projectile interacts with the grooves on its surface to maintain the spiral spin of the projectile.

US Patent:

20050202906, Sep 15, 2005

Filed:

May 31, 2005

Appl. No.:

10/677963

Inventors:

Jose Leal - Stow MA, US
John Barletta - Southborough MA, US

International Classification:

A63B069/00

US Classification:

473417000

Abstract:

A propulsion member (e.g. a bat) has an external switch and an internally disposed transistor which transmits signals when the switch is manually closed. A receiver in a tee mechanism receives the signals and causes a tee in the mechanism to move upwardly from a rest position to an operative position. As the tee moves upwardly to the operative position, an element (e.g. a wiffle ball) moves on a ramp to a supportive position at the top of the tee. When the tee is in the operative position, a player holding the propulsion member swings the member against the ball. This is helpful to young children (e.g. eight (8) years old or younger) in learning how to hit a baseball.