This specification discloses a machine for automatically shooting or propelling a hockey puck. The machine includes apparatus for automatically issuing a hockey puck from a hopper. The puck is then dropped onto a platform in the path of a motor drive energy storing spring which propells the puck in a desired direction. The energy storing spring is provided with two separate structures for adjusting the spring energy. The two separate structures for adjusting the energy in the spring are a pair of screws inserted in a pair of elongated slots at one end of the spring for adjustably attaching the spring to the motor drive shaft and a block pin adjustably positioned such that the other end of the spring will be deflected upon contact with the block pin once during each revolution of the spring.

A game projectile dispensing device with a dispensing housing, a game projectile retaining member for retaining a plurality of game projectiles in a stack, first and second game projectile emission chutes, an actuating lever with a first arm for being engaged by a player and a second arm for engaging a game projectile whereby a player can press on the first arm of the actuating lever to induce the actuating lever to drive the lower-most projectile from the stack of game projectiles. A game projectile supply ramp can enable a player to select between emitting the game projectile from the first and second game projectile emission chutes. The game projectile supply ramp can be disposed below the game projectile retaining member whereby, when driven from the stack of game projectiles, a game projectile will drop onto the game projectile supply ramp for being dispensed.

A system for projecting a hockey puck is provided which includes a hockey puck projector and an associated control system. The hockey puck projector includes a plurality of rollers for supporting the bottom surface of a hockey puck, a wheel for engaging the top surface of the hockey puck, a motor for rotating the wheel, and a ram for moving the hockey puck between the rollers and the rotating wheel. The control system includes servos for rotating the hockey puck projector in three dimensions and a computer control for driving the servos and providing set points which determine the projectory of a projected hockey puck. A hockey puck is projected by the projector when the wheel is rotated and the hockey puck is moved into engagement by the rotating wheel which imparts motion to the hockey puck. The rotating wheel engages the hockey puck above a plurality of rollers which support the puck.

A simple pneumatic device for use in comparing and matching curling stones, and evaluating ice surfaces and sweeping broom efficiencies is described. A pneumatic cylinder, charged by means of a compressed gas, is placed against the backboard of a rink and operated to propel a curling stone with a predetermined and accurately controlled force along a sheet of curling ice.

A sports practice device including a dispenser having a chamber for retaining at least one projectile. The chamber has a base for supporting the at least one projectile and an aperture for ejecting the at least one projectile. A mounting is attached to the dispenser, which detachably couples the dispenser to a shaft of a player held projectile propelling device. According to a preferred embodiment, the player held projectile propelling device can be a hockey stick and the projectile can be a puck or ball. A method of attaching a projectile dispenser to a player held projectile propelling device, inserting at least one projectile into the dispenser, releasing a projectile from the projectile dispenser, and impacting the projectile, is also provided.