Patents Examined by Laura L Davison
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Patent number: 9707465Abstract: A robotic putting system includes a mechanism for actively and physically guiding a putter head along a determined preferred putting path. The golfer need only hold the putter and allow the robotic mechanism to guide the motion of the putter head. The system enables a golfer to develop and practice a feel for the preferred path/stroke.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Inventor: Norman Douglas Bittner
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Patent number: 9669277Abstract: A bat for striking a ball comprises an axis, a handle, and a barrel. The handle includes a knob end, an attachment end, and a length separating the knob end from the attachment end. The barrel includes an end cap end, a barrel portion, a barrel length, and a transition section. The transition section is operatively attached to the attachment end of the handle. The bat can include a joint connecting the transition section to the attachment end while separating the barrel from the handle. Further, the bat can include an internal tubular member operatively attached to the end cap end and positioned within the barrel. A knob can be attached to the knob end of the handle while an end cap can be attached to the end cap end of the barrel. A grip can be attached to the handle adjacent the knob.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2013Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc.Inventors: Michael Haas, Tyler Scott Jessie, Peter Wiese, Doug Heimer, Matthew V Vacek
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Patent number: 9630088Abstract: A game system is disclosed that can be played using gross motor skills. The game system is mountable on a portion of a user's body and includes a track along which a playing figure can be propelled by movement of the player's body. The game system can include detachable templates that include tracks of varying difficulty.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Inventor: Wilmer David Walker, Jr.
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Patent number: 9457289Abstract: A toy gun capable of firing a projectile and simultaneously or near simultaneously, emitting smoke from the muzzle of a barrel of the gun after the projectile has been discharged from the muzzle. The toy gun has first and second rechargeable air pumps, with the first air pump automatically discharging stored air into a breech part of the barrel in order to propel a loaded projectile from the barrel, and the second air pump expelling stored air through a flow restriction device which serves as a pressure switch for actuating a smoke generator located adjacent to the muzzle. The second air pump also provides a low air flow rate through the smoke generator to expel smoke therefrom. The second air pump expels stored air much more slowly than the first air pump. The first and second air pumps are simultaneously triggered to release stored air by a user.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2013Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Buzz Bee Toys (H.K.) Co. LimitedInventors: Jeffrey C. Zimmerman, Chor-Ming Ma
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Patent number: 9452365Abstract: A planar seat having a center hole and a perimeter rim, a carrier bag affixed on one end to the perimeter rim of the planar seat and the other open end of the carrier bag having a closure mechanism to close the carrier bag, a support rope with a looped end and the other end with a stopper mechanism, and a retrieval line with a closeable fastener.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2014Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Inventor: Matthew Douglas Morgan
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Patent number: 9415285Abstract: A breakaway basketball rim assembly that deflects from a rest position to a displaced position in response to sufficient forces imposed on the rim. The rim assembly may have a fixed portion coupled to a backboard and a movable portion with a basketball rim. The basketball rim may pivot without the forces to activate the breakaway feature. The rim assembly may also have one or more leveling mechanisms to level the basketball rim assembly in a horizontal position relative to the backboard.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Inventor: Jim Jolly
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Patent number: 9320956Abstract: A golf training aid and golf training method are provided. The golf training aid includes a body portion, including a support, a first housing, and a second housing, a base portion, and an elevated target. The golf training method includes providing a golf training aid including a body portion including a first housing and a second housing, a base portion, and an elevated target, positioning a rocker arm between extendable sections of two upright posts attached to the first housing and two upright posts attached to the second housing, sliding and rotating the rocker arm positioned between the extendable sections to provide a rocker arm orientation, positioning caps over the two upright posts attached to the first housing and the two upright posts attached to the second housing, attaching the elevated target to the rocker arm, and hitting golf balls at the elevated target.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2014Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Inventor: Samuel DeMarco
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Patent number: 9289665Abstract: A portable training apparatus for assisting a user in developing ball batting skills is provided for use by either right or left handed batters. The apparatus releasably attaches to an existing structure, such as a chain-link fence. A post has a foot and a plurality of stabilizing members for attaching the post to a fence. A rotational means supplies the user a ball to hit.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Inventor: Kristopher Muller
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Patent number: 9269214Abstract: A hitting game machine allows the successive input of coins. In the hitting game machine, each target which is to be rotated by a hit of a hitting member includes an eccentric shaft. The target is configured such that a rotating shaft integrally rotates along with a hit surface which is to be hit by the hitting member. Further, a longitudinal section of the hit surface has a plate shape, a longitudinal section of which is in a linear shape or a shape that is reduced in width from an upper end thereof to a lower end. Therefore, it is possible for several hitting members to successively hit the same one of targets of a circular plate that is rotating.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2012Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: ANDAMIRO CO., LTD.Inventors: Myoung Soo Lim, Eun Joong Koo, Jong Sam Yoon, Geun Seok Heo
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Patent number: 9228809Abstract: A target practice apparatus adapted to receive projectiles fired at it by a remotely positioned shooter includes a motor having an output shaft, a motor housing, and a post secured to the motor and motor housing. A target disc is secured to the output shaft and rotates with it. A frame supports the motor housing and the target disc. An L-shaped elbow member is attachable to the frame in a plurality of differing configurations. The post is also attachable to the frame in a plurality of differing configurations and is further attachable to the L-shaped elbow member in a plurality of differing configurations. This enables the target disc to be positioned in a vertical plane facing the shooter or on edge to the shooter and a horizontal plane on edge to the shooter. A non-rotating blocker disc having window openings partially obscures the target disc in the shooter-facing configuration.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2014Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Carousel Targets, LLCInventor: Michael J. Relyea
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Patent number: 9205318Abstract: Training equipment to verify the quality of his/her putt comprising a base arrangeable on the ground and on which a player can place and hit a golf ball, means for receiving the ball in a first predetermined position, and at least one pair of obstacles arrangeable on the base in a plurality of second predetermined positions in which the obstacles define therebetween at least one gate adapted to be passed through by the ball when hit by the player; in which each obstacle is made by a plate adapted to interact with the ball and supported by the base by means of an elastically deformable stem including an upper end, which integrally supports the plate, and a lower end anchored to the base by means of a first and a second magnetic element adapted to be reciprocally attracted, the first carried integrally by the lower end of the elastically deformable stem and supported on a upper face of the base; and the second carried by the base, which is rotatably coupled with a support provided with a goniometric scale visibType: GrantFiled: May 16, 2012Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Inventors: Roberto Chiono, Matteo Delpodio
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Patent number: 9108094Abstract: A water dumping game apparatus and method for using the same. The apparatus consists of a water bucket type container with target adapted to be filled with water and hinged connected with a base. The base is configured for attachment with a support apparatus such as a ladder or standard having a horizontal member. The force of a projectile striking the target causes the hinge to pivot and tilt the container so as to dump water on a subject dousee positioned adjacent and below the container.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Inventor: Philip Craig Cello
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Patent number: 9072954Abstract: A batting practice apparatus is arranged with a handle to be grasped by one person so a second person can practice hitting a ball, wherein the person grasping the apparatus positions the ball in a desired location and, when the second person strikes the ball with a bat, the kinetic energy associated with hitting the ball is dissipated, and the ball travels a reduced distance after being struck without having to pursue the ball a significant distance to retrieve it.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2014Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: STRIKE TEC SYSTEM, LLCInventor: David Riggle
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Patent number: 9005056Abstract: A hollow non-wood baseball or softball bat wherein the impact portion of the bat contains an inner barrel that is positioned by means of a (i) foam insert, (ii) tube extending from the bat's knob, or (iii) line attached to the bat's knob and end cap and extending throughout the bat such that the inner barrel does not come into contact with the inside wall of the bat when the bat is at rest yet when swung the inner barrel is allowed to move so as to amplify the rebound effect given to the ball upon impact with the bat.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Inventor: Carl Pegnatori