Patents Examined by Matthew B Stanczak
  • Club head sets with varying characteristics and related methods
    Patent number: 9975013
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Colored golf ball
    Patent number: 9968828
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having a high performance as well as the visibility and the fashionable appearance. The present invention provides a colored golf ball having a color other than white and comprising: a core having a center and at least one intermediate layer disposed around the center, and a cover disposed around the core, wherein the cover and at least one of the intermediate layer preferably contain a fluorescent dye and/or a fluorescent pigment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kosuke Tachibana, Keiji Ohama
  • Colored golf ball
    Patent number: 9962578
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having a high performance as well as the visibility and the fashionable appearance. The present invention provides a colored golf ball having a color other than white and comprising: a core having a center and at least one intermediate layer disposed around the center, and a cover disposed around the core, wherein the cover and at least one of the intermediate layer preferably contain a fluorescent dye and/or a fluorescent pigment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kosuke Tachibana, Keiji Ohama
  • Golf club head with a body-conforming weight member
    Patent number: 9931547
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a main body having a top portion, a bottom portion, a striking face, and an interior surface. A weight member is coupled to the interior surface of the main body. In an imaginary vertical plane that passes through the weight member, the interior surface of the main body comprises a first point and a second point. An imaginary line passes through the first point and the second point. A first imaginary boundary line and a second imaginary boundary line, both passing through the weight member and being perpendicular to the imaginary line, pass through the first point and the second point, respectively. Between the first point and the second point, the interior surface of the main body has an irregularity factor of at least 1.2 and the weight member comprises a distribution factor of at most 1.0 and a conformity factor of at most 0.07.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: SRI SPORTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Sam G. Lacey, Dan S. Nivanh, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Dustin J. Brekke
  • Golf ball compositions
    Patent number: 9925424
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are multilayer golf balls having a layer with a higher Shore C hardness and a lower Shore D hardness than another layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Derek A. Ladd, David A. Bulpett, Scott Cooper, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Golf ball comprising a very-low melt flow inner cover layer composition
    Patent number: 9925417
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core; an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a thickness of about 0.005 inches to 0.40 inches and a surface hardness of about 60 Shore D or greater; and an outer cover layer formed from a thermoset material and having a thickness of about 0.01 inches to 0.05 inches and a surface hardness of about 60 Shore D or less. The thermoplastic composition has a first melt flow index at 280° C. under a 10-kg load of less than about 35 g/10 min and a second melt flow index at 265° C. under a 5-kg load of less than about 10 g/10 min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Club head sets with varying characteristics and related methods
    Patent number: 9849354
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan M. Stokke, Martin R. Jertson, Michael R. Nicolette, John A. Solheim
  • Multi-layer golf ball
    Patent number: 9844702
    Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core, an intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover layer surrounding the intermediate layer. The core defines an outer surface that includes a plurality of polygonal land portions substantially aligned on a common sphere, which has a diameter of between 22 mm and 32 mm. The intermediate layer has a radially inward-facing surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core, and has a radial thickness of between 4 mm and 9 mm. The outer surface of the core defines a first set of annular grooves disposed about a first axis, and a second set of annular grooves disposed about a second axis. Each of the first and second set of annular grooves extend radially inward from the common sphere, and the first axis and the second axis are orthogonal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: FENG TAY ENTERPRISES CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Nicholas A. Leech, Nicholas Yontz, Jun Ichinose, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Shih-Kai Lin
  • Iron type golf club head and set
    Patent number: 9802089
    Abstract: An iron-type golf club head having a sole channel extending from an exterior of a sole portion toward a face. The sole channel has an axis that intersects the face at an axis-to-face intersection point for at least one position along a channel length, and preferably at least 25% of the channel length. The elevation of the intersection point may below the Ycg distance and the axis defines an angle from the vertical that may be related to the loft. The iron-type golf club head may be incorporated in a set containing club heads with varying degrees of unsupported face area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC
    Inventors: Justin Honea, John Kendall, Matthew Brian Neeley
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 9782635
    Abstract: A golf ball includes a core, a mid layer, and a cover. The core includes an inner core, a mid core, and an outer core. The mid layer includes an inner mid layer and an outer mid layer. A hardness H(C) is equal to or greater than a hardness H(B). A hardness H(E) is equal to or greater than a hardness H(D). An angle ? is calculated by (Formula 1). An angle ? is calculated by (Formula 2). The angle ? is 0° or greater. A difference (???) is 0° or greater. A hardness Hm2 of the outer mid layer is greater than a hardness Hm1 of the inner mid layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kosuke Tachibana, Kazuhiko Isogawa
  • Golf club head having trip step feature
    Patent number: 9776053
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating a trip step feature located on the crown section. The benefits associated with the reduction in aerodynamic drag force associated with the trip step may be applied to drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids. A portion of the trip step is located between a crown apex and the back of the club head and may be continuous or discontinuous. The trip step enables a reduction in the aerodynamic drag force exerted on the golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Marc Schmidt
  • Methods of delivering a playing card from a playing card handling device
    Patent number: 9751000
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling cards has a dispensing end. The dispensing end has a base plate for supporting cards being manually removed. An upper plate with a U-shaped opening is spaced above the base plate and defines a slot for cards to pass. First and second spaced apart card guides define side edges of the slot. The first card guide is shorter than the second card guide, creating an offset in a first direction of travel of cards being removed. A method of removing cards is also disclosed, enabling movement of cards in at least two directions due to the presence of a card guide offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Paul K. Scheper, Sion D. Walsh
  • Wide flanged frying/cooking device with stand and safety plate
    Patent number: 9737170
    Abstract: A cooking structure with unique abilities of frying, staging, draining and warming foods. This cooking device comprises an oil reservoir, a staging/draining flange, and a warming flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Fryin' Saucer, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Bizal, John Joseph Egart
  • Systems and methods for fitting golf clubs
    Patent number: 9737775
    Abstract: A system for fitting golf clubs to golfers that enables an overall club length to be varied without varying a length of a shaft. The system enables a greater number of combinations of club characteristics, such as shaft flex, brand, and length, to be contained within a club fitting cart and/or for a same number of combinations of club characteristics to be contained within a smaller cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Brian D. Schielke, Dan S. Nivanh
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 9717959
    Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club head structures having an indicator providing a visual indication of a location of a center of gravity of a wood-type golf club are presented. The indicator may include a central portion or hub that is generally aligned with the center of gravity of the club. The indicator may also include a plurality of legs extending outward from the hub toward a perimeter of the golf club head. In some arrangements, the indicator may be formed to distribute a portion of the weight of the club head in order to adjust or move the center of gravity of the club head, in addition to providing a visual indication of the location of the center of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 9717955
    Abstract: A golf ball 2 includes a spherical core 4, a mid layer 6, and a cover 8. The core 4 is obtained by crosslinking a rubber composition. The difference between: a hardness H(5.0) at a point which is located at a distance of 5 mm from the central point of the core 4; and a hardness Ho at the central point is 6.0 or greater. The difference between: a hardness H(12.5) at a point which is located at a distance of 12.5 mm from the central point; and the hardness H(5.0) is 4.0 or less. The difference between a hardness Hs at the surface of the core 4 and the hardness H(12.5) is 10.0 or greater. The difference between the hardness Hs and the hardness Ho is 22.0 or greater. There is no zone in which a hardness decreases from the central point to the surface. A Shore D hardness H3 of the cover is greater than a Shore D hardness H2 of the mid layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Isogawa, Hirotaka Nakamura
  • Systems and methods for fitting golf clubs
    Patent number: 9700774
    Abstract: A system for fitting golf clubs to golfers that enables an overall club length to be varied without varying a length of a shaft. The system enables a greater number of combinations of club characteristics, such as shaft flex, brand, and length, to be contained within a club fitting cart and/or for a same number of combinations of club characteristics to be contained within a smaller cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Brian D. Schielke, Dan S. Nivanh
  • Bubble blowing assembly
    Patent number: 9694299
    Abstract: A bubble blowing assembly for blowing bubbles with manually pumped air includes a tubular housing that may be gripped by a user. A pump is operationally coupled to the tubular housing. The pump urges air into the tubular housing. A primary reservoir is operationally coupled to the tubular housing. The primary reservoir may contain a fluid. A nozzle is operationally coupled to the tubular housing. A fluid hose is operationally coupled between the tubular housing and the primary reservoir. The fluid hose selectively directs the fluid into the nozzle. A first air hose is operationally coupled between the tubular housing and the nozzle. The first air hose directs the pumped air into the nozzle. The nozzle generates the bubbles when the user pumps the pump. A secondary reservoir is coupled to the tubular housing. The secondary reservoir collects excess fluid from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Sam Kouso
  • Golf club face with cover having roughness pattern
    Patent number: 9682291
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to composite articles, and in particular a composite face plate for a golf club-head, and methods for making the same. In certain embodiments, a composite face plate for a club-head is formed with a cross-sectional profile having a varying thickness. The face plate comprises a lay-up of multiple, composite prepreg plies. At least a portion of the plies comprise a plurality of elongated prepreg strips arranged in a predetermined criss-cross pattern in the lay-up. The prepreg strips create one or more areas of increased thickness where the strips overlap each other, thereby creating a desired profile for the plate. Metallic or polymer covers or cover layers can be used to define a striking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Bing-Ling Chao
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 9669266
    Abstract: A golf ball includes a spherical core and a cover. The core includes an inner core, a mid core, and an outer core. A hardness H(C) is equal to or greater than a hardness H(B). A hardness H(E) is equal to or greater than a hardness H(D). An angle ? is calculated by (Formula 1) from a thickness Y (mm) of the mid core, the hardness H(C), and the hardness H(D). An angle ? is calculated by (Formula 2) from a thickness Z (mm) of the outer core, the hardness H(E), and the hardness H(F). Each of the angle ? and a difference (???) between the angles ? and ? is equal to or greater than 0°. The golf ball has excellent flight performance upon a shot with a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kosuke Tachibana, Kazuhiko Isogawa