Patents Examined by Michael D Dennis
  • Patent number: 11969644
    Abstract: A cooperative board game played by a group of players includes a customizable playhouse, a game board having a plurality of defined areas each defined by a shape on the game board, a plurality of activities including Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 activities, wherein each level corresponds to one of the defined areas, a plurality of decks of dramatic play cards, wherein each of the plurality of decks corresponds to one of the levels, and an online map that can be accessed after completing a final activity in Level 4. Each player in the group of players completes each of the Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 activities in order, wherein the game is complete after each player completes the Level 4 final activity. The unique value propositions include self-discovery, a bird's eye view of the world, flexible and repeatable activities for endless outcomes, and an online community providing hindsight learning and real-world connection with others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Inventor: Jennifer Rachel Byrne
  • Patent number: 11960637
    Abstract: An attraction capable of incorporating user interactivity. The attraction utilizes a slide for supporting a rider, with a ride vehicle or without. The ride vehicle may support one or multiple riders that allows the riders to manipulate its position or other associated elements while on the attraction. Upon manipulating an element, a signal may be transmitted. This signal may aid in determining whether a rider has successfully manipulated the element, for example, at an appropriate time. Sensors along the attraction may also be configured to track the user and/or ride vehicle via determining vicinity of the user and/or ride vehicle at a known location. Various rewards and/or features may be enabled based upon successful manipulation and/or user position. The attraction may include one or more illuminating features. Statistics or other information may be determined, stored, and/or provided (e.g., using mobile applications and/or scoreboards) relating to user performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: WHITEWATER WEST LTD.
    Inventors: Aaron Mendelson, Rick Sebulsky, Mohammed Rafiq, William Andrews, Keith Campden
  • Patent number: 11957964
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of golf club heads having a balance of the following parameters: a low and back club head center of gravity position, a high moment of inertia, and low aerodynamic drag. Methods of manufacturing the embodiments of golf club heads having a balance of club head center of gravity position, moment of inertia, and aerodynamic drag are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan M. Stokke, Sina Ghods
  • Patent number: 11944912
    Abstract: A game system for playing a multi-player game. The game system comprises a hexagonal game board. The game board comprises a plurality of hexagonal cells on a top surface of the game board. The cells are separated into a plurality of kingdoms comprising kingdom cells, a plurality of battlefield cells, and a central cell. The game system additionally comprises a plurality of sets of game pieces. Each of the sets of game pieces is associated with one of the plurality of kingdoms. At least one of the game pieces from each of the plurality of sets of game pieces includes an indicia on the at least one game piece. The indicia is indicative of a legal maneuver permitted by the at least one game piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: John Redden
  • Patent number: 11938408
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems and methods for live action gaming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: NIXO LLC
    Inventor: Michael Wadman
  • Patent number: 11931659
    Abstract: A game kit for and a method of playing an electric game. The game kit for the electric game includes a board, a power source, at least one electrically activated component and electrically conductive game pieces. The electrically conductive game pieces are used to electrically connect an electrically activated component to the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Elenco Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Gerald Joseph Cecchin, Marc Christoph Lehner, Tim Conlin, Matthew Brian Fuesting, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11918866
    Abstract: A method comprising, in a striking face of a golf club head, the striking face being formed of a first material having a first hardness, creating a plurality of initial grooves, the initial grooves having a first cross-sectional area (A1) and a first pitch (P1) such that A1/P1>0.0030 in. The method continues with modifying the initial grooves at least by positioning a second material in each of the plurality of initial grooves, the second material having a second hardness that is less than the first hardness, such that the first material and the second material form a plurality of final grooves each having a second cross-sectional area (A2) and a second pitch (P2) such that A2/P2<0.0030 in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Patrick Ripp, Dan S. Nivanh, Mika Becktor, Jesse D. Sukman
  • Patent number: 11918869
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion having a face portion for striking a golf ball and an enclosed interior cavity. A filler material may be disposed in the interior cavity and may reinforce the face portion. The filler material may include a low-density polymer material to enable discretionary mass placement to other areas of the golf club head. The golf club head may also include a hosel portion configured to adjust certain mass properties of the golf club head. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Matthew T. Andrews, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 11918923
    Abstract: A coin for use in games of chance includes a first side connectable to a second side and forming a coin interior when the first side is connected to the second side. A ball held in place in the coin interior, which interior includes a plurality of ridges and valleys with sloped surfaces for biasing a ball toward a periphery, which may include pockets, of the coin when the coin is flipped or rolled. Each pocket may be next to a viewing window, allowing the ball within the pocket to be viewed from the exterior of the coin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Yarro Studios, Inc.
    Inventor: Tanner Yarro
  • Patent number: 11918919
    Abstract: A board game apparatus is disclosed. The board game apparatus has a support assembly, a first member rotatably supported by the support assembly, a second member rotatably supported by the support assembly and covering part of the first member, a board member rotatably supported by the support assembly and including a plurality of apertures, the board member covering the first member and the second member, and a raised member rotatably supported by the support assembly above the board member and forming a gap between the raised member and the board member. A first portion of the first member and a second portion of the second member are visible from above the board member through the plurality of apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Stephen L. Keefe
  • Patent number: 11918868
    Abstract: The invention is a golf club head with a ball striking face including a plurality of recesses, a plurality of first grooves, and a plurality of second grooves that extend between a heel edge and a toe edge of the club head. The ball striking face includes a first material, for example a metal material, and the plurality of recesses are filled with a fill material, for example a polymer material. The depth of the grooves, the height of the grooves, the fill material, and the positioning of the grooves can all affect the performance of the club head. In some embodiments, the club head is a putter-type club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Jamil Jacaman
  • Patent number: 11904232
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a game table system for modular and adjustable configuration by a user. The game table system comprises an auxiliary member chosen by the user to be optionally adjoined to different areas of a table top or at least one leg of the game table system. The auxiliary member aiding in ease of access to various articles that may aid the user in conducting the game played upon the game table system. The auxiliary members may be removably adjoined so that one or more auxiliary members can be removed before storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Jim Gordon
  • Patent number: 11896890
    Abstract: A two-card sleeve apparatus is described. The two-card sleeve apparatus may include a first transparent layer, an opaque layer, and a second transparent layer. The two-card sleeve apparatus may be used to safely store or display two or more trading cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Penguin Magic, Inc.
    Inventor: Acar Altinsel
  • Patent number: 11890513
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a channel extending across a portion of the sole. The channel may be recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and have a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the width and the depth of the center portion of the channel are substantially constant, and wherein the depth of the channel is greater at the heel and toe portions than at the center portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Eric A. Larson, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Michael T. Prichard, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 11883753
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1; 2) for randomly selecting a symbol among a plurality of pre-determined symbols, comprising a main body (11; 21) having a polyhedral shape provided with a plurality of sides (111) in even number parallel and in pairs parallel and opposite to each other, a plurality of containment compartments (12; 22) equal to the number of sides (111), provided with a transparent cover (121) at the side (111) and a support base (122), opposite the transparent cover (121) within the main body (11; 21), and a plurality of secondary devices (13) for randomly selection, each arranged within one of the containment compartments (12; 22) and comprising a secondary body having a polyhedral shape provided with a plurality of sides (131) in even number parallel and in pairs opposite to each other, wherein each face (131) of the secondary devices for randomly selection is able to be placed onto the support base (122) by arranging only one face (131), corresponding to the face (131) parallel
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventors: Marco Aluisetti, Marius Ciorica
  • Patent number: 11883752
    Abstract: A mechanical action toy having a first support member and a second support member for supporting first and second beverage containers in spaced apart relation. The first and second support members have elongate piercing members and elongate shield members that are configured to be used by opposing players in a game where the object is to pierce the opponent's beverage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: Shane C. Chichester
  • Patent number: 11883757
    Abstract: A ride system for an amusement park includes a platform of the ride system that rotates about a guide axis along a direction of travel of the platform. A motion system is included and drives movement of the platform. One or more seats are coupled to the platform, wherein the one or more seats move with the platform and relative to the platform. At least one sensor detects a position of at least one seat of the one or more seats and provides data indicative of the position. A controller receives the data indicative of the position and controls the motion system to rotate the platform about the guide axis based on the data indicative of the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Gregory S. Hall, Keith Michael McVeen
  • Patent number: 11883723
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid irons and short irons. Preferably, the long and mid irons have a face stabilizing bar and back panel that have a plurality of apertures in the face stabilizing bar and/or the back wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo
  • Patent number: 11878253
    Abstract: A hand occupying device and system of use is a lava rock or synthetic equivalent having a plurality of pits disposed about the exterior surface of the lava rock into which a soft and dried latex glue is disposed. A user utilizing a dental pick or similar device may then remove both the dried and pliable latex glue from each individual pit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Renee Benn
  • Patent number: 11872474
    Abstract: A system for protecting cards may include, but is not limited to: a sleeve portion including: a first sleeve panel having a rectilinear perimeter; a second sleeve panel having a rectilinear perimeter; and a sleeve perimeter portion, wherein the sleeve perimeter portion is coupled to both the first sleeve panel and the second sleeve panel along at least a portion of at least three sides of the first sleeve panel and the second sleeve panel, respectively, and wherein the sleeve perimeter portion retains the first sleeve panel and the second sleeve panel in a spaced-apart configuration defining a sleeve slot between a fourth side of the first sleeve panel and the second sleeve panel, respectively; and a cap portion configured to be removably coupled to the sleeve portion so as to at least partially cover the sleeve slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SJA Tools, LLC
    Inventor: Steven J. Anderson