Patents by Inventor Francis C. Carroll

Francis C. Carroll has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6530162
    Abstract: A golf shoe cleat has a main body member having a dome-shaped outer face and a planar inner face, a threaded stud molded integrally with the main body member and projecting outwardly from the inner face. A plurality of pseudo pyramid-shaped teeth projecting around the perimeter of the main body member, each of the pseudo pyramid-shaped teeth having an outward angle to provide lateral stability and traction through the plane of a sports swing. The traction teeth have a low profile to reduce damage to putting green surfaces for example. An anti-debris ring is formed on the peripheral edge of the planar inner face. In this position, the anti-debris ring tends to prevent the edge of the cleat from separating from the sole of the golf shoe thereby foreclosing the entry of debris underneath the cleat. At the same time, when the cleat is snugged down by the application tool, the pressure causes the ring to more closely hug the sole and precludes the entry of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Green Keepers, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis C. Carroll
  • Patent number: 5794367
    Abstract: A sport shoe cleat especially for golf shoes has a main body member having a dome-shaped outer face and a planar inner face, a threaded stud molded integrally with the main body member and projecting outwardly from the inner face. A plurality of pseudo pyramid-shaped teeth projecting around the perimeter of the main body member, each of the pseudo pyramid-shaped teeth having an outward angle to provide lateral stability and traction through the plane of a sports swing. The traction teeth have a low profile to reduce damage to putting green surfaces for example. The body member has a wear pad at the center of said dome-shaped outlet face, the wear pad being a weight-bearing surface such as to support the majority of the body weight placed on the cleat and keeping weight off the traction teeth to prolong the life of the traction teeth and the cleat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: GreenKeepers, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis C. Carroll
  • Patent number: 5485809
    Abstract: A chewable animal toy comprising principally an ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymer, ionically cross-linked ionomer resin. The metal component in this polymer is sodium. The hardness of the toy on a "D" scale is 65-99 with a preferred range of 75-85. A starch-based flavoring additive is dispersed throughout the body of the animal toy. In the process of making the animal toy, the flavoring additive is dry mixed with pellets of the ionomer resin before melting and die injection molding the toy. The product is an ingestion safe toy that resists puncturing, cracking, splintering, or shattering, but shaves off to provide a roughening and bristling finish which is desirable for the satisfaction and hygiene of the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: EPP, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis C. Carroll
  • Patent number: RE40047
    Abstract: A golf shoe cleat has a main body member having a dome-shaped outer face and a planar inner face, a threaded stud molded integrally with the main body member and projecting outwardly from the inner face. A plurality of pseudo pyramid-shaped teeth projecting around the perimeter of the main body member, each of the pseudo pyramid-shaped teeth having an outward angle to provide lateral stability and traction through the plane of a sports swing. The traction teeth have a low profile to reduce damage to putting green surfaces for example. An anti-debris ring is formed on the peripheral edge of the planar inner face. In this position, the anti-debris ring tends to prevent the edge of the cleat from separating from the sole of the golf shoe thereby foreclosing the entry of debris underneath the cleat. At the same time, when the cleat is snugged down by the application tool, the pressure causes the ring to more closely hug the sole and precludes the entry of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: GreenKeepers of Delaware
    Inventor: Francis C. Carroll
  • Patent number: D430968
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Green Keepers, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis C. Carroll