Patents by Inventor Nicholas Yontz

Nicholas Yontz 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).

  • Publication number: 20130260914
    Abstract: A method and system of subjective evaluation of golf ball performance for golf ball fitting analysis to match a golf ball to a golfer's subjective preferences is described. A golfer subjectively evaluates the performance of one or more golf balls against different subjective criteria. Analysis of the subjective evaluation is used to determine a golf ball that maximizes or most closely conforms to the golfer's subjective preferences. A kit of parts is provided to allow a golfer to subjectively evaluate multiple golf balls to each other to determine a golfer's preference or to recommend another golf ball. The kit includes different types of golf balls and a fitting tool that is used by the golfer to evaluate his or her subjective preferences. The fitting tool can be calibrated to the specific subjective perceptions of a golfer. The fitting tool can also be customized to a specific course.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Mark Alan, Nicholas Yontz, Nicholas A. Leech
  • Publication number: 20130260922
    Abstract: Methods for selecting golf balls based on environmental factors are provided. Such methods involve indicating a golfing environment and establishing one or more corresponding environmental factors. Such methods may include ascertaining one or more trajectory components that are dependent upon the environmental factors. One or more aspects of golf ball construction may pertinent to the environmental factors, or to the trajectory components, may then be determined. Upon identifying a plurality of golf balls and a selection criteria related to the golf ball construction aspects, a golf ball may be selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Yontz, Nicholas A. Leech
  • Publication number: 20130184089
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for changing and controlling settings for adjustable golf clubs are described. Such setting adjustment systems may alter one or more of: lie angle, loft angle, face angle, shaft stiffness, shaft kickpoint location, weighting, weight positioning, face flexibility, maximum face flex location, etc. These systems and methods may use various types of information to determine the appropriate settings, such as: ball launch monitor data, swing path data, weather input data, course condition input data for a location of play, course design input data for a location of play, daily course layout input data for a location and a time of play, golfer past performance data (e.g., recent past performance, past performances at the location of play, past performance during an ongoing round of golf (i.e., on earlier played holes), etc.), current adjustable club setting information, and information indicating specific holes to be played.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: William F. Rauchholz, Nicholas Yontz
  • Publication number: 20130053183
    Abstract: A golf ball having a soft outer surface coating having a hardness less than about HB on the ASTM D3363 scale, or less than about 40 on ASTM D2134 scale. The soft outer surface coating may contain polyurethane, a hydroxyl functional silicone material, or a hydroxyl functional fluoro material. Also, a method for making the golf ball. The golf ball having the soft outer surface coating exhibits a high spin rate over short shots essentially without degrading performance on driver shots, as compared with the performance of the uncoated golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Hideyuki Ishii, Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Bradley C. Tutmark, Nicholas Yontz
  • Publication number: 20120329577
    Abstract: Golf balls include: (a) a golf ball having a first set of construction specifications; (b) a coating of the golf ball having an exterior surface and (c) the exterior surface having an enhanced micro surface roughness. The enhanced micro surface roughening affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes Anderl, Nicholas Yontz, Derek A. Fitchett
  • Publication number: 20120328782
    Abstract: Golf balls include: (a) a golf ball having a first set of construction specifications; (b) a coating of the golf ball having an exterior surface and (c) the exterior surface having an enhanced micro surface roughness. The enhanced micro surface roughening affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Nicholas Yontz, Johannes Anderl
  • Publication number: 20120329367
    Abstract: A golf ball kit having an abrasive material adapted for imparting enhanced micro surface roughness to an exterior surface of a golf ball. The enhanced micro surface roughening affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness. The kit includes an instruction device having a plurality of correlations between at least one performance parameter and micro surface roughness for at least a first golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Nicholas Yontz, Johannes Anderl
  • Publication number: 20120302375
    Abstract: Golf balls having an exterior surface with a predetermined area which is smaller than the entire surface area of the exterior surface, includes enhanced micro surface roughness, and is in the form of an asymmetrical pattern on the exterior surface of the golf ball. The enhanced micro surface roughness affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Nicholas Yontz, Johannes Anderl
  • Publication number: 20120302376
    Abstract: Golf balls include: (a) a golf ball having a first set of construction specifications; (b) a coating of the golf ball having an exterior surface and (c) the exterior surface having an enhanced micro surface roughness. The enhanced micro surface roughening affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Nicholas Yontz, Johannes Anderl
  • Publication number: 20120302374
    Abstract: Golf balls having an exterior surface with a predetermined area which is smaller than the entire surface area of the exterior surface and includes enhanced micro surface roughness. The enhanced micro surface roughness affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Yontz, Derek A. Fitchett, Johannes Anderl
  • Publication number: 20120301617
    Abstract: Golf balls include: (a) a golf ball having a first set of construction specifications; (b) a coating of the golf ball having an exterior surface and (c) the exterior surface having an enhanced micro surface roughness. The enhanced micro surface roughening affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Nicholas Yontz, Johannes Anderl
  • Publication number: 20120283043
    Abstract: A golf ball is provided including a core, a cover encasing the core and a coating that comprises a resin applied to the outer surface of the cover. Particles comprising a high density material are included in the coating such that the coating has a density at least twice that of the core's density or contributes at least 0.60% of the golf ball's total moment of inertia, and the coating has a micro surface roughness at least 1.75 times larger than the roughness of a comparative ball. A method of making a golf ball is also provided, including providing a spherical core, encasing the core with a cover, applying a resin to the outer surface of the cover, and adding a plurality of particles comprising a high density material to form a coating material that has a second density at least two times the first density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Nicholas Yontz, Johannes Anderl