Patents Assigned to Prince
  • Patent number: 5738596
    Abstract: An iron-type golf clubhead includes a blade, a hosel, and a junction. The blade includes a rearwardly facing blade cavity, and the junction includes a rearwardly facing junction cavity that is coextensive with the blade cavity. A graduated weight pad is located within the blade cavity and preferably has a height, in a direction perpendicular to the blade face, that varies in a toe-to-heel direction, and which may also vary from the top to the bottom of the club. The junction cavity may also include a negative weight cutout that extends below the junction cavity floor and that represents a continuation of the profile of the weight pad, in effect forming a negative weight pad. The junction cavity and weight pad act to move the center of gravity outwardly toward the toe, and also to increase the sweet spot on the outer, toe portion of the clubhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Prince Sports Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean E. Meyer
  • Patent number: 5737226
    Abstract: An electrical system providing automatic calibration of a vehicle compass for abrupt and significant changes in vehicle magnetism. The system includes a magnetic field sensor providing signal information representing the magnetic field sensed within the vehicle. Coupled to the sensor is an electrical circuit for processing the signal information from the sensor to determine if a shift in vehicle magnetism has occurred and for calculating compensation signal information to provide a corrected heading display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Olson, Jeffrey N. Parks, Paul S. VanLente
  • Patent number: 5716092
    Abstract: A visor, according to one embodiment, comprises a closed-cell, semi-rigid urethane foam material thermoformed from sheets into a visor core construction with a reinforced backbone mounted along an edge thereof for mounting the visor to a vehicle. The visor is upholstered utilizing an adhesive and scrim laminate and is formed by heating, pressing and cutting to assure the outer upholstery material adheres smoothly to the visor core and provides a trim edge in appearance. According to another embodiment of the invention, a blend of kenaf fibers are employed as the core material, which is laminated with upholstery material as in the first embodiment to complete the visor construction. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a butterfly-type core construction is made of high density kenaf blend and upholstered in a manner employed for other butterfly visor core constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Dellinger, Brian L. Erickson, Paul T. VanderKuyl, Patrick W. Binish
  • Patent number: 5717387
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle accessory control system that includes a receiver for receiving paging signals including a unique vehicle address and a reprogramming signal. The control system responds to the reprogramming signal by reprogramming a vehicle accessory control program used to determine how to specifically control a vehicle accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Suman, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Patent number: 5713623
    Abstract: A generally planar resilient polymeric member having a viscous film is positioned between a fixed and movable element of the vehicle accessory and provides controlled friction between the two. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixed member is a housing for a vehicle storage compartment and the movable member is a pivoted door. The dampening device has one side secured to either the door or the housing and an opposite surface including a viscous material. The device is compressibly fitted between the fixed and movable member for providing a frictional interface therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Mattingly
  • Patent number: 5711721
    Abstract: A ferrule for a golf club comprises a first member having at least one raised element with a top surface, and a second member molded about the first member so as to surround the raised element. The second member has a generally annular, outwardly facing surface that is at least generally flush with the top surface of the raised element, and at least one of the first and second members defines a longitudinal hole therethrough for receiving a golf club shaft. The raised element is made of a different color material than the second member, and can provide a number of functions, such as contain a logo or design, indicate the number of the club, or provide an alignment indicia for the club at the address position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Prince Sports Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brenda Johnson, Richard P. Hulock
  • Patent number: 5711720
    Abstract: A handle for a sports implement comprises a handle portion having an outer surface containing a decorative design. A grip sleeve made of a relatively thin, translucent, and preferably transparent, elastomeric material, is sized to cover the handle portion and be in frictional contact therewith, such that said decorative design shows clearly through. In the case of sports racquets, the handle portion may be formed either by a pallet on the racquet shaft, or by a molded-in handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Prince Sports Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Janes, Stephen J. Davis
  • Patent number: 5708415
    Abstract: A vehicle structural accessory includes one or more electronic accessories. One electrical accessory which may be provided is an electronically trainable transmitter which is trainable to generate a control signal which will actuate a garage door opening mechanism. Another electronic accessory which may be included is an electronic compass. Yet another device is an electronically adjustable mirror having parameters set for each driver of a vehicle. The electronically adjustable rearview mirror and the electronically trainable garage door opener may be advantageously provided with a keyless entry system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Van Lente, Michael J. Suman, Mark L. Zeinstra, William S. DeVree
  • Patent number: 5699438
    Abstract: A combined speaker and locking member extend through an aperture in a vehicle headliner to mount the speaker to the headliner. The locking member includes offset locking flanges which engage the upper surface of the headliner when installed, and the speaker includes locking tabs extending through the slots in the headliner for engaging the lower surface of the headliner. The speaker further includes a pair of locking slots which receive the offset locking flanges of the locking member such that the locking member and speaker move together during installation. The speaker is locked into position by a raised locking surface formed on the side of the locking flanges facing the headliner to extend into the opposed slots of the headliner when the speaker is rotated with its tabs positioned on the opposite side of the headliner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Nels R. Smith, Kevin M. Burke, Peter W. La Belle
  • Patent number: 5699054
    Abstract: A trainable transceiver for learning and transmitting an activation signal that includes an RF carrier frequency modulated with a code for remotely actuating a device, such as a garage door opener. The trainable transceiver preferably includes a controller, a signal generator, and a dynamically tunable antenna having a variable impedance that may be selectively controlled in accordance with a carrier frequency of a received or transmitted activation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Paul C. Duckworth
  • Patent number: 5699055
    Abstract: A trainable transceiver for learning and transmitting an activation signal that includes an RF carrier frequency modulated with a code for remotely actuating a device, such as a garage door opener. The trainable transceiver includes a frequency table including a list of frequencies for remote transmitters known to transmit for only a short duration and the trainable transceiver first reads the short duration frequencies from the frequency table. The trainable transceiver may additionally include a prompting circuit for prompting an operator to cause a remote transmitter to retransmit its activation signal if the activation signal ceases before training is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt A. Dykema, Paul C. Duckworth
  • Patent number: 5699044
    Abstract: A vehicle structural accessory includes one or more electronic accessories. One electrical accessory which may be provided is an electronically trainable transmitter which is trainable to generate a control signal which will actuate a garage door opening mechanism. Another electronic accessory which may be included is an electronic compass. Yet another device is an electronically adjustable mirror having parameters set for each driver of a vehicle. The electronically adjustable rearview mirror and the electronically trainable garage door opener may be advantageously provided with a keyless entry system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Van Lente, Michael J. Suman, Mark L. Zeinstra, William S. DeVree
  • Patent number: 5697693
    Abstract: A switch mounting system includes a switch and housing structure and a method of assembling one to another. The housing has at least one keyed aperture for receiving a post of a switch body which is inserted into the keyed aperture and subsequently shifted into a final, aligned position during installation. The switch includes a switch actuator which is aligned with an aperture in the housing once shifted to the installed position. A switch actuating button is then extended through the aperture from the side opposite the housing from the switch body and locks onto the actuator member for locking the switch in the installed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Michael H. Wittkopp, Jr., Christopher T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5691848
    Abstract: A vehicle structural accessory includes one or more electronic accessories. One electrical accessory which may be provided is an electronically trainable transmitter which is trainable to generate a control signal which will actuate a garage door opening mechanism. Another electronic accessory which may be included is an electronic compass. Yet another device is an electronically adjustable mirror having parameters set for each driver of a vehicle. The electronically adjustable rearview mirror and the electronically trainable garage door opener may be advantageously provided with a keyless entry system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Van Lente, Michael J. Suman, Mark L. Zeinstra, William S. DeVree
  • Patent number: 5686903
    Abstract: A trainable transceiver for learning and transmitting an activation signal that includes an RF carrier frequency modulated with a code for remotely actuating a device, such as a garage door opener. In one embodiment, the trainable transceiver preferably includes a controller, a signal generator, and a dynamically tunable antenna having a variable impedance that may be selectively controlled in accordance with a carrier frequency of a received or transmitted activation signal. In another embodiment, the trainable transceiver preferably includes a phase-locked loop circuit for providing a frequency control voltage to a signal generator to selectively adjust the carrier frequency of the signal generator. In yet another embodiment, the trainable transceiver includes an amplifying circuit for selectively controlling the gain of a modulated radio frequency carrier signal received from the signal generator and for transmitting an amplified output signal to the remotely actuated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Paul C. Duckworth, Kurt A. Dykema
  • Patent number: 5685629
    Abstract: A vanity mirror assembly electrical circuit includes stamped conductors with projections for affixing the conductors to a rigid insulative backing member. In a preferred embodiment, the backing member further serves to support the vanity mirror in a frame assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the projections comprise rosettes which mount the conductors to a fiberboard backing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Hemmeke, Corbin L. Collet
  • Patent number: 5673890
    Abstract: A container holder is pivotally mounted to an armrest by mateably engageable hinge structures. The first hinge structure is located in a compartment in the armrest near a front wall, and includes a slot and a hole aligned with the end of the slot. The second hinge structure includes first and second protrusions configured to mateably engage the slot and the hole. The container holder is assembled to the armrest by extending the first protrusion into the hole, and then by rotating the container holder to slide the second protrusion into the slot. A detent on the slot holds the second protrusion in position. Further, the leg is U-shaped to mateably engage the front wall of the armrest when the container holder is moved to the extended use position, thereby holding the container holder protrusion in the slot when in the use position. Still further, the armrest includes a cover configured to close on the container holder to further interlockingly hold the second protrusion in the slot when in the use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Marjorie M. Duesterberg
  • Patent number: 5664335
    Abstract: A compass circuit has a magnetic field sensor adapted to be positioned in a vehicle near a source of varying magnetic fields. A detector is coupled to the compass circuit for providing a signal applied to the compass circuit which responds for displaying the compass heading prior to the magnetic field disturbance to provide accurate heading information. In a preferred embodiment, the detector senses when a door is opened and the compass heading prior to the opening of the door is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Suman, Steven L. Geerlings
  • Patent number: D387406
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Prince Sports Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Hulock, Richard Janes
  • Patent number: D394094
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Prince Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Davis, Andre Terzaghi