Patents Examined by Aarti B Berdichevsky
  • Patent number: 9731180
    Abstract: A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis and includes a handle portion, a barrel portion, an injection molded element, and a tubular insert. The handle portion has a generally uniform outer diameter. The barrel portion has proximal and distal regions spaced apart by a central region. The element includes a tubular inner wall defining a longitudinal bore. The element is non-removably attached to the handle member. The element includes a tapered proximal region, a barrel engaging region, and an insert engaging region for engaging the insert. The insert engaging region includes a stop for inhibiting longitudinal movement of the insert. The barrel engaging region non-removably engages the proximal region. The bat having a total length measured from a proximal end of the handle portion to a distal end of the barrel portion. The handle portion has a length that is less than 70 percent of the total length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Ty B. Goodwin, Jeffrey A. Flood, Mark A. Fritzke, Glen R. Mason
  • Patent number: 9731216
    Abstract: A flying disc includes a hub composed of polymeric material, a ring composed of polymeric material and coupled to the hub. The hub and the ring may have different specific gravities by being composed of different materials or by having a weighting product embedded therein, or a weighting product may be carried between the hub and the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: MVP Disc Sports, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Charles Richardson, Chad Michael Richardson
  • Patent number: 9724617
    Abstract: A snap-fit connector includes a female component and a male component. The female component has a retaining hole and two through bores communicating spatially with the retaining hole. The male component has two spaced-apart hooks inserted into the retaining hole. Each of the hooks has a resilient arm, and a protrusion retained in a respective one of the through bores. The protrusion of each of the hooks has an abutment surface abutting against the female component, and a positioning recess formed in a guide surface thereof and accessible via the respective one of the through bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Genius Toy Taiwan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Bang Lin
  • Patent number: 9724615
    Abstract: A toy doll with a reconfigurable clothing article is disclosed. In particular, a toy doll with a reconfigurable clothing article and an electronic system that generates outputs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the clothing article can be reconfigured relative to the body of the toy doll. In one embodiment, the body of the toy doll includes a display portion that can be used to generate various visual displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia Chan, Kelly Rae Matheny, Steven Ryniker, James P. Zielinski
  • Patent number: 9724170
    Abstract: A percutaneous catheter system for use within the human body and an ablation catheter for ablating a selected tissue region within the body of a subject. The percutaneous catheter system can include two catheters that are operatively coupled to one another by magnetic coupling through a tissue structure. The ablation catheter can include electrodes positioned within a central portion. The ablation catheter is positioned such that the central portion of a flexible shaft at least partially surrounds the selected tissue region. Each electrode of the ablation catheter can be activated independently to apply ablative energy to the selected tissue region. The ablation catheter can employ high impedance structures to change the current density at specific points. Methods of puncturing through a tissue structure using the percutaneous catheter system are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for ablating a selected tissue region using the ablation catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
    Inventor: Steven Richard Mickelsen
  • Patent number: 9724614
    Abstract: A plush toy having a body, removable features, a zippered pocket for storing the removable features, and a tail. The tail may be retracted into the zippered pocket through holes in the body of the toy leaving only a small portion of the tail external to the body or may be extended from the body. The tip of the tail has a clip that may be connected to a receiving member on the exterior of the body such that the extended tail clipped to the body forms a pair of backpack straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventors: Lisa McCue Karsten, Kenneth Stephen Karsten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9724574
    Abstract: A sole surface f8 of a head 2 includes a first sole region R1. An outer edge of the region R1 includes a first edge line Eg1, a second edge line Eg2, a third edge line Eg3, and a fourth edge line Eg4. The line Eg1 is inclined so as to come closer to a face surface toward a toe side. The line Eg2 is inclined so as to come closer to the face surface toward a heel side. The line Eg3 is inclined so as to come closer to the face surface toward the heel side. The line Eg4 is inclined so as to come closer to the face surface toward the toe side. The lines Eg1 to Eg4 are joined to form a single line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9724585
    Abstract: Systems and methods for basketball shot training and an apparatus therefore are disclosed. In one embodiment, the providing a basketball shot training apparatus includes a first arm extending from a web, a second arm extending from the web, a cavity defined by the first and second arm and the web, a first-arm band disposed on and surrounding a portion of the first arm, and a second-arm band disposed on and surrounding a portion of the second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventor: Larry Peterson
  • Patent number: 9724581
    Abstract: The present invention provides a portable pitching mat having a first side with a first end and a second end, wherein the first side is substantially flat and has a weight attached proximal to the first end; a second side, wherein the second side engages an artificial turf substrate with a plurality of anchors; and a pitching rubber on the first side proximal to the first end. Also provided is a portable mat having a first side with a first end and a second end, wherein the first side is substantially flat; a second side, wherein the second side has a plurality of recessed regions; and a plurality of substrates, wherein each of the plurality of substrates comprises a first face that reversibly engages one of the plurality of recessed regions on the second side; and a second face that engages an artificial turf surface with a plurality of anchors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventor: Lauren Tyndall
  • Patent number: 9717969
    Abstract: A motion analyzing apparatus includes a first calculation unit that calculates a position of a first line segment representing a direction in which a rod-like part of a sporting tool extends in a stationary state, a second calculation unit that calculates the position of the first line segment at hitting, and a third calculation unit that specifies a virtual plane formed by the first line segment in the stationary state and a second line segment representing a ball hitting direction, wherein a relation between the virtual plane and the first line segment at the hitting is compared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Sato
  • Patent number: 9713697
    Abstract: A catheter assembly, includes a catheter body, a tubular structure and a stabilizing cuff around a longitudinal length of the tubular structure. The tubular structure may be affixed to an exterior surface of the catheter body, and may include a tapered outer surface at a first terminal end of the tubular structure. The tapered outer surface may have a first outer diameter at the first terminal end of the tubular structure and a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter at a terminal end of the tapered outer surface opposite the first terminal end. The tubular structure may have a third outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter at a second terminal end of the tubular structure opposite the first terminal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan T. Moehle, Charles L. Farnworth, Dwight T. Hibdon, Ryan C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 9713761
    Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one at a time from the bottom of a group that may be a deck in a deck-crib, to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a receiving or dealing rack, and a method for shuffling and for dealing cards. Either the deck-crib or the receiving rack is moved by a motor to align a single-card receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty single-card receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A space is provided in the dealing rack in one embodiment, where a dealer's hand can reach cards and remove them from the dealing rack. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for dealing as a player hand or a dealer hand. A card reader may be included, and positions in the receiving or dealing rack of cards identified by the card reader can be stored in memory in the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Patent number: 9713762
    Abstract: Two modified roulette wheels are used to generate a pair of cards for a card game. Players may wager on one or more outcomes selected from a group of predetermined outcomes including one of the wheels producing a winning card value, the wheels producing equal card values, one or more of the wheels producing a card value below a first predetermined value, and one or more of the wheels producing a card value above a second predetermined value. The wheels are spun to produce one or more game outcomes from the group of predetermined outcomes, and the wagers are settled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignees: Las Vegas Sands Corp., Venetian Macau Limited
    Inventors: Andrew MacDonald, Baybars Bora Oral, Cetin Tanisman
  • Patent number: 9707473
    Abstract: A stacking device for mahjong tiles includes a main frame, a link rod, a side frame, and a lift seat. The main frame is coupled with a turning wheel having a guide trough. The guide trough has an annular indentation section. The link rod has a retaining pivot portion, a link pivot portion, and a guide roller pivot portion pivotally connected with a first guide roller. The first guide roller is located in the guide trough. The side frame is provided with two rails. The rails are provided with a slide seat connected with a push board. The slide seat has a slide groove. The turning wheel can bring the slide seat to displace. The lift seat includes a platform and a slide board beneath the platform. The link pivot portion is pivotally connected to a lower end of the slide board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventor: Tzu-Hsiang Tseng
  • Patent number: 9707380
    Abstract: Multi-lumen catheter having a monolithic elongate tubular shaft member having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal length therebetween. The tubular shaft member has an outer cross-sectional dimension that varies along the length of the tubular shaft member. The tubular shaft member has an inner core made of a first material and an outer layer made of a second material. The inner core has a first lumen and a second lumen defined therein, the first lumen having a first lumen cross-section and a length extending at least along a portion of the length of the tubular shaft member. The first lumen cross-section is substantially uniform along the length of the first lumen. The second lumen has a second lumen cross-section and a length extending along the length of tubular shaft member. The second lumen cross-section is substantially uniform along the length of the second lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Hua Qiu, Tung-Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 9707464
    Abstract: A user swings a putter head (154) that is connected to a putter shaft (156) about a pivot of a pendulum (24). The putter head includes an opening (190) and a lower marker (186) located beneath the opening and spaced from the opening. The user attempts to maintain the marker within the opening (190) when swinging the club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: PUT4-DOUGH LIMITED
    Inventor: Mark Vickers
  • Patent number: 9700784
    Abstract: A playing card wagering game method which involves players placing a three part wager and utilizing the standard counting technique of cribbage. Cards are dealt four down to all players that ante and the dealer. Players inspect their cards and are given the choice of folding (withdrawing from the game) or placing a second wager. A common fifth card is revealed and upon inspection players are again given the choice of folding or placing a third wager. After each player decides on whether to fold or stay, the dealer then reveals dealer's cards. Dealer maintains a point requirement to open. All remaining players which did not fold are then resolved where the highest hand (initial four dealt cards including common card) wins and tying hands push. Player's winning hands are paid in accordance with paytables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Dale Paul Krumel
  • Patent number: 9700809
    Abstract: The toy vehicle truck hauler is a working model of a tractor trailer that is used for transporting vehicles. The toy vehicle truck hauler can be used to simulate loading and unloading model cars and for storing model cars. The toy vehicle truck hauler comprises a tractor and a trailer. The tractor further comprises a truck, a tractor hitch, a first frame, a first plurality of axles, a first plurality of wheels, a first plurality of chutes, a first plurality of lifts and a first plurality of extensions. The trailer further comprises a trailer hitch, a second frame, a second plurality of axles, a second plurality of wheels, a second plurality of chutes, a second plurality of lifts and a second plurality of extensions, and a plurality of shared lifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventors: Chet Harris, Carol Harris
  • Patent number: 9700783
    Abstract: A drop target bank assembly including: a plurality of drop target units mounted next to each other on a drop target bank bracket; wherein each of the plurality of drop target units includes: a target; a trip mechanism; a reset mechanism; and a sensor; wherein the trip mechanism is configured to move the target from a first position to a second position; wherein the reset mechanism is configured to move the target from the second position to the first position; wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether the target is at the first or second position; and wherein the trip mechanism and the reset mechanism in a drop target unit are individually activated independent of other drop target units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: JJ PINBALL LLC
    Inventors: Roberto Hurtado, Keith P. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9694137
    Abstract: An injection device includes a housing for receiving a syringe or cartridge for containing a medicament; a rotary driveshaft mounted for rotation relative to the housing; and an elongate coiled torsion spring having respective formations at opposite ends thereof, with a first formation being anchored in a seat on the rotary drive shaft and a second formation being anchored in a seat on a reaction component. In use relative rotation of the rotary driveshaft and the reaction component in one angular direction strains the torsion drive spring, and release of the strained torsion drive spring causes expression of medicament from the syringe or cartridge. The torsion spring is longitudinally resiliently compressible between its end formations whereby during assembly of the injection device, the torsion spring may be longitudinally compressed and then rotated, thereby urging the end formations of the torsion drive spring into engagement with the respective seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: OWEN MUMFORD LIMITED
    Inventors: Toby Cowe, Simon Reitter