Patents Examined by George J. Marlo
  • Patent number: 5816941
    Abstract: In a wound golf ball comprising a center ball having thread rubber wound thereon and a cover, the center ball consists of a center core having an outer diameter of 27-37 mm and a distortion of 3.5-10 mm under a load of 100 kg and an enclosure layer having a Shore D hardness of 55-68. The center ball has an outer diameter of 33-38 mm. The center core comprises a rubber composition having a base rubber, a co-cross linking agent and a peroxide and being free of an oily substance. The ball is improved in spin, control and flight distance at any head speed from high to low ranges so that players may favorably use it independent of their skill or head speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Hayashi, Hisashi Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 5816938
    Abstract: The invention provides a wound golf ball comprising a liquid center in the form of a center bag filled with a liquid, a thread rubber layer, and a cover. The liquid is based on water and has a viscosity of 1 to 500 centipoises at 20.degree. C. The liquid center has a diameter D of 26-32 mm. The relationship: (A.times.B)/D.ltoreq.4.5 is met wherein A is a gage as expressed in mm and B is a hardness on JIS A scale of the center bag. A hysteresis loss of up to 7% is recorded when the liquid center is deformed to 50% of its diameter. The ball has a pleasant hitting feel and a reduced spin rate, and travels a longer distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kakiuchi
  • Patent number: 5816942
    Abstract: A wound golf ball comprising: a center ball, thread rubber wound thereon, and a cover, wherein the center ball consists of a center core having an outer diameter of up to 37 mm and a distortion of 1 to 5 mm under a constant load of 100 kg and an enclosure layer enclosing the center core and having a Shore D hardness of up to 54. The center ball has an outer diameter of 33 to 38 mm, and the center core comprises a rubber composition having a base rubber, a co-cross linking agent and a peroxide and being free of an oily substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Hayashi, Hisashi Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 5816943
    Abstract: A golf ball includes a cover and a coating formed on the cover, and dimples are formed in a layer composed of the cover and the coating. The coating is formed of a material having contraction and expansion properties and a higher heat resistance than the material for the cover and has a thickness of at least 15 .mu.m. In a process for producing the golf ball, after the formation of the coating, dimples are formed through the coating by conducting compression molding at a molding temperature near the melting point of the cover. In the golf ball, dimples can be precisely shaped and sharp edged through precise reproduction of design values of dimples. Moreover, the golf ball does not require deburring after dimple formation, thereby preventing a reduced preciseness of dimple shape and resultant variations in quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Masutani, Keisuke Ihara, Hirotaka Shimosaka
  • Patent number: 5816932
    Abstract: A golf swing training device comprises a swing guide, a base structure adapted to lie on a generally horizontal surface and a framework on the base structure for supporting the swing guide in position above the base structure in a plane at a selected angle to the horizontal surface. The swing guide has a lower portion in front of the golfer at a relatively low elevation with respect to the surface and an upper portion in back of the golfer at a relatively high elevation with respect to the surface. The framework comprises a forward ring member support on the base structure supporting the lower portion of the swing guide and permitting variation of the angle of the plane of the swing guide, and a rearward articulated prop for propping up the upper portion of the swing guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Inventor: John S. Alexander
  • Patent number: 5816939
    Abstract: A thread rubber for golf balls, which has good aging resistance and rebound characteristics, and to a thread wound golf ball using the thread rubber are disclosed. The thread rubber for golf balls has a retention of tensile strength after aging 7 days at 70.degree. C. of not less than 70%, a hysteresis loss at a 100 Kg/cm.sup.2 constant stress tensile of not more than 50% and an elongation at a 100 Kg/cm.sup.2 constant stress elongation within the range of 900 to 1400%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignees: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Hamada, Atsuko Ochi, Michio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5813924
    Abstract: There is provided a golf ball comprising a core and a cover having a plurality of dimples thereon wherein said core has a distortion of 2.8 to 4.0 mm under a load of 100 kg, the ratio of a core distortion under a load of 100 kg divided by a ball distortion under a load of 100 kg ranges from 1.0 to 1.3, said cover has a thickness of 1.4 to 1.9 mm, and a Shore D hardness of 53 to 60, said dimples are divided into at least three kinds of dimples which have different diameters each other, each dimple has the ratio of diameter (mm) divided by depth (mm) of 18 to 27, the value of the spatial volume of each dimple below a plane defined by an edge of the dimple divided by the volume of a cylinder wherein the bottom of said cylinder is defined by said plane and the height is determined by the maximum depth of the dimple from said plane ranges from 0.390 to 0.550, and the total number of said dimples is in the range of 390 to 450.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Yamagishi, Yoshinori Egashira, Hideo Watanabe, Atuki Kasasima
  • Patent number: 5813923
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a multi-layer golf ball which comprises a core, a cover layer, and a mantle layer disposed between the core and cover layer. The core has a PGA compression less than about 70, the mantle layer has a flexural modulus of less than about 10,000 psi, and the cover layer has a flexural modulus greater than about 75,000 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Christopher Cavallaro, Murali Rajagopalan, Samuel A. Pasqua, Jr., Herbert C. Boehm, Kevin M. Harris
  • Patent number: 5810675
    Abstract: A putting stroke training device is removably attached to a putter in a simple one step action. A body of the training device is attached to a conventional putter and includes a C-shaped, resilient attachment member that deforms to fit over the top-line of conventional putters and, by operation of memory of the material, abuts snugly to the back face of the putter in the back cavity. Two parallel alignment guide members extend from the body perpendicularly to the face of the putter. The training device is held in place by operation of the device itself without relying upon some non-integral means for attachment. The two parallel alignment members or fingers, extending perpendicularly from the putter club face, act as a guide between which an individual strikes a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Inventor: Patrick A. Weathers
  • Patent number: 5810674
    Abstract: A golf club laser positioning system is utilized as a golf training device for assisting a novice or professional golfer to properly direct a golf ball in the desired path. The golf club laser positioning system comprises a golf club which has a pair of light emitters mounted within the head portion of the club and will permit the golfer to adjust the light beams depending on the distance desired and the angulation of the terrain. The light emitters transmit the light beams which intersect each other at a remote common point. The laser positioning system allows the golfer to precisely select the correct angle and position of the head portion in relation to the desired path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Inventors: Aldo Falossi, Paul Thomas
  • Patent number: 5810673
    Abstract: A golf-swing training apparatus includes a base, a rotator disk for receiving one foot of a user, and means for anchoring the apparatus to a playing surface. The rotator disk is pivotably coupled to the base by a screw. Friction reducing means is coupled between the rotator disk and the base to reduce rotational friction. Using the apparatus when making a golf swing, the user's foot will rotate on the rotator disk allowing the user to rotate her torso easily with minimal swaying. In addition, the user will be able to lift her heel while keeping the ball of her foot on the rotator disk. The position of the rotator disk can also be adjusted in relation to the position of the tee and the size of the mat. Preferably, a mat slip is utilized to securely anchor the golf swing apparatus to the playing surface of the practice mat without damaging the practice mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Inventor: David M. Castleberry
  • Patent number: 5810677
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thread-wound golf ball comprising a thread rubber ball prepared by winding thread rubber around a spherical solid center and a cover enclosing the thread rubber ball therein, wherein the solid center satisfies the following equations (1) to (3):.alpha.=26 to 34 (mm) (1)10.0-0.25.alpha.(mm)<.beta.<13.0-0.25.alpha.(mm) (2).gamma./.alpha.<0.11 (3)where .alpha. is the diameter of the solid center, .beta. is the deformation of the solid center under a load of 30 kg at room temperature, and .gamma. is the deformation of the solid center frozen through the use of dry ice as measured 1 minute after application of a load of 50 kg to the frozen solid center at room temperature. The thread-wound golf ball has stable quality due to an undeformed solid center and provides a long travel distance through the use of a large-diameter, low-hardness solid center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Maruko, Shinichi Kakiuchi, Junji Umezawa
  • Patent number: 5810678
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a multilayer golf ball which comprises a core; at least one cover layer; and one or more mantle layers disposed between the core and cover layer. The core has a compression of less than 70 points and a specific gravity less than 1.18. The mantle layer has a specific gravity of greater than 1.2. As a result, the ball of the present invention is a "soft" feeling distance ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Christopher Cavallaro, Murali Rajagopalan, Samuel A. Pasqua, Jr., Herbert C. Boehm, Kevin M. Harris, Jeffrey L. Dalton
  • Patent number: 5807185
    Abstract: An adaptive physical education device has a frame with a variety of attachable components so that the device may be adapted to a variety of sporting applications, such as golf, baseball, and hockey. The frame, in the preferred embodiment, attaches to the front portion of a wheelchair using a pair of adjustable wheelchair brackets. A pivotable "L" shaped post is attachable to the frame so that the pivotable post may be attached pointing upwards or downwards to accommodate different swinging motions of a bat or a club. An elastic spring is attached to the pivotable post at one end and to the club or bat at the opposite end. A handle is attached to the club or bat, so that the wheelchair participant may grasp the handle while seated in the wheelchair, pull back the handle, extending the elastic spring, and let go of the handle, the elastic spring propels the club or bat forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventors: Daniel Raubuck, Bruce C. Lautenschlager
  • Patent number: 5807183
    Abstract: A golf-swing training device includes an elongated cylindrical member which has a first end, an open second end, and a tubular channel that extends between the first end and the open second end. A stretchable member which has a first end and a second end extends through the channel and has a pre-determined length such that the second end of the stretchable member is positioned proximate the open second end of the cylindrical member. A securing mechanism fixedly secures the first end of the stretchable member to the cylindrical member proximate the first end of the cylindrical member. The device also includes a weight that is coupled to the second end of the stretchable member by a coupling mechanism. The weight can be either a ball or a golf-club head. When the device is swung like a golf club, the motion of the weight provides feedback as to whether or not the device was accelerated properly during the swinging action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: Michael J. Benson
  • Patent number: 5807189
    Abstract: A golf club ball-striking face (6) utilizing a metal with ten times or higher damping capacity compare to the steels presently in use for club faces. The metal has the strength near that of the steels. The preferred metal is of the class of shape memory metals of alloys including: copper, nickel, aluminum, and manganese. The face is an insert plate whose front ball striking surface is narrower than its rear surface and is secured into a cavity formed in the club head, where the plate may be as thin as 0.010 inches or the plate may extend to nearly the entire thickness of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Memry Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Martin, Steven Fisher, Andrew J. Carrano
  • Patent number: 5807186
    Abstract: A golf club head is composed of a heel, a toe portion, a face, a sole, and a neck for fastening with the shaft of a golf club. The sole is provided with an adjusting apparatus detachably fastened therewith for adjusting an angle between an axis of said shaft and a bottom external surface of said adjusting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: Archer C. C. Chen
  • Patent number: 5807192
    Abstract: A solid golf ball comprising a solid core and a cover is adjusted to a weight of 40 grams to less than 45 grams and a moment of inertia of 80-90 g.multidot.cm.sup.2. By virtue of a light weight and a high of inertia, the golf ball provides improved flight performance upon hitting at a low head speed, less than 40 m/sec, offers straight travel upon putting, and is thus suitable for those golf players with a low head speed. The golf ball has a PGA compression of up to 90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Yamagishi, Junji Hayashi, Atsushi Nakamura, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 5803834
    Abstract: In a two-piece solid golf ball comprising a solid core and a cover having a number of dimples, the solid core has such a distribution of hardness on a JIS-C hardness scale that a surface hardness is 70-85 degrees and a center hardness is lower than the surface hardness by 8-20 degrees, and the hardness within 5 mm inside the core surface is up to 8 degrees lower than the surface hardness. The cover has a hardness of 75-90 degrees on a JIS-C hardness scale which is higher than the surface hardness of the core by 1-15 degrees and a gage of 1.5-1.95 mm. The number of dimples is 360-450. Since the hardness distribution of the core and cover, the gage of the cover, and the number of dimples are optimized, the ball is improved in flight distance, controllability and hitting feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Yamagishi, Jun Shindo
  • Patent number: 5803831
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multi-layer golf ball having a soft outer cover. The golf ball has a thermoplastic inner cover layer which preferably has a Shore D hardness of at least 65, and an outer cover with a Shore D hardness of 55 or less, and more preferably 48 or less. In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the outer cover comprises at least 75% of a soft ionomeric neutralized copolymer formed from a polyolefin, an unsaturated carboxylic acid, and a monomer of the acrylate ester class. The golf ball of the invention has exceptionally soft feel and high spin rates on short shots of 80 yards or less and, particularly, 40 yards or less, while maintaining good distance and average spin on full shots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Lisco Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, John L. Nealon, Mark Binette