Patents Examined by John E Simms, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10960292
    Abstract: Card-handling devices may include a card input mechanism and a temporary card storage area positioned to receive cards from the card input mechanism. The temporary card storage area may include storage compartments distributed longitudinally along a rack. A card output mechanism may be configured to eject cards from the temporary card storage area. A card size adjustment member may be attached to the rack and extending along a lateral side of each storage compartment. The card size adjustment member may be movable between a first lateral position in which the card size adjustment member defines a first width of each of the storage compartments and a second lateral position in which the card size adjustment member defines a second, different width of each of the storage compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Stasson, Attila Grauzer, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, Ronald R. Swanson
  • Patent number: 10953295
    Abstract: A cornhole bag includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a filling. The bottom surface includes a first material and a second material with differing coefficients of friction in relation to a cornhole board. The top surface may also include a first material and a second material with differing coefficients of friction in relation to a cornhole board. Accordingly, the cornhole bag may be tossed toward a cornhole board such that the differing materials of the cornhole bag make contact with the cornhole board at different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Frank Modlin
  • Patent number: 10953297
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in roping skills training and practice provides a practical, effective, lightweight, and economical alternative to using live animals for heeling practice, which involves the roping of the hind legs of the animal. This apparatus includes a simulated animal torso and a pair of simulated hind legs. The apparatus includes a support frame and a drive system. The drive system includes mechanical links that provide interconnection between the pair of simulated hind legs and the drive system, thus providing for lifelike and coordinated leg and torso movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: PRO EQUINE GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Joshua Love
  • Patent number: 10945473
    Abstract: A wearable assist device and receiving tube for providing grip assist to a wearer of limited hand and grip ability during manipulation of an elongated article. The device includes an attachable body having each of thumb, hand and wrist strap portions adapted to being secured to a hand of the user. The receiving tube engages to the body in manner which prevents the tube from sliding or rotating relative to the body. The elongated article includes and not limited to any of a golf club or fishing rod and is adapted to being resistively engaged within the tube in a manner which compensates for the limitations in the user's hand and grip ability during a motion induced manipulation of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Michael Kinsora
  • Patent number: 10940367
    Abstract: A golf ball including at least a layer of ball shell, at least a layer of ball core, and an antenna layer is provided. The ball core is provided in the ball shell. The antenna layer is inserted between the ball shell and the ball core or provided on an outer side of the ball shell. A material of the antenna layer includes a conductive material having fluidity or ductility that auto-recovers the shape and does not break after a hit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Uniqforce Digital Integration Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Bo-Jun Chen
  • Patent number: 10940366
    Abstract: A sowable golf ball, including a biodegradable shell to protect an interior thereof, a rubber winding disposed within at least a portion of the biodegradable shell to facilitate bouncing on an object or a surface by the biodegradable shell, and a seed compartment disposed within at least a portion of the rubber winding to store a plurality of seeds therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventor: Spencer Meadows
  • Patent number: 10942002
    Abstract: An ejection launcher is an apparatus that effectively ejects a payload while maintaining a compact structure. The apparatus includes an elongated enclosure, a cover, a trigger mechanism, and a spring-loaded piston. The apparatus further includes a payload, such as a parachute. The elongated enclosure positions and connects the trigger mechanism with the spring-loaded piston. The elongated enclosure also houses the spring-loaded piston. The trigger mechanism releases the spring-loaded piston which forces the payload from within the elongated enclosure. The payload is a desired delivered item and is preferably a parachute. The trigger mechanism and the spring-loaded piston translates horizontal force into vertical force which releases the payload and reduces the release resistance. The trigger mechanism preferably utilizes and includes a servo motor with an output arm. The output arm pushes against a catch plate of the trigger mechanism and releases a catch pin of the spring-loaded piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: FRUITY CHUTES INC
    Inventors: Eugene Engelgau, Christopher John Attebery
  • Patent number: 10933301
    Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one at a time to randomly designated single-card receptacle in a receiving or dealing rack, and a method for shuffling and for dealing cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Patent number: 10933283
    Abstract: The present invention provides a golf ball wherein each hemisphere has a dimple pattern based on a pyramid having dissimilar sides. The resulting overall dimple pattern is not based on preexisting polyhedral, and is not attainable using conventional dimple packing methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Patent number: 10933304
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described herein for controlling movement of a platform for rolling at least one dice in a gaming system. In one aspect, a method for controlling movement of a platform for rolling at least one dice in a gaming system is described. In one aspect, a method for controlling movement of a dice includes causing a platform holding at least one dice to move upward with a first force. The method may further include causing the platform to move downward a first distance or over a first period of time. The method may additionally include causing the platform to move upward with a second force, with a height that the dice moves upward being configured by selecting at least one of the first force, the first distance, the first period of time, or the second force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: INTERBLOCK USA L.C.
    Inventors: Urban Bergant, Ivo Zavbi, Peter Kro{hacek over (s)}elj
  • Patent number: 10926164
    Abstract: A playing card handling device comprises a card storing area that supports a stack of playing cards, the card storing area having a playing card support surface. A card removing system removes playing cards individually from the bottom of the stack. A pivoting arm is automatically moved by a motor between at least two positions, wherein in a first position the end of the arm opposite a pivot is disengaged from a playing card at the top of the stack and in a second position the end of the arm is engaged with a playing card at the top of the stack. A processor in the playing card handling device directs movement of the pivoting arm between at least the first and second positions when a predetermined number of cards is present in the card storing area. Methods of card handling include employing the use of such a pivotal arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Rynda, Feraidoon Bourbour, Ronald R. Swanson, Attila Grauzer
  • Patent number: 10926155
    Abstract: Provided is an adjustable basketball training device that includes a weighted base portion to provide upright support to the device on a flat surface, a main leg portion connected at a first end thereof with the base portion and adjustable therefrom in a vertical direction, extension arm portions securely connected together, and connected with a second end of the main leg portion and extending in a horizontal direction, each having a sensor sensing physical contact of the user with each extension arm portion, start and stop operation switch portions connected to the second end of the main leg portion and an end of an extension arm portion opposite an end connected with another extension arm portion of the extension arm portions attached to the second end of the main leg portion, and a digital counter which counts a total number of times the user physically contacts each extension arm portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Clinton Simmons, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10926144
    Abstract: A multimedia stadium soccer goalpost and goal net display. The system includes a rear support-and-multimedia assembly for supporting the net and producing audible and visual effects. The system also includes a stadium soccer goal frame and a net. The rear support-and-multimedia assembly includes at least two upright posts, a rear crossbar, and a multimedia bar system. The two upright posts and the rear crossbar delineate a U-shape and the multimedia bar system is mounted to said U-shape. The multimedia bar system includes a plurality of lights, a plurality of first speakers, a plurality of sponsor display panels, a retractably screen assembly, and a retractably underground projector in order to audible and visually convey content regarding the soccer game and advertisements to the audience. The system also includes a first corner camera, a second corner camera, and a multitude of rangefinder laser-detector video cameras to track, record, and present gameplay live.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Nabile Lalaoua
  • Patent number: 10928156
    Abstract: An improved archery bow includes an improved limb pocket assembly. When properly assembled, the limb pocket assembly includes a generally rectangular pocket body, at least one elongated bow limb, and at least one cylindrical fastener for aligning and securing the limb within the pocket body. When fully assembled, a limb screw positions the limb pocket assembly on the riser and secures the limb pocket to the riser of the archery bow. The limb pocket assembly disclosed herein substantially eliminates movement or shifting of the limbs within the pocket while shooting the bow and between shots, thereby providing a user with increased accuracy while shooting the bow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Martin Outdoors, LLC
    Inventor: Scott Romero
  • Patent number: 10921099
    Abstract: A clamping system and method for allowing one-handed operation of a target clamp is described. The clamp may also be designed to be concealed and/or behind a structure such that portions of the clamp are not exposed to projectiles, thus protecting the clamp from sustaining damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Action Target Inc.
    Inventors: James Harmon, Robert Decosta
  • Patent number: 10905931
    Abstract: A barrel of a ball bat may include a composite laminate with a plurality of composite plies. One or more translaminar elements may pass through the composite plies and around a circumference of the barrel to reduce relative movement between the plies. The translaminar elements may include a first line of stitching, which may include aramid fiber. In some embodiments, the first line of stitching forms two or more coils around the barrel. Lines of stitching may be positioned on opposing sides of a center of percussion of the ball bat. In some embodiments, the translaminar elements may include a line of staples distributed around the circumference of the barrel. A method of making a ball bat may include arranging plies of composite material to form a cylinder, passing a first translaminar element through the plies, and curing the assembly of plies to form a barrel of the ball bat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: EASTON DIAMOND SPORTS, LLC
    Inventors: Dewey Chauvin, Mick Kaplan, Ian Montgomery, Frederic St-Laurent
  • Patent number: 10907942
    Abstract: Reinforcement is used in the manufacture of shafts having multiple layers with multiple types of material in various combinations for the arrows, crossbow bolts, and sporting goods of the present invention. The reinforced shaft is a cylindrical tube made of a base material with a reinforcing layer applied to the cylindrical tube. In one embodiment, the reinforced shaft is a carbon fiber blank with a steel mesh used as the reinforcing layer. The reinforcing layer applied over the carbon fiber blank increases the overall strength of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Aldila Golf Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Greenwood
  • Patent number: 10907927
    Abstract: The present application discloses an archery bow release that can be used to aid bow string release in archery. The bow release disclosed in the present application comprises a center carrier and a sleeve cylinder housing that receives the center carrier from the back end. The center carrier comprises a chamber, a lock mechanism and a string releaser. The lock mechanism locks and releases the center carrier. The string releaser holds the loop bow string when the center carrier is locked and releases the loop bow string when the center carrier is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Rankhorn Evolved Designs
    Inventor: Michael L. Rankhorn
  • Patent number: 10902703
    Abstract: A method for providing outcome variation for grid based number selection games is disclosed. The method allows novel interactions with random populations of numbers referenced on a grid which can be implemented as enhancements to existing grid based number selection games or as a standalone game, where the interaction involves placing one or more bets to predict the occurrences of combinations of a defined configuration that can be formed on a grid using a random number population. These bets can be implemented as side bets for an existing game in order to introduce new player strategies and reward options without disrupting the mechanics of the underlying game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventor: David Bruce Klimoski
  • Patent number: 10898781
    Abstract: An automatic ball launcher for pets includes a body shell, a ball launch aisle, a ball launch mechanism which is connected to the ball launch aisle and near the outlet for the ball; the ball launch mechanism comprises one or more ball launch wheels and one or more ball launch motors; the ball launch wheels are set on two sides of the ball launch aisle, a face of which is a concaved curve; the concaved curve matches the outline of the ball; regular teeth are arranged on the concaved curve; the ball launch wheels are driven by one or more ball launch motor and launch the ball from the outlet. The present invention effectively enlarged the contact surface between the wheels and the ball, which solve the problem of slippery ball being stuck inside the launcher. The playing is not interrupted by the stuck ball and is enjoyable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Xiaomin Qian
    Inventor: Xiaomin Qian