Patents Examined by Mark Graham
  • Blade for a hockey stick
    Patent number: 9533207
    Abstract: A hockey stick blade comprising a front and a rear blade face, the front blade face comprising at least one front layer of reinforcing fiber material having a first reinforcing fiber density, and the rear blade face comprising at least one rear layer of reinforcing fiber material having a second reinforcing fiber density, the first reinforcing fiber density differing from the second reinforcing fiber density. A hockey stick having such a blade is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SPORT MASKA INC.
    Inventor: Philippe Jeanneau
  • Ball tossing game formation kit
    Patent number: 9526962
    Abstract: A ball tossing game formation kit includes a digging tool for forming a semi-spherical hole in a surface of sand. The digging tool comprises a plate having a first side. The perimeter edge includes a bottom edge, a top edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. The bottom edge is convexly arcuate from the first side edge to the second side edge. A depth line is defined extending between a juncture of the first side edge and the bottom edge and a juncture of the second side edge and the bottom edge. The bottom edge includes a distal edge with respect to the depth line. A distance from a center of the depth line to the distal edge is greater than 4.0 inches and less than 6.0 inches. A barrier mold is filled with sand and overturned to form the sand into a backstop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: William Ryan Kegel
  • Interactive golf game with automatic scoring
    Patent number: 9526968
    Abstract: A golf game system is provided, including at least one ball, at least one club and at least one hole area. The club has a striking sensor for sensing a striking action of the club on the ball, and a score display for displaying a score related to the striking action. The hole area has a tee for placing the ball and a hole for receiving the ball, wherein the hole has a ball-in-the-hole sensor for communicating with the club. Scores are automatically printed for players at game conclusion, and club scores are erased to allow reuse by subsequent players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas P. Foley
  • Baseball bat
    Patent number: 9526960
    Abstract: Baseball bats described herein may have handle, throat and/or barrel portions that include non-circular cross-sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce R. Leinert
  • Portable and modular firearm target stand
    Patent number: 9528798
    Abstract: A portable modular target holding apparatus includes a base section, a pair of vertical support sections, each vertical support section of the pair of vertical support sections being connected to the base section, and a pair of target windows, each target window of the pair of target windows being connected to a respective vertical support section of the pair of vertical support sections. A target is removably connected to the each target window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: James C. Hodge, Jr.
  • Bat customization system
    Patent number: 9511267
    Abstract: A bat including a barrel, a barrel taper, a first connector portion carried by the barrel taper, a handle, and a second connector portion extending from the handle portion. The barrel has a distal portion, a proximal portion and an internal bore. The barrel taper axially engages the proximal portion of the barrel from within the internal bore. The second connector portion cooperates with the first connector portion to axially draw the barrel taper against the internal bore to connect the barrel to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Robert T. Thurman, Ty B. Goodwin, Joshua S. Stenzler, Mark A. Fritzke, Bradley L. Gaff, Jeffrey A. Flood, Sean S. Epling
  • Stick assembly
    Patent number: 9511268
    Abstract: A hockey stick assembly has an elongate rubbery damping material installed within a hollow stick shaft. The insert may be formed with one end that has, or may have a cap or socket mounted at one end that has, an indexing member for locating the elongate material within the hollow shaft. The cap or socket or end may include a widened portion, and may include projections or a peripherally extending flange for engaging the butt end. A cap may be placed over the end of the stick once the insert has been installed. The insert may be removable. It may be a high density rubber or rubber-like polymer that may tend not to rattle. The insert may have constant thickness, and be formed to define a plug and stopper at one end. The other end is trimmed to length and slid into a loose fit within the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Levy
  • Baseball bat
    Patent number: 9504891
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a baseball bat, which comprises a hollow handle region extending along an axis and including a connection section; and a barrel region extending along the axis and connected with the connection section. The barrel region has thermoset resin layers and at least one flexible chain polymer layer, which exists within the thermoset resin layers, so that the barrel region does not harden after shape forming. The barrel region of the baseball bat can absorb vibration during batting and improve the stability of the batted ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignees: WELL JET INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., MIZUNO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yung-Hsiung Chen
  • Device and method to precisely isolate and minimize direction errors for short putts
    Patent number: 9498695
    Abstract: A device for practicing putting of a golf ball includes: an elongate base with opposed first and second ends and an upper surface; an elongate rail with an upper surface and opposed first and second ends, the rail mounted to the base such that the upper surface of the rail is positioned above and generally parallel with the upper surface of the base; a locating feature positioned adjacent the first end of the rail, the locating feature configured to provide a resting place for a golf ball; and a target area positioned near the second end of the base panel located adjacent the second end of the rail. Such a device can provide immediate and accurate feedback on putting errors committed by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Outside the Leather, LLC
    Inventors: Vincent Michael Vancho, Timothy Roland Maloney
  • Interactive golf game with automatic scoring
    Patent number: 9492729
    Abstract: A golf game system is provided, including at least one ball, at least one club and at least one hole area. The club has a striking sensor for sensing a striking action of the club on the ball, and a score display for displaying a score related to the striking action. The hole area has a tee for placing the ball and a hole for receiving the ball, wherein the hole has a ball-in-the-hole sensor for communicating with the club. Scores are automatically printed for players at game conclusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas P. Foley
  • Shooting target and method of making same
    Patent number: 9494391
    Abstract: A multiple blister, dye-containing unit for attachment to the back face of a shooting target sheet is formed into a suitable shape corresponding to a predetermined portion of an image on the front face of the target sheet by removal of a portion of a larger array of blisters arranged in rows and columns. The multiple blister unit is than secured by adhesive to the back face of the target sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: BlisterCell, LLC
    Inventor: Jay F. Broadbent
  • Variable stiffness striking implement
    Patent number: 9486680
    Abstract: A variable stiffness striking implement, such as, for example, a ball bat typically used in baseball, softball, or rubber ball. The striking implement, preferably has a separate barrel and handle and includes a variable stiffness assembly which results in the user being able to adjust stiffness. This is accomplished by the user selecting a stiffness member having a desired hardness and inserting the selected stiffness around the handle and abutting the end of the barrel closest to the handle end and using a cap to hold the stiffness member in place, or, if desired by the user, the striking implement may be used without a stiffness member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: George W. Burger, James M. Earley
  • Putting green formed from aerated polymers and methods of making the same to simulate a natural grass surface
    Patent number: 9486690
    Abstract: A foamed polymer having a top portion with ruptured cells and a bottom portion of non-ruptured cells is provided. The ruptured cells are formed using mechanical or chemical abrasion to form a plurality of fibrous members that simulate a grass-like surface. The abrasion may be accomplished using sanding or solvents that rupture the cells of the top portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventor: John V. Breaker
  • Multipurpose putting practice device for enabling straight putting and distance practice by situation
    Patent number: 9480898
    Abstract: Provided is a multipurpose putting practice device for enabling straight putting and distance practice by situation, which: enables short-distance or middle- and long-distance putting practice on flat, uphill, and downhill environments; enables a golf ball to be collected at the same place where putting is carried out through an upwardly protruding putting line during putting; improves positioning by checking whether a golf ball has gone into the hole by sound and with the naked eye so as to hit the golf ball to a target spot in a fixed direction; and forms correct putting postures, and digitizes and visualizes a plurality of green speeds such that a user can compare and figure out the plurality of green speeds and practice distance adjustment on a desired field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: BARO PUTTING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheol Seong Bae
  • Corner-mounted target
    Patent number: 9482497
    Abstract: A target for receiving projectiles is configured for mounting in a corner of a room. The target includes a front target wall including a pair of spaced apart edges having a target area located between the edges and at least one side area extending from the front wall adapted for engagement with one of the walls defining the corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: RIFIT WORLD, LLC
    Inventor: Paul W. Schneider
  • Goal apparatus
    Patent number: 9480894
    Abstract: A goal apparatus for soccer (football) and the like has a frame, a first pliable goalpost member, a second pliable goalpost member and a pliable crossbar member. The frame presents net connection points and is configured to support each of the pliable goal members in tension between two net connection points such that the goal apparatus presents a substantially rectangular goal mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: PRO PERFORMANCE SPORTS, LLC
    Inventor: Allen Keith Holland
  • Resetting gun target
    Patent number: 9482498
    Abstract: An example resetting gun target includes a first curved rocking member; a second curved rocking member; a connector portion joining the first rocking member and the second rocking member and maintaining a space between the first rocking member and the second rocking member; and a central target panel attached to the connector portion and situated in the space between the first curved rocking member and the second curved rocking member. The resetting gun target may further include paddle portions respectively situated at a first end and a second end of each of the first curved rocking member and the second curved rocking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventors: Jared Miller, Peter Bunnell
  • Butt-end device or knob for a sports implement
    Patent number: 9468823
    Abstract: A butt-end device or knob for a sports implement with a handle for holding the sports implement. The butt-end device or knob has an inner member or inner surface mountable adjacent to a longitudinal end of the handle and a hand-engaging surface to engage a user's hand when holding the handle, the hand-engaging surface being movable relative to the handle in order to follow movement of the user's hand when the user swings the sports implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: BPS DIAMOND SPORTS CORP.
    Inventors: Ralph Edward Mitton, Frederic St-Laurent, Stephen Fitzgerald
  • Reactive target system
    Patent number: 9470482
    Abstract: A target support system is used for supporting a target device for shooting practice. The target support system includes a target support frame, a target connecting mechanism, and a forward barrier. The target support frame is placed onto a target placement area. The target connecting mechanism is arranged on the target support frame and operatively supports a target device on the target support frame. The forward barrier protects the system from impact of a projectile on the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventor: Everett McDowell Steil
  • Sports event advertising display system
    Patent number: 9466234
    Abstract: A netting apparatus adapted to display advertising content at a sporting event is disclosed. The netting apparatus comprises a net and a plurality of mesh netting pieces. The net may comprise an open mesh netting, wherein the open mesh netting is adapted to safely stop a ball without significant obstruction of view through the open mesh netting. The mesh netting may also include a plurality of cut-out portions. Each piece of the plurality of mesh netting pieces may be colored and each piece may be in the shape of a logo such that each piece corresponds to a one of the plurality of cut-out portions on the net. Each piece may be attached to the net such that the net and the plurality of mesh netting pieces do not overlap each other with each mesh netting piece located within the corresponding cut-out portion of the net.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventors: Joseph M. Demarco, Joseph J. Berghammer, J. Pieter van Es