Patents Examined by Mark Graham
  • Goal apparatus
    Patent number: 9463367
    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 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: PRO PERFORMANCE SPORTS, LLC
    Inventor: Allen Keith Holland
  • Ball bat including a reinforced, low-durability region for deterring barrel alteration
    Patent number: 9463364
    Abstract: A ball bat includes one or more low-durability regions fortified by one or more reinforcing elements, such as a structural patch. If the reinforcing element is altered or removed, the durability of the ball bat is significantly reduced. For example, if the ball bat is subjected to internal shaving or external rolling in an attempt to increase the bat's performance, the reinforcing element would be removed or damaged such that the durability of the bat is reduced to the point that the ball bat's performance remains below a specified limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: EASTON BASEBALL/SOFTBALL INC.
    Inventors: Hsing-Yen Chuang, Dewey Chauvin
  • Hockey goalie stick
    Patent number: 9463365
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a hockey goalie stick having a gripping aid that protrudes above the first major surface only in a handgrip area of the paddle. The hockey goalie stick includes a blade, a shaft having a width and a thickness, a paddle that extends between the blade and the shaft. The paddle has a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface with a maximum thickness equal to approximately the thickness of the shaft. The paddle includes a handgrip area having shoulders in which a width of the first major surface and the second major surface transitions to the width of the shaft. The gripping aid protrudes above the first major surface only in the handgrip area of the paddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventor: Corey Brenner
  • Object tossing game
    Patent number: 9457250
    Abstract: An object tossing game includes a portable receiving board and a container. The container defines a reservoir containing a volume of water. The board is positioned within the container and floats atop the water. The board is constructed out of a buoyant material and includes at least one (1) receiving aperture. The board also includes a catch pocket positioned below the receiving aperture to catch and hold game pieces received by the aperture. The water provides a force dampener when the thrown game piece impacts a surface of the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: Raymond L. Jenkins
  • Bat with bifurcated internal cavities
    Patent number: 9457247
    Abstract: A tubular bat is provided whereby at least one diaphragm is located within the internal cavity of the bat. The diaphragm is fastened at its peripheral edge to the inner surface of the bat wall, thereby dividing the internal cavity into two separated cavities, thus creating two sweet spots, or shifting the existing sweet spot forward towards the distal end of the bat. This improves player performance by providing an expanded number of optimal hitting zones or by moving the optimal hitting zone farther from the bat handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: BPS DIAMOND SPORTS CORP.
    Inventors: Stephen Bruce Fitzgerald, Frederic St-Laurent, Ralph Edward Mitton
  • Removable, rotatable grip element for a ball bat or other sporting-good implement
    Patent number: 9457248
    Abstract: A sleeve or grip for use on a ball bat or other sporting-good implement includes a low-friction inner surface and a longitudinal slit that facilitates its positioning on, and removal from, a handle of the implement. The grip is rotatable about the handle so that a user's hand may move into an optimal position during a swing. The grip may be readily removable from the implement so that, after a swing, it stays with the user, as opposed to remaining on the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: EASTON BASEBALL/SOFTBALL INC.
    Inventors: Keenan Long, Ian Montgomery
  • Night golf system
    Patent number: 9452332
    Abstract: A night golfing system provides an EL wire for outlining features of a golf course, to facilitate night golfing. The system employs a specific color-coding scheme as follows: Green—surrounds the surface of the green; Yellow—surrounds the surface of the bunker; Blue—surrounds or laid out to the side of the water hazard; Red—surrounds or laid out to the side of the hazard line; White—used to outline the walking/riding path and the Tee Box. An LED golf ball can be used with the invention. A specific color coding system is contemplated. Also, in a separate embodiment, LED strips can be used instead of EL wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventor: Roman Nosenkis
  • Moving target device
    Patent number: 9448044
    Abstract: A moving target device is disclosed having a target mounting frame for holding a target therein, a pivot assembly connected to the target mounting frame, an upper support arm and a lower support arm connected to the pivot assembly, a magnet support assembly connected to the pivot assembly, an electric magnet connected to the magnet support assembly, a motor connected to the lower support arm, a disk connected to the motor and capable of being rotated the motor, a spring connected to the magnet support assembly and the lower support arm, and a stop plate for controlling movement of the pivot assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventor: Robert Swailes
  • Projectile target game
    Patent number: 9446301
    Abstract: Reactive targets and target frames are provided that react to being impacted by a projectile in such a manner as to cause longitudinal movement and/or rotation of the target frame. The movement, in turn, exposes different primary targets and/or a secondary target(s) to the participant. Participants can take either offensive shots against the competitor's targets or defensive shots to protect their targets from being impacted by the competitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventor: Dwight Albert Leimberer
  • Blade of/for a hockey stick
    Patent number: 9433840
    Abstract: A hockey stick blade with a rear face and a front face having a heel portion, a toe portion spaced apart from the heel portion, and a central portion intermediate the toe and heel portions. The front face has a textured zone defined by a plurality of front protrusions, and a front face reduced-texture zone. At least part of the textured zone extends in the central portion from a lower edge of the blade. The reduced-texture zone extends adjacent the front face textured zone. At least part of the reduced-textured zone extends in the central portion from an upper edge of the blade and in the toe portion from the lower edge of the blade. The textured zone extends in the toe portion upwardly from the reduced-texture zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: SPORT MASKA INC.
    Inventors: Philippe Jeanneau, Pascal Gosselin
  • Audible targeting system
    Patent number: 9435617
    Abstract: An audible target system for measuring the accuracy of shooting projectiles with an air gun or other device is disclosed. The audible targeting system comprises a target component, a computer, and a software program capable of interpreting the results. The target component comprises a plurality of targets that a user attempts to hit with a projectile fired from a shooting device. Once struck, each of the plurality of targets engages a mallet that in turn strikes a resonant member which emits one of a plurality of audible tones. Furthermore, instead of a mallet and a resonant member, the plurality of targets can comprise an area switch with a momentary contact. Thus, the target when engaged by a projectile would produce a sound through the process of an electric switch engaging an electrical circuit. Once the electrical circuit is closed, a sound is emitted from speakers integrated in the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventors: Valentin M. Gamerman, Boris B. Tolstykh
  • Sports or exercise training device for hand-swung implements
    Patent number: 9433812
    Abstract: A hand-held sports or exercise training device configured to improve the swing of a user that includes a hollow body defining a interior volume extending within the device and a slidable mass having an passage that extends through the mass in the direction of movement, or, alternative, one or more passages that allow air flow are contained in a sleeve housing the slidable mass and/or in the bat end. The slidable mass is contained within the interior volume or an added sleeve and is in contact with an interior circumference of the hollow body or sleeve. As a user swings the device, the moment of inertia for the device changes such that swing mechanics and/or timing can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Francisco J. Sillik
  • Hockey goal trainer
    Patent number: 9427645
    Abstract: A hockey field goal training apparatus for partially blocking the opening of a hockey field goal. The hockey field goal training apparatus including a frame and a frame cover, the frame includes a pair of spaced apart and vertically oriented lateral leg members, wherein each lateral leg member has a top end, a bottom end and a plurality of curves there between, a horizontally oriented top member connectable to the top ends of the pair of lateral leg members via a first set of couplings, wherein the top member has a pair of hockey field goal engaging hooks, and a horizontally oriented bottom member connectable to the bottom ends of the pair of lateral leg members via a second set of couplings, the frame includes a pocket in which the frame is assembled, the frame cover constructed of a material in which a conventional hockey puck cannot penetrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: Timothy James Salscheider
  • Ball bat including a stiffening element in the barrel
    Patent number: 9427640
    Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel in which one or more stiffening elements are located. The stiffening element may be positioned at a variety of locations, and may have a variety of configurations, for selectively limiting the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the bat's moment of inertia. In one configuration, the stiffening element includes two radially outer flanges, a radially inner flange, and two web members connecting the outer flanges to the inner flange. The radially outer surfaces of the radially outer flanges contact, and may be affixed to, the inner surface of the barrel wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: EASTON BASEBALL/SOFTBALL INC.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Davis, Dewey Chauvin, Ian Montgomery
  • Lightweight portable goal post
    Patent number: 9427644
    Abstract: Low cost, durable, reusable, lightweight, inexpensive, simple, easy to assemble/disassemble, transportable goal posts. Each goal posts may be composed of single piece T reinforcements and a single piece cross bar reinforcement, as well as readily available construction materials, such as PVC pipe. The bodies of the single piece reinforcements are sized so that the pipes forming the upright posts and crossbar have the same length. Assembly, disassembly, and transportation are simplified. The disassembled components can be carried in vans and SUVs. Internal reinforcements allow flexible, low cost materials such as PVC pipe to be used while maintaining a professional, aesthetic appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: Kendyl A Roman
  • Hockey stick
    Patent number: 9421441
    Abstract: A goalkeeper's hockey stick with an angled shaft is disclosed. The goalkeeper stick is comprised of a shaft, paddle and blade. The shaft connects to the paddle which connects to the blade. The portion of the shaft where it connects to the paddle is beveled to provide a grip portion of the shaft where the goalkeeper's gloved hand can grip the stick in a way that provides a more ergonomic position for the goalkeeper's hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Inventor: Dave Cross
  • Floating game device
    Patent number: 9421443
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floating game device (1) comprising a submerged part (3), an above-water part (2) and a floating element (4). The above-water part includes a first structure (5) and a first flexible surface (6) supported by the first structure, the floating element constitutes a waterline delimiting the submerged part from the above-water part, and the submerged part comprises a second structure (7) and a second flexible surface (8) supported by the second structure. Assembly means are configured to keep the first structure and the second structure assembled with the floating element, in a plane forming an angle with said waterline, said floating element having a part that is offset relative to the plane formed by the first and second structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: DECATHLON
    Inventors: Céline Boyer, Antoine Harpages, Yannick Rolland, Damien Saumureau
  • Lubricated projectile trap and shooting range
    Patent number: 9423217
    Abstract: A fluid lubricated projectile trap includes a substantially cylindrical chamber defined by a forward concave wall and a rearward concave wall. A bullet funnel extending forwardly therefrom. The funnel having a lower panel connecting to the forward concave wall in conjunction with an end plate defines a pressurized fluid containment with discharge outlets directed to the rearward concave wall. All plumbing may be secured below the ramp and forward of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SAVAGE ARMS, INC.
    Inventors: Charles E. Nester, Ronald Coburn
  • Golf cup accessory
    Patent number: 9415292
    Abstract: An accessory for association with a standard golf up includes an adapter, a trapping portion and a rise. The adapter is configured to fit within the standard golf cup. The trapping portion is coupled to the adapter, has a recess and delimits a generally planar approach area that is greater in size than an approach area of a standard golf cup. The rise is coupled to the trapping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Donald J. Reino, Michael Austin Miller
  • Remote controlled golf ball ejection device
    Patent number: 9415283
    Abstract: A remote controlled golf ball ejection device includes a generally cylindrical cup liner having an open top end, and a curved bottom end with an elongated hollow channel extending downward therefrom. A golf ball ejector is positioned at the bottom end of the channel and is in communication with a controller and a power source. A remote control unit is in wireless communication with the controller and operates the golf ball ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventors: David Skurow, Allen Skurow