Patents Examined by Michael Chambers
  • Patent number: 9682300
    Abstract: A sports practicing system includes: a lever arm including an aperture; at least one ball secured to the lever arm; a pivot about which the lever arm rotates; an upper member to which the pivot is connected, the upper member including first and second ends; a base for placement on a ground, the base supporting the upper member; and an elastic strap stretched from the first end of the upper member to the second end of the upper member, an inner portion of the strap intersecting the pivot so the strap deflects the lever arm and the ball when the lever arm rotates about the pivot due to the ball being struck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Inventor: Robert W. Connors
  • Patent number: 9492723
    Abstract: A lacrosse stick is provided that includes a lacrosse head providing a frame for holding a ball. A V-Shaped pocket is coupled to the lacrosse head that defines a pocket region for holding the ball. The V-Shaped pocket includes a mesh structure having an inelastic knitting pattern and consistent mesh diamond length creating a stable pocket channel and depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: STRING KING LACROSSE LLC
    Inventor: Jake McCampbell
  • Patent number: 9468824
    Abstract: An improved lacrosse mesh is made of polypropylene. Polypropylene fibers are among the lightest weight of all commercially produced plastic fibers. Typical polypropylene has a density of 0.9 g/cm3, much lower than that of polyester (1.38), cotton (1.54), or nylon (1.15). Additionally, polypropylene is known to outperform other dyeable fibers in low moisture absorption tests. Preferably a polypropylene-based material known as INNEGRA S is employed. It has a tenacity greater than 5 grams/denier, elongation prior to breakage of about 11%, density of 0.84 g/cm3, 93% of unprocessed polypropylene and a surface texture bearing striations that enhance its grippability to a degree desirable for use in netting for lacrosse mesh. The INNEGRA S material is much more difficult to stretch to any degree as compared to the more easily stretchable NYLON material and, as such, ideally maintains pocket shape in a wide variety of conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventor: James Miceli
  • Patent number: 9339708
    Abstract: A throwing disc, goal apparatus, and game are provided. A disc includes a central hub with blades projecting equiangularly from the hub. The blades are circumscribed by and joined to an outer perimeter ring that aids in throwing. The blades of the disc act as airfoils and impart unique flight characteristics to the disc. A goalpost is comprised of two vertical sections, joined by a horizontal cross-bar located above the midline of the vertical sections, and supported by a rectangular frame oriented perpendicularly to the vertical sections. A scoring pad is included. The game is played by tossing the disc and attempting to pass the disc while in flight between the vertical posts and above the horizontal cross-bar of the goalpost, and landing the disc on the scoring pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Robert J. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 9333416
    Abstract: A method for playing a paper airplane game is disclosed. The game is played by, first, positioning a hoop within a playing environment. Next, a paper airplane is thrown towards the hoop. If the paper airplane did not pass through the hoop, the thrower move to the location of the paper airplane re-throw the paper airplane towards the hoop. This process is repeated until the paper airplane passes through the hoop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Jedd Olsen
  • Patent number: 9283454
    Abstract: A sports equipment stick handle comprising a hollow tubular member with a cross section comprising at least a first wall and a second wall that intersect at a corner having a reinforcement portion (fillet, bead or diagonal; easement, wherein the thickness of the corner is greater than the thickness of the first and second walls. The reinforcement portion increases dent resistance, strength, and stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: WM. T. Burnett IP, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Bond
  • Patent number: 9254429
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a training apparatus for developing fundamental skill for the game of football which comprises a base pad having at least one of a hand grip and a shoulder pad, and an outer pad mounted and securely stitched to a front of the base pad. The outer pad includes a torso region and a shoulder region shaped to mimic shoulder pads of a football player. In some embodiments, the outer pad is covered with a grippable mesh material adapted to mimic a texture and form of a football jersey. The outer pad may be smaller than and fit within a perimeter of the front of the base pad, and during training, the outer pad is adapted to draw attention to the center of the training apparatus to draw hands of a training player inside the perimeter of the base pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: MARTY GILMAN, INC.
    Inventor: Neil F. Gilman
  • Patent number: 9186829
    Abstract: A lacrosse head pocket and a related method of manufacture are provided. The pocket can be a molded pocket including individual molded strings, combined strings, shooting strings and support rails extending around a perimeter of the pocket. Certain pocket elements can include transition parts to smoothly transition components having different cross sections. The pocket can include a pre-formed ball channel and hole units having broadsides for connection to a head or other component. The pocket can be attached to a pocket frame, and optionally constructed from a mesh or other synthetic material that is tensioned with the pocket frame. A mold and related molding method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Warrior Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Burns, Richard J. Janisse, Sean J. Slater, Dale W. Kohler, Craig M. Herman
  • Patent number: 9022885
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device, comprising a collapsible sports goal that is housed and anchored by a backpack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: Graham A. Munro
  • Patent number: 8152661
    Abstract: A training device for teaching proper mechanics of aiming and propelling a lacrosse ball is disclosed. The training device is a lacrosse stick including a shaft portion, a head portion, and an end cap. The end cap includes a light source that generates a beam of visible light capable of forming a visible light point on a surface remote from the user. In operation, a user orients a lacrosse stick in a starting position to align the eye of the stick with a target. The user directs the light point generated by the light source onto the target, and then moves the lacrosse stick in a motion sufficient to propel the lacrosse ball from the head portion toward the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Richard G. House
  • Patent number: 6761649
    Abstract: A ball return apparatus for providing a moveable, netted frame that would redirect balls toward the shooter, after the ball passes through the hoop or if the player misses. The ball return apparatus includes a frame assembly having a plurality of vertical support members. The frame assembly has a plurality of horizontal support members. The netting assembly forms a plurality of walls between the horizontal and the vertical support members of the framing assembly. A ball return assembly is positioned interior to the netting assembly. The ball return assembly is for returning a ball to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: William H. Medley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6045465
    Abstract: A baseball bat which includes one or more colored bands with transferrable colored pigments in or adjacent to the hitting zone to assist a batter in determining where a ball is hit on the hitting zone of the bat. The colored bands on the bat have a color pigment that will mark the ball when hit. The marked ball will provide an indication of where the bat impacted the ball. This information can be used to better train the players in hitting the balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Inventors: Robert R. Alfano, Scott A. Alfano
  • Patent number: 6030300
    Abstract: Collapsible structures are disclosed having a central panel, a first support panel disengageably connected to the left side of the central panel, and a second support panel disengageably connected to the right side of the central panel. Each of the central panel and support panels includes a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material substantially covering the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Patent Catergory Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 5263509
    Abstract: The utility conduits (electric conductors and water conduit) of a door mounted dispenser are conducted from below the cabinet to the inside of the door through an inflexible tube. One section of tube rests on a shelf under the refrigerator cabinet and a second section of the tube projects into the bottom of the door in free-standing relationship to the door. The lengths of the tube sections assure that the second section stays in the door without the need of any mechanical connection between the tube and door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David N. Cherry, Gary L. Haynes, Stephen P. Virgin
  • Patent number: 5236006
    Abstract: A valve extension actuator subassembly for rotating an extending valve stem of an HVAC valve, having a rotational, polymeric, cylindrical, hollow projection body extending on a central axis coaxial with the valve stem, having an inner end and an outer end, and defining a central space therein, a transverse polymeric handle on the outer end of the projection body, a metal valve plate at said inner end of the projection body, rotatable therewith, and receiving the extended valve stem to rotate it, a removable thermal insulative plug in the central space for thermally insulating the subassembly, and a removable cap closing the outer end of the body. Connection of the body to the valve plate preferably includes snap-on detents. The body preferably has drive lugs interfitting with the valve plate. One embodiment has an adjustable memory stop plate serving as the valve plate, the stop mechanism being accessible with a tool extended through the central space of the body after removing the insert and cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Inventors: Bruce M. Platusich, Don A. Leonhard
  • Patent number: 5123441
    Abstract: An apparatus for fluid transfer having a housing adapted to be mounted on a container adapted to house fluid, a valve mounted with the housing operable in a normal first attitude to seal the container therethrough and adjustable to a second attitude to permit fluid to pass through the valve and a mechanism engageable with the valve to move the valve to the second attitude for the transfer of the fluid therethrough and wherein the housing is recessed within a portion of the container so as to protect it from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Wilbur-Ellis Company
    Inventors: Gregory E. Hogue, William M. Finch, John W. Pickrell
  • Patent number: 5078167
    Abstract: A combination fuel pressure regulator and fuel filter apparatus for vehicle fuel systems has a fuel supply tank with a fuel pump therein for puming fuel to a fuel supply rail having fuel injectors attached thereto. A fuel filter is operably disposed between an inlet supply tube and a fluid outlet tube for filtering impurities from fuel passing therethrough. A valve in fluid communication with the inlet supply tube is provided with a regulator for causing flow to be short circuited back into the fuel supply tank when the pressure in the fluid outlet exceeds a predetermined level. The valve is biased to a closed position and will remain closed as long as the pressure on the clean side of the filter is below the predetermined pressure whereby all of the fuel in the inlet supply tube will pass through the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Parr Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Brandt, Erwin W. Parr
  • Patent number: 4887644
    Abstract: An end member of a valve body is provided with first, second, and third passages to define an integral tee fitting. Two of the passages are generally aligned for receipt in the flow path of a main processing line. The third passage extends generally perpendicular to the first and second passages and communicates with the valve chamber. The first and second passages also include threaded regions to facilitate interconnection with the main processing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Whitey Co.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Jeromson, Peter C. Williams
  • Patent number: 4832074
    Abstract: An automatic water hose rewinder includes mainly a completed cabinet, and inner of the cabinet contains a reel which can be driven by motor or operated by manual action. Winding the hose is via a small rolling wheel's outlet hole which is designed to reduce friction and then via a hose arranging device to move between the rollers in rows neatly, and the hose is pressed tightly to avoid loosening by presshose device. When the hose is pulled out for using, it is disengaged away the motor and pulled with ease. Besides, while cutting off the electricity, the hose can be also rewinded into the said reel by manual rotation and caused the same effect of arranging in rows neatly by the function of hose arranging device and of tightening by presshose device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Inventor: Wen-Kuang Li