Patents Examined by Nini Legesse
  • Patent number: 10022642
    Abstract: A hand sewn toy kit includes a plurality of first panels, a plurality of second panels and a plurality of third panels. A selected one of the first panels is selectively positioned between a pair of the second panels to simulate a slice of a food item. Additionally, a selected one of the first panels is selectively positioned between a pair of the third panels to simulate a slice of bread. A selected number of the food items are positioned between a pair of the slices of bread to simulate a sandwich for playing. A sewing kit is provided for stitching the second panels corresponding to the food item together and for stitching the third panels corresponding to the slice of bread together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Inventor: Jamie Adams
  • Patent number: 10010781
    Abstract: An adjustable laser sight for a putter is configured to displays a visible line of sight from the putter to a hole. The adjustable laser sight includes a housing that is generally hollow. The housing further comprises a module first slot, a first leg, a second leg, and a first slot. A laser line module is inserted into the module first slot. A lower plate is connected to the housing. A back plate is fit against the lower plate. The back plate is along the lower plate relative to the housing. The adjustable laser sight is configured to be held to the putter between the first leg, the second leg and a spring loaded lower plate third leg such that the laser line module produces a projected line of sight which makes the visible line of sight from the putter to the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Mark Wreford Tiernan
  • Patent number: 10004968
    Abstract: A helmet training aid for obscuring the vision of a user. The helmet training aid includes a panel having a pair of distal ends securely affixed to a pair of opposing blinders. A fastener is secured at a lower end of each blinder, wherein the fastener removably secures each blinder to an opposing side of a helmet such that an upper end of each blinder covers an open portion of the helmet therebetween a brim and a cage of the helmet. The panel contains one or more fasteners on a first surface that removably secures to the cage of the helmet. In an alternative embodiment, opposing sidewalls of the blinders flare outwardly from the lower end to the upper end, the fastener on each blinder is secured to a protrusion at the lower end, and the panel is made of a mesh material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventors: Steven Valadez, James Yarbrough
  • Patent number: 10004969
    Abstract: A bowling training apparatus and method of use that is operable to facilitate the identity of a bowling ball on a lane at a desired point. The bowling training apparatus specifically identifies a board number of a bowling lane that the bowling ball was located at a particular point and displays the board number to the user. The bowling training apparatus further includes a housing having a central processing unit disposed therein. A sensor assembly is secured to the housing wherein the sensor assembly is coupled to the housing utilizing a mount. The mount is configured to permit vertical adjustment of the sensor assembly. A ball position sensor is integrated into the sensor assembly. The housing further includes a display screen configured to display the board number location of a passing bowling ball. The bowling training apparatus further measures temperature, speed and relative humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventor: Maxim Bulanov
  • Patent number: 9999824
    Abstract: A mat for practicing golf shots, including an upper mat and a lower mat. The lower mat is larger than the upper mat. The upper mat is secured on top of the lower mat such that the additional area of the lower mat extends in the direction of the anticipated trajectory of a golf club head. A golf ball is placed on the edge of the upper mat such that the club head will travel through the empty space above the lower mat and in front of the lower mat. As a result, the golfer experiences less force due to the club head striking the mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Inventor: Donald Oswald Brosseau, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9999820
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for training. The apparatus includes a grip configured for engaging a user hand, and a grip extension movably coupled to the grip between a retracted position and an extended position. The apparatus further includes a flexible shaft coupled to at least one of the grip and the grip extension and extending a substantially fixed length, and a fan connected to the flexible shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: The Twitch Trainer, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Steenberg
  • Patent number: 9999394
    Abstract: A motion analysis device that obtains a relation between a movement direction of a ball hitting surface of an exercise tool at a time of starting a swing and a posture of the ball hitting surface at the time of impact during the swing by using output of an inertial sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shibuya, Masafumi Sato
  • Patent number: 9993712
    Abstract: A green simulation apparatus having a configurable upper surface with a changeable contour may comprise a covering forming the upper surface and a covering support assembly configured to support the covering. The support assembly may comprise a plurality of movable positioning elements having the covering resting thereon and positioned in an array extending in a reference plane and movable along axes extending substantially perpendicular to the reference plane. The support assembly may comprise a movement actuator configured to move at least one of the positioning elements independently of other positioning elements in the array. The plurality of positioning elements may include active positioning elements and passive positioning elements, with the active positioning elements being associated with a movement actuator and the passive positioning elements not being associated with a movement actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: VG BUYER, LLC
    Inventor: Sean Coffman
  • Patent number: 9993713
    Abstract: A green simulation apparatus having a configurable upper surface with a changeable contour may comprise a covering forming the upper surface and a covering support assembly configured to support the covering. The support assembly may comprise a plurality of movable positioning elements having the covering resting thereon and positioned in an array extending in a reference plane and movable along axes extending substantially perpendicular to the reference plane. The support assembly may comprise a movement actuator configured to move at least one of the positioning elements independently of other positioning elements in the array. The plurality of positioning elements may include active positioning elements and passive positioning elements, with the active positioning elements being associated with a movement actuator and the passive positioning elements not being associated with a movement actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: VG Buyer, LLC
    Inventor: Sean Coffman
  • Patent number: 9993709
    Abstract: An athletic training device for selectively and removably urging a user's limbs together is provided. The device includes two arm/leg cuffs, each having a flexible band with securing means for removably securing the band to a user's limb. Extending from each band is a spacer component having a sidewall and a top wall. Located on or within the top wall is a magnet. The magnets in each cuff are configured with opposing polarity so that the top walls of each cuff are urged together when placed in close proximity to one another. The device can be used by securing each cuff around a user's arms/legs. When the user places his/her arms/legs in close proximity to one another, the magnets urge the cuffs in an attached arrangement and the user can only separate his/her arms/legs by intentionally applying a separating force sufficient to overcome the force of the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: RE-PEAT SPORTS, LLC
    Inventors: Tim Akin, Matthew W. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9993710
    Abstract: A sports apparatus, comprising: at least two support columns, and at least two base structures coupled to the at least two support columns. At least one horizontal support bar is coupled to the at least two support columns. The at least one horizontal support bar is moveable and/or adjustable, and comprises at least two openings. At least one connector, disposed entirely below the lower surface of the at least one horizontal support bar, comprises at least two connecting point coupling the at least one connector to the at least one horizontal support bar at a lower surface of the at least one horizontal support bar by engaging with the at least two openings in the at least one horizontal support bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: Johnny McCoy
  • Patent number: 9993714
    Abstract: A putting trainer, as described herein, is used for practicing golfing with a golf club with a head. The putting trainer is for use on a generally smooth putting surface. The putting trainer has a body and at least one obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: David Glenn Grill
  • Patent number: 9987542
    Abstract: A green simulation apparatus having a configurable upper surface with a changeable contour may comprise a covering forming the upper surface and a covering support assembly configured to support the covering. The support assembly may comprise a plurality of movable positioning elements having the covering resting thereon and positioned in an array extending in a reference plane and movable along axes extending substantially perpendicular to the reference plane. The support assembly may comprise a movement actuator configured to move at least one of the positioning elements independently of other positioning elements in the array. The plurality of positioning elements may include active positioning elements and passive positioning elements, with the active positioning elements being associated with a movement actuator and the passive positioning elements not being associated with a movement actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: VG Buyer, LLC
    Inventor: Sean Coffman
  • Patent number: 9987543
    Abstract: A green simulation apparatus having a configurable upper surface with a changeable contour may comprise a covering forming the upper surface and a covering support assembly configured to support the covering. The support assembly may comprise a plurality of movable positioning elements having the covering resting thereon and positioned in an array extending in a reference plane and movable along axes extending substantially perpendicular to the reference plane. The support assembly may comprise a movement actuator configured to move at least one of the positioning elements independently of other positioning elements in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: VG Buyer, LLC
    Inventor: Sean Coffman
  • Patent number: 9981173
    Abstract: A reversibly attachable muscle trainer includes a multi-arm structure with motion sensors and force generators for exercising opposing muscles of a person moving an implement so as to maintain an ideal movement. When attached to the implement, the muscle trainer trains the opposing muscles to consistently move the implement in an ideal way. While the person moves the implement with the muscle trainer attached, a processor receives signals from the motion sensors and determines differences between the actual implement motion and an ideal implement motion. The difference indicates a dominating force direction in which the dominating muscles urge the implement. The processor activates the force generators to apply external forces to the implement to urge the implement in various types of training force directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Inventors: William B. Priester, Richard E. May, C. Bryan Dawson, David A. Ward, Georg Pingen
  • Patent number: 9981172
    Abstract: An athletic coaching method and jersey system are provided. The method utilizes jerseys with securing elements attached thereto. Number panels having specific player numbers are secured to the jerseys for use during practice. Scout team players wear the jerseys during practice. Each scout team player has a different number to represent the jersey number of a player on an opposing team in an upcoming game. The method allows coaches to more realistically simulate a game against an opposing team in practice. When the opposing team changes for the next game, each scout team player can continue to wear the same jersey but change the jersey number by switching number panels to represent a different player on the team of the next opponent. Thus, jersey numbers can be changed so that a game can be simulated for any opponent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Future1s, LLC
    Inventors: Trent S. Massey, Lawrence Gustin Smith
  • Patent number: 9975001
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a method for monitoring a golf swing is provided that includes coupling a mobile telephone to a golf club and employing the mobile telephone coupled to the golf club to monitor acceleration of the mobile telephone as the mobile telephone swings while a user swings the golf club, collect acceleration information based on the monitored acceleration of the mobile telephone as the mobile telephone swings, analyze the collected acceleration information to determine one or more characteristics of the golf swing based on the collected acceleration information, and output information regarding the one or more characteristics of the golf swing on the display of the mobile telephone. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventor: Brian M. Dugan
  • Patent number: 9962619
    Abstract: A tethered balloon assembly the balloon, to be inflated via the tether which is to be subsequently closed by a one way valve to keep the balloon inflated and allow additional inflation as desired, controllable by its tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: CREATIVE IMPACT INC.
    Inventor: Mathew Peter Mowbray
  • Patent number: 9956465
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for training baseball and softball batters, to identify types of pitched balls (fast ball, curve ball, slider and changeup) and locations (strike or non-strike zone) of pitched balls in order to increase hitting accuracy. A motion sensor can be triggered by the leading foot of a pitcher. The motion sensor can use cone or fan shaped sensor to detect the passage of a pitched ball from the pitcher. When the motion sensor is triggered, a signal can be sent to a black out lens that blocks the vision of a hitter being trained to identify the types and locations of the pitched balls. The training includes changing the lens from transparent to opaque at selected distances between the hitter and the pitcher. Batters can be trained to keep their eyes on the pitched balls until the ball reaches the batter. Baseball and softball batters can be trained to focus on the contact point between the ball and a swinging bat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventor: Dacks Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9950239
    Abstract: The hitting training device is a training device used for practicing a swing by an athlete. The hitting training device is an earbud that contains a level sensor. The earbud is worn during the practice of a swing. The level sensor detects if the head of the athlete tilts off level off during the swing. In this circumstance, the level sensor activates a buzzer that audibly and physically indicates that the head tilted inappropriately. The hitting training device comprises an earbud, a level sensor, a signaling unit and a power system. The level sensor, signaling unit and the power system are contained within the earbud. The earbud is worn in the ear of the athlete much like a Bluetooth earbud commonly used with cellular phones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventor: Kevin Harvey