Patents Examined by Nini Legesse
  • Patent number: 9950232
    Abstract: A device for resisting and guiding a movement of a player's leading fore-arm during a sporting action. The device comprises a sleeve made of stretchable material configured to removably cover the player's forearm and upper arm, and a secondary patch of stretchable material attached to the posterior side of the sleeve. The secondary patch comprises at least two channels extending substantially along the length of the sleeve one either side of the elbow point, and which are adapted to house biasing means therein. The biasing means provide adjustable tension to resist the flexion movements of the player's fore-arm during the sporting action and maintaining the forearm in a straight, fully-extended position relative to the upper arm when the user relaxes the musculature in the forearm encased by the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: STRAIGHTSHOOTER, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Ross Middleton
  • Patent number: 9950266
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a tornado yoyo, including two rotating disks and a connecting axle configured to connect back portions of the two rotating disks, in which a protruding cylinder provided with a bearing thereon is disposed in the rotating disk and located in the middle of the rotating disk; a rotating cap is disposed outside the rotating disk and provided with a connecting hole portion extending from the middle of the rotating cap to the rotating disk, and the connecting hole portion is sleeved on the bearing to realize a rotation of the rotating cap relative to the rotating disk; and an outer edge of the rotating cap is provided with an edgefold configured to envelop an edge of the rotating disk, so that when the yo-yo is held or pinched in a forward direction, the rotation of the rotating disk will not be influenced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: ALPHA GROUP CO., LTD., GUANGZHOU ALPHA CULTURE COMMUNICATIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dongqing Cai
  • Patent number: 9950234
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sound generator for golf practice and includes: a main body having a sound generating portion from which sound is generated and a curved portion for supporting a golf club; and gripping means for keeping the golf club fixed to the curved portion. This sound generator has a structure from which sound is varied according to the speed of a swing as air enters in the direction in which a golf club is swung. Thus, a user can listen to the sound and increase or reduce the speed of a swing to conveniently practice golf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventor: Chan-Jae Park
  • Patent number: 9943743
    Abstract: A putting trainer that teaches a golfer to practice a repetitive putting stroke while maintaining the golfer's hands and arms connected to the golfer's core torso body portion. The trainer teaches the golfer to eliminate excessive use of the hands and arms by synchronizing the movement of the putter with the golfer's spine and core body structure. The trainer uses a core attached yoke, a connector coupling the yoke to a putter and a visual indicator for the golfer to determine the relationship of the putter to the golfer's core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Mark J. Diley
  • Patent number: 9937403
    Abstract: A golf training aid comprising a base, a support arm, and an alignment rod or guide, wherein the base is positioned in front of the target golf ball when the golfer is in position behind the target golf ball. The arm is attached to the base and is normal to the direction of the stroke or swing, wherein the alignment rod or guide is held by the support arm directly above the target golf ball as viewed by the golfer. The system may further comprise an adjustable, telescoping, stationary, or detachable pole with a camera mount and/or camera attached to the pole top and may comprise a camera mount under the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Fitz Woodrow
  • Patent number: 9937404
    Abstract: An elongate substrate strip of durable material with a top side having a linear arrangement of equally spaced circles each representing a regulation size golf ball; the circles being numbered consecutively for use as a reference to indicate ball position and/or foot position. The linear strip may be formed in two segments that are pivotally attached to one another to allow for pivotal swinging movement of one segment relative to the other so that the segments can be extended to a straight linear configuration, a right angle (90 degree) configuration and to a collapsed low profile configuration. The device provides an aid for proper target alignment, body and feet alignment and ball alignment when practicing various golf shots with all types of clubs including woods, short/mid/long irons, wedges and putter. The device also serves as a reference for analyzing divots (i.e., fat, thin, pull, hook) after each practice golf shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: John Yahnite
  • Patent number: 9937412
    Abstract: An improved bingo method and apparatus with a plurality of bingo balls numbered from 1 to 40. The plurality of bonus balls has various bonus values and each player has the capacity to place an individualized wager against a wagering establishment. A caller announces the start of the game and the value of a plurality of bonus balls, calls the bingo balls and bonus balls drawn from a random ball generator and announces the outcome of the game after a maximum of 21 spins of the random ball generator. Additional features include the possibility of a peer-to-peer wagering system where each player places identical wagers, plays against the set pool of entry fees and the house retains a percentage of the pot. The game further features a convenient table arrangement that can be played on the main floor of a wagering establishment or a large wagering room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Rickey R. Hendon
  • Patent number: 9925450
    Abstract: A system for correcting alignment of a golf club is provided. The golf club includes a shaft, a golf club head mounted on a first end of the shaft, a camera embedded in the golf club head. A display module is adapted to display at least a partial view of the camera. Substantial alignment of a face of the golf club head with a target location will be observable in the display as substantial alignment between the target location with an alignment guide. Misalignment of a face of the golf club head with the target location will be observable in the display as a misalignment between the target location with the alignment guide, for which a position of the golf club can be adjusted to bring the face of the golf club head into substantial alignment with the target location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen Phillip Landsman, Richard Norwood Conrey
  • Patent number: 9925473
    Abstract: There is disclosed a balloon holder for holding a balloon having a tail and a tapered self-closing bladder. The balloon holder comprises a main body having a tail locking mechanism, an elongated member protruding from a bottom extremity of the main body, a support element configured to slide over the elongated member and be positioned on the main body, and a position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the support element on the main body. In use, the tail of the balloon is secured to the main body by the tail locking mechanism and the support element is slid over the elongated member and positioned on the main body using the position adjustment mechanism so as to support the balloon in an upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: Cary Povitz
  • Patent number: 9925449
    Abstract: A training aid includes a frame configured for mounting on a head of a user and a light indicator coupled to the frame. The light indicator includes a light source configured to generate a beam of visible light extending away from the light source. The light indicator includes a first casing segment pivotally coupled to the frame and a second casing segment pivotally coupled to the first casing segment, wherein the light source is disposed in the second casing segment. The light indicator further includes an inclinometer configured to control operation of the light source depending on a tilt angle of the light indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: PROGRESSIVE INNOVATIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Barbara Anne Salmon
  • Patent number: 9919195
    Abstract: A short game golf trainer system in three releasably coupled parts: a horizontal base, a vertical support, and a cantilever horizontal top plate. The base has anchoring features, such as holes for receiving spikes, for anchoring the base to a putting green. The support is preferably one piece of molded plastic. The top plate is generally an irregular hexagonal plate and may have an arcuate front side. When assembled, the top plate is cantilevered from the support. The top plate has a viewing port located nearer the front side than the rear, but spaced apart from the front side by more than half of a golf ball diameter. The viewing port has a diameter less than a golf ball diameter. Top plates may be made in different lengths: longer for putting and shorter for chipping and pitching. Supports may be made in different heights: shorter for putting and higher for chipping and pitching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Dutch Skiver
  • Patent number: 9914032
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi functional golf tool that can be used to address a variety of circumstances that commonly arise during a game of golf. The multi functional tool includes a rectangular body having a proximal end, a tapered distal end being opposite said proximal end, the rectangular body having an arcuate cross-section along its entire length. The invention includes a deburring surface for repairing golf ball scratches, a pair of tines for divot repair and to clean golf club face grooves, and areas for marketing indicia. The shape and configuration of the invention also permits it to be used as a shoe horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: W. Frank Simpson
  • Patent number: 9914019
    Abstract: The present invention is a golf training device which employs multiple electronic sensors for detecting both improper and proper swings. These sensors work together to improve proper swing and give immediate feedback to the golfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Joseph Hackett
  • Patent number: 9914039
    Abstract: A golf putting apparatus is presented. The apparatus includes a putter with a shaft and a club head, wherein the club head has a center section carved out to form an opening. The bottom of the opening may be defined by a connector. When used with the opening uncovered, this putter provides the golfer with immediate feedback on his/her swing, such as whether the ball would have contacted the sweet spot of the club had the opening been closed, how hard the ball was hit, and which part of the ball was hit. A club face may be attached across the opening to “close” the opening so the putter may be used in a game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Jung Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 9914036
    Abstract: A golf swing training aid comprising a base member, a primary support member emanating upward from the base member, a primary guide rail secured to the primary support member, a backswing guide rail secured to the primary guide rail in the form of an elongate, curved rail which guides a golf club shaft during a golfer's backswing, a swing transition aid secured to a downswing guide rail which operates to guide the club from the top of a golfer's backswing to the beginning of a downswing, the downswing guide rail secured to the primary guide rail in the form of an elongate, curved rail which guides a golf club to a golfer's ball-striking position and a follow-through guide means secured to the primary guide rail in the form of an elongate, curved rail which facilitates the guiding of a golf club shaft to the completion of the golf swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventors: Deon Kellerman, Troy Wolf
  • Patent number: 9914037
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and to a device for providing guiding to a user for executing a golf swing with a golf club on a golf ball towards a target, said method being implemented in an electronic device comprising a display in communication with a control unit, said display being placed in the line-of-sight of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Mats Nordström
  • Patent number: 9908020
    Abstract: A tray is formed of a base in a horizontal plane with a periphery in a rectangular configuration. The tray has four side walls extending upwardly from the periphery of the base. The tray has divider panels dividing the tray into chambers. An outwardly extending plank has a sinusoidal exterior with indents for removably receiving and supporting upper extents of golf clubs. A stand has three pivoting legs below and a pivot assembly above with a horizontal dovetail slot. A dovetail projection depending downwardly from the base of the tray is slidably received in the dovetail slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventors: David R. Simmons, II, Richard Porter
  • Patent number: 9908024
    Abstract: A system and method for improving a golf swing. The system includes a club lie angle calculator, a golf club grabber, and a propeller channel for creating and supporting a swing plane for a user equal to the lie angle of a given golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventors: Michael E. Roelle, Francesca C. Roelle
  • Patent number: 9901803
    Abstract: A golf alignment tool, comprising a whole alignment unit comprised of a first component half and a second component half, magnets embedded within the perimeters of each of the component halves, the magnets oriented and positioned to removably fasten the component halves together into the whole alignment unit, a spring return reel mounted within each of the component halves, each spring return reel carrying a variable portion of an elongated line whose ends are permanently attached to one of each of the spring return reels, the elongated line extending from an upper portion of each the component halves, and a support mounted on each of the component halves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: Geoffroy Dardenne
  • Patent number: 9901802
    Abstract: A golf training device with audio and visual/touch cues for independent golf swing training in an absence of a golf instructor includes a tube having a first end and a second end and an outer surface. A sliding mass is disposed slidingly within the tube, the sliding mass including a chamfer on at least one end of the sliding mass. An end stop is mechanically affixed to the first end of the tube. A ball holding rod has a ball hold rod first end and a ball hold rod second end. A bushing is disposed on the ball hold rod first end to mechanically couple the ball hold rod first end to the second end of the tube, an outer diameter of the bushing including a male thread corresponding to a female thread disposed in the second end of the tube. A ball is coupled to the ball holding rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: MN Sport Products, LLC
    Inventor: Martin Nowicki