Patents Examined by Paul T. Sewell
  • Patent number: 6663502
    Abstract: A customizable golf putter head includes a face member and a back body both of which may be selected from a plurality of differently configured face members and back bodies. The face member has a cavity formed in its rear surface, and the back body has a mating section that is positioned within the cavity of the face member so that a parting line between the face member and the back body is concealed below a top ledge of the face member when the putter head is assembled. A hosel selected from a plurality of differently configured hosels is mounted on the face member, and an elastomeric membrane is positioned within the cavity of the face member so as to be interposed between the face member and the back body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Nelson, Douglas W. Anderson, Gary L. Tuerschmann
  • Patent number: 6663513
    Abstract: A pitching practice device for indicating and simulating the height and width of a strike zone for a typical batter, the device having a base slightly wider than home plate and two laterally spaced, upwardly extending posts connected to the base, the posts each having a plurality of slidably engaged sleeves that are independently adjustable to indicate the top and bottom of the strike zone, and the posts and sleeves having contrasting colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Stuart Alan Howard
  • Patent number: 6663512
    Abstract: A pitching apparatus is provided that teaches the fundamental techniques of a desired pitch through the regulation and control of a control arm. The pitching apparatus consists of a mechanical box housing, a control arm, and a control box housing. The mechanical box housing utilizes a vertical axis member, a collar with a cutout, and a latch to position the control arm into a locked position. A light emitting diode sensor and a solenoid coact to release the control arm from the locked position and a spring mechanism moves the control arm into a rest position. The control box housing supports a control panel and is used to regulate and control the mechanics of the mechanical box housing in accordance with the selected pitch that the pitcher would like to learn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: The Pitching Coach, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Martin
  • Patent number: 6663510
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solid golf ball keeping excellent hit feeling equivalent to that of a conventional solid golf ball, providing a large spinning quantity when driven with a short iron or the like, easy to stop and having high spinning retention. The solid golf ball according to the present invention consists of a core and a cover coating the core, and the cover is made of a mixture of ionomer resin, thermoplastic elastomer and a tackifier while Shore D hardness thereof is at least 40 and not more than 65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Iwami, Akira Kato
  • Patent number: 6659891
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, the ball striking practice device comprises a base having an upper surface provided with a slot and lateral grooves, a lower surface provided with a lower lateral groove, and side walls provided with protruding lugs. A pivoting post is attached to the base and a ball is secured to a top of the pivoting post. A resillent band is positioned in a circumscribing groove of the ball and attached to the top of the pivoting post. A lateral pivoting post retaining shaft is located in the lower lateral groove for attaching the pivoting post to the base. A closed end resilient stop band is stretched across the upper surface of the base in two pairs of the lateral grooves, circumscribes the protruding lugs and secures the lateral pivoting post retaining shaft to the base. Thus, a travel of the pivoting post in the slot is predetermined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Anthony Ivor Lloyd
  • Patent number: 6659883
    Abstract: A customizable golf putter head includes a face member and a back body both of which may be selected from a plurality of differently configured face members and back bodies. The face member has a cavity formed in its rear surface, and the back body has a mating section that is positioned within the cavity of the face member so that a parting line between the face member and the back body is concealed below a top ledge of the face member when the putter head is assembled. A hosel selected from a plurality of differently configured hosels is mounted on the face member, and an elastomeric membrane is positioned within the cavity of the face member so as to be interposed between the face member and the back body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Nelson, Douglas W. Anderson, Gary L. Tuerschmann
  • Patent number: 6659889
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising an elastic solid core, an intermediate layer and a resin cover of urethane elastomer having a plurality of dimples on its surface, wherein the dimples include 330-400 circular dimples having a diameter of 3.7-5.0 mm, have a total volume of 330-380 mm3, and are substantially uniformly distributed such that there is no or only one great circle which does not intersect with the dimples exhibit uniform flight performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuki Kasashima, Junji Umezawa, Hideo Watanabe, Hirotaka Shimosaka
  • Patent number: 6659879
    Abstract: A table assembly structured for selective positioning between a conventional table orientation and a gaming orientation which facilitates the playing of the game of billiards thereon. A plurality of side rails are connected to an under portion of a table top of the table assembly and movable between a stored position and an operative position which respectively define the conventional and gaming orientations. When in the stored position, the plurality of side rails are disposed in a primarily hidden location in order to enhance the table's appearance. A positioning assembly includes a plurality of linkage structures movably supporting the plurality of side rails along a complex path of travel as the plurality of side rails move between the stored and operative positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas Cartwright
  • Patent number: 6659887
    Abstract: A solid golf ball includes a core and a cover. The golf ball satisfies the following conditions (1) to (3): (1) the cover has a thickness of at least 2.5 mm; (2) the cover has a Shore D hardness of 59 to 62; and (3) a value obtained through subtraction of JIS C hardness of a center portion of the core from JIS C hardness of a surface portion of the core is at least 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6659880
    Abstract: A linear putter device of a golf club includes a lower connecting rod, an upper connecting rod, a bearing unit, a locking member, an upright rod, and a movable member. Thus, the golf club is moved in a linear manner, so that the golf club can hit the golf ball in a linear manner. in addition, the distance between the movable member and the upright rod can be adjusted arbitrarily so as to fit the user's stature and height, so that the length of the golf club can fit the user's stature and height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Fu-Hu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6659886
    Abstract: In connection with a golf ball comprising a core, an intermediate resin layer, and a cover, the invention provides a mold having a cavity wall defining a spherical cavity, wherein the core is placed in the cavity to define a space for molding the resin layer. The cavity wall is provided with a plurality of radially extending projections, the total cross-sectional area of the projections relative to the cavity wall and the total volume of the projections relative to the space volume are properly controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Yamagishi, Yutaka Masutani, Takashi Maruko, Atsushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6658977
    Abstract: A cutting device includes a base, a swivel seat rotatably mounted on the base and having a first end and a second end, and a blade holder releasably engaged with the second end of the swivel seat. A blade is rotatably held by the blade holder. The blade holder is pivotable relative to the swivel seat for cutting when the blade holder is engaged with the second end of the swivel seat. An inclination of the blade relative to the swivel seat is adjustable when the blade holder is disengaged from the second end of the swivel seat. An operative rod is mounted to the first end of the swivel seat and operably connected to the blade holder for controlling releasable engagement between the blade holder and the swivel seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Lee-Cheng Chang
  • Patent number: 6659893
    Abstract: A collapsible frame supports a first and second net useful for practicing various volleyball maneuvers. The first net is attached such that it acts as a standard volleyball net and the second net is attached behind the first net such that it catches and holds volleyballs hit over the first net. The entire apparatus can be disassembled making it convenient for storing and portable to any desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Airborne Athletics, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas B. Campbell, Jeffery J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6656063
    Abstract: Practice ball hitting device with a hollow housing made of molded rigid plastic material having a parallel pair of spaced apart triangular side planes joined at their perimeter by a flat plane that forms a bottom and inwardly angled sides, the flat sides having a removed U shaped section at the apex portion of the triangular planes, an S shaped low mass arm having an integral, horizontally disposed shaft, the shaft being slip fit into sockets on the inside face of said U shaped cut out section, said S shaped arm terminating at each end in a ball shape, and said lower section of said housing capable of retaining water which acts as a stabilizing element. An optical encoder on the end of the shaft interacts with a photo diode to measure number of rotations of the shaft. A microprocessor translates the number of rotations into distance the ball is hit. A numeric display or an audible sound tells the distance the ball has been hit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Robert Prichard
  • Patent number: 6656065
    Abstract: A basketball goals system providing a high degree of portability is disclosed. The goal system has a pole, a base member, and an adjustable wheel assembly. The adjustable wheel assembly is attached to the base member and transitions a set of wheels in contact or out of contact with the playing surface. The wheels of the adjustable wheel assembly are placed in contact with the playing surface by pivoting a cam on the axle of the wheels. The cam pushes upward on a portion of the base member, such that the base member is supported on the wheels. Once the base member is supported on the wheels, it may be easily transported to the desired location. The cam may be operated by an adjustment member that is coupled to the cam, such as a lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Lifetime Products, Inc.
    Inventor: S. Curtis Nye
  • Patent number: 6656064
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a first embodiment having a straight line apparatus consisting of tubular channels 18 that pass through risers 20 that elevate the channels off the ground. The end risers 22 provide a port 24 on one distal end that allows the user to attach other succeeding lengths of channel 30 to the main structure via couplers 26 that are inserted into the end port 24. The second embodiment 34 provides a curved apparatus, consisting of main tubular channels 32 that pass through main risers 34 that elevate the channels 32 off the ground. The main end risers 42 of the main structure provide ports on one distal end to allow the user to attach other units, via main couplers 40, to expand the apparatus to a larger size. The side channels 36 and risers 38 can be removed and snapped together in a stacked fashion for easy storage and transportation of the device. Main end caps 44 are also provided and are attached to the main end riser port when additional stations are not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Mark Zielinski
  • Patent number: 6656060
    Abstract: A golf ball includes a solid core and a cover of at least one layer; wherein each of a specific gravity of the solid core and a specific gravity of the cover is nearly equal to a value (S) of a relation expression given by S=W/[(&pgr;/6)×D3], where W is a weight of the golf ball and D is a diameter of the golf ball. The golf ball can enhance the durability to increase the carry of the ball with less variations in carry of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Masutani, Junji Hayashi, Hisashi Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 6652395
    Abstract: A collapsible sports goal assembly movable between an open position and a closed position has a base frame, a front frame, and a top frame, and one or more connecting leg assemblies to provide support for the goal assembly. The base frame, the front frame, and the top frame respectively include a first leg, a second leg laterally spaced relative to the first leg and oriented approximately parallel thereto, and a third leg extending between the first and second legs. The first leg of the front frame is pivotally connected to the first leg of the base frame, and the second leg of the front frame is pivotally connected to the second leg of the base frame thereby pivotally connecting the front frame to the base frame. The first and second legs of the top frame are pivotally connected to the third leg of the front frame to thereby pivotally connect the top frame to the front frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Brian L. Goldwitz
  • Patent number: 6652394
    Abstract: A multifunction training device for batted ball sports, wherein said device is adapted to selectively convert from a bat configuration to a batting tee configuration. The device in its bat configuration is suitable for storing in a bat bag, and is preferably suitable for swinging as a bat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: David M. Tener
  • Patent number: 6652390
    Abstract: The present invention provides an extreme heel and toe weighted golf putter head wherein the weight is spread along the length of the head and outside of the effective hitting area. The putter includes a head having a front surface shaped and dimensioned for contacting a golf ball and a back surface shaped and dimensioned for placing the weight of the club at a relatively large distance from the striking face. The back surface has a toe wing, a shaft connection, and a heel wing, with the wings angling back beyond and away from the centered shaft connection on either side. More specifically, the putter includes a toe section having a toe wing extending back and away from the striking face toward the toe section of the putter. The heel section having a heel wing extending back and away from the striking face toward the heel section of the putter. A recess formed in the body, the toe wing, and the heel wing and a light weight insert material filling the recess formed in the body, toe wing and heel wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Brent W. Bradford