Patents Examined by Steven B. Wong
  • Patent number: 10343027
    Abstract: A sportsball and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The sportsball includes a carcass and a ball cover. The ball cover includes two or more cover panels having connecting sides connected with each other in edge to edge manner to form a plurality of connecting seams. The ball cover is supported and retained by the construction layer of the carcass in a desired roundness after air inflation. At least one the cover panels of the ball cover provides one or more virtual stitching seams molded to form thereon each imitating an actual stitching seam but having no stitching hole and gap. Each of the virtual stitching seams has a virtual seam recess and a plurality of virtual stitching marks along a bottom of the virtual seam recess imitating actual stitching marks of stitching thread like the actual stitching seam after sides of panels being sewn edge to edge together, so as to reduce the number of cover panels of the ball cover and minimize the presence of stitching holes and gaps of the ball cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Inventor: Tsung Ming Ou
  • Patent number: 10343026
    Abstract: A sport ball includes a casing that includes a plurality of joined panels and defines a cavity. The casing includes at least a first panel having (a) a first layer positioned to form a portion of an exterior surface of the sport ball, (b) a second layer disposed adjacent to the first layer, and (c) a third layer disposed adjacent to the second layer. The first panel defines a first indentation and a second indentation spaced apart from the first indentation. The first indentation has a first depth and the second indentation has a second depth that is less than the first depth. The sport ball also includes a bladder disposed within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Ryan Berggren, Tal Cohen, Gary W. Glahn, Arthur Molinari, Todd Smith, Vincent F. White
  • Patent number: 10335664
    Abstract: A golf utility device includes upper and lower baseplates and a ball alignment tool. The alignment tool is mechanically coupled with, but rotationally independent of, the upper and lower base plates. The alignment tool includes an upper surface with an arrow. Before putting, a golfer places the golf utility device on the green behind a ball that has been circumscribed with an annular ring, removes the ball, calculates the line of play, and aligns the arrow therewith. The ball is then returned to the green with the annular ring aligned by the arrow on the alignment tool. A golfer subsequently aligns his putt using the alignment of the annular ring. Additional golf tools may be attached to the upper or lower baseplates, including, but not limited to, a ball marker, a divot repair tool, a range finder, a spike wrench, a golf tee, and a fidget/focus device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Inventor: Guido Jacques
  • Patent number: 10322337
    Abstract: A hexagonal prismatic packing puzzle is provided, which includes 18 different shapes of puzzles. Each of the puzzles is composed of a plurality of unit components and the puzzles can be pieced together into a hexagonal prism. The unit components are selected from a group consisting of a first unit component and a second unit component. The volume of the first unit component is larger than that of the second unit component. The packing puzzle does not have an only solution or a specific solution. A user may develop and improve the sense of space and the cognitive of geometric figures thereof. Further, the user may train ability to think in multiple ways and achieve edutainment in the process of thinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Ku-Yu Fan, Wen-Liang Hung
  • Patent number: 10300346
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a toy deformable to several structural configurations. The toy includes two endcaps connected by a plurality of pliable ribs. The toy may be deformed into a low-profile configuration by pressing the endcaps together, the ribs bending outward to accommodate the deformation. The toy may be deformed into a high-profile configuration by squeezing the ribs together, the endcaps being pushed apart to accommodate the deformation. While pressure is not applied to the toy, the toy may enter a non-deformed configuration wherein the ribs and the toy as a whole take on a substantially spherical form. A retention device may also be utilized to confine the toy to a specific configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Inventor: John Hinnen, III
  • Patent number: 10293236
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a direction indication device for golf putting. The device includes a scale plate, a left and right slope angle indication needle, an indication needle rotation means, a vertical slope angle scale means, and a lid provided over the scale plate. The indication needle rotation means includes a first rotation cam including a wedge pin closely coupled vertically to an elongated hole formed on one end of the left and right slope angle indication needle and maintained vertically in a direction of the central axis of the earth. The indication needle rotation means also includes an angle adjustment bar rotatably connected with the first rotation cam such that the first rotation cam is rotated from side to side and moves back and forth. Additionally, the indication needle rotation means includes a first supporting rod to support the angle adjustment bar and installed on the scale plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignees: KAISHOT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyun Duk Uhm
  • Patent number: 10293246
    Abstract: A three dimensional structures, which may be formed as a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, are described. The structure has one or more viewing directions along which different images are viewable. An image to be presented is divided into image portions that are applied to primary surfaces, where the structure has the primary surfaces arranged to present the image when viewed along an axis. The structure may also have secondary surfaces that are hidden from view along a viewing direction, and which become viewable when the structure is rotated relative the viewer. The structure may also be in a puzzle, which may be in the form of a kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventor: Myrl Rae Douglass, II
  • Patent number: 10286260
    Abstract: A kind of glow ball comprises a ball shell made of flexible and transparent material, and an empty cavity is formed in the said ball shell. The said empty cavity contains chemiluminescent reagents (2-A, 2-B), and the said chemiluminescent reagents solid or liquid or solid-liquid mixture, and the said chemiluminescent reagents are two kinds of reagent sealed separately and can generate chemiluminescent reaction when they are combined. At least one kind chemiluminescent reagent is contained in one or more breakable containers. The application adopts that the inner wall of the ball shell is with protrusions or polyhedral or many pits or grooves and/or protrusive ribs and is placed with dispersed particles, such as scraps of paper, plastic film, or small plastic particles, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Beijing Wenhaiyang Industry & Trading Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhaoyang Jin
  • Patent number: 10279232
    Abstract: A golf swing guide tool is configured for use with a golf tee, and includes an elongated pointer body having a front end, a medial portion and a rear end, the pointer body having a longitudinal axis. The front end of the pointer body is tapered to a point at a tip portion thereof which is disposed on the longitudinal axis. The medial portion of the pointer body has a central hole formed therein which is aligned with the longitudinal axis, and which is configured to slidably receive a shaft portion of a golf tee therein to form a working configuration in which the tee is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pointer body. A method of using the golf swing guide tool is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventor: Shawn Patrick Pope
  • Patent number: 10258836
    Abstract: An inflatable sports ball is provided. The sports ball includes an interior bladder and a cover disposed about the interior bladder. The cover may include an outer substrate and an intermediate structure. The cover may further include an outer substrate surface, defined by the outer substrate, and a feature surface radially spaced apart from the outer substrate surface. Together the outer substrate surface and the feature surface cooperate to define an exterior surface of the cover. A mechanoluminescent material may be embedded in a portion of the cover. The mechanoluminescent material may be disposed at only one of the outer substrate surface and the feature surface, such that it is positioned to form a predetermined design on the cover. The mechanoluminescent material emits visible light in response to an externally-applied stress, such that the predetermined design illuminates when an external stress or mechanical stimulus is exerted upon the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur P. Molinari
  • Patent number: 10258870
    Abstract: A magnetic sticker with folding puzzle panel, comprising a left front L-shaped panel assembly, a right front L-shaped panel assembly, a left rear L-shaped panel assembly, a right rear L-shaped panel assembly, a left upper panel, a right upper panel, a front lower panel, a rear lower panel, a first upper sticker, a second upper sticker, a plurality of inner stickers, a first lower sticker, a second lower sticker, and at least two magnets, so that the magnetic sticker with folding puzzle panel not only can be attached on fridges or other metallic surfaces, but also can be folded into different shapes to show a variety of images, colors, or photos.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Jie Long Life Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Chi-Jen Ho, Chiu-Wen Lin, Chi-Lin Ho
  • Patent number: 10245504
    Abstract: A multi-axis rotational puzzle cube has a core unit and multiple first operating assemblies and multiple second operating assemblies rotatably assembled to the core unit. Each one of the multiple first operating assemblies has a first operating unit connected to the core unit, a snap rivet connected to the first operating unit inside the core unit, a blocking tube mounted around and stuck with the snap rivet, and a compression spring mounted around the snap rivet and abutting against the core unit and the blocking tube simultaneously. Each one of the multiple second operating assemblies has a second operating unit connected to the core unit, a snap rivet connected to the second operating unit inside the core unit, a blocking tube mounted around and stuck with the snap rivet, and a compression spring mounted around the snap rivet and abutting against the core unit and the blocking tube simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Inventor: Ju-Hsun Yang
  • Patent number: 10238922
    Abstract: An American style football including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, a lining positioned over the bladder, a cover assembly, a lacing, and an electronic circuit positioned between the lining and the cover assembly and generally aligned with the lacing. The cover assembly includes at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder and the lining. The lacing is coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The electronic circuit includes at least one sensor and the electronic circuit is configured to produce a signal to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Krysiak, Mark W. Fisher, Bradley L. Gaff, Douglas G. Guenther
  • Patent number: 10188937
    Abstract: A linked sequence of mechanically encoded puzzle pages is disclosed. Each page is comprised of multiple planar layers interconnected to implement the puzzle design of the page. The puzzle of each page must be solved to disengage a latching mechanism enabling the player to turn the page and begin solving the puzzle in the next page. Similarly for the next page, and each succeeding page until the last page, solution to the puzzle by the player will disengage a latching mechanism. The latching mechanism holds the active page being solved by the player to the next page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventor: Brady Whitney
  • Patent number: 10179266
    Abstract: A ball has a lightweight inner bladder and an outer layer that covers the inner bladder. The inner bladder bunches up against the inner surface of the outer layer. The bunched up surface of the inner bladder may be flattened upon impact, thereby absorbing energy. The bunched up inner bladder may create an uneven surface on the outer layer thereby altering the manner through which the ball travels through the air. The outer layer may be provided with lines, indentations, graphics and/or other features that improve the performance of the ball and/or that replicate some or all of the characteristics of the exterior surface of the regulation ball it simulates. The ball may be configured for any of a variety of sports or games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventor: Joseph Gerard Burke
  • Patent number: 6024360
    Abstract: A puzzle and game apparatus constructed of elements forming a geometrical pattern, the shape of each element providing information about its placement in the overall puzzle. In the preferred embodiment, the curved geometry game apparatus is fabricated as a plurality of elements of soft, resilient pieces of foam rubber, which are curve-shaped each with an interlocking tab and a recess formed on either of its ends. Multiple curve-shaped elements are interlockable by insertion of the tab of one element into the recess of another one. In this fashion, rings of similarly curved elements can be formed, and these rings can be placed one within another to form an overall circular shape. When the circular shape containing all the rings is disassembled, the individual elements do not immediately appear to fall into any order for reconstructing the overall shape, and further, the curve-shaped elements may have different arc lengths, which increases the difficulty of identifying them as being part of the same group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Haim Orbach
    Inventors: Haim Orbach, Moshe Klein
  • Patent number: 5957454
    Abstract: A jigsaw puzzle is made up from a plurality of pieces which can be assembled to form a picture. The pieces include a plurality of outer edge pieces which when assembled establish a perimeter of the puzzle and a plurality of interior pieces. The pieces are formed by cutting a support bearing the picture along a plurality of cutting lines extending in two approximately orthogonal directions within a plane defined by the support. This results in a puzzle in which each piece lies at an intersection of a row and a column and each edge of each piece contacts only one edge from a single other piece in the assembled puzzle. The pieces are locked together by means of a plurality of male and female interlocking elements, which are part of the edges of the different pieces. The puzzle of the invention is made more difficult because the cutting lines include a variable number of straight segments such that at least half of the interior pieces, and preferably all of these pieces, each have at least one straight edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Inventor: Yves Libeskind
  • Patent number: 5893808
    Abstract: A ball for warmup and therapy having a solid homogeneous body of molded elastomeric material of a size easily grasped in the palm of the hand, a weight of between 1-1.7 pounds, a hardness of 50-70 Shore A durometer and a percentage rebound of 65-90%. For therapy and warmup, the ball is generally used by grasping the ball in the palm of the hand and throwing or tossing this at a desired distance and angle, preferably using a full overhand motion, and catching the ball with any preferred hand as it bounces back to the user. This process is repeated as many times as the user is allowed, able or feels comfortable with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Inventor: Michael Bennett
  • Patent number: 5890967
    Abstract: The present invention is a golf ball ejecting apparatus that comprises a sleeve and a main body featuring a solenoid system and surrounded by and attached by sealants to the sleeve. The main body comprises a solenoid-driven plunger, a guide tube, a power source, a housing for the power source, phototransistors, solenoid coil, tapered coil springs, insulating tape, a control circuit panel, a flag stick tube, a golf cup and an end plate. The end plate is positioned under the guide tube and serves as a bottom cover for the main body. The solenoid-driven plunger slides in the guide tube which is positioned under the flag stick tube. The golf cup is positioned above the flag stick tube. The insulating tape is wrapped around the solenoid coil which is wrapped around the flag stick tube. Tapered coil springs connect the power source to the solenoid coil. The control circuit panel is placed on the insulating tape and is connected to the phototransistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: William Wayne Allen
  • Patent number: 5865697
    Abstract: A ball comprising an interior layer; an intermediate layer having a plurality of spacer panels extending radially outwardly from the interior layer, the panels each having interior edge located adjacent to the interior layer and an exterior edge and lateral side edges therebetween coupled to lateral side edges of adjacent panels in a waffle-like configuration to form a plurality of recesses extending downwardly from the exterior edges to thereby form a grid pattern of recesses with an exterior surface formed from the free exterior edges; and an exterior layer adjacent to the exterior surface of the intermediate layer for entrapping pockets of air within the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Lisco, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Molitor, Terence Melvin