Patents Examined by Steven Wong
  • Patent number: 8617011
    Abstract: A sport ball may incorporate a casing that includes a plurality of joined panels. At least one of the panels may have a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The casing defines at least one indentation in the exterior surface, and the first layer is bonded to the third layer adjacent to the indentation. In some configurations, the casing may also define at least one indentations in a surface of the third layer, which may correspond in location with the indentation in the exterior surface. Additionally, the sport ball may include an intermediate structure and a bladder located within the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Ryan Berggren, Tal Cohen, Vincent F. White, Gary W. Glahn
  • Patent number: 8613448
    Abstract: A tactile slide puzzle comprises a puzzle support structure, and a plurality of pieces that are slidably disposed on or within the puzzle support structure. The plurality of pieces, when properly configured, form a completed puzzle having a plurality of shapes which protrude outwardly from a surface of said plurality of pieces. Each of said sliding pieces includes a portion of at least one of said plurality of shapes, and each of said plurality of shapes has a textured top surface. The slide puzzle may further include a solution key disposed on the slide puzzle, and the solution key has the same tactile feel as does the completed puzzle. An audible or visual indicator may be included to provide an indication that the puzzle has been properly completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Playability Toys, LLC
    Inventor: Raymond E. Fraze
  • Patent number: 8608599
    Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing and a bladder located within the casing. The casing may include a plurality of panel elements joined to each other with welds, and portions of the panel elements that include the welds may project toward an interior of the ball. A method of manufacturing a sport ball may include providing a plurality of casing elements that include a thermoplastic polymer material. Edges of the casing elements are welded to each other to join the casing elements. The casing elements may then be turned inside-out through an aperture formed by at least one of the casing elements, and the aperture may be sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey C. Raynak, Vincent F. White
  • Patent number: 8608600
    Abstract: A recreational object comprises a hollow spherical member comprising a center and a plurality of apertures. A plurality of hollow arm members is configured to be joined to the spherical member at the apertures in which the arms joined to the spherical member are balanced about the center. The arm members each comprise a channel for enabling air passage through the arm and into the spherical member in which the air passage affects a flight speed and a rotational speed of the recreational object passing through air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Lucian S. Naum
  • Patent number: 8602927
    Abstract: A game ball, such as a soccer ball, having a cover comprised of one or more cover panel blanks and one or more reinforcement material blanks, is provided. The cover panel blanks and reinforcement material blanks are heat bonded together so that the free edges and interior panel boundaries of the cover panel blanks are aligned with the reinforcement material blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Vertex L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michel Marc
  • Patent number: 8602917
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved device for manipulating objects on the ground, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to an improved device for teeing a golf ball. A hand operated device is disclosed for manipulating an object on the ground from a standing position, comprising a manipulator, shaft, control mechanism and a stabilizer. The manipulator is carried at one end of the shaft and the stabilizer comprises a ground engaging foot and a resilient member to urge the foot to an extended position. The manipulator and stabilizer are arranged such that the foot engages with the ground, and as the manipulator is moved towards the ground against the urging of the resilient member, the foot remains engaged with the ground to stabilize the device while the control mechanism is operated to manipulate the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Northcroft Golf Limited
    Inventor: John H. Bennett
  • Patent number: 8579742
    Abstract: A football having first and second ends and including a bladder, a cover and a lacing. The cover is disposed over the bladder and defines channels. The cover has an outer surface and includes a plurality of ridges. The height of the ridge is greater than or equal to 0.7 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm. The football includes an upper central region positioned between first and second upper end regions, and a lower central region positioned between first and second lower end regions. The lacing is coupled to the upper central region. The ridges extend over the upper central region, the first and second upper end regions, and the first and second lower end. The lower central region is formed without ridges. The lacing has a first length and the lower central region has a second length that is generally equal to the first length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventor: Kevin L. Krysiak
  • Patent number: 8579740
    Abstract: A ball amusement device including an outer shell of transparent or semi-transparent plastic or elastomer or plastomer having good bounce characteristics, and at least one liquid within the shell. The outer shell may be configured to reduce the transparency to light through the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Maui Toys, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Kessler
  • Patent number: 8579744
    Abstract: An inflatable sports ball and its pneumatic inflation valve core are provided. The pneumatic inflation valve core includes a passage penetrating the pneumatic inflation valve core in a lengthwise direction. The passage is provided for receiving an inflation needle which is served for inflating a ball bladder of an inflatable sports ball. When an inflation needle inserts into the passage of the pneumatic inflation valve core, since the pneumatic inflation valve core has adequate length, the pneumatic inflation valve core prevents the inflation needle from piercing through the ball bladder as the ball bladder is flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Keng-Hua Chou
  • Patent number: 8579741
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a playing object (21) having a main surface (13, 14, 16) enclosing and provided around a center of gravity, said main surface being provided with elements (22) in a pattern around the center of gravity, where each element has an element surface extending away from the main surface. The playing object may be a polyhedron and some of the elements may have a different appearance than the majority of elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Waboba Limited
    Inventor: Jan Von Heland
  • Patent number: 8573596
    Abstract: A picture puzzle kit is provided for coloring duplicate picture puzzles marked with distinct indicia corresponding to multiple colors. The picture puzzle kit comprises two or more sets of puzzle pieces comprising parts that define a picture puzzle. The puzzle pieces in one set are duplicates of corresponding puzzle pieces in another set. The puzzle pieces in one set are marked with indicia corresponding to a color, which are distinct from indicia marked on the puzzle pieces in another set. Opposing sides of the puzzle pieces can be marked with distinct indicia. Two or more color charts display colors corresponding to the distinct indicia marked on the puzzle pieces. Coloring tools are used to color the puzzle pieces based on the colors corresponding to the distinct indicia, displayed on the color charts. Corresponding colored puzzle pieces in the sets are interchanged for creating duplicate picture puzzles of different colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kopykatkids LLC.
    Inventor: Anita Jane Gearty
  • Patent number: 8544849
    Abstract: The invention relates to a three-dimensional, self-supporting jigsaw puzzle, having a multiplicity of puzzle pieces resulting in a hollow body in the assembled state, each puzzle piece having an upper face associated with the exterior of the hollow body, a lower face associated with the interior of the hollow body, an edge extending between the upper face and the lower face, and at least one connecting region extending from the edge in the form of a recess or an extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ravensburger-Spieleverlag GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Knell, Joerg R. Bauer
  • Patent number: 8545338
    Abstract: The present invention comprises: a frame; an ascending and descending vertical carrier; a motor; a first rod for performing a forwards rotation or backwards rotation movement; a second rod linked in movement to the other end of the first rod; a separating type of pressed-member which separates from the ascending and descending vertical carrier when the ascending and descending vertical carrier is ascending, and which collides with and is pressed by a pushing plate formed in the other side surface of the ascending and descending vertical carrier when the ascending and descending vertical carrier is descending; a rotational force transmission means for converting the pressing force of the pressed-member into a rotational force; and a golf ball guide member means for nudging the golf ball and settling it on a tee member of the ascending and descending vertical carrier when the vertical carrier has descended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Wan je Cho
  • Patent number: 8540595
    Abstract: A ball inflation valve includes a valve body extended into an inflatable inner bladder of a ball and having an axial bore and an annular flange portion; a valve core partially held in the axial bore of the valve body and having an air hole; a canvas superimposing layer flatly superimposed on the annular flange portion of the valve body to locate around the valve core; and a protective top including a sleeve portion enclosing a length of the valve core exposed from the valve body and a locating flange portion radially outward extended from the sleeve portion to locate between a surface cover of the ball and the valve body and the valve core, so that any sulfide from the valve body and the valve core will attach to an inner side of the protective top without forming a yellowing smudge on the ball surface cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Long Way Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mei Sun Lin
  • Patent number: 8529386
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an inflatable ball, in particular a soccer ball, having an outer shell comprising a plurality of panels, wherein the panels are interconnected by seams and each panel comprises at least one pseudo-seam extending over at least a part of the outer surface of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Nuernberg, Josh Robert Gordon, Timothy David Lucas, Harald Geyer, Janneke van Oorschot, Andy Harland
  • Patent number: 8529379
    Abstract: A grabbing system uses a typical first grabber located on a main shaft to grasp golf tees for setting into and retrieving them from the ground. A secondary shaft slidably passes through the main shaft of the device and has a second grabber such that the first grabber and the second grabber are simultaneously controlled by a single trigger mechanism. This allows a tee and ball to be grasped and released together such that setting the position of the secondary shaft with respect to the main shaft allows for precise penetration placement of the tee into the ground. A clipping system allow for easy carrying of the device, while optional support legs allow the device to free stand upright on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Timothy Faircloth
  • Patent number: 8529381
    Abstract: Embodiments of divot tools having ball markers and methods of making divot tools are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Solheim, Eric V. Cole, Jake Fife
  • Patent number: 8517869
    Abstract: A bladder for an inflatable ball, in particular a soccer ball, has electrical wiring wherein the wiring is at least partially arranged along a bladder wall to interconnect two electrical or electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.
    Inventor: Volker Peter Steidle
  • Patent number: 8517870
    Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for securely retaining electronic components within an inflatable object. For example, basketballs having a boot structure for securely retaining one or more electronic components (e.g., a sensor and/or a battery) within the basketball are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: InfoMotion Sports Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Crowley, Michael Maziarz, Kevin King
  • Patent number: 8512168
    Abstract: A device (10) for inserting a tee (T) into the ground so a golf ball placed on the tee is consistently at a desired height. A post (12) of the device extends vertically when set on the ground and a tee holder (14) fit on the device moves vertically relative to it. A tee is inserted into the holder for insertion into the ground. A stop (16) installed on the post is vertically movable to adjust the depth to which the tee is inserted into the ground. The stop is locked in place once a desired depth is determined and the holder is then pushed down the post until further movement is blocked by the stop. Movement of the holder presses the tee into the ground to the desired depth with a golf ball subsequently set upon the tee now being at a desired height above the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Martin G. Hanley