Patents Examined by Steven Wong
  • Patent number: 8348787
    Abstract: A golf tool having a plastic body with a two prong divot repair tool that protrudes from a first end of the body for repairing golf course divots. Located within the body is an integrated lighting device or, in the alternative, a waterproof empty chamber adapted to receive a lighting device or any item that can fit within the empty chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventors: Jay Halsey, Dean Sexton
  • Patent number: 8342991
    Abstract: A play ball comprising an outer casing having two adjacent openings, a vent and a balloon is provided. The outer casing is substantially non-porous. An uninflated balloon is inserted into the outer casing through an opening. During inflation of the balloon, air from within the outer casing is vented. A handle is attached to the outer casing through the adjacent openings in the casing. The handle is stretchable and can be in the form of an elastomeric band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: Donald Spector
  • Patent number: 8342527
    Abstract: A five-by-five cube puzzle has a central shaft assembly mounted around by center blocks in predetermined numbers, first intermediate blocks, second intermediate blocks, first edge blocks, second edge blocks and corner blocks. Each center shaft of a multi-axis shaft unit of the central shaft assembly is combined with a movable inner shield. An outer shield is mounted on an outside of a corresponding inner shield with a spring and a screw. The inner shields and the outer shields are combined with the first intermediate blocks, second intermediate blocks, first edge blocks, second edge blocks and corner blocks to form the cube puzzle. Based on rotation of those blocks with respect to the relative movement between inner shields and outer shields and sufficient gap among each block and a corresponding inner shield and outer shield, smooth rotation of each block can be achieved without being affected by slightly skew block alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: Cheng-Han Wu
  • Patent number: 8342986
    Abstract: A multi-purpose spring-loaded divot repair tool comprising, in one embodiment, a forked end containing two prongs, a round ball marker, a concave recession, a handle, and a belt clip. The two prongs extend from one end of the handle and are used to repair divots. The round ball marker is located on the handle and is distally positioned to the forked end. Furthermore, the concave recession is proximally located to the round ball marker and distally located to the forked end, such that the concave recession faces upward when the forked end is inserted into the ground. The tool is manufactured from high quality materials. In a further embodiment, a dual acting spring loaded actuation system including spring action in both the deployment and return directions for actuating the forked end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: James Rourke
  • Patent number: 8323125
    Abstract: A tee for use with a golf ball. It includes a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, joined at a hub, each leg having an end that is coplanar to form a terrain plane with the ends of corresponding legs. It also has a first ball support; a second ball support; and a third ball support, extending from the hub, wherein each ball support has an end that is coplanar to the ends of the corresponding ball supports in a ball support plane The ball support plane may be within a few degrees of parallel to the terrain plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Glen Bowen
  • Patent number: 8317641
    Abstract: A football lacing system having a molded backbone with a series of spaced finger grooves separated by resilient ridges to insure proper hand placement for throwing a spiral pass. The backbone is preferably molded of thermal plastic rubber and is secured over the bladder seam of the exterior football covering by lacing that extends between paired lace holes along the length of the bladder seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Franklin Sports, Inc
    Inventors: Daniel J Lowinger, Charles T Quinn
  • Patent number: 8302967
    Abstract: A puzzle assembly which can be adjust the degree of difficulty is disclosed. The disclosed puzzle assembly comprises a rotation shaft, a plurality of rotation plate members having slide grooves on the outer circumference and inserted into the rotation shaft, a plurality of puzzle pieces engaged with the slide grooves movably, wherein at least two of the rotation plate members are coupled together and rotate simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventors: Jee soo Kim, Jong man Kim
  • Patent number: 8292763
    Abstract: A baseball includes a core comprised of coconut fiber, rubber, and solvent; and a cover sewn on the core by stitches. The coconut fiber having a predetermined percentage by weight is crushed, the rubber having a predetermined percentage by weight is gelled, the coconut fiber and the rubber are mixed with the solvent having a predetermined percentage by weight, and the mix is subjected to molding, heating, and cooling to produce the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventors: Fu-Chuan Huang, Chin-Chen Ho
  • Patent number: 8292764
    Abstract: A valve for a ball includes a casing and a core. The core is arranged at least partially inside the casing. The core comprises a first sealing area with a plurality of sections which have alternating concave and convex curvatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.
    Inventor: Volker Peter Steidle
  • Patent number: 8287408
    Abstract: A training game ball is described having cues for visually indicating the rotational alignment of the ball when it is thrown. If the ball is improperly thrown so that the axis of rotation does not stay perpendicular to the direction of flight, then the rotational alignment cue line will appear to wobble as the ball travels. The ball also has a rotational speed cue formed from a plurality of spaced panels arranged parallel with the alignment cue. If the ball is thrown with a high rotational speed, the panels will appear to the player as a solid line. Still further, the ball also includes hand alignment cues for assisting a player in properly positioning his or her hands for throwing the ball. The hand alignment cues include finger positioning pads, which are positioned sufficiently close together about the circumference of the ball to allow even a small youth's hand to easily reach a finger positioning pad from any position of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris S. Page, Paul A. Gaudio, Geoffrey Charles Raynak, Charles D. Kraeuter
  • Patent number: 8282518
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided, which includes a plurality of elongated strands having joinder regions uniting adjacent strands at a distance along a length of an outer perimeter of the elongated strands, the elongate strands being configured to couple together for a distance along their lengths. The elongated strands form a surface of a mesh when the joinder regions are coupled. The apparatus may further include a manducable protrusion coupled to the mesh and extending a distance away from an exterior surface of the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: GOT I, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Silverglate, Brian Gulassa
  • Patent number: 8277344
    Abstract: A gaming bag including at least one outer wall defining a cavity, at least one light emitting source positioned adjacent the at least one outer wall, a filling material disposed within the cavity, and wherein the at least one light emitting source provides illumination. A method of lighting a gaming bag comprising the steps of providing a gaming bag comprising at least one outer wall defining a cavity, at least one light emitting source positioned adjacent the at least one wall, a shock sensor within the cavity, a filling material within the cavity, and wherein the at least one light emitting source provides illumination, tossing the gaming bag, measuring a force with the shock sensor upon impact with a surface, activating the light emitting source when the force is greater than the predetermined threshold, and deactivating the light emitting source after a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Maxroi, LLC
    Inventors: Todd A. Cea, Russell A. Urban, Ronald E. Kovac
  • Patent number: 8272980
    Abstract: A jacket for an inflatable bladder such as an exercise ball. The jacket has a durable cover with an access section having an inner panel defining an access opening. Outer panels overlie the inner panel and have edges which extend across the opening and are provided with closures. In use, the outer panels may be separated at fasteners so a bladder may be removed or inserted through the access opening. The inner panel and the outer panels may be a woven material with their weave oriented to resist distortion when the bladder is inflated and to assist in securing the closure. The cover may be any suitable material such as a coated nylon providing durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventor: Ronald B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8262519
    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: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey C. Raynak, Vincent F. White
  • Patent number: 8251366
    Abstract: A cylindrical puzzle mechanism comprising a central shaft member, with at least two wheels mounted on the shaft member, and a plurality of puzzle components disposed along the outer circumference of each wheel. Each of the wheels is independently rotatable about the shaft member. A cylindrical frame is positioned concentrically around the wheels. The frame is rotatable about the wheels and shiftable along the axial direction of the shaft member. The frame comprises at least one driving element at each longitudinal end for shifting a longitudinally aligned row of puzzle components along an axial direction. Two rotatable stoppers for preventing each of the wheels from shifting axially along the shaft, is mounted on the shaft. The stoppers comprise at least one track for receiving a puzzle component thereon. A cap at each end of the shaft member prevents the stoppers from shifting axially along the shaft and for regulating the axial movement of the cylindrical frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventors: Avraham Nathan, Itshak Christo Dimitrov, Gabriela Nathan, Mario Nathan
  • Patent number: 8251846
    Abstract: A basketball having an outer surface and including a first set of channels formed into the outer surface of the basketball. The basketball further includes a bladder, a carcass and at least one cover panel. The carcass covers the bladder and has an outer surface that defines a second set of channels. The cover panel(s) is positioned over the carcass and over at least one of the channels of the second set of channels. The cover panel(s) generally conforms to the shape of the outer surface of the carcass such that the cover panel defines at least one groove in the outer surface of the basketball corresponding to the channels of the second set of channels. The depth of the groove is greater than or equal to 0.7 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventor: Kevin L. Krysiak
  • Patent number: 8246491
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf tees, such as golf tees with compressible materials, are described herein. Other examples and related methods are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Wood, Gregory J. Swartz
  • Patent number: 8246497
    Abstract: A throwing object that includes a multi-sided member that includes a top and a peripheral sidewall integral with the top. The top and peripheral sidewall together form a cap-shaped member that is hollow with the peripheral sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface is formed as a concave surface shaped for receiving the finger or fingers of the user with the inner surface including a reinforcing rib that is integral with the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Adalberto Garcia
  • Patent number: 8240244
    Abstract: The invention provides a tool (10) for use in controlling quantity of congregatable particulates, such as coffee, contained in a receptacle. The tool (10) includes support means (20) and a blade (18). The support means (20) are adapted to be supported by a wall of the receptacle. The blade (18) is for contacting an upper surface of the congregated particulates. The tool (10) is movable relative to the receptacle wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventor: Philip Lewis McKnight
  • Patent number: 8241151
    Abstract: A golf accessory device includes a divot tool having a pair of spaced apart prongs at one end for repairing divots in a golfing surface. The tool also has an opening adjacent another end for receiving a ball marker assembly. A magnet is positioned in and circumscribes the opening. The ball marker assembly includes a ball marker and a support plate with the ball marker being magnetically attached to a first surface of the plate. A clip is attached to an opposite surface of the support plate. The marker and plate fit within the opening in the tool with an outer edge of the plate seated on the magnet. The ball marker assembly can be removed from the divot tool and attached to an item of clothing by the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: I Gotcha Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Albert James Light