Patents Examined by Steven Wong
  • Patent number: 10065107
    Abstract: A constrained puzzle device including a housing formed with a radial crescent gutter; one or more slots providing an opening from an outer edge of the housing toward a centerline of the housing; a cartridge wheel nested within the slot and rotatably coupled to the housing, the cartridge wheel having multiple channels passing therethrough. The constrained puzzle device further includes one or more dials rotatably coupled with the housing, the dials configured with structures extending at least partially over the crescent gutter to create one or more pocket regions. Puzzle objects can be disposed within a channel of the cartridge wheel and the slot of the housing, or within the crescent gutter of the housing and a pocket formed by at least one arm member of the dial. The puzzle objects can be moved around in the constrained puzzle device as a user rotates the dials and/or the cartridge wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: MICRO UV TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Cindy Lee, Kang Lee
  • Patent number: 10058743
    Abstract: A molded game ball comprises an outer cover or surface having a mold line that mimics the seam of a conventional baseball or softball. The outer cover or surface may additionally include a stitch pattern that mimics the stitching of a conventional baseball or softball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Katherine A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10058752
    Abstract: A divot repair tool includes a golf club grip having an internally located main body and prong assembly. The prong assembly including one or more prongs that extend and retract from the top end of the grip. One or more of the elongated prongs include a top end having a generally teardrop shape, and the tool further includes a knob for receiving a twisting motion to transition the tool between the extended and retracted position. The tool also includes a golf club having a shaft and a golf head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Sandgroup International Ltd.
    Inventors: Conor Fallon, Michel Zwart
  • Patent number: 10052528
    Abstract: A sport training ball for use underwater includes a resilient spherical body. An internal chamber may be positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to receive a low-density medium having a density less than water. A second internal chamber may be positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to receive the low-density medium. A buoyancy reduction device may be positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to have a density greater than or equal to water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Inventor: MarShaan C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10035056
    Abstract: Provided are single-body golf tees having a cup shaped upper section, a cylindrical non tapered section, a bottom section having a truncated cone integrated to a conical tip section and a grasping section constituted by plurality of elongated non tapered grooves and elongated non tapered wing-like ribs along the center of the main body that have stability and grasping strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventor: José Angel Fernández Ogando
  • Patent number: 10029171
    Abstract: A cube packing comprises two truncated pyramids configured for a packing mode and a stand mode. In the packing mode, each pyramid touches three faces. In the stand mode, a first pyramid lays on a substantially horizontal surface, a second pyramid rests on the first pyramid and a large cube resides in the second pyramid while having a vertex pointing upwards. The large cube consists of eight small cubes, which in turn consist of a first group of eight pieces and a second group of 16 pieces. Each small cube includes one piece of the first group and two pieces of the second group. The eight pieces of the first group include at least three pieces different from each other at least by color, and may include at least three pieces different from each other at least by shape. In addition, the 16 pieces of the second group include at least three pieces different from each other at least by shape, and may include at least three pieces different from each other at least by color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Inventor: Mordechai Lando
  • Patent number: 10029155
    Abstract: An inflatable sports ball includes an outer cover defining an interior space and having a valve hole communicating with the interior space, an inner bladder disposed in the interior space and including two bladder halves fixed to each other, and an inflation unit disposed on the inner bladder and aligned with the valve hole. Each bladder half has an inner wall surface defining an inflatable space, and a peripheral edge surface connected to the peripheral edge surface of the other bladder half. The rib plates intersect with each other to divide the inflatable space into a plurality of inflatable regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignees: Dongguan Broaden Sports Goods Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Chuan Lo
  • Patent number: 10029154
    Abstract: A two-layer leak-proof ball comprises a sheath layer (1), an intermediate body layer (2), a winding yarn layer (3), an inner body layer (4) and a two-layer protective layer (5). The intermediate body layer (2), the winding yarn layer (3), the inner body layer (4) and the two-layer protective layer (5) are tightly set successively at the inside of the sheath layer (1). Also disclosed is the manufacturing method of the two-layer protective layer (5) of the two-layer leak-proof ball. High air-sealed bromide butyl mucilage is injected at the inside of the inner body layer (4), and vulcanized at low temperature, thus a glue film is formed at the inner wall of the inner body layer (4). The inner bag of the two-layer leak-proof ball has high tightness and long service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Russell Brands, LLC
    Inventor: Chun-Nan Lin
  • Patent number: 10022594
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a game ball having one or more grip zones that have greater frictional interaction compared to the outer surface of the game ball. The grip zones are made by stitching of a coated thread upon at least one cover panel to create the grip zone. The grip zone formed from the coated thread enhances the handling characteristics and playability of the resulting game ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: PSI 91, INC.
    Inventors: John P. Frank, Daniel P. Touhey, Louis Swiszcz
  • Patent number: 10022595
    Abstract: A method of customizing a golf club, wherein the method includes generating operating data representative of a user operating a mechanical device. The operating data is generated by a first sensor sized and configured to be removably positioned in a mounting port formed on the mechanical device during operation of the mechanical device. The sensor is interchangeably positionable in the mounting port with at least one mass insert, the at least one mass insert being adapted to be interchangeably positioned in the mounting to provide at least two different mass configurations. The method further includes determining a recommended configuration of the at least one mass insert specific to the user based on the operating data generated by the sensor, and transmitting information representative of the recommended mass insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keith Dolezel, Dan Nivanh, Patrick Ripp
  • Patent number: 10016935
    Abstract: A method of making a spherical sport ball includes forming a casing having a first and a second substantially hemispherical panel component. The first panel component is a first unitary structure and has a first central panel, a first plurality of polygonal peripheral panels adjacent to the first central panel and having a first plurality of edges, and a plurality of flange areas extending from the first plurality of edges. The second panel component is a second unitary structure and has a second central panel and a second plurality of polygonal peripheral panels adjacent to the second central panel. The method includes joining together the first panel component and the second panel component at a non-linear, circumferential seam between the first and second plurality of polygonal peripheral panels. The method also includes forming a vertex between adjacent ones of the plurality of flange areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Berggren, Scott W. Johnson, Clayton J. Lindsay, Vincent F. White
  • Patent number: 9999810
    Abstract: A baseball/softball comprises a core and a cover, wherein the core is wrapped with a layer of fiber material, and the layer of fiber material is wrapped and glued with the cover. A method of processing baseball/softball comprises wrapping the core with the layer of fiber material, placing the core and the layer of fiber material into a cover material, placing the core, the layer of fiber material outside the core and the layer of cover material outside the layer of fiber material into a mold; molding the layer of cover material into the cover through a vulcanization process, gluing a vulcanization melting layer formed on inner wall of the cover to the layer of fiber material, and finally taking the finished product out of the mold. From the perspectives of smell, touch and visual sense, the product has good simulation effect of baseball/softball and better service effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: XIAMEN ZAIFENG SPORTING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wenji Fang
  • Patent number: 9999831
    Abstract: The puzzle with attachable and releasable pieces includes shaped puzzle pieces and a two-part base, which includes a front base section and a back baseplate. The puzzle pieces have rear-facing engaging mechanisms that are attachable to forward-facing male studs carried by the back baseplate. The puzzle pieces each have a particular outer shape determining placement. The puzzle may be stored with the puzzle pieces engaged to the back baseplate, but may be later released for repeat play by using a provided puzzle release mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Inventor: Margo Sheryl Chazen
  • Patent number: 9993706
    Abstract: A golf tee having a contact alert coating cooperates with a golf ball and a golf club to provide a novel training aid that is economical, compact, and encourages proper golfing form. The golf tee has a golf tee body with a top plate, top wall and side walls. The top plate is fixedly attached to a shaft which terminates into a point that is inserted into a ground surface when a ball is placed on the top plate. A contact alert coating is coated on at least an upper portion of the golf tee body. The contact alert coating is composed of a material that generates a spark and, preferably, an audible sound when a golf club head strikes the ball and strikes the contact alert coating of the golf tee at the coating/golf tee interface. Generation of the spark and, preferably, the audible sound provides an alert that immediately informs the user whether the user's golf swing has been properly executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: John A. Kellam
  • Patent number: 9993694
    Abstract: Recreational footballs with rotor assemblies are provided herein. An example recreational device includes a shell forming a prolate spheroid frame, a shaft disposed within the prolate spheroid frame and located along a central axis defined by the prolate spheroid frame, and one or more fan assemblies each having a plurality of blades, the one or more fan assemblies rotating around or in conjunction with the shaft, the one or more fan assemblies changing at least one aerodynamic aspect of flight of the recreational device when air passes through the prolate spheroid frame and across the plurality of blades of the one or more fan assemblies as the recreational device spirals during flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: William J. Warren
  • Patent number: 9987551
    Abstract: A multi-surfaced gear-based mechanical puzzle where the objective is to choose the proper sized gear and position on the surface(s) from available holes to have the gears align and rotate in unison on one or multiple surfaces, flat or curved, from a dictated start point to a dictated finish point. Challenges such as going from “a” point to “c” point directly or additionally through way point “c” are outlined in an accompanying instruction booklet. Additionally, challenges may be presented as using a specific number or specific size of gears, for example, to achieve the objective. In achieving the right combination of gear sizes and positions, the objective of going from one start point to a finish point by turning one gear to cause all other gears in the train to turn in unison can be accomplished. The puzzle and components may be made from wood, plastic, metal or a composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Inventor: Stuart Patrick Alexander Reece
  • Patent number: 9968837
    Abstract: The present application is directed to an athletic training tool. The athletic training tool includes a ball and an elongated member attached thereto, the elongated member is attached to the ball in a manner effective to maintain the center of gravity of the ball. The elongated member may be visually observable during use of the athletic training tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Adam W. Johnston
  • Patent number: 9968832
    Abstract: A football includes an outer cover defining an interior space and having two rows of lace holes arranged in pairs spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction, and a mounting area disposed between the two rows of lace holes. A lace unit includes a main body disposed on the mounting area and formed with a plurality of positioning grooves, and a plurality of laces connected to the main body and corresponding in position to the positioning grooves. Each lace is extended through a respective pair of the lace holes, is looped around the main body and the mounting area, and is positioned in a respective positioning groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: Dongguan Broaden Sports Goods Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Chuan Lo
  • Patent number: 9956458
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a game ball and methods for stitching a thread with a high coefficient of friction upon a stripe member present on the game ball. At least one stitching is thus formed upon the stripe member. The stitching formed from the thread enhances the grip and/or spin characteristics of the resulting game ball, improving handling and playability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: PSI 91, INC.
    Inventors: John P. Frank, Daniel P. Touhey
  • Patent number: 9956457
    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: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GOT I, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Silverglate, Brian Gulassa