Patents Examined by Steven Wong
  • Patent number: 7828677
    Abstract: A molded plastic unitary driving range golf tee which has an outwardly extending flange at its base with a tubular member centrally disposed thereon and extending therefrom. The tubular member terminates at a rim and a plurality of discrete flexible fingers extend upwardly from the rim and terminate in distal ends which support a golf ball. The molded plastic tee is adapted to be received in an opening provided in a typical driving range mat with the discrete flexible fingers extending above the surface of the mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Bonfit America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Steinhobel
  • Patent number: 7823884
    Abstract: A spherical logical puzzle is disclosed comprising of a plurality of elements symmetrical about three axes and planes. The puzzle is solved by rotating the elements on the surface of the sphere to align a surface pattern or numerical set. The surface of sphere is divided into octants of 4 elements; 3 quarter polar sections and one shell section. These surface elements are rearranged by rotating hemispherical sets of four octants at a time. When rotating a hemisphere of elements, the polar segments of that hemisphere do not rotate, thus creating a unique and novel puzzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Inventor: Christopher Paul Cantner
  • Patent number: 7819403
    Abstract: The invention relates to an information carrying device. The information carrying device comprises a device body formed by a puzzle, which can be folded into a plurality of different shapes, wherein the information carrying device further includes a USB storage unit, which can be hidden and thus is invisible from outside when the puzzle is in a first shape, and can be revealed and is ready to interface with an information reader when the puzzle is in a second shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Intermed Asia Ltd.
    Inventor: Olivier Andre
  • Patent number: 7815190
    Abstract: A jigsaw puzzle has a blank and computer-printable face. The jigsaw puzzle has a thick substrate which forms a thick substrate sheet. The thick substrate sheet has been die-cut, into thick puzzle pieces. The thick puzzle pieces are joined together by uncut lands between the thick puzzle pieces. The cuts and said lands are in such proportions as to allow users to separate the thick puzzle pieces from each other. The thick substrate is at least 0.020? thick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventors: Robert F. Krisch, Richard Hinchey
  • Patent number: 7815530
    Abstract: Apparatus for accurately measuring the distance between a golf ball and the hole on a putting green, i.e., for determining proximity, especially in golf competitions to see who can hit their ball onto the green to end up in closest proximity to the hole. An accessory to the measurement device is a proximity sign for recording the proximity measurements. The invention comprises apparatus and method for conveniently storing and using the measurement device(s). For proximity measurements, the device is configured to removably and repositionably attach a tape measure to a flag pin (generally the flag pin in the hole on the green in contest). The proximity sign is similarly configured. For storage of a device when not in use, the devices include spring clips and an optional security ring to impede unauthorized removal from the flag pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: Joseph M Cannata
  • Patent number: 7815529
    Abstract: An adjustable golf tee assembly includes a golf tee, which has a plurality of positioning portions formed in the periphery of a shank thereof at different elevations, an elastically deformable tee holder having an upright stub tube perpendicularly upwardly extending from a flat base thereof and a center through hole cut through top and bottom sides of the flat base and surrounded by the upright stub tube and a positioning portion formed on the inside wall of the upright stub tube for engagement with one of the positioning portions of the golf tee selectively, and a locating ring for sleeving onto the upright stub tube of the tee holder to lock the golf tee and the tee holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Moldtek Precision Corp.
    Inventor: Lien-Hsin Lee
  • Patent number: 7806786
    Abstract: A golf tee stopper having a center aperture of material and design so as to slide over a golf tee while creating enough friction with the tee to act as a stop against the ground when teeing a golf ball using the method as described herein and providing the capability to repeatedly insert a golf tee to essentially the same depth to thereby allow the golf tee to hold a golf ball at a height preferred by a user. A set of calibration indicia on the golf tee stopper can be used to mark a golf tee in a manner that assists in the repeatable placement of the golf tee at a substantially consistent height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventor: Scott M. Joffe
  • Patent number: 7789392
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a puzzle and a method of assembling a puzzle from a plurality of planar puzzle pieces. More particularly, the invention relates to a puzzle having pieces which, when stacked upon each other on completion of the puzzle, define in relief a recognisable image (e.g. of a building or a character). The puzzle comprises a plurality of inter-engaging pieces, wherein: each puzzle piece has on a planar surface thereof a part of an image which is shown as a whole once the puzzle pieces are assembled together in a completed planar jigsaw puzzle; each puzzle piece has a first edge of a first shaped profile; and when the puzzle pieces are removed from the completed planar jigsaw puzzle in a pre-determined sequence related to positioning of the puzzle pieces in the completed planar jigsaw puzzle and stacked in the predetermined sequence then the first edges of the stacked puzzle pieces together define in relief a recognisable image on a first side of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: All in 1 Products Limited
    Inventor: Daniel Chaim Kishon
  • Patent number: 7789776
    Abstract: A golf tee with a body portion having a first end for inserting into the ground and a second end for supporting a golf ball when the first end is inserted in the ground, wherein the body portion is constructed of a biodegradable material. A golf tee insertion device having a base for supporting the device, a mandrel for holding a golf tee to be inserted into the ground and an actuator for moving the mandrel toward the ground so that the golf tee is inserted into the ground, wherein the actuator controls a depth of insertion of the tee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Lon Klein
  • Patent number: 7780555
    Abstract: A ball having an inflatable ball shell within which is found an inflatable inner ball partially filled with an inner ball gas and partially filled with a liquid that is held in the center of the inflatable ball shell by an inflatable support when the inflatable inner ball, the inflatable ball shell and the inflatable support are inflated. The ball exhibits an eccentric and unpredictable motion unless a concomitant spin is appropriately applied to it and the motion of the ball is primarily determined by movement of the liquid within the inflatable inner ball. The inflatable support can be a donut-shaped chamber having an inner radius which is substantially the same as, and may be attached to, an outer radius of the inflatable inner ball. Alternatively, the inflatable support can be three or more elastic spherical shells attached to the inflatable inner ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Gamelot, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Y. Wong, Chi Wai Tse
  • Patent number: 7780552
    Abstract: A golf tee is able to decrease the number of parts, and an assembling process is simplified, and a manufacture and assembling work do not cost a lot, and an easier maintenance and a desired advertisement effect can be obtained. The golf tee comprises an upper body which has a spherical mounting surface formed on its upper surface for mounting a golf ball; a lower body which supports the upper body from a lower side with its lower end being sharp for an easier planting into a ground, with a rubber cord being installed so as to provide a certain tensional force so that the upper body is pulled all the time to be straight with respect to the lower body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventor: Jae-Woong Rhee
  • Patent number: 7780551
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a golf tee to support a golf ball comprises a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion comprises a support section to support the golf ball. A perimeter of an end of the support section of the second portion defines a plane. The plane remains substantially perpendicular to an axis while the second portion moves relative to the first portion. Other embodiments of golf tees are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Wood, Gregory J. Swartz
  • Patent number: 7775918
    Abstract: A projectile for a toy shooting device includes a tubular body, a head molded of soft material, an anchor partially embedded in the head and comprising a fixing stem extending into and adhered to the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Buzz Bee Toys, Inc.
    Inventor: Kwok-Wah Tsang
  • Patent number: 7775920
    Abstract: A pitching shoe configured to have a size, shape, and weight of a conventional metallic shoe is made of elastomers having specific gravities in the range between 1.8 and 2.0 to enable reintroduction of the sport to correctional facilities and other applications where metallic shoes create too great a risk of injury. Suitable materials include neoprene, natural rubber, SBR, natural/SBR blend, or other natural or synthetic rubbers and rubber blends, and plastics which include high density fillers compounded into or mixed with a base plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventors: Daniel P Kuchcinski, Dale R Pierce
  • Patent number: 7766769
    Abstract: An improved multi-functional golf tool having a handle portion formed at its proximal end, and a pair of prongs formed at its distal end and disposed in angular relation with the handle to facilitate the pivotal movement of the golf tool in repairing ball marks or other irregularities on the playing turf, and further providing pivotal leverage when the tool is reversed to aid in removing tees embedded in the ground is disclosed. The handle portion includes a top adapted to removably receive a ball mark. The handle includes a top side that defines a longitudinally aligned, generally U-shaped structure disposed at the handle distal end thereof approximately mid-length on the device that serves multiple functions, such as a thumb-rest, cigar holder, and club grip holder. In a corresponding position on the bottom side of the device a contoured surface runs in a transverse direction thereby providing a comfortable support for the user's index finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Lueders
  • Patent number: 7758458
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas filling-type ball for sports which has excellent non-slip property and sufficient mechanical strength such as surface abrasion resistance, and which can be particularly suitably used in a field of a material for a ball such as a basketball, American football, or rugby ball. The present invention relates to a ball used for any one of basketball, handball, rugby ball, and American football, comprising a sheet having formed thereon a cover layer including substantially continuous pebbles and hemispherical valleys adjoining the pebbles formed on a surface of a base fabric, in which: a height difference between the pebbles and the valleys is 50 to 1,000 ?m, a vertical projected area of each of the adjoining valleys is 3 to 30 mm2, and an average distance between the valleys is 0.5 to 3 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignees: Kuraray Co., Ltd., Mikasa Corporation
    Inventors: Michinori Fujisawa, Sadahiro Ishii, Taketoshi Saeki
  • Patent number: 7753813
    Abstract: The ball for a ball game of the invention includes a fabric layer 1 having a spherical 12-hedron where twelve right pentagonal fabric pieces 2 are sewn together. The marginal edges of the fabric piece being folded by 90 degrees, and the marginal edges are sewn together with a sewing machine. The fabric layer is then reversed through cross-like slits 5a, 5b formed in the fabric layer in a location opposite to a valve opening 5 (also formed in the fabric layer) in such a manner that the marginal edges are located on an inner side of the fabric layer. After the bladder is accommodated within the fabric layer through the closure hole 5, the hole 5 is closed by a patch. Onto a surface of the fabric layer, there is adhered the panels. Thereby, the ball for a ball game having no unevenness and soft feeling is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignees: Molten Corporation, adidas International Marketing B.V.
    Inventors: Harufusa Taniguchi, Hideomi Shishido, Shigeo Doi, Yoshihisa Okimura
  • Patent number: 7749116
    Abstract: The present invention provides a panel of the ball for ball game, said panel has the folding portion and the opposite folding portion on its periphery, which are opposite to each other and made of the same continuous material. The folding portion and the opposite folding portion of said leather panels have the good engaging property and difficult to separate with each other during usage because they are made of the same material. The panel has simple manufacturing process and low production cost, making the ball for ball game comprising above panels have good using properties, simple manufacturing process and low production cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Frank Chang
    Inventors: Ya Fang Tang, Yuen Yuen Chang
  • Patent number: 7744495
    Abstract: A golf mat for holding multiple tees for golf practice. The mat has a foam bottom in underlying relation to an artificial turf into which is formed a plurality of recesses each of which is adapted to accommodate a golf tee that lies in the recess, placing it out of the path of a golf club. This provides a longer lasting mat and golf tee combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Inventor: Nicholas Lipidarov
  • Patent number: 7740551
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bladder for an inflatable ball including structure for receiving an electronic device therein. The structure facilitates at least one of cushioning, positioning, locating, and supporting the electronic device. The structure cushions reaction forces arising from a foot strike to the bladder and/or provides a restoring force to the electronic device subsequent to a foot strike to maintain the device in its predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.
    Inventors: Hans Peter Nurnberg, David John Drury, Timothy David Lucas, Roland Gunter Seydel