Patents Examined by Steven Wong
  • Patent number: 9114286
    Abstract: A basketball including a carcass, cover panels, and cover strips. The carcass has an outer surface defining a first set of channels and cover panels regions between the first set of channels. The panels are respectively positioned over the panel regions and are spaced apart from each other. The strips are positioned over the channels. The strips have inner and outer surfaces extending between first and second sidewalls. The strips have a thickness that is measured radially from a centerpoint from the inner to the outer surface, and a width that is measured from the first to the second sidewall. At least one groove is formed into the outer surface. The groove has a width that extends between 20 to 70 percent of the width of the strip and has a maximum depth from the outer surface that is at least 50 percent of the maximum thickness of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Krysiak, William R. Woessner, Bradley L. Gaff, Robert T. Thurman
  • Patent number: 9101800
    Abstract: A molded game ball comprises a molded outer cover having a mold line that mimics the seam of a conventional baseball or softball, and a raised stitch pattern presented along said mold line that mimics the stitching of a conventional stitched baseball or softball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: RAWLINGS SPORTING GOODS COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Katherine A. Smith
  • Patent number: 9101802
    Abstract: A sports ball having a high-performance cover formed from a plurality of panels with attached foam backing. The panels may be stitched together at stitch lines which are 2-4 mm from the edges of each of the panels. During manufacturing, before compression is applied, foam attached to outer layers for each of the panels may be a distance 2-6 mm away from the stitch lines. Foam attached on the inside of the sports ball may provide support and a robust round shape for manufacturing of a high performance sports ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventor: Ali Hasnain Hussain
  • Patent number: 9101535
    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: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: GOT I, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Silverglate, Brian Gulassa
  • Patent number: 9101822
    Abstract: A magic cube structure includes a central core, a plurality of central blocks, a plurality of resettling devices, a plurality of elastomers, a plurality of side blocks and a plurality of corner blocks. Whereby, when one central block is rotated relative to the central core by an outer force, one central block is pressed by the corresponding resettling device and is axially moved away therefrom. Simultaneously, the recovery force of the corresponding elastomer is increased, so that a torque imposed on the central block is created; when the rotation operation is completed, the torque makes the central block fitly abutted against the corresponding resettling device. As a result, the recovery force returns to former state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventor: Cheng Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 9089740
    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: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: PSI 91, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Frank, Daniel P. Touhey
  • Patent number: 9089744
    Abstract: An inflatable sports ball includes an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer includes a bladder that defines an air chamber, and a valve that is mounted to the bladder and that is in fluid communication with the air chamber. The outer layer includes a casing that surrounds the bladder, and an inflation inlet that is formed in the casing and that is in fluid communication with the valve. The casing includes a plurality of panels stitched to each other, and a plurality of fabrics woven to at least one of the panels in such a manner that the fabrics project from an outer surface of the at least one of the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Inventor: Chien-Chuan Lo
  • Patent number: 9084918
    Abstract: A prolate spheroidal inflatable game ball in the form of a football is provided with a segmented panel having stripes formed by attaching stripe pieces to adjacent segments. In one embodiment, the stripe pieces have beveled edges and the edges of adjacent segments have corresponding beveled edges. The component pieces of the panel can be joined to the stripe pieces using stitching to securely fasten the components of the segmented panel together. A segmented panel of this construction can allow different materials having different characteristics to be used for various portions of the segmented panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark McNamee
  • Patent number: 9067129
    Abstract: Cylindrical labyrinth that comprises a plurality of cylindrical bodies (10), where each one of them presents an outer wall (11) with a labyrinthine path (12) configured to be traversed by a ball (2) between an entry (13) into the labyrinthine path (12) and an exit (14) from the labyrinthine path (12); and a longitudinal shaft (20) configured to pierce and align the cylindrical bodies (10) and to allow the rotation thereof with respect to said shaft (20). Each cylindrical body (10) comprises a transparent cover (70) configured to cover the outer wall (11) of said body (10) and to prevent the ball (2) from falling out from the labyrinthine path (12) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: YTRES ASSEMBLY, S.L.
    Inventor: Oscar Encina Cusi
  • Patent number: 9044649
    Abstract: A novel device for automatically supplying golf balls. A stopper, a golf ball lifting part, an inclined guide part and an inclined lifting part disposed inside a main body cooperate with each other to automatically lift a golf ball from a rear portion of the main body by placing the golf ball on a lifting tee so that a golfer can hit the ball using a driver. An iron shot hitting part is further provided at one side of the main body so that the golfer can practice driver shots and iron shots concurrently and conveniently at the same time. The lifting tee is inclined to the left in order to supply a ball seated on the inclined lifting part to the iron shot hitting part. The iron shot hitting part has a plurality of detection recesses with which a golfer or a beginner can correct his/her posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventor: Jae-Woo Choi
  • Patent number: 9017192
    Abstract: An athletic training device for training athletes is provided. The athletic training device comprises a training ball having an outer cover and an inner air bladder. A predetermined amount of silicon is positioned between the outer cover and the inner air bladder wherein the silicon covers a least a portion of the inner air bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: Roberto Silva
  • Patent number: 9011263
    Abstract: A portable, lightweight mechanical golf tee device includes a tee box, a golf ball reservoir that includes a container for a plurality of golf balls and a ball stop. The golf ball reservoir is connected to the tee box. The portable mechanical golf tee device includes a tee activation mechanism that is connected to the tee box and upon user actuation, the tee activation mechanism actuates a tee mechanism, the tee mechanism provides placement of the golf ball from the golf ball reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventors: Donald C. Brown, Jesse E. Durgin
  • Patent number: 9005054
    Abstract: A golf ball teeing tongs comprising a pair of levers, spring hinged in an end pivot point, their free ends adaptable to receive and hold a golf ball and tee, an adjustable pressure disk attached to the end of two connectively moving swing arms, which are fastened inside the members to move in concert with their opening and closing, thus exerting a straight back and forth movement on the adjustable pressure disk, causing a clamping force to be exerted, when manually closing the members, so as to hold a golf ball and tee in a rigid grip for positioning into the ground, at which point the spring pressure is manually released to open the members, which action lifts the adjustable pressure disk from the golf ball to allow removal of the tongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Anders Harald Flater
  • Patent number: 8992356
    Abstract: A synthetic fiber ball and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The fiber ball includes a plurality of fibers having a predetermined length bound together with a fastening fiber at a central core. The plurality of fibers extend outwardly from the fastening fiber at the central core to form a generally spherical shaped ball. The plurality of fibers are heat shrunk in a spinning oven from a generally cylindrical shaped fiber bundle having a predetermined diameter to form the fiber ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: KM Innovations LLC
    Inventors: Mary Dianne Syme, Juanita Kay Donica
  • Patent number: 8992353
    Abstract: An improved LED illuminated rolling game ball designed to use three AAA batteries. The ball includes a plastic, opaque spherical body with an axially aligned bore in which a multiple LED light assembly extends. The light assembly includes an outer tube, an intermediate sleeve, a multiple AAA battery holder, a multiple LED bulb holder, one switch cap and one end cap. In one embodiment, outer tube is a solid structure made of electrical conductive material includes two opposite end openings that connect to the switch and end caps that hold the outer tube in place in the bore. LED bulb holes are formed on the outer tube. The intermediate sleeve is located inside the outer tube and the battery holder is located inside the intermediate sleeve. The LED bulb holder includes a PCB with two or more LED bulbs arms that hold the LED bulbs outward through the bores formed on the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Bede Kortegast
  • Patent number: 8974312
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic golf ball supply device, being an automatic golf ball supply device which automatically supplies golf balls to a position where the golf balls will be hit with a golf club by the user, which comprises: a frame on the upper part of which is formed a golf ball withdrawal hole; an ascending and descending mount which ascends and descends by means of a motor, and on the upper surface of which is provided a tee member where a golf ball rests, and which is provided so as to ascend and descend freely in the withdrawal hole direction following a guide provided in the frame; and a golf ball conveying loader which conveys golf balls towards the tee member of the ascending and descending mount as the outer circumferential surface rotates and makes contact with the golf balls inside a golf-ball-waiting chamber in such a way as to be able to push each golf ball and to rest the same on the tee member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Wan Je Cho
  • Patent number: 8974322
    Abstract: A golf tee has a head contoured to balance a golf ball thereon, a point for insertion into a ground surface, and a stem joining the head to the point, the stem providing an enlarged medial portion relative to a proximal portion near the head and a distal portion near the point. The stem has a continuous curvature between the head and the point and joins the head to the point such that the point inserts into the ground surface at an angle that facilities ejection of the tee from the ground surface when the curvature is placed outward relative to a direction of a ball strike force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Brian D. Jones
  • Patent number: 8974329
    Abstract: A method of making a game ball having a carcass comprising a foamed intermediate layer and a plurality of raised seams made from an outer layer is disclosed. The foamed intermediate layer may be formed from two sheets of foamed material. The sheets are shaped to have leaves that can be folded into the shape of a hemisphere with no gaps between adjacent leaves. The sheets are placed around a bladder, an outer layer is placed around the sheets, and the combination is heat molded. The seams are not made from strips of seam material placed on the outer layer of the carcass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Russell Brands, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald P. Laliberty
  • Patent number: 8974330
    Abstract: A spherical sport ball may include a casing that includes first and second substantially hemispherical panel components. Each substantially hemispherical panel component may be a unitary structure having a central panel and a plurality of polygonal peripheral panels adjacent to the central panel. In addition, the first substantially hemispherical panel component may be joined with the second substantially hemispherical panel component at a non-linear, circumferential seam between peripheral panels of the first hemispherical panel component and peripheral panels of the second hemispherical panel component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Berggren, Scott W. Johnson, Clayton J. Lindsay, Vincent F. White
  • Patent number: 8974321
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an elongated body comprising a top end, a bottom end, a chamber extending away from the bottom end, a hole extending through the bottom end into the chamber, and a door to expose the chamber and an interior of the hole. The chamber retains a golf tee with the door in a closed position. The hole enables only a bottom portion of the golf tee to extend beyond the bottom end. An adjustment mechanism adjusts a depth of the chamber to position the golf tee to protrude a desired length out of the hole during placement of the golf tee into a tee ground. A retention mechanism urges the door into the closed position and enables the door to open with an upward movement of the apparatus after the golf tee has been placed into the tee ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Phil Schlamp