Patents by Inventor Steven M. Tipton

Steven M. Tipton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12232437
    Abstract: A roller assembly for smoothing an expanse of granular media such as golf bunker sand, snow, horse race track dirt, or other media. The assembly has one or more rollers having a longitudinal axis. Each roller includes wires spaced from the axis to define a roller surface. Each wire is resiliently flexible to distort inwardly in response to force of contact on, and to recover during release of force from, the granular media as the roller rotates about the axis on the granular media. A shaft extends along the axis of the roller assembly between the arms of a yoke with a handle extending therefrom. As the roller surface traverses the media, at least some of the media is flung outwardly of the roller, smoothing the expanse. The roller assembly may be manually operated or may be towed behind a towing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Momentus Golf, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Sorenson, Steven M. Tipton
  • Publication number: 20230082447
    Abstract: A roller assembly for smoothing an expanse of granular media such as golf bunker sand, snow, horse race track dirt, or other media. The assembly has one or more rollers having a longitudinal axis. Each roller includes wires spaced from the axis to define a roller surface. Each wire is resiliently flexible to distort inwardly in response to force of contact on, and to recover during release of force from, the granular media as the roller rotates about the axis on the granular media. A shaft extends along the axis of the roller assembly between the arms of a yoke with a handle extending therefrom. As the roller surface traverses the media, at least some of the media is flung outwardly of the roller, smoothing the expanse. The roller assembly may be manually operated or may be towed behind a towing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: James W. Sorenson, Steven M. Tipton
  • Patent number: 11439052
    Abstract: A roller assembly for smoothing an expanse of granular media such as golf bunker sand, snow, horse race track dirt, or other media. The assembly has one or more rollers having a longitudinal axis. Each roller includes wires spaced from the axis to define a roller surface. Each wire is resiliently flexible to distort inwardly in response to force of contact on, and to recover during release of force from, the granular media as the roller rotates about the axis on the granular media. A shaft extends along the axis of the roller assembly between the arms of a yoke with a handle extending therefrom. As the roller surface traverses the media, at least some of the media is flung outwardly of the roller, smoothing the expanse. The roller assembly may be manually operated or may be towed behind a towing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Momentus Golf, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Sorenson, Steven M. Tipton
  • Publication number: 20190254219
    Abstract: A roller assembly for smoothing an expanse of granular media such as golf bunker sand, snow, horse race track dirt, or other media. The assembly has one or more rollers having a longitudinal axis. Each roller includes wires spaced from the axis to define a roller surface. Each wire is resiliently flexible to distort inwardly in response to force of contact on, and to recover during release of force from, the granular media as the roller rotates about the axis on the granular media. A shaft extends along the axis of the roller assembly between the arms of a yoke with a handle extending therefrom. As the roller surface traverses the media, at least some of the media is flung outwardly of the roller, smoothing the expanse. The roller assembly may be manually operated or may be towed behind a towing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: James W. Sorenson, Steven M. Tipton
  • Patent number: 8979667
    Abstract: A golf putter head which includes a putting face having a positive loft angle diverging from vertical to a putter head base. The putting face is formed from a plurality of substantially parallel blades, each of the blades contiguous with each other wherein the blades are arrayed at a downward angle. Each of the blades narrows in width towards the putting face and terminates in a narrow tip. Each of the blades is flexible at its tip in order impart an upward spring force upon impact with a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Tulsa
    Inventor: Steven M. Tipton
  • Patent number: 7014403
    Abstract: A fastener including a head having a screw driver or wrench engagement feature. The fastener includes a threaded shank extending from the head. A plurality of voids or scores in the shank spaced from but near the head permit rotational torque on the head in one direction significantly greater than rotational torque in an opposite direction so that rotational torque in an opposite direction causes the head to break off from the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: The University of Tulsa
    Inventors: Dale Higganbotham, Steven M. Tipton
  • Patent number: 6181647
    Abstract: A method to measure height of a vertical jump of a jumper. At least one switch is deactivated by the jumper stepping thereon. The switch is initially activated by the jumper jumping upward therefrom and thereafter deactivated upon return. A time period is measured while the switch is activated. The square of the activated time period is calculated and thereafter the result is multiplied by a constant to derive vertical jump height. Finally, the resultant vertical jump height of the jump is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: The University of Tulsa
    Inventors: Steven M. Tipton, Matt Hackworth, Kelly Willson
  • Patent number: 6093119
    Abstract: A football training and evaluation apparatus has a frame, a contacting element, and a force transferring member connected to the frame and the contacting element. A measuring-signaling element is connected to the force transferring member and is adapted to measure the force subjected on the force transferring member in response to an impact force subjected onto the contacting element and deliver a signal "S" responsive to said measurement. A visual signaling apparatus is connected to the frame and adapted to be actuateable and moveable in response to actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Steven M. Tipton
  • Patent number: 5838638
    Abstract: A method to measure height of a vertical jump of a jumper. At least one switch is deactivated by the jumper stepping thereon. The switch is initially activated by the jumper jumping upward therefrom and thereafter deactivated upon return. A time period is measured while the switch is activated. The square of the activated time period is calculated and thereafter the result is multiplied by a constant to derive vertical jump height. Finally, the resultant vertical jump height of the jump is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: The University of Tulsa
    Inventors: Steven M. Tipton, Matt Hackworth, Kelly Willson
  • Patent number: 5199665
    Abstract: An electronic bait alert for incorporation into prior art fishing reels having a spool for storing a supply of line and a drive train to direct the line onto the spool. The spool is rotatable to collect or to payout line and the drive train has a retrieve position A sensor produces an electric signal upon the payout of line with the drive train in the retrieve position An alarm produces a sensory indication of line payout in response to the electric signal. The alarm can be either an electric lamp, an electric buzzer or both. A switch can be included for turning off the electric bait alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Zebco Corporation
    Inventor: Steven M. Tipton
  • Patent number: 5143318
    Abstract: A reciprocating/oscillating structure for a reel of the type having a housing, a line carrying spool, a rotor mounted for rotation relative to the housing for directing line onto the spool, a rotatable crank handle for operating the rotor, and structure for reciprocating/oscillating the spool along a line with respect to the housing as the crank handle and rotor are operated to thereby direct line onto the spool. The center shaft is movable cyclically--in one of the fore and aft directions through a first part of the cycle and in the other of the fore and aft directions through a second part of the cycle. The reciprocating/oscillating structure causes the center shaft to move at a first velocity through the first cycle part and at a second velocity through the second cycle part for a given rotational velocity of the crank handle, with the first and second velocities being different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Zebco Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Tipton, Dennis E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5040743
    Abstract: A spinning-type fishing reel is provided with a rear-actuated front drag. Concentric shafts are provided with a spool freely rotatable on one shaft. Drag members operate on the spool to provide drag to the spool. A drag knob on the rear of the reel operates on one of the shafts to shift the one shaft axially relative to the other, thereby applying pressure to the drag members and to the spool to increase the drag on the spool. In one form, the spool may be freely rotatable on a spool carrier which is keyed to one of the shafts. A spool cap attached to one of the shafts operates through the drag members to apply drag to the spool. The spool is urged against an abutment carried by the other shaft such that moving one shaft relative to the other by turning the rear-mounted drag knob either increases or decreases the drag on the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Zebco Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Zurcher, John W. Chapman, Steven M. Tipton, Richard J. Feehan