Patents by Inventor William D. Severa

William D. Severa 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).

  • Publication number: 20260151673
    Abstract: A fiber composite racquet may include a loop providing a head portion of the fiber composite racquet. The loop is formed from a rolled sheet wound about a centerline by at least 720 degrees. The head portion further includes at least one of (1) a layer joined to the rolled sheet along a fold and sandwiched between adjacent overlapping portions of the rolled sheet and (2) a completely surrounded aperture in the rolled sheet. The head portion includes a fiber composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2024
    Publication date: June 4, 2026
    Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Dale J. Zwack, Mitchell Zavesky
  • Publication number: 20260084023
    Abstract: A pickleball paddle may include a handle portion and a head portion coupled to the handle portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2024
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Mitchell Zavesky, Dale J. Zwack
  • Patent number: 12491413
    Abstract: A racquet including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. The head portion of the racquet being formed of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under the racquet lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.5 mm when measured in a first direction that is parallel to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. When the racquet is tested under a racquet forward/rearward bending test, the racquet has a forward/rearward deflection with respect to the longitudinal axis of less than 7.3 mm when measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2025
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Michael W. Schaeffer, Eloisa M. Compostizo, Robert T. Kapheim, David A. Vogel, Dale J. Zwack
  • Publication number: 20250312666
    Abstract: An example pickleball paddle may include a handle and a head coupled to the handle. The head portion includes a first plate extending in a first plane, a second plate extending in a second plane parallel to the first plane and a honeycomb arrangement of unit cells between the first plate and the second plate. Each of the unit cells has a centerline extending non-perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2025
    Publication date: October 9, 2025
    Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Dale J. Zwack, Shanoli Kumar
  • Patent number: 12415115
    Abstract: A racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. At least the head portion and the throat portion of the frame are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under the racquet lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.0 mm when measured in a direction that is parallel to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. When the racquet is tested under the racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about the longitudinal axis. The head portion has a maximum beam height distance of at least 20 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2025
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Dale J. Zwack, Robert T. Kapheim, Eloisa M. Compostizo
  • Publication number: 20240269522
    Abstract: A racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. At least the head portion and the throat portion of the frame are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under the racquet lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.0 mm when measured in a direction that is parallel to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. When the racquet is tested under the racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about the longitudinal axis. The head portion has a maximum beam height distance of at least 20 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Applicant: WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Dale J. Zwack, Robert T. Kapheim, Eloisa M. Compostizo
  • Patent number: 11986705
    Abstract: A racquet including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. The head portion of the racquet being formed of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under a racquet forward/rearward bending test, the racquet has a forward/rearward deflection with respect to the longitudinal axis of at least 8.5 mm when measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. When the racquet is tested under a racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Dale J. Zwack, Robert T. Kapheim, Eloisa M. Compostizo
  • Patent number: 11986706
    Abstract: A racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. At least the head portion and the throat portion of the frame are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under the racquet lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.0 mm when measured in a direction that is parallel to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Dale J. Zwack, Robert T. Kapheim, Eloisa M. Compostizo
  • Publication number: 20240050812
    Abstract: A racquet including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. The head portion of the racquet being formed of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under the racquet lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.5 mm when measured in a first direction that is parallel to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. When the racquet is tested under a racquet forward/rearward bending test, the racquet has a forward/rearward deflection with respect to the longitudinal axis of less than 7.3 mm when measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Michael W. Schaeffer, Eloisa M. Compostizo, Robert T. Kapheim, David A. Vogel, Dale J. Zwack
  • Patent number: 11541282
    Abstract: A racquet including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion is a tubular structure including inner and outer peripheral walls, each having inner and outer surfaces. The head portion of the racquet being formed of a fiber composite material. The fiber composite material includes a plurality of ply arrangements. Each includes a pair of plies defining first and second angles with respect to a composite axis. A section of the outer peripheral wall from the inner surface to the outer surface includes at least three ply arrangements overlaying each other, and the first and second angles of at least two of the at least three ply arrangements being at least 35 degrees. When the racquet is tested under a racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Dale J. Zwack, Robert T. Kapheim, Eloisa M. Compostizo
  • Publication number: 20220355166
    Abstract: A racquet including a tubular frame formed of a fiber composite material, a pallet and a butt cap. The frame includes first and second end regions and a mid-region. The handle portion includes a distal region, proximal region and a central region positioned between the distal and proximal regions of the handle portion. The central and proximal regions of the handle portion have outer surfaces that define first and second transverse cross-sectional areas, respectively. The second transverse cross-sectional area is larger than the first transverse cross-sectional area. The pallet is coupled to and longitudinally extends over the central region but not over the proximal region of the handle portion. The butt cap is secured to the proximal region and includes a peripheral wall and less than half of the length of the peripheral wall extends over the pallet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO.
    Inventor: William D. Severa
  • Publication number: 20220212064
    Abstract: A racquet including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. The head portion of the racquet being formed of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under a racquet forward/rearward bending test, the racquet has a forward/rearward deflection with respect to the longitudinal axis of at least 8.5 mm when measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. When the racquet is tested under a racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Dale J. Zwack, Robert T. Kapheim, Eloisa M. Compostizo
  • Publication number: 20220212065
    Abstract: A racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. At least the head portion and the throat portion of the frame are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under the racquet lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.0 mm when measured in a direction that is parallel to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Dale J. Zwack, Robert T. Kapheim, Eloisa M. Compostizo
  • Publication number: 20210252356
    Abstract: An example pickleball paddle may include a handle and a head coupled to the handle. The head may include an inner layer sandwiched between a first outer faceplate and a second outer faceplate. The inner layer may include a lattice. At least portions of the handle, the inner layer, the first outer faceplate and the second outer faceplate are integrally formed as a single unitary body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Robert T. Thurman, David A. Vogel, Ninad Trifale, William D. Severa, Nadine Lippa, Scott M. Doyle, Robert T. Kapheim, Dale J. Zwack, Eloisa M. Compostizo, Sean P. Griffin, Hudson R. Vantrease, Wayne C. Klinger
  • Publication number: 20210162271
    Abstract: A racquet including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion is a tubular structure including inner and outer peripheral walls, each having inner and outer surfaces. The head portion of the racquet being formed of a fiber composite material. The fiber composite material includes a plurality of ply arrangements. Each includes a pair of plies defining first and second angles with respect to a composite axis. A section of the outer peripheral wall from the inner surface to the outer surface includes at least three ply arrangements overlaying each other, and the first and second angles of at least two of the at least three ply arrangements being at least 35 degrees. When the racquet is tested under a racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Dale J. Zwack, Robert T. Kapheim, Eloisa M. Compostizo
  • Patent number: 10946253
    Abstract: A racquet extends along a longitudinal axis and is capable of being tested under a racquet lateral bending test and a racquet torsional stability test. The racquet lateral bending test includes mounting the racquet in a first orientation to a first test fixture at a first longitudinal location, attaching a clamp to the racquet at a second location, operably engaging a deflection indicator to the clamp, applying a first predetermined weight to the racquet at a third location, and removing the first weight to obtain a lateral deflection measurement of the racquet with respect to the longitudinal axis. The racquet torsional stability test includes mounting the racquet to second and third test fixtures at sixth and seventh locations of the racquet, respectively, placing a third predetermined weight on an arm extending from the second test fixture, removing the third predetermined weight to obtain an angular deflection about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Dale J. Zwack, Robert T. Kapheim, Eloisa M. Compostizo
  • Publication number: 20200298070
    Abstract: A racquet extends along a longitudinal axis and is capable of being tested under a racquet lateral bending test and a racquet torsional stability test. The racquet lateral bending test includes mounting the racquet in a first orientation to a first test fixture at a first longitudinal location, attaching a clamp to the racquet at a second location, operably engaging a deflection indicator to the clamp, applying a first predetermined weight to the racquet at a third location, and removing the first weight to obtain a lateral deflection measurement of the racquet with respect to the longitudinal axis. The racquet torsional stability test includes mounting the racquet to second and third test fixtures at sixth and seventh locations of the racquet, respectively, placing a third predetermined weight on an arm extending from the second test fixture, removing the third predetermined weight to obtain an angular deflection about the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Dale J. Zwack, Robert T. Kapheim, Eloisa M. Compostizo
  • Patent number: D1043877
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Michael W. Schaeffer, Eloisa M. Compostizo, David A. Vogel
  • Patent number: D1109830
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2026
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Hudson R. Vantrease, Dave A. Vogel, Dale J. Zwack, Mitchell Zavesky
  • Patent number: D1123074
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William D. Severa, Hudson R. Vantrease, Dave A. Vogel, Dale J. Zwack, Mitchell Zavesky