Patents by Inventor William E. Dillon

William E. Dillon 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: 11951360
    Abstract: A tennis ball including a spherical hollow elastomeric core having a specific gravity of less than 1 and a thickness of at least 4.5 mm, and a textile layer covering the spherical elastomeric hollow core. The spherical hollow core has an initial internal pressure of no greater than 5 psi. The tennis ball has a first tennis ball rebound height when measured at a first time when the tennis ball is unused and a second tennis ball rebound height measured after the tennis ball is exposed to atmospheric pressure for four months following the first time and is unused. The second tennis ball rebound height being at least 96% of the first tennis ball rebound height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, William E. Dillon, Chloe J. Lee
  • Patent number: 11426637
    Abstract: A tennis ball including a spherical core. The spherical core including an outer surface and a raised wall integrally molded as part of the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, Chloe J. Lee, Robert T. Thurman, William E. Dillon, David A. Vogel
  • Patent number: 11247103
    Abstract: A method for forming a tennis ball including the steps of providing a non-foamed thermoplastic core and providing a non-smooth textured surface on the core. The thermoplastic core including a thermoplastic material having a specific gravity of 0.86 to 1.38, a flexural modulus of 2.0 to 50.0 MPa, and a Shore D hardness of 10 to 70. The thermoplastic material having a thickness between 3.0 and 8.0 mm. The thickness of the thermoplastic material being configured to maintain dimensional stability at internal pressures of between zero and 15 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, Chloe J. Lee, Robert T. Thurman, William E. Dillon, David A. Vogel
  • Publication number: 20220040537
    Abstract: A tennis ball may include a non-foamed thermoplastic core defining an internal volume, the core having an outer meltable surface. The core may include a thermoplastic material having a specific gravity of 0.86 to 1.38, a flexural modulus of 2.0 to 50.0 MPa, and a Shore D hardness of 10 to 70. The thickness of the thermoplastic material may be between 3.0 and 8.0 mm and configured to maintain dimensional stability at internal pressures of between zero and 15 psi. The tennis ball may further include a felt cover at least partially covering the core, wherein the tennis ball conforms to ITF and USTA size, weight, deformation and rebound requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, Chloe J. Lee, Robert T. Thurman, William E. Dillon, David A. Vogel
  • Patent number: 11192001
    Abstract: A tennis ball including a non-foamed thermoplastic core defining an internal volume. The core includes a thermoplastic material having a specific gravity of 0.86 to 1.38, a flexural modulus of 2.0 to 50.0 MPa, and a Shore D hardness of 10 to 70. A thickness of the thermoplastic material is between 3.0 and 8.0 mm. The thickness of the thermoplastic material is configured to maintain dimensional stability at internal pressures of between zero and 15 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, Chloe J. Lee, Robert T. Thurman, William E. Dillon, David A. Vogel
  • Publication number: 20210245013
    Abstract: A tennis ball including a spherical core. The spherical core including an outer surface and a raised wall integrally molded as part of the outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, Chloe J. Lee, Robert T. Thurman, William E. Dillon, David A. Vogel
  • Publication number: 20210245014
    Abstract: A tennis ball including a non-foamed thermoplastic core defining an internal volume. The core includes a thermoplastic material having a specific gravity of 0.86 to 1.38, a flexural modulus of 2.0 to 50.0 MPa, and a Shore D hardness of 10 to 70. A thickness of the thermoplastic material is between 3.0 and 8.0 mm. The thickness of the thermoplastic material is configured to maintain dimensional stability at internal pressures of between zero and 15 psi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, Chloe J. Lee, Robert T. Thurman, William E. Dillon, David A. Vogel
  • Publication number: 20210245016
    Abstract: A method for forming a tennis ball including the steps of providing a non-foamed thermoplastic core and providing a non-smooth textured surface on the core. The thermoplastic core including a thermoplastic material having a specific gravity of 0.86 to 1.38, a flexural modulus of 2.0 to 50.0 MPa, and a Shore D hardness of 10 to 70. The thermoplastic material having a thickness between 3.0 and 8.0 mm. The thickness of the thermoplastic material being configured to maintain dimensional stability at internal pressures of between zero and 15 psi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, Chloe J. Lee, Robert T. Thurman, William E. Dillon, David A. Vogel
  • Publication number: 20210128985
    Abstract: A tennis ball including a spherical hollow elastomeric core having a specific gravity of less than 1 and a thickness of at least 4.5 mm, and a textile layer covering the spherical elastomeric hollow core. The spherical hollow core has an initial internal pressure of no greater than 5 psi. The tennis ball has a first tennis ball rebound height when measured at a first time when the tennis ball is unused and a second tennis ball rebound height measured after the tennis ball is exposed to atmospheric pressure for four months following the first time and is unused. The second tennis ball rebound height being at least 96% of the first tennis ball rebound height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, William E. Dillon, Chloe J. Lee
  • Patent number: 10918913
    Abstract: A tennis ball may include a spherical hollow elastomeric core having a specific gravity of less than 1 and a thickness of at least 4.5 mm and a textile layer covering the spherical hollow core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: William E. Dillon, Frank M. Simonutti
  • Publication number: 20200070010
    Abstract: A tennis ball may include a spherical hollow elastomeric core having a specific gravity of less than 1 and a thickness of at least 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: William E. Dillon, Frank M. Simonutti
  • Patent number: 10549159
    Abstract: A tennis ball comprises a hollow elastic circumferential core defining a primary outer surface pattern, and a textile outer layer extending over and about the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, William E. Dillon, David A. Vogel
  • Patent number: 10493327
    Abstract: A tennis ball may include a spherical hollow core having an inner surface including material shift lines and a textile outer layer over and about the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, Robert T. Thurman, William E. Dillon, David A. Vogel
  • Publication number: 20180264326
    Abstract: A tennis ball comprises a hollow elastic circumferential core defining a primary outer surface pattern, and a textile outer layer extending over and about the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, William E. Dillon, David A. Vogel
  • Publication number: 20180264327
    Abstract: A tennis ball may include a spherical hollow core having an inner surface including material shift lines and a textile outer layer over and about the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, Robert T. Thurman, William E. Dillon, David A. Vogel
  • Patent number: 6030304
    Abstract: A pressureless tennis ball comprises a novel core which is formed from a compound containing rubber and a plastomer defined as a copolymer of ethylene and one or more alkenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, Peter R. Tolley, William E. Dillon, Jerry Matheny
  • Patent number: 4007795
    Abstract: A power tool includes manually operated selector means for alternately establishing rotary-hammer and hammer-only modes of operation for the associated drill bit. The attachment is in the form of an elongated member having a longitudinally extending blind bore for receiving the drill bit; retaining means are provided for releasably mounting the attachment on the drill bit. An annular shoulder defining the mouth of the blind bore is in abutting engagement with another annular shoulder, the latter being arranged to receive impact blows from the hammer mechanism of the power tool. In one embodiment, this second mentioned annular shoulder is constituted by a tappet forming part of the hammer mechanism. In another embodiment, this second mentioned annular shoulder is an integral part of the drill bit. Impact blows are transmitted to the attachment only through the area of engagement of the aforesaid annular shoulders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1977
    Assignee: Skil Corporation
    Inventors: Alex F. Gawron, William E. Dillon
  • Patent number: D799613
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventor: William E. Dillon
  • Patent number: D800236
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventor: William E. Dillon