The Best New Year’s Eve an Ohio Golfer Can Have

That’s right; golfing in Ohio on December 31st! Ohio golfers were fortunate to have a couple of warm days to melt most of the snow and make golf on the last day of the year a reality. Check out these pictures from my round this afternoon. Northern golfers know that winter golf can bring some challenges such as snow on the green and ice in the traps…. (yes, that is my ball in a trap above… tough bunker, but nothing compared to the one seen below)…. But every now and then winter golf can work to your benefit. Check out my playing partner below as he benefited from a frozen pond. Unfortunately he had to use a fairway wood to reach the ball, and was only 120 yards from the green (but it beats the non-frozen alternative)…. What a great day!

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Nike Golf is Getting Their Feet Wet in Golf Ball IP

Regular readers of the Golf-Patents blog know that Nike Golf is one of the most prolific filers of golf club related patent applications, however you may have noticed that Nike Golf patent applications directed to golf ball technology are almost never mentioned. The reason is that they have very few published patent applications directed to golf ball technology, which is why one of their applications caught my attention last week. The application published as US Pub. No. 20100323817 titled “Golf Ball With Oriented Particles,” which describes the invention as…. Finally, a ball that will fly straighter and reduce spin when I need less spin, while increasing spin when I need more spin! It is a panacea; now I would be able to be on Tour if only it could prevent shanks with a wedge from the center of the fairway at 100 yards…..

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Lefty May Have a Fallback Career

Earlier this year I authored a post titled “A Big Day for Lefty; Golf Club Designer Phil Mickelson Granted His Second Patent.” Well, last week a utility patent application directed to the functional aspects of his club design was published as US Pub. No. 20100323811 titled “Hybrid Golf Club Head.” The application describes the invention as…. Perhaps Phil has a fallback career as a golf club designer! Would you buy this club?….

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Having Trouble Getting Enough Spin on Your Wedge Shots?

If so, SRI may have the solution. Wedge patents don’t come along everyday, and when they do the focus is generally an incredibly complex groove profile. Not this wedge patent; it illustrates a pretty straightforward concept and will probably make you want to give the club a try. The patent is USPN 7,846,033 titled “Iron Type Golf Club Head,” which explains (grind through the awkward translation issues from the original Japanese application)…. The bottom line for me is that it looks different than all the wedges that have betrayed me in the past, so I would love to give it a try (whether I understand why it is supposed to help me or not)…..

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Just in Time for Christmas; A True Game Changer!

I am surprised this hot new club hasn’t been revealed on one of the golf forums yet. Well, I guess I get the honor of being the first to bring it to the masses! A rather intriguing patent issued last week titled “Golf Club Having Two Angularly Divergent Impact Faces” (USPN 7,850,538). The patent describes the invention as…. How about that golfer’s grip! I guess it helps when you bury the heel into the green?….

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The ProV1 Drama is Not Over Yet; Implications for an Acushnet Golf Deal?

A lot has been made lately regarding a potential acquisition of Acushnet Golf, but I have yet to see anyone mention the fact that Acushnet is not yet out of the woods regarding the ProV1 dispute. Let’s not forget, the amount at risk is substantial, even if you considerably discount the risk. Therefore, by the time the consultants and attorneys factor this risk into a transaction, it would seem that Acushnet Golf would probably be going for a discount; perhaps making a management led deal more likely to garner the highest price. By now you are probably wondering why Acushnet is not out of the woods yet. Good question. Last month Callaway filed a motion explaining…

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I am Pretty Sure Electric Shock Therapy Would Help My Putting Stroke

How much do you love golf? Is it enough to endure a little electric shock therapy to lower your score? I suspect that the answer of most golfers is…. h##l yes! As a kid I remember loving the game called Operation. It was always such a challenge to remove the wishbone without getting a shock and having buzzers buzzing and lights flashing. Well, the golf putting stroke invention disclosed in recently published application US Pub. No. 20090111598 reminds me a lot of Operation, which makes me think it would be a heck of a fun practice device. Check this out….. I can just imagine one of these in the bar at the clubhouse so you could challenge your buddies to a little putting competition after a few cold ones; especially if you could adjust the voltage to really penalize a bad stroke…..

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SkyCaddie Takes on GolfBuddy

It is hard to believe it has been over two years since I reported on any patent litigation concerning golf GPS rangefinders. Well, this week the makers of SkyCaddie®, the self-proclaimed “#1 Rangefinder in Golf,” filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the makers of the GolfBuddy. The lawsuit, SkyHawke Technologies, LLC v. Deca International Corp., was filed on December 6th in the Southern District of Mississippi concerning USPN 6,456,938 titled “Personal dGPS Golf Course Cartographer, Navigator and Internet Web Site with Map Exchange and Tutor.”….

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My Game is On Today, I Think I Will Sit Down and Turn My Cavity Back Irons into Muscle Back Irons, or Maybe Even Blades

Can you ever imagine yourself ever saying that? Nike Golf is hoping that the ability to transform irons from cavity backs, to muscle backs, or even blades, appeals to a segment of golfers. In fact, this week they had a patent application publish as US Pub. No. 20100304886 titled “Golf Club and Golf Club Head with Interchangeable Body Component,” which describes the invention as….

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This Ball Looks Like It Will Go Far

Ignoring any particular real technology, this ball design just looks like it would fly (although it does remind me of the Burrows Golf “Powersphere ”). I look at every published US patent application directed to golf ball dimple designs and I will often think “that’s cool” or “pretty innovative”, but this is the first time that I actually thought “something about that dimple just looks like it will have me averaging 300 off the tee.” Yes, I know, purely BS based upon the look of a ball; but if it got a pessimist like me thinking that, I bet by the time the marketing types got done running it through the hype machine the average golfer would be clamoring for it. You be the judge….

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How About an Option other than Cast or Forged Irons

If Cobra Golf has their way golfers may have an option other than just forged or cast irons. How fun would it be to put your playing partner in his place when he says “oh, you got a new set of cast irons, you know I play forged irons.” Someday you may be able to respond by saying “forged clubs are nice, but they are so 1960, my new irons are powdered metal sintered via laser processing.” A patent application published this week as US Pub. No. 20100298065 titled “Method of Making Golf Clubs,” which describes the invention as….

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Interested in Adjusting the Stiffness of Your Golf Shaft? Nike Golf Thinks So

It has been over a year since my post titled “What is the Next Step in Adjustability” reported on Taylor Made’s interest in an adjustable stiffness shaft. Well, it turns out that this is a subject that also interests Nike Golf, and this week they had a patent application publish as US Pub. No. 20100292022 titled “Shaft Stiffening Device.”…. Is Taylor Made’s invention or Nike Golf’s invention more likely to have market appeal?….

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Kim Adds Some Bling to Golf Clubs

Dong Kim that is; surely you didn’t think I was referring to Anthony Kim. Dong is the inventor listed on an old patent that I recently came across and thought “… kind of interesting.” Dong’s patent is USPN 4,951,953 and is directed to a diamond coating for golf clubs. The patent explains…. Here is an interesting bit of information from the patent…. Since Dong’s patent is from 1990, I got a chuckle out of the following paragraph…. You have to admit that a diamond coated club would make a statement….

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Excuse Me Partner, How About Being a Dear and Running This Speaker Out into the Fairway to Help Me with My Alignment

Finally, someone has invented an “audio alignment” tool. This unique invention was disclosed in a patent application that recently published as US Pub. No. 20100273564 titled “Audio Alignment of a Golf Shot.” The application explains…. Put this on a remote controlled car and they may have something (which would be banned from majority of golf courses). Interesting nonetheless….

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I’ll Chase that John Daly with an Arnold Palmer

As avid golfers I am sure you are all familiar with John Daly getting bent out of shape regarding bars and restaurants listing a drink referred to as the “John Daly” on their menus; if not, check out the article “Daly Angered Over Cocktail Bearing His Name .” It is fun to laugh about, but as an IP attorney I can’t say that I blame him. Well, it looks like he got some good advice and on September 20th had a trademark application filed for the JOHN DALY mark associated with…. Good thinking John, but I am not sure about the idea of….

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Club Manufacturers Are Starting to Design for the Fact That Most Golfers Don’t Hit the Ball in the Center of the Club Face

It is hard to believe that it has been over two years since I posted Club Face Adjustability, Is It The Next Big Thing about an Acushnet patent directed to variable driver face stiffness. That post was even a follow-up to one a year earlier titled The Next Step in Club Head Adjustability regarding a prior Acushnet patent directed to coefficient of restitution (COR) adjustability, or the ability to adjust the stiffness of club’s face. Well, apparently it is a concept that is also of interest to Nike Golf, as this week they had a patent application publish titled “Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device Having a Reinforced or Localized Stiffened Face Portion,” which describes the invention as…. Who knows, maybe one of these will actually make it to the market in the next few years!….

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Honest Officer, That Needle You Found in My Trunk is used to Adjust My Golf Club

Imagine the look you would receive if you ever uttered those words to a police officer; however, someday it may actually be true! Nike Golf recently had an interesting patent application publish as US Pub. No. 20100261539 titled “Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device Having Stiffened Face Portion,” which describes the invention as…. Interesting, sure; practical, no way. In fact, I promise to buy one if such a club ever makes to onto store shelves!….

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Finally, I Can Get That Prostate Based Swing Thought Out of My Mind

Perhaps some day I will appreciate the genius of this invention (hopefully not), but the title “prostate golf seat” sure caught my attention. The patent application disclosing this enlightening invention published last week as US Pub. No. 20100259088, which describes the invention as…. Who knew that golf carts could be so dangerous to your prostate? Looks like an accident waiting to happen as your 250 pound golf partner jumps in the seat next to you….

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Ahh, Finally a Self-Cleaning Golf Club (by Nike)

Nike has come up with a pretty interesting idea. I might go as far as saying a downright creative idea (and generally when I feel that way it means that it has been done before). Now, you are going
to have to read a little to fully appreciate the idea, but it will be worth it. Trust me. This interesting Nike invention is disclosed in a patent application that was published today as US Pub. No. 20100261538 titled “Golf Club Having Hydrophobic And Hydrophilic Portions,” which
describes the invention as….

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Is Your Putter Making You a Patent Infringer? Possibly if You Are Putting with a Nike Unitized Techno or a Nike Oz 6

This week Nike Golf was hit with a patent infringement lawsuit by a Mr. Brent Bradford alleging that the Nike Unitized Techno and the Nike Oz 6 infringe two of his putter patents. The patents at issue are USPN 6652390 and 7018304. Click HERE to read the complete Complaint. The first patent USPN 6652390 titled “Spread Heel/Toe Weighted Golf Club” describes the invention as…. It appears that the broadest claim of the ‘390 patent is as follows. Do you think the Nike putters have all the elements described in the claim?…. It will be interesting to see how this case turns out….

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A Ridiculous New Level of Adjustability; Wait, I Think I Might Like This One!

Nike had an interesting patent application publish today. I say “interesting” because my first thought was “that’s ridiculous, how would knowing precisely where the center of gravity is located for each of my irons help a hack like me play better.” However, the more of the application I read, the more I liked the concept. Decide for yourself….. Wait just one second…. “to help compensate for swing flaws that typically produce an excessively high ballooning flight.” You mean to tell me that my excessively high ballooning flight is due to a swing flaw! Nonsense….. So, is this just another method of adjustability that no one uses past the first week, or does this concept have legs? Only time will tell, but first it has to make it into an actual commercial product…..

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How Long Before We Have to Buy Specific Balls Designed for Our Specific Driver?

I have to hand it to Acushnet, they definitely try to think of every way possible to retain their grip on the golf ball market. One of their recently published patent applications reveals one such strategy. The application published as US Pub. No. 20100234125 titled “High Launch and Low Spin Golf Ball and Golf Club Combination.” The application describes the invention as…..

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Does the World Really Need High Heel Golf Shoes?

That is a tough question because most of my annual golf spending is on products that I don’t really need. Heck, high heel golf shoes may do more for my actual game than many of the products that I purchase. Regardless, recently an interesting (I can’t bring myself to say “unique”) patent application was published as US Pub. No. 20100242307 titled “Golf Shoe,” which is directed to high heel golf shoes. Check out these beauties!…. Care to make a prediction on whether this application ever matures to a patent? My money is on “NO.” The shoes actually look a little dangerous to me, but then again I don’t quite have a perfectly balanced and smooth swing! Anyone up for a round of golf in 5″ heels?….

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Finally, Someone Has Incorporated a Tennis Racquet into a Golf Club!

How many times have you heard a golfer say “that’s it, I’m taking up tennis?” Well, now we can have the best of both sports. Today a patent application published as US Pub. No. 20100248859 titled “Soft Golf Club Head,” which is a title that quickly got my attention. The application describes the perfect marriage of tennis and golf….. All I can say is….. “hummm, interesting?”….

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A Window Inside the Future of Nike Irons? Nike Air Irons Would Get Some Attention

Over the past two and a half years I have posted a couple of times (here and here ) about Nike’s fluid filled iron designs. Well, last week another Nike patent application was published that discloses a variation in the design, namely a design that includes a “window” to view the fluid filled bladder. Check this out!…. That has the potential to be pretty cool, not to mention that it would be a neat piece of cross-branding…..

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Can Golf Club Designers Solve Our Psychological Problems? Perhaps

Back in January I posted about a newly issued PING putter design patent that issued revealing a very unique putter design that looked like the bottom of the cup. Since it was a design patent we didn’t get to learn about the putter’s benefits. Well, this week the associated utility patent application was published as US Pub. No. 20100227704 titled “Golf Club Head and Method of Providing Same,” and may provide some insight (or not). The application explains….. Let’s all say it at once, “no s##t!” Yes, that is easy for us to say, but the bottom line is that they recognized a problem and one way of potentially solving it in a unique way. Kudos to the designers at Karsten! I think it is a pretty cool idea that would most likely sell. Check it out!…. I like this better than most new putter designs! A nice bit of creativity…..

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Not a Bad Golf Bag Invention

An interesting golf bag invention was patented this week, but does anyone still use single strap carry bags? The patent issued as USPN 7789279 titled “Golf Bag Supplementary Arrangement,” which describes the invention as…. Good idea, but I am just not convinced that many single strap golf bags are sold now days…..

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The Perfect Driver for Golf Purists

Oh how the USGA would love the driver disclosed in this week’s “patent of the week,” namely USPN 7780535 titled “Method and Apparatus for Active Control of Golf Club Impact.” The patent describes the invention as…. Crazy stuff, but it sure would be cool to see if it actually could solve a few of my many problems!….

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My Game is Not Ready for This Golf Glove

Interesting golf glove inventions do not come along everyday. In fact, the last interesting golf glove invention that I can remember was the Acushnet acupuncture based golf glove. Well, last week an interesting golf glove patent issued that may be a little too advanced for most golfers. After all, I have so many swing thoughts racing through my head that I can’t worry about what my golf glove is telling me. Are you ready for a glove like this?….

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Tired of those Purely Struck Approach Shots Flying 10 Yards Long (Directly Over The Pin)?

Doesn’t it always happen that way? You strike that perfect 6-iron and it is going directly at the pin only to watch is sail 10 yards long because you actually hit the club as it was intended to be hit. Well, one option would be to practice so that you always strike the ball right in the sweet spot; but a far easier option would be to deaden the sweet spot so that those purely struck shots (you know, the 10 percenters) only go as far as your normally struck shot when you are ½ inch toward the toe or the heel. Well, that is the basic premise found in USPN 5,529,543 titled “Golf Irons with Increased Consistency.” The ‘543 patent, which issued in 1996, describes the invention as….. Sure beats hours on the range!….

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Who Wouldn’t Want a “Golf Chariot?” Well, In This Case – ME

The term “golf chariot” inspires visions of a majestic transportation device for cruising around a golf course like it is your kingdom. Unfortunately, the chariot described in a recently published patent application did not quite live up to what I had envisioned. The patent application recently published as US Pub. No. 20100176574 titled “Golf Chariot for Individual Transport on a Golf Course,” which explains…. Now, check out this marvel of modern transportation!…. Interesting, I guess. Now, if it actually worked, I suppose it would be pretty fun, but I would still prefer to ride a Segway golf cart around the course…..

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TaylorMade’s “Secret” Driver Patent Application (Now Patent)

If you are like me then blog post titles that say “exclusive” or “secret” just make you roll your eyes and think “give me a break!” So, I am proud to say that after over 3.5 years of posts this is the first time I have used such overdramatic language in a title, but there is a reason. As a regular reader of the Golf-Patents blog I am sure you know that US utility patent applications are published 18 months after they are filed, which is generally when we get to see behind the doors of the R&D departments. Of course an applicant can request that the USPTO publish an application early, or request that an application not be published at all (it is very rare in the world of golf IP to see either). This morning, as with every Tuesday morning, I was browsing through the new golf patents that issued for the week and came across a TaylorMade patent illustrating a design that I did not recall seeing before. Hum, I am getting older, but I should have remembered this design from when the application was published. Fortunately, I am not getting forgetful; I just happened upon one of the rare situations in which the applicant (TaylorMade) specifically requested that the patent application not be published and made available for public consumption. So, now you see why I used the overdramatic “secret” language in the title; because until today the application was secret. One can’t help but wonder why the secrecy? Let the speculation begin…. Place your bets; what is the likelihood that any of these designs ever show up in Golf Galaxy?

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Want to Estimate Your Golf Ball Launch Conditions? Brush Up on Your Math

Ever wonder what it actually takes to estimate golf ball launch conditions? Probably not, I know, but a recent Acushnet patent on the subject illustrates the importance of math and science education. The patent is USPN 7762911 titled “Method for Predicting Ball Launch Conditions,” which describes the invention as…. So, if you are just tooling around in the garage after a few beers and decide to MacGyver together a launch monitor, make sure you don’t incorporate the following “Hertzian force deformation equation” into your device or Acushnet may come knocking!….

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Don’t Make Enough of an Impression Pulling in the Course Parking Lot with TruckNutz Hanging from Your Hitch?

TruckNutz novelties hanging from a trailer hitch definitely make a statement. If it is actually a statement that you want to make, and you want to make it on the course as well then you may want to consider the MySack golf ball holder. After all, nothing screams “I need attention” like a replica scrotum hanging from your golf bag. Nonetheless, a design patent was recently issued on the “accessory bag;” namely, USPN D620,253 titled “Golf Ball and Accessory Bag” and contains the following drawing…. It would be kind of fun to clip one of these on the bag of a competitor to throw them off their game. Can’t you just imagine Phil clipping one on Tiger’s bag in the middle of a round? Even funnier would be if Christina Kim could sneak one on the bag of Paula!

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Is this Golf Ball Technology Too Advanced, or are You Ready for It?

It is hard to believe that it has been almost 3 years since my first post directed to inventions for tracking errant golf shots (click HERE to read). Well, this week Radar Golf was granted the latest patent directed to eliminating the lost golf ball. The patent is USPN 7766766 titled “methods and apparatuses relating to findable balls,” which describes the invention as….. Frankly, it is amazing that a golf ball can be made with an elastic conductive antenna configured to transmit a RF signal. I don’t know about you but I am quite found of the satisfaction of completing an entire round without losing a golf ball, and would miss it!….

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It Was Only a Matter of Time; Acushnet, Bridgestone, and Callaway Hit with False Patent Marking Lawsuits Related to Golf Ball Patents

I suspect the in-house attorneys at the big golf companies have just been waiting to be named in a false patent marking lawsuit. Recently false patent marking lawsuits have become quite the rage based upon a plaintiff’s hopes of a major payday due to the quantity of products sold containing false patent markings. The typical situation is that a plaintiff identifies products that sell huge quantities of products and then digs around until they identify some products that list patents that are either expired or don’t actually cover the product. Since boatloads of golf balls are sold, I knew that the manufacturers would eventually become the target of the false patent marking plaintiffs. In this situation the plaintiff is Texas Data Co., L.L.C., which is likely a shell company established solely for the purpose of bringing these lawsuits. So, what’s behind these lawsuits? I will let the plaintiff explain….. Ahh, aren’t we lucky to have such guardians of the public interest!…..

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I thought it was a Cool New Nike Putter, Turns Out it is a Driver or Wood

Nike R&D must be a pretty cool place to work because it doesn’t look like they rule out any club head designs as being too radical. In fact, just check out a few recent posts on some of their interesting designs (HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE). Well, this week I opened up a Nike patent application that had just published and thought “interesting putter.” A few seconds later I realized that the application is not directed to a putter, but rather a driver or fairway wood. Now they had my attention! The patent application published as US Pub. No. 20100184532 titled “Golf Club Assembly and Golf Club Head with Bar and Weighted Member.” Check out this design!….. I just wish some of these radical designs would make it to the market so we could see if they would sell. So, are you more like to game this Nike V-shaped golf club head or Callaway’s C-shaped golf club head?…..

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So What’s the Deal with Tiger’s New Putter; Whoops, I Mean His Old Putter

Ugh, I am so sick of hearing about Tiger’s new Nike putter, which seems to now be his old putter, and I am a guy that likes hearing the announcers talk about the equipment being used (and I actually do like the putter). Despite my disgust, I bet the Nike Golf website’s traffic blew-up this weekend and I am sure sales spiked. So what do I do…. talk more about it of course by looking into the intellectual property aspects of this putter design. Well, there is no doubt that Nike values the intellectual property concerning the design because they have invested some change in protecting the design. So far they have no less than 2 issued utility patents directed to aspects of the face (USPN 7717801 & 7713139), at least one design patent on the face design (USPN D605242), and at least six pending utility patent applications, which is not unheard of for a popular putter….. Cool stuff, but I think it is time for the media to put a fork in it; after all, how much free exposure can one product get. Sure makes you appreciate the value of an endorsement from Tiger, even if he eventually switched back to his old putter….

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Are Fluid Filled Irons on the Horizon?

Almost two and a half years ago I posted about a Nike patent application directed to an iron design having a fluid-filled bladder. Well, the application made its way through the patent office and issued last week as USPN 7749100 titled “Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads Having Fluid-Filled Bladders and/or Interior Chambers.” The fact that Nike saw the application all the way through the patent application prosecution process and paid to have the patent issue makes me wonder if we will actually see a commercial product with a fluid-filled bladder. Wouldn’t that be interesting!….

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Callaway’s Final Bite at the Apple Regarding the Request for a Mulligan in the ProV1 Infringement Litigation

This post is following up on yesterday’s post titled “Acushnet Responds to Callaway’s Request for a New Trial ” (which was following up on the original post titled “Callaway’s Request for a Mulligan Regarding the ProV1 Litigation ”) and details the Callaway “Reply in Support of its Motion for a New Trial and Judgment as a Matter of Law” (click HERE to read the entire PDF). I have reproduced some of the high points of the Callaway “reply” below for your reading enjoyment….. Are you confused enough yet? I think I sense a little bad blood between these two!….

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Acushnet Responds to Callaway’s Request for a New Trial in the ProV1 Patent Litigation

Recall the post from a couple of months ago titled “Callaway’s Request for a Mulligan Regarding the ProV1 Litigation ?” Well, Acushnet has filed their response explaining why they believe that Callaway is not entitled to a new trial (click HERE to read the entire response). Yes, a lot of the response is purely legal argument, but I have included some of the more interesting information below (including a nice summary of the case)…. Looks like neither side has given up on this case just yet!….

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After 8.5 Years Izzo Collects from King Par

A few weeks ago I received notice of a $3.2 million verdict awarded to Izzo against King Par (see verdict sheet HERE), and Izzo has asked the court to award over $400k in attorneys fees and expenses. I could not recall the case so I was in no hurry to research it. Turns out the lawsuit did not ring a bell because it was filed 8.5 years ago!….. There you have it; this case should give every aspiring golf inventor hope that a good invention can lead to quite a business…..

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Is Their One Best Method of Achieving the Optimal Golf Stance? An Australian Inventor Thinks So and Has Patented It

Would you be surprised to learn that a method of setting up to the ball can be patented? Well one Australian inventor had his eye on the ball and patented his method of achieving his idea of the “optimal golf stance.” The patent issued this week as USPN 7,744,481 titled “Method for Achieving an Optimal Golf Stance,” which explains…. So, you may be unknowingly infringing this guy’s patent just in the way you address the golf ball! I can just imagine him studying hours of tournament footage to see if he can catch any of the professionals using his method to produce their stance…..

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The Next PING Driver?

A PING design patent that issued to Karsten Manufacturing this week may provide us with a sneak peak at an upcoming driver. The PING driver design found in this week’s patent caught my eye because I typically think of PING designs as simple, conventional, and pure (although some may say boring, not me); well, this particular driver design has a little unconventional flavor to it. The application was just filed back in March, so it doesn’t seem to be an old dead design that will never see the light of day. Check out the bulge off the rear heel side of the club head. Simply a draw biased design, or is there something more to it?….

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PGA Tour Comes Under Fire for Alleged Patent Infringement

Looks like there may be some closed door meetings in Ponte Vedra Beach today in light of a lawsuit filed yesterday by DDB Technologies LLC against the PGA Tour, Inc. alleging infringement of 4 patents owned by DDB Technologies. The patents at issue include…. So, what is this all about? The following 3 paragraphs from the complaint explain the basis of their allegations (i.e. Shot Tracker + PGAtour.com = patent infringement)….

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Once in a Lifetime Father’s Day Golf Weekend at Pinehurst

Before I get started, I have to say that whenever I read a glowing review of a product or vacation package the pessimist in me automatically thinks “of course it is great, or your experience was wonderful…. it was probably free!” So, let me start by saying that I paid full price, got nothing free, and learned about the Pinehurst Father’s Day Weekend Package via a random spam email (you know the type received when one of the golf magazines sells its subscriber info) rather than a fancy invitation (OK, just bitter because I didn’t receive one). Plus, if they were going to get someone to hype their vacation packages don’t you think they would find someone better than a patent lawyer with a golf blog! I had never been to Pinehurst prior to last weekend, nor did I know anyone that had been there; therefore, I was a little apprehensive about driving 8 hours with my dad to go to play courses based upon the fact that they are quasi-famous (that was my initial thought – turns out that after learning about the history of Pinehurst there is no “quasi” about it)…..

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Now that’s a Good Idea

It has been a while since a travel bag invention got me excited. In fact, I haven’t been wowed by a travel bag invention since the introduction of the Club Glider of Fore Inventors Only fame. Well, I can’t say that I was wowed by this travel bag invention, but it is a good concept for sure. The travel bag at issue is found in USPN 7,735,643 titled “Inflatable Shipping Device and Method of Forming and Using Same,” which issued this week. The travel bag includes an inflatable bladder and the patent describes the invention as….

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Did a Golfer Invent this Glove?

Some inventions just really make me scratch my head and wonder what I am missing. They often seem so bizarre that I wonder if the inventor is really a golfer, but that is the beauty with some golf inventions. I can’t say if this golf glove invention is genius or plain crazy, but I am leaning toward the later (but who am I to judge). The invention at issue is found in USPN 7,725,956 titled “Golf Glove with Club Handle Stop,” which describes the invention as…. So, what do you think? Genius or crazy?….

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The Continued Quest for the Perfect Golf Tee

This inventor takes a unique approach to obtaining the perfect golf tee. Why design an entirely new tee when you can just attach a clip to a standard golf tee to create the perfect combination? Well, aside from compliance with the Rules, it sure looks interesting. This tee clip is disclosed in a patent application that recently published as US Pub. No. 20100130311, which describes the invention as…. Heck, I would give it a try…..

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Yep, If You Can Putt with this Practice Putter Invention Then You Are Probably a Darn Good Putter

I can’t imagine how a golfer can dispute that practicing with this putter will make you a better putter, although it would probably be very humbling and frustrating. This practice putter is disclosed in a patent application that published as US Pub. No. 20090227387 titled “Practice Putter with Pointed Striking Surface.”….. Nice invention, but I would rather have a removable attachment for the face of my everyday putter…..

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Would This Invention Allow You to Put One Extra Club in Your Bag?

This invention might not look too crazy if it allowed you squeeze an extra club in your bag. The invention is disclosed in a patent application that published this week as US Pub. No. 20100056290 titled “Detachable Putter Head,” which describes the invention as…. Thanks, but I will keep my dedicated putter (and I suspect it wouldn’t actually allow you put an extra club in the bag, even if it were somehow not afoul with the Rules)…..

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Incorporate This Golf Invention Into a Smart Phone App and I Would Lower My Handicap Quickly

I fairly consistently hit my putts where I intend; the problem is that where I intend to hit them rarely correlates with where the hole is actually located for putts of ten feet or more. This is probably true for most golfers that have handicaps over five. Therefore, the following recently issued patent really caught my eye (although some of the language in the claims strikes me as odd). The patent is USPN 7,713,148 titled “Topography Linked Golf Aid,” which describes the invention as…. Great invention, but….

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Another Invention for the “Just What Every Golfer Needs” File

On Thursdays I often find myself muttering “who could possibly need that” as I am looking through the golf-related patent applications that just became publicly available. However, then I snap back into reality and remind myself that whether or not a person actually “needs” a product has very little to do with its success. After all, who needs a $400 driver, a Cameron putter, or $40/dozen golf balls? This internal dialogue most recently played out when I came across a patent application for a “Multipurpose Golf Divot Tool.” (US Pub. No. 20100113175) After shaking my head, and mumbling to myself, I came to the realization that this may be the perfect impulse buy for the non-golfer. Admittedly, I can’t imagine any of the golfers that I know actually buying the product, but it is the type of thing that every non-golfer would think is the perfect present for a golfer…..

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Callaway’s Request for a Mulligan Regarding the ProV1 Litigation

Why does Callaway want a mulligan and another trial in the ProV1 patent litigation? Well, the same reason that Acushnet wanted a re-do after it lost the first trial; because losing sucks! (especially when 9 figures are involved) Callaway has filed a Motion for a New Trial and Judgment as a Matter of Law. If you have been following the litigation then you really should click on the link and skim through the motion, it gives you a flavor for courtroom dynamics at the trial. For those of you that don’t love golf patent litigation enough to skim through a 67 page PDF, shame on you, but I have reproduced some interesting snippets from the motion below. Enjoy!…..

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Looking for a Little Extra Off the Tee?

Recall the post titled “The Next Step in Club Head Adjustability? Acushnet’s COR Adjustment Patent” from 2-1/2 years ago? If not, check it out and then judge for yourself whether the Acushnet design or the Nike design is more practical. Nike’s take on the adjustable face stiffness concept was disclosed this week in a patent application that published as US Pub. No. 20100113178 titled “Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device Having Adjustable Stiffened Face Portion.” The application explains…. Cool stuff, but can it be manufactured into a commercial product?….

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Tiger’s New Sticks? Not Likely

I have often wondered if all the “adjustability” features of modern clubs are simply a fad that will die off, or is there staying power? Well, fad or not, adjustability has given birth to a ton of patent applications. One of the latest is a Nike patent application that published as US Pub. No. 20100099511 titled “Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads with Adjustable Center of Gravity and Moment of Inertia Characteristics.” Check out these irons!…..

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Will This Cobra Driver Design Make it to the Market?

It has been almost exactly 2 years since I authored the post titled “Holy Mackerel, Could this be the Next New Titleist or Cobra Driver?” The driver design disclosed in that post generated a lot of interest, but we have yet to see the club hit the market. Perhaps is was mothballed. Well, this week a Cobra patent application published that discloses a design that has some similar design attributes, along with some new twists like retractable wings. This week’s application published as US Pub. No. 20100105499 titled “Golf Club Head with Moveable Insert.” Check out this driver design!…. Interesting. I think I like it, but I bet it will be hard to implement into a commercial product…..

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Recall The Lawsuit Against Nike and Golf Club Designer Tom Stites? Well, It Continues to Live

Boy, it has been years since I thought about the lawsuit brought by Triple Tee Golf (TTG), and founder Jack Gillig, against Nike and Tom Stites. Therefore, I was surprised to learn of a last week’s decision from the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) that has given life back to parts of the lawsuit….. I hope this one is wrapped up before I retire and head down to The Villages!….

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Crazy Golf Club Patent of the Week

It has been a while since the last post covering a bizarre golf club patent and I am starting to sense the pent up demand for such a post (not really). Well, there is no doubt that the putter found in US Patent No. 5362048, which issued in 1994, meets the criteria. Check out this beauty!…. Surprised we haven’t seen any of these on tour?….

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The Next Great Advance in Golf Shirt Technology; Could It Be the Next Swimsuit Controversy?

Who says the Golf-Patents blog doesn’t cover fashion? OK, it really doesn’t, but last week a patent application published directed to golf shirt technology that is guaranteed (not really) to give you a higher swing speed, and probably significantly increase the number of times that you accidentally knock the ball of the tee!….. While it would be interesting to see if this garment actually improved a golfer’s swing speed, is there any chance that it wouldn’t screw up your swing?….

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The IP Golf Guy Discusses “Venture Capitalists and Intellectual Property Portfolio Analysis, Are Small Business Owners Missing the Boat?” on the Small Business Advocate® Radio Program

I was honored to be a guest on the nationally syndicated Small Business Advocate® radio show this morning. Jim Blasingame and I discussed some things that small business owners need to consider when trying to attract investors and potential purchasers. Feel free to listen to the interview HERE….

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Which 3 Masters Champions are also Patent Holders?

It is a fitting time to revisit prior posts that cover Masters champions who are also inventors. So, with respect to utility patents check out the prior post titled “Which Two Masters Champions Have Been Issued Utility Patents since 1976?”; and with respect to design patents check out the prior post titled “Which Top 5 Golfer is an Inventor on a Golf Club Patent? And Who Owns the Patent?” Hint: two of the three inventors have won the Masters multiple times!….

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Ahh, Masters’ Week is Finally Here

It is that time of year again to check out Augusta’s trademark portfolio. Check out my prior post One More Reason to Admire Augusta National – The Trademark Portfolio, which illustrates that there are some pretty smart people that know how to capitalize on Augusta’s fame…..

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Did You Know That the Markings on Your Golf Ball Can Control the “Orbit of the Head, Ballistic Trajectory or Impact Point”

Yes, these must be some pretty special golf ball markings to control the “orbit of the head, ballistic trajectory or impact point.” Let’s see if see if you buy it! The patent issued today to SRI Sports (parent of the Srixon brand) as USPN 7,691,005 titled “Golf Ball,” and it explains…. So, do I buy it? The answer is a cautious “probably,” but the last thing I need on the tee box is one more thing that I am trying to remember. Which line should I be staring at?…..

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How Would You Like One Consistent Putting Stroke, Regardless of the Speed of the Greens

Last week Golf Science Technology LLC was granted an interesting putter patent. The basic premise is that you adjust the putter weighting to account for the speed of the greens, then take your normal swing for your typical ten foot putt. Nice theory….. Check out their website, it seems like a pretty reasonable idea but I would have to try it to believe it…..

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New Scottish Musical Instrument, Male Corset, MacGyver Vest, or Golf Swing Training Device?

Oh, it is too easy to poke fun at golf training aides. Regardless of how ridiculous they may make you look, or feel, I do suspect that most of them would indeed help the average golfer. One such training device received a patent this week. While it may look like a little like a new bagpipe instrument crossed with a flak jacket, I can see that it may have some merit….. I would give it a try, what about you?….

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