A recently published patent application caught my eye. The application was titled “Fishing Rod with a Sports Style Handle” and published as US Pub. No. 20070193105. The application describes the invention as..... Check out these figures..... The perfect mix of fishing and golfing. << MORE >>

I just happened upon this website created by the class action attorneys that are representing PGA Golf Professionals that were / are employed by Dick’s Sporting Goods and did not get paid for overtime hours. The website explains that the primary goal in this class action is to recover unpaid wages, overtime and other damages for employees who were not properly paid for the time they worked. The website contains some interesting information… check it out. << MORE >>

Readers of the Golf-Patents blog know that I frequently write on the subject of trade secrets in the golf industry. Few would dispute that it is a close knit industry. Well, recently Callaway's director of Odyssey Brand Management accepted a position as Nike Golf’s marketing director and was supposed to start work on Monday. Guess what… Callaway was not happy about this. Check out this article by Brent Hunsberger of The Oregonian on the dispute. Fascinating stuff! << MORE >>

As you may recall from these prior posts (initial, update 1), on May 11th GPS Industries and Optimal IP Holdings filed a patent infringement lawsuit against 10 defendants. The list of defendants reads like a Who’s Who of the golfing GPS world. The defendants include ....... Defendant SkyHawke Technologies, the maker of the Natalie Gulbis endorsed SkyCaddie, have fired back at GPS Industries in response to GPS Industries’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction. On October 1st SkyHawke filed their “Opposition” to the Plaintiff’s motion, and the supporting Brief (both of which are reproduced at the end of this post and make for some interesting reading... boy, litigation can get nasty). Enjoy!<< MORE >>

After 30 months, 578 docket entries, and millions in legal fees, Bridgestone and Acushnet have settled their golf ball patent litigation dispute (see this prior post for a little background). The case was getting very close to trial and I was hoping to have the opportunity to report on the trial. Oh well. Unfortunately golfers are likely to never know the terms of the settlement. Heck, golfers can’t even view most of the court documents because majority of the 578 entries were filed under seal, or in redacted form. I just hope that some savvy financial analyst / golfer will watch the financial reporting of the two companies and give golfers some insight into what financial impact, if any, the settlement has on the two companies. You can read the Bridgestone press release here. (I can't locate an official press release from Acushnet) PS – I owe a special thanks to John Paul Newport of the WSJ for tipping me off to the settlement yesterday. << MORE >>

Are you interested in learning more about patent litigation? If so, my colleague Michael Gallagher is presenting an online seminar (aka webinar) tomorrow October 2nd titled “Patent Litigation for the General Litigator.” The seminar runs from 3 PM-5:15 PM EST tomorrow and you can sign-up here. The program summary is as follows.... << MORE >>

As with most swing training devices, I have no idea whether this device would be helpful or hurtful. My skeptical nature tends to make me doubt the credibility of the device, but if there was ever a swing that could use some help… it is mine. The invention is disclosed in a patent application that recently published as US Pub. No. 20070191129 titled “Golf Swing Training Aid.” The application describes the invention as.... Check out these drawings showing the device in action....<< MORE >>

Check out this patent… USPN 7252596 titled “Putter Alignment Device.” These figures get the concept across.....Amazing. Would you use this invention? << MORE >>

Golfers rarely think about the advancements made in golf shoe technology, but boy would we ever if we were forced play a round in the shoes that we wore 20 years ago. I would not want to walk a round in my old leather soled Dexters with metal spikes. A good example of recent golf shoe technology advancements is found in a patent application that recently published as US Pub. No. 20070199211 titled “Flexible Foot-Support Structures and Products Containing Such Support Structures.” The application describes the invention as....... Check out the following figures from the application...... << MORE >>

I was honored to be a guest on the nationally syndicated Small Business Advocate® radio show this morning. Jim Blasingame and I discussed intellectual property strategy. I have been a fan of Jim’s show for close to 10 years and highly recommend it. You may listen to the interview here. << MORE >>

How large is the market for golf geek products? Now, don’t get me wrong… I like tech toys as much as the next golfer, but I just can’t see myself wearing this product. Check out the product disclosed in the recently published patent application US Pub. No. 20070183262 titled “Golf Watch.” The application describes the invention as “[a] golf watch, which keeps time and allows a player to keep score of a person's golf game and records the clubs that were used during that game.” Perhaps this product meets the needs of all the golfers that just loved their calculator watches. Wearing this watch would definitely make a statement...<< MORE >>

Is it just a matter of time before we see guys on Tour bending down to stick their nose into 8” long rough and sniff their golf balls to identify them? The inventors of the golf ball described in the recently published patent application US Pub. No. 20070219019 must think so. The application is titled “Odorant Golf Balls.” No kidding! See the PPS below for a full listing of the hundreds of various “odorants” listed in the patent application. Which scent would you choose? I think that I would go with banana nut bread, lemon pound cake, or pina colada. Check out this patent application! I smell a flop. << MORE >>

A recently issued putter patent caught my attention because I scanned through the drawings and thought “it would be virtually impossible to putt with this putter.” The patent issued on September 4th as USPN 7264557 titled “Golf Putter with Concave Cylindrical or Spherical Striking Surface.” Check out a few of the drawings from this patent..... What do you think; would this putter make the game easier or more difficult? Additionally, what is the likelihood that the USGA would find this to be a non-conforming putter? << MORE >>

I would be interested in knowing the total number of double decker driving ranges in the United States. Could there be 100? That reality did not prevent Si-Myung Kim of Seoul from filing a US patent application that recently published as US Pub. No. 20070178984 titled “Golf Ball Conveying Apparatus for Use on Driving Ranges.” Perhaps Si-Myung is forecasting a building boom. The patent application describes the invention as... Check out this figure of the invention... Finally, no more having to exhaust yourself by carrying those heavy baskets of balls! (kidding, or course) << MORE >>

In my part of the country golfers rarely buy golf shoes unless they are waterproof. I am sure that this may not be the norm with golfers in Arizona, but would they buy dickies for their golf shoes? The inventors of the device in the recently published patent application US Pub. No. 20070175064 titled “Waterproof Protective Overshoe for Golf Shoes” obviously do believe that golfers will purchase such a product. The patent application describes the invention as... Check out this drawing. Would you wear these on the course? << MORE >>

Put practicality aside for a minute and think of how much fun a driving range could be if it looked like the one drawn below. The drawing comes from USPN 5439224 titled “Driving Range with Automated Scoring System.” The patent describes the invention as... Check out these additional drawings... How difficult would it be to put UPC’s on golf balls?<< MORE >>

Last week Acushnet was granted an interesting golf ball dimple patent. The patent is USPN 7267624 titled “Golf Ball Dimple Pattern.” Perhaps the most interesting thing about the patent is that the “claims,” the legal scope of the patent, are limited to a 344 dimple ball. As far as I can tell, Acushnet does not sell a 344 dimple golf ball either under the Titleist brand or the Pinnacle brand. Makes you wonder if a 344 dimple golf ball is on the horizon? The abstract of the patent describes the invention as... (figure)... << MORE >>

Amazing! Who would ever think to put advertisements in the bottom of the cup? Apparently the inventors of USPN 7266916 did. The following is the description of their invention, as well as a figure....(description... drawing)... What will marketers think of next?... << MORE >>

The Golf-Patents blog has tested your knowledge of driver and wood designs in the past (here, here, here, here, here, and here). Last week a design patent issued on a popular driver. Do you recognize this club?...(figures)... You can click here for the answer, and click here to check out USPN D550800 titled “Sole Plate for Golf Club Head,” which issued last week. PS – I like the design of this club so much that I have one in my bag.<< MORE >>

We have all played behind one of them… the golfer that just refuses to accept that they are not going to find their golf ball. Apparently these golfers that develop an unnatural attachment to their mass-produced golf balls have been around since the advent of the game (no surprise). Let's take a look at some of the inventions that golfers have come up with to try to prevent that dreaded "lost ball." One of the earliest inventions directed to a hard-to-lose golf ball is found in USPN 1620290 titled “Signal Ball” was filed in 1925! This "signal ball" includes a radial spring that is wound in a viscous material that causes the spring to slowly unwind while producing a "sharp and penetrating" sound. Check out the figures from the '290 patent below and think how that ball would feel when struck with a full-swing. Next.... Next.... Next.... The next great advance in preventing lost-balls is disclosed in USPN 4614340 titled “Smoke Emitting Game Ball,” which I refer to as the flying smoke-bomb (seen below). Fortunately the patent discloses that "[a] wire net between 100 and 10 mesh is interposed between the outer shell and the layer of the smoke emitting material to cover at least the apertures to thereby prevent hot molten mass of the combustion product from spilling out of the apertures." Isn't that a relief... you won't get covered by the hot molten mass of the combustion product.... Next... Next.... Finally, the pinnacle of overly complex golf balls is described in USPN 7207902 titled “Method and Apparatus for Locating and Recording the Position of a Golf Ball During a Golf Game.” Check out the figure below. Isn't the price of a dozen good golf balls high enough? .... I am going to go out on a limb here and offer $500 for a single golf ball that can tell me when the ball is in the mud, dirt, wet sand, dry sand, dry grass, wet grass, and water based upon the a sensed pressure value (and it must work for at least 9 holes)! .... << MORE >>

The Golf-Patents blog has profiled some bizarre clubs in the past (just look here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here). None of the previously profiled clubs have anything on the club covered by US design patent D223767 titled “Golf Club Head or the Like.” Check out these figures....(drawings).... So, is it a driver or a putter? (I am leaning toward a driver…) << MORE >>

Have you ever stood on a beautiful green and wondered whether the grass was patented? I hope not. If so, you need to find other ways to relax. Plant patents are relatively rare creatures. The USPTO website explains:..... I was surprised to learn that only 14 plant patents directed to golf course grasses (meaning the patent specifically mentions golf course applications) have issued since 2001! They include USPN’s PP18005, PP16801, PP14395, PP14130, PP13652, PP13294, PP13105, PP13100, PP13059, PP12910, PP12665, PP12625, PP12084, and PP11781. I encourage you to check a few of them out… especially if you have a green thumb. My personal favorite golf related plant patent is for a plant that is more likely to be found in your backyard than the local golf course. The patent is USPN PP15329 titled “Pittosporum plant named `Golf Ball`.” Check out this photo of the patented “Golf Ball” plant...<< MORE >>

Readers of the Golf-Patents blog know that the posts regularly link to nice PDF copies of the patents and published applications that are discussed. Linking to nice clean PDF versions of patents saves the readers from the hassle of going to the USPTO website to view the patent(s) under discussion. The great free website www.Pat2PDF.org has provided this capability in the past. Lately the service has become a little touch and go (probably because the amount of website traffic). To ensure that the readers of the Golf-Patents blog have reliable links to clean PDF files of the patents and applications under discussion, I decided to create a similar free resource. Therefore, I am pleased to announce that Gallagher and Dawsey has launched the PatentMarvel.com website. PatentMarvel is a free online patent tool for U.S. patent lawyers and inventors to create advertisement free clean PDF copies of U.S. patents and published applications... no strings attached. PatentMarvel will eventually include numerous tools developed by our patent lawyers to ease the lives of US patent attorneys, inventors, and intellectual property owners. Please give the PatentMarvel website a try... << MORE >>

Don’t ever question the amount of R&D brain power that goes into bringing the latest and greatest golf clubs and golf balls to your local pro shop. Just check out recently issued USPN 7254492 titled “Method of Computing Energy Loss Generated in Viscoelastic Material and Method for Evaluating Energy Loss of Golf Ball by Using Method of Computing Energy Loss,” owned by SRI Sports Ltd (Srixon). The patent describes the invention as.......... Wow... that is a mouthful (and who uses the word “momently”?). Check out these figures from the patent... << MORE >>

How about a little humor to get you through the mid-week blues? The following drawing comes from USPN 6755345 titled “Golf Handicap Smart Card System.” Do you see something that is not quite right? (scroll way down in the post for hints)....(drawing).... HINT #1..... HINT #2..... HINT #3..... Here is the enlarged view. Rather interesting! << MORE >>

A golf ball patent recently issued under a title that got my attention… “Hybrid Composite Golf Ball and Method of Manufacturer.” The patent is USPN 7255655, which is assigned to Element 21. Sure, everyone wants that golf ball with the perfect feel… but, have you ever thought to yourself… “self… if only I could selectively mix flakes of varying metal alloys into the cover of my ball I would be able to tune my golf ball for just the right feel?” “Do I feel like my titanium alloys golf balls… perhaps the aluminum alloy ball would be more suited for today’s humid weather… better yet, why don’t I just use my old stand-by, the nickel based alloy golf balls.” I doubt that many people ever considered metal flakes as being the missing ingredient from the perfect golf ball......<< MORE >>

OK, that title may be a little “alarmist.” But you never know... plus it got your attention (although my gut tells me not to worry too much about not being able to purchase a SkyCaddie after October 1st). As you may recall from this prior post, on May 11th GPS Industries and Optimal IP Holdings filed a patent infringement lawsuit against 10 defendants........ The list of defendants reads like a Who’s Who of the golfing GPS world. The defendants include .... Defendant SkyHawke Technologies is the maker of the Natalie Gulbis endorsed SkyCaddie. It appears that the Plaintiffs have sized-up SkyHawke as the defendant with the deepest pockets, as the Plaintiffs have filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction (the Motion and the Support Brief are reproduced at the end of the post). The Plaintiffs argue that “[i]rreparable harm has resulted from the infringing conduct of Defendant to date and will continue unless Defendant is preliminarily enjoined from further distributing and marketing the Infringing Devices in the United States.” .................. So, what is the point of a motion for a preliminary injunction? Generally, the real reason.... After all, there is always the risk that the court will decide to grant the injunction and tell the defendant to pull their products from the market. Now, there are a lot more politically correct reasons to attempt to obtain a preliminary injunction, many of which GPS Industries advanced in their Motion, including: “[p]reliminary injunctive relief serves the public interest by protecting Plaintiffs’ patent rights and upholding the patent laws against Defendant’s deliberate infringement.” The Court has given SkyHawke until October 1st to respond to the Motion and has granted SkyHawke permission to serve the Plaintiffs with a limited set of discovery requests. I encourage you to check out the patent, as well as the selected portions of the filings reproduced below. The filings give the outside observer a look at the nasty side of the golf industry...<< MORE >>

As you may recall from a prior post, in early August Callaway filed two patent infringement lawsuits against TaylorMade. Callaway filed one patent infringement complaint in the “rocket docket” Eastern District of Texas alleging that TaylorMade has willfully infringed USPN 5704849 titled “Golf Club Head with Audible Vibration Attenuation.” While Callaway filed the second patent infringement suit in the Southern District of California alleging that TaylorMade has willfully infringed a couple of Callaway’s golf ball patents (USPN’s 6638185 and 7160207), and also alleging that four of TaylorMade’s patents (USPN’s 6547678, 6991558, 7197575, and 6719644) are invalid. On Tuesday TaylorMade filed their responses in the two cases (reproduced below for your reading enjoyment). It should be no surprise that TaylorMade responded with counterclaims alleging that Callaway has indeed infringed USPN’s 6547678, 6719644, 6991558, and 7197575, and alleging the unenforceability, invalidity, and/or noninfringement of Callaway’s USPN’s 5704849, 6638185, and 7160207. OK, we already knew that all those patents would be at issue, but TaylorMade took an additional stab at Callaway and has alleged unenforceability, invalidity, and noninfringement of two additional Callaway patents; namely USPNs 5409229 and 5605511 both titled “Golf Club Head with Audible Vibration Attenuation.” Looks like this may turn into a huge battle... << MORE >>

It is hard to believe that this club maker has not been previously mentioned in a post. In the past this particular manufacturer did not seem to be big on golf club design patents, however they may be turning over a new leaf… they have had 3 club head design patents issue in the past 5 weeks. The figure below comes from a US golf club iron head design patent that issued on Tuesday to a major producer of clubs. Can you identify the brand of irons?..... A few weeks prior the same manufacturer received a design patent on this design.... Can you identify the club maker?<< MORE >>

The final episode began with 5 finalists… the Club Glider travel bag, the Club Caddie club stand, the ProPlay GPS portable swing video recorder and software, Z-Factor Perfect Putting Machine, and the HillShot Golf uneven lie practice platform. Last week I predicted that the winner would be either the ProPlay GPS portable swing video recorder system or the Club Glider travel bag. So let’s see if I was right... Back to the competition... the elimination process began. The first invention eliminated was the ... What a surprise, I would have bet that ... The second invention eliminated was the ... Come on… now I am starting to think that the voting is fixed. Is America telling us that the (A) and the (B) are better inventions than (C) and (D)? Please! The third invention eliminated was the ... Now this is ridiculous… the best 3 inventions are the first 3 eliminated...What is America thinking? (maybe a joke)... And the winner is... Absolutely amazing. Mindblowing...... I never thought I would say this, but the show would have been better off with Bill, Stina, and Fulton selecting the winner...<< MORE >>

I was fortunate to be a guest on the Saturday September 1st episode of the Tee Time Radio program. CJ, Ryan, and I discussed some of the inventions from The Golf Channel’s “Fore Inventors Only” program. Needless to say, the Tee Time Radio interview was prior to last night’s "Fore Inventors Only" season finale, and my prediction as to which invention would win was a shank. However, I do believe that most golfers would agree that the best invention did not win. Click here to listen... << MORE >>

Last week Golf-Patents features a post on loft adjustability, therefore I figured that this week a look at lie adjustability was in order. As with loft adjustability, the USPTO conveniently places all the patents directed to lie adjustability in a single class (473/248). I was surprised to find only 77 patents have been assigned to this class since 1790 (some of which I would not consider to be primarily directed to lie adjustability)! The earliest patent directed to lie adjustability is USPN 1535707, which issued in 1925. Check out these drawings from this patent...(figures)... I would not want to hit anything other than a putt with that club! Now, on the opposite end of the spectrum… the most recent patent in this class that I consider directed to lie adjustability is USPN 6857969, which issued to Acushnet on February 22, 2005. The ‘969 patent describes the invention as:...(description)... Check out this figure from the '969 patent:...(drawing)... It should be fun watching the "adjustability" explosion. I wonder what clubs will look like, and be capable of, in ten years? << MORE >>

A recent Golf-Patents.com post was picked up by a UK intellectual property blog, which got the attention of the hosts of the UK's “Pods and Blogs” radio show. Isn't the Internet amazing! The “Pods and Blogs” radio show is described as: The week's news as seen by bloggers, podcasters and citizen journalists. Every Tuesday, as part of the Up All Night programme, BBC Radio 5 Live takes a look at world events from the perspective of the online community. I would hardly consider the Golf-Patents blog as covering “world events,” but fortunately the hosts of “Pods and Blogs” are golfers! Thus, yesterday I was honored to be a guest on the "Pods and Blogs" radio show. Click here to listen. << MORE >>

This week an interesting patent issued for a rather unusual golf product. The patent is USPN 7261639 titled “Golf Club Ring” and describes the invention as:... Perhaps these drawings illustrate the invention in a more understandable manner... << MORE >>

Yes! That is the answer to the question “did the club manufacturers predict the recently proposed USGA rule changes years in advance?” Well, at least Acushnet and Karsten (PING) did. (see this post for background information). Just this week another PING patent issued related to adjustability. The patent is USPN 7261642 titled “Method for Tuning a Golf Club Head with a Variably Dampened Face.” This patent is related to USPN 7192363 titled “Golf Club Head with a Variably Dampened Face,” which was discussed in detail in this March posting. Frankly, when I reviewed the ‘363 patent back in March I thought it seemed very odd… now it seems virtually genius (maybe not the technology… but the strategy). I suspect that...<< MORE >>

As you may recall from a prior post, on June 8, 2007 Callaway filed a golf club patent infringement lawsuit alleging that Acushnet has willfully infringed 5 Callaway patents. Then, as discussed in a subsequent post, on July 12, 2007 Acushnet filed their Answer to the Complaint thereby (i) stating that Acushnet does not infringe the Callaway patents and alleging that the Callaway patents are invalid, and (ii) returning the favor by accusing Callaway of infringing two of Acushnet’s patents. Today, Callaway filed their response to Acushnet’s accusations (reproduced at the bottom of the post)… and guess what… Callaway states that they do not infringe the Acushnet patents and allege that the Acushnet patents (7041003 and 6960142) are invalid! Of course… never admit infringement and always assert that the other side’s patents are invalid. Par for the course....... I just hope this doesn’t push the price of drivers beyond the $500 mark! << MORE >>

A patent on a method of holding a golf club… amazing! Mind blowing, isn’t it? No, not really… there are several patents on methods of holding and swinging golf clubs (usually putters). For example, this week USPN 7261652 titled “Method of Holding a Putter and Putting a Golf Ball” issued. Check out these figures from the patent...(figures)... So how do you describe it in words… easy (kidding), just check out this claim from the patent:...(claim)... To check out other patented methods of swinging a golf club click here, here, here, here, or here, for just a few examples. With these patents in mind… go out in your backyard and make a few of these patented swings and then you will be able to tell your kids how “back in the day” you were a rebel, perhaps even an outlaw, with the way you blatantly infringed patents! (just kidding, I would never encourage or endorse patent infringement) I bet you would never have guessed that you would need a “freedom-to-practice” opinion from a patent lawyer just to try out a new putting stroke! See the PPS for my challenge to the professionals in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings... << MORE >>

The show begins with the following 10 finalists (out of over 1000 inventions):...(list)... Last week the president of GolfSmith was allowed to select one of the inventions for immunity. He selected the Club Glider travel bag to get his pass into the final five. The panel and the inventors then headed back to the studio to select the other 4 inventions that will advance to the next round. The panel, and Jim (the GolfSmith president), quickly ran through the remaining inventions in the following order...(list)... Guess what... Jim loved all of the inventions (in a very politically correct manner). All of the inventors were then brought back into the studio for another elimination. The field of 9 was then narrowed to the following 4 (plus the Club Glider)...(secret list)... What! How on earth did (xxxxxx) make it to the final five? It is... Next, Annika Sorenstam made a celebrity appearance and checked out the final five inventions. She was very polite and told each of the inventors how much she loved their products. Personally, I would have rather watched Charles Barkley try out the inventions… now that would be entertaining... Which invention do I think America will choose to win... either the... << MORE >>

This week yet another swing training device invention was granted a patent. I can’t tell if it would be helpful, hurtful, or neither. The patent is USPN 7261653 titled “Golf Swing Training Apparatus” and describes the invention as:... Check out this drawing of the device... I bet the great instructors like Harmon and Leadbetter secretly have a few of these in their garage(s)...<< MORE >>

Did you catch this week’s Golf Digest article regarding rumors that the USGA and R&A will be officially adopting a previously proposed rule that would allow for greater club head adjustability? If not, check it out. The article got me thinking about the early innovators of adjustable golf club heads. There are so many degrees of club head adjustability (loft, lie, shaft length, and on, and on, and on) that I must limit this post to just one… loft. The USPTO conveniently places all the patents directed to loft adjustability in a single class (473/245). I was surprised to find only 65 patents have been assigned to this class since 1790! The earliest patent directed to loft adjustability is USPN 569438, which issued in 1896. Check out these drawings from this patent... << MORE >>

Ask most golfers about aerodynamics and they will immediately start spouting off buzz words pertaining to golf balls… dimples, drag, lift, etc… Well, have you ever thought about the aerodynamics of your golf clubs? Fortunately there have been many inventors over the years that have been fixated on the aerodynamics of the golf club head. I would love to interview a golf club design engineer regarding the significance, or lack thereof, of a golf club head’s aerodynamics. I suspect that at Tiger’s swing speed it may have minor significance, but virtually no significance for most golfers… but that is just a hunch. While the idea makes some sense, if it were a truly great idea then one of the major manufacturers would have been all over it a long time ago. Part 1 of this series focuses on a handful of patents that disclose clubs which aim to channel airflow through the club head in a particular manner. Part 2 of the series will honor those inventors that think… “the only think missing from a golf club head is fins!”... Check out these clubs...<< MORE >>

If you love golf history (and have a little extra money) then you may want to drop by NYC on September 27-28 for a huge auction. I refuse to promote the auction house because they make you buy the auction catalogue just to see what is even up for auction (what kind of business plan is that… who knows, I might have bid on something if I could actually see what is being auctioned). I will however promote the collection, it is that of Jeff Ellis, the author of “The Clubmaker’s Art” (the best golf club book set ever compiled). The collection includes more than 800 items and could easily be the type of collection that only changes hands once every 100 years, so get your checkbooks ready. The announcement in GolfWeek says that the auction will be preceded by an exhibition on September 20-26. That is one exhibition that I would love to attend... << MORE >>

This beauty of a golf club is disclosed in USPN D501,903 titled “Golf Club Head.”...(drawings)... Frankly, I was hoping to find a utility application listing the same inventor so that I could learn what was behind the accordion look. Perhaps, each layer has slightly different material properties for optimum deformation at impact with the ball? Maybe the design creates regions of engineered deformation? Perhaps both... Needless to say, I could not locate a related utility application (or patent), so we will never know the origins of the accordion design...<< MORE >>

The show is down to the following 10 finalists (out of over 1000 inventions):...(list)... Someone at The Golf Channel decided that watching the inventors refine their sales pitches would make interesting television. WRONG! ... I actually almost fell asleep. No kidding. This segment made me wish I were listening to judge Bill Harmon drone on about how great he is... Next, the finalists made a trip to the Orlando GolfSmith store… OK, at least it is starting to get interesting again... Now the real excitement… narrowing the 10 inventions down to 5! The twist… the president of GolfSmith was allowed to select one of the inventions for immunity. In other words, he got to select one invention to automatically make it into the final 5. So which one did he select... (the answer)..., which I am pretty sure would have made it to the next round anyway (but it is interesting to see which one the GolfSmith president really likes). If I had to choose the 4 additional inventions that would join the (secret) to move on to the final 5 (from the perspective of a GolfSmith salesman)… I would keep... << MORE >>

The “odd club of the week” award goes to the club found in USPN D539,861 titled “Golf Club Head.”...(figures)... While it may look ridiculous, I doubt that I would hit it any worse (or better) than my normal wedge.<< MORE >>

As you may recall from the post back in April… At that time, the Fifth Circuit reversed a district court’s grant of summary judgment that was originally in favor of Nike, Impact Golf Technologies, and Tom Stites. It looked like they might be in some hot water. The Fifth Circuit remanded the case back to the district court of the Northern District of Texas for further proceedings. Well, last week the district court judge dismissed all the claims, hopefully putting an end to this case. I have reproduced the 75+ page “Final Judgment” and the “Memorandum Opinion and Order” below (with the good stuff in bold). Basically, the questionable actions and testimony of the Plaintiff Triple Tee Golf cost them a case that could have been worth many many millions of dollars. The Opinion and Order is fascinating reading, primarily because the judge ruthlessly picks apart the actions of the plaintiff. I encourage you to scan this entire post and definitely read the portions that I have bolded. After all, not very many Opinions contain sections titled "Inconsistencies and Implausibilities."...<< MORE >>

The Golf-Patents blog has frequently tested your knowledge of driver and wood designs in the past (here, here, here, and here). Well, here is another test... Recently a design patent issued on a fairly popular metal wood, however I suspect very few people will be able to identify the manufacturer of this club in light of the patenting strategy that was used. Do you recognize this club?<< MORE >>

Ordinarily I try not to merely link to another website’s articles, but this is worth it. The London Times recently published this hysterical list of the world’s oddest laws. Check it out (especially if you are considering driving blindfolded in Alabama, own a fish in Ohio, are an unmarried woman that likes to parachute in Florida, own a concealed weapon that is longer than six feet in Kentucky, or have false teeth and live in Vermont). Enjoy...<< MORE >>

Can you identify this club? ...(figure)... The figure above comes from a design patent that issued at the end of July to a major producer of clubs. While you might be able to identify the brand… I encourage you to go the manufacturer’s website and try to identify the specific product...<< MORE >>

A prior post took a look at shaft related patents that issued in 2006. Needless to say it was a short post (very few shaft patents issued last year). This year is not shaping up to be much more active, but there has been some activity in the past month... Additionally, this week True Temper received its first patent in over 10 months. The True Temper patent that issued Tuesday is USPN 7255652 titled “Lightweight, Durable Golf Club Shafts.” The patent describes the invention as... OK, that is nice… but it doesn’t really tell you anything about the legal scope of the invention. A quick review of the claims reveals that the patent is directed to...<< MORE >>