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Golf Inventions, Patents, and Technology via The IP Golf Guy (aka The Golf Patent Attorney)
The IP Golf Guy Discusses “Common Intellectual Property Mistakes of Small Businesses” 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 common intellectual property mistakes of small businesses. I have been a fan of Jim’s show for close to 10 years and highly recommend it. I encourage you to listen to the interview here...<< MORE >>
IP Grab of the Week – Is the National Chiao Tung University Getting Into the Golf Business?
Yesterday a pending patent application published that caught my eye. It was US Publication No. 20070084528 titled “Low-Density High-Toughness Alloy and the Fabrication Method Thereof,” which is assigned to the National Chiao Tung University. The invention is described as a low-density high-toughness alloy that can be used in the manufacturing of golf club heads that obtain superior elongation, strength, damping capacity, and corrosion resistance even without any heat treatment, or any hot/cold working, such as forging and rolling. Therefore, golf club heads made of this new alloy should have reduced fabrication costs. This patent application illustrates the worldwide economic impact of the game of golf. Here, researchers associated with a Taiwanese university are developing new alloys for the golf industry. Amazing. ...<< MORE >>
Can You Identify This Golf Club Head? Test Your Knowledge of Iron Designs
I know that your knowledge of iron club head design has been tested in the past, but this one is a softball. So, if you don’t correctly identify these irons then you should sell your clubs! The figure below comes from a US golf club iron head design patent that issued this week to a major producer of clubs. Can you identify the brand of irons? ...<< MORE >>
Interesting Golf Grip Patent Applications
Interesting golf grip patent applications do not come along everyday. This is why I am pleased to bring US Publication Nos. 20070082750 and 20070082748 to your attention. Both of the applications are assigned to Grip Surface Technologies and disclose the ability to give the grip a velvety feel via a unique pattern of upstanding ridges. The figures below nicely illustrate the concept...<< MORE >>
Is Nike In Trouble for Theft of Golf Club Design? The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Sends Case Back to the District Court
Misappropriation of trade secrets, negligent misrepresentation, breach of confidentiality, breach of implied contract, and deceptive trade practices… All things that Nike Golf, Impact Golf Technologies, and famed golf club designer Tom Stites were accused of by Triple Tee Golf. Sounds like a great made for TV movie (well at least made for the Golf Channel movie). First, a little background. In late 2000, Jack Gillig, founder of Triple Tee Golf (TTG), was searching for a company that would fabricate a prototype golf club that he had designed. That’s when Gillig contacted club designer Tom Stites and his company Impact ...<< MORE >>
Can You Identify This Putter? Test Your Knowledge of Golf Putter Designs
The “Test Your Knowledge” posts have quickly become among the most popular on the Golf-Patents.com blog. In the past your knowledge of iron club head design, putter design, and driver design has been tested. Now let’s revisit putter designs. How good are you at identifying a particular brand of putter when all the logos and trademarks are stripped off the club head? The figure below comes from a US putter design patent that issued this week to a major producer of clubs. Can you identify the brand ...<< MORE >>
Fascinating IP of the Week – Doesn’t Everyone Need a Golf Ball Heater
This week a patent application published with a title that caught my interest, namely “Portable Case for Golf Ball Equipped with Heat Generating Device.” US Publication No. 20070082756 discloses a portable case for a golf ball equipped with a heat generating device, which can maintain elasticity of the golf ball for improving the flight distance of the golf ball, and can keep a golfer player's body warm. (their description, not mine...) Is there really a market for such a product?<< MORE >>
Patent of the Week – Adjustable Weighted Nike SlingShot Irons (will they make it to market?)
USPN 7,201,669 titled “Golf Club Head Having a Bridge Member and a Weight Positioning System” issued to Nike Golf on April 10, 2007. The patent is directed to a unique variation on the standard Nike SlingShot irons. The variation adds a weight that attaches to the SlingShot’s bar as seen below. Congratulations Nike! Will this product actually make it to the pro shops? ...<< MORE >>
IP Grab of the Week – Fu Sheng’s Elastically Deformable Club Head
The IP grab of the week goes to the Fu Sheng (the largest golf club head manufacturer in the world). Fu Sheng’s patent application titled “Golf Club Head Having a High-Degree Elastically Deformable Structure” published on April 12, 2007 as US Publication No. 2007/0082751. The application is directed to a club head having a reduced thickness crown section, seen below, enhances the elastic deformation of the club head at impact. Definitely an interesting concept! ... << MORE >>
IP Grab of the Week – Golf Cart with Lightening Protection
A golf cart with lightening protection; that is an invention that every golfer should want to see at the course (whether or not in the end the invention is patentable or not). This week an application titled “Lightning Protected Golf Cart” published as US Publication No. 20070075562. The abstract of the patent application describes the invention as: A golf cart altered such that the occupants are protected against the effect of lightning strikes by an electrically conductive grid on the roof, ...<< MORE >>
A Big Week for Golf Ball Patents
Five patents directed to golf ball technology issued on April 10, 2007. They include some fascinating reading regarding dimple geometry, layout, and aerodynamics. The patents include: ... The 7,201,670 patent is particularly interesting. It is directed to a uniquely shaped solid core, seen below, that produces high ball resilience and a soft feel at impact. Check out the ...<< MORE >>
Fascinating IP of the Week – A Forged Advanced Perimeter Weighted Iron With Resilient Weight Insert
I just came across a fascinating patent directed to a forged perimeter weighted iron with a weighting means filling the recess in the back of the iron. The weighting means fills the recess and is substantially flush with the back face of the club. The weighting means is really unique. It is composed of a natural or synthetic rubber matrix loaded with a heavy filler or particulate material such as lead. Not only does the weighting means allow for precise controlled club head weighting but it also reduces shock and vibration at impact. Even better, the weighting means can be preferably engineered to place more weight toward the toe or the heel to help shape the ball flight. Cool, right? Pretty advanced thinking. Well, now for the rest of the story… << MORE >>
Great Interview at the EagleParBirdie Blog Regarding Patenting in the Golf Industry...
Today Chris Henry, of the EagleParBirdie blog, has posted a great audio interview on the topic of The Golf Patent Game. The interview is so insightful that it had me on the edge of my seat. It might be his best interview yet. I simply could not get enough. OK, I may be exaggerating a little... after all I am the one being interviewed. Nonetheless, if you like the Golf-Patents blog then you will enjoy the interview. Chris Henry always conducts a great interview. I encourage you to check it out...<< MORE >>
Golf Patent Attorney Humor
As you may know, the claims of a patent are the most important part of a patent. It is the claims that spell out what the invention is and what the patent legally covers. In fact, the claims are so important that when a patent lawyer drafts a patent application they will typically spend at least 50% of their time drafting the claims. It takes hours to get the claims just right. This week a golf related patent application published with a rather interesting claim. The claim in US Publication No. 2007/0082752 is apparently directed to a groove design... << MORE >>
Another Banner Week for FootJoy – They Must Have A ReelFit With The USPTO
For the second straight week FootJoy was granted three golf shoe design patents, including one directed to the FootJoy ReelFit lacing system. This week’s FootJoy patents include USPN D540,012 titled “Golf Shoe Outsole,” USPN D540,020 titled “Golf Shoe Upper,” and USPN D540,026 titled “Golf Shoe Saddle.” ... I suspect that FootJoy has also applied for utility patent protection on their ReelFit lacing system...<< MORE >>
Think Adjustable Club Head Weighting Systems are New? Think Again
As a recent discussed, Taylor Made recently received a utility patent directed to their r7 driver adjustable weighting system. I started to wonder how long the concept of adjustable weighting has been around, which led me to USPN 1,091,231 titled “Golf Club” and issued on March 24, 1914, and USPN 1,133,129, also simply titled “Golf Club,” that issued one year later on March 23, 1915. These patents are beautifully simple and are a pleasure to read. Check out the following figures from the patents... Congratulations to the founders of the adjustable head weight concept...<< MORE >>
Top 10 Intellectual Property Verdicts of 2006 - The Awards are Staggering
As a prior explains, very few intellectual property litigation cases actually make it all the way through trial. Majority are either settled by the parties or dismissed by the court for one reason or another. However, when a case does make it to trial the stakes can be huge. Check out the size of these awards... Fortunately, none of these verdicts are against companies in the golf industry. I, like most golfers, would prefer that golf companies spend their money on more R&D for innovative products rather than battling each other in court. Surprisingly there is...<< MORE >>
Great Interviews with Former USGA Tech Director Frank Thomas at EagleParBirdie Blog
Chris Henry, of the EagleParBirdie blog has posted 2 great audio interviews (April 5th and 6th) with the former USGA technical director Frank Thomas. Frank weighs in on topics ranging from recent USGA groove rule changes to an interesting history of the "spring" effect associated with driver faces. Frank is definitely an interesting outspoken golfer that enjoys sharing his opinion on what is wrong (and right) about the game of golf and the USGA. I encourage you to listen to these interviews...<< MORE >>
IP Grab of the Week – Multiple Material Golf Club Head Tuned to Sound Sweet
Callaway Golf had an application publish this week directed to a sweet sounding golf club head. The application titled “Multiple Material Golf Club Head” published as US publication number 2007/0078029. The application is directed to a club head that produces a pitch ranging from 3500 Hertz to 4500 Hertz when striking a golf ball at a swing speed of approximately 100 miles per hour. Interesting stuff...<< MORE >>
IP Grab of the Week – The First Mention of Cleveland Golf on Golf-Patents.com
Congratulations are in order… Cleveland Golf gets its first mention on the Golf-Patents blog. This week Cleveland Golf’s application number 11/606022 published as US Publication No. 2007/0078030 titled “Iron-Type Golf Club Head With Sole Having Stable Static Address Position.” The invention is described as an iron-type golf club head having a sole, a center of gravity CG, and a static contact point SCP on the sole substantially vertically below the CG for providing stability when the club head is in an address position, but the sole has no points lower than the SCP when the ...<< MORE >>
Great Week for FootJoy: Three Golf Shoe Design Patents
As I expressed in a previous post, it seems as though FootJoy is the only manufacturer of golf shoes that values intellectual property and patent protection. In fact, just this week FootJoy had 3 golf shoe design patents issue. Adidas, Nike, Bite, Ecco, Oakley, Etonic, Dunlop, Dexter, Arnold Palmer, Hi-Tec… where are you?...<< MORE >>
Which Two Masters Champions Have Been Issued Utility Patents since 1976?
This week it seems fitting to look at golf related patents issued to Masters champions. Don’t worry, it will be a quick look because there are only two! First, the 1969 champion, George Archer, is the named inventor of USPN 5,135,229 titled “Golf Putter with Training Device,” which issued on August 4, 1992. The ‘229 patent was assigned to Bullet Golf Ball Inc. The image below does a good job of illustrating George’s invention and may explain why George is considered one of the best putters of all time. Secondly, the 1989 champion, Nick Faldo, is a named inventor of USPN 5,971,866 titled “Wedge Type Golf Club Tri-Level Sole Configuration,” which issued on October 26, 1999...<< MORE >>
One More Reason to Admire Augusta National – The Trademark Portfolio
In honor of Masters' week, a look at the trademark portfolio of Augusta National is in order. Would you have guessed that AMEN CORNER is a registered trademark? How about the fact that Augusta National has registered the AUGUSTA trademark for use associated with golf stools and chairs? And the famous map with flagstick trademark is registered for use in association with restaurant services… and RAE'S CREEK...Interesting stuff. Check out this list of Augusta National’s trademarks... Frankly it is hard to grasp the magnitude of revenues associated with licensing the Augusta National trademark portfolio. After all, you don’t get to be a member of Augusta, let alone on the Board of Directors, unless you know how to make the green (money, that is).<< MORE >>
Intellectual Property Infringement Statistics; Filings, Trials, and Awards
The April issue of the ABA Journal contained some interesting intellectual property litigation statistics. The statistics are directed to intellectual property civil suits filed in 2002, in light of the fact that it generally takes several years before a case makes it to trial (unless you are in a rocket docket jurisdiction). There were 7445 civil intellectual property suits in 2002, a whopping 140 of which were resolved with a trial verdict. That means only 1.9% of intellectual property lawsuits actually make it all the way through trial. Of the 140 cases that went to trial the ...<< MORE >>
IP Grab of the Week: Finally an Interesting Golf Club Shaft Patent Application
As you probably know from my prior regarding shaft technology, I am overwhelmed by the lack of patenting activity directed to golf club shaft technology. Well, finally an interesting shaft patent application published this week! Fujikura Rubber had a shaft patent application publish this week as US Publication No. 20070072697 titled “Golf Club Shaft.” The goal of the invention is to provide a golf club shaft superior in accuracy by minimizing displacement between thermosetting resin layers. The golf club shaft incorporates a torsional rigidity holding layer made of thermosetting resin including ...<< MORE >>
New Golf BALL Product Names; A Look at Golf BALL Trademark Applications Filed in 2006
To follow up on a recent post regarding golf CLUB trademark filings, this post regarding golf BALL trademark applications is in order. As expected, Callaway leads the pack, followed by Bridgestone, Taylor Made, Nike, and Acushnet. What is your favorite golf ball product name? My top 5 include Rebel, Tetra, Exception, Commando, and Tour Fire...<< MORE >>
Test Your Knowledge of Golf Driver Designs; Which Mfr's Driver is Covered by this Design Patent?
As you may have noticed, "Test Your Knowledge” has become a recurring feature of Golf-Patents.com. In the past your knowledge of iron club head design and putter design has been tested. Now let’s see how good are you at identifying a particular brand of driver when all the manufacturer's trademarks are stripped off the driver? The figure below comes from a US design patent that issued this week to a major producer of clubs. Can you identify the brand of driver? ...<< MORE >>
New Golf CLUB Product Names; A Look at Golf CLUB Trademark Applications Filed in 2006
Readers of this blog may have realized that I love snooping around to see what golf club manufacturers are up to regarding intellectual property protection. In a prior post I discuss monitoring federal trademark applications to provide insight into what your competitors may be planning in terms of new products. Additionally, since recent posts have discussed golf ball and club patents that issued in 2006, as well as application that published in 2006, a look at the golf club giants' 2006 trademark filings is in order. As expected, Callaway leads the pack, followed by Karsten, ... check out my top 5 list of anticipated golf club product names ...<< MORE >>
2006 Golf Ball Published Patent Applications of the BALL Giants… the rest of the story
A prior post addressed the number of golf ball related patents that issued in 2006 for the giants. Now, let’s look at the number of patent applications that published in 2006 for the same companies. Bridgestone leads the pack. This shows that Bridgestone and Callaway are hot on the heels of Acushnet. Bridgestone and Callaway obviously want to increase the size of their slice of the golf ball market pie. And what’s up with Nike?...<< MORE >>
2006 Golf Club Published Patent Applications of the CLUB Giants… the rest of the story
A prior post addressed the number of golf club related patents that issued in 2006 for the giants. Now, let’s look at the number of patent applications that published in 2006 for the same companies. Callaway remains the clear leader but surprisingly Taylor Made almost dropped off the map after ...<< MORE >>
Who Plans to Dominate the Golf BALL Market? 2006 Patent Statistics for the Golf Ball Giants
Once again, the numbers don't lie. Acushnet clearly dominates the field, followed by Bridgestone, Callaway, and a distant Wilson and Taylor Made. Nike rounds out the field with a big fat zero. << MORE >>
Who Plans to Dominate the Golf Club Market? 2006 Patent Statistics for the Club Giants
The numbers tell the story. Callaway leads the pack followed by Nike, Karsten, Acushnet, and Taylor Made ...<< MORE >>
Great Patenting Week for PING; 2 Interesting Golf Club Head Utility Patents
Karsten Manufacturing (makers of the PING brand) had a good week at the US Patent and Trademark Office. They had two unique golf club head utility patents issue. First, USPN titled “Golf Club Head with a Variably Dampened Face” issued directed to a club head in which the striking face is coupled to the body of the head through a rheological fluid. The head can then be “tuned” by changing the viscosity of the rheological fluid. The second Karsten patent that issued this week ...<< MORE >>
Fascinating IP of the Week – Square Drivers Have Nothing on This Club
As you may recall from a prior post, I created the “Fascinating IP of the Week” category to bring those oddly unique golf patents and published applications to the masses. You know the type… the ones that make you wonder whether the inventor is crazy or a genius. On March 6th a design patent issued titled “Golf Club Head and a Golf Club Head Striking Face” that fits perfectly in this category. The figures below say it all… Could the "stop sign" club face be the next hot golf ...<< MORE >>
US Club Designers Beware: Nelson Precision Casting is Positioning Itself to be the Only Club Manufacturer
Nelson Precision Casting’s patents and patent applications have been a frequent topic on this blog. Club manufacturers, regardless of physical location, better keep an eye on Nelson’s rapidly growing patent portfolio because they are positioning themselves to have a portfolio that blocks all other club manufacturers from using advanced manufacturing technologies. US club designers may feel that this is a topic that doesn’t touch them, but this could not be further from the truth and their opinion will undoubtedly change as soon as Nelson sues one of them for patent infringement related selling clubs manufactured using one of Nelson’s ...<< MORE >>
IP Grab of the Week: Callaway’s Liquid Filled Golf Ball
The “IP Grab of the Week” award goes to Callaway for their golf ball patent application titled “Liquid-Filled Golf Ball With Preferential Internal Structures.” The application is absolutely fascinating and leaves one thinking “why didn’t I think of that?” The invention is described as: A golf ball having a spherical shell with a plurality of internal structures is disclosed herein. A fluid material is disposed within the spherical shell. The plurality of internal structures effect the spin decay of the golf ball. The application goes ...<< MORE >>
Patent of the Week: Another Adjustable Weight Driver Patent, This Time To Dogleg Right Corp
As you may recall, a recent post discussed USPN 7,186,190 that issued to Taylor Made Golf regarding their “r” series weighting system. Well, just one week later USPN 7,189,169 “Customizable Center-of-Gravity Golf Club Head” issued to Dogleg Right Corporation directed to another weighting system. There is no doubt that number of patents directed to customizing the CG location of golf club heads will continue to grow at an alarming pace. Manufacturers that haven’t jumped on the moveable weight patenting bandwagon are going ...<< MORE >>
Thinking of Using Your Favorite College Teams' Colors in Your Next New Golf Product? Consider This
BrandWeek recently published a great article titled “Team Colors? Meet The Team Of Lawyers.” The article points our that college licensing departments are on the warpath and are successfully convincing courts that distinctive college colors, such as scarlet and grey, have developed secondary meaning. Everyone involved in product development (whether it be clubs, shafts, bags, or shoes) should read this short article and keep it in mind when selecting colors for golf products...<< MORE >>
First Golf Ball DESIGN Patent in Almost Seven Months
Design patents directed to golf balls are not very common. However, USPN D538,361 issued this week to Bridgestone Sports. It is the only golf ball design patent to issue in almost seven months (whereas several golf ball utility patents issue every week)...<< MORE >>
USGA Proposed Rule Changes and Golf Club Groove Patents
Those in the golf industry know that the USGA recently announcement proposed golf equipment rule changes. One of the proposed changes has to do with regulations of the grooves in the face of a golf club striking surface. OK, that makes sense… we all know that the grooves have some impact on ball spin. The proposed rule change brings groove patenting to the forefront. Something I am sure that very few readers have ever considered. However, one thing is for sure – the major golf club designers have groove patenting on their minds. ...<< MORE >>
Are Square Drivers New? A Patenting Perspective
Don’t believe the hype… Check out these square wood patents. One of the earliest square driver patents is disclosed in USPN D415,807, that issued October 26, 1999 to Frank Werner author of “How Golf Clubs Really Work and How to Optimize Their Design” and “Better Golf from New Research.” Frank also had a related utility patent issue on November 28, 2000 as USPN 6,152,833. Additionally, USPN 6,012,989 issued January 11, 2000. The following ...<< MORE >>
Patent of the Week: Taylor Made Scores Big with r7 Driver Patent
On March 6, 2007 Taylor Made Golf was awarded USPN 7,186,190 titled “Golf Club Head Having Movable Weights.” This is a big deal. In fact, Taylor Made values this niche so much that they filed 9 continuation patent applications on January 31st related to this patent. Does the following figure look familiar?<< MORE >>
Guidelines for Properly Using A Golf Trademark
Once obtained, trademark rights can last indefinitely. However, in order to protect and maintain these rights, a trademark owner must properly use their mark. It is important to remember that trademark rights are based on use. Thus, failure to use a mark properly or to prevent others from misusing or infringing a mark can result in an owner’s loss of trademark rights. The following guidelines for proper trademark use apply to advertising, correspondence, promotional material, press releases, displays, labels, packaging, signs, web sites, and any other media that uses, discusses, or describes the mark...<< MORE >>
Great Patenting Week for Acushnet; 2 Golf Club Utility Patents, 1 Golf Club Design Patent, and 1 Golf Ball Utility Patent
What a week for the Acushnet intellectual property department. On Tuesday Acushnet had two golf club utility patents issue, one golf club design patent issue, and one golf ball utility patent issue...<< MORE >>
Protecting Your Golf Logo: One Key to Branding Success
Logos play an important part in marketing and brand recognition in the golf industry. Take, for example, Nike’s “Swoosh,” Callaway’s “V,” or King Cobra’s “Snake Wearing a Crown.” These golf logos have become immediately recognizable as identifying the source of particular goods and services. Typically, companies will invest a lot of capital developing a flashy or eye-catching logo in order to build strong brand recognition. However, in building this brand recognition, companies, especially small businesses, may sometimes overlook the importance of protecting their logos through the trademark registration process...<< MORE >>
Choosing a Golf Product Name or Golf Course Name: A Couple of Important Trademark Considerations
If you are thinking about starting up a new golf business or introducing a new golf product or service to the market, one of the last things you may have considered is seeking trademark protection for the name of your business, product or service. However, the importance of selecting a trademark cannot be emphasized enough. Often times the trademark you choose will play a role in shaping the consumer's first impression of the product or service offered by your company. Just consider my previous post regarding Golf Digest® magazine’s article on the best golf course logos (but keep in mind ...<< MORE >>
Flavored Golf Tee Patent Application
On May 11, 2006 US patent application serial number 11/432190 titled “Flavored Golf Tee” was filed on behalf of inventors Brandon Willis and Jonathon David Abbott. Amazing! It will be interesting to see if a patent issues (if so, I have a great idea related to flavored pencils). As a side note, I do not know if this application is associated with the commercially available “patent pending” Tasty Golf Tees. Boy, golfers love the game!...<< MORE >>
Patent of the Week: Another Pat on the Back for Nelson Precision Casting; Patenting Club Head Manufacturing Methods
Nelson Precision Casting has received a lot of mentions on this blog for a company that I had not even heard of three months ago. Today Nelson continued their golf club head manufacturing patent streak with USPN 7,186,191 titled “Method of Making a Golf Club Head Having a Brazed Striking Plate.” The ‘191 patent is directed to a method of brazing the striking plate of a club head to the body of the club head. Most people do not appreciate the potential power wielded by method of manufacturing patents. For instance, sure the ‘191 patent doesn’t ...<< MORE >>
Golf Club Shaft Patents Almost Nonexistent in 2006
The technology applied to golf club shafts is fascinating. Unique materials, innovative manufacturing processes. Therefore, one would expect to find lots of utility patents directed to shaft technology. This is not the case. My research indicates that only two utility patents issued in 2006 directed exclusively to shafts, with only a handful of others directed to sets of shafts, assembly methods, shaft extractors, and the like. I found this very surprising and suspect it is only a matter of time before one of the golf club / ball giants enters the shaft business. Check out the ...<< MORE >>
The IP Golf Guy on the Radio
I was a guest on the Small Business Advocate radio show this morning. Jim Blasingame and I discussed the fact that IP protection is not just for the big businesses. In fact, IP protection is often what distinguishes successful small businesses from those that fail. You may listen to the interview here. ...<< MORE >>
