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.... << MORE >>

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....<< MORE >>

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....<< MORE >>

Probably not, but I would give it a try. Check out this beauty (and I am not just referring to the pretty lady doing the putting)..... That putter looks better than a license to print money.....<< MORE >>

On October 22nd Cobra Golf filed a trademark application for the mark.... along with the description.... Can’t wait to see if this is a....<< MORE >>

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!.... << MORE >>

I was honored to be a guest on the nationally syndicated Small Business Advocate® radio show this morning. Jim Blasingame and I discussed some of the most common intellectual property issues faced by small businesses when outsourcing. Feel free to listen to the interview HERE.... << MORE >>

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!....<< MORE >>

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....<< MORE >>

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....<< MORE >>

Proving that golf equipment has been driving golfers nuts for a long time, the first lighted golf club of the week originates from a 1939 patent. How do you think a club head containing a D-cell battery would feel? Check this out.... Pretty advanced for 1939!....<< MORE >>

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.... << MORE >>

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.....<< MORE >>

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..... << MORE >>

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?....<< MORE >>

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?”.... << MORE >>

OK, that title may be a bit of a stretch for some, but I find it interesting. I recently wrote an article titled The Ryder Cup®, Intellectual Property, and the IP Ryder Cup for the UK Patent Office newsletter. Feel free to check it out.....<< MORE >>

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.....<< MORE >>

This morning I was browsing through the newly published golf-related patent applications and came across one titled “Golf Club Head with Elevated Face.” I though “ahh, must be that Tour Striker practice club that I see advertised all over the place.” Boy was I surprised after a few clicks when I realized that it was a Callaway driver! Check this out....<< MORE >>

I was fortunate to again join golf writer Rod Morri on his TalkinGolf radio program. In this episode we discuss some of the patent litigation occurring in the golf industry, as well as a few unusual golf inventions. Click HERE to listen.....<< MORE >>

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.....<< MORE >>

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.....<< MORE >>

Probably not, but interesting nonetheless. This aerodynamic configuration is found in USPN 6027414 titled “Golf Club with Aerodynamic Shaft and Head,” which describes the invention as.... It looks like that big of a sail could take care of some swing flaws.....<< MORE >>

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!....<< MORE >>

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?....<< MORE >>

An interesting golf tee patent application published this week as US Pub. No. 20100216576 titled “Golf Tee.” The application describes the invention as.... Pretty cool (at least as far as golf tees go)....<< MORE >>

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!....<< MORE >>

If so, this grip may be for you (although the statement being made would be – “I don’t care about the rules of golf”). The following drawings come from USPN D622,341 titled “Golf Club Handle,” which issued today...... I hear that Dustin Johnson is putting these grips in play this weekend. I kid.....<< MORE >>

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.....<< MORE >>

A recently published patent application reveals a pretty cool golf bag design. Check this out!.... I like the individual sections, but I am not convinced that it looks comfortable to carry.....<< MORE >>

I was honored to be a guest on the nationally syndicated Small Business Advocate® radio show this morning. Jim Blasingame and I discussed some of the most common patent myths. Feel free to listen to the interview HERE....<< MORE >>

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?<< MORE >>

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!....<< MORE >>

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! << MORE >>

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!....<< MORE >>

Sometimes the beauty of an invention is in the simplicity of it. Check out the training aid found in USPN 7758438 titled “Golf Aid Apparatus.”.... I bet you would never have guessed that this device would be patentable!.... << MORE >>

Earlier this week I posted (HERE ) about a new Nike design that I initially thought was a putter and turned out to be a driver. Well this week a related patent application published that throws a few more wild designs in the mix. Check them out!..... I guess the old Bullet Golf “Hollow Point” from the 1990’s was ahead of its time!..... << MORE >>

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!.....<< MORE >>

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?.....<< MORE >>

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....<< MORE >>

I recently stumbled across a patent directed to a unique training device. The patent is USPN 7104897 titled “Golf Swing Training Device,” which describes the invention as.... It doesn’t look like it could hurt my swing, so I would give it a try.....<< MORE >>

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!....<< MORE >>

Today I get to recycle an old post regarding the trademark portfolio related to the British Open. Click HERE to find out who really owns the OPEN registered trademark!....<< MORE >>

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!....<< MORE >>

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!....<< MORE >>

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.....<< MORE >>

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.....<< MORE >>

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?....<< MORE >>

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)....<< MORE >>

Not a chance! I can’t imagine any golfer saying “that is a tee for me.” The tee is disclosed in a patent application that recently published as US Publication No. 20100160088 titled “Swivel Golf Tee.” Check out this beauty....<< MORE >>