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 >>

How bad would you want to wrap your putter around someone’s head if a golfer in your group marked their ball with a lighted flickering ball marker? Maybe it’s just me.....<< MORE >>

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).....<< MORE >>

I was fortunate to recently join golf writer Rod Morri on his TalkinGolf golf radio program. Click HERE to listen.....<< MORE >>

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....<< MORE >>

Am I the only one that has noticed the subtle jabs that TaylorMade and Callaway seem to be taking at each other in their commercials?.... Interesting word play, but as a consumer I am confused. Sounds like a lawsuit is needed to get this straightened out.....<< MORE >>

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?....<< MORE >>

OK, that title may be a bit much, but check out the golf shoe design found in USPN D616635 titled “Golf Shoe Outsole with Bristles.”.... Looks more like something you would wear for a street fight than a round of golf..... << MORE >>

Perhaps this combination divot tool and ball marker will give you a little extra guidance during your round. The design is found in a patent that issued this week as USPN D617,409 titled “Combination Golf Ball Mark Repair Tool and Ball Mark.”..... I can use any help that I can get.....<< MORE >>

Now this is a cool golf invention. Let’s just hope it can actually be produced. The invention is found in a patent that issued this week as USPN 7,727,080 titled “Golf Driver Impact Analyzer,” which describes the invention as.... Sign me up, I will buy one.....<< MORE >>

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..... << MORE >>

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..... << MORE >>

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).....<< MORE >>

That’s right, today Callaway was granted a patent listing Lefty as an inventor (the first named inventor in fact). You will probably recognize the club if you are a true golf geek, and it was all the commentators seemed to talk about at Bethpage. The patent granted as USPN D616,512 titled “Hybrid Golf Club Head.” Check it out!.... << MORE >>

Yep, I would actually buy a set of the golf ball markers disclosed in a recently published patent application. The application published as US Pub. No. 20100125008 titled “Golf Ball Marker,” which describes the invention as.... Great idea, but won't it be a little odd carrying around 18 different ball markers?....<< MORE >>

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....<< MORE >>

Can you ever get enough information regarding golf ball aerodynamics? OK, maybe some people can, but not the readers of this blog. Check out this new Acushnet design..... So, can you name the 5 Platonic Solids? How about the 13 Archimedian Solids?..... << MORE >>

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.....<< MORE >>

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!.....<< MORE >>

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?.... << MORE >>

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!.....<< MORE >>

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.....<< MORE >>

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!.... << MORE >>

I have never been much of a baseball fan so perhaps the genius of this invention is lost on me. Check out the invention disclosed in a patent application that published last week as US Pub. No. 20100099508 titled “Ball Game and Equipment.”.... Can’t golf just simply be golf?....<< MORE >>