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US 8,283,603 B2Granted
Device for heating a golf ball
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorChia-Chyi Cheng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a handheld clamp device for applying heat to a golf ball. The clamp may have two lever arms each attached at one end to a pivot. A golf ball receiving unit may be attached to each lever arm at the opposite end as the pivot. Each golf ball receiving unit may include a heating element. The internal heating surface of each golf ball receiving unit may contain a pattern, which can be a dimple pattern. When in use, the handheld device may heat the surface of a golf ball such that the pattern on the internal heating surfaces forms a dimple pattern into the surface of the golf ball. The handheld clamp device may be included as part of a kit, along with multiple sets of golf ball receiving units, and sometimes at least one golf ball.
Claims21
A device for use by a user in heating a golf ball, the device comprising:
- a first lever arm, the first lever arm having a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first proximal end and the first distal end being separated by a length of the first lever arm;
- a second lever arm, the second lever arm having a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end and the second distal end being separated by a length of the second lever arm;
- a pivot attached to both the first proximal end and the second proximal end;
- a first golf ball receiving unit attached to the first distal end;
- a second golf ball receiving unit attached to the second distal end;
- wherein each of the first golf ball receiving unit and the second golf ball receiving unit includes a heating element;
- wherein at least one of the first golf ball receiving unit and the second golf ball receiving unit further comprises at least one structure on an internal heating surface thereof that is configured to orient a golf ball in a specific orientation when the golf ball is placed in the golf ball receiving unit, wherein the at least one structure comprises a pin extending from an internal heating surface of the golf ball receiving unit.
4 more elements
A kit comprising:
- a device for use by a user in heating a golf ball, the device comprising:
- a first lever arm, having a first proximal end and a first distal end;
- a second lever arm, having a second proximal end and a second distal end;
- a pivot, attached to both the first proximal end and the second proximal end;
- a set of at least two golf ball receiving unit pairs, wherein each golf ball receiving unit in each pair of golf ball receiving units
- is removably attached to at least one of the first distal end and the second distal end,
- includes a heating element, and
- includes a pattern on an internal heating surface thereof;
- wherein each pair of golf ball receiving units has a different pattern on the respective internal heating surfaces.
6 more elements
A kit comprising:
- a device for use by a user in heating a golf ball, the device comprising:
- a first lever arm, having a first proximal end and a first distal end;
- a second lever arm, having a second proximal end and a second distal end;
- a pivot, attached to both the first proximal end and the second proximal end;
- a first golf ball receiving unit external housing, attached to the first distal end and including a heating element;
- a second golf ball receiving unit external housing, attached to the second distal end and including a heating element;
- a set of at least two plate pairs, wherein each plate in each pair of plates
- is removably attached to at least one of the first golf ball receiving unit housing and the second golf ball receiving unit housing, and
- includes a pattern on an internal heating surface thereof;
- wherein each pair of plates has a different pattern on the respective internal heating surfaces.
7 more elements
A kit for heating a golf ball with a device, the kit comprising:
- a first golf ball receiving unit, the first golf ball receiving unit comprising:
- a first internal heating surface, the first internal heating surface having a first pattern thereon,
- a first heating element attached to the first internal heating surface, and
- a first attachment mechanism configured to attach the first golf ball receiving unit to the device;
- a second golf ball receiving unit, the second golf ball receiving unit comprising:
- a second internal heating surface, the second internal heating surface having a second pattern thereon,
- a second heating element attached to the second internal heating surface, and
- a second attachment mechanism configured to attach the second golf ball receiving unit to the device;
- at least one of the first golf ball receiving unit and the second golf ball receiving unit further comprises at least one structure on an internal heating surface thereof that is configured to orient a golf ball in a specific orientation when the golf ball is placed in the golf ball receiving unit, the at least one structure comprises a pin extending from at least one of the first internal heating surface and the second internal heating surface;
- and
- at least one golf ball, the golf ball having a cover layer capable of being altered at a temperature of less than about 140 degrees Celsius, the at least one golf ball is configured to receive the at least one structure so as to be oriented in at least one of the first golf ball receiving unit and the second golf ball receiving unit.
8 more elements
A device for use by a user in heating a golf ball comprising:
- a first lever arm, the first lever arm having a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first proximal end and the first distal end being separated by a length of the first lever arm;
- a second lever arm, the second lever arm having a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end and the second distal end being separated by a length of the second lever arm;
- a pivot attached to both the first proximal end and the second proximal end;
- a first golf ball receiving unit attached to the first distal end;
- a second golf ball receiving unit attached to the second distal end;
- wherein each of the first golf ball receiving unit and the second golf ball receiving unit includes a heating element;
- wherein the device further comprises a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism having an engaged state and a dis-engaged state, and the latch mechanism being configured to hold the first golf ball receiving unit and the second golf ball receiving unit together when in the engaged state;
- and
- wherein the latch mechanism is connected to an automatic release mechanism;
- the automatic release system comprising a temperature sensor, a controller and a trigger;
- the controller being programmed to initiate the trigger, so as to release the latch mechanism, based on an input from the temperature sensor.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.