[Pharm-policy] Golfing patents

[James Love]

This is a bit off topic, but somewhat relevant to this list.  Here are a
few examples of recently issued patents on golfing.  This should give
people an idea of the standards used to grant patents in the USA.  

  Jamie


http://164.195.100.11/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=5
0&s1='5616089'.WKU.&OS=PN/5616089&RS=PN/5616089

Method of putting
US Patent 5,616,089

       Abstract

A method of putting features the golfer's dominant hand so that the
golfer can improve control over putting speed and direction. The
golfer's non-dominant hand stabilizes the dominant hand and the
orientation of the putter blade, but does not otherwise substantially
interfere with the putting stroke. In particular, a right-handed golfer
grips the putter grip with their right hand in a conventional manner so
that the thumb on the right hand is placed straight down the top surface
of the putter grip. The golfer addresses the ball as if to stroke the
putter using only the right hand. Then, the golfer takes the left hand
and uses it to stabilize the right hand and the putter. To do this, the
golfer places their left hand over the interior wrist portion of the
right hand behind the thumb of the right hand with the middle finger of
the left hand resting on the styloid process of the right hand. The
golfer presses the ring finger and the little finger of their left hand
against the back of the right hand. The golfer also presses the palm of
the left hand against the putter grip and squeezes the right hand with
the left hand. The golfer then takes a full putting stroke with the
above described grip. 


http://164.195.100.11/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=4&u=/netahtml/search-bool.html&r=190&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=curr&s1=golf&OS=golf&RS=golf

Number: 6,071,199

Method of correction of golf swing 

          Abstract

In order to correct a golf swing, a main grip formed at an end portion
of a shaft of a golf club is held by a hand opposite to a writing hand
of a user, and an auxiliary grip attached to a middle of the shaft is
held by the writing hand of the user. While holding the main and
auxiliary grips by the left and right hands, the shaft is swung. The
auxiliary grip is located near and substantially parallel to the main
grip and is disposed at a side ahead of the main grip in a swinging
direction of the golf club to be spaced from the main grip for a
predetermined space. Thus, when the main and auxiliary grips are grasped
by left and right hands, the backs of the left and right hands contact
each other between the main and auxiliary grips to restrain a wrist of
the writing hand by the back of the hand opposite to the writing hand.
Accordingly, the correct swing of the golf club can be practiced. 



http://164.195.100.11/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=4&u=/netahtml/search-bool.html&r=163&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=curr&s1=golf&OS=golf&RS=golf

Golf handicap system and methods 
Number: 6,074,312 

        Abstract

The invention provides systems and methods for the calculation and
maintenance of a golfer's handicap index. In one exemplary embodiment, a
method is provided for the maintenance of a golf handicap index by
providing a card having golfer information relating to a particular
golfer. The golfer information includes scores posted by the golfer
which are used in the calculation of a handicap index. A local
processing unit is also provided to compute the handicap index based on
guidelines established by the United States Golf Association.
Information is exchanged between the card and the local processing unit
at the time the golfer posts a score. Handicap indexes are updated based
at least in part on the entered scores and on a schedule consistent with
USGA guidelines. 


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http://164.195.100.11/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=2&u=/netahtml/search-bool.html&r=56&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=curr&s1=golf&OS=golf&RS=golf

Method for matching golfer with a ball 
Number 6,086,487

A method for selecting a golf ball whose performance characteristics
match a golfer's critical playing characteristics for the purpose of
reducing the golfer's score. The method comprises the steps of
determining a golfer's critical playing characteristics, prioritizing
ball performance characteristics, and selecting a golf
ball from a predetermined set of golf balls which best matches the
golfer's critical playing characteristics to ball performance
characteristics. 


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James Love, Director           | http://www.cptech.org
Consumer Project on Technology | mailto:love@cptech.org 
P.O. Box 19367                 | voice: 1.202.387.8030
Washington, DC 20036           | fax:   1.202.234.5176
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