Golf Patents: Everything You Need to Know
A ton of innovation goes into golf equipment and accessories that help players achieve the perfect swing. So, it is no wonder that golf is the leading sport in the United…
[INDUSTRY]Sporting goods and fitness
Sports equipment patent attorneys for gear brands
We protect how your gear performs, how it looks and the brand on it, timed around testing and launch, with one flat fee for each step.
Your attorneys
Andrew RapackeManaging Partner · Registered Patent AttorneyFormer Naval Engineering Officer. M.S. in electrical and electronics engineering.
Ken BrooksRegistered Patent AttorneyMaterials science and engineering. Patents in software, AI, and electrical and mechanical systems.
[01]Who it's for
For the people who make sports gear.
From a garage prototype to a brand adding to its line every season, the work starts the same way. Find out what is new, then protect it before athletes, buyers or a trade show see it.
Equipment inventors
Athletes, coaches and engineers with a better club, bat, board or ball, protected before the first sample goes out.
Sporting goods brands
Companies launching new products each season, with a flat fee per filing so protection keeps pace with the line.
Fitness and wearable teams
Smart equipment, sensors and the apps that read them, protected as hardware and as the method it performs.
Protective gear makers
Helmets, pads and guards, where a better way to absorb an impact or fit the body is often the invention.
[02]What's protectable
Four things worth protecting in sports gear.
Most sporting goods carry more than one kind of protection. A patent on how the gear performs, a design patent on how it looks and a trademark on the brand each stop a different kind of copy.
01Utility patent
How the gear performs
The structure, the mechanism and the way it is used. Claims are written around what makes your gear perform differently, such as more grip, less vibration or a faster setup.
- Clubs, bats, rackets and boards
- Footwear and apparel construction
- Training aids and fitness machines
- Protective gear and padding
Flat fee, quoted before work begins02Utility patent
Materials and smart equipment
A new material, a composite layup or a sensor built into the gear, claimed by what it does in use. The app that reads the sensor is claimed as a technical process, not an abstract idea.
- Composites and foams
- Sensors and wearables
- Performance tracking methods
- Methods of manufacture
Flat fee, quoted before work begins03Design patent
How the gear looks
The ornamental shape and surface of a shoe sole, a club head, a bottle or a bag, protected for 15 years from grant. The look buyers recognize is often what a knock-off copies.
- Footwear and soles
- Club heads and frames
- Bags, bottles and accessories
USPTO denies it, full refund*04Trademark
The brand on the gear
Clear and file the brand name and logo before they go on product, packaging and team orders, so the name athletes ask for is one you own.
- Brand and product names
- Logos
- Product line names
Approved, or your money back*
A new game is harder to protect than the gear
Copyright does not cover the idea of a sport or how it is played, and a set of rules on its own is usually treated as an abstract idea for patents. The equipment, the brand and the artwork on the gear can be protected, and a manufacturing process may be worth more as a trade secret. Your attorney tells you which on your first call.
[03]The flat-fee path
Search, provisional, utility. Flat fees at every step.
Every step is quoted before any work begins, and the search fee is credited toward a design or non-provisional application. Most sporting goods founders file a provisional before testing in public, a trade show or the first sale, then the full application within 12 months.
01Start here
Patentability search
$999
Patentable or your money back. Credited toward a design or non-provisional application
- An invention discovery call with your attorney
- A search of US and foreign patents and published applications
- A written patentability report and a review call
Report in about 5 days
Not patentable, full refund*02Then
Provisional patent
$2.5k–3.5k
- A strategy call to capture how the gear works
- Drafted by a registered patent attorney
- You review and approve it before filing
Patent pending the day it is filed
Patentability issues, full refund*03Within 12 months
Non-provisional patent
$7k–12k
Drawings and USPTO filing fees included
- Claims and a full specification written for examination
- Formal drawings and USPTO filing fees
- Complex products quoted flat on your call
Filed before your 12-month deadline
Flat fee, not covered by the guarantee
Alongside the patent
- Design patentFor the gear's shape and look, office actions included$3,200USPTO denies it, full refund*
- TrademarkFor the brand name, USPTO fee for one class included$2,000Approved, or your money back*
*Refunds subject to the RLG Guarantee Policy in your engagement letter. Utility (non-provisional) patents are quoted flat and are not covered by the guarantee. How The RLG Guarantee works
[04]Testing and launch
Field testing and launch. Plan them together.
A patent decides who can make and sell the gear. Testing with athletes, safety rules and the season you launch in decide when the public first sees it. Once gear is used in public or offered for sale, the clock on filing starts.
PatentWho can make and sell it
- $99901$999SearchPatentable, or your money back
- File first02File firstProvisionalPatent pending, before public testing
- Patent pending03Patent pendingTest and refineUp to 12 months to improve the design
- Month 1204Month 12Full applicationWithin 12 months
- 05GrantedRights you can enforce
LaunchWhen the public sees it
- Use an NDA01Use an NDAPrototypeSamples from a manufacturer
- Disclosure risk02Disclosure riskField testingAthletes use it in practice and play
- Check early03Check earlySafety and equipment rulesStandards and competition rules
- Goes public04Goes publicTrade show or preordersBuyers and the public see it
- 05Season launchRetail, team and online sales
File before athletes use it in public
Gear used in a public game, shown at a trade show or offered for preorder can make an invention public. The US gives you one year after your own disclosure, but most other countries do not. File at least a provisional first.
Testing in public can count as disclosure
Using a prototype in public can be a public use under US patent law. Testing that is truly experimental, run by the inventor and kept confidential, is treated differently, but it is safer to file a provisional before the gear leaves your hands.
What a provisional application needsSafety rules are separate from patents
A patent lets you stop others from copying the gear. It does not clear the gear for sale. Some products, such as bicycle helmets, must meet a federal safety standard, and many sports set equipment rules for competition play.
What a patent lets you stopMark the gear once it is patented
Marking products with the patent number, on the product or through a virtual marking web page, keeps your right to damages from copiers who did not know about the patent.
How virtual patent marking works
General information, not legal or regulatory advice. Safety standards, product liability rules and equipment rules depend on the product and the sport.
[05]Related services
Services for sporting goods companies.
One firm for the patent, the brand and the agreements around them.
- Utility patentsProtect how the gear performs
- Provisional patents, covered by The RLG GuaranteePatent pending while you test with athletes
- Design patents, covered by The RLG GuaranteeProtect how the gear looks
- Trademarks, covered by The RLG GuaranteeRegister the brand and product names
- IP licensing agreementsLicense a product, a design or a brand for merchandise
- Contracts and agreementsEndorsement, sponsorship and supplier agreements
- Non-disclosure agreementsShare designs with manufacturers on your terms
- Trademark litigationStop counterfeits and copied brands
[06]Questions
Before you file.
Still deciding? Your first call is free and comes with a straight answer on whether to file.
Book A Free Strategy CallCan you patent sports equipment?
Yes. New equipment, a better version of known gear, the materials it is made from and the way it is made can all be patented when they are new and not obvious. A sport itself, its rules or the idea for a game cannot be protected on its own, so the claims focus on the gear and how it works.
Do I need a utility patent or a design patent for my gear?
Often both. A utility patent protects how the gear performs, such as a grip, a frame or a cushioning system. A design patent protects how it looks, such as the shape of a sole or a club head. Copiers often change one and keep the other, so many sporting goods are worth protecting both ways. The patentability search shows which is stronger for yours.
How long does a sports equipment patent last?
A utility patent lasts up to 20 years from its filing date, as long as maintenance fees are paid. A design patent lasts 15 years from the date it is granted, with no maintenance fees. A provisional application never becomes a patent itself. It holds your filing date for 12 months.
Can I test my gear with athletes before I file?
It is safer to file first. Use in a public game, a team trial without a confidentiality agreement or a sale can make the invention public. The US gives inventors one year after their own disclosure, but most other countries require filing before it. A provisional before testing keeps both options open, and a PCT application within 12 months keeps patent rights abroad open too.
How do I stop counterfeit gear and copies sold online?
A registered trademark lets you act against sellers using your brand, through marketplace complaints, a cease and desist letter or a lawsuit. Marketplace brand programs such as Amazon Brand Registry also ask for one. A granted patent does the same for gear that copies what it claims.
How much does a sports equipment patent cost with your firm?
Flat fees at every step. A $999 patentability search, a provisional application at $2,500 to $3,500 depending on the invention, a design patent for $3,200 and a non-provisional application at $7,000 to $12,000 with drawings and USPTO filing fees included. Every fee is quoted before work begins, and the search fee is credited toward a design or non-provisional application.
What does The RLG Guarantee cover for sporting goods?
The patentability search, the provisional application, design patents and trademarks. If the search finds your invention is not novel, you get a full refund or another search. If patentability issues come up on your provisional, a full refund or more searches. If the USPTO denies your design application, you get a full refund. If it refuses your trademark, you get a refund or a new mark. Non-provisional applications are not covered. Refunds are subject to the RLG Guarantee Policy in your engagement letter.
[07]Learning Center
Go deeper on protecting sports gear.
Protecting Your Shoe Designs With Patents
Have you ever stopped and thought about the science and innovation that went into your shoes? Whether they are sky-high heels, comfy Crocs, or the latest in gym wear…
Design Patent vs Utility Patent: Shield Your Product Design with the Right Legal Protection
One of the most common questions we encounter during our initial consultation is what type of patent application do I need? What are the differences between a design…
What Is Patent Virtual Marking, and Why It Matters for Your Patent Rights
Patent virtual marking errors can erase years of damages. Learn what 35 U.S.C. 287(a) requires, the costliest mistakes, and book a free IP strategy call.
How To Deal with Knock Offs Trying to Ruin Your Products and Brand
Trying to stop counterfeiters from undercutting your price and stealing your revenue is like a game of whack-a-mole. Here is how trademark counterfeiting works and how to fight back.
Patent PCT Filing to Protect Your Invention Globally
patent pct — learn how a PCT application works, what it costs, and how to use the Patent Cooperation Treaty to protect your invention in 150+ countries. Get
[08]Client reviews
Founders who filed with us.
4.7 across 614 public reviews on Google, Trustpilot and Avvo.
#1Top reviewed IP law firm*
Read client reviews“It gave us peace of mind knowing the total cost for this service was included in their flat-fee proposal.”
Nick P.Provisional patent · Client review “Could not be happier with the customer service and straightforward fixed-fee approach.”
Sammerjit RaikhyDesign patent · Client review “They traversed the legal maze and minefield.”
Peter C.Patent · Trustpilot
Reviews reflect individual client experiences. Quotes are excerpts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. *#1 top reviewed means the most public client reviews on Google, Trustpilot and Avvo of any US patent or trademark firm.
Protect the gear before the season.
Talk through your gear with a registered patent attorney. The call is free, with no obligation.