Patents Examined by Stephen Blau
  • Patent number: 9987528
    Abstract: A golf club head including a cavity including an open end and a terminal end, the terminal end opposite the open end, an elongate weighted insert configured to reside in the cavity, the weighted insert having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the cavity is configured to receive the weighted insert through the open end in both a first orientation where the first end is adjacent the terminal end of the cavity and a second orientation where the second end is adjacent the terminal end of the cavity, a removable weight member configured to be removably affixed to each of the first end and the second end of the weighted insert, wherein the removable weight member is magnetically attracted to each of the first end and the second end of the weighted insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Richard Sanchez, Peter Soracco, Richard L. Cleghorn
  • Patent number: 9987523
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a sole, a recessed sole port in the sole; and a rotatably adjustable sole piece adapted to be at least partially received within the sole port and comprising a central body having a plurality of contact surfaces adapted to contact the sole port and being offset from each other along a central axis extending through the central body of the sole piece. The sole piece can be positioned at least partially within the sole port at five or more rotational and axial positions with respect to the central axis, wherein at each rotational position, at least one of said contact surfaces of the central body contacts the sole port to set the axial position of the sole piece. The sole port and/or the sole piece can be generally pentagonal in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Kraig Alan Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Michael Franz
  • Patent number: 9981168
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid irons and short irons. The irons have a progressive horizontal CG location. Preferably, the long and mid irons have a face stabilizing bar and back panel and the CG is located between about 1 mm and 3 mm towards the hosel and the CG in the short irons is located between about 3 mm and 4 mm toward the hosel. Further the long and mid irons irons can have a plurality of apertures in the face stabilizing bar and/or the back wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo
  • Patent number: 9981165
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a conformal weight sized to fit within a recess or channel disposed in a crown or sole is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the crown or sole itself is a conformal weight, and is removably affixed to a base structure comprising a striking face and a skeletal support structure. In other embodiments, the golf club head comprises a conformal weight in the form of a sole cap that is removably affixed to the golf club head and covers small weight ports disposed in the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Tim Goudarzi, Steven M. Ehlers, Matthew Myers, Larry Tang, Wee Joung Kim, Philip G. Foster, Wayne H. Byrne
  • Patent number: 9975012
    Abstract: A golf club head having a body having a first receptacle having ant aperture and a weight retention member affixed to the receptacle, the weight retention member having an opening, the weight retention member configured to receive a weighted insert, wherein at least a portion of the receptacle is located on the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Richard Sanchez, Thomas Orrin Bennett, David S. Cornelius
  • Patent number: 9968835
    Abstract: A multipurpose golf tool includes a mounting base that can be secured to the free end of a golf shaft at the golf grip. The mounting base is used to mount selected implements each having multiple capabilities for picking up or securing objects thereby enabling a golfer to retrieve and hold objects without having to kneel or bend over. The selected implements include various embodiments of a ball retrieving and holding cup in, a ball marker retrieving and holding implement, a flagstick pick-up implement, and a golf tee retrieving and holding implement. Multiple implements may be mounted to the mounting base in a stacked configuration, or the implements may be mounted individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: AVIARTECH, LLC
    Inventor: Wantjinarjo Suwito
  • Patent number: 9962584
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity. The body having a channel located on the sole and extending generally from a heel end of the body to a toe end of the body. A weight member movably positioned within the channel such that a position of the weight member within the channel is able to be adjusted, thereby adjusting a location of a center of gravity of the body. Additionally, adjustment of the weight member provides a maximum x-axis adjustment range of the position of the center of gravity (Max ?CGx) that is greater than 2 mm and a maximum z-axis adjustment range of the center of gravity (Max ?CGz) that is less than 2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Reeve Nielson, Nathan T. Sargent, Christopher John Harbert, Todd P. Beach, Brian Bazzel, Mark Vincent Greaney, Christian Reber Wester, Craig Richard Slyfield, Matthew David Johnson, Matthew Greensmith, Kraig Alan Willett
  • Patent number: 9937390
    Abstract: A golf club head including a crown, a sole, a hosel, a face and a flexure. The face is configured to provide varying stiffness while minimizing the change in thickness across the face. The flexure provides compliance during an impact between the golf club head and a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Stephanie Luttrell, Noah de la Cruz, Charles E. Golden, Uday V. Deshmukh
  • Patent number: 9937396
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to a golf club head which includes a wood type golf club head body including a ball striking face portion at a front side thereof, a rear side opposite the front side, a crown portion, and a sole portion. Further, the sole or crown or rear portion of the golf club head body may be configured so that the golf club head body includes a bump portion which protrudes from the sole or crown or rear portion and an indented portion which recedes into the sole or crown or rear portion and creates a recess in the sole or crown or rear portion of the golf club head body. Further, the bump portion and the indented portion may be configured so that a center of gravity of the club head body is nearer to one of the heel edge of the club head body and the toe edge of the club head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Karsten Maufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Patent number: 9937397
    Abstract: A system for optimizing weight distribution of a golf club, including a weight receiving grip, wherein the weight receiving grip comprises a generally tubular member comprising a shaft bore configured to surround a proximal portion of the shaft, wherein the weight receiving grip comprises a weight retention portion at a proximal end of the weight receiving grip, the weight retention portion configured to engage a weight member; wherein the weight retention portion of the weight receiving grip further comprises an enlarged bore portion proximal the shaft bore, wherein the weight retention portion of the weight receiving grip further comprises a cavity proximal the enlarged bore portion, and wherein the diameter of the cavity is greater than the diameter of the enlarged bore portion and the diameter of the enlarged bore portion is greater than the diameter D1 of the shaft bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Dustin A. Barksdale, Donald S. Bone, Chad Arch, Scott A. Knutson
  • Patent number: 9925442
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with sole cavity ports are described herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Evan R. Greer
  • Patent number: 9925435
    Abstract: A golf club (2) comprising a shaft (20), a head and a damping device (1, 100). The damping device (1, 100) includes an anchor element (3, 103) and a damping element (4, 104) interconnected by a rigid rod (5, 105). The anchor element (3, 103) is anchored within the lower section of the shaft (20) that has a substantially constant diameter such that the damping element (4, 104) is in contact with an internal surface of the shaft (20) to dampen vibrations therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: PRO-CORE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventor: David Raymond Hicks
  • Patent number: 9925436
    Abstract: An club marking cloth comprised of a square piece of material. In at least one corner of the material a powerful magnet is attached. The powerful magnet allows the club marking cloth to be attached to the metal head of a golf club. The club marking cloth can be either attached to clubs left in the golf bag to indicate that clubs have been removed, or, can be attached to the head of clubs left in the grass so that the club is easier to see and find for the golfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: John Charles Marlow
  • Patent number: 9925427
    Abstract: A stand-alone putter structured and weight balanced enabling the putter to stand upright in a favorable lie and loft position on a putting surface without any outside support formed of a club head, a shaft connected to the club head, and having a gripping area at the upper end of the shaft. The club head is conventional in design and includes a ball striking face, a rear surface, a heel, a toe, an upper surface and a bottom sole structured to serve as a first ground support surface for the putter in a conventional use position with the bottom sole lying on a putting surface. The club head further includes at least one additional ground engaging support member extending outwardly from the club head forming a second ground support member to maintain the putter in a stand-alone position on the putting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Lawrence C. Bischmann, Bradley V. Adams, David P. Billings
  • Patent number: 9919192
    Abstract: A golf club has a shaft having a shaft axis; a club head connected to a first end of the shaft; and a grip connected to a second end of the shaft opposite the club head. The grip is provided with a first grip part and a second grip part, wherein the first grip part is torsionally movable to a limited extent relative to the second grip part and relative to the shaft about the shaft axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Alfred Trzmiel
  • Patent number: 9908021
    Abstract: Utilities that allow repairing turf and installing a turf repair tool on a shaft or grip of a golf club. In one aspect, a turf repair tool is disclosed for partial conforming attachment to a golf club grip. The turf repair tool may be irreversibly engaged with the golf club grip to facilitate ergonomic turf repair. The turf repair tool may include one or more prongs that may extend beyond the end of a golf club shaft distal to a golf club head such that a golfer may manipulate a golf club to repair a portion of dislodged turf without kneeling, sitting, or maintaining a position or posture that places excess or undue strain on the golfer. Additionally, the present disclosure includes embodiments that relate to a method of irreversibly installing the turf repair tool on a grip of a golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: FAB SIX PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Gary Wills, Robert Stein, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9908010
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a collet, a ferrule, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Raymond J. Sander, Robert M. Boyd, Matthew P. Rubal
  • Patent number: 9901787
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a collet, a ferrule, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Raymond J. Sander, Robert M. Boyd, Matthew P. Rubal
  • Patent number: 9901790
    Abstract: A club includes a head, a shaft, and a grip. A club length L1 is 43 inches or greater and 48 inches or less. A ratio (Wh/Wc) between a head weight Wh and a club weight Wc is equal to or greater than 0.70. An inertia moment Ix about swing axis is 6.90×103 (kg·cm2) or greater and 7.50×103 (kg·cm2) or less. A static moment Mt (kg·cm) of the club is equal to or greater than 16.3 (kg·cm). The frequency of vibration of club is 240 (cpm) or greater and 280 (cpm) or less. The inertia moment Ix (kg·cm2) is calculated by Equation (1): Ix=Wc×(Lc+60)2+Ic??(1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9901795
    Abstract: A golf club length adjustment device for use in a golf club, including a first member affixed to a main shaft, a second member slideably coupled to the first member, the second member adapted to couple to a golf club grip, wherein the first member is configured to slide relative to the second member to change the length of the golf club; a locking system having a locked position and an unlocked position; wherein the locking system includes at least one locking member and a plurality of detents, wherein the locking member is configured to selectively engage at least one of the plurality of detents; wherein the first member is formed of a first material having a first density; wherein the locking member is formed of a second material having a second density; wherein the second density is greater than the first density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Scott A. Knutson