Patents by Inventor Gary Tavares
Gary Tavares has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8795098Abstract: An instrumented golf club system and methods are disclosed. A variety of golf swing parameters are measured by the instrumented golf club and wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer device. The portable computer device generates a user interface that displays the golf swing parameters against preferred golf swing parameters. The instrumented golf club system allows a golfer to receive feedback in real time while playing golf.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2010Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary Tavares, Carl Madore, Mike Kelly, Raymond J. Sander, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Jeffrey R. Held, Garrick L. Maenle, Gregory S. Kramer, Chad E. Bouton, Clifford N. Dodson, Patrick K. Hoffman
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Patent number: 8657702Abstract: Golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) according to at least some example aspects of this invention include: (a) a heel; (b) a toe; (c) a crown; (d) a sole; (e) a striking face; (f) a cavity, wherein the cavity is at least partially open; (g) a rear face opposite the striking face, the rear face defining an opening to the cavity; and (h) a rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening. The rear body member may be releasably engaged with the opening to the cavity, rear face, and/or other portion of the club head body.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Gary Tavares
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Patent number: 8414411Abstract: An instrumented golf club system and methods are disclosed. A variety of golf swing parameters are measured by the instrumented golf club and wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer device. The portable computer device generates a user interface that displays the golf swing parameters against preferred golf swing parameters. The instrumented golf club system allows a golfer to receive feedback in real time while playing golf.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2010Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary Tavares, Carl Madore, Mike Kelly, Raymond J. Sander, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Jeffrey R. Held, Garrick L. Maenle, Gregory S. Kramer, Chad E. Bouton, Clifford N. Dodson, Patrick K. Hoffman
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Patent number: 8409025Abstract: An instrumented golf club system and methods are disclosed. A variety of golf swing parameters are measured by the instrumented golf club and wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer device. The portable computer device generates a user interface that displays the golf swing parameters against preferred golf swing parameters. The instrumented golf club system allows a golfer to receive feedback in real time while playing golf.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Nike Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary Tavares, Carl Madore, Mike Kelly, Raymond J. Sander, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Jeffrey R. Held, Garrick L. Maenle, Gregory S. Kramer, Chad E. Bouton, Clifford N. Dodson, Patrick K. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20120034992Abstract: Golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) according to at least some example aspects of this invention include: (a) a heel; (b) a toe; (c) a crown; (d) a sole; (e) a striking face; (f) a cavity, wherein the cavity is at least partially open; (g) a rear face opposite the striking face, the rear face defining an opening to the cavity; and (h) a rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening. The rear body member may be releasably engaged with the opening to the cavity, rear face, and/or other portion of the club head body.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Gary Tavares
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Publication number: 20100216564Abstract: An instrumented golf club system and methods are disclosed. A variety of golf swing parameters are measured by the instrumented golf club and wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer device. The portable computer device generates a user interface that displays the golf swing parameters against preferred golf swing parameters. The instrumented golf club system allows a golfer to receive feedback in real time while playing golf.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary Tavares, Carl Madore, Mike Kelly, Raymond J. Sander, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Jeffrey R. Held, Garrick L. Maenle, Gregory S. Kramer, Chad E. Bouton, Clifford N. Dodson, Patrick K. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20100216565Abstract: An instrumented golf club system and methods are disclosed. A variety of golf swing parameters are measured by the instrumented golf club and wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer device. The portable computer device generates a user interface that displays the golf swing parameters against preferred golf swing parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary Tavares, Carl Madore, Mike Kelly, Raymond J. Sander, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Jeffrey R. Held, Garrick L. Maenle, Gregory S. Kramer, Chad E. Bouton, Clifford N. Dodson, Patrick K. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20100216563Abstract: An instrumented golf club system and methods are disclosed. A variety of golf swing parameters are measured by the instrumented golf club and wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer device. The portable computer device generates a user interface that displays the golf swing parameters against preferred golf swing parameters. The instrumented golf club system allows a golfer to receive feedback in real time while playing golf.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary Tavares, Carl Madore, Mike Kelly, Raymond J. Sander, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Jeffrey R. Held, Garrick L. Maenle, Gregory S. Kramer, Chad E. Bouton, Clifford N. Dodson, Patrick K. Hoffman
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Patent number: 7736242Abstract: An instrumented golf club system and methods are disclosed. A variety of golf swing parameters are measured by the instrumented golf club and wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer device. The portable computer device generates a user interface that displays the golf swing parameters against preferred golf swing parameters. The instrumented golf club system allows a golfer to receive feedback in real time while playing golf.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2004Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary Tavares, Carl Madore, Michael Kelly, Raymond J. Sander, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Jeffrey R. Held, Garrick L. Meanle, Gregory S. Kramer, Chad E. Bouton, Clifford N. Dodson, Patrick K. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20070270237Abstract: Golf club products include a shaft member and a club head body member engaged with the shaft member. At least some portion of this club head product is made from a basalt material. As some more specific examples, the basalt material may be used in one or more of: one or more layers of the shaft member structure; the entire shaft structure; a grip member; a hosel member; one or more parts of the club head body member, including any of: a crown member, a sole plate or member, a body member, a ribbon member (forming a portion of the body member), a face member, a ball striking face member, a weight member, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2006Publication date: November 22, 2007Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Gary Tavares, Robert Boyd, Mark Perry
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Publication number: 20070232407Abstract: Ball striking devices may include: (a) a sole member; (b) at least one intermediate body member; (c) a crown member; and (d) a face member. The materials making up the sole member, the intermediate body member(s), and the crown member may be selected so that the densities of the materials generally increase as one moves in a direction from the sole member toward the crown member. Such devices may be formed as golf club heads and/or golf clubs (such as “wood-type” golf clubs and golf club heads).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Gary Tavares
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Publication number: 20070207878Abstract: Golf club heads include: (a) a body having a ball-striking face and a rear face, the body defining a cavity; (b) a bridge member extending across the cavity, wherein the bridge member is provided to affect, at least in part, a position of a center of gravity of the club head; and (c) a feel altering element provided between the bridge member and the rear face. The feel altering element may affect a wide variety of parameters that relate to the “feel” of the golf club head when it strikes a golf ball, such as the sound produced by the club head during the strike, the vibrational response of the club head during the strike, the swing characteristics of the club head (e.g., weight, center of gravity position, etc.), and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2006Publication date: September 6, 2007Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Gary Tavares, John Stites, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi
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Publication number: 20070111820Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed that includes a weight integral to a bridge member extending across a cavity back golf club head. The weight modifies a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. The weight is independently movable in multiple directions to further vary the center of gravity of a golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2007Publication date: May 17, 2007Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John Stites, Gary Tavares
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Publication number: 20060128500Abstract: Ball striking devices may include: (a) a sole member; (b) at least one intermediate body member; (c) a crown member; and (d) a face member. The materials making up the sole member, the intermediate body member(s), and the crown member may be selected so that the densities of the materials generally increase as one moves in a direction from the sole member toward the crown member. Such devices may be formed as golf club heads and/or golf clubs (such as “wood-type” golf clubs and golf club heads).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2004Publication date: June 15, 2006Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Gary Tavares
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Publication number: 20060073908Abstract: Ball striking devices, such as golf club heads (including putter heads), include devices within and/or otherwise engaged with the ball striking head that allow users to selectively change the sound and/or other aspects of the “feel” associated with using the ball striking device to strike a ball. In this manner, a user, a club fitter, or the like can freely customize and adjust the sound and/or other aspects of the ball striking device's feel to correspond to a particular user's preferences.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2004Publication date: April 6, 2006Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Gary Tavares, Todd Waatti, Carl Madore
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Publication number: 20060052178Abstract: Ball striking devices, such as golf club heads (including putter heads), have a high moment of inertia about their center, to help prevent twisting and mis-hits, particularly when the ball striking device hits the ball at a somewhat off-center position. The ball striking head of the ball striking device may be structured and/or weighted (optionally with separately attachable weight elements) to have a moment of inertia about a center of the ball striking surface of at least 10,000 g/cm2, and in some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 11,000 g/cm2, or even at least 12,000 g/cm2. In some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 20,000 g/cm2, or even at least 25,000 g/cm2 or at least 28,000 g/cm2.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2004Publication date: March 9, 2006Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: David Franklin, John Stites, Gary Tavares
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Publication number: 20050239576Abstract: Golf clubs and/or golf club heads include a club head body defining an interior chamber, structure for engaging a shaft with the body, and/or a shaft engaged with the body. The club head body may have an overall length of at least 4.5 inches and an overall breadth of at least 4.2 inches. In other examples, the club head body may have an overall length of at least 4.6 inches and a ratio of the overall breadth dimension to the overall length dimension of 1 or less. If desired, the ratio of the head breadth to head length dimensions may be in a range from at least 0.94 to 1 or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2005Publication date: October 27, 2005Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John Stites, Gary Tavares
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Publication number: 20050215340Abstract: An instrumented golf club system and methods are disclosed. A variety of golf swing parameters are measured by the instrumented golf club and wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer device. The portable computer device generates a user interface that displays the golf swing parameters against preferred golf swing parameters. The instrumented golf club system allows a golfer to receive feedback in real time while playing golf.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2004Publication date: September 29, 2005Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John Stites, Gary Tavares, Carl Madore, Mike Kelly, Raymond Sander, Jeffrey Hadden, Jeffrey Held, Garrick Meanle, Gregory Kramer, Chad Bouton, Clifford Dodson, Patrick Hoffman
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Publication number: 20050137026Abstract: A damping element for a golf club is disclosed. The damping element is utilized to reduce an amplitude of vibrations in the golf club. The damping element may be positioned within an interior void of a shaft of the golf club and may exhibit a shape that corresponds with a shape of the void within the shaft. The damping element may exhibit an elongate configuration that extends along at least a portion of the shaft, and the damping element may have the configuration of either a fluid-filled chamber or a foam structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2003Publication date: June 23, 2005Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: John Stites, Gary Tavares
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Publication number: 20050137024Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed that includes a weight integral to a bridge member extending across a cavity back golf club head. The weight modifies a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. The weight is independently movable in multiple directions to further vary the center of gravity of a golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2003Publication date: June 23, 2005Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: John Stites, Gary Tavares