Patents by Inventor Robert J. Horacek
Robert J. Horacek 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: 11883721Abstract: A golf club head includes: a sole; a crown; a toe; a heel opposite the toe; a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center; a rear portion; and a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion. The golf club head also includes at least one rib having a first portion secured to the strike face, having a second portion secured to the crown, and being positioned such that a location on the strike face laterally spaced toe-ward from the geometric center by no less than 0.4 in is associated with a COR value no less than 0.825.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Robert J. Horacek, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, John J. Rae, Michael J. Wallans, Sam G. Lacey
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Publication number: 20220126177Abstract: A golf club head includes: a sole; a crown; a toe; a heel opposite the toe; a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center; a rear portion; and a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion. The golf club head also includes at least one rib having a first portion secured to the strike face, having a second portion secured to the crown, and being positioned such that a location on the strike face laterally spaced toe-ward from the geometric center by no less than 0.4 in is associated with a COR value no less than 0.825.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2022Publication date: April 28, 2022Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Robert J. HORACEK, Nathaniel J. RADCLIFFE, John J. RAE, Michael J. WALLANS, Sam G. LACEY
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Patent number: 11241604Abstract: A golf club head includes: a sole; a crown; a toe; a heel opposite the toe; a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center; a rear portion; and a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion. The golf club head also includes at least one rib having a first portion secured to the strike face, having a second portion secured to the crown, and being positioned such that a location on the strike face laterally spaced toe-ward from the geometric center by no less than 0.4 in is associated with a COR value no less than 0.825.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2020Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Robert J. Horacek, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, John J. Rae, Michael J. Wallans, Sam G. Lacey
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Patent number: 11063996Abstract: An exemplary golf club head having an increased amount of discretionary mass may be realized by utilizing improved drop angles, an improved average crown height, and/or articulation points. The discretionary mass may be placed low and deep in the club head to improve the location of the center of gravity as well as the inertial properties. A preferred break length may also be utilized to further improve the depth of the center of gravity. In one example, the center of gravity may be positioned to substantially align the sweet spot with the face center of the club head.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2020Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: John J. Rae, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Daniel J. Stone, Trent E. Garner, Brad S. Hooley, Robert J. Horacek, Sam G. Lacey, Jeff D. Brunski, Kevin Schaeffer, Scott A. Carlyle, Stephen C. Chien, Craig R. Schnell, Douglas E. Roberts, Dan S. Nivanh, Michael J. Wallans
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Publication number: 20200322462Abstract: An exemplary golf club head having an increased amount of discretionary mass may be realized by utilizing improved drop angles, an improved average crown height, and/or articulation points. The discretionary mass may be placed low and deep in the club head to improve the location of the center of gravity as well as the inertial properties. A preferred break length may also be utilized to further improve the depth of the center of gravity. In one example, the center of gravity may be positioned to substantially align the sweet spot with the face center of the club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: John J. RAE, Nathaniel J. RADCLIFFE, Daniel J. STONE, Trent E. GARNER, Brad S. HOOLEY, Robert J. HORACEK, Sam G. LACEY, Jeff D. BRUNSKI, Kevin SCHAEFFER, Scott A. CARLYLE, Stephen C. CHIEN, Craig R. SCHNELL, Douglas E. ROBERTS, Dan S. NIVANH, Michael J. WALLANS
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Publication number: 20200298075Abstract: A golf club head includes: a sole; a crown; a toe; a heel opposite the toe; a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center; a rear portion; and a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion. The golf club head also includes at least one rib having a first portion secured to the strike face, having a second portion secured to the crown, and being positioned such that a location on the strike face laterally spaced toe-ward from the geometric center by no less than 0.4 in is associated with a COR value no less than 0.825.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Robert J. HORACEK, Nathaniel J. RADCLIFFE, John J. RAE, Michael J. WALLANS, Sam G. LACEY
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Patent number: 10721339Abstract: An exemplary golf club head having an increased amount of discretionary mass may be realized by utilizing improved drop angles, an improved average crown height, and/or articulation points. The discretionary mass may be placed low and deep in the club head to improve the location of the center of gravity as well as the inertial properties. A preferred break length may also be utilized to further improve the depth of the center of gravity. In one example, the center of gravity may be positioned to substantially align the sweet spot with the face center of the club head.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: John J. Rae, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Daniel J. Stone, Trent E. Garner, Brad S. Hooley, Robert J. Horacek, Sam G. Lacey, Jeff D. Brunski, Kevin Schaeffer, Scott A. Carlyle, Stephen C. Chien, Craig R. Schnell, Douglas E. Roberts, Dan S. Nivanh, Michael J. Wallans
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Patent number: 10695622Abstract: A golf club head includes: a sole; a crown; a toe; a heel opposite the toe; a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center; a rear portion; and a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion. The golf club head also includes at least one rib having a first portion secured to the strike face, having a second portion secured to the crown, and being positioned such that a location on the strike face laterally spaced toe-ward from the geometric center by no less than 0.4 in is associated with a COR value no less than 0.825.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Robert J. Horacek, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, John J. Rae, Michael J. Wallans, Sam G. Lacey
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Publication number: 20190176000Abstract: A golf club head includes: a sole; a crown; a toe; a heel opposite the toe; a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center; a rear portion; and a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion. The golf club head also includes at least one rib having a first portion secured to the strike face, having a second portion secured to the crown, and being positioned such that a location on the strike face laterally spaced toe-ward from the geometric center by no less than 0.4 in is associated with a COR value no less than 0.825.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2019Publication date: June 13, 2019Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Robert J. HORACEK, Nathaniel J. RADCLIFFE, John J. RAE, Michael J. WALLANS, Sam G. LACEY
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Patent number: 10245482Abstract: A golf club head includes: a sole; a crown; a toe; a heel opposite the toe; a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center; a rear portion; and a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion. The golf club head also includes at least one rib having a first portion secured to the strike face, having a second portion secured to the crown, and being positioned such that a location on the strike face laterally spaced toe-ward from the geometric center by no less than 0.4 in is associated with a COR value no less than 0.825.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Robert J. Horacek, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, John J. Rae, Michael J. Wallans, Sam G. Lacey
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Publication number: 20180241854Abstract: An exemplary golf club head having an increased amount of discretionary mass may be realized by utilizing improved drop angles, an improved average crown height, and/or articulation points. The discretionary mass may be placed low and deep in the club head to improve the location of the center of gravity as well as the inertial properties. A preferred break length may also be utilized to further improve the depth of the center of gravity. In one example, the center of gravity may be positioned to substantially align the sweet spot with the face center of the club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2018Publication date: August 23, 2018Applicant: SRI SPORTS LIMITEDInventors: John J. RAE, Nathaniel J. RADCLIFFE, Daniel J. STONE, Trent E. GARNER, Brad S. HOOLEY, Robert J. HORACEK, Sam G. LACEY, Jeff D. BRUNSKI, Kevin SCHAEFFER, Scott A. CARLYLE, Stephen C. CHIEN, Craig R. SCHNELL, Douglas E. ROBERTS, Dan S. NIVANH, Michael J. WALLANS
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Publication number: 20180221721Abstract: A golf club head includes: a sole; a crown; a toe; a heel opposite the toe; a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center; a rear portion; and a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion. The golf club head also includes at least one rib having a first portion secured to the strike face, having a second portion secured to the crown, and being positioned such that a location on the strike face laterally spaced toe-ward from the geometric center by no less than 0.4 in is associated with a COR value no less than 0.825.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Applicant: SRI SPORTS LIMITEDInventors: Robert J. HORACEK, Nathaniel J. RADCLIFFE, John J. RAE, Michael J. WALLANS, Samuel G. LACEY
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Patent number: 10010769Abstract: An exemplary golf club head having an increased amount of discretionary mass may be realized by utilizing improved drop angles, an improved average crown height, and/or articulation points. The discretionary mass may be placed low and deep in the club head to improve the location of the center of gravity as well as the inertial properties. A preferred break length may also be utilized to further improve the depth of the center of gravity. In one example, the center of gravity may be positioned to substantially align the sweet spot with the face center of the club head.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2016Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: SRI SPORTS LIMITEDInventors: John J. Rae, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Daniel J. Stone, Trent E. Garner, Brad S. Hooley, Robert J. Horacek, Sam G. Lacey, Jeff D. Brunski, Kevin Schaeffer, Scott A. Carlyle, Stephen C. Chien, Craig R. Schnell, Douglas E. Roberts, Dan S. Nivanh, Michael J. Wallans
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Patent number: 9889350Abstract: A golf club head includes: a sole; a crown; a toe; a heel opposite the toe; a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center; a rear portion; and a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion. The golf club head also includes at least one rib having a first portion secured to the strike face, having a second portion secured to the crown, and being positioned such that a location on the strike face laterally spaced toe-ward from the geometric center by no less than 0.4 in is associated with a COR value no less than 0.825.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: SRI SPORTS LIMITEDInventors: Robert J. Horacek, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, John J. Rae, Michael J. Wallans, Sam G. Lacey
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Patent number: 9776054Abstract: A hollow golf club head having face end and tail ends, a strike face at the face end, a crown, a sole, and a structural response modifying constraining member having first and second ends, the second being forward of the first and spaced from the strike face, the constraining member extending vertically and in contact with the sole and the crown at its first and second ends, and extending horizontally distance that is substantially less than the sole length, when the club head is in address position.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Robert J. Horacek, John J. Rae, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Clark Radcliffe
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Publication number: 20170100647Abstract: An exemplary golf club head having an increased amount of discretionary mass may be realized by utilizing improved drop angles, an improved average crown height, and/or articulation points. The discretionary mass may be placed low and deep in the club head to improve the location of the center of gravity as well as the inertial properties. A preferred break length may also be utilized to further improve the depth of the center of gravity. In one example, the center of gravity may be positioned to substantially align the sweet spot with the face center of the club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2016Publication date: April 13, 2017Applicant: SRI SPORTS LIMITEDInventors: John J. RAE, Nathaniel J. RADCLIFFE, Daniel J. STONE, Trent E. GARNER, Brad S. HOOLEY, Robert J. HORACEK, Sam G. LACEY, Jeff D. BRUNSKI, Kevin SCHAEFFER, Scott A. CARLYLE, Stephen C. CHIEN, Craig R. SCHNELL, Douglas E. ROBERTS, Dan S. NIVANH, Michael J. WALLANS
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Patent number: 9561405Abstract: An exemplary golf club head having an increased amount of discretionary mass may be realized by utilizing improved drop angles, an improved average crown height, and/or articulation points. The discretionary mass may be placed low and deep in the club head to improve the location of the center of gravity as well as the inertial properties. A preferred break length may also be utilized to further improve the depth of the center of gravity. In one example, the center of gravity may be positioned to substantially align the sweet spot with the face center of the club head.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: SRI SPORTS LIMITEDInventors: John J. Rae, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Daniel J. Stone, Trent E. Garner, Brad S. Hooley, Robert J. Horacek, Sam G. Lacey, Jeff D. Brunski, Kevin Schaeffer, Scott A. Carlyle, Stephen C. Chien, Craig R. Schnell, Douglas E. Roberts, Dan S. Nivanh, Michael J. Wallans
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Publication number: 20160303439Abstract: A hollow golf club head includes a sole, a crown, a skirt, and a striking face. The golf club includes a junction interconnecting the sole, crown, and skirt to the striking face, the junction including at least one stiffening member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: SRI SPORTS LIMITEDInventors: Robert J. HORACEK, Nathaniel J. RADCLIFFE, John J. RAE, Michael J. WALLANS, Sam G. LACEY
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Patent number: 9399156Abstract: A hollow golf club head includes a sole, a crown, a skirt, and a striking face. The golf club includes a junction interconnecting the sole, crown, and skirt to the striking face, the junction including at least one stiffening member.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: SRI SPORTS LIMITEDInventors: Robert J. Horacek, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, John J. Rae, Michael J. Wallans, Sam G. Lacey
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Publication number: 20150057102Abstract: A hollow golf club head having face end and tail ends, a strike face at the face end, a crown, a sole, and a structural response modifying constraining member having first and second ends, the second being forward of the first and spaced from the strike face, the constraining member extending vertically and in contact with the sole and the crown at its first and second ends, and extending horizontally distance that is substantially less than the sole length, when the club head is in address position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2014Publication date: February 26, 2015Inventors: Robert J. Horacek, John J. Rae, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Clark Radcliffe