Patents Represented by Attorney Darrell F. Marquette
  • Patent number: 6939247
    Abstract: A golf club head is formed of a hollow metal body having a center of gravity that is above the geometric center of the club face. The hollow metal body of the club head has a sole plate that is smoothly contoured and devoid of any inefficient structures such as weight pads or other mass concentrations. By avoiding the use of inefficient structures such as weight pads, more material is available for the structural walls of the club head body while maintaining the club head within acceptable weight limitations. Moreover, placement of the center of gravity above the center line of the face ensures that sufficient backspin will be imparted to the golf ball when struck by the club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, Anthony D. Serrano
  • Patent number: 6926618
    Abstract: A golf club head composed of a forged metal material has a striking surface that is supported by diagonal stiffening regions that extend from a central region of the face toward the heel-sole quadrant, heel-crown quadrant, toe-crown quadrant, and toe-sole quadrants of the face. The diagonal stiffening regions are smoothly contoured to blend into the back surface of the face so as to avoid any stress concentrations. By extending the stiffening regions diagonally from the center of the club face to the four quadrants, a more uniform stress distribution can be obtained and therefore more uniform performance. Additionally, since the diagonal stiffening regions are greater in length than vertical or horizontal stiffening region could be made, the center of the face can deflect a greater amount without exceeding the yield strength of the material and, therefore, there is a more efficient transfer of energy from the club head to the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Richard R. Sanchez, Daniel J. Kubica
  • Patent number: 6926615
    Abstract: A golf putter head with a heel end and a toe end includes a face member arranged for impacting a golf ball. A rear member extends in an arcuate path from one end of the face member to the other end of the face member. The face member and the rear member are made of a low density material such as carbon fiber. A first plurality of three weight members is disposed in the rear member, and each of these three weight members is each made of high density material, such as tungsten. A second plurality of two weight members is disposed in the face member, and each of these weight members is also made of high density material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Souza, Anthony D. Serrano, John A. Solheim, David D. Jones, Eric J. Morales, John P. Fife, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6921343
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body (formed of cast titanium, steel, bronze, or the like) with a cavity formed therein behind a front face. An insert (e.g., an elastomeric insert) is provided through an opening exposed on a surface of the body (e.g., the sole of the club head) such that the insert is substantially encapsulated within the body. The opening or openings may be configured to provide a distinct visual appearance through the use of, for example, one or more rectangular and/or circular shapes. One or more supports and/or baffles may be provided within the cavity for altering the sound and feel of the club head during impact. Furthermore, the elastomeric insert may include a plurality of bubbles configured to alter the mechanical properties of the insert. The club head may be fabricated, for example, through the use machining techniques and/or a powdered metal or investment casting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: 6913545
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having a front face with a cavity formed therein. The cavity is defined by a bottom wall and a side wall, and a face insert is disposed in the cavity. The face insert has a perimeter edge spaced from the cavity side wall by a continuous protrusion that extends outwardly from the perimeter edge toward the cavity side wall. The continuous protrusion creates and maintains a continuous gap between the perimeter edge of the face insert and the side wall of the cavity. The continuous gap is filled with paint having a color which contrasts with the body and the face insert to provide a visual outline of the face insert. A plurality of dome-shaped protrusions extend rearwardly from a back surface of the face insert to keep the back surface of the face insert spaced from the cavity bottom wall. Double sided adhesive tape is disposed between the back surface of the face insert and the cavity bottom wall to fix the face insert to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Jones, Leslie J. Bryant, Guillermo G. Vald′via, Roger J. Kleber
  • Patent number: 6902496
    Abstract: A putter golf club head includes a body fitted with relatively high-density heel and toe inserts. A golf putter club head includes a body formed of a first material (e.g., titanium) having a density of approximately 3.0 g/cm3 to 7.0 g/cm3. Two cavities are formed in the body, one adjacent to the heel region of the body, and another adjacent to the toe region. Inserts are provided in each of the two cavities and are formed of a second material (e.g., tungsten) having a density ranging from approximately 15.0 g/cm3 to 20.0 g/cm3. The cavities may be configured such that they extend to (or are bounded by) the bottom surface and/or the front face of the body. In one embodiment, the body of the putter club head has an elastic modulus greater than approximately 90 GPa while the density of the insert material is greater than the density of the body material by a factor of at least 3.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Solheim, Bradley D. Schweigert, Eric V. Cole
  • Patent number: 6893355
    Abstract: A golf putter includes a putter head having a face member, a heel end, a toe end and a rear member extending in an arcuate path from one end of the face member to the other end of the face member. First and second struts extend and are connected to the rear member and the face member while converging toward each other as they approach the face member. A third strut extends between and is connected to the rear member and the face member and lies between the first and second struts. The putter head has a width W of at least 15 centimeters and a depth D that is at least equal to ½ width W. In its preferred embodiment, the putter head has a width W of approximately 17 centimeters and a depth D of approximately 10 centimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Souza, Anthony D. Serrano, John A. Solheim, David D. Jones
  • Patent number: 6890266
    Abstract: A wood-type golf club head includes a substantially hollow body wherein the hosel is substantially isolated from the top wall of the body. The hosel is attached to the heel region of the bottom wall and extends upwardly through a hosel cavity. A hosel sleeve is preferably provided to substantially isolate the top wall of the club head body from the hosel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Solheim, Anthony D. Serrano
  • Patent number: 6837801
    Abstract: A golf putter head includes a face member with a front surface arranged for impacting a golf ball. A rear member extends in an arcuate path of substantially 180 degrees from a heel end of the face member to a toe end of the face member. First and second struts extend from the rear member to the face member and converge toward each other as they approach the face member. A third strut extends from the rear member to the face member and lies between the first and second struts. A V-shaped marking is provided on an upper surface of the face member between the heel and toe ends thereof. One leg of the V-shaped marking is aligned with the first strut and the other leg of the V-shaped marking is aligned with the second strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Souza, Anthony D. Serrano
  • Patent number: D502237
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette, John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: D502975
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette, John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: D503204
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufactruing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Nicolette, Mitchell E. Bac, John A. Solheim, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: D503761
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Tuerschmann, Eric V. Cole, John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: D504925
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette, John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: D505171
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette, John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: D506795
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: David L. Petersen
  • Patent number: D507612
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Souza, Anthony D. Serrano, John A. Solheim, David D. Jones
  • Patent number: D508099
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette, John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: D508101
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaojian Chen, Gary L. Tuerschmann
  • Patent number: D500351
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette, John A. Solheim