Patents Represented by Attorney Michael A. Catania

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  • Golf ball and thermoplastic material
    Patent number: 7612134
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a novel thermoplastic material and a golf ball utilizing the thermoplastic material of the invention. The golf ball (10) preferably comprises a core (12), a cover (16) and, optionally, a boundary layer (14). At least one of the core (12), cover (16) or boundary layer (14) of the golf ball (10) comprises a thermoplastic material according to the invention. A thermoplastic material of the invention comprises a partially to highly neutralized blend of an acid copolymer, a copolymer comprising a metallocene-catalyzed alpha-olefin and a softening comonomer, and a fatty acid or fatty acid salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Mark L. Binette
  • Interchangeable shaft for a golf club
    Patent number: 7611422
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck
  • Low volume cover for a golf ball
    Patent number: 7607997
    Abstract: A golf ball (20) having a low volume cover layer (14) is disclosed herein. The golf ball (20) has a cover layer (14) with a volume less than 0.1550 cubic inches. In a preferred embodiment, the cover layer (14) is composed of a reaction-injection molded polyurethane material. Preferably, the cover layer (14) has a plurality of deep depressions (99) with either a plurality of multi-faceted polygons (44) or dimples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Vincent J. Simonds, Thomas A. Veilleux, Thomas F. Bergin
  • Method for treating thermoplastic polyurethane golf ball covers
    Patent number: 7604552
    Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane cover further comprising an isocyante or hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene in an isocyanate solution. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent. The precursor product may then be subjected to gamma or electron beam irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Dual face putter head
    Patent number: 7601076
    Abstract: A putter-type club head having a blade member and a peripheral mass belt is disclosed herein. The blade member is preferably composed of an aluminum alloy, and has a first surface with a first insert and a second surface with a second insert. The blade member is removably attached to the peripheral mass belt to allow for a reversal of the striking surface from the first face surface to the second face surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: 7591737
    Abstract: A golf club head (42) having a delta of the coefficient of restitution between a geometric face center of the face (72) and a location (806) 0.5 inch sole-ward from the face center that is less than 0.065. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Evan D. Gibbs, Ronald K. Hettinger, Luke R. Williams
  • Golf ball which includes fast-chemical-reaction-produced component and method of making same
    Patent number: 7591740
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf ball comprising fast-chemical-reaction-produced component, such as a component which comprises a reaction injection molded polyurethane material. The golf ball has excellent light stability. Also disclosed is a method making a golf ball by forming a cover component of the ball by mixing two or more reactants that react and form a reaction product with a flex modulus of from about 1 to about 310 kpsi in a reaction time of about 5 minutes or less, the component having a thickness of at least 0.01 inches and a demold time of 10 minutes or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 7591743
    Abstract: A golf ball having an indicia composed of a novel metallic ink is disclosed herein. The first indicia is preferably composed of a vacuum metallized pigmented ink having a particle size ranging from 10 microns to 12 microns. The ink is preferably an aluminum based ink. The golf ball is preferably a two-piece solid golf ball or a three-piece solid golf ball. The novel ink preferably has a viscosity above about 300 centipoise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Method for treating thermoplastic polyurethane golf ball covers
    Patent number: 7591968
    Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product with a thermoplastic polyurethane cover in a solution containing an isocyanate functionality reactive material. The precursor product is then removed from the solution and heated to remove solvent. The precursor product is then placed in an isocyanate solution. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent to prepare the precursor product for finishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis, Gary Matroni
  • Method for de-molding from a golf ball injection mold assembly
    Patent number: 7591972
    Abstract: A method and assembly for molding golf balls is disclosed herein. The invention includes an injection mold assembly (20) with a first mold half (22a) having a plurality of cavities and at least one locating pin (92) and a second mold half (22b) having a plurality of cavities and at least one aperture for engagement with the at least one bushing (94) and a spring (250) for exerting a lateral force against the second mold half (22b). Preferably, the locating pin has a first taper section (93) and a second taper section (95). Preferably, the bushing (84) has a first cavity 1 (1150 and a second cavity (117).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Donn A. Wilber
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: 7588501
    Abstract: A golf club head (42) having a substantially square or rectangular body is disclosed herein. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Luke R. Williams, Larry G. Tang, Daniel M. Stevens, Ronald K. Hettinger, Michael Hallack, Evan D. Gibbs, Matthew T. Cackett, Alan Hocknell
  • Apparatus and method for manufacturing a multiple material golf club head
    Patent number: 7582248
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for co-curing a multiple material golf club head is disclosed herein. The club head preferably is composed of a metal face component and an aft-body composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Herbert Reyes, Robert S. Gonczi, Craig E. Abbott, James D. Marinez
  • Interchangeable shaft for a golf club
    Patent number: 7578749
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). An exterior bottom end of the sleeve (146) has a castellated surface. An interior bottom end of the tube (144) has a matching castellated surface. The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt
  • Ink for printing on a game ball
    Patent number: 7579386
    Abstract: An ink, method of inkjet printing the ink and game ball utilizing the ink are disclosed. The ink preferably comprises a diacrylate oligomer. The ink more preferably comprises an acrylate monomer in an amount ranging from 15 to 40 parts of a solid component of the ink, a diacrylate oligomer in an amount of 20 to 40 parts of a solid component of the ink, a pigment in an amount of 5 to 15 parts of a solid component, and a thinning agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Gary Matroni, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael J. Tzivanis
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: 7578751
    Abstract: A golf club head (42) having a substantially square or rectangular body is disclosed herein. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Luke R. Williams, Larry G. Tang, Daniel M. Stevens, Ronald K. Hettinger, Michael Hallack, Evan D. Gibbs, Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett
  • Multiple material golf club head
    Patent number: 7578756
    Abstract: A wood-type golf club head (40) having a major body (50), a striking plate insert (55) and a minor body (60) is disclosed herein. The major body (50) is composed of a metal material and has a front wall section (72), a return section (74), a sole section (76), a ribbon section (78) and a ledge portion (80). The minor body (50) is preferably composed of a low density material and has a crown section (62) and a ribbon section (64). The striking plate insert (55) is composed of a metal material. An epoxy-based composition (200) is placed at a face-sole junction (205) to lower the amplitude of the sound of the golf club head (40) during impact with a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew J. Erickson, Bradley C. Rice, D. Clayton Evans, Evan D. Gibbs
  • Iron golf club head
    Patent number: D598967
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Kevin Weejoung Kim, Roger Cleveland
  • Iron club head
    Patent number: D598968
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Chris J. Wieland
  • Zipper clip
    Patent number: D602811
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Catherine Batista
  • Putter head
    Patent number: D603006
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Philip G. Foster, Augustin W. Rollinsoni