Patents Represented by Attorney Randy K. Chang
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Patent number: 8133131Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf club including a shaft, a club head and several devices for releasably connecting the shaft to the club head.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Michael Scott Burnett, Noah De La Cruz, Charles E. Golden, Christopher D. Harvell, Scott A. Knutson, Stephen S. Murphy, Kenneth C. Scott, Daniel S. Callinan
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Patent number: 8105175Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable panel secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable panel may have a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the removable panel to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable panel. A removable panel of the present invention may generally comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density. Even further, the removable panel may generally be releasably attached via a quick disconnect mechanism that allows easy interchangeability.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 8092316Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable panel secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable panel may have a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the removable panel to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable panel. A removable panel of the present invention may generally comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density. Even further, the removable panel may generally be releasably attached via a quick disconnect mechanism that allows easy interchangeability.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 8075420Abstract: A golf club head with a hardened striking face portion that improves durability and performance is disclosed. More specifically, the golf club head disclosed may have a martensitic striking face portion that may be at least about 1.3 times harder than the rear portion of the golf club head due to the martensitic crystalline structure of the striking face portion formed by heating and quenching the striking face portion of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2009Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventor: Helene Rick
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Patent number: 8057320Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf club including a shaft, a club head and several devices for releasably connecting the shaft to the club head.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Michael Scott Burnett, Noah De La Cruz, Charles E. Golden, Christopher D. Harvell, Scott A. Knutson, Stephen S. Murphy, Kenneth C. Scott, Daniel S. Callinan
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Patent number: 8047930Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having improved flexural stiffness properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. The main portion of the hitting face is a plate-like face made from a first material having a first density. A dense insert made from a second material having a second density that is greater than the first density is attached directly or indirectly to the plate-like face at or near the geometric center thereof. The dense insert increases the flexural stiffness of in a central zone of the hitting face so that a golf club head that has a larger zone of substantially uniform high initial ball speed. In another embodiment, the hitting face includes an insert that includes main plate and at least one wing extending therefrom. The insert is welded to the golf club head so that the main plate does not deflect separately from the remainder of the hitting face. The geometry of the insert controls the stiffness in the axial directions.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2011Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Scott A. Rice, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 8038544Abstract: A metal wood golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, comprising of a body portion and a crown portion, each portion constructed of a different density material. Combining a high-density material in the body portion, with a low-density material in the crown portion, creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. The material for the crown portion is preferably a composite. A vibration dampening gasket is disposed between the ledge and lip sections of the body and crown respectively.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2010Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jeffrey W. Meyer, Scott A. Rice, Raymond L. Poynor
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Patent number: 8033927Abstract: The present invention is directed to a number of customized sets of iron-type golf clubs selected from a relatively small number of clubs. The multiple custom-fitted iron sets can be achieved by pivoting these sets off a common 6-iron. In a preferred embodiment, a portfolio of clubs contains seventeen forged iron-type golf clubs, wherein the clubs are a blended collection of oversized cavity back-type clubs, mid-sized clubs, and standard-sized muscle back-type clubs, which can be configured to create at least four custom-fitted iron sets pivoted off a common 6-iron.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2010Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Bruce R. Pettibone
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Patent number: 8025590Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having improved flexural stiffness properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. The main portion of the hitting face is a plate-like face made from a first material having a first density. A dense insert made from a second material having a second density that is greater than the first density is attached directly or indirectly to the plate-like face at or near the geometric center thereof. The dense insert increases the flexural stiffness of in a central zone of the hitting face so that a golf club head that has a larger zone of substantially uniform high initial ball speed. In another embodiment, the hitting face includes an insert that includes main plate and at least one wing extending therefrom. The insert is welded to the golf club head so that the main plate does not deflect separately from the remainder of the hitting face. The geometry of the insert controls the stiffness in the axial directions.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2010Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Scott A. Rice, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 7997998Abstract: A golf club head is provided with a body that has an address position with a zero degree bounce portion on the sole and a center sole position with a multi-relief surface of the sole having a negative bounce portion. The negative bounce portion may comprise a negative 0.5 to a negative 4.0 degree surface. In one embodiment, the multi-relief surface may comprise the negative bounce portion and a cutaway portion extending to the back of the sole, which may have a depth of about 0.05 to 0.5 inch from a regular sole surface. In another embodiment, the golf club head includes a weight system to adjust the center of gravity. In one embodiment, the weight system is a tube having a weight at one end that may be inserted into the golf club head to move the center of gravity at least forward and backward within 6 mm and up and down within 6 mm. Preferably, the tube is angled downward toward the face by at least 3 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2010Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Michael Scott Burnett, Daniel S. Callinan, Christopher D. Harvell, Jeffrey W. Meyer, Stephen S. Murphy
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Patent number: 7980963Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having a location of longest characteristic time shifted away from the geometric center of the hitting face. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. In another embodiment, the hitting face as a central zone that is thicker than the surrounding material. In another embodiment, a dense insert is attached directly or indirectly to a plate-like face insert at or near the geometric center of the insert. In another embodiment, the central zone of the hitting face is reinforced with ribs. In another embodiment, the central zone is elliptical with varying thickness. In this embodiment, the central zone minor axis is thinner than the major axis. The central zone is positioned within the hitting face such that the minor axis is oriented from the low heel region to the high toe region.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Scott A. Rice, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 7980960Abstract: An iron-type golf club includes a conventional-weight section, a lightweight section and a heavyweight section. The conventional-weight section includes the hitting face and at least a portion of the hosel. The heavyweight section, made of a denser material than the conventional-weight section, includes the sole and an optional back flange. The lightweight section, made of a material less dense than either of the other sections, includes a core to which the other two sections are secured, such as by co-molding the core to the other two sections. The heavyweight section includes anchoring structures to which the lightweight section can securely attach. This arrangement maintains the overall weight of the club head compared to a similarly proportioned conventional club head while shifting the center of gravity low and aft. As such, the club head provides benefits such as forgiveness for thin shots, heel/toe shots, and provides longer drives with less roll.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2006Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Peter J. Gilbert, David A. Shear
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Patent number: 7955187Abstract: An improved golf club shaft and corresponding golf club is disclosed. More specifically, a golf club shaft that is capable of minimizing or eliminating swingweight variations within a golf club despite being cut down to various different lengths to accommodate the length and heads of a set of irons is disclosed. The shaft may have an internal wall profile of variable thickness to adjust for various weight and center of gravity variations of a golf club shaft as it is being cut down in length.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Donald S. Bone, Dustin A. Barksdale
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Patent number: 7935001Abstract: A metal wood golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, comprising of a body portion and a crown portion, each portion constructed of a different density material. Combining a high-density material in the body portion, with a low-density material in the crown portion, creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. The material for the crown portion is preferably a composite. A vibration dampening gasket is disposed between the ledge and lip sections of the body and crown respectively.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2009Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jeffrey W. Meyer, Scott A. Rice, Raymond L. Poynor
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Patent number: 7931546Abstract: A more efficient triangular shape for metal wood clubs or driver clubs is disclosed. This triangular shape allows the clubs to have higher rotational moments of inertia in both the vertical and horizontal directions, and a lower center of gravity.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Charles E. Golden, Christopher D. Harvell, Stephen S. Murphy, Daniel Stone
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Patent number: 7892109Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having improved flexural stiffness properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. The main portion of the hitting face is a plate-like face made from a first material having a first density. A dense insert made from a second material having a second density that is greater than the first density is attached directly or indirectly to the plate-like face at or near the geometric center thereof. The dense insert increases the flexural stiffness of in a central zone of the hitting face so that a golf club head that has a larger zone of substantially uniform high initial ball speed. In another embodiment, the hitting face includes an insert that includes main plate and at least one wing extending therefrom. The insert is welded to the golf club head so that the main plate does not deflect separately from the remainder of the hitting face. The geometry of the insert controls the stiffness in the axial directions.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2009Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Scott A. Rice, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 7878921Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf club including a shaft, a club head and several devices for releasably connecting the shaft to the club head.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2007Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Michael Scott Burnett, Noah De La Cruz, Charles E. Golden, Christopher D. Harvell, Scott A. Knutson, Stephen S. Murphy, Kenneth C. Scott, Daniel S. Callinan
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Patent number: 7871336Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable panel secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable panel may have a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the removable panel to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable panel. A removable panel of the present invention may generally comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density. Even further, the removable panel may generally be releasably attached via a quick disconnect mechanism that allows easy interchangeability.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 7850541Abstract: A metal wood golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, comprising of a body portion and a crown portion, each portion constructed of a different density material. Combining a high-density material in the body portion, with a low-density material in the crown portion, creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. The material for the crown portion is preferably a composite. A vibration dampening gasket is disposed between the ledge and lip sections of the body and crown respectively.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jeffrey W. Meyer, Scott A. Rice, Raymond L. Poynor
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Patent number: 7850543Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having improved flexural stiffness properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. The main portion of the hitting face is a plate-like face made from a first material having a first density. A dense insert made from a second material having a second density that is greater than the first density is attached directly or indirectly to the plate-like face at or near the geometric center thereof. The dense insert increases the flexural stiffness of in a central zone of the hitting face so that a golf club head that has a larger zone of substantially uniform high initial ball speed. In another embodiment, the hitting face includes an insert that includes main plate and at least one wing extending therefrom. The insert is welded to the golf club head so that the main plate does not deflect separately from the remainder of the hitting face. The geometry of the insert controls the stiffness in the axial directions.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Scott A. Rice, Nicholas M. Nardacci