Patents Assigned to Acushnet Company
  • Publication number: 20240138512
    Abstract: A golf shoe comprising an upper; a midsole; and an outsole, wherein the outsole comprises (i) a first set of traction elements arranged along a first curved pathway, (ii) a second set of traction elements arranged along a second curved pathway having a different curvature than the first curved pathway, and (iii) a third set of traction elements, wherein both the first and second sets of traction elements comprise a plurality of non-contiguous triangular-shaped traction elements positioned in a forefoot and/or midfoot region of the outsole, wherein the first and second sets of traction elements are oriented in different circumferential directions around a common center point, wherein the third set of traction elements has a different shape, profile, or spatial configuration than the first or second sets of traction elements, and wherein the third set of traction elements is positioned in the midfoot and/or rearfoot region(s) of the outsole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Bidal, John F. Swigart
  • Patent number: 11969630
    Abstract: A golf club head with improved striking face is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head comprising multiple materials, wherein a gasket is placed in between a body portion of the golf club head and a face insert of the golf club head. The gasket being made of a different material than the body portion or the face insert. The construction providing reduced stress in the face insert, manipulation of performance characteristics, and improved sound and feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Kyle A. Carr
  • Patent number: 11969925
    Abstract: Improved injection molding methods and molds, for forming TPU layers, especially thin TPU covers, into golf ball constructions, and having improved number, shape and placement of both the injection gates and the cold slugs within the mold in order to minimize/eliminate damage to dimples strategically positioned close to the parting line of a mold in order to maximize aerodynamic properties of the resulting golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Ajay Vora, John M. Thornton
  • Publication number: 20240130466
    Abstract: A golf shoe with an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly may include a midsole and an outsole. In some cases, a custom insert may be integrated with or embedded in the sole assembly. In some cases, the custom insert may include an elastic member configured as a spring element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Keith M. Duffy, Robert S. Bento, Jean-Marie Bidal
  • Publication number: 20240131406
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to golf bags having a lightweight and durable top frame assembly. The lightweight top frame assembly can have handle and leg sub-assemblies. Three-dimensional printing methods can be used to form the top frame assembly or any portion thereof. The golf bags may include a cord assembly extending across the top frame to form one or more club dividers for organizing golf clubs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Ian Burgess, Stephanie L. Howard, Duane Marshall, Brian R. Poirier, Benjamin J. Beck, Ryan Donovan, Jonathan Mark Liston, Michael T. McDuffee
  • Publication number: 20240130462
    Abstract: A golf shoe with an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly includes a midsole and an outsole. At least one of the midsole or outsole comprises (i) a foamed material and (ii) a structure integrated with or embedded in the foamed material. The structure comprises a different material than the foamed material. The structure comprises a spineless structure with one or more members extending between a medial side and a lateral side of the midsole or the outsole to enhance a lateral support and a torsional strength or stiffness of the midsole or outsole. The structure has a shape or profile that is different than a shape or profile of a bottom of a subject's foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Bidal, Robert S. Bento
  • Patent number: 11963582
    Abstract: Golf shoes having improved constructions are provided. The golf shoes include upper, midsole, and outsole sections. The upper may be made of a soft, breathable leather material. The midsole includes an upper region formed from a first material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); and a lower region formed from a second material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), wherein the materials have different hardness levels. A fiber-reinforced composite plate such as, for example, a carbon fiber plate is disposed in the midsole. The composite plate has a molded three-dimensional shape to provide additional stiffness to the golf shoe, particularly in the rear foot region of the shoe. The outsole contains different traction members arranged in a precise geometric structure that helps provide improved stability and traction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Keith M. Duffy, Jean-Marie Bidal, John F. Swigart
  • Publication number: 20240123469
    Abstract: A golf ball sorting system has a ball feeder configured to transport a plurality of golf balls. At least some of the golf balls have a conductive marking pattern that is not visible to an observer because the marking pattern is covered by at least one other layer of the golf ball. A detection system receives the golf balls, inspects the golf balls, and outputs a detection result. A sorting system receives the detection result and sorts the plurality of golf balls based on the detection result to separate the plurality of golf balls into at least three groups, including a first category of golf balls that do not have the marking pattern, a second category of golf balls that have a first type of the marking pattern, and a third category of golf balls that have a second type of the marking pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Matthew F. Hogge, Martin Gray, Nicholas M. Nardacci, Vincent J. Simonds
  • Patent number: 11957204
    Abstract: Golf shoes having improved outsole constructions are provided. The golf shoes include upper, midsole, and outsole sections. The outsole includes a first set of arc pathways extending along the outsole in one direction. A second set of arc pathways extend along the outsole in a second direction. When the first and second arc pathways are superposed over each other, four-sided tile pieces are formed, and these tiles contain protruding traction members. In one embodiment, the tiles comprise a first protruding traction member, an opposing second protruding traction member, and a non-protruding segment disposed between the first and second traction members. Different traction zones containing different traction members are provided on the outsole. These zones provide improved multi-surface traction. In one embodiment of the outsole, there is no channeling and no trenching of the golf course turf. There is less damage to the golf course for a given amount of traction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Bidal, John F. Swigart, Robert S. Bento
  • Publication number: 20240115912
    Abstract: A golf club head having a face portion and aft body is shown. The aft body is made of a composite material having fibers with a particular orientation to prevent expansion of the aft body when striking a golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Ryuichi Sugimae
  • Publication number: 20240115905
    Abstract: A golf ball dimple pattern based on a square dipyramid is disclosed. In one specific aspect, the present disclosure provides for a square dipyramid dimple configuration including dimples having a catenary cross-sectional profile, and a combination of dimples having a circular plan shape and dimples having an elliptical plan shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson
  • Publication number: 20240115909
    Abstract: A golf club head having a laser-generated features to create contrast on the club face of the golf club head. The club face includes a central region, a toe region, and a heel region. The central region includes a first plurality of laser-generated features that provide a height-intersection coverage of the central region, a width-intersection coverage of the central region, and a surface-area coverage of the central region. The laser-generated features increase the surface roughness value of the external surface of the club face by imparting micro-grooves that have an average groove depths of between about 45 ?m and about 60 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Uday V. Deshmukh, Charles E. Golden, Alan Hocknell, Taylor F. Linkenhelt, Stephanie Luttrell
  • Publication number: 20240115910
    Abstract: An aft body of a golf club head and method of manufacturing the aft body is shown. The aft body may have a composite crown and sole and separately formed skirt between the crown and sole. The method of manufacturing the aft body includes thermoforming the crown and sole and subsequently injection molding the skirt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter Larsen, Changting Lo, Richard L. Cleghorn, Ryuichi Sugimae, Hiroshi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 11944875
    Abstract: Golf balls having cores with increased hardness gradients are provided. The cores have an increased “positive” hardness gradient (or a “hard-to-soft” hardness) where the outer surface of the core is harder than the center. The increased positive hardness gradient can be achieved by introducing a water-releasing agent into the core rubber formulation during the curing process. The resulting golf balls have reduced spin and sufficient impact durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Erin McDermott, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Dennis Britton
  • Patent number: 11944874
    Abstract: Golf balls having cores with increased hardness gradients are provided. The cores have an increased “positive” hardness gradient (or a “hard-to-soft” hardness) where the outer surface of the core is harder than the center. The increased positive hardness gradient can be achieved by introducing a water-releasing agent into the core rubber formulation during the curing process. The resulting golf balls have reduced spin and sufficient impact durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Erin McDermott, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Dennis Britton
  • Publication number: 20240100399
    Abstract: Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. Polyurethane primer coatings and polyurethane top-coatings are applied to the thermoplastic polyurethane cover. Different coating methods can be used. Isocyanate-rich and polyol-rich polyurethane coatings can be applied. In one embodiment, the golf ball can be treated with a multi-functional isocyanate prior to applying the coatings. The polyurethane cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)—light stabilizers, and other additives. Heat is used to cure the coatings. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls have good physical properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette
  • Publication number: 20240099420
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides various examples of golf shoes comprising an upper, a sole assembly connected to the upper, one or more straps extending across the upper, an internal support positioned under an outermost surface of the upper, and a lace assembly extending between the medial side and the lateral side of the upper. The lace assembly may be configured to simultaneously (i) draw the medial and lateral sides of the upper towards a top center region of the golf shoe and (ii) secure the internal support along or around a foot of a subject wearing the golf shoe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Bidal, Cody Z. Caldon
  • Patent number: 11938380
    Abstract: Golf balls having cores with increased hardness gradients are provided. The cores have an increased “positive” hardness gradient (or a “hard-to-soft” hardness) where the outer surface of the core is harder than the center. The increased positive hardness gradient can be achieved by introducing a water-releasing agent into the core rubber formulation during the curing process. The resulting golf balls have reduced spin and sufficient impact durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Erin McDermott, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Dennis Britton
  • Patent number: D1020244
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Brian R. Poirier
  • Patent number: D1021403
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Duane Marshall