Patents Examined by Alvin A. Hunter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7147578
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a dual core component. The dual core comprises an interior center component formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof. The dual core also comprises a core layer disposed about the center component, formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof. The present invention golf ball may further comprise an outer core layer that surrounds the dual core. The resulting multi-layered golf ball of the present invention provides for enhanced distance without sacrificing playability or durability when compared to known golf balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: R. Dennis Nesbitt, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7144337
    Abstract: An iron type golf club head is provided with an annular trench including: an upper side trench portion that is positioned above the horizontal border line on the face surface through the sweet spot; and a lower side trench portion that is positioned beneath the above described border plane, and a ratio (Wu/Wd) of the average trench width Wu of the upper side trench portion to the average trench width Wd of the lower side trench portion is in the range of 2.5 to 5.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Tomoya Hirano
  • Patent number: 7140976
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a golf club head body and a weight member mounted in a recession of the golf club head body. The weight member includes at least one solder channel for receiving solderable filler. The weight member is mounted in the recession of the golf club head body before a brazing process for bonding the weight member with the golf club head body. During the brazing process, the solderable filler is melted and fills a gap between the weight member and walls delimiting the recession of the golf club head body to thereby increasing bonding strength between the weight member and the walls delimiting the recession of the golf club head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Fu Sheng Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chan-Tung Chen, Wen-Hung Tseng
  • Patent number: 7140977
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a front striking plate that in turn comprises a front striking surface, a rear surface, and a first boss generally centrally located on and attached to the rear surface. A rear body section is fixedly coupled to the front striking plate. A longitudinal member is adjustably coupled to the rear body section and has a first end configured for pivotal movement in engagement with the first boss. The longitudinal member applies a force of compression onto the rear surface of the striking plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Atkins Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Clyde D. Atkins, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7140972
    Abstract: An illuminated golf ball comprised of an outer translucent layer and cover, and a spherical inner core of translucent plastic, filled with chemiluminescent liquid, such as Cyalume.TM. The two components of the chemiluminescent liquid are held separate by a membrane or partition within the inner core. The chemiluminescent liquids are activated by being mixed with each other by the pulling of a cord, or the pulling or pushing of metal pin, or by impact from a golf club, which breaks or tears the membrane or partition. In a preferred form the golf ball will be made to comply with USGA guidelines. Thus, the golf ball will provide improved visibility in low light conditions and be of near equal weight distribution to provide performance and flight characteristics similar to standard, non-luminescent, golf balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Twilight Golf Balls, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Redwine, Matthew Schoenfeld
  • Patent number: 7137908
    Abstract: A golf ball excellent in wear resistance and abrasion resistance is provided without sacrificing various characteristics such as rebound performance, spin performance, cut resistance and feeling at the time of hitting. The golf ball is formed of a core and a cover covering the core. The cover is formed by mixing 1–50 parts by mass of a ternary composite made of a rubber component, a polyolefin component and a nylon component in 100 parts by mass of at least one resin component selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane resin, a polyester resin, a polyamide resin and an olefin resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Satoshi Iwami
  • Patent number: 7134975
    Abstract: Apparatus for practicing the techinque of lofting a ball, the apparatus having a support frame containing two upright supports linked by a horizontal cross-bar. Two inclined guideways extend between ground anchors and the supports. A substantially inelastic reciprocating device is connected to and freely movable along the guideways and a ball connected to the reciprocating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventor: Jan Abraham Van Asselt
  • Patent number: 7134971
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed that includes a primary element and an insert element formed of different materials. The insert element is located within a cavity formed by the primary element. The cavity is defined by a portion of the primary element that is of unitary construction, and the cavity is positioned between a face and a rear surface of the head. At least a portion of the cavity extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first surface. Another aspect of the invention involves a method of manufacturing the golf club head that includes forming the primary element. The cavity is then defined within a portion of the primary element that is of unitary construction, and the insert element is positioned within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Carl L. Madore
  • Patent number: 7134972
    Abstract: A golf head includes a hollow head body defining a front opening and having a reinforcing portion that is made from a non-metal material, a striking plate received in the front opening and secured to the head body, and a plurality of first reinforcing metal ribs embedded securely in the reinforcing portion of the head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: O-Ta Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Chi Hsu, Chon-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 7131915
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core; and a cover comprising an inner cover layer; an outer cover layer having a material hardness of 60 Shore D or less; and an intermediate cover layer disposed between the inner and outer cover layers; wherein at least two of the inner, intermediate, and outer cover layers comprise a non-ionomeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Antonio U. DeSimas
  • Patent number: 7131914
    Abstract: A multilayer golf ball including a solid center having a center hardness, a plurality of laminates cut into a plurality of shapes formed around the center to create an inner ball, and a cover formed around the inner ball, wherein the plurality of layers can include at least a first layer having a hardness greater than the center hardness and a second layer having a hardness greater than the first layer hardness, and optionally a third layer disposed between the first and the second layers having a hardness greater than the first layer hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Dalton, Herbert C. Boehm, Christopher Cavallaro
  • Patent number: 7128665
    Abstract: The present invention provides a yellow-colored golf ball which can be manufactured without polluting the production line with a yellow pigment, exhibits a glossy appearance, and has superior visibility in a cloudy weather, even in a rainy weather where the golf balls become less visible. The golf ball of the invention consists of a golf ball body containing a yellow pigment and a clear paint film which is coating the surface of the golf ball body, and has the color tone which satisfies the following relation ship: L?85.0 and 75?b<90 specified by Lab color specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Fushihara
  • Patent number: 7128664
    Abstract: The present invention intends to prevent deviation and gap from being generated in a joining section of a golf club in which a head main body 10A and a surface material 10B are integrated by joining together and provide a high quality golf club head having an improved durability and manufacturing method thereof. In the golf club head in which the head main body 10A and the surface material 10B are joined together such that they are integral, a groove 18 is provided in a joining section between the both members and joint material 19 composed of fiber reinforced resin material is embedded in that groove. Consequently, the joining strength is intensified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Onoda, Katsuyuki Aizawa, Hsiu Hao Chuang
  • Patent number: 7125344
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The face component (60) is composed of a metal material, and the aft-body (61) is composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of magnesium alloys, aluminum alloys, magnesium and aluminum. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has an aspect ratio less than 1.7. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has concentric regions of thickness with the thickness portion in the center (102). The club head (42) has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate portion (72) surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Richard C. Helmstetter, J. Andrew Galloway, D. Clayton Evans
  • Patent number: 7121955
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an interchangeable aft-body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61), which is attached to the return portion (74) of the face component (60), is selected from a plurality of aft-bodies, each having a different center of gravity location. Each of the aft-bodies (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64), and a plurality of weights (122) for adjusting location of the center of gravity. An aft-body (61) is selected from the plurality of aft-bodies (61) based on its center of gravity location, so as to provide the club head (40) with a center of gravity location suited to a particular golfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Daniel M. Stevens, Garth W. Smith, Richard C. Helmstetter, Matthew T. Cackett, Augustin W. Rollnson, J. Andrew Galloway, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 7121957
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72), a return portion (74), and a second layer (72b) attached to an interior surface of the striking plate portion (72). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The club head (42) has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate portion (72) surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches. The golf club head (42) has a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.81 under test conditions such as the USGA test conditions specified pursuant to Rule 4-1e, Appendix II, of the Rules of Golf for 1998–1999.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, J. Andrew Galloway
  • Patent number: 7121958
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body having a recessed area defined in a central area of the head body and abutting faces formed along a periphery defining the recessed area. A soldering seam is formed on an outer periphery defining the recessed area and at least one positioning block is formed on one of the abutting faces and has a bottom face flush with a top face of the recessed area. A striking face is abutted to the abutting faces and the bottom face of the positioning block to allow the soldering seam to securely combine the head body and the striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced International Multitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bernard Cheng, Anita Chen, Sasamoto Akinori, May Lin
  • Patent number: 7121956
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body including at least one compartment, at least one positioning member removably mounted in the at least one compartment, at least one weight member mounted in at least one the positioning member, and at least one retaining member for retaining the at least one weight member in the at least one positioning member. The weight member is concealed in the compartment of the body to provide a good appearance while simplifying polishing procedure and allowing easy replacement of the weight member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Fu Sheng Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lai-Fa Lo
  • Patent number: 7121959
    Abstract: The invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball having soft, good shot feel, excellent flight performance, high rebound characteristics and high launch angle, when hit by golfers who swing a golf club at high or low head speed using all golf clubs, namely, a driver to an iron club, a putter. The multi-piece solid golf ball has a core having an inner core and an outer core covering the inner core, and at least one layer covering the core; the inner core has a diameter of 30 to 40.4 mm and surface hardness of 60 to 85 JIS-C, and center JIS-C hardness of the inner core lower than the surface hardness by 5 to 30; the outer core has a thickness of 0.2 to 1.3 mm, and a surface JIS-C hardness of the outer core lower than the surface hardness of the inner core by 2 to 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Kazunari Yoshida, Keiji Moriyama, Satoshi Iwami, Keiji Ohama
  • Patent number: 7115048
    Abstract: An iron head for a golf club having a metallic head body provided with a hosel part and a plate-like face body welded to the head body and made of a metallic material different from the metal of the head body so as to define a cavity between the back portion of the head body and the rear face of the face body in a manner such that the cavity extends to a position remote from the periphery of the face body located on the side of the heel of the head body toward the heel, and that a receipt portion of the head body provided for receiving the rear face of the face body on the heel side has a length thereof extending along the periphery of the face body on the heel side and being equal to or less than one forth of the length of the periphery of the face body on the heel side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Daiwa Seiko, Inc.
    Inventors: Harunobu Kusumoto, Atsushi Iijima