Patents Examined by Alvin A. Hunter
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Patent number: 11878220Abstract: A process for manufacturing a putter with a bi-material shaft is disclosed herein. The putter comprises a putter head, the bi-material shaft, a mass member and a grip. The bi-material shaft comprises a body with a tip end and a butt end. The body comprises a metal section extending from the tip end to a connection point, and a composite section extending from the butt end to the connection point. The mass member is positioned within an opening at the butt end of the shaft. Mass from the shaft is transferred to the club head and the mass member in the butt end of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.Inventor: Augustin W. Rollinson
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Patent number: 11872461Abstract: A golf ball comprising an integrated circuit is disclosed herein. The integrated circuit comprises a gyroscope, a magnetometer, and a BLUETOOH low energy (BTLE) radio, and at least one battery. A body is composed of an epoxy material, and the body encompasses the integrated circuit. A wound core layer is disposed over the body.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.Inventors: Andrew Dykhuis, Mario Raposo
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Patent number: 11865413Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a golf club head, the golf club head comprising a body and a strike face. The body comprises a first material having a first specific gravity and the strike face comprises a second material having a second specific gravity. A ratio of the first specific gravity to the second specific gravity is greater than or equal to 1.7. The body and the strike face are coupled together by welding. The body further defines a cavity.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Cory Bacon, Martin Jertson
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Patent number: 11865414Abstract: Golf clubs and/or golf club heads include a club head body defining an interior chamber, structure for engaging a shaft with the body, and/or a shaft engaged with the body. The club head body may have an overall length of at least 4.6 inches, an overall breadth of at least 4.45 inches. In other examples, the club head body may have an overall length of at least 4.6 inches and a ratio of the overall breadth dimension to the overall length dimension of 1 or less. If desired, the ratio of the head breadth to head length dimensions may be in a range from at least 0.94 to 1 or less.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
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Patent number: 11865426Abstract: A golf ball comprising an electrical component is disclosed herein. The electrical component comprises an integrated circuit having a gyroscope, a magnetometer, and a BLUETOOTH low energy (BTLE) radio, and at least one battery. A body is composed of an epoxy material, and the body encompasses the electrical component.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.Inventors: Mario Raposo, David Bartels, Petra Petrich, Grady Crahan, Nick Lannes
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Patent number: 11865415Abstract: Golf club heads (e.g. drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) according to at least some example aspects of this invention include a striking face and a rear portion opposite the striking face, the rear portion defining an opening to an interior cavity. A rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening is engaged with the rear portion of the club head. The rear body member may include multiple rear body parts that may be removable and/or interchangeable to permit flexibility in controlling the weight distribution of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Andrew G. v. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
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Patent number: 11857852Abstract: Golf club heads include at least one weight port situated to retain weights and positioned above an approximate club face geometric center with the club in a standard address position. One, two, or more weight ports can be located above the club face center in a club crown or other portion of a club body. Club head vertical center of gravity can be selected to compensate dynamic loft associated with locating the club head center of gravity well behind the club face. Three-dimensional adjustment of club head center of gravity is possible.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig Alan Willett, Todd P. Beach, Christopher John Harbert, Gery Mel Zimmerman
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Patent number: 11857861Abstract: A method for cognitive brain training, psychological motivation, and recovery to be used in conjunction with physical exercise in order to reduce the effects of mental and physical fatigue and improve athletic performance. A plurality of input devices integrate ergonomically with different sports so as not to limit movement, eye-hand coordination or negatively impact physical training. Software, executable on a portable computing device is configured for a sport, enabling an athlete to perform physical and cognitive tasks at the same time. Metrics, formulas and algorithms combine the athlete's self-rated performance with real-time cognitive and physiological output metrics to provide reports of the athlete's performance for each workout and for all workouts overtime. Mental recovery and motivation protocols used to help athletes stay on task and recover from the physical training.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Rewire Fitness, Inc.Inventors: Sun Sachs, Cody Frances Rotwein, Edward James Gibbins
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Patent number: 11850490Abstract: An artificial intelligence (A.I.) club fitting tool is disclosed herein. The AI engine includes mass properties and launch conditions in models. New product recommendations are immediately available to fitted golfers.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.Inventor: Charlie DeStefano
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Patent number: 11850483Abstract: A method of joining dissimilar metal, golf club components, and particularly golf club bodies, hosels, and faces, using a projection resistance welding process is disclosed herein. The method may include the step of applying an interlayer material before the projection resistance weld process occurs.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.Inventors: Alex Power, Joshua D. Westrum
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Patent number: 11850480Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads comprising a face with a variable thickness to improve the durability in the club head, increase ball speed, and increase characteristic time (CT) are described herein. The face comprises thickened and thinned regions. The face includes a perimeter thickened region positioned near a perimeter of the face, a thinned region positioned inward of the perimeter thickened region toward a center of the face, and a central thickened region positioned over the center of the face. The combination of the thickened and thinned regions of the face increase ball speed and further increase or maximize CT without sacrificing durability.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONInventors: Cory S. Bacon, Eric J. Morales, Ryan M. Stokke
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Patent number: 11850482Abstract: A putter-type golf club head that, when oriented in a reference position, includes a striking wall extending in the heel to toe direction and defines a substantially planar striking face for hitting a golf ball. A central elongate member is in communication with, and extends rearward from, the striking wall. An upper surface of the central elongate member includes a plurality of separate alignment elements. At least one of the plurality of alignment elements has an edge that extends substantially parallel to the striking face. The length of the parallel edge is substantially equivalent to the diameter of a golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2019Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Nick Trahan, Thomas Carlson, Christopher R. Cooper, Adam Sheldon
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Patent number: 11850477Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body including a top and a bottom and a hosel connected to the body. The body comprises a forward face defining a leading edge and an opposing rearward facing surface defining a trailing edge. At least one weight shifting element is positioned on the rearward facing surface. A sole extends between the leading edge and the trailing edge and defines a center portion, a first end surface and a second end surface. A static bounce angle is equal to an effective bounce angle when the center portion is square with the ground, and the effective bounce angle is greater than the static bounce angle when the center portion is not square with the ground and the second end surface is positioned away from the ground.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Inventor: Grant William Gulick
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Patent number: 11850478Abstract: A crownplate for a golf club head comprises a shell formed from a first plurality of pre-preg plies and a second plurality of pre-preg plies and defines a first thickness area and a second thickness area. The first plurality of pre-preg plies comprise a resin material and a first plurality of fibers and the second plurality of pre-preg plies comprise a resin material and a second plurality of fibers. The second thickness area is thicker than the first thickness area. The first plurality of pre-preg plies comprise a first tensile strength, the second plurality of pre-preg plies comprise a second tensile strength, and the first tensile strength is higher than the second tensile strength. The second plurality of pre-preg plies define an outer periphery of the crownplate and the first plurality of pre-preg plies form a boundary that is disposed entirely within the outer periphery.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Ryan L Roach, D. Clayton Evans
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Patent number: 11839797Abstract: A small-format metal wood golf club head may include a first portion including at least a striking face formed of an alloy of titanium and a second portion including at least a portion of a sole formed of an alloy of steel. The golf club head exhibits beneficial characteristics of both titanium and steel in that the titanium striking face is lighter than a steel striking face having the same coefficient of restitution (COR) and the steel sole allows for concentration of mass in a beneficial location within the golf club head, while overcoming traditional difficulties in bonding titanium and steel.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Grant M. Martens, Uday V. Deshmukh, Scott A. Knutson, Charles E. Golden
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Patent number: 11826621Abstract: A putter with a putter head that has a rear hollow cavity enclosed within the putter head body to help move the center of gravity forward and a shaft axis that intersects the center of gravity of the putter head within a predetermined range is disclosed. The putter head may have a heel counterweight to move the center of the gravity of the putter head to the desired direction. The hollow cavity in the putter head may extend from a heel region to the toe region of the putter head. In some examples, the hollow cavity may comprise a plurality of hollow cavities or may be a single cavity located in the heel region or the toe region.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Axis1, LLCInventor: Luis Pedraza
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Patent number: 11819744Abstract: A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a rear portion comprising a plurality of side walls and a planar lower portion. The plurality of side walls extend downward from a top of the golf club head towards the planar lower portion. The body further comprises a cover extending over the rear. The body further defines a gap between the cover and the planar portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: John T. Stites, Yoshimasa Fujita
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Patent number: 11813504Abstract: A golf club head with a sole having a low stiffness compliance zone, which allows the face to deflect downward upon impact with a golf ball, is disclosed herein. The compliance zone comprises a plurality of through openings that are filled with one or more filler pieces comprising a low modulus material, all of which are located within three inches of a face section measured along a front-to-back axis of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Brandon D. DeMille, Irina Ivanova, William C. Watson, Timothy G. Scott, Romulus M. Tomimbang, Justin Del Rosario
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Patent number: 11806586Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body having a crown, sole and skirt therebetween, the head body defining an opening in a front portion and having a frame support around the periphery of the opening. A face plate is mounted within the opening and has a transition radius along one or more edges to at least partially wrap around one or more of the crown, sole and skirt. The head includes thin wall zones in the crown and skirt, a hosel flush with the crown and a weight mounted in the sole proximate to the face plate, such that the golf club head has a center of gravity located relatively low and forward in proximity to the face plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, Todd P. Beach, John Francis Lorentzen
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Patent number: 11806591Abstract: A golf club head, preferably a putter head, comprising at least one structural support member is disclosed herein. The structural support member has a smooth, organic-looking aesthetic, with a continuously changing curvature along its spline and at least one surface, and preferably connects one portion of the golf club head to another portion. Where the support member connects to other portions of the golf club head, the surfaces of the member have a curvature that changes smoothly and continuously, lacking any sharp corners. The support member may be part of a lattice structure formed via binder jetting.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.Inventors: Brandon D. DeMille, William C. Watson, Eric Stubben, David R. Handy, Irina Ivanova, Patrick Dawson