Patents Examined by Alvin A. Hunter
  • Patent number: 11608846
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp
    Inventors: Grace Hohn, Norm Smith, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 11607591
    Abstract: Some disclosed golf club heads include body having at least one raised sole portion and a cantilevered ledge extending down around a perimeter of the club head below the level of the raised sole portion. Some disclosed golf club heads include one or more sole openings in the body and a sole insert that is mounted inside the body over the sole openings. The sole can include weight tracks as well, and a rear weight track can extend between a toe side sole opening and a heel side sole opening. A crown insert can also be included that is mounted over an upper opening in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew David Johnson, David Bennett, Nathan T. Sargent, Christopher John Harbert, Todd P. Beach
  • Patent number: 11602679
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a striking face having a face center and a virtual striking face plane generally parallel to the striking face. The golf club head further includes a sole portion, a top portion, a rear portion, and a loft L no less than 40°. A virtual vertical plane perpendicular to the striking face plane passes through the face center. A club head center of gravity is spaced from the virtual vertical plane in the heel-to-toe direction by a distance D1 that is no greater than 6.0 mm. The golf club head further includes a hosel including an internal bore configured to receive a golf shaft. The internal bore includes a peripheral side wall and a shaft abutment surface configured to abut a tip end of the golf club shaft. The hosel further comprises an auxiliary recess extending sole-ward from the abutment surface of the internal bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Patrick Ripp, Brian Herr, Mika Becktor, Keith Dolezel
  • Patent number: 11597172
    Abstract: Wood-type golf clubs and/or golf club heads include: (a) a golf club head base member including a face member having a ball striking face; and (b) a polymeric body member engaged with the golf club head base member, wherein the polymeric body member is formed via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process) and/or engaged with the golf club head base member via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process). The polymeric body member forms at least a portion of a crown member of the club head in some structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Todd A. Waatti
  • Patent number: 11596834
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to monitor athletic performance. In some embodiments, one or more control circuits and sensors are used to analyze performance as it compares to music tempo that is played during an exercise session or class, which may be done both directly and/or indirectly. In one embodiment, athletic performance during an exercise period is monitored and compared to the tempos of music played, where the music tempo is identified by one of measuring the actual tempo of the music played and/or obtaining the tempo from a database or otherwise associating the selection(s) played with an identified tempo of the music itself. In another embodiment, the music tempo is indirectly identified or analyzed, such as by analyzing the performance or cadence of a group of exercisers and comparing the performance parameters sensed to obtain a benchmark tempo from which to compare individual users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SoulCycle Inc.
    Inventors: Derek McWilliams, Jeremy Landis, Bren Cavallo, Dallas Simpson, Christopher Blaich
  • Patent number: 11596851
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a training area in the form of an enclosed space in which light levels can be controlled, at least one physical element related to a task for which an individual is to be trained, and a lighting arrangement. The lighting arrangement generates a background luminance level in the training area sufficient to cause the vision system of the individual to function in the mesopic or low photopic range of vision, and the physical elements are themselves illuminated by an illumination means. The luminance level of the physical elements is greater than the background luminance level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Okkulo Limited
    Inventor: Mel David O'Connor
  • Patent number: 11583738
    Abstract: Examples of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a body portion of a golf club head may include a front portion. A face portion may be coupled to the front portion. The face portion may include a central strike portion and a perimeter. A plurality of projections may extend from the face portion to provide a ball striking surface for impacting a golf ball. The plurality of projections may be aligned in one or more directions across the face portion and may increase in size in one or more directions from the central strike portion to the perimeter of the face portion. Other examples and examples may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 11577133
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body having a ball striking face, a rear opposite the ball striking face, a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe, the body having a void defined by a peripheral edge on the sole. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void and forms at least a portion of the crown. At least a portion of the peripheral edge of the void includes a lip extending from the peripheral edge inwardly into the void. The golf club head may additionally or alternately include one or more weight receptacles connected to the sole and having an opening in the sole, such that each weight receptacle is configured to receive insertion of a weight through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. Taylor, Michael Wallans, John T. Stites, Sherry L. Jones
  • Patent number: 11577128
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core composed of one or more layer, the outermost layer of the core is formed of a rubber composition containing an ?,?-unsaturated metal carboxylate, and an envelope layer directly encasing the core is formed of a resin composition containing a thermoplastic resin having a structure that includes ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymerization units. The infrared absorption spectra at surface sites on the outermost layer of the core, as measured by ATR FT-IR spectroscopy, satisfy a specific condition. The ball has an enhanced adhesion between the rubber-based core and the adjacent cover layer that is formed of an ionomer resin or other ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer-containing resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Shindo
  • Patent number: 11577151
    Abstract: Card handling devices may include one or more features for detecting a deficiency relating to at least one card. Methods of operating a card handling device may include detecting a deficiency relating to at least one card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Colin A. Helsen, Peter Krenn
  • Patent number: 11571611
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a club body and a resting face angle adjuster. The club body includes a crown opposite a sole, a toe end opposite a heel end, a back end opposite a face, and a hosel. The sole includes a sole surface. The resting face angle adjuster includes an adjustment member having a keel surface, and a recess formed in the sole such that a portion of the sole surface at least partially bounds the recess. The adjustment member is disposed in the recess and positionable between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position. In the first adjustment position, the keel surface is at a first distance relative to the portion of the sole surface. In the second adjustment position, the keel surface is at a second distance relative to the portion of the sole surface not equal to the first distance in the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Daniel K. Lee, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman
  • Patent number: 11559729
    Abstract: Embodiments of a golf club head comprising a club head body and a sole mass element are described herein. The club head comprises a center of gravity height measured between a club head center of gravity and at least one keel point. The club head comprises a face surface, wherein the face surface defines a face height. The club head defines a ratio of club head center of gravity height to face height, wherein the ratio is less than or equal to approximately 0.36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Ryan M. Stokke
  • Patent number: 11559726
    Abstract: A golf club head including a club face defined by a toe end, a heel end, a top rail and a sole. The golf club head including a plurality of grooves disposed on the club face between the top rail and the sole. Each groove extends between the toe end and the heel end. Depths of the grooves vary in a direction extending between the top rail and the sole and in a direction extending between the heel end and the toe end. Widths of each of the plurality of grooves vary in a direction extending between the heel end and the toe end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Anthony D. Serrano, Paul D. Wood, Bradley D. Schweigert, Calvin S. Wang, John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: 11554297
    Abstract: An adjustable interchangeable golf club with a faceplate-based platform to receive components for enhancing and controlling various aspects that control the golf ball flight and spin characteristics. Disclosed are components for adjusting loft and bounce angle, and interchangeable faceplate and rear flange styles. Novel milled surface roughness for enhanced spin control is disclosed along with new milling methods for achieving optimal surface roughness. Lightweight hosel and consequent redistribution of mass in club head greatly increases the inertia of the golf club. Centrally located hosel position aids in club head stability on off-center hits. This results in a golf club that hits the ball higher, straighter, longer, and with increased ball spin characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Mod Golf Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce E. Sizemore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11554308
    Abstract: A system for and method of scoring a game of golf is provided. A stroke baseline, a points baseline, and a stroke count are utilized to calculate a hole score for each hole. The stroke baseline is typically derived from the par value for a hole, while the stroke count is typically the total strokes required to complete the hole, including any penalty strokes. Typically, the points baseline for each hole is equal to the distance, in yards, between the player's tee-up location and a target location of the hole, the target location being a location on the putting green. Each player selects a tee-up location for each hole, thereby allowing each player to influence the baseline score for each hole. A performance factor is determined for each hole based on the player's performance on that hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: PAR POINTS GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Ebert, Kevin Quinley, Ryan Hannebaum
  • Patent number: 11554327
    Abstract: A toy finger board kit includes a board and at least one shoe. Each shoe includes a finger hole in an upper of the shoe and at least one bracket on a sole of shoe. The at least one bracket is configured to removably attach the at least one shoe to the board. In some instances, the board is formed by inserting a flange portion of a toy finger skateboard truck into a flange receiver of a toy finger skateboard deck. Then, the toy finger skateboard truck is moved such that a column portion of the toy finger skateboard truck is received by a through hole of the toy finger skateboard deck. Finally, a top end of the column portion of the toy finger skateboard truck is affixed to the toy finger skateboard truck to the toy finger skateboard deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Kenney, Timothy Rettberg, Neal Thomas Smith
  • Patent number: 11554301
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a head main body, and a toe-side component. The head main body includes a striking face, a hosel portion defining a shaft center line, and a mounting portion for mounting the toe-side component on a toe side with respect to the shaft center line. The toe-side component is fixed to the mounting portion removably. When the toe-side component is removed from the mounting portion of the head main body, a head projected area in a front view of the golf club head becomes smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Akio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11547920
    Abstract: A training device can easily be affixed or mounted to the hitting face of a golf club. The training device may provide auditory, tactile, and directional feedback for the user during practice so that he/she may learn how to strike the ball consistently on the sweet spot. A training device may include several raised surfaces of varying shapes rising from the base surrounding an aperture centered over the sweet spot of the golf club and larger than the surface area contacted by the ball. Use of the training device may reduce the user's variance from the “sweet spot” due to a strike not only along the longitudinal axis but also along the vertical axis. The user avoids impingement with the raised surfaces of the training device by striking the ball within a pre-set tolerance as well as within the boundaries of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventors: Ryan Chin, Kerry Chin, Devin Huang
  • Patent number: 11541286
    Abstract: Described are embodiments of golf club heads having an internal cavity and features that cause the golf club head to have an improved acoustic performance when striking a golf ball. Some embodiments include one or more weight tracks and/or weight ports formed in the sole for receiving adjustable weights. The golf club heads can include one or more internal ribs, thickened wall regions, and/or posts positioned within the cavity that increase the rigidity of the club head and improve the acoustic performance of the club head when striking a ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Andrew Mata, Joe Hoffman, Brad Poston, Matthew David Johnson, Mark Vincent Greaney, Justin David Kleinert, Joseph Reeve Nielson, Christopher John Harbert, Nathan T. Sargent, Rachel Elizabeth Mullen, Christian Reber Wester
  • Patent number: 11541287
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of golf club heads having a balance of the following parameters: a low and back club head center of gravity position, a high moment of inertia, a large Ixy product of inertia, and low aerodynamic drag. Methods of manufacturing the embodiments of golf club heads having a balance of club head center of gravity position, moment of inertia, product of inertia, and aerodynamic drag are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Alex G. Woodward, Christopher M. Broadie, Erik M. Henrikson, Paul D. Wood