Patents Examined by Alvin Hunter
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Patent number: 11097166Abstract: 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: August 26, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: Augustin W. Rollinson
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Patent number: 11097173Abstract: A basketball illumination system includes a light source mounted beneath a basketball rim to prevent glare and improve visibility of the rim in low lit conditions. Some embodiments include an L.E.D. strip arranged in a hoop directly below the rim. A bungee cord may couple the L.E.D. strip to the rim under tension to prevent the L.E.D. strip from straying into the path of balls travelling through the rim. Some embodiments include a rebound sensor and/or a shot senor. Each sensor may change the illumination of the L.E.D. strip in a different way upon detection.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Inventor: Louis Celenza, Jr.
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Patent number: 11090531Abstract: A golf club head having an adjustable hosel assembly and a plug assembly that can reversibly secure the hosel assembly in a chosen configuration within the club head is disclosed herein. In particular, the hosel assembly includes a shaft sleeve that is trapped within a hosel opening with a screw that extends through an interior flange. The plug assembly includes a wedge-shaped flange that is inserted into an opening in the body and fits between the interior flange and the head of the screw to temporarily immobilize the shaft sleeve. The plug assembly preferably completely fills the opening in the body so as to preserve a smooth outer mold line of the club head and allow graphics or decorations to extend across the exterior surface without disruption.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: Matthew Myers
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Patent number: 11090534Abstract: A golf club head with a face component having a variable thickness and a coating on a rear surface of the face component that provides a flat surface to which a medallion can be affixed, and methods of manufacturing such golf club heads, are disclosed herein. The coating is made from a fill material comprising a polymer and a plurality of microscopic bubbles, which preferably constitute 5-70% of the volume of the fill material. The polymer material preferably is a polyurethane having a Poisson's ratio of 0.40-0.50.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Joshua D. Westrum, Hong G. Jeon, Scott Manwaring, Kenneth E. Meacham, Brooks Roche
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Patent number: 11090536Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having a recessed channel formed in an outer surface. A weight assembly that includes a weight at least partially disposed within the recessed channel, a cover extending at least partially over the recessed channel, and a fastener coupling the cover to the body. The fastener is adapted to retain the weight in the recessed channel only indirectly by the cover. The weight is slidably engaged with the cover and the cover is positionable in at least an unlocked configuration whereby the cover is raised at least partially out of the recessed channel and the weight is selectively slidable within the recessed channel, and a locked configuration whereby the cover is at least partially disposed within the recessed channel and the weight is secured within the recessed channel. The weight moves with the cover between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Mitchell E. Bac, Tyrone Northcutt, Takeshi Casey Funaki
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Patent number: 11090530Abstract: A flexible putter shaft may be interchanged with a stiff putter shaft even though the two shafts have markedly different properties including different diameters, different degrees of elasticity, and so on. An external adapter for a flexible putter shaft and an internal adapter for a stiff shaft allow either one to be fastened through a customized hole on the hosel of a putter head using a locking fastener and tool.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Inventor: Anthony Aguilar
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Patent number: 11083938Abstract: Embodiments of grooves and face inserts of golf club heads and methods to manufacture grooves and face inserts of golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Calvin S. Wang, Xiaojian Chen, David A. Higdon, Les J. Bryant, Martin R. Jertson, Anthony D. Serrano, John A. Solheim
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Patent number: 11077340Abstract: A golf club head with a crown comprising an inner crown portion and an outer crown portion. The inner crown portion may be made of a low density or low elastic modulus material. The outer portion of the crown defines an opening to the cavity, a riser extending into the cavity, and a ledge extending from the edge of the riser. The ledge may define a first channel and a second channel that extend around the ledge. The first channel is filled with adhesive to secure the inner portion of the crown to the ledge. The inner portion of the crown is attached to the ledge such that the opening is covered by the inner portion of the crown. The golf club head may also have a sole comprising an inner sole portion and an outer sole portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Grant M. Martens, Uday V. Deshmukh, Nick Frame, Richard L. Cleghorn, Takeshi Casey Funaki, Doug M. Takehara
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Patent number: 11077342Abstract: A head of a golf club that comprises a ball striking face. The ball striking face has a top ridge, a leading edge, a heel edge, and a toe edge. The top ridge has a first base length and the leading edge has a second base length that is less than the first base length. The heel edge extends from the top ridge to the leading edge and slants at a first angle, relative to the top ridge, towards the toe edge. The toe edge extends from the top ridge to the leading edge and slants at a second angle, relative to the top ridge, towards the heel edge. The leading edge is arcuate and defines a leading edge radius of curvature.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2020Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Inventor: Richard H. Walsh
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Patent number: 11065517Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 8, 2020Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Michael G. Taylor, Michael Wallans, John T. Stites, Sherry L. Jones
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Patent number: 11065511Abstract: A method for manufacturing a golf club head comprises: fixing an internal weight member to a sole of a first member from the outside through an opening; and fixing a second member to the first member to close the opening. The first member is provided, at a position accessible from the outside of the first member, with a pedestal portion protruding toward the crown. The first member comprises a thin-walled portion between the pedestal portion and the face. The pedestal portion comprises: a first part for positioning the internal weight member in the up-down direction, and a second part for positioning the internal weight member in the toe-heel direction and/or front-back direction of the head. The internal weight member positioned by the first and second parts, extends toward the face at a position above the thin-wall portion without contacting with the thin-wall portion and the face.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2020Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Tomotaka Aramaki
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Patent number: 11058922Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core composed of a fully neutralized polymer material is disclosed herein. The golf ball also preferably has multiple mantle layers and a cover.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2020Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Steve Ogg, David Bartels
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Patent number: 11058921Abstract: In a golf ball having a two-layer core consisting of an inner core layer and an outer core layer, an intermediate layer consisting of at least one layer and a cover of one or more layer, the inner core layer and outer core layer are each formed of a rubber composition made up primarily of a base rubber, the inner core layer has a diameter of not more than 30 mm; and the core has specific hardness ratios (JIS-C hardness/Shore D hardness) at specific points on the cross-section thereof and the surface and center of the two-layer core has a specific hardness difference. This golf ball has a reduced spin rate on full shots with a driver and middle irons, thus imparting an excellent flight performance, and moreover has a good controllability in the short game on approach shots, making it ideal as a golf ball for professional golfers and mid- and high-level amateur golfers.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Kimura, Keita Iwasaki
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Patent number: 11058929Abstract: Embodiments of golf club head faceplates comprising a lattice to improve the energy storage capabilities and minimize stress concentrations are described herein. The lattice can comprise a plurality of flexure shapes that facilitate in faceplate bending. The flexure shapes of the lattice can comprise a reentrant, concave, or non-convex shape. The lattice can comprise at least one repeating pattern of flexure shapes that can be interconnected or spaced apart. During golf ball impacts, the flexure shapes flex to store energy through linear and torsional bending.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Clayson C. Spackman, Matthew W. Simone
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Patent number: 11063996Abstract: An exemplary golf club head having an increased amount of discretionary mass may be realized by utilizing improved drop angles, an improved average crown height, and/or articulation points. The discretionary mass may be placed low and deep in the club head to improve the location of the center of gravity as well as the inertial properties. A preferred break length may also be utilized to further improve the depth of the center of gravity. In one example, the center of gravity may be positioned to substantially align the sweet spot with the face center of the club head.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2020Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: John J. Rae, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Daniel J. Stone, Trent E. Garner, Brad S. Hooley, Robert J. Horacek, Sam G. Lacey, Jeff D. Brunski, Kevin Schaeffer, Scott A. Carlyle, Stephen C. Chien, Craig R. Schnell, Douglas E. Roberts, Dan S. Nivanh, Michael J. Wallans
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Patent number: 11052477Abstract: A slag removal apparatus for removing slag from support plates provided to support an object to be processed in a cutting machine is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Inventor: Hyeon Seung Sohn
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Patent number: 11052294Abstract: A golf club having a head with a series of tracks forming a three-dimensional pattern; weights for positioning along channels; and a mechanism for securing the weights at positions along the channels so as to customize center of gravity and moment of inertia. The channels can all interconnect to allow a weight to be moved from one to another. The club can include a removable cover for at least a portion of the surface to cover the channels and the weights. The weights can comprise a spherical member disposed in a channel; a member external to a surface of the head; and a coupling between the spherical member and the external member to allow the spherical member and the external member to capture between them a wall in which a track is formed. The channels may be in the removable cover, or below the removable cover, in the head.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2020Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Vandette B. Carter
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Patent number: 11045695Abstract: A golf club head includes a striking face, a sole portion, a top portion, a hosel, a rear surface, a loft no less than 40°, a virtual vertical plane, and a center of gravity. The striking face has a face center, a leading edge, and a virtual striking face plane. The hosel includes an internal bore configured to receive a golf shaft and includes a peripheral side wall and a shaft abutment surface configured to abut a tip end of the golf shaft. The rear surface is opposite the striking face and has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including a forward-extending recess. The insert covers the recess forming a hollow portion. The virtual vertical plane is perpendicular to the striking face plane and passes through the face center. The center of gravity is spaced a distance from the virtual vertical plane in the heel-to-toe direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.Inventors: Patrick Ripp, Phill Seagram, Mika Becktor, Keith Dolezel
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Patent number: 11045696Abstract: An iron-type golf club incorporating a stress reducing feature, which may include an aperture. The location and size of the stress reducing feature and aperture selectively increase deflection of the face.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Bryan Seon, Jeffrey T. Halstead, Justin Girard
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Patent number: 11027175Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 5, 2017Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Mod Golf Technologies, LLCInventor: Bruce E. Sizemore, Jr.
