Patents Examined by Alvin Hunter
  • Iron golf club head with badge
    Patent number: 10821344
    Abstract: A golf club head, including a body including a striking face and a perimeter portion extending aft from the striking face, a badge affixed to a rear surface of the striking face, wherein the badge comprises a first layer aft of the striking face, the first layer including a first density, a second layer aft of the first layer, the second layer including a second density, and a third layer aft of the first layer, wherein the third layer comprises a third layer front surface located adjacent the second layer, wherein the first density is less than 2.0 g/cm3, wherein the second density is greater than 2.0 g/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Jason A. Mata
  • Golf ball dimple plan shape
    Patent number: 10814176
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls having improved aerodynamic performance due, at least in part, to the selection of the plan shapes of the dimples thereon. In particular, the present invention is directed to a golf ball that includes at least a portion of its dimples having a plan shape defined by low frequency periodic functions along a closed simple path. In addition, the present invention provides methods for designing dimples having a plan shape defined by a low frequency periodic function along a closed simple path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Golf balls containing layers made from transparent polyamide and plasticizer compositions
    Patent number: 10814181
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of a polyamide composition containing a plasticized polyamide are provided. In one preferred version, the polyamide composition consists essentially of a polyamide and plasticizer selected from the group consisting of polytrimethylene ether glycol and polytrimethylene ether glycol benzoate and monomers, oligomers, copolymers and blends thereof. Blends of plasticized polyamides and ethylene acid copolymer ionomers also can be prepared. The golf ball includes a core having at least one layer and a cover having at least one layer. The polyamide composition may be used to form any core, cover, or other layer in the golf ball. The polyamide compositions have a good combination of properties including Coefficient of Restitution (COR) and compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Michael J Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Golf club head with adjustable hosel
    Patent number: 10814189
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Matthew Myers
  • Golf balls having a foam center with regions of different hardness
    Patent number: 10799768
    Abstract: Golf balls having a multi-layered core made of a foamed composition are provided. The core preferably has a foam inner core (center) and surrounding thermoset or thermoplastic outer core layer. Preferably, a polyurethane foam composition is used to form the foam center. The foam inner core preferably includes a fully-foamed center region and a partially or completely-collapsed foam outer region. The hardness of the fully-foamed region is different than the hardness of the collapsed foam region. Non-foamed thermoset or thermoplastic materials such as polybutadiene rubbers or ethylene acid copolymer ionomer may be used to form the outer core layer. The ball further includes a cover that may be multi-layered. The foam cores have good resiliency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mark L. Binette, Michael J. Sullivan, Douglas S. Goguen, Brian Comeau, Michael Michalewich, Shawn Ricci, John D. Farrell
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 10799766
    Abstract: A golf ball 2 includes a core 4 and a cover 6 positioned outside the core 4. The cover 6 is molded in a mold having support pins by injection molding. A ratio (K/S) of a surface hardness K of the core 4 to an amount of compressive deformation S of the core 4 satisfies the following mathematical formula. 13.0?K/S?24.0 The cover 6 has a hardness H of not greater than 62. A product (?*V) of a latitude ? of each support pin and a volume V of the cover 6 is not less than 300.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Takubo, Takahiro Sajima
  • Ball striking device having a covering element
    Patent number: 10792541
    Abstract: A ball striking device may include a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking device may include a covering element located behind the rear surface. The covering element may be affixed to the rear surface of the ball striking plate with an adhesive member. The adhesive member may include a double-sided tape. Further, a thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be located behind a desired-contact region of the ball striking plate and the covering element may be affixed thereto. The covering element may be a highly-contoured element. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Cardani, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 10780323
    Abstract: 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 4.5 inches and an overall breadth of at least 4.2 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: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Golf club and golf club head structures
    Patent number: 10780330
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void. The golf club head may further have support structures and adjustable weight members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Yoshimasa Fujita
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 10780324
    Abstract: 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 4.5 inches and an overall breadth of at least 4.2 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: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Golf club head having a magnetic adjustable weighting system
    Patent number: 10773139
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a club body having a crown opposite a sole, a toe end opposite a heel end, a back end, and a hosel. A first magnet is coupled to the club body. A second magnet selectively engages the first magnet, such that in a first configuration the first and second magnets attract, and in a second configuration the first and second magnets do not attract, wherein the second magnet is configured to rotate relative to the first magnet between the first configuration and the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Erik M. Henrikson, Samuel Pendred
  • Golf club head with structural tension cable
    Patent number: 10773134
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a golf club head having an adjustable tension cable disposed proximate the face. The body has a face, a sole, and a return section, and defines a hollow interior. The cable extends between the return section and the sole within the hollow interior near the face to reduce stresses placed on the face during impact with a golf ball. The cable preferably forms a woven structure, with multiple connections between the return section and sole, and the tension in the cable is adjustable via a screw connected to one end of the cable that engages a threaded bore disposed near the hosel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Austin L. Frederickson
  • Iron golf club head
    Patent number: 10765921
    Abstract: An iron golf club head comprises; a head main body including a club face provided with score lines; a weight member having a specific gravity larger than that of the head main body; and a fixing member having a specific gravity larger than that of the head main body and less than that of the weight member, and fixed to the head main body by welding so as to cover the weight member. In a forward tilting state of the club head in which the score lines are horizontal and the club face is vertical, the distance D in the perpendicular direction to the club face from the backmost position of the club head to the center of gravity of the weight member is not more than 47.3% of the maximum thickness W of the club head which is the shortest distance from the backmost position of the club head to the club face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Norimura, Kazuhiro Hayashi
  • Putter with bi-material shaft
    Patent number: 10765918
    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: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Multi-piece solid golf ball
    Patent number: 10765917
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer encasing the core and a cover which encases the intermediate layer and has numerous dimples on an outside surface thereof, the intermediate layer is formed of a resin material, the cover is formed of a urethane resin material, the core has a diameter of at least 38.0 mm, the sphere obtained by encasing the core with the intermediate layer has a surface hardness on the Shore D hardness scale of at least 69, the cover has a material hardness on the Shore D hardness scale of 55 or less, the (intermediate layer thickness)/(core diameter) value is from 0.025 to 0.043, the (cover thickness)/(core diameter) value is from 0.014 to 0.027, and the sphere obtained by encasing the core with the intermediate layer has an initial velocity A and the core has an initial velocity B which together satisfy the condition A?B?0 m/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Katsunori Sato, Masanobu Kuwahara
  • Iron type golf club head
    Patent number: 10758793
    Abstract: A golf club head including a ball striking face, heel, toe, top ridge, and an arcuate bottom sole having a greater ground contact area located adjacent a central portion of a leading edge of the club head that diminishes in size in a heel to toe direction toward a trailing edge of the club head. The club head is further defined by a leading edge being configured with a radius no greater than 50 mm approximately midway between the heel and toe to enable the golf club head to enter and penetrate the supporting turf during the execution of a golf shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Inventor: Richard H. Walsh
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: 10758794
    Abstract: A golf club head with a multi-material construction in which a portion of the club head is a first material such as engineered stone or concrete and a second portion of the club head is a second material such as a metal, thermoplastic, or a composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: COBRA GOLF CORPORATION
    Inventor: Cameron J. Day
  • Multi-layered golf balls having foam center with selective weight distribution
    Patent number: 10744376
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having a core made of a foamed composition, preferably polyurethane foam, are provided. The ball includes a dual-layered core having a foam inner core (center) and surrounding outer core layer. The outer core layer may be made from a non-foamed thermoset material such as polybutadiene rubber. The ball further includes an inner cover, preferably made from an ionomer composition comprising an O/X-type acid copolymer, wherein O is ?-olefin, and X is a C3-C8 ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. The outer cover may be made from a non-foamed thermoset or thermoplastic material such as polyurethane. Preferably, the specific gravity of the inner cover is greater than the specific gravity of the outer core, which is greater than the specific gravity of the inner core. The finished ball has good distance and low-spin properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, Douglas S. Goguen, Shawn Ricci, Mark L. Binette, Michael Michalewich
  • Club head conducive to enhancement of resilience
    Patent number: 10744377
    Abstract: A club head conducive to enhancement of resilience includes a body and a panel. The body has a first front side and a first rear side. The panel is disposed on the first front side of the body. The panel has a second top edge, a second bottom edge, a second front side and a second rear side. The second front side is a ball-hitting surface. The second bottom edge extends toward the second rear side to form a wall portion. The wall portion partially sinks to a depth for defining a bending section facing the upper edge. As soon as the panel hits a ball, the bending section deforms and thereby generates bounce resilience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Inventor: Chi-Shun Chuang
  • Golf club head comprising microscopic bubble material
    Patent number: 10744379
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Joshua D. Westrum, Hong G. Jeon, Scott Manwaring, Kenneth E. Meacham, Brooks Roche