Patents Examined by Alvin Hunter
  • Patent number: 10737149
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew G. v. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 10737144
    Abstract: Multi-piece golf balls containing a multi-layered core structure are provided. The core structure includes a small, heavy inner core (center) having a relatively high specific gravity, an intermediate core layer, and a surrounding outer core layer. The layers of the core structure may have different hardness gradients. The center of the core comprises a metal material such as copper, steel, brass, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and alloys thereof dispersed in a thermoset polymeric matrix. The intermediate core layer is preferably formed from a first thermoplastic composition such as an ethylene acid copolymer ionomer resin; and the outer core layer is preferably formed from a second thermoplastic composition. The resulting ball has high resiliency and good spin control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette
  • Patent number: 10729940
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a two-layer core consisting of an inner core layer and an outer core 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. This golf ball has a reduced spin rate on full shots with a driver and middle irons, thus imparting to 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: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kimura, Keita Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 10729951
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body and at least one self-extracting pressed weight assembly. The body comprises a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. The body defines an interior cavity. The weight assembly comprises at least three components and is configured for a press fit engagement with the golf club head. The assembly has a drive portion and a threaded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Benoit Vincent, Ian C. Wright, Kraig Alan Willett, Gery Mel Zimmerman, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10722757
    Abstract: Multi-piece golf balls containing a multi-layered core structure are provided. The core structure includes a small, heavy inner core (center) having a relatively high specific gravity, an intermediate core layer, and a surrounding outer core layer. The layers of the core structure may have different hardness gradients. In one preferred embodiment, each core layer has a positive hardness gradient. The center of the core comprises a metal material such as copper, steel, brass, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and alloys thereof. The intermediate core layer is preferably formed from a thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber, and the outer core layer is preferably formed from a thermoplastic composition such as an ethylene acid copolymer. The resulting ball has high resiliency and good spin control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette
  • Patent number: 10722762
    Abstract: Embodiments of a golf club head having a body comprising a first material and a strike face comprising a second material, wherein the density of the first material is greater than the density of the second material, and the ratio of the density of the first material to the density of the second material is greater than or equal to approximately 1.7 are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Cory Bacon, Martin Jertson
  • Patent number: 10722767
    Abstract: A forged golf club face has a continuous outer layer of a first material encasing at least one inner layer made of second material. The materials may have differing properties, such as Young's Modulus, density, and strength properties, among others. By incorporating the different materials into the outer layer and the inner layer, the coefficient of restitution (COR) of the golf club face is improved without sacrificing durability. The club face is forged from a pre-formed billet having at least one monolithically encased inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventor: Uday V. Deshmukh
  • Patent number: 10722758
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having a core, intermediate layer, and cover are provided. The ball includes a non-foamed inner core (center) made of a thermoplastic or thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber. An intermediate layer comprising a foamed composition, such as polyurethane foam, is disposed about the inner core. The foamed intermediate layer may have a specific gravity gradient within the layer, wherein the outer surface specific gravity is greater than the midpoint specific gravity. Ball constructions having two intermediate layers, wherein at least one layer is a foamed layer can be made. A cover having at least one layer is disposed about the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shawn Ricci, Michael Michalewich, Brian Comeau, Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Douglas S. Goguen
  • Patent number: 10722759
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core comprising an inner core center and an outer core layer disposed over the inner core center. The inner core center has a deflection of greater than 0.210 inch under a load of 100 kilograms, and the entire the core has a deflection ranging from 0.130 inch to 0.105 inch under a load of 100 kilograms. A mantle layer is disposed over the core and a cover is disposed over the mantle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Steven S. Ogg, David M. Bartels
  • Patent number: 10721339
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 10716972
    Abstract: In a golf club, an apparatus which provides for a shaft to be adjustably secured to a head comprises a skewed axis shaft coupling and a shaft having an intermediate shaft section which joins a nominal shaft section to an offset shaft section such that they are offset one from the other. A shaft indexing mechanism provides for the nominal shaft section to have a plurality of indexed rotational positions in a socket of the skewed axis shaft coupling, thereby providing for the head to have, with respect to the offset shaft section, a plurality of possible sets of spatial and mass distribution properties. Furthermore, the skewed axis shaft coupling provides for the head to have, with respect to the nominal shaft section, a plurality of sets of angular properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventor: Barry Lyn Holtzman
  • Patent number: 10716975
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs, golf club heads, and methods of manufacture are described herein. In one embodiment, a golf club head includes a strike face having one or more grooves with edges, where one or more of the edges is unsmooth. Other embodiments are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Solheim, David L. Petersen
  • Patent number: 10709941
    Abstract: A golf club head where at least a first portion of an exterior surface of the golf club head includes depressions is disclosed herein. More specifically, the golf club head has a body with a striking face, a crown portion, a sole portion, and a skirt portion joining the striking face, crown portion and the sole portion and in accordance with the present invention at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body of the golf club head is further comprised of depressions to reduce the aerodynamic drag force on the golf club head. The depressions may be provided on a first portion of the golf club head on one or more of a crown portion, sole portion, skirt portion or striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Cleghorn, Nick Frame
  • Patent number: 10709938
    Abstract: Multi-piece golf balls containing a dual-layered core and dual-layered cover are provided. The core structure includes a small, heavy inner core (center) having a relatively high specific gravity, and a surrounding outer core layer. The core layers may have different hardness gradients. The center of the core comprises a metal material such as copper, steel, brass, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and combinations and alloys thereof preferably dispersed in a thermoplastic polymeric matrix. The outer core layer is preferably formed from a thermoset composition such as polybutadiene. The multi-layered cores and covers have selective specific gravity relationships between the different layers. This helps provide the ball with good flight distance and spin control. The resulting balls have good resiliency and other playing performance properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Derek A. Ladd
  • Patent number: 10709943
    Abstract: An iron golf club head includes: a face portion including a ball striking surface and a first reverse surface; and a sole back portion including a second reverse surface connected with the first reverse surface and located below the first reverse surface. The iron golf club head has a first hollow separated from outside by the face portion and the sole back portion. The ratio W/V1 of the weight W (unit: g) of the iron golf club head relative to the volume V1 (unit: mm3) of the iron golf club head is 6.5×10?3 or less. The sole maximum projected width Sw of the iron golf club head is 25 mm or more. The sweet spot height Sh of the iron golf club head is 20 mm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke Maenaka, Kazuhiro Doi
  • Patent number: 10702750
    Abstract: A golf club head having a hollow structure includes a face, a crown, and a sole. The sole includes multiple elongated ribs. The ribs includes a first rib, a second rib, a third rib, and a fourth rib that are arranged in order from the toe side to the heel side. An end of the first rib and a first end of the second rib are connected to form a first connection end. A second end of the second rib and a first end of the third rib are connected to form a second connection end. A second end of the third rib and an end of the fourth rib are connected to form a third connection end. Each of the first rib and the fourth rib is longer than each of the second rib and the third rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kozue Wada, Tomonori Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 10695642
    Abstract: A golf training assembly has a plate structure configured for placement on a golf surface, such as a putting green. The training assembly has a mouth for receiving a rolling golf ball. The mouth guides the golf ball against a stop member for stopping and holding the golf ball in place allowing a golfer to practice putting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: William G. Robinson
  • Patent number: 10695628
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having an outer surface with a recessed channel formed therein. A weight assembly that includes a weight at least partially disposed within the recessed channel, a cover extending 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 assembly is positionable in an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration. When the weight assembly is in the unlocked configuration, the cover is lifted out of the recessed channel and the weight is selectively slidable within the recessed channel. When the weight assembly is in the locked configuration, the cover is disposed within the recessed channel and the weight is secured within the recessed channel. The weight assembly is coupled to the body in both the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Sang Yi, Thomas Orrin Bennett, Stephen S. Murphy, Richard L. Cleghorn, Peter Larsen
  • Patent number: 10688354
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing an iron golf club head by forging a single round rod member with a pair of dies to form, as a single piece, a body and a neck into which a shaft is to be inserted. The method includes: a first step of heating the single round rod member into a heated material; a second step of placing the heated material in the pair of dies; and a third step of forging the heated material placed in the pair of dies. In the third step, the heated material is prevented from flowing out from parting surfaces of the respective dies at a sole side of the body in the pair of dies, and the heated material blocked at the sole side in the pair of dies flows toward each of a toe of the body and the neck in the pair of dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignees: Mizuno Corporation, Chuo Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Doi, Tetsuya Kanayama, Jun Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10688367
    Abstract: Hinges for multipurpose golf training aids, and more particularly, long-wearing, durable low-profile hinges for multipurpose golf training aids, and methods for manufacturing such hinges are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ALIGNMENT PRO, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Nathanael Tolman