Patents Examined by Sebastiano Passaniti
  • Golf club head having multi-material face and method of manufacture
    Patent number: 11318643
    Abstract: A golf club with a multi-material face is disclosed herein. More specifically, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention has a striking face portion that is backed by a composite layer. The multi-material face disclosed in accordance with the present invention may generally be manufactured via a bladder molding process that applies hydrostatic forces to the composite layer to create a more consistent bond between the composite material and the metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Uday V. Deshmukh, John Morin
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: 11298599
    Abstract: A golf club head having a flexible channel to improve the performance of the club head, and a channel tuning system to reduce undesirable club head characteristics introduced, or heightened, via the flexible channel. The channel tuning system includes a sole engaging channel tuning element in contact with the sole and the channel. The club head may include an aerodynamic configuration, as well as a body tuning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Andrew Mata, Joseph Henry Hoffman, Bradley Poston, Matthew David Johnson, Mark Vincent Greaney
  • Low and back crown mass for a golf club head
    Patent number: 11298598
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having aa crown defining a perimeter of the club head, a sole opposite the crown, a toe end opposite a heel end, a back end, and a hosel, the body further including a club face, an exterior side, an interior side, a head center of gravity, and a weight member positioned on one of the exterior side or the interior side of the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Ryan M. Stokke
  • Golf club head having deflection features and related methods
    Patent number: 11291891
    Abstract: Described herein is a golf club head comprising a deflection feature to increased ball speed and launch distance, while producing desirable acoustics and optimized mass distribution. The deflection feature can include any one of or any combination of an insert comprising a gap, an insert comprising voids, a thin uniform sole, a cutout in the top rail, optimized face material, a thin sole, a reinforcement device, or a multi material weight. The rear cavity insert comprises voids within the body of the insert providing a change of insert density. The faceplate comprises a reinforcement element allowing the faceplate thickness to be reduced while simultaneously reducing faceplate stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Morales, Ryan M. Stokke, David L. Petersen, Eric V. Cole, Cory S. Bacon, Les J. Bryant
  • Golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads
    Patent number: 11291889
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may have a body portion having a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a front portion, a lead edge portion, a back portion, and an interior cavity. The golf club head may also have a polymer material partially or entirely filling the interior cavity. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Educational golf club
    Patent number: 11291893
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an educational golf club comprising a shaft and a head, wherein the shaft has a weight increasing means disposed therein. The educational golf club according to the present invention is in a wide use since being adjusted in weight or length according to the user's height or age. Additionally, the educational golf club according to the present invention generates a hitting sound from the shaft realistically when the user hits the golf ball to arouse interest in golf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventor: Byung Gon Chae
  • Golf club with perimeter face machining
    Patent number: 11285365
    Abstract: The invention provides golf clubs and methods of making golf clubs with machined perimeter faces. The club faces provide an accurate ball striking surface and improved aerodynamics. In particular, a surface is milled into the club face that expands over an edge of a ball striking surface and onto a portion of the face adjacent to at least one of a crown, a sole, a toe, or a heel. During a swing, the milled surface causes the boundary layer of airflow to separate at a point closer to the rear of the club head, resulting in reduced drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: D. Clayton Evans, Cameron J. Day, Michael T. McDonnell, Ryan L. Roach, Douglas E. Roberts, Bryce Hobbs, Yi-ching Liao
  • Mixed material golf club head
    Patent number: 11278775
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a metallic front body coupled with a rear body to define a substantially hollow structure. The metallic front body includes a strike face and a surrounding frame that extends rearward from a perimeter of the strike face. The rear body includes a crown member and a sole member coupled to the crown member. The sole member comprises a structural layer formed from a filled thermoplastic material and a fiber reinforced composite resilient layer bonded to an external surface of the structural layer. The structural layer includes a plurality of stiffening members extending from a forward portion to a rear peripheral portion of the sole member. The resilient layer can comprise a uniform thickness. The structural layer and the resilient layer each include a common thermoplastic resin component, and are directly bonded to each other without an intermediate adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Morales, Ryan M. Stokke, Martin R. Jertson, Tyler A. Shaw
  • Localized milled golf club face
    Patent number: 11278774
    Abstract: A wood-style golf club head includes a strike face and a body that cooperate to define a hollow internal club head volume. The strike face formed from a strike plate having an outer perimeter and a frame surrounding the strike plate. The strike plate is affixed to the frame across the entire outer perimeter. The strike plate and frame define a continuous ball striking surface that has a surface texture characteristic of milling that extends continuously across both the strike plate and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Erik M. Henrikson, Matthew W. Simone, Yujen Huang, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Golf club heads with ribs and related methods
    Patent number: 11266887
    Abstract: Provided herein are embodiments of golf club heads comprising a crown and a ribbed region. The ribbed region of the golf club head can be positioned on a portion of the crown and can further include a ribbed wall, wherein the ribbed wall comprises a ribbed wall interior surface, a ribbed wall exterior surface, and one or more external ribs. The one or more external ribs can protrude from the ribbed region to increase the strength of the crown and beneficially reduce crown thickness. Other embodiments and related methods are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan M. Stokke, Martin R. Jertson, David A. Higdon, Xiaojian Chen
  • Golf club grip with quilted texture
    Patent number: 11266890
    Abstract: A flexible tubular golf club grip is formed of elastomeric material having a substantially closed end with an end cap. The tubular portion is formed of substantially softer material than the end cap and has disposed on opposite sides axially spaced discrete areas of macro-texture having spaced raised portions giving a quilt-like appearance. The discrete areas of macro-texture are disposed peripherally spaced on opposite sides of the grip. The end cap has an extension which closely inter-fits the inner periphery of the tubular portion and provides support therefor proximate the substantially closed end. The cap extension has axially extending protrusions peripherally spaced on the top and bottom of the cap which are flush with the outer surface of the tubular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Gregory William Cavill, Bruce A. Miller, Craig R. Balnis, James Ledford, Jonathan C. Neal, Aaron J. Michaud, Alex Lee Walls
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: 11260276
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a face member and a body member. The face member includes a peripheral portion that extends toward a back side. The peripheral portion includes a sole-side peripheral portion and a top-side peripheral portion. The face member is formed of a rolled material. An inner surface of the sole-side peripheral portion includes a sole inner surface inclined portion that extends toward a top direction as the sole inner surface inclined portion goes toward a back direction. The inner surface of the sole-side peripheral portion and an inner surface of the top-side peripheral portion are formed such that a first distance between them increases toward the back direction. An outer surface of the top-side peripheral portion is formed such that a second distance between the outer surface and the inner surface of the top-side peripheral portion increases toward a face direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Motokawa
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: 11253757
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a hollow structure defined by a face, a crown, a sole, and a back. The crown includes a crown thick part on the back side, and the sole includes a sole thick part on the back side. The back includes a back end thinner than the thickest portion of each of the crown thick part and the sole thick part. The crown thick part and the sole thick part are separated by the back including the back end. The crown thick part and the sole thick part lie over and cover at least part of each other to form an overlap part extending in a toe-heel direction in a view in a crown-sole direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomonori Kitagawa
  • Golf training device
    Patent number: 11247110
    Abstract: The invention relates to a golf training device comprising an annular support with a hole for a golf ball is formed. The support being provided with a plurality of members angularly distributed with each member having an external ramp and an internal ramp. The ramps are arranged to have a stable state with the external ramp arranged in a plane of access to the hole. The internal ramp is arranged protruding around the hole, and a state constrained by the passage of the ball on the member wherein the internal ramp is lowered inside of the hole. The annular support has a plurality of feet which are angularly distributed between the members, each one of the feet having a lower ground support wall and an upper wall forming an access ramp to the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: DECATHLON
    Inventor: Clément Lebeaume
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: 11241604
    Abstract: A golf club head includes: a sole; a crown; a toe; a heel opposite the toe; a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center; a rear portion; and a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion. The golf club head also includes at least one rib having a first portion secured to the strike face, having a second portion secured to the crown, and being positioned such that a location on the strike face laterally spaced toe-ward from the geometric center by no less than 0.4 in is associated with a COR value no less than 0.825.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Robert J. Horacek, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, John J. Rae, Michael J. Wallans, Sam G. Lacey
  • Golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads
    Patent number: 11235211
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, and a front portion having a face portion with a face portion thickness extending between a front surface and a back surface. The body portion may be associated with a body portion volume. The golf club head may also include an interior cavity. The interior cavity may include an elastic polymer material. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Contrast-enhanced golf club heads
    Patent number: 11235207
    Abstract: Golf club heads include white diffusing top surfaces to aid in club head alignment. Wood type club heads also include a dark diffusing club face so that a crown/face border is emphasized. Scorelines in wood type clubs can be provided with an intermediate contrast surface, and can be displaced from club face center to accommodate player perception when confronted with a white diffusing crown. Putter heads can include dark diffusing alignment lines, and iron-type club heads can include white diffusing surfaces at a sole portion of a club face, at a top line, or a top portion of a club face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, David Anderson, Bill Price, Kevin Harper, Benoit Vincent, Bret H. Wahl
  • Multi-material golf club head
    Patent number: 11219805
    Abstract: Golf clubs heads having a forward portion located at a front side of the golf club head and an aft portion located rearward of the forward portion and joined to the forward portion. The front portion includes a forward joint section and the aft portion includes an aft joint section. The aft portion also includes an aft rib attached to an interior surface of the aft portion, the aft rib extends, from an interior surface of the aft joint section, in a direction away from the striking face. The golf club head may also include a crown the crown having an areal density of less than 1000 g/m2 and made from a structure comprising an inner layer, a middle layer in contact with the inner layer, and an outer layer in contact with the middle layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter Larsen, Peter L. Soracco, David S. Cornelius, Ryuichi Sugimae
  • Golf club heads with ribs and related methods
    Patent number: 11219804
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a plurality of internal and/or external ribs are described herein. The golf club head comprises a ribbed region comprising at least a part of at least one of the heel portion, the toe portion, the sole, or the crown; wherein the ribbed region comprises a ribbed wall including: a ribbed wall interior surface, a ribbed wall exterior surface and one or more ribs protruding from the ribbed wall, wherein the one or more external ribs comprise a first rib including: a first rib exterior section and a first rib interior section, wherein the first rib interior section extends substantially parallel to the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan M. Stokke, Martin R. Jertson, David A. Higdon
  • Golf club heads with turbulators and methods to manufacture golf club heads with turbulators
    Patent number: 11213725
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a crown surface having an apex at a highest point and extending between the face, the rear, the heel and the toe of the golf club head. The golf club head also includes a plurality of crown turbulators projecting from the surface of the crown and located between the face and the apex, wherein each adjacent pair of crown turbulators is separate and spaced apart to define a space between the adjacent pair of crown turbulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Erik M. Henrikson, Paul D. Wood, John Hart, Marty R. Jertson, Ryan M. Stokke, Xiaojian Chen, Matthew W. Simone, Yujen Huang