Patents Examined by Stephen Blau
  • Patent number: 10272302
    Abstract: A sports article comprising an elongate tubular shaft comprised of a fiber-reinforced resin matrix composite material, wherein the elongate tubular shaft has a longitudinal direction and the shaft is multilaminar and includes at least two fibrous layers, each of which is helically wrapped about a wrapping direction extending along the longitudinal direction to form the elongate tubular shaft, wherein each fibrous layer comprises a plurality of oriented structural fibers which are substantially aligned along the longitudinal direction so as to be oriented within +/?10° of the longitudinal direction, the oriented structural fibers having a length, along the longitudinal direction, of less than the length of the elongate tubular shaft to form discontinuous structural fibers serially oriented along the elongate tubular shaft. Also disclosed is a method to produce such a multilaminar elongate tubular shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: North Thin Ply Technology Sarl
    Inventors: Francois Mordasini, Gerard Gautier, Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 10272304
    Abstract: A golf club includes a golf club head, a shaft adapter secured within a hosel of the golf club head, and a shaft secured within the shaft adapter. The golf club shaft is formed from a fiber reinforced polymer and extends along a longitudinal axis between a tip end and a grip end. The golf club shaft includes a tip end section, a grip end section, and a tapered section between the tip end section and the grip end section. The tapered section of the shaft includes a reference portion within the upper half that has a frustoconical shape with a near-constant taper rate, and a narrowed portion within the lower half. The narrowed portion is recessed relative to a reference surface extrapolated from the frustoconical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: David S. Kultala, Martin R. Jertson, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Patent number: 10252125
    Abstract: To provide a lightweight shaft having excellent strength, a shaft has one or a plurality of fiber reinforced resin layers. At least one of the fiber reinforced resin layers is produced by a filament winding method in which one or a plurality of fiber bundles are wound while tension is applied thereto. The fiber bundles each include a plurality of filaments. The tension applied to the fiber bundles is not less than 0.04 (gf) per filament. The tension is great. Preferably, at least one of the fiber reinforced resin layers is produced by a multi-filament winding method in which a plurality of the fiber bundles are simultaneously wound while being arranged side by side. Preferably, fibers forming the filaments are carbon fibers. Preferably, a resin composition included in each fiber reinforced resin layer is an epoxy resin composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignees: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., GIFU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Takehiko Hyodo, Yumi Kanemitsu, Asami Nakai, Akio Ohtani, Tadashi Uozumi
  • Patent number: 10252121
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with face deflection structures are described herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Brandon L. Fossum, John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: 10238934
    Abstract: A grip for a putter-type golf club including a bottom end having a recess to receive a golf shaft, and a top end opposite the bottom end. The recess defines a longitudinal axis, and an exterior side surface extends about the circumference of the longitudinal axis. The exterior side surface defines a generally planar portion and a generally arcuate portion adjoining the planar portion. A grip cross-section no greater than 15 mm from the top end includes a planar portion cross-sectional width no less than 4 mm, a first cross-sectional length, L1, and a maximum cross-sectional width located at a depth D1 from the planar portion such that D1/L1 is no greater than 0.40. According to another aspect, a grip cross-section between 120 mm and 140 mm from the top end includes a cross-sectional maximum width, W3, and a cross-sectional length, L3, such that W3/L3 is no greater than 0.90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mika Becktor
  • Patent number: 10220273
    Abstract: A putter-type golf club head that, when oriented in a reference position, includes a blade portion having a striking face, a top line, and a sole, the striking face in turn including a face center. The club head further includes a rear portion in communication with, and rearward of, the blade portion, and it includes an alignment element rearward of, and recessed toward the sole from, the top line. The alignment element defines a virtual center line segment oriented in a substantially front-to-rear direction at a height between 19 mm and 24 mm from a lowermost point of the sole, the center line segment having a length no less than 34 mm and being not spaced more than 10 mm from a virtual vertical plane passing through the face center and extending generally perpendicular to the striking face. A width of the club head is no less than 3.0 in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keith Dolezel, Brian Schielke, Adam Sheldon, Mika Becktor, Philip C. Seagram
  • Patent number: 10220276
    Abstract: A golf club length adjustment device, comprising a first member affixed to a main shaft, the main shaft configured to couple to a golf club head, a second member slideably coupled to the first member, the second member adapted to couple to a golf club grip, wherein the first member is configured to slide along a club axis relative to the second member to change the length of the golf club, a backout prevention unit configured to limit the second member from uncoupling from the first member after the golf club length adjustment device has been assembled, a decoupling tool configured to be inserted through an access hole formed in a proximal end of the grip, the decoupling tool configured to engage and deflect the backout prevention unit, disengaging the backout prevention unit from the second member, allowing for disassembly of the second member from the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Knutson, Donald S. Bone
  • Patent number: 10220267
    Abstract: In a golf club, an apparatus which secures a shaft to a head comprises a rotator, a shaft adapter, a rotator connection mechanism which provides for the rotator be secured to the head in a plurality of rotational orientations, and a shaft adapter connection mechanism which provides for a component of the shaft adapter to be secured to the rotator in a plurality of rotational orientations. Under a condition that the shaft adapter is a skewed axis shaft adapter, the apparatus can be used to make independent adjustments to the head's mass distribution properties and angular orientation with respect to an axis of the shaft. The apparatus is also useful in making adjustments to the golf club's face progression and to the shaft's rotational orientation with respect to the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Inventor: Barry Lyn Holtzman
  • Patent number: 10213668
    Abstract: A shaft 6 includes a tip end Tp and a butt end Bt. If a shaft length is defined as Ls, a distance between the butt end Bt of the shaft and a center of gravity G of the shaft is defined as Lg, and a ratio of the distance Lg to the shaft length Ls is defined as a ratio of the center of gravity of the shaft, then the ratio of the center of gravity of the shaft is equal to or less than 47%. The shaft length Ls is equal to or less than 991 mm. If a forward flex is defined as F1 (mm) and a backward flex is defined as F2 (mm), a flex point ratio C1 of the shaft calculated by the following formula (1) is equal to or less than 39%: C1=[F2/(F1+F2)]×100]??(1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10213666
    Abstract: A golf shaft having a butt portion joined to a tip portion by a coupler and possessing unique relationships, including rigidity relationships, which provide beneficial performance characteristics including improved stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: BREAKTHROUGH GOLF TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Byron H. Adams, Blair M. Philip, Jeffrey T. Halstead, Robert E. Stephens, Trever M. Napier, James P. MacKay
  • Patent number: 10213660
    Abstract: The invention provides golf club heads having aerodynamic features that disrupt air flow over the face when the club is swung. The features are milled into the face of the club head, including curved faces found in wood-type club heads. During a swing, the features cause the boundary layer to separate at a point closer to the rear of the club head during a swing, resulting in reduced drag. The invention also provides golf club heads with faces having a central region of symmetrical surface roughness. The symmetrical roughness in the central region of the face of wood-type club heads allows for shots with less spin and greater distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Tim A. Beno, Michael S. Yagley, Cameron J. Day
  • Patent number: 10207160
    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: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew David Johnson, David Bennett, Nathan T. Sargent, Christopher John Harbert, Todd P. Beach
  • Patent number: 10188913
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Alignment features on the components provide discrete orientations between the shaft and club head. The shaft sleeve may be constructed from non-metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Stephen S. Murphy, Stephanie Luttrell, Charles E. Golden
  • Patent number: 10188917
    Abstract: The present invention is direct to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The invention contemplates the use of titanium or steel for the main body portion and significant tungsten weight members coupled to at least the toe via a mechanical fastener inserted through the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Ryan J. A. Ritchie, Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz
  • Patent number: 10183205
    Abstract: A slip-proof grip sleeve includes a lining tube and a slip-proof strip mounted on an outer periphery of the lining tube. The slip-proof strip includes a gripping portion between front and rear ends thereof. The slip-proof strip further includes a first folding portion adjacent to the rear end and a second folding portion adjacent to the gripping portion. The first and second folding portions are thinner than a thickness of the gripping portion. The first folding portion is folded toward an inner face of the slip-proof strip to overlap with the second folding portion. The slip-proof strip includes a third folding portion adjacent to the front end and a fourth folding portion adjacent to the gripping portion. The third and fourth folding portions are thinner than the thickness of the gripping portion. The third folding portion is folded toward the inner face to overlap with the fourth folding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Inventor: Leo Jaw
  • Patent number: 10173116
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Mark V. Greaney, Ian C. Wright, Kraig A. Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Matthew D. Johnson, Gery M. Zimmerman, Kevin R. Harper
  • Patent number: 10166449
    Abstract: A combined golf club cover and stand comprises a substantially rigid base and a cover portion configured to securely hold a head of a golf club against the substantially rigid base. The substantially rigid base includes a bottom platform, a first side wall, and an opposing second side wall with a bottom ledge that extends toward the first side wall, such that when the head of the golf club is held against the substantially rigid base, a toe end of the head is in contact with an interior surface of the first side wall, and a heel end of the head sits on the bottom ledge of the second side wall. The assembled golf club and combined golf club cover and stand is thus capable of standing upright, without any outside support, when the bottom platform is on a substantially flat underlying ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: PutterUp, LLC
    Inventor: Aaron Yarmuth
  • Patent number: 10159875
    Abstract: Embodiments of adjustable length golf clubs and methods of manufacturing adjustable length golf clubs are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, Marty R. Jertson, Evan Greer, Les Bryant, Anthony D. Serrano
  • Patent number: 10159879
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a club head for adjusting vertical spin of a golf ball. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric Joel Morales, Anthony D. Serrano, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 10155140
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a sole, a recessed sole port in the sole; and a rotatably adjustable sole piece adapted to be at least partially received within the sole port and comprising a central body having a plurality of contact surfaces adapted to contact the sole port and being offset from each other along a central axis extending through the central body of the sole piece. The sole piece can be positioned at least partially within the sole port at five or more rotational and axial positions with respect to the central axis, wherein at each rotational position, at least one of said contact surfaces of the central body contacts the sole port to set the axial position of the sole piece. The sole port and/or the sole piece can be generally pentagonal in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan T. Sargent, Joseph Reeve Nielson, Matthew David Johnson, Matthew Greensmith, Todd P. Beach, Michael Franz