Patents Examined by William M. Pierce
  • Golf club heads with insert and related methods
    Patent number: 11135487
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a golf club head with an insert. Other embodiments for related golf club heads and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Petersen, Ryan M. Stokke, Cory S. Bacon, Eric J. Morales
  • Golf club heads with energy storage features
    Patent number: 11130025
    Abstract: Embodiments of a golf club head with a plurality of energy storage features are presented herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a body comprising a strike face, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a crown, a channel, a chamfer spanning between a strike face and the crown, and an internal radius transition feature from the strike face to at least one of the sole or the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Cory S. Bacon, Eric J. Morales, Ryan M. Stokke, Calvin S. Wang, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman, Martin R. Jertson
  • Customizable display of betting layout
    Patent number: 11090553
    Abstract: A roulette table allows players to make customized betting selections and customize the layout of the betting options that appear on the player station of the roulette table. In particularly contemplated embodiments, players may add, delete, or modify the appearance of betting options through a user interface so that the players may more readily indicate desired wagers. This functionality may not only speed up game play, but also make the betting layout more intuitive for each user resulting in increased attendance of roulette games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Russell P. Sammon, Stephen C. Tulley, Daniel E. Tedesco, Robert C. Tedesco
  • Expandable baton
    Patent number: 11067359
    Abstract: An expandable baton includes a first tube; a second tube disposed in the first tube; at least one lock mechanism disposed on a first end of the second tube, clamped to an inner surface of the first tube and including a locking pipe, two lock protuberances and two elastic members, the lock protuberances correspondent to each other and the elastic members disposed between the two lock protuberances; a release mechanism including a lock needle and a pushbutton, a pressing of the pushbutton moves the lock needle to insert into the lock mechanism, the lock protuberances depart from the first tube simultaneously and urge the elastic members to an unlocked position, without a pressing of the pushbutton, the restored elastic members enable the lock protuberances to a locked position; and a positioning member for limiting the release mechanism at a first end of the first tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: Kuei-Chih Chiang
  • Trusses for golf club heads
    Patent number: 11052295
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a main body having a topline and an opposing sole. The main body includes a striking face extending between the topline and sole, and a rear face in opposed relation to the striking face. A sole body is proximate the rear face and extends at least partially along the sole. A peripheral flange extends at least partially about the rear face and is of a flange height, HF, relative to the rear face. A truss protrudes from the rear face and includes a at least a first truss arm which is of a first truss arm height, HT1, relative to the rear face, wherein the difference between HF and HT1 is less than about 0.25 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Phillip C. Seagram
  • Multicomponent weight system for a golf club head
    Patent number: 11040256
    Abstract: The present invention is a golf club head containing a multicomponent weight system comprising a weight member, a cap, and a fastener. The weight member comprises of an upper surface, side surface, one or more splines, one or more slits, an aperture, and one or more bores. The cap comprises an aperture and at least one post. The fastener comprises a head portion and body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, Cory S. Bacon, Les Bryant, David A. Higdon
  • Golf irons with sealed undercut
    Patent number: 11033787
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body, a first polymeric insert, and a second polymeric insert. The body includes a face, a sole, and a rear wall that collectively define an undercut volume. The first polymeric insert is provided within the undercut volume to define a sealed cavity within the undercut volume; and, the second polymeric insert is secured to the body and defines an open cavity extending from the rear wall toward the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Matt Daraskavich, Brian J. Kammerer, Michael Pinto
  • Golf club with polymeric insert and removeable weight
    Patent number: 11033783
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a face, a crown, a sole, and defines a bore that is configured to receive and to selectively retain an elongate weight. The bore is aligned on a longitudinal axis that intersects the face. An elongate weight is insertable into the bore. The elongate weight is rotatable between a first angular position and a second angular position. The golf club head can further include a compliant stop positioned to contact a protrusion of the elongate weight, such that a torque threshold must be overcome to rotate the elongate weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Joshua Boggs
  • Golf club heads with energy storage characteristics
    Patent number: 11027177
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with energy storage characteristics are presented herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a hollow body comprising a strikeface, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a crown, and a cavity positioned behind the strikeface on at least one of the sole and the crown. In many embodiments, the cavity comprises a front surface, and a rear surface, wherein at least a portion of the front surface extends toward the strikeface of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Eric J. Morales, Cory S. Bacon, Calvin Wang, Xiaojian Chen, Ryan M. Stokke, Travis D. Milleman
  • Golf club head having an adjustable weighting system
    Patent number: 11020637
    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. The golf club head also includes an adjustable weighting system positioned on the club body, the adjustable weighting system includes a single channel and a member that is received by the single channel and fastened to the club body, where a plurality of weights are coupled to the member. The golf club head can additionally or alternatively include a face angle adjustment system positioned on the sole, the face angle adjustment system includes a member that is removably received by the single channel and fastened to the sole, the member includes a first end member and a second end member, wherein the member is configured to be repositioned within the channel to adjust a resting face angle of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan M. Stokke, David A. Higdon, Martin R. Jertson, Jeremy Pope, Xiaojian Chen
  • Golf club heads with arcuate port structures and tuning elements
    Patent number: 10987552
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a golf club head with an arcuate port structure and tuning element. Other embodiments for related golf club heads and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Petersen, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Golf club head having stress-reducing features
    Patent number: 10981040
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body and a stiffening structure is disclosed herein. The body comprises a face section, a sole section, and a crown section, and defines a hollow interior. The stiffening structure extends within the hollow interior from the crown section to the sole section to reduce stresses placed on the face section during impact with a golf ball. The stiffening structure is entirely located within 0.500 inch of a rear surface of the face section measured along a plane normal to the center of the face, and within 1 inch of the center of the face section along a horizontal axis parallel to the face section, and comprises heel and toe connectors connected to one another by a middle connector, such that the stiffening structure has an approximately X- or H- overall shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Christopher A. G. Nunez, James A. Seluga, Matthew Myers, Denver Holt, Evan D. Gibbs
  • Putter shaft with decorative sleeves
    Patent number: 10967234
    Abstract: A shaft for a putter includes decorative sheaths that may beautify the shaft while retaining lightweight stiffness and avoiding breaking the sheaths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Eric Nelson
  • Putter golf club head with elastomer fill
    Patent number: 10960278
    Abstract: Embodiments of putter golf club heads with an elastomer is enclosed herein. Other embodiments and methods may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony D. Serrano, Les J. Bryant, Guillermo G. Vald'Via
  • Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
    Patent number: 10960273
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball; an elongated channel extending across a portion of the sole, wherein the sole has an elongated channel recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole that has a plurality of troughs within the channel to help improve the efficiency of the impact with a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Akiyama
  • Seven-face gaming die with equal probability
    Patent number: 10946267
    Abstract: A gaming die is provided, that has a generally spherical body and a plurality of substantially planar faces distributed around the die. The spherical body defines lands extending between pairs of the plurality of faces. A plurality of bosses positioned on the spherical body between respective pairs of the plurality of faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Jacobus Alton
  • Expandable telescopic baton
    Patent number: 10928158
    Abstract: The expandable telescopic baton (1) consists of the handle (2), the central tube (5) with secondary locking member, of the end tube (6) with terminal locking member, of the button (4) and of the release rod (8). The locking member comprises at least two lever segments of the first order (9, 9?), whose first tilting arms (11) bear the radial projections (10) securing the tubes (5, 6) in the extended position, the second tilting arms (12) extend inside the tubes (5, 6), and the tilting means comprising the tilting edge (15) ensures the tilting of the segments (9, 9?) against the inner wall of the tube (5, 6). The release rod (8) passing through the locking tilts over the segments (9, 9?), thus extending radial projections (10) from the internal radial grooves (7, 7?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventors: Vladimir Kupa, Bretislav Kostal
  • Wave sole for a golf club head
    Patent number: 10926141
    Abstract: A golf club head of the wood-type, including a body having a ball-striking face and a sole, is disclosed. The sole can include a wave slot for adding additional weight to the golf club head and for providing improved performance. The wave slot can include a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, and at least two waves. The wave slot can be open-ended. The waves can be positioned between the front and rear sidewalls and can each include a valley portion at the lowest point of the wave such that the valley portion does not protrude below the sole. The wave slot can also have two, three, or more waves, which can have heights that decrease as the position of the waves increases with respect to the ball-striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: David Llewellyn, Kei Tsuji, Arata Kamo
  • Golf club head having adjustable stress-reducing structures
    Patent number: 10912970
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body and a plurality of stiffening members, the tension or compression of which can be adjusted, is disclosed herein. The body comprises a face section, a sole section, and a crown section or a return section, and also defines a hollow interior. Each of the plurality of stiffening members is at least partially disposed within the hollow interior, and extends from the crown section or return section to the sole section to reduce stresses placed on the face during impact with a golf ball. The compression or tension of the stiffening members may be adjusted to affect the stresses experienced by the golf club head upon impact with a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Jeremy R. Hanhart, Michael Hallack, Homer G. Aguinaldo, James A. Seluga, Christopher A.G. Nunez, Matthew Myers, Denver Holt
  • Golf club heads with cavities and related methods
    Patent number: 10894193
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with cavities and methods to manufacture golf club heads with cavities are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a body. The body comprises a strikeface, a backside of the strikeface, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a first cavity at the backside of the strikeface, a rear portion opposite the strikeface, and a second cavity at the rear portion. In many embodiments, the golf club head further comprises a cap closing off the second cavity. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaojian Chen, Cory S. Bacon