Patents by Inventor Alan Hocknell

Alan Hocknell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7163470
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) having optimized inertial properties and center of gravity is disclosed. The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) has a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of a front wall (30). The positioning of the center of gravity of the golf club head (20) and the optimized inertial properties provide the golf club with greater ball spin robustness and better performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: J. Andrew Galloway, Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett
  • Publication number: 20070010347
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) having optimized inertial properties and center of gravity is disclosed. The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) has a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of a front wall (30). The positioning of the center of gravity of the golf club head (20) and the optimized inertial properties provide the golf club with greater ball spin robustness and better performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: J. Galloway, Alan Hocknell, Matthew Cackett
  • Publication number: 20070004531
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) having optimized inertial properties and center of gravity is disclosed. The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) has a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of a front wall (30). The positioning of the center of gravity of the golf club head (20) and the optimized inertial properties provide the golf club with greater ball spin robustness and better performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: J. Galloway, Alan Hocknell, Matthew Cackett
  • Publication number: 20070004530
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) having optimized inertial properties and center of gravity is disclosed. The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) has a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of a front wall (30). The positioning of the center of gravity of the golf club head (20) and the optimized inertial properties provide the golf club with greater ball spin robustness and better performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: J. Galloway, Alan Hocknell, Matthew Cackett
  • Publication number: 20070004528
    Abstract: A method (500) for fitting a golf club to a golfer is disclosed herein. The method includes having a golfer hit a test golf club. If the test golf club is preferred, a final golf club is formed that matches the test golf club. Preferably, the final golf club matches the following parameters of the test golf club: volume, mass, mass location, inertial values, center of gravity location, club frequency, orientation, material composition and shape. In a preferred embodiment, a test golf club with an interchangeable shaft is utilized with the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Evans, Daniel Stevens, James Wenck, Steven Ogg, Konrad Lenhof, Jerry Blanke, Joel Erickson
  • Publication number: 20060293116
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Evans, Daniel Stevens, James Wenck
  • Publication number: 20060293120
    Abstract: A golf club (40) has a golf club head with a large mass, relatively short club length and a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 5000 grams-centimeters squared. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 400 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared. The golf club (40) preferably has an inertia ratio greater than 0.0019.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: MATTHEW CACKETT, ALAN HOCKNELL, Daniel Stevens, Luke Williams
  • Publication number: 20060293115
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Evans, Daniel Stevens, James Wenck
  • Patent number: 7153221
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) having a body (22) with a front wall (30) with an opening (32) and a face component (40) is disclosed herein. The face component (40) preferably has a striking plate (50), a crown extension (52) and a sole extension (54). The golf club head (20) has a volume between 200 cubic centimeters and 600 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) has a mass between 140 grams and 215 grams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, J. Andrew Galloway
  • Publication number: 20060287125
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Evans, Daniel Stevens, James Wenck, Steven Ogg, Konrad Lenhof, Jerry Blanke, Joel Erickson, Broadus Wall
  • Publication number: 20060281575
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). An exterior bottom end of the sleeve (146) has a castellated surface. An interior bottom end of the tube (144) has a matching castellated surface. The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew Cackett, Denver Holt
  • Patent number: 7147575
    Abstract: A golf club having a club head with a striking plate having a thickness in the range of 0.010 to 0.250 inch is disclosed herein. The club head may be composed of three pieces, a face, a sole and a crown. Each of the pieces may be composed of a titanium material. The striking plate of the club head may have an aspect ratio less than 1.7. The striking plate may also have concentric regions of thickness with the thickness portion in the center. The club head may be composed of a titanium material, have a volume in the range of 175 cubic centimeters to 400 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches. The golf club head may also have a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.8 under test conditions such as the USGA test conditions specified pursuant to Rule 4-1e, Appendix II, of the Rules of Golf for 1998–1999.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: J. Andrew Galloway, Richard C. Helmstetter, Alan Hocknell, Ronald C. Boyce, Homer E. Aguinaldo, Curtis S. Woolley
  • Patent number: 7144333
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The face component (60) is composed of a metal material, and the aft-body (61) is composed of a non-metal material such as a composite material or a thermoplastic material. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has an aspect ratio less than 1.7. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has concentric regions of thickness with the thickness portion in the center (102). The club head (42) has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate portion (72) surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches. The golf club head (42) has a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: James M. Murphy, Herbert Reyes, Peter L. Soracco, Matthew T. Cackett, J. Andrew Galloway, Richard C. Helmstetter, Augustin W. Rollinson, Alan Hocknell
  • Publication number: 20060258482
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) having a center of gravity located relatively forward toward the front wall (30) or striking plate (40) of the golf club head (20), and a relatively high moment of inertia about the Iyy axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head (20) is disclosed. The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) preferably has a mass between 105 grams and 300 grams. The positioning of the of the center of gravity of the golf club head (20) and the relatively high moment of inertia Iyy through the center of gravity provide for a golf club with greater robustness and better performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventors: Matthew Cackett, Alan Hocknell, D. Evans, J. Galloway
  • Patent number: 7128661
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The face component (60) is composed of a metal material, and the aft-body (61) is composed of a non-metal material The striking plate portion (72) preferably has concentric regions of thickness. The club head (42) has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate portion (72) surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, James M. Murphy, Herbert Reyes, Matthew T. Cackett, J. Andrew Galloway, Richard C. Helmstetter, Augustin W. Rollinson, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 7125344
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The face component (60) is composed of a metal material, and the aft-body (61) is composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of magnesium alloys, aluminum alloys, magnesium and aluminum. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has an aspect ratio less than 1.7. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has concentric regions of thickness with the thickness portion in the center (102). The club head (42) has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate portion (72) surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Richard C. Helmstetter, J. Andrew Galloway, D. Clayton Evans
  • Patent number: 7121957
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72), a return portion (74), and a second layer (72b) attached to an interior surface of the striking plate portion (72). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The club head (42) has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate portion (72) surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches. The golf club head (42) has a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.81 under test conditions such as the USGA test conditions specified pursuant to Rule 4-1e, Appendix II, of the Rules of Golf for 1998–1999.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, J. Andrew Galloway
  • Patent number: 7121955
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an interchangeable aft-body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61), which is attached to the return portion (74) of the face component (60), is selected from a plurality of aft-bodies, each having a different center of gravity location. Each of the aft-bodies (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64), and a plurality of weights (122) for adjusting location of the center of gravity. An aft-body (61) is selected from the plurality of aft-bodies (61) based on its center of gravity location, so as to provide the club head (40) with a center of gravity location suited to a particular golfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Daniel M. Stevens, Garth W. Smith, Richard C. Helmstetter, Matthew T. Cackett, Augustin W. Rollnson, J. Andrew Galloway, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 7115047
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an interchangeable aft-body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61), which is attached to the return portion (74) of the face component (60), is selected from a plurality of aft-bodies, each having a different center of gravity location. Each of the aft-bodies (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64), and a plurality of weights (122) for adjusting location of the center of gravity. An aft-body (61) is selected from the plurality of aft-bodies (61) based on its center of gravity location, so as to provide the club head (40) with a center of gravity location suited to a particular golfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Daniel M. Stevens, Garth W. Smith, Richard C. Helmstetter, Matthew T. Cackett, Augustin W. Rollnson, J. Andrew Galloway, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 7097573
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) having a body (22) with a front wall (30) with an opening (32) and a striking plate insert (40) is disclosed herein. The body (22) is preferably composed of a light weight material such as a magnesium alloy or an aluminum alloy. A ribbon (28) of the body (22) has a recess (52) therein for placement of a rear weighting member (50). The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) preferably has a mass between 105 grams and 300 grams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Joel B. Erickson, D. Clayton Evans, Matthew T. Cackett, J. Andrew Galloway, Herbert Reyes, Alan Hocknell