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: 7455598
    Abstract: A golf club head (42) having a substantially square or rectangular body is disclosed herein. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Luke R. Williams, Larry G. Tang, Daniel M. Stevens, Ronald K. Hettinger, Michael Hallack, Evan D. Gibbs, Matthew T. Cackett, Alan Hocknell
  • Publication number: 20080280694
    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: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: ALAN HOCKNELL, MATTHEW T. CACKETT, DENVER HOLT, D. CLAYTON EVANS, DANIEL M. STEVENS, JAMES C. WENCK, STEVEN S. OGG, KONRAD LENHOF, JERRY V. BLANKE, JOEL B. ERICKSON, BROADUS PERRY WALL
  • Publication number: 20080280695
    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: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck
  • Patent number: 7438647
    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 an injectable polymer material such as a nylon. A plating layer (300) is disposed on at least a portion of the aft-body (61). The plating layer (300) preferably comprises a nanocrystalline material. The club head (42) preferably has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 7431666
    Abstract: A golf club head having a high moment of inertia is disclosed herein. The golf club head preferably has a volume ranging from 450 cubic centimeters to 475 cubic centimeters, a mass ranging from 180 grams to 225 grams, and a length ranging from 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches. The golf club head preferably has a moment of inertia, Iyy, about the center of gravity of the golf club head ranging from 2000 grams-centimeters squared to 4000 grams-centimeters squared. Preferably, the first 20% of the golf club head has at least 60% of the mass of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Brandon T. Vincent, Alan Hocknell, Patrick Dawson
  • Patent number: 7431667
    Abstract: A golf club head having a high moment of inertia is disclosed herein. The golf club head preferably has a volume ranging from 450 cubic centimeters to 475 cubic centimeters, a mass ranging from 180 grams to 225 grams, and a length ranging from 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches. The golf club head preferably has a moment of inertia, Iyy, about the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared. Preferably, the golf club includes a metal face component, a non-metal aft-body and a weight member attached to an inlaid portion of the non-metal aft-body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Brandon T. Vincent, Alan Hocknell, Patrick Dawson
  • Publication number: 20080242446
    Abstract: The iron golf club head (20) of the present invention is preferably composed of three main components: a periphery member 22, a central member 24 and a nanocrystalline plated face plate 26. The periphery member (22) is preferably composed of a high density material such as a nickel-tungsten alloy. The central member (24) is preferably composed of a lightweight, non-metal material. The face plate (26) is preferably composed of a non-metal material plated with a nanocrystalline material. The iron golf club head (20) preferably has high moments of inertia Izz and Ixx.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: Alan HOCKNELL, CHRIS J. WIELAND
  • Patent number: 7427239
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt
  • Publication number: 20080220895
    Abstract: A golf club head having a high moment of inertia is disclosed herein. The golf club head preferably has a volume ranging from 450 cubic centimeters to 475 cubic centimeters, a mass ranging from 180 grams to 225 grams, and a length ranging from 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches. The golf club head preferably has a moment of inertia, Iyy, about the center of gravity of the golf club head ranging from 2000 grams-centimeters squared to 4000 grams-centimeters squared. Preferably, the first 20% of the golf club head has at least 60% of the mass of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: BRANDON T. VINCENT, ALAN HOCKNELL, PATRICK DAWSON
  • Publication number: 20080220893
    Abstract: A golf club head having a high moment of inertia is disclosed herein. The golf club head preferably has a volume ranging from 450 cubic centimeters to 475 cubic centimeters, a mass ranging from 180 grams to 225 grams, and a length ranging from 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches. The golf club head preferably has a moment of inertia, Iyy, about the center of gravity of the golf club head ranging from 2000 grams-centimeters squared to 4000 grams-centimeters squared. Preferably, the first 10% of the golf club head has at least 40% of the mass of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: PATRICK DAWSON, BRANDON T. VINCENT, ALAN HOCKNELL
  • Publication number: 20080220898
    Abstract: A golf club head having a high moment of inertia is disclosed herein. The golf club head preferably has a volume ranging from 450 cubic centimeters to 475 cubic centimeters, a mass ranging from 180 grams to 225 grams, and a length ranging from 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches. The golf club head preferably has a moment of inertia, Iyy, about the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared. Preferably, the golf club includes a metal face component, a non-metal aft-body and a weight member attached to an inlaid portion of the non-metal aft-body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: ALAN HOCKNELL, PATRICK DAWSON, BRANDON T. VINCENT
  • Publication number: 20080220897
    Abstract: A golf club head having a high moment of inertia is disclosed herein. The golf club head preferably has a volume ranging from 450 cubic centimeters to 475 cubic centimeters, a mass ranging from 180 grams to 225 grams, and a length ranging from 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches. The golf club head preferably has a moment of inertia, Iyy, about the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared. Preferably, the golf club includes a metal face component, a non-metal aft-body and a weight member attached to an inlaid portion of the non-metal aft-body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: BRANDON T. VINCENT, ALAN HOCKNELL, PATRICK DAWSON
  • Patent number: 7419440
    Abstract: A golf club head (42) having a substantially square or rectangular body is disclosed herein. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Luke R. Williams, Larry G. Tang, Daniel M. Stevens, Ronald K. Hettinger, Michael Hallack, Evan D. Gibbs, Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett
  • Patent number: 7416496
    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: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: J. Andrew Galloway, Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett
  • Publication number: 20080198356
    Abstract: An improved range finder for use on a golf course. The improved range finder includes means for identifying the closest target in a field of view during a sweep operation of the field of view and means for presenting the distance of the closest target at the conclusion of the sweep operation of the field of view. The improved range finder preferably uses infrared light to detect a flagstick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: ALAN HOCKNELL, MATTHEW T. CACKETT, DANIEL M. STEVENS, BRANDON T. VINCENT
  • Patent number: 7413519
    Abstract: A golf club head having a high moment of inertia is disclosed herein. The golf club head preferably has a volume ranging from 450 cubic centimeters to 475 cubic centimeters, a mass ranging from 180 grams to 225 grams, and a length ranging from 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches. The golf club head preferably has a moment of inertia, Iyy, about the center of gravity of the golf club head ranging from 2000 grams-centimeters squared to 4000 grams-centimeters squared. Preferably, the first 10% of the golf club head has at least 40% of the mass of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Patrick Dawson, Brandon T. Vincent, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 7413520
    Abstract: A golf club head having a high moment of inertia is disclosed herein. The golf club head preferably has a volume ranging from 450 cubic centimeters to 475 cubic centimeters, a mass ranging from 180 grams to 225 grams, and a length ranging from 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches. The golf club head preferably has a moment of inertia, Iyy, about the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared. Preferably, the golf club includes a metal face component, a non-metal aft-body and a weight member attached to an inlaid portion of the non-metal aft-body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Patrick Dawson, Brandon T. Vincent
  • Patent number: 7410428
    Abstract: A golf club head having a high moment of inertia is disclosed herein. The golf club head preferably has a volume ranging from 450 cubic centimeters to 475 cubic centimeters, a mass ranging from 180 grams to 225 grams, and a length ranging from 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches. The golf club head preferably has a moment of inertia, Iyy, about the center of gravity of the golf club head ranging from 2000 grams-centimeters squared to 4000 grams-centimeters squared. Preferably, a middle section of the golf club head has less than 20% of the mass of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Patrick Dawson, Brandon T. Vincent, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 7407448
    Abstract: A golf club head (42) having more than 50% of a volume forward of a center of gravity and more than 50% of a mass rearward of the center of gravity is disclosed herein. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 480 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 2000 grams-centimeters squared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Daniel M. Stevens, Luke R. Williams, Larry G. Tang, Ronald K. Hettinger, Michael Hallack, Evan D. Gibbs, Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett
  • Patent number: 7399238
    Abstract: The iron golf club head (20) of the present invention is preferably composed of three main components: a periphery member 22, a central member 24 and a nanocrystalline plated face plate 26. The periphery member (22) is preferably composed of a high density material such as a nickel-tungsten alloy. The central member (24) is preferably composed of a lightweight, non-metal material. The face plate (26) is preferably composed of a non-metal material plated with a nanocrystalline material. The iron golf club head (20) preferably has high moments of inertia Izz and Ixx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Chris J. Wieland