Patents by Inventor Bing-Ling Chao

Bing-Ling Chao 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).

  • Publication number: 20240139588
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body having a crown, sole and skirt therebetween, the head body defining an opening in a front portion and having a frame support around the periphery of the opening. A face plate is mounted within the opening and has a transition radius along one or more edges to at least partially wrap around one or more of the crown, sole and skirt. The head includes thin wall zones in the crown and skirt, a hosel flush with the crown and a weight mounted in the sole proximate to the face plate, such that the golf club head has a center of gravity located relatively low and forward in proximity to the face plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, Todd P. Beach, John Francis Lorentzen
  • Patent number: 11951363
    Abstract: A golf club head is described having a body defining an interior cavity and comprising a heel portion, a toe portion, and a sole portion positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, and a crown positioned at a top portion. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head can have a non-metallic striking surface positioned at the forward portion of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Peter T. Larsen, Kraig Alan Willett, Bing-Ling Chao, John Francis Lorentzen
  • Patent number: 11944878
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a club body including a crown, a sole, a skirt disposed between and connecting the crown and the sole and a face portion connected to a front end of the club body. The face portion includes a geometric center defining the origin of a coordinate system when the golf club head is ideally positioned, the coordinate system including an x-axis being tangent to the face portion at the origin and parallel to a ground plane, a y-axis intersecting the origin being parallel to the ground plane and orthogonal to the x-axis, and a z-axis intersecting the origin being orthogonal to both the x-axis and the y-axis. The golf club head defines a center of gravity CG, the CG being a distance CGY from the origin as measured along the y-axis and a distance CGZ from the origin as measured along the z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, John Francis Lorentzen, Bing-Ling Chao, Mark Vincent Greaney
  • Patent number: 11897026
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a casting cluster for casting a body of a golf club head made of titanium or a titanium alloy. The casting cluster comprises a receptor and a plurality of runners coupled to the receptor and configured to receive molten metal from the receptor. The casting cluster also includes at least twenty-eight main gates. At least two of the main gates are coupled to each of the runners and each main gate is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the plurality of runners. The casting cluster further comprises at least twenty-eight molds. Each mold of the at least twenty-eight molds is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the main gates and to cast a body of a golf club head that has a volume of at least 100 cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Yu, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Patent number: 11878340
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a casting cluster for casting a body of a golf club head made of titanium or a titanium alloy. The casting cluster comprises a receptor and a plurality of runners coupled to the receptor and configured to receive molten metal from the receptor. The casting cluster also includes at least forty main gates. At least two of the main gates are coupled to each of the runners and each main gate is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the plurality of runners. The casting cluster further comprises at least forty molds. Each mold of the at least forty molds is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the main gates and to cast a body of an iron-type golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Yu, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Publication number: 20240001204
    Abstract: A cast cup can include a forward portion of a golf club head, including a hosel, forward portions of a crown, sole, heel, and toe, and a face portion or an opening to receive a face insert. A rear ring can be formed separately from the cast cup and coupled to heel and toe portions of the cast cup to form a rigid club head body, such that the club head body defines a hollow interior region, a crown opening, a sole opening, and/or face opening. The cast cup and rear ring can be made of different materials, including various metals, composites, and polymers. Composite crown, sole, and/or face inserts can be coupled to the crown, sole, and/or face openings. Weights can be coupled to the cast cup and to the rear ring. The face can have a complex variable thickness geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Greensmith, Bing-Ling Chao, Matthew David Johnson, Christopher John Harbert, Todd P. Beach
  • Publication number: 20230390612
    Abstract: Golf club heads are described having a club head portion, a shaft portion connected to the club head portion, and a grip portion connected to the shaft portion. The club head portion has a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a crown portion, a hosel portion, and a striking face. The striking face can have a center face roll contour, a toe side roll contour, a heel side roll contour, a center face bulge contour, a crown side bulge contour, and a sole side bulge contour. The toe side roll contour can be more lofted than the center face roll contour. The heel side roll contour can be less lofted than the center face roll contour. The crown side bulge contour can be more open than the center face bulge contour, and the sole side bulge contour can be more closed than the center face bulge contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Vincent Greaney, Kraig Alan Willett, Joe Hoffman, Todd P. Beach, Robert Story, Jake Feuerstein, Michelle Penney, Bradley Poston, Christopher Rollins, Joseph Yu, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Publication number: 20230381603
    Abstract: A golf club head is described having a body defining an interior cavity and comprising a heel portion, a toe portion, and a sole portion positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, and a crown positioned at a top portion. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head can have a non-metallic striking surface positioned at the forward portion of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Peter T. Larsen, Kraig Alan Willett, Bing-Ling Chao, John Francis Lorentzen
  • Publication number: 20230356041
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a club body including a crown, a sole, a skirt disposed between and connecting the crown and the sole and a face portion connected to a front end of the club body. The face portion includes a geometric center defining the origin of a coordinate system when the golf club head is ideally positioned, the coordinate system including an x-axis being tangent to the face portion at the origin and parallel to a ground plane, a y-axis intersecting the origin being parallel to the ground plane and orthogonal to the x-axis, and a z-axis intersecting the origin being orthogonal to both the x-axis and the y-axis. The golf club head defines a center of gravity CG, the CG being a distance CGY from the origin as measured along the y-axis and a distance CGz from the origin as measured along the z-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, John Francis Lorentzen, Bing-Ling Chao, Mark Vincent Greaney
  • Patent number: 11806586
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body having a crown, sole and skirt therebetween, the head body defining an opening in a front portion and having a frame support around the periphery of the opening. A face plate is mounted within the opening and has a transition radius along one or more edges to at least partially wrap around one or more of the crown, sole and skirt. The head includes thin wall zones in the crown and skirt, a hosel flush with the crown and a weight mounted in the sole proximate to the face plate, such that the golf club head has a center of gravity located relatively low and forward in proximity to the face plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, Todd P. Beach, John Francis Lorentzen
  • Publication number: 20230310954
    Abstract: A cast cup can include a forward portion of a golf club head, including a hosel, a face portion, and forward portions of a crown, sole, heel and toe. A rear ring can be formed separately from the cast cup and coupled to heel and toe portions of the cast cup to form a metallic club head body, such that the club head body defines a hollow interior region, a crown opening, and a sole opening. The cast cup and rear ring can be cast of titanium alloys. Composite crown and sole inserts can then be coupled to the crown opening and sole opening. The face portion of the cast cup can have a desirably complex geometry. The rear surface of the face portion of the cast cup can be modified before the rear ring is attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Greensmith, Matthew David Johnson, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Publication number: 20230234122
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a casting cluster for casting a body of a golf club head made of titanium or a titanium alloy. The casting cluster comprises a receptor and a plurality of runners coupled to the receptor and configured to receive molten metal from the receptor. The casting cluster also includes at least twenty-eight main gates. At least two of the main gates are coupled to each of the runners and each main gate is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the plurality of runners. The casting cluster further comprises at least twenty-eight molds. Each mold of the at least twenty-eight molds is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the main gates and to cast a body of a golf club head that has a volume of at least 100 cm3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph Yu, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Publication number: 20230226601
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a casting cluster for casting a body of a golf club head made of titanium or a titanium alloy. The casting cluster comprises a receptor and a plurality of runners coupled to the receptor and configured to receive molten metal from the receptor. The casting cluster also includes at least forty main gates. At least two of the main gates are coupled to each of the runners and each main gate is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the plurality of runners. The casting cluster further comprises at least forty molds. Each mold of the at least forty molds is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the main gates and to cast a body of an iron-type golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph Yu, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Patent number: 11701557
    Abstract: A cast cup can include a forward portion of a golf club head, including a hosel, forward portions of a crown, sole, heel, and toe, and a face portion or an opening to receive a face insert. A rear ring can be formed separately from the cast cup and coupled to heel and toe portions of the cast cup to form a rigid club head body, such that the club head body defines a hollow interior region, a crown opening, a sole opening, and/or face opening. The cast cup and rear ring can be made of different materials, including various metals, composites, and polymers. Composite crown, sole, and/or face inserts can be coupled to the crown, sole, and/or face openings. Weights can be coupled to the cast cup and to the rear ring. The face can have a complex variable thickness geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Greensmith, Bing-Ling Chao, Matthew David Johnson, Christopher John Harbert, Todd P. Beach
  • Publication number: 20230218955
    Abstract: A golf club head is described having a body defining an interior cavity and comprising a heel portion, a toe portion, and a sole portion positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, and a crown positioned at a top portion. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. A non-metallic striking surface is positioned at the forward portion of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Peter T. Larsen, Kraig Alan Willett, Bing-Ling Chao, John Francis Lorentzen
  • Patent number: 11691054
    Abstract: Golf club heads are described having a club head portion, a shaft portion connected to the club head portion, and a grip portion connected to the shaft portion. The club head portion has a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a crown portion, a hosel portion, and a striking face. The striking face can have a center face roll contour, a toe side roll contour, a heel side roll contour, a center face bulge contour, a crown side bulge contour, and a sole side bulge contour. The toe side roll contour can be more lofted than the center face roll contour. The heel side roll contour can be less lofted than the center face roll contour. The crown side bulge contour can be more open than the center face bulge contour, and the sole side bulge contour can be more closed than the center face bulge contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Vincent Greaney, Kraig Alan Willett, Joe Hoffman, Todd P. Beach, Robert Story, Jake Feuerstein, Michelle Penney, Bradley Poston, Christopher Rollins, Joseph Yu, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Patent number: 11596841
    Abstract: A golf club head is described having a body defining an interior cavity and comprising a heel portion, a toe portion, and a sole portion positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, and a crown positioned at a top portion. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. A face is positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face has a center face location and includes a center face characteristic time. An off-center location on the face is located at about ?40 mm in a heel direction away from the center face location. The off-center location has an off-center characteristic time of at least 80% of the center face characteristic time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Peter T. Larsen, Kraig Alan Willett, Bing-Ling Chao, John Francis Lorentzen
  • Patent number: 11577307
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a casting cluster for casting a body of a golf club head made of titanium or a titanium alloy. The casting cluster comprises a receptor and a plurality of runners coupled to the receptor and configured to receive molten metal from the receptor. The casting cluster also includes at least forty main gates. At least two of the main gates are coupled to each of the runners and each main gate is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the plurality of runners. The casting cluster further comprises at least forty molds. Each mold of the at least forty molds is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the main gates and to cast a body of an iron-type golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Yu, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Patent number: 11571739
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a casting cluster for casting a body of a golf club head made of titanium or a titanium alloy. The casting cluster comprises a receptor and a plurality of runners coupled to the receptor and configured to receive molten metal from the receptor. The casting cluster also includes at least twenty-eight main gates. At least two of the main gates are coupled to each of the runners and each main gate is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the plurality of runners. The casting cluster further comprises at least twenty-eight molds. Each mold of the at least twenty-eight molds is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the main gates and to cast a body of a golf club head that has a volume of at least 100 cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Yu, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Publication number: 20230036169
    Abstract: A high forgiveness wood-type golf club head comprises a body and a face. The body comprises a sole that forms a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown that forms a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt that forms a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. The face place is positioned at a front portion of the golf club head opposite a rear portion of the golf club head. The body defines an outer periphery having a generally triangular shape in plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Peter L. Larsen, Bing-Ling Chao