Patents by Inventor Brian Fortner

Brian Fortner 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).

  • Releasable and interchangeable connections for golf club heads and shafts
    Patent number: 7955185
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, John Thomas Stites, James Thomas, Raymond J. Sander, Vincent J. Contini, James Prescott, Brian Fortner
  • Releasable and Interchangeable Connections for Golf Club Heads and Shafts
    Publication number: 20100160064
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Thomas, John Thomas Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Vincent J. Contini, Raymond J. Sander, James Prescott, Brian Fortner
  • Releasable and interchangeable connections for golf club heads and shafts
    Patent number: 7722474
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Thomas, John Thomas Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Vincent J. Contini, Raymond J. Sander, James Prescott, Brian Fortner
  • Releasable and Interchangeable Connections For Golf Club Heads and Shafts
    Publication number: 20090011848
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: James S. Thomas, John Thomas Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Vincent J. Contini, Raymond J. Sander, James Prescott, Brian Fortner