Patents by Inventor David N. Franklin
David N. Franklin 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).
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Patent number: 11918868Abstract: The invention is a golf club head with a ball striking face including a plurality of recesses, a plurality of first grooves, and a plurality of second grooves that extend between a heel edge and a toe edge of the club head. The ball striking face includes a first material, for example a metal material, and the plurality of recesses are filled with a fill material, for example a polymer material. The depth of the grooves, the height of the grooves, the fill material, and the positioning of the grooves can all affect the performance of the club head. In some embodiments, the club head is a putter-type club head.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Inventors: David N. Franklin, Jamil Jacaman
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Publication number: 20240042288Abstract: A ball striking device includes a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking plate has a desired-contact region and a perimeter. One or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface and may radiate away from the desired-contact region toward the perimeter. At least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located in an upper-toe quadrant or in an upper-heel quadrant of the rear surface. One or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface. The one or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be at least partially encircling the desired-contact region. A thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be positioned behind the desired-contact region of the ball striking plate. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Byron C. Slaughter, William C. Knight, David N. Franklin, Jeremy Snyder
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Patent number: 11786788Abstract: A ball striking device includes a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking plate has a desired-contact region and a perimeter. One or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface and may radiate away from the desired-contact region toward the perimeter. At least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located in an upper-toe quadrant or in an upper-heel quadrant of the rear surface. One or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface. The one or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be at least partially encircling the desired-contact region. A thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be positioned behind the desired-contact region of the ball striking plate. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Byron C. Slaughter, William C. Knight, David N. Franklin, Jeremy Snyder
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Patent number: 11596842Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
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Publication number: 20220219052Abstract: Ball striking devices, such as golf clubs, have a head that includes a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball, and a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face, with the body having a crown, a sole, a heel side, and a toe side, such that the face and the body combine to define an enclosed internal cavity. A damping member is connected to the body and includes a post extending inwardly into the cavity from an inner surface of the body, a first arm extending from the post toward the heel side of the body, and a second arm extending from the post toward the toe side of the body. The damping member is configured to produce a mass damping effect upon an impact on the face.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2022Publication date: July 14, 2022Inventors: David N. Franklin, Michael Wallans
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Patent number: 11383139Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
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Publication number: 20220111269Abstract: The invention is a golf club head with a ball striking face including a plurality of recesses, a plurality of first grooves, and a plurality of second grooves that extend between a heel edge and a toe edge of the club head. The ball striking face includes a first material, for example a metal material, and the plurality of recesses are filled with a fill material, for example a polymer material. The depth of the grooves, the height of the grooves, the fill material, and the positioning of the grooves can all affect the performance of the club head. In some embodiments, the club head is a putter-type club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Inventors: David N. Franklin, Jamil Jacaman
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Patent number: 11285364Abstract: Ball striking devices, such as golf clubs, have a head that includes a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball, and a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face, with the body having a crown, a sole, a heel side, and a toe side, such that the face and the body combine to define an enclosed internal cavity. A damping member is connected to the body and includes a post extending inwardly into the cavity from an inner surface of the body, a first arm extending from the post toward the heel side of the body, and a second arm extending from the post toward the toe side of the body. The damping member is configured to produce a mass damping effect upon an impact on the face.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: David N. Franklin, Michael Wallans
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Publication number: 20220001250Abstract: A ball striking device includes a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking plate has a desired-contact region and a perimeter. One or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface and may radiate away from the desired-contact region toward the perimeter. At least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located in an upper-toe quadrant or in an upper-heel quadrant of the rear surface. One or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface. The one or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be at least partially encircling the desired-contact region. A thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be positioned behind the desired-contact region of the ball striking plate. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Byron C. Slaughter, William C. Knight, David N. Franklin, Jeremy Snyder
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Patent number: 11207576Abstract: The invention is a golf club head with a ball striking face including a plurality of recesses, a plurality of first grooves, and a plurality of second grooves that extend between a heel edge and a toe edge of the club head. The ball striking face includes a first material, for example a metal material, and the plurality of recesses are filled with a fill material, for example a polymer material. The depth of the grooves, the height of the grooves, the fill material, and the positioning of the grooves can all affect the performance of the club head. In some embodiments, the club head is a putter-type club head.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONInventors: David N. Franklin, Jamil Jacaman
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Publication number: 20210331047Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
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Patent number: 11117029Abstract: A ball striking device includes a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking plate has a desired-contact region and a perimeter. One or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface and may radiate away from the desired-contact region toward the perimeter. At least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located in an upper-toe quadrant or in an upper-heel quadrant of the rear surface. One or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface. The one or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be at least partially encircling the desired-contact region. A thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be positioned behind the desired-contact region of the ball striking plate. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2020Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Byron C. Slaughter, William C. Knight, David N. Franklin, Jeremy Snyder
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Patent number: 11065515Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2020Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
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Publication number: 20210023423Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
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Publication number: 20210008419Abstract: Ball striking devices, such as golf clubs, have a head that includes a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball, and a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face, with the body having a crown, a sole, a heel side, and a toe side, such that the face and the body combine to define an enclosed internal cavity. A damping member is connected to the body and includes a post extending inwardly into the cavity from an inner surface of the body, a first arm extending from the post toward the heel side of the body, and a second arm extending from the post toward the toe side of the body. The damping member is configured to produce a mass damping effect upon an impact on the face.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: David N. Franklin, Michael Wallans
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Publication number: 20200406110Abstract: A ball striking device includes a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking plate has a desired-contact region and a perimeter. One or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface and may radiate away from the desired-contact region toward the perimeter. At least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located in an upper-toe quadrant or in an upper-heel quadrant of the rear surface. One or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface. The one or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be at least partially encircling the desired-contact region. A thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be positioned behind the desired-contact region of the ball striking plate. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Byron C. Slaughter, William C. Knight, David N. Franklin, Jeremy Snyder
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Publication number: 20200398127Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
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Patent number: 10799777Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2019Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
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Patent number: 10773136Abstract: A ball striking device includes a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking plate has a desired-contact region and a perimeter. One or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface and may radiate away from the desired-contact region toward the perimeter. At least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located in an upper-toe quadrant or in an upper-heel quadrant of the rear surface. One or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface. The one or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be at least partially encircling the desired-contact region. A thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be positioned behind the desired-contact region of the ball striking plate. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Byron C. Slaughter, William C. Knight, David N. Franklin, Jeremy Snyder
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Patent number: 10765923Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin