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).

  • Publication number: 20160263464
    Abstract: A putter selection aid includes a mat having a ball placement indicia, a stroke line extending through the ball placement indicia, and three demarcated areas. The first demarcated area is spaced from the stroke line by a first mean distance (d1), the second demarcated area is spaced from the stroke line by a second mean distance (d2), and the third demarcated area is spaced from the stroke line by a third mean distance (d3), where d1<d2<d3. The first demarcated area includes a first reference to a first putter style, the second demarcated area includes a second reference to a second putter style, and the third demarcated area includes a third reference to a third putter style.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Cardani, John Hatfield, Matthew J. Plumb, Michael T. Prichard, David N. Franklin
  • Publication number: 20160121178
    Abstract: A head for a ball striking device includes a face having a striking surface and a rear side located behind the face, a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member, and a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, such that the resilient member engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Jamil Jacaman, Brian Kammerer
  • Publication number: 20160082329
    Abstract: A golf club includes a tubular shaft, a golf club head affixed to a first end of the tubular shaft, and a grip abutting a second end of the shaft. The golf club further includes an adjustable counterbalance that is insertable within a hollow recess of the grip. The adjustable counter balance includes an elongate member adapted to be secured to the tubular shaft, and a movable weight. The movable weight is selectively transitionable between a first, unlocked state that permits translation of the weight along the elongate member, and a second locked state that restrains the weight from free translation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kammerer, David N. Franklin, John Hatfield
  • Patent number: 9289659
    Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an adjustable alignment aid housed on a top surface of the body is provided. The adjustable alignment aid is pivotable relative to the top surface, either two-dimensionally or about an axis of rotation transverse to the top surface. The adjustable alignment aid may be coupled to the remainder of the golf club head through a resistive connection and may be shifted to assist a golfer in squaring the face of the golf club face to a perceived eye line and resulting in the golfer being able to better square the golf club head with the eye line at a point of contact. The golf club head may be a putter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: David N. Franklin
  • Patent number: 9266000
    Abstract: A golf club includes a tubular shaft, a golf club head affixed to a first end of the tubular shaft, and a grip disposed about the tubular shaft and abutting a second end of the tubular shaft. An adjustable counterbalance extends within a hollow recess of the shaft and is selectively secured to the second end. The adjustable counterbalance includes an elongate member and an annular weight disposed about the elongate member. The annular weight is movable along the elongate member and configured to be selectively affixed to the elongate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kammerer, David N. Franklin, John Hatfield
  • Patent number: 9265998
    Abstract: A golf club includes a tubular shaft, a golf club head affixed to a first end of the shaft, and a grip disposed about a second end of the shaft. The golf club head is a putter head having a loft angle of from about 0 degrees to about 6 degrees and a mass of from about 360 grams to about 400 grams. A movable weight is disposed within a hollow recess of the shaft and within a grip portion of the club. The movable weight is configured to be selectively repositionable within the grip portion by a user, and has a mass of from about 60 grams to about 80 grams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kammerer, David N. Franklin, John Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20160038797
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Byron C. Slaughter, William C. Knight, David N. Franklin, Jeremy Snyder
  • Patent number: 9233282
    Abstract: Golf clubs, club heads, and club weighting systems may include: (a) a club head body member; and (b) one or more weight members removably and/or movably engaged with the club head body member so as to move between a first position and a second position to change an overall exterior shape of the club head. This shape change may result in changes to the overall center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Alternatively or additionally, the weight member(s) may be removed from the club head body member, reoriented, and/or replaced with a different weight member, e.g., to change the overall exterior shape, center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Methods of making and using these clubs, club heads, and weighting systems also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, David N. Franklin
  • Publication number: 20150343277
    Abstract: Golf club heads include a golf club head body, a ball striking face, and a shaft engaging member configured to engage a golf club shaft with the golf club head body. Additionally, the shaft engaging member may be configured to engage the golf club head body and the shaft below a center of gravity of the golf club head, and/or the shaft engaging member may have rotational locking structure that can be locked in a plurality of positions. Further, the golf club head may include a face member and a rear member, where the rear member is configured to transfer energy and/or momentum to the face member, particularly on off-center hits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Jason Cardani, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Raymond J. Sander
  • Publication number: 20150343282
    Abstract: A ball striking device has a head with a body member having a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball, a crown portion and a sole portion connected to the face and extending rearward from the face, where the body member has a void extending inwardly from a rear periphery of the body member, and a rear member connected to the body member and received within the void, such that the rear member forms portions of a crown and a sole of the head. A connection member connects the rear member to the body member to form a joint between the rear member and the body member. A resilient member separates the rear member from the body member, and the resilient member engages the rear member and the body member within the void and is configured to transfer momentum between the rear member and the body member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Brian Kammerer, Eric A. Larson, Raymond J. Sander, John T. Stites, Robert Boyd
  • Publication number: 20150343276
    Abstract: Golf club heads include a golf club head body, a ball striking face, and a shaft engaging member configured to engage a golf club shaft with the golf club head body. The golf club head may be configured with a first piece and a second piece, which may be in the form of the shaft engaging member and a body member connected to the shaft engaging member. The shaft engaging member includes a base member and an arm extending from the base member, and the body member includes a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a club head body positioned behind the face, the second piece having a receiving slot positioned behind the face, where the base member of the first piece is at least partially received within the receiving slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Jason Cardani, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Raymond J. Sander
  • Publication number: 20150343285
    Abstract: Ball striking devices, such as golf clubs, have a head that includes a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member, a first connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, and a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member. The first connection member is directly engaged with the rear member, and the club head further includes a first spacer separating the first connection member from the face member. The first spacer is flexible, and the first connection member indirectly engages the face member by compressing the first spacer against the face member. The resilient material engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Brian Kammerer
  • Publication number: 20150343278
    Abstract: Golf club heads include a golf club head body, a ball striking face, and a shaft engaging member configured to engage a golf club shaft with the golf club head body. Additionally, the shaft engaging member may be configured to engage the golf club head body and the shaft below a center of gravity of the golf club head, and/or the shaft engaging member may have rotational locking structure that can be locked in a plurality of positions. Further, the golf club head may include a face member and a rear member, where the rear member is configured to transfer energy and/or momentum to the face member, particularly on off-center hits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Jason Cardani, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Raymond J. Sander
  • Publication number: 20150328504
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 9168436
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Byron C. Slaughter, William C. Knight, David N. Franklin, Jeremy Snyder
  • Patent number: 9144717
    Abstract: A putter head has a putter body having a base member defining a ball striking face surface. The putter body further has a first arm extending away from the base member and a second arm extending away from the base member, and a central member extending away from the base member and positioned between the first arm and the second arm. A weight assembly is supported by the putter body. The weight assembly has a beam member having a first end, a second end and a central portion. The central portion is supported by the central member along a first plane, and the first end of the beam member is supported by the first arm along a second plane. The second plane is generally transverse to the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Jason P. Martin, Carl A. Jonsson
  • Publication number: 20150258394
    Abstract: Golf club heads include a face member with a face having a striking surface and a rear side opposite the striking surface, where a rear cavity is defined on the rear side of the face member, and a rear member is connected to the rear side of the face member, such that the rear member is at least partially received within the rear cavity. A resilient material is positioned between the rear member and the face member, and the head also includes an engagement member rigidly engaging the face member and the rear member at a point between the heel edge and the toe edge of the rear member. The engagement member has a rigidity greater than that of the resilient material and may form a sole area of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander
  • Patent number: 9072948
    Abstract: A head for a ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face member having a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear surface opposite the striking surface, a weight member connected to the face member behind the rear surface of the face member, and a resilient member positioned between the weight member and the face member. The resilient member is connected to the rear surface of the face member to connect the weight member to the face member. The resilient member is compressible to permit energy and/or momentum to be transferred between the weight member and the face member through the resilient member during impact, including an off-center impact on the striking surface. Momentum transferred from the weight member to the face member during an off-center impact may reduce energy loss and twisting of the face on impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20150119160
    Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an adjustable alignment aid housed on a top surface of the body is provided. The adjustable alignment aid is pivotable relative to the top surface, either two-dimensionally or about an axis of rotation transverse to the top surface. The adjustable alignment aid may be coupled to the remainder of the golf club head through a resistive connection and may be shifted to assist a golfer in squaring the face of the golf club face to a perceived eye line and resulting in the golfer being able to better square the golf club head with the eye line at a point of contact. The golf club head may be a putter head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: David N. Franklin
  • Publication number: 20150072800
    Abstract: A head for a ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face member having a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear surface opposite the striking surface, a weight member connected to the face member behind the rear surface of the face member, and a resilient member positioned between the weight member and the face member. The resilient member is connected to the rear surface of the face member to connect the weight member to the face member. The resilient member is compressible to permit energy and/or momentum to be transferred between the weight member and the face member through the resilient member during impact, including an off-center impact on the striking surface. Momentum transferred from the weight member to the face member during an off-center impact may reduce energy loss and twisting of the face on impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Jeremy N. Snyder, John T. Stites, Robert Boyd