Patents by Inventor Donald S. Bone

Donald S. Bone 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: 20230173352
    Abstract: Golf clubs with improved aerodynamic properties. In an example, a golf club has a golf club head; a grip; and a shaft having a tip end and a butt end. The golf club head is coupled to the shaft at the tip end, and the grip is coupled to the shaft at the butt end. An average bending stiffness of a butt end portion of the shaft is greater than 3.70 times an average bending stiffness of a tip end portion of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Dustin A. Barksdale, Donald S. Bone, Charles E. Golden, Noah de la Cruz, Steven Scott Ogg, Parker Rosquist
  • Patent number: 10729955
    Abstract: A golf club length adjustment device, comprising a first member affixed to a main shaft, the main shaft configured to couple to a golf club head, a second member slideably coupled to the first member, the second member adapted to couple to a golf club grip, wherein the first member is configured to slide along a club axis relative to the second member to change the length of the golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Knutson, Donald S. Bone
  • Patent number: 10391373
    Abstract: A golf club and/or shaft with improved weighting characteristic is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses to a golf club and/or shaft wherein the improved weighting distribution stems from an increase in the mass of the golf club and/or shaft at a specific distance away from the butt end or proximal end of the golf club to help increase the feel and minimize the dispersion of the golf shot by fine tuning the pull and or draw tendencies of a golf shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Dustin A. Barksdale, Donald S. Bone
  • Patent number: 10350466
    Abstract: A golf club shaft having a weight distribution such that the balance point percentage is less than or equal to 44.50%. The weight distribution of the shaft allows for an increase in length and/or club head weight of a golf club while having a reduced impact on the swing weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Rice, Donald S. Bone, Dustin A. Barksdale
  • Publication number: 20190168090
    Abstract: A golf club length adjustment device, comprising a first member affixed to a main shaft, the main shaft configured to couple to a golf club head, a second member slideably coupled to the first member, the second member adapted to couple to a golf club grip, wherein the first member is configured to slide along a club axis relative to the second member to change the length of the golf club.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Knutson, Donald S. Bone
  • Patent number: 10220276
    Abstract: A golf club length adjustment device, comprising a first member affixed to a main shaft, the main shaft configured to couple to a golf club head, a second member slideably coupled to the first member, the second member adapted to couple to a golf club grip, wherein the first member is configured to slide along a club axis relative to the second member to change the length of the golf club, a backout prevention unit configured to limit the second member from uncoupling from the first member after the golf club length adjustment device has been assembled, a decoupling tool configured to be inserted through an access hole formed in a proximal end of the grip, the decoupling tool configured to engage and deflect the backout prevention unit, disengaging the backout prevention unit from the second member, allowing for disassembly of the second member from the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Knutson, Donald S. Bone
  • Publication number: 20180318680
    Abstract: A golf club and/or shaft with improved weighting characteristic is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses to a golf club and/or shaft wherein the improved weighting distribution stems from an increase in the mass of the golf club and/or shaft at a specific distance away from the butt end or proximal end of the golf club to help increase the feel and minimize the dispersion of the golf shot by fine tuning the pull and or draw tendencies of a golf shot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Dustin A. Barksdale, Donald S. Bone
  • Patent number: 10046216
    Abstract: A golf club with improved weighting characteristic is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses to a golf club wherein the improved weighting distribution stems from an increase in the mass of the golf club at a specific distance away from the butt end or proximal end of the golf club head to help increase the feel and minimize the dispersion of the golf shot by minimizing the pull and or draw tendencies of a golf shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Dustin A. Barksdale, Donald S. Bone
  • Publication number: 20180126233
    Abstract: A golf club shaft having a weight distribution such that the balance point percentage is less than or equal to 44.50%. The weight distribution of the shaft allows for an increase in length and/or club head weight of a golf club while having a reduced impact on the swing weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Rice, Donald S. Bone, Dustin A. Barksdale
  • Patent number: 9937397
    Abstract: A system for optimizing weight distribution of a golf club, including a weight receiving grip, wherein the weight receiving grip comprises a generally tubular member comprising a shaft bore configured to surround a proximal portion of the shaft, wherein the weight receiving grip comprises a weight retention portion at a proximal end of the weight receiving grip, the weight retention portion configured to engage a weight member; wherein the weight retention portion of the weight receiving grip further comprises an enlarged bore portion proximal the shaft bore, wherein the weight retention portion of the weight receiving grip further comprises a cavity proximal the enlarged bore portion, and wherein the diameter of the cavity is greater than the diameter of the enlarged bore portion and the diameter of the enlarged bore portion is greater than the diameter D1 of the shaft bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Dustin A. Barksdale, Donald S. Bone, Chad Arch, Scott A. Knutson
  • Publication number: 20180036613
    Abstract: A golf club length adjustment device, comprising a first member affixed to a main shaft, the main shaft configured to couple to a golf club head, a second member slideably coupled to the first member, the second member adapted to couple to a golf club grip, wherein the first member is configured to slide along a club axis relative to the second member to change the length of the golf club, a backout prevention unit configured to limit the second member from uncoupling from the first member after the golf club length adjustment device has been assembled, a decoupling tool configured to be inserted through an access hole formed in a proximal end of the grip, the decoupling tool configured to engage and deflect the backout prevention unit, disengaging the backout prevention unit from the second member, allowing for disassembly of the second member from the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Knutson, Donald S. Bone
  • Patent number: 9827470
    Abstract: A system for optimizing weight distribution of a golf club including a weight receiving grip, the weight receiving grip configured to be affixed to a proximal end of a golf club shaft, wherein the weight receiving grip comprises a generally tubular member comprising a shaft bore configured to surround a proximal portion of the shaft, wherein the weight receiving grip comprises a weight retention portion at a proximal end of the weight receiving grip, the weight retention portion configured to engage a weight member, a grip expanding tool configured to deflect a portion of the weight receiving grip facilitating installation or removal of the weight members from the weight receiving grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Knutson, Dustin A. Barksdale, Donald S. Bone
  • Publication number: 20170189771
    Abstract: A plurality of two or more golf clubs with improved weighting characteristics is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses a specific relationship between the mass Mclub of the golf club and the length Lclub to help improve the performance of the golf club. In addition to the above, the present invention also discloses a change to the balance point of the shaft to help compensate for the change in mass Mshaft of the shaft and the length Lshaft of the shaft to maintain a desirable swing weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Donald S. BONE, Dustin A. BARKSDALE
  • Publication number: 20170165547
    Abstract: A golf club with improved weighting characteristic is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses to a golf club wherein the improved weighting distribution stems from an increase in the mass of the golf club at a specific distance away from the butt end or proximal end of the golf club head to help increase the feel and minimize the dispersion of the golf shot by minimizing the pull and or draw tendencies of a golf shot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Dustin A. Barksdale, Donald S. Bone
  • Patent number: 9616298
    Abstract: A golf club with improved weighting characteristic is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses to a golf club wherein the improved weighting distribution stems from an increase in the mass of the golf club at a specific distance away from the butt end or proximal end of the golf club head to help increase the feel and minimize the dispersion of the golf shot by minimizing the pull and or draw tendencies of a golf shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Dustin A. Barksdale, Donald S. Bone
  • Publication number: 20170087422
    Abstract: A golf club with improved weighting characteristic is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses to a golf club wherein the improved weighting distribution stems from an increase in the mass of the golf club at a specific distance away from the butt end or proximal end of the golf club head to help increase the feel and minimize the dispersion of the golf shot by minimizing the pull and or draw tendencies of a golf shot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Dustin A. Barksdale, Donald S. Bone
  • Publication number: 20170028280
    Abstract: A plurality of two or more golf clubs with improved weighting characteristics is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses a specific relationship between the mass Mclub of the golf club and the length Lclub to help improve the performance of the golf club.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Dustin A. BARKSDALE, Donald S. BONE, Stephanie BEZILLA
  • Publication number: 20160250528
    Abstract: A plurality of two or more golf clubs with improved weighting characteristics is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses a specific relationship between the mass Mclub of the golf club and the length Lclub to help improve the performance of the golf club.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Dustin A. Barksdale, Donald S. Bone, Stephanie Bezilla
  • Publication number: 20160250529
    Abstract: A plurality of two or more golf clubs with improved weighting characteristics is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses a specific relationship between the mass Mclub of the golf club and the length Lclub to help improve the performance of the golf club. In addition to the above, the present invention also discloses a change to the balance point of the shaft to help compensate for the change in mass Mshaft of the shaft and the length Lshaft of the shaft to maintain a desirable swing weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald S. Bone, Dustin A. Barksdale
  • Patent number: D929522
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Donald S. Bone, Dustin A. Barksdale