Patents by Inventor Douglas E. Roberts

Douglas E. Roberts 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).

  • Golf club head
    Patent number: 8366567
    Abstract: A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may include a main cavity having at least one auxiliary cavity and a base surface. An insert may be associated with the base surface and may comprise at least two contact elements, with a bridge member disposed therebetween. Different contact elements of the insert may be disposed in separate respective auxiliary cavities, such that each contact element may be associated with the base surface. The bridge member of the insert may be dissociated from the base surface. Moreover, a surface coating may be selectively applied to the head to permit a durable adhesive bond between the insert and the base surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Sharon J. Park, Douglas E. Roberts, Andrew P. Chick
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH OPTIMIZED MOI AND/OR ROLL RADIUS
    Publication number: 20130029780
    Abstract: A golf club head with moments of inertia that are optimized about principal axes of the club head. The club head can have a roll radius about its ball striking face that is decreased above a first axis, and increased below the first axis, the first axis being correlated with the principal axes of the club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tim A. Beno, Andrew Curtis, James O'Shea, III, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco
  • GOLF CLUB WITH SELECTED LENGTH TO WEIGHT RATIO
    Publication number: 20130029781
    Abstract: A golf club can include a shaft and club head. The club can have a selected length to weight ratio based on the length of the shaft and the overall weight of the club. The club head can include one or more areas with selective removal of weight to lighten the club head and/or move weight around in the club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Tim A. Beno, Andrew Curtis, Oswaldo Gonzalez, Robert A. Philion, Thomas W. Preece, Douglas E. Roberts, Michael S. Yagley
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
    Publication number: 20120322581
    Abstract: A golf club head with an improved sweet spot, defined as a portion of the striking face that has at least 99.7% of the maximum ballspeed is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head with a significantly circular sweet spot that encompasses at least about 1.5% of the total striking face. A golf club head in accordance with the present invention may generally have a improved face geometry with an elliptical factor of greater than about 0.5, a beveled transition portion around the striking face of the golf club head, a variable face thickness region with decreases thickness, or even a tilted bulge and roll radius all helping improve the performance of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Andrew J. Curtis, Charles E. Golden, Scott A. Rice, Douglas E. Roberts, Thomas W. Preece
  • Golf club with rails
    Patent number: 8328658
    Abstract: A golf club with a plurality of rails wherein the plurality of rails is capable of improving turf interaction for various turf conditions with various turf undulations is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a metal wood type golf club having a plurality of rails on its sole that is capable of changing the lie angle of the metal wood type golf club head by varying the combination of the rails on the sole that comes into contact with the ground to provide improved turf interaction for various types of lies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Thomas C. Morris, Thomas W. Preece, Douglas E. Roberts
  • Muscle-back, with insert, iron type golf club head
    Patent number: 8328660
    Abstract: A muscle-back iron golf club head includes a blade-like upper mass, a muscle-like lower mass, a planar front surface, a top surface, a sole surface, a heel surface, a toe surface, and a rear surface having a first contour. A recess is in the rear surface, the recess having a first portion in the blade-like upper mass and a second portion in the muscle-like lower mass. An insert may be provided in the recess, and such insert may substantially fill the recess and may include a back surface having a second contour which is different from the first contour of the club head rear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Douglas E. Roberts, Trent E. Garner, Kevin A. Wolfe, Daniel J. Stone, Christopher J. Beck, Todd D. Harman, Brent L. Newsome, Michael J. Wallans, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
    Publication number: 20120283037
    Abstract: A golf club head with an improved sweet spot, defined as a portion of the striking face that has at least 99.7% of the maximum ballspeed is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head with a significantly circular sweet spot that encompasses at least about 1.5% of the total striking face. A golf club head in accordance with the present invention may generally have a improved face geometry with an elliptical factor of greater than about 0.5, a beveled transition portion around the striking face of the golf club head, a variable face thickness region with decreases thickness, or even a tilted bulge and roll radius all helping improve the performance of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Andrew J. Curtis, Charles E. Golden, Scott A. Rice, Douglas E. Roberts, Thomas W. Preece
  • Golf club head with improved performance
    Patent number: 8303432
    Abstract: A golf club head with an improved sweet spot, defined as a portion of the striking face that has at least 99.7% of the maximum ballspeed is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head with a significantly circular sweet spot that encompasses at least about 1.5% of the total striking face. A golf club head in accordance with the present invention may generally have a improved face geometry with an elliptical factor of greater than about 0.5, a beveled transition portion around the striking face of the golf club head, a variable face thickness region with decreases thickness, or even a tilted bulge and roll radius all helping improve the performance of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Curtis, Charles E. Golden, Scott A. Rice, Douglas E. Roberts, Thomas W. Preece
  • GOLF CLUB HEADS WITH ENLARGED GROOVES
    Publication number: 20120264537
    Abstract: Golf club heads with enlarged grooves, wherein a portion of the finish adjacent or within the groove is removed to create the visual appearance of enlarged grooves. The surface finish of the groove enhancement area surrounding the groove is matched to be the same as the surface finish of the groove, preferably a bright, smooth or shiny metallic finish. This surface finish of the remainder of the striking face of the golf club is a second surface finish, preferably a dark or black matte, or rough finish. The contrast between the two finishes gives the perception that the grooves are larger than they are physically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Douglas E. Roberts, James G. Lewis
  • Golf club having removable sole weight using custom and interchangeable panels
    Patent number: 8262497
    Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable panel secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable panel may have a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the removable panel to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable panel. A removable panel of the present invention may generally comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density. Even further, the removable panel may generally be releasably attached via a quick disconnect mechanism that allows easy interchangeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco
  • Golf club head with improved performance
    Patent number: 8262501
    Abstract: A golf club head with an improved sweet spot, defined as a portion of the striking face that has at least 99.7% of the maximum ballspeed is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head with a significantly circular sweet spot that encompasses at least about 1.5% of the total striking face. A golf club head in accordance with the present invention may generally have a improved face geometry with an elliptical factor of greater than about 0.5, a beveled transition portion around the striking face of the golf club head, a variable face thickness region with decreases thickness, or even a tilted bulge and roll radius all helping improve the performance of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Curtis, Charles E. Golden, Scott A. Rice, Douglas E. Roberts, Thomas W. Preece
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD
    Publication number: 20120220390
    Abstract: A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may include a main cavity having at least one auxiliary cavity and a base surface. An insert may be associated with the base surface and may comprise at least two contact elements, with a bridge member disposed therebetween. Different contact elements of the insert may be disposed in separate respective auxiliary cavities, such that each contact element may be associated with the base surface. The bridge member of the insert may be dissociated from the base surface. Moreover, a surface coating may be selectively applied to the head to permit a durable adhesive bond between the insert and the base surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: SRI SPORTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Sharon J. Park, Douglas E. ROBERTS, Andrew P. CHICK
  • Golf club head with improved performance
    Patent number: 8251834
    Abstract: A golf club head with an improved sweet spot, defined as a portion of the striking face that has at least 99.7% of the maximum ballspeed is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head with a significantly circular sweet spot that encompasses at least about 1.5% of the total striking face. A golf club head in accordance with the present invention may generally have a improved face geometry with an elliptical factor of greater than about 0.5, a beveled transition portion around the striking face of the golf club head, a variable face thickness region with decreases thickness, or even a tilted bulge and roll radius all helping improve the performance of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Curtis, Charles E. Golden, Scott A. Rice, Douglas E. Roberts, Thomas W. Preece
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: D665863
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Oswaldo Gonzalez, David Morelock, Douglas E. Roberts
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: D666261
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Ryan L. Roach, Douglas E. Roberts, Austin B. Oliveiro, Mitchell E. Bac, Philamon W. Rodgers
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: D666262
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Oswaldo Gonzalez, Steven M. Mitzel, Austin B. Oliveiro, Thomas W. Preece, Douglas E. Roberts
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: D667516
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Oswaldo Gonzalez, Thomas W. Preece, Douglas E. Roberts
  • Golf club headcover
    Patent number: D670777
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas E. Roberts, Bryan W. Tremble, Hyun K. Shin
  • Golf club headcover
    Patent number: D671605
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas E. Roberts, Austin B. Oliveiro
  • Iron golf club head
    Patent number: D673629
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Douglas E. Roberts, Ryan L. Roach