Patents by Inventor James C. Wenck

James C. Wenck 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).

  • Patent number: 8257193
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck, Steven S. Ogg, Konrad Lenhof, Jerry V. Blanke, Joel B. Erickson, Broadus Perry Wall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8235840
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck, Steven S. Ogg, Konrad Lenhof, Jerry V. Blanke, Joel B. Erickson, Broadus Perry Wall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8096895
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck, Steven S. Ogg, Konrad Lenhof, Jerry V. Blanke, Joel B. Erickson, Broadus Perry Wall
  • Patent number: 8002644
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck, Steven S. Ogg, Konrad Lenhof, Jerry V. Blanke, Joel B. Erickson, Broadus Perry Wall
  • Patent number: 7611422
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck
  • Publication number: 20090124407
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck
  • Patent number: 7476160
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck
  • Publication number: 20080280695
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck
  • Patent number: 7403277
    Abstract: A method (250) and apparatus (20) for measuring the face angle of a golf club (300), golf club head (302) or face component (304) of a golf club head is disclosed herein. The method (250) and apparatus (20) use a non-contact displacement measuring assembly (24) to determine the face angle. The method (250) and apparatus (20) is utilized with right-handed and left handed golf clubs (300), golf club heads (302) and face components (304). The apparatus (20) generally includes a base assembly (22), a non-contact displacement measuring assembly (24), a shaft center sensor assembly (26), a base plate assembly (28), a lie adjustment assembly (30) and a shaft support assembly (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Goodjohn, James C. Wenck
  • Patent number: 7354353
    Abstract: A method (500) for fitting a golf club to a golfer is disclosed herein. The method includes having a golfer hit a test golf club. If the test golf club is preferred, a final golf club is formed that matches the test golf club. Preferably, the final golf club matches the following parameters of the test golf club: volume, mass, mass location, inertial values, center of gravity location, club frequency, orientation, material composition and shape. In a preferred embodiment, a test golf club with an interchangeable shaft is utilized with the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck, Steven S. Ogg, Konrad Lenhof, Jerry V. Blanke, Joel B. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7344449
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck
  • Patent number: 7338387
    Abstract: The iron golf club head (20) of the present invention is preferably composed of three main components: a main body (22), a central member (24) and a mass member (25). The Mass member (25) is preferably composed of a high density material such as a nickel-tungsten alloy. The central member (24) is preferably composed of a lightweight, non-metal material. The main body (22) is preferably composed of a titanium alloy material. The iron golf club head (20) preferably has high moments of inertia Izz and Ixx, and a low center of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: James A. Nycum, Chris J. Wieland, James C. Wenck, Roger Cleveland, Herbert Reyes, Uday V. Deshmukh, Karl A. Clausen
  • Patent number: 7335113
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck
  • Patent number: 7300359
    Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck
  • Patent number: 7029616
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a preform component for a golf club head composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material is disclosed herein. The preform component is preferably a face component, a crown component or a sole component, composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material. The apparatus preferably has a plunger head attached to a pneumatic cylinder for compressing the plies of pre-preg sheets within a mold cavity configured to define a preform component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: James M. Murphy, Herbert Reyes, Robert S. Gonczi, Donald A. Bistline, Andrew A. Goodjohn, James C. Wenck, James A. Nycum
  • Publication number: 20040164452
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a preform component for a golf club head composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material is disclosed herein. The preform component is preferably a face component, a crown component or a sole component, composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material. The apparatus preferably has a plunger head attached to a pneumatic cylinder for compressing the plies of pre-preg sheets within a mold cavity configured to define a preform component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: James M. Murphy, Herbert Reyes, Robert S. Gonczi, Donald A. Bistline, Andrew A. Goodjohn, James C. Wenck, James A. Nycum
  • Patent number: 6695608
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a preform component for a golf club head composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material is disclosed herein. The preform component is preferably a face component, a crown component or a sole component, composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material. The apparatus preferably has a plunger head attached to a pneumatic cylinder for compressing the plies of pre-preg sheets within a mold cavity configured to define a preform component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: James M. Murphy, Herbert Reyes, Robert S. Gonczi, Donald A. Bistline, Andrew J. Goodjohn, James C. Wenck, James A. Nycum
  • Patent number: 6475100
    Abstract: The golf club (20) of the present invention allows for the face angle of the golf club to be set after manufacturing of the golf club head (22). The golf club (20) of the present invention is able to accomplish this by providing a golf club head (22) with an internal hosel (38) (such as a GREAT BIG BERTHA® HAWK EYE® driver), a shaft (40) and an insert (51) that is disposed within the internal hosel (38). The insert (51) allows for the face angle of the golf club (20) to be oriented after manufacturing of the golf club head (22). The golf club (20) may also include a hosel liner (50) that is disposed within the insert (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Helmstetter, Andrew J. Goodjohn, Donald A. Bistline, James C. Wenck
  • Patent number: D532848
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Roger Cleveland, Chris J. Wieland, James C. Wenck, James A. Nycum, Augustin W. Rollinson, Philip G. Foster
  • Patent number: D537896
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Denver Holt, Matthew T. Cackett, J. Neil Hall, James C. Wenck