Patents by Inventor John Solheim

John Solheim 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: 20080039227
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a golf club head with a variable thickness face having a central thickened region surrounded by a transition region tapering from the central thickened region to a thinner peripheral region. The method includes locating a ball end mill revolving about an axis generally normal to the inner surface of the face plate at an initial location on a circumferential intersection between the outer edge of the central thickened region and a transition region. The inner surface of the face plate is machined by moving the revolving ball end mill in a radial direction outwardly toward and through the transition region and the peripheral region to machine the inner surface of the face plate creating a tool channel having a width as the ball end mill traverses the transition region and thereby vary the thickness of the face plate in the tool path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley Schweigert, John Solheim
  • Publication number: 20070265110
    Abstract: A club head is configured such that the toe thickness is greater than the heel thickness in order to compensate for the toe-down look encountered, for example, in extended-length putters. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the club head body in the heel region is weight-compensated to substantially balance with the toe region. In accordance with one embodiment, a bore configured to accept the shaft is provided at substantially the center of the top rail. In accordance with one embodiment, cut-out regions are provided in the back of the club head body in the toe region and the heel region to provide the required weight compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley Schweigert, John Solheim
  • Publication number: 20070155533
    Abstract: A golf club head is formed of a hollow body, the rear body portion of which includes a metallic stringer that extends along the crown-skirt interface and a plurality of ribs intersecting the metallic stringer to form a lattice frame, the openings of which are filled with an organic composite material such as graphite epoxy. An additional aperture formed in the skirt is also filled with the same graphite epoxy material. Because the graphite epoxy is lighter than the surrounding metal frame, the rear body portion of the golf club head is lighter than a comparable all metal club head. Yet, the presence of the metallic stringer and frame renders the metal-organic composite rear body portion substantially stiffer than a comparable all-composite rear body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: John Solheim, Eric Morales, Anthony Serrano, John Bliss, Dale Obeshaw
  • Publication number: 20070049395
    Abstract: A golf putter head includes a face member with a front surface arranged for impacting a golf ball. A first arm extends generally rearwardly from a heel end of the face member, a second arm extends generally rearwardly from a toe end of the face member, and a central member extends rearwardly intermediate the heel and toe ends of the face member. The central member has an inner end adjacent the face member and an outer end spaced from the face member. The central member includes a pair of wings extending in opposite directions at the outer end thereof connecting the central member to the first and second arms rearwardly of the face member. A portion of the central member extends rearwardly of the wings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John Solheim, David Jones, Derek Haines, John Solheim
  • Publication number: 20070042834
    Abstract: A weight adjustment member may be mounted in a tuning port in a golf club head and secured therein using adhesive. The weight adjustment member includes a lip which prevents excess adhesive from escaping the tuning port and hides adhesive that might otherwise be visible between the weight adjustment member and the tuning port. Locating devices that mate with each other are included in the tuning port and on the weight adjustment member. A method of mounting the weight adjustment member in the tuning port of a golf club head is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Nicolette, John Solheim, Bradley Schweigert
  • Publication number: 20070032312
    Abstract: A golf club head is formed of a hollow body, the rear body portion of which includes a metallic stringer that extends along the crown-skirt interface and a plurality of ribs intersecting the metallic stringer to form a lattice frame, the openings of which are filled with an organic composite material such as graphite epoxy. An additional aperture formed in the skirt is also filled with the same graphite epoxy material. Because the graphite epoxy is lighter than the surrounding metal frame, the rear body portion of the golf club head is lighter than a comparable all metal club head. Yet, the presence of the metallic stringer and frame renders the metal-organic composite rear body portion substantially stiffer than a comparable all-composite rear body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Serrano, John Bliss, John Solheim, Eric Morales
  • Publication number: 20070032313
    Abstract: A golf club head is formed of a hollow body, the rear body portion of which includes a metallic stringer that extends along the crown-skirt interface and a plurality of ribs intersecting the metallic stringer to form a lattice frame, the openings of which are filled with an organic composite material such as graphite epoxy. An additional aperture formed in the skirt is also filled with the same graphite epoxy material. Because the graphite epoxy is lighter than the surrounding metal frame, the rear body portion of the golf club head is lighter than a comparable all metal club head. Yet, the presence of the metallic stringer and frame renders the metal-organic composite rear body portion substantially stiffer than a comparable all-composite rear body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Serrano, John Bliss, John Solheim
  • Publication number: 20070026967
    Abstract: The present invention provides an iron-type golf club head comprising a primary cavity that is approximately parallel to the ground when the club head is resting at normal address. A secondary cavity, positioned within the primary cavity, has a bottom wall that is approximately parallel to the club face and is positioned above the club head sole. An interior wall that forms the secondary cavity is uniform in height while increasing in width in a bottom segment thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley Schweigert, Michael Nicolette, John Solheim, Eric Cole
  • Patent number: 7112147
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having a front face with a cavity formed therein. The cavity has at least one aperture passing through the cavity bottom wall to the rear surface of the club head body. A face insert is installed in the cavity by applying an adhesive layer between the face insert and the bottom of the cavity. As the face insert is pressed into the cavity, air and any excess adhesive escapes through the aperture to the rear surface of the club where it can easily be removed by wiping with solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John Solheim, David Jones, Derek Haines
  • Publication number: 20060063606
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a golf club head with a variable thickness face having a central thickened region surrounded by a transition region tapering from the central thickened region to a thinner peripheral region. The method includes locating a ball end mill revolving about an axis generally normal to the inner surface of the face plate at an initial location on a circumferential intersection between the outer edge of the central thickened region and a transition region. The inner surface of the face plate is machined by moving the revolving ball end mill in a radial direction outwardly toward and through the transition region and the peripheral region to machine the inner surface of the face plate creating a tool channel having a width as the ball end mill traverses the transition region and thereby vary the thickness of the face plate in the tool path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley Schweigert, John Solheim
  • Publication number: 20060025234
    Abstract: The present invention relates to certain weight adjustment members that can be used in connection with iron-type golf clubs. The weight adjustment members of the present invention comprise a relatively uniform and/or symmetrically configured width. In addition, the members comprise a substantially linear back-side. The weight adjustment members of the present invention, therefore, provide a consistent level of performance across the members and, moreover, can be mass produced using more simplified molds when compared to other members known in the art. Still further, the present invention provides iron-type golf heads and golf clubs that comprise the weight adjustment members of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Nicolette, Ricky Solesbee, Leslie Bryant, John Solheim, Bradley Schweigert
  • Publication number: 20050282657
    Abstract: A golf putter head includes a face member with a front surface arranged for impacting a golf ball. A first arm extends substantially rearwardly from a heel end of the face member, a second arm extends substantially rearwardly from a toe end of the face member, and a central member extends rearwardly from the face member intermediate the heel and toe ends thereof. The central member is connected to and extends rearwardly from a back surface of the face member. The central member is connected to the first and second arms rearwardly of the face member. The first and second arms have top surfaces that slope downwardly as the first and second arms extend away from the face member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John Solheim, David Jones, Derek Haines, John Solheim
  • Publication number: 20050221912
    Abstract: A golf putter head includes a face member with a front surface arranged for impacting a golf ball. A first arm extends substantially rearwardly from a heel end of the face member, a second arm extends substantially rearwardly from a toe end of the face member, and a central member extends rearwardly from the face member intermediate the heel and toe ends thereof. The central member is connected to and extends rearwardly from a back surface of the face member. The central member includes a pair of wing portions connecting the central member to the first and second arms rearwardly of the face member. An end portion of the central member extends rearwardly of the wing portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John Solheim, David Jones, Derek Haines, John Solheim
  • Publication number: 20050164806
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a face insert disposed in a cavity formed in the front face of the club head. The face insert has a front surface for impacting a golf ball and a back surface having a cavity formed therein for receiving a second insert. A second insert, composed of a material different from the first insert, is disposed in the cavity formed in the back of the first insert. Because the edges of the second insert are not exposed, the second insert can be made of very soft materials including silicone rubbers and gels, which would not be suitable for use in an application in which the edges are exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: John Solheim, David Jones
  • Publication number: 20050159240
    Abstract: A golf putter head includes a face member with a front surface arranged for impacting a golf ball. A first arm extends substantially rearwardly from a heel end of the face member, a second arm extends substantially rearwardly from a toe end of the face member, and a central member extends rearwardly from the face member intermediate the heel and toe ends thereof. The central member is connected to the first and second arms rearwardly of the face member. A first cavity is formed in an upper surface of the central member between the first and second openings, and a second cavity is formed in the upper surface of the central member rearwardly of the first cavity and rearwardly of the first and second openings. First and second inserts are disposed, respectively, in the first and second cavities. The first cavity and the first insert each have a generally elongated crescent shape with a concave end while the second cavity and the second insert each have a generally semicircular shape with a convex side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John Solheim, David Jones, Derek Haines, John Solheim
  • Publication number: 20050159242
    Abstract: A golf putter head includes a face member with a front surface arranged for impacting a golf ball. A first arm extends substantially rearwardly from a heel end of the face member, a second arm extends substantially rearwardly from a toe end of the face member, and a central member extends rearwardly from the face member intermediate the heel and toe ends thereof. The central member is connected to and extends rearwardly from a back surface of the face member. The central member includes a pair of wing portions connecting the central member to the first and second arms rearwardly of the face member. An end portion of the central member extends rearwardly of the wing portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John Solheim, David Jones, Derek Haines, John Solheim
  • Publication number: 20050090327
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having a front face with a cavity formed therein. The cavity has at least one aperture passing through the cavity bottom wall to the rear surface of the club head body. A face insert is installed in the cavity by applying an adhesive layer between the face insert and the bottom of the cavity. As the face insert is pressed into the cavity, air and any excess adhesive escapes through the aperture to the rear surface of the club where it can easily be removed by wiping with solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John Solheim, David Jones, Derek Haines
  • Publication number: 20050049076
    Abstract: A club head is configured such that the toe thickness is greater than the heel thickness in order to compensate for the toe-down look encountered, for example, in extended-length putters. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the club head body in the heel region is weight-compensated to substantially balance with the toe region. In accordance with one embodiment, a bore configured to accept the shaft is provided at substantially the center of the top rail. In accordance with one embodiment, cut-out regions are provided in the back of the club head body in the toe region and the heel region to provide the required weight compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: Bradley Schweigert, John Solheim