Patents by Inventor John T. Stites

John T. Stites 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 or other ball striking device having one or more face channels
    Patent number: 8827826
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having a ball-striking surface configured for striking a ball, a body connected to the face, and at least one channel in the ball-striking surface of the face. The region of highest COR response of the face is directionally enlarged toward the channel. Depending on the size, shape, and location of the channel, the face can be altered to provide greater COR response and increased energy transfer for impacts at specific locations on the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Philip J. Hatton
  • Golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features
    Patent number: 8821311
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a back and a hosel region, located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, the crown and the sole. The body member may have a first cross-section having a first airfoil-shaped surface in the heel. The first cross-section may be oriented at approximately 90° from the centerline of the club head. The body member may have a second cross-section having a second airfoil-shaped surface. The second cross-section may be oriented at approximately 45° or at approximately 70°. The airfoil-shaped surfaces may be defined by spline points or by equations. A golf club including the golf club head is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face
    Patent number: 8814715
    Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an insert forming a ball striking face and engaged with the putter body. Portions of the insert may be formed of a metal material, while portions of the insert may be formed of a polymer material. The insert may include a base portion having grooves formed therein. This base may be joined with another material to form the insert. In some arrangements, the insert may be a two-sided, reversible construction and may have different performance characteristics associated with each side of the insert. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Weight element for a golf club
    Patent number: 8814722
    Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including a fixed portion proximal to the ball striking face, and a removable weight portion, which is configured to be coupled with the fixed portion on a side of the crown potion away from the ball striking face. The club head body may further include an interior portion with a frame member defined therein. The crown weight may further include a weight member attached to the frame member, the weight member including at least one receptacle defined therein. The removable weight portion may further include at least one weight insert supported within the weight member in the at least one receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, William F. Rauchholz, Gary G. Tavares
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads having fluid-filled bladders and/or interior chambers
    Patent number: 8808106
    Abstract: Golf club heads include: (a) a club head body having a ball striking face and defining a rear cavity; (b) a fluid-filled bladder in the cavity; and (c) a retaining member holding the fluid-filled bladder in the cavity. Other club heads include: (a) a club head body having a ball striking face and defining a rear cavity; and (b) an insert member in the rear cavity, wherein the insert member interior includes one or more chambers facing the rear surface of the ball striking face. The chamber(s) may cover at least 30% of a total surface area of the interior surface of the insert member and/or at least 30% of a total interior major surface area of the rear cavity. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf clubs and golf club heads also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Eric A. Larson, Chia-Chyi Cheng
  • GOLF CLUB ASSEMBLY AND GOLF CLUB WITH AERODYNAMIC FEATURES
    Publication number: 20140228147
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, and a skirt extending between the crown and the sole and between the toe and the heel. The club head includes a drag-reducing structure that may include one or both of a continuous groove extending from a front portion to a rear edge of the toe, and along an entire length of the skirt, and a substantially V-shaped recess formed in the sole and having a vertex positioned proximate the ball striking face and the heel and away from the skirt and the toe, and a pair of legs extending to a point proximate the toe and away from the ball striking face, and curving toward the skirt and away from the ball striking face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 8801543
    Abstract: Golf club heads which include an iron type golf club head body including a ball striking face, a rear surface opposite the ball striking face (e.g., including a perimeter weighting member) and an indicator which indicates the location of the center of gravity of the golf club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf club and golf club heads also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads having digital lie and/or other angle measuring equipment
    Patent number: 8801533
    Abstract: Golf club heads having sensors configured to measure one or more swing parameters are provided. The golf club head may include several gyroscopes and accelerometers. In one embodiment, the club head contains three gyroscopes that measure angular rate data along different orthogonal axes. At least one gyroscope may an analog gyroscope. Accelerometers may provide data regarding the three orthogonal axes associated with the gyroscopes. The club head may further include software and/or hardware that perform computer-executed methods for determining one or more swing parameters. Exemplary club heads may include a display device for displaying an output of the swing parameter(s). Further aspects of the invention relate to novel methods and algorithms for calculating measurements relating to the swing parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Jeremy Snyder, James S. Thomas, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Bradley C. Glenn, Daniel J. Simpson, Daniel A. Roberts, Douglas A. Thornton
  • System for determining performance characteristics of a golf swing
    Patent number: 8795098
    Abstract: An instrumented golf club system and methods are disclosed. A variety of golf swing parameters are measured by the instrumented golf club and wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer device. The portable computer device generates a user interface that displays the golf swing parameters against preferred golf swing parameters. The instrumented golf club system allows a golfer to receive feedback in real time while playing golf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary Tavares, Carl Madore, Mike Kelly, Raymond J. Sander, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Jeffrey R. Held, Garrick L. Maenle, Gregory S. Kramer, Chad E. Bouton, Clifford N. Dodson, Patrick K. Hoffman
  • Iron type golf clubs and golf club heads having adjustable weighting features
    Patent number: 8758163
    Abstract: Iron golf club heads and clubs include a body having a ball striking face, a rear face opposite the ball striking face and a sole portion positioned between the ball striking face and the rear face. The rear face has an opening in communication with a slot positioned in the body. A weight element is positioned in the slot through the opening. The weight element has at least one aperture wherein the center of gravity is shifted when the weight element is positioned in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Golf club face with spin strip
    Patent number: 8753223
    Abstract: A golf club head (such as a putter head), has a face that includes a ball-contacting region. The ball-contacting region has an inset containing an elastically deformable material and at least one rigid element disposed within the elastically deformable material. When a golf ball is struck, the elastically deformable material compresses and the rigid element imparts overspin to the ball that causes it to roll more accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • GOLF CLUB AND GOLF CLUB HEAD STRUCTURES
    Publication number: 20140162808
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void. The golf club head may further have support structures and adjustable weight members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Yoshimasa Fujita
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 8747245
    Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an insert forming a ball striking face and engaged with the putter body. Portions of the insert may be formed of a metal material, while portions of the insert may be formed of a polymer material. The insert may include a base portion having grooves or openings formed therein. This base may be joined with another material (such as a polymer backing material) to form the insert, wherein the backing material at least partially fills the grooves or openings. In some arrangements, the backing material of the insert may be visible at the top and/or bottom surfaces of the putter structures. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Golf club head or other ball striking device having adjustable weighting features
    Patent number: 8747253
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball, a body connected to the face, and a plurality of inserts connected to the outer surface of the body. The plurality of inserts are removable and interchangeable with other inserts, and at least one of the inserts has a weight that is greater than at least another one of the inserts. The inserts may be substantially identical in size and shape to enable the inserts to be interchanged with each other. Additionally, one or more of the inserts may be a primary insert with a secondary insert connected to the primary insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Varied profile alignment aide golf club head
    Patent number: 8740717
    Abstract: A golf club head in which a top surface of the body includes an actual top surface visible profile region and a varied top surface visible profile region is provided. The varied top surface visible profile region may provide a visual impression of a varied profile of the body distinct from an actual profile of the body. The visual impression is oriented in a manner that allows the golfer to address the ball at the heel region of the golf club. The perimeter of the top surface visible profile region may be complementary in shape to the perimeter of the top surface of the body and the varied top surface visible profile region and the actual top surface visible profile region may be distinct in shape, size, color, and/or finish etc. An associated golf club and a method for fitting a golf club are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device Having Impact-Influencing Body Features
    Publication number: 20140148270
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball, a body connected to the face, and a channel located in the body. The channel is configured to influence the characteristics of the impact of a ball on the face, such as by flexing or compressing in response to the force of the impact, exerting a response or reaction force on the face, changing the motion or behavior of the face, and other manners. The head may also include a pair of channels that have a gap between them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Rick Wahlin
  • Golf Club Heads
    Publication number: 20140148269
    Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
  • Golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features
    Patent number: 8721470
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, and a skirt extending between the crown and the sole and between the toe and the heel. The club head includes a drag-reducing structure that may include one or both of a continuous groove extending from a front portion to a rear edge of the toe, and along an entire length of the skirt, and a substantially V-shaped recess formed in the sole and having a vertex positioned proximate the ball striking face and the heel and away from the skirt and the toe, and a pair of legs extending to a point proximate the toe and away from the ball striking face, and curving toward the skirt and away from the ball striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Golf club head having an interchangeable bridge member
    Patent number: 8715105
    Abstract: A cavity back golf club head having an interchangeable bridge member is disclosed. The interchangeable bridge member extends across a rear cavity connecting a heel and a toe of the golf club head to control the trajectory of a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd
  • Releasable and Interchangeable Connections for Golf Club Heads and Shafts
    Publication number: 20140121032
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a cylindrical structure having a cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft, a rotation-inhibiting structure, and a securing structure; and (b) a securing system for releasably engaging the securing structure. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft connection assembly so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin, James S. Thomas, Gary G. Tavares