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).

  • Adjustable Golf Club and System and Associated Golf Club Heads and Shafts
    Publication number: 20130325657
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs or golf club components incorporating adjustment members that permit ready adjustability of golf club parameters and/or interchangeability of golf club components to change a golf club configuration, and methods for providing golf clubs. According to aspects of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of a golf club parameter to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics. According to another aspect of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of two golf club parameters independently to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arluna, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Eric A. Larson, Robert Lukasiewicz, JR., George W. Moody, JR., Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Raymond J. Sander, John T. Stites
  • Adjustable Golf Club and System and Associated Golf Club Heads and Shafts
    Publication number: 20130324287
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs or golf club components incorporating adjustment members that permit ready adjustability of golf club parameters and/or interchangeability of golf club components to change a golf club configuration, and methods for providing golf clubs. According to aspects of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of a golf club parameter to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics. According to another aspect of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of two golf club parameters independently to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arluna, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Eric A. Larson, Robert Lukasiewizc, JR., George W. Moody, JR., Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Raymond J. Sander, John T. Stites
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING SWING TEMPO
    Publication number: 20130324274
    Abstract: A system includes an article of golf equipment or other athletic equipment configured to be engaged by a user during an athletic situation and a tempo indicating device connected to the article, which is configured for emitting a rhythm that is detectable by the user. The tempo indicating device may include a contact portion configured for emitting a tactile rhythm to the user that is detectable by the user through sense of touch. The tempo indicating device may additionally or alternately be configured for emitting the rhythm in another form, such as audio and/or visual. The tempo indicating device may be utilized independently of the golf equipment, and may include a control interface that can be located on the device or remote from the device, such as on a portable electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Golf Club Head and Golf Club with Aerodynamic Features
    Publication number: 20130324293
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a rear and a crown. The crown may include a forward crown region, a rearward crown region, and a crown transition region therebetween. The rearward crown region may have a lower height than the forward crown region. The crown transition region may extend generally in a heel-to-toe direction. The vertical slope of the crown transition region may decrease as the crown transition region extends from the heel toward the toe. The crown transition region may lie at an angle from a front plane of the club head. Optionally, a club head may include a forward sole region, a rearward sole region, and a sole transition region therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Raymond J. Sander, Eric A. Larson
  • GOLF CLUBS AND GOLF CLUB HEADS
    Publication number: 20130324282
    Abstract: Golf club heads include a golf club head body, a ball striking face, and a shaft engaging member configured to engage a golf club shaft with the golf club head body. Further, the shaft engaging member may be configured to engage the golf club head body and the shaft below a center of gravity of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Chewei Tai
  • Adjustable Golf Club and System and Associated Golf Club Heads and Shafts
    Publication number: 20130324327
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs or golf club components incorporating adjustment members that permit ready adjustability of golf club parameters and/or interchangeability of golf club components to change a golf club configuration, and methods for providing golf clubs. According to aspects of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of a golf club parameter to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics. According to another aspect of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of two golf club parameters independently to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arluna, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Eric A. Larson, Robert Lukasiewicz, George W. Moody, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Raymond J. Sander, John T. Stites
  • Adjustable Golf Club and System and Associated Golf Club Heads and Shafts
    Publication number: 20130324291
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs or golf club components incorporating adjustment members that permit ready adjustability of golf club parameters and/or interchangeability of golf club components to change a golf club configuration, and methods for providing golf clubs. According to aspects of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of a golf club parameter to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics. According to another aspect of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of two golf club parameters independently to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arluna, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Eric A. Larson, Robert Lukasiewicz, JR., George W. Moody, JR., Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Raymond J. Sander, John T. Stites
  • GOLF CLUB AND GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH A SOLE CAVITY FEATURE
    Publication number: 20130324306
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head for a metal wood type club. The club head includes a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a rear, a crown and a sole. The sole includes a forward sole surface and a rearward sole surface. The substantially horizontally-oriented forward sole surface extends rearwardly from the ball striking face to a rearward edge. The substantially horizontally-oriented rearward sole surface extends forwardly from the rear of the club head. The rearward sole surface extends over and is offset in a height direction from the rearward edge. A cavity may be located above the forward sole surface, the cavity having a rearward facing opening located below the rearward sole surface. A projection may extend rearwardly from the rearward edge beneath the rearward sole surface, the projection having sides that extend in a generally breadthwise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Raymond J. Sander
  • Golf club head and system
    Patent number: 8585514
    Abstract: A golf club head system and a golf club head for inclusion into a golf club are provided. The golf club head includes a main body member and a secondary body member. The main body member has a striking surface, a sole portion, a crown portion, and a rear face substantially opposed to the striking surface. The main body member defines an at least substantially enclosed main body cavity. The secondary body member is attached to the main body member and extends at least substantially over the entire rear face of the main body member. The golf club head system includes two or more secondary body members, each configured for interchangeable attachment to a main body member. Each secondary body member defines an internal concavity, has a different external shape, and has a different combination of center-of-gravity and moment-of-inertia characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Chia-Chyi Cheng
  • GOLF CLUBS AND GOLF CLUB HEADS HAVING DIGITAL LIE AND/OR OTHER ANGLE MEASURING EQUIPMENT
    Publication number: 20130303295
    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: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Jeremy Snyder, James S. Thomas, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Bradley C. Glenn, Daniel J. Simpson, Daniel A. Roberts, Douglas A. Thornton
  • Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face
    Patent number: 8579717
    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: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig
  • GOLF CLUB ASSEMBLY AND GOLF CLUB WITH AERODYNAMIC FEATURES
    Publication number: 20130288819
    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: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, John T. Stites
  • GOLF CLUBS AND GOLF CLUB HEADS HAVING A REMOVABLE MASS RING
    Publication number: 20130288815
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a wood type golf club head body. Further, the golf club head may include a mass ring that engages with the golf club head body. The mass ring may increase a moment of inertia of the golf club head body when the mass ring engages the golf club head body. The mass ring includes an opening in the center of the mass ring. Further, a portion of the exterior of club head body may extend through the opening in the center of mass ring. The mass ring may form a portion of the exterior of the golf club head body when the mass ring is engaged with the golf club head body. The mass ring may be engaged with the sole portion of the golf club head body. The mass ring may be engaged with the rear portion the golf club head body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads
    Publication number: 20130281230
    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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: John T. STITES
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads
    Publication number: 20130267339
    Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Mario A. Lafortune, Philip Hatton, Michael Wallans
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads
    Publication number: 20130267335
    Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Mario A. Lafortune, Philip Hatton, Michael Wallans
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads
    Publication number: 20130267337
    Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Mario A. Lafortune, Philip Hatton, Michael Wallans
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads
    Publication number: 20130267338
    Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Mario A. Lafortune, Philip Hatton, Michael Wallans
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads
    Publication number: 20130267336
    Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Mario A. Lafortune, Philip Hatton, Michael Wallans
  • Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face
    Patent number: 8550932
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites