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 clubs and golf club heads having a configured shape
    Patent number: 8517862
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a wood type golf club head body having a first portion that extends from the top portion to the sole portion and includes a first depth of the golf club head body, and a second portion that extends from the top portion to the sole portion having a second depth smaller than the first depth. Further, the sole or top portion of the golf club head body is configured so that it includes a sloped boundary portion that defines a transition in depth between the first portion and the second portion of the golf club head body. The first portion and second portion may be configured so that a center of gravity of the golf club head body is positioned nearer to the heel side than the toe side of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Golf club with a reinforcing structure
    Patent number: 8506423
    Abstract: A cavity back golf club and golf club head having a reinforcing member is disclosed. The reinforcing member includes a connecting member, a first truss member, and a second truss member. The reinforcing member is engaged with a rear surface of a striking face of the golf club head and is at least partially located in a rear cavity of the golf club head. The reinforcing member provides structural integrity to a thin striking face on the golf club head. Additionally, a discretionary weight is engaged with a perimeter weight member at the toe portion of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, John T. Stites
  • Golf club sleeve and golf clubs for use therewith
    Patent number: 8506414
    Abstract: A golf club sleeve for use with various golf club structures is presented. The golf club sleeve may have an airfoil shaped cross section and may extend over at least a portion of the shaft of the golf club to reduce drag associated with the shaft during a golf swing, thereby increasing swing speed. The golf club sleeve may be rotatable relative to the shaft of the golf club to orient itself during a swing in order to improve air flow over the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Snyder, Michael G. Taylor, Byron Cole Slaughter, John T. Stites
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads having targeted weighting characteristics
    Patent number: 8506421
    Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads include: (a) a ball striking face member; and (b) a club head body attached to or integrally formed with the face member. One body component of the club head (e.g., a weight or cover member) may be formed from a transparent, partially transparent, or translucent material. In some club head structures, an external weight member may extend around a part of a club head body member and beyond or outside of at least a portion of the body member's exterior perimeter (e.g., rearwardly, laterally toward a toe side, and/or laterally toward a heel side of the club head body, beyond the exterior perimeter portion, when viewed from overhead). Golf club structures that include golf club heads, e.g., of the types described above, and methods of constructing and/or using such clubs and club heads, also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads having digital lie and/or other angle measuring equipment
    Patent number: 8500570
    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: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Jeffrey Alan Hadden, Jeremy Snyder, Bradley Charles Glenn, Daniel John Simpson, Daniel Alan Roberts, James S. Thomas, Douglas Anthony Thornton
  • Golf Club and Golf Club Head Structures
    Publication number: 20130184099
    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: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Nike,Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry Jones, Frank Fujita
  • Golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features
    Patent number: 8485917
    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: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Golf Club Head Or Other Ball Striking Device Utilizing Energy Transfer
    Publication number: 20130137533
    Abstract: A head for a ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face member having a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear surface opposite the striking surface, a weight member connected to the face member behind the rear surface of the face member, and a resilient member positioned between the weight member and the face member. The resilient member is connected to the rear surface of the face member to connect the weight member to the face member. The resilient member is compressible to permit energy and/or momentum to be transferred between the weight member and the face member through the resilient member during impact, including an off-center impact on the striking surface. Momentum transferred from the weight member to the face member during an off-center impact may reduce energy loss and twisting of the face on impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Golf club head or other ball striking device having removable or interchangeable body member
    Patent number: 8435135
    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 main body member connected to the face and having an engagement surface located in the rear side, a removable body member removably connected to the main body member, and a connecting element removably connecting the removable body member to the main body member. The connecting element includes a moveable engaging member that is moveable between a locked position, where the engaging member engages the engagement surface to retain the removable body member to the main body member, and an unlocked position, where the engaging member does not engage the engagement surface and the removable body member is removable from the main body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, David Anthony Chargin, Aaron Barrett Size, Mark J. Perry, Timothy J. Lastrapes, Robert E. Mora, J. David Robbins
  • Golf club head having a bridge member and a weight positioning system
    Patent number: 8435136
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed that includes a weight integral to a bridge member extending across a cavity back golf club head. The weight modifies a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. The weight is independently movable in multiple directions to further vary the center of gravity of a golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 8435132
    Abstract: Golf club heads are provided 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 weight member which is shaped and/or positioned to selectively control features of the golf club head. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf club and golf club heads also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, John T. Stites
  • Golf Club and Golf Club Head Structures
    Publication number: 20130109501
    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: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry L. Jones
  • Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball Striking Face
    Publication number: 20130109496
    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: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig
  • Golf Club and Golf Club Head Structures
    Publication number: 20130102410
    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: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry L. Jones
  • Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face
    Patent number: 8425342
    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 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, John T. Stites, N. Franklin David, Donald S. Rahrig
  • Golf club with adjustable weight
    Patent number: 8425348
    Abstract: A golf club with a golf club head having one or more adjustable weights is presented. The club head may include a club head body having a recessed formed therein. In some arrangements, the recess may be formed in a sole portion of the club head body. The golf club head further includes an adjustable weight that may be rotated from a first position to a second position to adjust the weight characteristics, and thus the performance characteristics of the golf club. In some arrangements, the adjustable weight and/or any hardware, fasteners, etc. associated with the adjustable weight may be constantly connected to the golf club head such that adjustment of the weight does not include removal of the weight and/or any hardware, fasteners, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Structure of a golf club head or other ball striking device
    Patent number: 8414413
    Abstract: Ball striking devices, such as golf club heads (including putter heads), have a high moment of inertia about their center, to help prevent twisting and mis-hits, particularly when the ball striking device hits the ball at a somewhat off-center position. The ball striking head of the ball striking device may be structured and/or weighted (optionally with separately attachable weight elements) to have a moment of inertia about a center of the ball striking surface of at least 10,000 g/cm2, and in some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 11,000 g/cm2, or even at least 12,000 g/cm2. In some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 20,000 g/cm2, or even at least 25,000 g/cm2 or at least 28,000 g/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • System for determining performance characteristics of a golf swing
    Patent number: 8414411
    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: April 9, 2013
    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
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads with adjustable center of gravity and moment of inertia characteristics
    Patent number: 8409031
    Abstract: Golf clubs, club heads, and club weighting systems may include: (a) a club head body member; and (b) one or more weight members removably and/or movably engaged with the club head body member so as to move between a first position and a second position to change an overall exterior shape of the club head. This shape change may result in changes to the overall center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Alternatively or additionally, the weight member(s) may be removed from the club head body member, reoriented, and/or replaced with a different weight member, e.g., to change the overall exterior shape, center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Methods of making and using these clubs, club heads, and weighting systems also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, David N. Franklin
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: D679354
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, John T. Stites, Sherry Lynn Jones, James Huang Lua