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).

  • Weight element for a golf club
    Patent number: 8357057
    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 portion 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: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, William F. Rauchholz
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads Having a Configured Shape
    Publication number: 20130012334
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to a golf club head which includes a wood type golf club head body including a ball striking face portion at a front side, a rear side, a crown portion, and a sole portion. Further, the sole or crown or rear portion of the club head body may be configured so that the body includes a bump portion which protrudes from the sole or crown or rear portion and an indented portion which recedes into the sole or crown or rear portion and creates a recess in the sole or crown or rear portion of the body. Further, the bump portion and the indented portion may be configured so that a center of gravity of the golf club head body is nearer to one of the heel edge of the body and the toe edge of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Varied profile alignment aide golf club head
    Patent number: 8348780
    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: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Golf Club Head Having a Bridge Member and a Damping Element
    Publication number: 20120329570
    Abstract: A cavity back golf club head having a bridge member and a damping element is disclosed. The bridge member extends across a first rear cavity connecting a heel and a toe of the golf club head to control the trajectory of a golf ball. For the longer iron clubs, a damping element extends from the sole portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member to define a second cavity to further influence the trajectory of the golf ball. For the shorter iron clubs, the damping element extends from the top portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member. The damping element may reduce the vibration and sound of the golf club head upon impact with a golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Byron C. Slaughter, Michael G. Taylor, David N. Franklin
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads Having a Movable Weight
    Publication number: 20120329571
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a wood type golf club head body having a ball striking face portion, a rear end portion opposite the ball striking face portion, a crown or top portion, a sole or bottom portion, a toe end portion, and a heel end portion. Further, the golf club head includes a moveable weight member, which may be contained internally within the golf club head body so that the moveable weight member is not exposed. Also, the club head may include a track system contained internally within the golf club head body so that the track system is not exposed. The track system includes a track which extends around the interior of one or more walls that comprise the golf club head body and the moveable weight member moves around the interior of the golf club head by sliding in the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • GOLF CLUBS AND GOLF CLUB HEADS HAVING DIGITAL LIE AND/OR OTHER ANGLE MEASURING EQUIPMENT
    Publication number: 20120329568
    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: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: 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
  • Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face
    Patent number: 8337320
    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: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
  • GOLF CLUB ASSEMBLY AND GOLF CLUB WITH AERODYNAMIC FEATURES
    Publication number: 20120322573
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a rear and a hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, the crown and the sole. A plurality of dimples are located on the hosel region, on the crown, on the sole, and/or on the heel, wherein at least some of the plurality of dimples have a major axis that is not aligned in a direction parallel to the moment-of-impact club-head-trajectory direction. A golf club including the golf club head is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads Having Fluid-Filled Bladders and/or Interior Chambers
    Publication number: 20120322575
    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: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Eric A. Larson, Chia-Chyi Cheng
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads having adjustable weight members
    Patent number: 8298096
    Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads 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 sole portion, wherein the sole portion includes a slot or rail defined therein; and (c) a weight member at least partially located within the slot or rail. The weight member may be mounted at plural positions along the slot or rail (optionally at least partially within a weight cartridge member provided with the club head body). The weight member also may be movably engaged with the weight cartridge member, slot, rail, and/or other portion of the club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making and using such golf clubs and golf club heads also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Andrew G. Oldknow, Eric A. Larson
  • Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face
    Patent number: 8292754
    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 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, David N. Franklin, Donald S. Rahrig, John T. Stites
  • Visual indicator golf club head and golf clubs
    Patent number: 8262495
    Abstract: A golf club head, golf club and a set of golf heads and clubs is provided with a center of gravity indicator mechanism housed on the rear side that may include a latitudinal strip and a center of gravity locator structure positioned on an axis transverse to the rear side and extending through the center of gravity of the body. The center of gravity locator structure may be fixed on a golf club head or may be variable. Additionally, a set of golf club heads is provided in which the center of gravity indicator mechanism is varied for each club in the set as the position of the center of gravity locator structure is varied for each of the golf club heads. The golf club heads may be coupled to shafts and grips and other features to form a golf club or golf club set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Golf club head having a bridge member and a damping element
    Patent number: 8262505
    Abstract: A cavity back golf club head having a bridge member and a damping element is disclosed. The bridge member extends across a first rear cavity connecting a heel and a toe of the golf club head to control the trajectory of a golf ball. For the longer iron clubs, a damping element extends from the sole portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member to define a second cavity to further influence the trajectory of the golf ball. For the shorter iron clubs, the damping element extends from the top portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member. The damping element may reduce the vibration and sound of the golf club head upon impact with a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Michael G. Taylor, David N. Franklin, Byron C. Slaughter
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads having digital lie and/or other angle measuring equipment
    Patent number: 8257191
    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: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    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
  • Device for stiffening a golf club shaft
    Patent number: 8257194
    Abstract: A device for stiffening a golf club shaft which includes a strip of material configured to engage the exterior of the golf club shaft. The longitudinal axis of the strip may be configured to extend in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the golf club shaft when the strip engages the golf club shaft. The strip may be configured to increase the stiffness of a portion of the golf club shaft when the strip engages the portion of the golf club shaft. The strip may include longitudinal fibers configured to extend in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the golf club shaft when the strip is engaged to the exterior of the golf club shaft. An associated method for fitting a golf club with a shaft stiffening device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
    Patent number: 8235841
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Rick Wahlin, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
  • Visual swing indicator golf club head
    Patent number: 8235830
    Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an asymmetrical visual swing indicator is provided. The asymmetrical visual swing indicator may be formed to represent an apparent backswing path outward of an actual backswing path. In certain configurations the asymmetrical visual swing indicator is positioned such that a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to the hitting surface of the golf club is closer to a heel end plane of the golf club head then a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to a rear surface of the golf club head. A method of fitting a golf club head by determining an initial swing plane using a measuring device, determining a desired swing plane, and applying an asymmetrically shaped visual indicator to a golf club head based upon the determined initial swing plane and the desired swing is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device Having Impact-Influencing Body Features
    Publication number: 20120196701
    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, an elongated, inwardly recessed channel located on the body and extending across a portion of the body, and an insert mounted within the channel. The insert includes a resiliently deflectable base member that engages the channel to retain the insert within the channel and a rigid outer member connected to the base member and forming at least a portion of the outer surface of the insert, where the outer member is made from a different material than the base member. Additionally, the insert has an outer surface that is substantially flush with at least one immediately adjacent surface of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Robert Boyd
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads having a configured shape
    Patent number: 8226501
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to a golf club head which includes a wood type golf club head body including a ball striking face portion at a front side thereof, a rear side opposite the front side, a crown portion, and a sole portion. Further, the sole or crown or rear portion of the golf club head body may be configured so that the golf club head body includes a bump portion which protrudes from the sole or crown or rear portion and an indented portion which recedes into the sole or crown or rear portion and creates a recess in the sole or crown or rear portion of the golf club head body. Further, the bump portion and the indented portion may be configured so that a center of gravity of the club head body is nearer to one of the heel edge of the club head body and the toe edge of the club head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • High moment of inertia wood-type golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 8221260
    Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads include: (a) a club head body including heel, toe, crown, sole, and weighted rear portions; and (b) a variable thickness ball striking face. The club head body parts and weighted portion(s) may be arranged such that the club head has a moment of inertia about a vertical axis passing through the club head center of gravity of at least 5000 g-cm2. Such club heads may include: (a) a cup face member including a ball striking face portion and a return portion; (b) sole and crown portions engaged with the return portion; (c) a rear body member engaged with the crown and/or sole portions; (d) a weight member at the club head rear; and/or (e) a hosel member engaged with the cup face member, the crown portion, and/or the sole portion. Methods of making such club heads also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Daisuke Tsukada