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 fluid-filled bladders and/or interior chambers
    Patent number: 8221263
    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: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Eric A. Larson, Chia-Chyi Cheng
  • Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face
    Patent number: 8216081
    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: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD OR OTHER BALL STRIKING DEVICE HAVING ONE OR MORE FACE CHANNELS
    Publication number: 20120165118
    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: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Philip J. Hatton
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads having a movable weight
    Patent number: 8206243
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Golf club head and system
    Patent number: 8162776
    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: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Chia-Chyi Cheng
  • Golf Club With Adjustable Weight
    Publication number: 20120083360
    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: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD OR OTHER BALL STRIKING DEVICE HAVING ADJUSTABLE WEIGHTING FEATURES
    Publication number: 20120083359
    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: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads
    Publication number: 20120077616
    Abstract: Golf clubs and/or golf club heads include a club head body defining an interior chamber, structure for engaging a shaft with the body, and/or a shaft engaged with the body. The club head body may have an overall length of at least 4.5 inches and an overall breadth of at least 4.2 inches. In other examples, the club head body may have an overall length of at least 4.6 inches and a ratio of the overall breadth dimension to the overall length dimension of 1 or less. If desired, the ratio of the head breadth to head length dimensions may be in a range from at least 0.94 to 1 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: John T. STITES, Gary G. TAVARES
  • Golf club head and system
    Patent number: 8133128
    Abstract: A golf club head system and a golf club head for inclusion into a golf club are provided. The golf club head system includes two or more rear or secondary body members, each configured for interchangeable attachment to a front or main body member. Each rear body member may have a different external shape, and each rear body member may have a different combination of center-of-gravity and moment-of-inertia characteristics. The system further includes a detachable attachment element for interchangeably and detachably attaching the rear body members to the front body member. The system may further include the front body member, wherein the front body member has a striking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Chia-Chyi Cheng
  • Golf Clubs And Golf Club Heads Having Interchangeable Rear Body Members
    Publication number: 20120034992
    Abstract: Golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) according to at least some example aspects of this invention include: (a) a heel; (b) a toe; (c) a crown; (d) a sole; (e) a striking face; (f) a cavity, wherein the cavity is at least partially open; (g) a rear face opposite the striking face, the rear face defining an opening to the cavity; and (h) a rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening. The rear body member may be releasably engaged with the opening to the cavity, rear face, and/or other portion of the club head body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Gary Tavares
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD AND SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20120034999
    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: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Chia-Chyi Cheng
  • Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball Striking Face
    Publication number: 20120028731
    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: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
  • Golf club head having a bridge member
    Patent number: 8105182
    Abstract: A cavity back golf club head having a bridge member 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 wall extending from the sole portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member defines a second cavity to further influence the trajectory of the golf ball. For the shorter iron clubs, the wall extends from the top portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Michael G. Taylor, David N. Franklin, Byron C. Slaughter
  • Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face
    Patent number: 8083605
    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 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
  • Adjustable putter alignment aide
    Patent number: 8075416
    Abstract: A golf club head with a body and a pivotable alignment aide non-removably housed on a top surface of the body is provided. The pivotable alignment aide is pivotable relative to the top surface and about an axis of rotation transverse to the top surface. The pivotable alignment aide may be coupled to the remainder of the golf club head through a resistive connection and may be shifted to assist a golfer in squaring the face of the golf club face to a perceived eye line and resulting in the golfer being able to better square the golf club head with the eye line at a point of contact. The golf club head may be a golf club head for a putter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
  • Golf club head or other ball striking device having stiffened face portion
    Patent number: 8070623
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft proximate a heel thereof. The face includes one or more stiffening members or other structures on the inner surface of the face to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. Certain stiffening members may provide greater stiffness than other stiffening members, allowing the face to be configured for areas of greatest stiffness and greatest COR tailored to common impact patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD OR OTHER BALL STRIKING DEVICE HAVING REMOVABLE or INTERCHANGEABLE BODY MEMBER
    Publication number: 20110294589
    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: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: 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: 8066584
    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: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face
    Patent number: 8062146
    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: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
  • GOLF CLUB ASSEMBLY AND GOLF CLUB WITH AERODYNAMIC FEATURES
    Publication number: 20110281664
    Abstract: A golf club head may include 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 crown may have a relatively round rear-side edge profile, as viewed from above. The sole may have a relatively square rear-side edge profile, as viewed from below. The rear-side edge of the sole may extend rearwardly beyond the rear-side edge of the crown along at least a portion of the back, as viewed from above. Further, the heel may have an airfoil-like surface in the forward portion of the heel. A golf club including the golf club head is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares