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 ASSEMBLY AND GOLF CLUB WITH AERODYNAMIC FEATURES
    Publication number: 20110281663
    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. The heel includes an airfoil-like surface shaped like the leading edge of an airfoil that extends over a majority of the length of the heel. The back may include a Kammback feature having a concavity extending from the heel-side to the toe-side of the back. The heel-side edge of the concavity may be shaped like the leading edge of an airfoil. Further, the sole may include a diffuser that extends at an angle of from approximately 10 degrees to approximately 80 degrees from a moment-of-impact trajectory direction. A hosel fairing that extends from the hosel region toward the toe may also be provided on the crown. A golf club including the golf club head is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares
  • Golf Clubs And Golf Club Heads Including Cellular Structure Metals And Other Materials
    Publication number: 20110275453
    Abstract: Golf club heads include: (a) a body member constructed, at least in part, from cellular structure material; (b) a ball striking face engaged or integrally formed with the body member; and/or (c) a shaft member engaged with the body member. Weight savings realized through the use of lightweight cellular structure materials allows additional weight to be placed at other desired locations in the club head structure. By adjusting and selectively placing weight in the club head structure, the club head's moment of inertia, center of gravity, and/or stability characteristics may be favorably affected and/or the resulting ball flight may be influenced and/or customized to a specific individual golfer, to provide a more controlled, consistent, and/or straight ball flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, David N. Franklin, Abhishek Gupta, David S. Lee, John T. Stites
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads having interchangeable rear body members
    Patent number: 8043167
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Iron Type Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads Having Adjustable Weighting Features
    Publication number: 20110250985
    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: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Weight element for a golf club
    Patent number: 8033930
    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: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, William F. Rauchholz, John T. Stites
  • Golf Club Sleeve And Golf Clubs For Use Therewith
    Publication number: 20110218048
    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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Snyder, Michael G. Taylor, Byron C. Slaughter, John T. Stites
  • GOLF CLUBS AND GOLF CLUB HEADS HAVING FEEL ALTERING SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20110212794
    Abstract: Golf club heads include: (a) a body having a ball-striking face and a rear face, the body defining a cavity; (b) a bridge member extending across the cavity, wherein the bridge member is provided to affect, at least in part, a position of a center of gravity of the club head; and (c) a feel altering element provided between the bridge member and the rear face. The feel altering element may affect a wide variety of parameters that relate to the “feel” of the golf club head when it strikes a golf ball, such as the sound produced by the club head during the strike, the vibrational response of the club head during the strike, the swing characteristics of the club head (e.g., weight, center of gravity position, etc.), and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads
    Publication number: 20110207544
    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: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: John T. STITES
  • VARIED PROFILE ALIGNMENT AIDE GOLF CLUB HEAD
    Publication number: 20110207549
    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: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Golf Club Head Having a Bridge Member and a Damping Element
    Publication number: 20110172022
    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: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    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 feel altering systems
    Patent number: 7963860
    Abstract: Golf club heads include: (a) a body having a ball-striking face and a rear face, the body defining a cavity; (b) a bridge member extending across the cavity, wherein the bridge member is provided to affect, at least in part, a position of a center of gravity of the club head; and (c) a feel altering element provided between the bridge member and the rear face. The feel altering element may affect a wide variety of parameters that relate to the “feel” of the golf club head when it strikes a golf ball, such as the sound produced by the club head during the strike, the vibrational response of the club head during the strike, the swing characteristics of the club head (e.g., weight, center of gravity position, etc.), and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi
  • GOLF CLUB SLEEVE AND GOLF CLUBS FOR USE THEREWITH
    Publication number: 20110143855
    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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Snyder, Michael G. Taylor, Byron C. Slaughter, John T. Stites
  • Golf Club Face with Spin Strip
    Publication number: 20110136585
    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: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: John T. STITES
  • GOLF CLUB ASSEMBLY AND GOLF CLUB WITH AERODYNAMIC HOSEL
    Publication number: 20110136584
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head may include a ball striking face, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region. The hosel region may have a free end configured for receiving a shaft having a longitudinal axis. When the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position, at least a portion of the free end of the hosel region may extend above the adjacent crown surface. When the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position, the vertical distance between the horizontal projections of the outermost points of the sole and the crown may be greater than the vertical distance between the horizontal projections of the outermost points of the sole and the hosel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites
  • WEIGHT ELEMENT FOR A GOLF CLUB
    Publication number: 20110136586
    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: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, William F. Rauchholz, John T. Stites
  • Golf club sleeve and golf clubs for use therewith
    Patent number: 7951013
    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: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Snyder, Michael G. Taylor, Byron C. Slaughter, John T. Stites
  • Golf Club with a Reinforcing Structure
    Publication number: 20110124432
    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: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G.V. Oldknow, John T. Stites
  • Structure of a Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device
    Publication number: 20110111884
    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: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David N. FRANKLIN, John T. STITES, Gary G. TAVARES
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 7935000
    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: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Structure of a Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device
    Publication number: 20110094082
    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: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David N. FRANKLIN, John T. STITES, Gary G. TAVARES