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 REMOVABLE MASS RING
    Publication number: 20110081986
    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: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: John T. STITES
  • Golf club head having a bridge member and a damping element
    Patent number: 7914395
    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: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Byron C. Slaughter, Michael G. Taylor, David N. Franklin
  • DEVICE FOR STIFFENING A GOLF CLUB SHAFT
    Publication number: 20110070968
    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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: John T. STITES
  • VISUAL INDICATOR GOLF CLUB HEAD AND GOLF CLUBS
    Publication number: 20110070964
    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: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: John T. STITES
  • Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball Striking Face
    Publication number: 20110070971
    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: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
  • Golf Club Having Two-Part Head
    Publication number: 20110070973
    Abstract: A golf club with a golf club head formed of two distinct parts is presented. The club head includes a lower, ball striking member configured to contact a golf ball. The club head further includes an upper member, connected to the ball striking member at a top surface of the ball striking member. The ball striking member may be formed of a more dense material than the upper portion, thereby lowering the center of gravity of the club to provide improved performance characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G.V. Oldknow, John T. Stites
  • Adjustable putter alignment aide
    Patent number: 7905792
    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: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads Having a Configured Shape
    Publication number: 20110053703
    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: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads Having a Movable Weight
    Publication number: 20110053705
    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: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC
    Inventor: John T. STITES
  • GOLF CLUBS AND GOLF CLUB HEADS HAVING DIGITAL LIE AND/OR OTHER ANGLE MEASURING EQUIPMENT
    Publication number: 20110053698
    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: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    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
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads Having A Configured Shape
    Publication number: 20110053702
    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: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Wrapping element for a golf club
    Patent number: 7896753
    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 removable wrapping element proximal to the ball striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Mark J. Perry, John T. Stites
  • WEIGHT ELEMENT FOR A GOLF CLUB
    Publication number: 20110039634
    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: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, William F. Rauchholz, John T. Stites
  • Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball Striking Face
    Publication number: 20110039633
    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: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig
  • Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball Striking Face
    Publication number: 20110034268
    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 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
  • Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device Having Impact-Influencing Body Features
    Publication number: 20110021284
    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: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Rick Wahlin, Andrew G.V. Oldknow
  • GOLF CLUBS AND GOLF CLUB HEADS
    Publication number: 20110009205
    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: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Andrew G.V. Oldknow, John T. Stites
  • Structure of a golf club head or other ball striking device
    Patent number: 7867104
    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 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Golf club face with spin strip
    Patent number: 7862449
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
  • Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball Striking Face
    Publication number: 20100323813
    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: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites