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 and golf club head with a sole cavity feature
    Patent number: 9586102
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head for a metal wood type club. The club head includes a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a rear, a crown and a sole. The sole includes a forward sole surface and a rearward sole surface. The substantially horizontally-oriented forward sole surface extends rearwardly from the ball striking face to a rearward edge. The substantially horizontally-oriented rearward sole surface extends forwardly from the rear of the club head. The rearward sole surface extends over and is offset in a height direction from the rearward edge. A cavity may be located above the forward sole surface, the cavity having a rearward facing opening located below the rearward sole surface. A projection may extend rearwardly from the rearward edge beneath the rearward sole surface, the projection having sides that extend in a generally breadthwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert M. Boyd, Raymond J. Sander
  • Adjustable Golf Club and System and Associated Golf Club Heads and Shafts
    Publication number: 20170028276
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs or golf club components incorporating adjustment members that permit ready adjustability of golf club parameters and/or interchangeability of golf club components to change a golf club configuration, and methods for providing golf clubs. According to aspects of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of a golf club parameter to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics. According to another aspect of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of two golf club parameters independently to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Arluna, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Eric A. Larson, Robert Lukasiewicz, JR., George W. Moody, JR., Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Raymond J. Sander, John T. Stites
  • GOLF CLUB SET HAVING SIMILAR PROPERTIES
    Publication number: 20160346635
    Abstract: A set of ball striking devices, such as a set golf clubs, having similar characteristics between clubs within the set of clubs such as length, weight, and lie angle. Characteristics can include lengths and lie angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads Having Digital Lie and/or Other Angle Measuring Equipment
    Publication number: 20160332049
    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: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Jeremy N. Snyder, James S. Thomas, Daniel J. Simpson, Daniel A. Roberts, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Bradley C. Glenn, Douglas A. Thornton
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 9492719
    Abstract: Golf club heads include a golf club head body, a ball striking face, and a shaft engaging member configured to engage a golf club shaft with the golf club head body. Further, the shaft engaging member may be configured to engage the golf club head body and the shaft below a center of gravity of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Chewei Tai
  • Golf Club Assembly and Golf Club with Aerodynamic Features
    Publication number: 20160317879
    Abstract: A golf club head includes 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 body member may have a first cross-section having a first airfoil-shaped surface in the heel. The first cross-section may be oriented at approximately 90° from the centerline of the club head. The body member may have a second cross-section having a second airfoil-shaped surface. The second cross-section may be oriented at approximately 45° or at approximately 70°. The airfoil-shaped surfaces may be defined by spline points or by equations. A golf club including the golf club head is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads
    Publication number: 20160303443
    Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Philip J. Hatton, Brian Kammerer, Mario A. Lafortune, Michael Wallans, Robert M. Boyd, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Sherry L. Jones, Gregory S. Kramer, James H. Lua, John T. Stites, Douglas A. Thornton, Daniel F. Wisniewski
  • Golf club heads
    Patent number: 9446292
    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: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 9433845
    Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Mario A. Lafortune, Philip Hatton, Michael Wallans
  • Golf club and golf club head structures
    Patent number: 9433834
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry L. Jones
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 9433844
    Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Mario A. Lafortune, Philip Hatton, Michael Wallans
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads having digital lie and/or other angle measuring equipment
    Patent number: 9421429
    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: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Jeremy Snyder, James S. Thomas, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Bradley C. Glenn, Daniel J. Simpson, Daniel A. Roberts, Douglas A. Thornton
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 9409073
    Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Mario A. Lafortune, Philip Hatton, Michael Wallans
  • Adjustable golf club and system and associated golf club heads and shafts
    Patent number: 9409068
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs or golf club components incorporating adjustment members that permit ready adjustability of golf club parameters and/or interchangeability of golf club components to change a golf club configuration, and methods for providing golf clubs. According to aspects of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of a golf club parameter to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics. According to another aspect of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of two golf club parameters independently to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arluna, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Eric A. Larson, Robert Lukasiewicz, Jr., George W. Moody, Jr., Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Raymond J. Sander, John T. Stites
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 9409076
    Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Mario A. Lafortune, Philip Hatton, Michael Wallans
  • Golf club and golf club head with a crown recessed feature
    Patent number: 9393466
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head includes a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a rear, and a crown. The crown may include a substantially horizontally-oriented forward crown region extending rearwardly from the ball striking face. The crown further may include a primary recessed feature located rearward of the forward crown region and extending from the heel to the toe of the club head. The recessed feature may have a floor and a front wall extending upward from the floor to the forward crown region. The crown may further include a substantially horizontally-oriented rearward crown region extending forwardly from the rear of the club head. The recessed feature may be located between the forward crown region and the rearward crown region. A back wall of the recessed feature may extend upward from the floor to the rearward crown region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Raymond J. Sander
  • Golf Club and Golf Club Head Structures
    Publication number: 20160199706
    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: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Yoshimasa Fujita
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 9375624
    Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Mario A. Lafortune, Philip Hatton, Michael Wallans
  • Golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features
    Patent number: 9370696
    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: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
  • Golf club and golf club head structures
    Patent number: 9289661
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Yoshimasa Fujita