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 head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
    Patent number: 9278265
    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: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Rick Wahlin
  • GOLF CLUB AND GOLF CLUB HEAD STRUCTURES
    Publication number: 20160023064
    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 crown that extends over the void.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Eric A. Larson, Robert Boyd, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry L. Jones, John T. Stites
  • Golf clubs and gold club heads with adjustable center of gravity and moment of inertia characteristics
    Patent number: 9233282
    Abstract: Golf clubs, club heads, and club weighting systems may include: (a) a club head body member; and (b) one or more weight members removably and/or movably engaged with the club head body member so as to move between a first position and a second position to change an overall exterior shape of the club head. This shape change may result in changes to the overall center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Alternatively or additionally, the weight member(s) may be removed from the club head body member, reoriented, and/or replaced with a different weight member, e.g., to change the overall exterior shape, center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Methods of making and using these clubs, club heads, and weighting systems also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, David N. Franklin
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads
    Publication number: 20150343282
    Abstract: A ball striking device has a head with a body member having a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball, a crown portion and a sole portion connected to the face and extending rearward from the face, where the body member has a void extending inwardly from a rear periphery of the body member, and a rear member connected to the body member and received within the void, such that the rear member forms portions of a crown and a sole of the head. A connection member connects the rear member to the body member to form a joint between the rear member and the body member. A resilient member separates the rear member from the body member, and the resilient member engages the rear member and the body member within the void and is configured to transfer momentum between the rear member and the body member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Brian Kammerer, Eric A. Larson, Raymond J. Sander, John T. Stites, Robert Boyd
  • Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads
    Publication number: 20150335965
    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: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Golf club and golf club head structures
    Patent number: 9192831
    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: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry L. Jones, Yoshimasa Fujita
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 9186546
    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: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Mario A. Lafortune
  • Golf club and golf club head structures
    Patent number: 9155944
    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 crown that extends over the void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry L. Jones
  • Golf club and golf club head structures
    Patent number: 9149693
    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 crown that extends over the void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry L. Jones
  • Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device Having Impact-Influencing Body Features
    Publication number: 20150258395
    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: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites, Rick S. Wahlin
  • Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device Having Impact-Influencing Body Features
    Publication number: 20150251060
    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: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Golf Cllubs and Golf Club Heads
    Publication number: 20150231457
    Abstract: Golf club heads which may include an iron-type golf club head body and an adjustable member configured to be engaged with iron-type golf club head body. The adjustable member may include a first surface and a second surface. The first surface of the adjustable member may form at least a portion of the sole of the iron-type golf club head and at least a portion of the rear of iron-type golf club head when the adjustable member is engaged with the iron-type golf club head body in a first orientation. Additionally, the second surface of the adjustable member may form at least a portion of the sole of the iron-type golf club head and at least a portion of the rear of iron-type golf club head when the adjustable member is engaged with the iron-type golf club head body in a second orientation, which is different from the first orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites, Hiromitsu Akiyama
  • Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
    Patent number: 9108090
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Robert Boyd
  • Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
    Patent number: 9101808
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Robert Boyd
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 9101805
    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: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Chewei Tai
  • Golf Club and Golf Club Head with a Sole Cavity Feature
    Publication number: 20150217169
    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: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert M. Boyd, Raymond J. Sander
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads
    Patent number: 9095752
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Golf Club and Golf Club Head with a Crown Recessed Feature
    Publication number: 20150202503
    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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Raymond J. Sander
  • Golf club head or other ball striking device utilizing energy transfer
    Patent number: 9072948
    Abstract: A head for a ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face member having a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear surface opposite the striking surface, a weight member connected to the face member behind the rear surface of the face member, and a resilient member positioned between the weight member and the face member. The resilient member is connected to the rear surface of the face member to connect the weight member to the face member. The resilient member is compressible to permit energy and/or momentum to be transferred between the weight member and the face member through the resilient member during impact, including an off-center impact on the striking surface. Momentum transferred from the weight member to the face member during an off-center impact may reduce energy loss and twisting of the face on impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Golf clubs and golf club heads having interchangeable rear body members
    Patent number: 9072949
    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 striking face and a rear portion opposite the striking face, the rear portion defining an opening to an interior cavity. A rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening is engaged with the rear portion of the club head. The rear body member may include multiple rear body parts that may be removable and/or interchangeable to permit flexibility in controlling the weight distribution of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Andrew G. V. Oldknow