Patents by Inventor Kraig A. Willett
Kraig A. Willett 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).
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Patent number: 7419441Abstract: A wood-type golf club head is described that includes a body including one or more walls defining an interior cavity and multiple weight ports formed in the body. At least one weight is configured to be retained at least partially within at least one of the weight ports. One or more fins or ribs are secured to each of the weight ports and to another structural member of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Joseph H. Hoffman, Kraig A. Willett, Todd P. Beach, John F. Lorentzen, Allan C. Saliba
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Patent number: 7410426Abstract: The invention provides a golf club head having adjustable weight, allowing the golfer to fine tune the club for his or her swing. The club head includes a body having a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, and a side extending rearwurdly from the face. The body defines an interior cavity and a recess on a selected wall of the body spaced apart from the striking face. A threaded opening is disposed in the recess. The club head farther includes a weight assembly having fastener end a mass element configured to be press-fit into the recess the such that a first end is adjacent the bottom of the recess. The mass element also has an aperture configured to receive the fastener flush. The fastener removably attaches the weighting assembly to the selected wall of the club head. Pressure from the fastener attachment provides a press-fit of the mass element in the tapered recess of the selected wall.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig A. Willett, Joseph H. Hoffman
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Patent number: 7410425Abstract: The invention provides a golf club head having adjustable weight, allowing the golfer to fine tune the club for his or her swing. The club head includes a body having a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, and a side extending rearwardly from the face. The body defines an interior cavity and a recess on a selected wall of the body spaced apart from the striking face. A threaded opening is disposed in the recess. The club head further includes a weight assembly having fastener and a mass element configured to be press-fit into the recess the such that a first end is adjacent the bottom of the recess. The mass element also has an aperture configured to receive the fastener flush. The fastener removably attaches the weighting assembly to the selected wall of the club head. Pressure from the fastener attachment provides a press-fit of the mass element in the tapered recess of the selected wall.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig A. Willett, Joseph H. Hoffman
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Patent number: 7247103Abstract: An golf club head is provided, having enhanced sound and feel characteristics. The club head has a hollow main body including a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, a hosel, and a side portion extending rearwardly from the face. The body further includes a heel region adjacent to the hosel and a toe region opposing the heel region, and it defines a volume of at least 100 cc. The club head further includes a stiffening member disposed within the body and attached to both the sole and the crown. The member is spaced apart from the striking face and disposed within the body in a region having a first zone extending less than half the distance from the heel region to the toe region and a second zone extending less than half the distance from a rearmost point, thereby forming a local stiffness zone in the body to influence vibration modes and acoustic properties of the club head in a prescribed manner.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2006Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Charles E. Golden, Kraig A. Willett
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Patent number: 7223180Abstract: The invention provides a golf club head comprising a head body, a weight body, and a fastener. The head body has at least one recess that is partially delineated by a first recess wall, a recess bottom, and an opening formed in the recess bottom. The weight body is disposed in the recess, wherein the weight body has a first aperture with a first diameter. The fastener comprises a fastener head and a fastener body, wherein the fastener head has a second diameter. The fastener head is disposed between the first aperture and the opening formed in the recess bottom, wherein that the fastener body and the opening are adapted to be removably engaged to one another and the first diameter is less than the second diameter.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig A. Willett, Joseph H. Hoffman
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Patent number: 7066832Abstract: A golf club head is provided having a substantially increased sweet spot. A preferred embodiment includes a striking plate, the striking plate having a striking surface, a rear surface opposed to the striking surface and defining a thickness therebetween, and a periphery. The periphery has a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge. A balance point is disposed in a central region of the striking surface, a first thickness profile extending between the balance point and the first edge, a second thickness profile extending between the balance point and the second edge, a third thickness profile extending between the balance point and the third edge, and a fourth thickness profile extending between the balance point and the fourth edge.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2004Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig A. Willett, Joseph H. Hoffman, Michael Scott Burnett
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Patent number: 7056228Abstract: An golf club head is provided, having enhanced sound and feel characteristics. The club head has a hollow main body including a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, a hosel, and a side portion extending rearwardly from the face. The body further includes a heel region adjacent to the hosel and a toe region opposing the heel region, and it defines a volume of at least 100 cc. The club head further includes a stiffening member disposed within the body and attached to both the sole and the crown. The member is spaced apart from the striking face and disposed within the body in a region having a first zone extending less than half the distance from the heel region to the toe region and a second zone extending less than half the distance from a rearmost point, thereby forming a local stiffness zone in the body to influence vibration modes and acoustic properties of the club head in a prescribed manner.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Charles E. Golden, Kraig A. Willett
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Patent number: 6904663Abstract: A method of manufacturing a face plate for a golf club head is presented to provide face having substantial thickness variation for enhanced performance. The method includes the steps of providing a rolled sheet of metal material having an initial thickness and forming a blank having a prescribed outer shape from the material. The method also includes machining a second side of the blank such that the resulting face plate has a variable thickness. The machining is such that the plate has a first thickness less than or equal to the initial thickness, a second thickness less than the first thickness and a third thickness less than the second thickness. The machining is performed over a substantial portion of the surface area of the second side. Either a CNC lathe or milling machine may be used; however, for an axisymmetric face thickness a CNC lathe is preferred and for an asymmetric face thickness a CNC end mill is preferred. The club head may be a wood-type or iron, and titanium or steel alloys may be used.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2002Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig A. Willett, Stephen A. Kraus, Todd P. Beach, Joseph H. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20040242343Abstract: Individual weights and a related kit for adjustably weighting a golf club head are provided, allowing a golfer to fine-tune the club for his or her swing. The kit is useable with a club head that defines a plurality of weight recesses spaced about the club head. The kit includes a plurality of weights, including weights of different mass. Each weight is sized to be threadably received within a recess of the club head. Varying placement of the weights enables a golfer to vary impact conditions in the club head, for optimum distance and accuracy. The kit may further include a tool having an engagement end configured to operatively mate with the fasteners of the weights. The tool preferably includes a torque limiting mechanism configured to inhibit over-tightening of the weights into the recess of the club head. The tool and weights may be provided along with the golf club.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, Brian Weed, Kraig A. Willett, Joseph H. Hoffman, Gery Zimmerman, Benoit Vincent
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Patent number: 6800038Abstract: A golf club head is provided having a substantially increased sweet spot across its striking face. A preferred embodiment includes a striking plate with a substantially annular area on a rear surface that has an increased thickness or stiffness surrounding the central region of the balance point of the striking surface. The central region of the striking plate has a generally reduced thickness or stiffness that is less than the maximum thickness or stiffness values found at the third and fourth thickness or stiffness profiles of the substantially annular area but greater than a minimum thickness or stiffness values at the peripheral area. The first and second thickness or stiffness profiles of the substantially annular area have thicknesses or stiffnesses less than the maximum values of the third and fourth thickness or stiffness profiles but more than the minimum thickness or stiffness values at the periphery.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2002Date of Patent: October 5, 2004Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig A. Willett, Joseph H. Hoffman, Michael Scott Burnett
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Patent number: 6773360Abstract: The invention provides a golf club head having adjustable weight, allowing the golfer to fine tune the club for his or her swing. The club head includes a body having a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, and a side extending rearwardly from the face. The body defines an interior cavity and a recess on a selected wall of the body spaced apart from the striking face. A threaded opening is disposed in the recess. The club head further includes a weight assembly having fastener and a mass element configured to be press-fit into the recess the such that a first end is adjacent the bottom of the recess. The mass element also has an aperture configured to receive the fastener flush. The fastener removably attaches the weighting assembly to the selected wall of the club head. Pressure from the fastener attachment provides a press-fit of the mass element in the tapered recess of the selected wall.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2002Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig A. Willett, Joseph H. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20040092332Abstract: The invention provides a golf club head having adjustable weight, allowing the golfer to fine tune the club for his or her swing. The club head includes a body having a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, and a side extending rearwardly from the face. The body defines an interior cavity and a recess on a selected wall of the body spaced apart from the striking face. A threaded opening is disposed in the recess. The club head further includes a weight assembly having fastener and a mass element configured to be press-fit into the recess the such that a first end is adjacent the bottom of the recess. The mass element also has an aperture configured to receive the fastener flush. The fastener removably attaches the weighting assembly to the selected wall of the club head. Pressure from the fastener attachment provides a press-fit of the mass element in the tapered recess of the selected wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2002Publication date: May 13, 2004Inventors: Kraig A. Willett, Joseph H. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20040083596Abstract: A method of manufacturing a face plate for a golf club head is presented to provide face having substantial thickness variation for enhanced performance. The method includes the steps of providing a rolled sheet of metal material having an initial thickness and forming a blank having a prescribed outer shape from the material. The method also includes machining a second side of the blank such that the resulting face plate has a variable thickness. The machining is such that the plate has a first thickness less than or equal to the initial thickness, a second thickness less than the first thickness and a third thickness less than the second thickness. The machining is performed over a substantial portion of the surface area of the second side. Either a CNC lathe or milling machine may be used; however, for an axisymmetric face thickness a CNC lathe is preferred and for an asymmetric face thickness a CNC end mill is preferred. The club head may be a wood-type or iron, and titanium or steel alloys may be used.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2002Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: Kraig A. Willett, Stephen A. Kraus, Todd P. Beach, Joseph H. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20040087388Abstract: An golf club head is provided, having enhanced sound and feel characteristics. The club head has a hollow main body including a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, a hosel, and a side portion extending rearwardly from the face. The body further includes a heel region adjacent to the hosel and a toe region opposing the heel region, and it defines a volume of at least 100 cc. The club head further includes a stiffening member disposed within the body and attached to both the sole and the crown. The member is spaced apart from the striking face and disposed within the body in a region having a first zone extending less than half the distance from the heel region to the toe region and a second zone extending less than half the distance from a rearmost point, thereby forming a local stiffness zone in the body to influence vibration modes and acoustic properties of the club head in a prescribed manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2002Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Charles E. Golden, Kraig A. Willett
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Publication number: 20030083148Abstract: A golf club head is provided having a substantially increased sweet spot across its striking face. A preferred embodiment includes a striking plate with a substantially annular area on a rear surface that has an increased thickness or stiffness surrounding the central region of the balance point of the striking surface. The central region of the striking plate has a generally reduced thickness or stiffness that is less than the maximum thickness or stiffness values found at the third and fourth thickness or stiffness profiles of the substantially annular area but greater than a minimum thickness or stiffness values at the peripheral area. The first and second thickness or stiffness profiles of the substantially annular area have thicknesses or stiffnesses less than the maximum values of the third and fourth thickness or stiffness profiles but more than the minimum thickness or stiffness values at the periphery.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2002Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: Kraig A. Willett, Joseph H. Hoffman, Michael Scott Burnett
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Patent number: D516656Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2004Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Joseph H. Hoffman, Kraig A. Willett, Gery Mel Zimmerman, Todd P. Beach, Robert Michael Nunez, Craig Kevin Barez