Patents by Inventor Kraig Alan Willett
Kraig Alan 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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Publication number: 20190381375Abstract: Golf club heads include at least one weight port situated to retain weights and positioned above an approximate club face geometric center with the club in a standard address position. One, two, or more weight ports can be located above the club face center in a club crown or other portion of a club body. Club head vertical center of gravity can be selected to compensate dynamic loft associated with locating the club head center of gravity well behind the club face. Three-dimensional adjustment of club head center of gravity is possible.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig Alan Willett, Todd P. Beach, Christopher John Harbert, Gery Mel Zimmerman
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Publication number: 20190381370Abstract: An iron-type golf club head has a hosel portion, a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a topline portion, and a striking face including a center face location. A toe side topline-to-sole contour of the striking face is more lofted than a center face topline-to-sole contour of the striking face, a heel side topline-to-sole contour of the striking face is less lofted than the center face topline-to-sole contour, a topline side toe-to-heel contour of the striking face is more open than a center face toe-to-heel contour of the striking face, and a sole side toe-to-heel contour of the striking face is more closed than the center face toe-to-heel contour. The toe side topline-to-sole contour, the center face topline-to-sole contour, the heel side topline-to-sole contour, the topline side toe-to-heel contour, the center face toe-to-heel contour, and the sole side toe-to-heel contour are straight line contours.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2018Publication date: December 19, 2019Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Mark Vincent Greaney, Kraig Alan Willett, Joe Hoffman, Todd P. Beach, Connor Mark Halberg, Andrew Kickertz, Joseph Yu, Bing-Ling Chao
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Publication number: 20190381373Abstract: An aerodynamic golf club head with a low center of gravity and producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The club head has crown section attributes and material attributes that impart beneficial aerodynamic properties and performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Kraig Alan Willett, Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
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Patent number: 10507365Abstract: Golf club heads are described herein, and in one embodiment including a body with an exterior surface defining a first body volume of at least about 400 cm3. The body has a bottom portion, a top portion, a front portion, and a back portion. A face positioned at the front portion of the body and is configured to receive an impact. A top portion silhouette profile located along a perimeter of the top portion is further described. The top portion silhouette profile defines the outer bounds of the top portion in an X-direction and Y-direction. At least one indentation can be located on the bottom portion below the crown silhouette profile. The removal of the at least one indentation from the bottom portion can create a second body volume that is at least 12 cm3 larger than the first body volume.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2018Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett
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Patent number: 10486038Abstract: Golf club heads are described herein, and in one embodiment including a body with an exterior surface defining a first body volume of at least about 400 cm3. The body has a bottom portion, a top portion, a front portion, and a back portion. A face positioned at the front portion of the body and is configured to receive an impact. A top portion silhouette profile located along a perimeter of the top portion is further described. The top portion silhouette profile defines the outer bounds of the top portion in an X-direction and Y-direction. At least one indentation can be located on the bottom portion below the crown silhouette profile. The removal of the at least one indentation from the bottom portion can create a second body volume that is at least 12 cm3 larger than the first body volume.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2018Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett
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Patent number: 10478679Abstract: A golf club includes a golf club head having a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole, a crown and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. A face defines a forward portion of the club head and includes a striking surface width and a hosel defining a hosel bore. A channel and a recessed port are positioned in the sole. The channel extends substantially in a heel-to-toe direction. A sleeve is mounted on a tip end of the golf club shaft and is adapted to be inserted into the hosel bore. A fastener has a shaft portion extending through a passage and a head portion located in the recessed port. Selectively attaching the sleeve adjusts at least one of a loft angle and a lie angle of the club head.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Christopher John Harbert, Todd P. Beach, Matthew David Johnson, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Michelle Penney, Marc Kronenberg, Matthew Greensmith, Joseph Henry Hoffman
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Patent number: 10463925Abstract: A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. In some embodiments, the crown includes a lattice-like structure having thin regions surrounded by a web of relatively thicker regions. In some embodiments, the club head includes one or more stiffening tubes attached between the sole and the crown to improve the acoustic performance of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Greensmith, Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Joshua J. Dipert
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Patent number: 10463929Abstract: Golf club head embodiments disclosed herein comprise a crown having a stepped portion located between a front portion of the crown and rear portion of the crown, such that the crown transitions steeply in height across the stepped portion from the front portion down to the rear portion. The stepped portion of the crown may extend from adjacent to the hosel in a toeward and rearward direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig Alan Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Joseph Reeve Nielson, Michael Franz
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Patent number: 10463926Abstract: A golf club head is described having a club head portion, a shaft portion connected to the club head portion, and a grip portion connected to the shaft portion. The club head portion has a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a crown portion, a hosel portion, and a striking face. The striking face has a center face roll contour, a toe side roll contour, a heel side roll contour, a center face bulge contour, a crown side bulge contour, and a sole side bulge contour. The toe side roll contour is more lofted than the center face roll contour. The heel side roll contour is less lofted than the center face roll contour. The crown side bulge contour is more open than the center face bulge contour, and the sole side bulge contour is more closed than the center face bulge contour.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Mark Vincent Greaney, Kraig Alan Willett, Joe Hoffman, Todd P. Beach
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Patent number: 10449423Abstract: A golf club head is described having a club head portion, a shaft portion connected to the club head portion, and a grip portion connected to the shaft portion. The club head portion has a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a crown portion, a hosel portion, and a striking face. The striking face has a center face roll contour, a toe side roll contour, a heel side roll contour, a center face bulge contour, a crown side bulge contour, and a sole side bulge contour. The toe side roll contour is more lofted than the center face roll contour. The heel side roll contour is less lofted than the center face roll contour. The crown side bulge contour is more open than the center face bulge contour, and the sole side bulge contour is more closed than the center face bulge contour.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2018Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Mark Vincent Greaney, Kraig Alan Willett, Joe Hoffman, Todd P. Beach
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Patent number: 10441859Abstract: Golf club heads include at least one weight port situated to retain weights and positioned above an approximate club face geometric center with the club in a standard address position. One, two, or more weight ports can be located above the club face center in a club crown or other portion of a club body. Club head vertical center of gravity can be selected to compensate dynamic loft associated with locating the club head center of gravity well behind the club face. Three-dimensional adjustment of club head center of gravity is possible.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2018Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig Alan Willett, Todd P. Beach, Christopher John Harbert, Gery Mel Zimmerman
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Patent number: 10420994Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body and at least one self-extracting pressed weight assembly. The body comprises a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. The body defines an interior cavity. The weight assembly comprises at least three components and is configured for a press fit engagement with the golf club head. The assembly has a drive portion and a threaded portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2018Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Benoit Vincent, Ian C. Wright, Kraig Alan Willett, Gery Mel Zimmerman, Joseph Henry Hoffman
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Publication number: 20190282866Abstract: A golf club head has a high COR, is durable, and has desirable acoustic qualities. The club head includes a body portion, a striking face and a crown forming a hollow cavity of at least 150 cc in volume. The body portion defines a front opening and an upper opening, and it includes a sole and a side section that extends rearward of the front opening. The striking plate is secured to the body portion, enclosing the front opening. While partially assembled, final weighting and/or other attachment of other members to the inner surface of the club head can be preformed, as desired. The crown is secured to the body portion, enclosing the upper opening. A surface veil may also be provided about a junction of the crown and body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Drew T. DeShiell, Kraig Alan Willett, Michael Scott Burnett, Benoit Vincent, Joseph Henry Hoffman
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Patent number: 10413784Abstract: A golf club head comprises a sole, a recessed sole port in the sole; and a rotatably adjustable sole piece adapted to be at least partially received within the sole port and comprising a central body having a plurality of contact surfaces adapted to contact the sole port and being offset from each other along a central axis extending through the central body of the sole piece. The sole piece can be positioned at least partially within the sole port at five or more rotational and axial positions with respect to the central axis, wherein at each rotational position, at least one of said contact surfaces of the central body contacts the sole port to set the axial position of the sole piece. The sole port and/or the sole piece can be generally pentagonal in shape.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Taylor Made Gold Company, Inc.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Kraig Alan Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Michael Franz
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Patent number: 10363463Abstract: An aerodynamic golf club head with a low center of gravity and producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The club head has crown section attributes that impart beneficial aerodynamic properties.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2018Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Kraig Alan Willett, Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
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Publication number: 20190192926Abstract: A golf club head includes a golf club body including a crown, a sole, and a skirt connected between the crown and the sole, the golf club body including a front including a leading edge and a back including a trailing edge, and a hosel connected to the golf club body; a face connected to the front of the golf club body, the face including a geometric center, the golf club head including modifiable boundary conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig Alan Willett, Matthew Greensmith, Andrew James, Jason Andrew Mata, Matthew David Johnson, David Anderson, Brandon H. Woolley
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Publication number: 20190184244Abstract: A high volume golf club head having a groove located in the sole and extending from the heel portion to the toe portion, a high coefficient of restitution, and a weight distribution producing performance enhancing center of gravity location and moment of inertia.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2019Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett
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Patent number: 10293225Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity. The body having a channel located on the sole and extending generally from a heel end of the body to a toe end of the body. A weight member movably positioned within the channel such that a position of the weight member within the channel is able to be adjusted, thereby adjusting a location of a center of gravity of the body. Additionally, adjustment of the weight member provides a maximum x-axis adjustment range of the position of the center of gravity (Max ?CGx) that is greater than 2 mm and a maximum z-axis adjustment range of the center of gravity (Max ?CGz) that is less than 2 mm.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Nathan T. Sargent, Joseph Reeve Nielson, Christopher John Harbert, Todd P. Beach, Brian Bazzel, Mark Vincent Greaney, Christian Reber Wester, Craig Richard Slyfield, Kraig Alan Willett
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Publication number: 20190134470Abstract: A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. In some embodiments, the crown includes a lattice-like structure having thin regions surrounded by a web of relatively thicker regions. In some embodiments, the club head includes one or more stiffening tubes attached between the sole and the crown to improve the acoustic performance of the golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Greensmith, Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Joshua J. Dipert
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Patent number: 10265587Abstract: A golf club head is described having a club head portion, a shaft portion connected to the club head portion, and a grip portion connected to the shaft portion. The club head portion has a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a crown portion, a hosel portion, and a striking face. The striking face has a center face roll contour, a toe side roll contour, a heel side roll contour, a center face bulge contour, a crown side bulge contour, and a sole side bulge contour. The toe side roll contour is more lofted than the center face roll contour. The heel side roll contour is less lofted than the center face roll contour. The crown side bulge contour is more open than the center face bulge contour, and the sole side bulge contour is more closed than the center face bulge contour.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2018Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Mark Vincent Greaney, Kraig Alan Willett, Joe Hoffman, Todd P. Beach