Patents by Inventor Matthew D. Johnson

Matthew D. Johnson 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).

  • Publication number: 20250144480
    Abstract: A golf club head having discreet regions of specific mass relationships, including a lightweight forward portion, to achieve specific mass properties and performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2024
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Christopher John Harbert, Joseph Henry Hoffman, Christopher Rollins, Todd P. Beach, Mark Vincent Greaney, Justin D. Kleinert, David Bennett, Charles Chou, Stephen Kraus, Matthew Greensmith, Matthew D. Johnson, Brett Christopher Walker, Garret Clifton Vierhout
  • Patent number: 12268940
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a driver-type golf club head that has a strike face. The strike face has a central region, defined by a 40 mm by 20 mm rectangular area centered on a geometric center of the strike face and elongated in a heel-to-toe direction. The driver-type golf club head is configured such that after 500 impacts of a standard golf ball at the geometric center of the strike face, where at each impact the standard golf ball has a velocity of 52 meters per second, the CT of the strike face at any point within the central region is less than 256 microseconds and the CT at the geometric center of the strike face is no more than five microseconds different than the initial CT value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Mark Greaney, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 12257484
    Abstract: A method of making a golf club head includes interposing bonding tape between a first piece and a second piece of the golf club head such that the first piece is temporarily adhered to the second piece via a tackiness of the bonding tape. The method additionally includes positioning the first piece, the second piece, and the bonding tape, interposed between the first piece and the second piece, in a vacuum bag, and reducing a pressure within the vacuum bag, relative to a pressure external to the vacuum bag, such that the vacuum bag collapses onto the first piece and the second piece and compresses the bonding tape between the first piece and the second piece. The method also includes heating the bonding tape, at least to a curing temperature of the bonding tape, when the pressure within the vacuum bag is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Chou, Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng, Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20250083006
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Mark V. Greaney, Ian C. Wright, Kraig A. Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Matthew D. Johnson, Gery M. Zimmerman, Kevin R. Harper
  • Patent number: 12246225
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a driver-type golf club head including a metallic front body portion having a first front body portion and a second front body portion, both of which are metallic, and portions of each form a strike plate opening that receives a strike plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Mark Greaney, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20250025751
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a driver-type golf club head that is made from at least one first material, having a density between 0.9 g/cc and 3.5 g/cc, at least one second material, having a density between 3.6 g/cc and 5.5 g/cc, and at least one third material, having a density between 5.6 g/cc and 20.0 g/cc. The first material has a first mass no more than 55% and no less than 25% of the total mass of the golf club head. The second material has a second mass no more than 65% and no less than 20% of the total mass of the golf club head. The third material has a third mass equal to the total mass of the golf club head less the first mass of the first material and the second mass of the second material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Mark Greaney, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20240424359
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a driver-type golf club head that has a strike face. The strike face has a central region, defined by a 40 mm by 20 mm rectangular area centered on a geometric center of the strike face and elongated in a heel-to-toe direction. The driver-type golf club head is configured such that after 500 impacts of a standard golf ball at the geometric center of the strike face, where at each impact the standard golf ball has a velocity of 52 meters per second, the CT of the strike face at any point within the central region is less than 256 microseconds and the CT at the geometric center of the strike face is no more than five microseconds different than the initial CT value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Mark Greaney, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20240416189
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf club head that comprises a strike face. The strike face has a central region, defined by a forty millimeter by twenty millimeter rectangular area centered on a center of the strike face and elongated in a heel-to-toe direction. Within the central region, the strike face has a characteristic time (CT) of no more than 257 microseconds. Within the central region, no less than 25% of the strike face has a coefficient of restitution (COR) of at least 0.8. Within the central region, no less than 60% of the strike face has a CT of at least 235 microseconds. Within the central region, no less than 35% of the strike face has a CT of at least 240 microseconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Joseph H. Hoffman, Matthew D. Johnson, Todd Beach
  • Publication number: 20240390742
    Abstract: A golf club head that comprises a hollow interior cavity, a first piece, a second piece, adhesively bonded to the first piece along a first bonded joint, a third piece, adhesively bonded to the first piece along a second bonded joint, and a fourth piece, adhesively bonded to the first piece along a third bonded joint. A volume of the golf club head is at least 120 cubic centimeters (cc) and at most 600 cc. The first bonded joint has a first-joint bond area. The second bonded joint has a second-joint bond area. The third bonded joint has a third-joint bond area. A summation of the first-joint bond area, the second-joint bond area, and the third-joint bond area is at least 1,950 mm2 and at most 3,400 mm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng, Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 12128281
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Mark V. Greaney, Ian C. Wright, Kraig A. Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Matthew D. Johnson, Gery M. Zimmerman, Kevin R. Harper
  • Patent number: 12121780
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a driver-type golf club head that is made from at least one first material, having a density between 0.9 g/cc and 3.5 g/cc, at least one second material, having a density between 3.6 g/cc and 5.5 g/cc, and at least one third material, having a density between 5.6 g/cc and 20.0 g/cc. The first material has a first mass no more than 55% and no less than 25% of the total mass of the golf club head. The second material has a second mass no more than 65% and no less than 20% of the total mass of the golf club head. The third material has a third mass equal to the total mass of the golf club head less the first mass of the first material and the second mass of the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Mark Greaney, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 12053677
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a driver-type golf club head that has a strike face. The strike face has a central region, defined by a 40 mm by 20 mm rectangular area centered on a geometric center of the strike face and elongated in a heel-to-toe direction. The driver-type golf club head is configured such that after 500 impacts of a standard golf ball at the geometric center of the strike face, where at each impact the standard golf ball has a velocity of 52 meters per second, the CT of the strike face at any point within the central region is less than 256 microseconds and the CT at the geometric center of the strike face is no more than five microseconds different than the initial CT value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Mark Greaney, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 12048865
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf club head that comprises a strike face. The strike face has a central region, defined by a forty millimeter by twenty millimeter rectangular area centered on a center of the strike face and elongated in a heel-to-toe direction. Within the central region, the strike face has a characteristic time (CT) of no more than 257 microseconds. Within the central region, no less than 25% of the strike face has a coefficient of restitution (COR) of at least 0.8. Within the central region, no less than 60% of the strike face has a CT of at least 235 microseconds. Within the central region, no less than 35% of the strike face has a CT of at least 240 microseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph H. Hoffman, Matthew D. Johnson, Todd Beach
  • Publication number: 20240207700
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an iron-type golf club head that comprises a strike plate, an enclosed internal cavity, and a rear aperture formed in a rear wall. The iron-type golf club head also comprises a stiffening plug, within the internal cavity and compressed between the back surface of the strike plate and the rear wall. The stiffening plug is insertable, through a rear aperture, into the internal cavity. The iron-type golf club head further comprises a rear fascia covering the rear aperture and at least a portion of the rear wall. A characteristic time (CT) at a geometric center of the strike face is at least 250 microseconds. A maximum thickness of the strike plate, at the strike face, is less than 3.5 millimeters, inclusive. The strike plate, excluding grooves, has a minimum thickness between 1.1 millimeters and 2.2 millimeters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Scott Taylor, Joseph H. Hoffman, Matthew D. Johnson, Todd Beach
  • Publication number: 20240082652
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a driver-type golf club head that is made from at least one first material, having a density between 0.9 g/cc and 3.5 g/cc, at least one second material, having a density between 3.6 g/cc and 5.5 g/cc, and at least one third material, having a density between 5.6 g/cc and 20.0 g/cc. The first material has a first mass no more than 55% and no less than 25% of the total mass of the golf club head. The second material has a second mass no more than 65% and no less than 20% of the total mass of the golf club head. The third material has a third mass equal to the total mass of the golf club head less the first mass of the first material and the second mass of the second material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Mark Greaney, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11890516
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an iron-type golf club head that comprises a strike plate, an enclosed internal cavity, and a rear aperture formed in a rear wall. The iron-type golf club head also comprises a stiffening plug, within the internal cavity and compressed between the back surface of the strike plate and the rear wall. The stiffening plug is insertable, through a rear aperture, into the internal cavity. The iron-type golf club head further comprises a rear fascia covering the rear aperture and at least a portion of the rear wall. A characteristic time (CT) at a geometric center of the strike face is at least 250 microseconds. A maximum thickness of the strike plate, at the strike face, is less than 3.5 millimeters, inclusive. The strike plate, excluding grooves, has a minimum thickness between 1.1 millimeters and 2.2 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Taylor, Joseph H. Hoffman, Matthew D. Johnson, Todd Beach
  • Publication number: 20240012364
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for enabling devices to determine the time zone in which they are located. A mobile device may receive location information from one or more sources. Based thereon, the current location of the mobile device may be determined in terms of latitude and longitude. The indication of the current location may be converted to an index value according to a Hilbert curve (or other space-filling curve), and the index value applied to a time zone index file to determine the local time zone. A time zone setting of the mobile device may be updated accordingly. Furthermore, “geofencing” may be used by the mobile device to detect movement towards and through a time zone boundary, leading to a new time zone determination being initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Ronald S. RUZICKA, Ken M. SADAHIRO, Axel ANDREJS, Matthew D. JOHNSON, Gregory R. SLAYDEN, Wen Li LOOI
  • Publication number: 20230383498
    Abstract: A method of automatically turning an autonomous mining truck (AMT), including front wheels and rear wheels, around in an operating area, including retrieving boundary data associated with the operating area, determining a first path to follow to execute a turn maneuver within the operating area based at least on the boundary data and dimensions of the AMT, wherein the first path includes a number of legs necessary to follow the first path through the turn maneuver, completing a first leg of the turn maneuver, determining a second path to follow and number of legs necessary to execute the turn maneuver based on an inability to execute the first path, and executing the second path to complete the turn maneuver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sagar CHOWDHURY, Karl KIRSCH, Matthew D. JOHNSON, Philip C. WALLSTEDT, Manish SHARMA, Kevin A. DAVIS
  • Publication number: 20230381605
    Abstract: A method of making a golf club head includes interposing bonding tape between a first piece and a second piece of the golf club head such that the first piece is temporarily adhered to the second piece via a tackiness of the bonding tape. The method additionally includes positioning the first piece, the second piece, and the bonding tape, interposed between the first piece and the second piece, in a vacuum bag, and reducing a pressure within the vacuum bag, relative to a pressure external to the vacuum bag, such that the vacuum bag collapses onto the first piece and the second piece and compresses the bonding tape between the first piece and the second piece. The method also includes heating the bonding tape, at least to a curing temperature of the bonding tape, when the pressure within the vacuum bag is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Charles Chou, Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng, Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11740590
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for enabling devices to determine the time zone in which they are located. A mobile device may receive location information from one or more sources. Based thereon, the current location of the mobile device may be determined in terms of latitude and longitude. The indication of the current location may be converted to an index value according to a Hilbert curve (or other space-filling curve), and the index value applied to a time zone index file to determine the local time zone. A time zone setting of the mobile device may be updated accordingly. Furthermore, “geofencing” may be used by the mobile device to detect movement towards and through a time zone boundary, leading to a new time zone determination being initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald S. Ruzicka, Ken M. Sadahiro, Axel Andrejs, Matthew D. Johnson, Gregory R. Slayden, Wen Li Looi