Patents by Inventor Michael E. Finn

Michael E. Finn 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).

  • Patent number: 11383139
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20210023423
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 10799777
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20200078644
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 10369432
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20180264329
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 9993702
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20170216686
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 9630072
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20150328504
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 8968114
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy Snyder
  • Patent number: 8672773
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as an iron-type golf club, includes a head that has a face having a ball striking surface defined thereon and an arched top edge, an iron-type golf club body connected to the face, and a hosel connected to the body. The arched top edge of the face includes a crest portion, a first upwardly sloping portion extending from a toe edge of the face to the crest portion, and a second upwardly sloping portion extending from the hosel to the crest portion, such that the distance from the bottom edge of the face to the top edge of the face is greatest at the crest portion. The hosel has a first end connected to the body and a second end located below the crest portion of the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Finn
  • Patent number: 8632416
    Abstract: A set of golf clubs in accordance with at least some examples of this disclosure may include one or more of the golf clubs which include an iron-type golf club head with a 3-piece configuration which may include a ball striking face; a golf club head body including a rear surface opposite the ball striking face, which may include a perimeter weighting member extending in a direction rearward from the ball striking face and along at least a portion of a circumferential area of the golf club head body; and an insert engaged with the golf club head body and positioned behind the ball striking face of the golf club head. Further, one or more of the golf clubs in the set may include iron-type golf club heads with a 2-piece configuration which may include a golf club head body and an insert engaged with the golf club head body. Additionally, one or more of the golf clubs in the set may include iron-type golf club heads with a 1-piece configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20130324280
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy Snyder
  • Patent number: 8562452
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to golf clubs or golf club heads, having an adjustable ball striking face. The golf club head includes a club head body, a ball striking face, and a brace extending from a sole of the club head body to an inner surface of the ball striking face. The brace may further include an end portion engaged with the inner surface of the ball striking face, a fixed rod located between the end portion and an inner surface of the club head at the sole, a biasing member attached to the fixed rod. The biasing member may provide a biasing force to the ball striking face such that the ball striking face is adjustable between a first direction thereby adjusting a face angle of the club head and a second direction thereby adjusting a loft angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
  • Patent number: 8480507
    Abstract: A set of golf clubs in accordance with at least some examples of this disclosure may include one or more iron-type golf club heads with a slot, or pocket cavity, behind the ball striking face of the golf club head. Further, one or more of the golf clubs in the set may include iron-type golf club heads with a split cavity or half cavity configuration. Additionally, one or more of the golf clubs in the set may include iron-type golf club heads of the blade-type. Also, one or more of the golf clubs in the set may include a hybrid-type golf club head with a cavity, or compression channel, extending through the bottom surface of the club head behind the ball striking face of the golf club head and one or more additional cavities extending through a bottom surface of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Naoki Kobayashi, Tony Dabbs
  • Publication number: 20130053169
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft proximate a heel thereof. At least one component of the head includes a coloring that creates a different visual impression. Such a coloring may be integrally formed as part of the outer surface of component. The head may include a face that is at least partially colored as described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Dumas, Michael E. Finn, Robert Lukasiewicz, JR., Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Byron C. Slaughter, Jorge Arvizu
  • Publication number: 20120270674
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to golf clubs or golf club heads, having an adjustable ball striking face. The golf club head includes a club head body, a ball striking face, and a brace extending from a sole of the club head body to an inner surface of the ball striking face. The brace may further include an end portion engaged with the inner surface of the ball striking face, a fixed rod located between the end portion and an inner surface of the club head at the sole, a biasing member attached to the fixed rod. The biasing member may provide a biasing force to the ball striking face such that the ball striking face is adjustable between a first direction thereby adjusting a face angle of the club head and a second direction thereby adjusting a loft angle of the club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, Andrew G.V. Oldknow
  • Patent number: 8210961
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to golf clubs or golf club heads, having an adjustable ball striking face. The golf club head includes a club head body, a ball striking face, and a brace extending from a sole of the club head body to an inner surface of the ball striking face. The brace may further include an end portion engaged with the inner surface of the ball striking face, a fixed rod located between the end portion and an inner surface of the club head at the sole, a biasing member attached to the fixed rod. The biasing member may provide a biasing force to the ball striking face such that the ball striking face is adjustable between a first direction thereby adjusting a face angle of the club head and a second direction thereby adjusting a loft angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
  • Publication number: 20120157224
    Abstract: A set of golf clubs in accordance with at least some examples of this disclosure may include one or more of the golf clubs which include an iron-type golf club head with a 3-piece configuration which may include a ball striking face; a golf club head body including a rear surface opposite the ball striking face, which may include a perimeter weighting member extending in a direction rearward from the ball striking face and along at least a portion of a circumferential area of the golf club head body; and an insert engaged with the golf club head body and positioned behind the ball striking face of the golf club head. Further, one or more of the golf clubs in the set may include iron-type golf club heads with a 2-piece configuration which may include a golf club head body and an insert engaged with the golf club head body. Additionally, one or more of the golf clubs in the set may include iron-type golf club heads with a 1-piece configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder