Patents by Inventor Michael E. Franz
Michael E. Franz 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: 20240075357Abstract: A golf club head including a striking face; a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face; wherein the striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a support arm spaced from the rear surface of the striking face; wherein the support arm abuts the periphery portion at two distinct locations; a damping element residing between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face; wherein the damping element comprises a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face and a rear surface in contact with the support arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Charles E. Golden, Oswaldo Gonzalez, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Jason A. Mata, Michael E. Franz, John Morin
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Publication number: 20230405421Abstract: A golf club head including a striking face, a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face, wherein the striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface, a support arm spaced from the rear surface of the striking face, the support arm extending from the periphery portion, wherein the support arm is affixed to the periphery portion at two distinct locations, a damping element residing between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face, wherein the damping element comprises a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face and a rear surface in contact with the support arm, wherein the support arm extends substantially parallel a horizontal axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: John Morin, Jason A. Mata, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Charles E. Golden, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Oswaldo Gonzalez
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Patent number: 11826620Abstract: A golf club head including a striking face; a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face; wherein the striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a support arm spaced from the rear surface of the striking face; wherein the support arm abuts the periphery portion at two distinct locations; a damping element residing between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face; wherein the damping element comprises a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face and a rear surface in contact with the support arm.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Charles E. Golden, Oswaldo Gonzalez, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Jason A. Mata, Michael E. Franz, John Morin
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Patent number: 11786789Abstract: A golf club head including a striking face, a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face, wherein the striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface, a support arm spaced from the rear surface of the striking face, the support arm extending from the periphery portion, wherein the support arm is affixed to the periphery portion at two distinct locations, a damping element residing between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face, wherein the damping element comprises a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face and a rear surface in contact with the support arm, wherein the support arm extends substantially parallel a horizontal axis.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: John Morin, Jason A. Mata, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Charles E. Golden, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Oswaldo Gonzalez
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Patent number: 11724166Abstract: A golf club head having a damping treatment, such as a viscoelastic polymer, is disclosed. The viscoelastic polymer may be in contact with the rear surface of a striking face of the golf club head. The viscoelastic polymer may have a tangent of delta peak temperature between ?70 degrees Celsius and ?20 degrees Celsius at a 1 Hz frequency. An elastic modulus (E), in megapascals (MPa), of the viscoelastic polymer has a relationship to a striking face thickness (t), in millimeters (mm), defined by Ê??14{circumflex over (t)}+305. The elastic modulus (E), in megapascals (MPa), of the viscoelastic polymer has a relationship to an effective stiffness (S) of the striking face, in gigapascals per meter (GPa/m), defined by Ê??1.16?+258.33. The viscoelastic polymer may cover a portion of the rear surface of the striking face or may substantially fill a cavity of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Charles E. Golden, Michael E. Franz, Jonathan Hebreo, Brian Comeau
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Publication number: 20230021981Abstract: The present invention is direct to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The invention contemplates the use of titanium or steel for the main body portion and a tungsten weight member coupled to the toe and a tungsten heel weight member coupled in a hosel cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jason A. Mata, Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Joshua G. Breier, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens
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Patent number: 11478684Abstract: The present invention is direct to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The invention contemplates the use of titanium or steel for the main body portion and a tungsten weight member coupled to the toe and a tungsten heel weight member coupled in a hosel cavity.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jason A. Mata, Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Joshua G. Breier, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens
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Publication number: 20220080275Abstract: A golf club head including a striking face, a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face, a support arm spaced from the rear surface of the striking face, the support arm extending from the periphery portion, wherein the support arm is affixed to the periphery portion at two distinct locations, a damping element residing between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face, wherein the damping element comprises a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face and a rear surface in contact with the support arm, wherein the support arm comprises a cradle abutting the damping element, a first portion extending from the back portion towards the cradle, and a second portion extending from the topline towards the cradle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Marni D. Ines, Oswaldo Gonzalez, John Morin, Jason A. Mata, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Charles E. Golden
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Publication number: 20210339097Abstract: A golf club head including a striking face; a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face; wherein the striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a support arm spaced from the rear surface of the striking face; wherein the support arm abuts the periphery portion at two distinct locations; a damping element residing between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face; wherein the damping element comprises a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face and a rear surface in contact with the support arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Charles E. Golden, Oswaldo Gonzalez, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Jason A. Mata, Michael E. Franz, John Morin
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Publication number: 20210308539Abstract: A golf club head including a striking face, a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face, wherein the striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface, a support arm spaced from the rear surface of the striking face, the support arm extending from the periphery portion, wherein the support arm is affixed to the periphery portion at two distinct locations, a damping element residing between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face, wherein the damping element comprises a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face and a rear surface in contact with the support arm, wherein the support arm extends substantially parallel a horizontal axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: John Morin, Jason A. Mata, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Charles E. Golden, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Oswaldo Gonzalez
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Publication number: 20210093933Abstract: The present invention is direct to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The invention contemplates the use of titanium or steel for the main body portion and a tungsten weight member coupled to the toe and a tungsten heel weight member coupled in a hosel cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2020Publication date: April 1, 2021Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jason A. Mata, Mami D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Joshua G. Breier, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens
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Publication number: 20210008423Abstract: A golf club head having a damping treatment, such as a viscoelastic polymer, is disclosed. The viscoelastic polymer may be in contact with the rear surface of a striking face of the golf club head. The viscoelastic polymer may have a tangent of delta peak temperature between ?70 degrees Celsius and ?20 degrees Celsius at a 1 Hz frequency. An elastic modulus (F), in megapascals (MPa), of the viscoelastic polymer has a relationship to a striking face thickness (t), in millimeters (mm), defined by Ê??14{circumflex over (t)}+305. The elastic modulus (E), in megapascals (MPa), of the viscoelastic polymer has a relationship to an effective stiffness (S) of the striking face, in gigapascals per meter (GPa/m), defined by Ê??1.16?+258.33. The viscoelastic polymer may cover a portion of the rear surface of the striking face or may substantially fill a cavity of the golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Charles E. Golden, Michael E. Franz, Jonathan Hebreo, Brian Comeau
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Patent number: 10881924Abstract: The present invention is direct to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The invention contemplates the use of titanium or steel for the main body portion and a tungsten weight member coupled to the toe and a tungsten heel weight member coupled in a hosel cavity.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jason A. Mata, Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Joshua G. Breier, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens
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Patent number: 10716985Abstract: A golf club head having a damping treatment, such as a viscoelastic polymer, is disclosed. The viscoelastic polymer may be in contact with the rear surface of a striking face of the golf club head. The viscoelastic polymer may have a tangent of delta peak temperature between ?70 degrees Celsius and ?20 degrees Celsius at a 1 Hz frequency. An elastic modulus (E), in megapascals (MPa), of the viscoelastic polymer has a relationship to a striking face thickness (t), in millimeters (mm), defined Ê??14{circumflex over (t)}+305. The elastic modulus (E), in megapascals (MPa), of the viscoelastic polymer has a relationship to an effective stiffness (S) of the striking face, in gigapascals per meter (GPa/m), defined by Ê??1.16?+258.33. The viscoelastic polymer may cover a portion of the rear surface of the striking face or may substantially fill a cavity of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: ACUSHNET COMPANYInventors: Charles E. Golden, Michael E. Franz, Jonathan Hebreo, Brian Comeau
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Patent number: 10702751Abstract: The present invention is direct to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The invention contemplates the use of titanium or steel for the main body portion and significant tungsten weight members at the heel and toe.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes
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Patent number: 10625124Abstract: A golf club head including a face having a flat ball-striking surface and a body that forms a flexure. The golf club head has a feature formed in a sole of the golf club head that provides the flexure.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: John Morin, Noah de la Cruz, Nick Frame, Charles E. Golden, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Grant M. Martens
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Publication number: 20200030670Abstract: The present invention is direct to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The invention contemplates the use of titanium or steel for the main body portion and a tungsten weight member coupled to the toe and a tungsten heel weight member coupled in a hosel cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jason A. Mata, Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Joshua G. Breier, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens
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Patent number: 10507366Abstract: A golf club head having a golf club head body and an inner wall structure. The club head body includes a back portion, a striking face, a sole, and a topline. The inner wall structure is at least partially in contact with a rear surface of the striking face. The inner wall structure also has a fixed end and an unfixed end. The golf club head is also configured such that the portion of the inner wall structure in contact with the rear surface of the striking face may slide against one another. The golf club head may also include a sole channel, and the fixed end of the inner wall structure may be attached to either a front edge or back edge of the sole channel.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2018Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Marni Ines, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens, Charles E. Golden, Uday V. Deshmukh
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Patent number: 10478681Abstract: The present invention is direct to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The invention contemplates the use of titanium or steel for the main body portion and significant tungsten weight members coupled to at least the toe and a heel weight member coupled in a hosel cavity.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael E. Franz, Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Ryan J. A. Ritchie
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Patent number: 10463933Abstract: The present invention is direct to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The invention contemplates the use of titanium or steel for the main body portion and a tungsten weight member coupled to the toe and a tungsten heel weight member coupled in a hosel cavity.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jason A. Mata, Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Joshua G. Breier, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens