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).

  • Publication number: 20240075357
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Charles E. Golden, Oswaldo Gonzalez, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Jason A. Mata, Michael E. Franz, John Morin
  • Publication number: 20230405421
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: John Morin, Jason A. Mata, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Charles E. Golden, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Oswaldo Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11826620
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Charles E. Golden, Oswaldo Gonzalez, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Jason A. Mata, Michael E. Franz, John Morin
  • Patent number: 11786789
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: John Morin, Jason A. Mata, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Charles E. Golden, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Oswaldo Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11724166
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, Michael E. Franz, Jonathan Hebreo, Brian Comeau
  • Publication number: 20230021981
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jason A. Mata, Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Joshua G. Breier, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens
  • Patent number: 11478684
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jason A. Mata, Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Joshua G. Breier, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens
  • Publication number: 20220080275
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni D. Ines, Oswaldo Gonzalez, John Morin, Jason A. Mata, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Charles E. Golden
  • Publication number: 20210339097
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Charles E. Golden, Oswaldo Gonzalez, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Jason A. Mata, Michael E. Franz, John Morin
  • Publication number: 20210308539
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: John Morin, Jason A. Mata, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Charles E. Golden, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Oswaldo Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20210093933
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jason A. Mata, Mami D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Joshua G. Breier, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens
  • Publication number: 20210008423
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, Michael E. Franz, Jonathan Hebreo, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 10881924
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jason A. Mata, Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Joshua G. Breier, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens
  • Patent number: 10716985
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, Michael E. Franz, Jonathan Hebreo, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 10702751
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes
  • Patent number: 10625124
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: John Morin, Noah de la Cruz, Nick Frame, Charles E. Golden, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Grant M. Martens
  • Publication number: 20200030670
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jason A. Mata, Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Joshua G. Breier, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens
  • Patent number: 10507366
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Marni Ines, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens, Charles E. Golden, Uday V. Deshmukh
  • Patent number: 10478681
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Franz, Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Ryan J. A. Ritchie
  • Patent number: 10463933
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jason A. Mata, Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Joshua G. Breier, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens