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: 20180085641
    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: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Jonathan Hebreo, Marni D. Ines, Grant M. Martens, Jason A. Mata, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20180056146
    Abstract: A golf club head with a multi-level badge is disclosed herein. More specifically, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention is an iron type golf club head with a multi-level badge that on one level contacts a rear surface of the striking face of the golf club head, and a second level of the multi-level badge contacts a rear surface of a cavity created by the chassis of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Franz, Marni Ines
  • Patent number: 9889352
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The irons have a progressive horizontal CG location. Preferably, the long and MID irons have a CG located between about 1 mm and 3 mm towards the hosel and the short iron CG is located between about 3 mm and 4 mm toward the hosel. Further the irons have a substantially constant blade width with progressively decreasing scoreline width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Eduardo Mendoza
  • Publication number: 20170361177
    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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Marni Ines, Joshua C. Stokes, Grant M. Martens, Charles E. Golden, Uday V. Deshmukh
  • Publication number: 20170348569
    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 via a mechanical fastener inserted through the face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Ryan J. A. Ritchie, Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz
  • Patent number: 9808684
    Abstract: A set of iron type golf club heads comprising a plurality of iron type golf club heads, the plurality of iron type golf club heads comprising a long iron, a mid iron, and a short iron; wherein each of the plurality of iron type golf club heads comprise a striking face, and wherein each of the plurality of iron type golf club heads comprise a plurality of grooves formed in the striking face extending generally from a heel side of the striking face towards a toe side of the striking face; wherein the plurality of grooves of each of the plurality of iron type golf club heads comprise an edge radius, wherein the edge radius of the plurality of grooves of the long iron is greater than the edge radius of the plurality of grooves of the short iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz
  • Patent number: 9750994
    Abstract: The present invention is direct to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The long irons have a first center of gravity positioned horizontally from the face center toward the hosel by a first distance. The mid-irons have a second center of gravity positioned horizontally from the face center toward the hosel by a second distance. The short irons have a third center of gravity positioned horizontally from the face center toward the hosel by a third distance that is greater than the first and second distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Franz, Brandon Vincent, Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Eduardo Mendoza
  • Patent number: 9750993
    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 via a mechanical fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Ryan J. A. Ritchie, Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz
  • Patent number: 9718119
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The irons have a progressive horizontal CG location. Preferably, the long and MID irons have a CG located between about 1 mm and 3 mm towards the hosel and the short iron CG is located between about 3 mm and 4 mm toward the hosel. Further the irons can have a substantially constant blade width with progressively increasing toe height and progressively decreasing scoreline width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gery M. Zimmerman, Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Eduardo Mendoza
  • Publication number: 20170050092
    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: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20170014690
    Abstract: A golf club head including a face having a flat ball-striking surface and a body that form a flexure. The golf club head has a feature formed in a sole of the golf club head that provides a flexure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: John Morin, Noah de la Cruz, Nick Frame, Charles E. Golden, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Grant M. Martens
  • Publication number: 20170001081
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an iron type golf club head, including forming an iron type golf club head blank, the iron type golf club head blank having an oversized hosel portion and an oversized body portion, the iron type golf club head blank configured to accommodate a plurality of iron type golf club heads, each iron type golf club head having a unique loft angle; and removing material from said oversized body portion of said iron type golf club head blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: James P. Harrington, Michael E. Franz, Oswaldo Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20160375320
    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: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Franz, Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Ryan J. A. Ritchie
  • Publication number: 20160361609
    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: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20160332041
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The irons have a progressive horizontal CG location. Preferably, the long and MID irons have a CG located between about 1 mm and 3 mm towards the hosel and the short iron CG is located between about 3 mm and 4 mm toward the hosel. Further the irons have a substantially constant blade width with progressively decreasing scoreline width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Eduardo Mendoza
  • Publication number: 20160287951
    Abstract: A set of iron type golf club heads comprising a plurality of iron type golf club heads, the plurality of iron type golf club heads comprising a long iron, a mid iron, and a short iron; wherein each of the plurality of iron type golf club heads comprise a striking face, and wherein each of the plurality of iron type golf club heads comprise a plurality of grooves formed in the striking face extending generally from a heel side of the striking face towards a toe side of the striking face; wherein the plurality of grooves of each of the plurality of iron type golf club heads comprise an edge radius, wherein the edge radius of the plurality of grooves of the long iron is greater than the edge radius of the plurality of grooves of the short iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz
  • Patent number: 9427635
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The irons have a progressive horizontal CG location. Preferably, the long and MID irons have a CG located between about 1 mm and 3 mm towards the hosel and the short iron CG is located between about 3 mm and 4 mm toward the hosel. Further the irons can have a substantially constant blade width with progressively increasing toe height and progressively decreasing scoreline width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Eduardo Mendoza
  • Publication number: 20160243413
    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 via a mechanical fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Ryan J. A. Ritchie, Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz
  • Patent number: D765803
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Austin Oliveiro, Michael E. Franz
  • Patent number: D803960
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Hebreo, Kevin J. Chun, Michael E. Franz