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: 20160243412
    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: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Joshua C. Stokes
  • Patent number: 9370699
    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 a groove pitch measurement, wherein the groove pitch of the plurality of grooves of the long iron is greater than the groove pitch of the plurality of grooves of the short iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz
  • Publication number: 20160151683
    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: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Franz, Brandon Vincent, Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Eduardo Mendoza
  • Patent number: 9283450
    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 by a first distance. The mid-irons have a second center of gravity positioned horizontally from the face center by a second distance. The short irons have a third center of gravity positioned horizontally from the face center by a third distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Franz, Brandon Vincent, Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Eduardo Mendoza
  • Publication number: 20160045792
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body having a heel side and a toe side, said body comprising a hosel located on a heel side of said boy and configured to engage a shaft, a striking face, a sole extending back from a bottom of said striking face, and a topline located at a top of said striking face, wherein said body is constructed from a metal material, and wherein said golf club head further comprises graphmat affixed to a rear surface of said striking face, said rear surface opposite a front surface of said striking face, said front surface configured to strike a golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Gery M. Zimmerman, Michael E. Franz
  • Publication number: 20150217364
    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: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gery M. Zimmerman, Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Eduardo Mendoza
  • Publication number: 20150165281
    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: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Eduardo Mendoza
  • Publication number: 20140357397
    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 by a first distance. The mid-irons have a second center of gravity positioned horizontally from the face center by a second distance. The short irons have a third center of gravity positioned horizontally from the face center by a third distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael E. Franz, Brandon Vincent, Marni Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Eduardo Mendoza
  • Patent number: 8342593
    Abstract: An anti-extremity pinch garnish for preventing pinching of extremities between a hinged edge portion of a vehicle closure and an adjacent portion of a vehicle body to which the vehicle closure is pivotally mounted includes a first portion secured to the vehicle body adjacent an opening defined therein and a second portion integral with said first portion and configured to obstruct entry of an extremity between the hinged edge portion of the closure and the adjacent portion of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Ruby, III, Michael E. Franz
  • Patent number: 8276969
    Abstract: A fuel door assembly may use a vibration damper made as a single part with a contact surface of the vehicle body or a contact surface of the fuel door. In one embodiment, when the fuel door is moved to an open condition a contact surface of the fuel door contacts a contact surface of a vehicle body to dampen vibrations thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael E. Franz
  • Patent number: 8215333
    Abstract: A fuel filler adapter for a vehicle including a rigid housing connected to the vehicle and having a fuel pipe opening defined therethrough; and a flexible plastic overmold formed to the rigid housing. The overmold includes a radial wall defining an aperture that is in registry with the fuel pipe opening, a drainage skirt at least partially encircling the aperture for catching overflow fuel, and an overflow channel disposed below the aperture. The overflow channel may be defined by the radial wall and/or the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryan Matthew Stokes, Michael E. Franz, Shawn Lee Tarr
  • Publication number: 20110175389
    Abstract: A fuel door assembly may use a vibration damper made as a single part with a contact surface of the vehicle body or a contact surface of the fuel door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventor: Michael E. Franz
  • Publication number: 20110121605
    Abstract: An anti-extremity pinch garnish for preventing pinching of extremities between a hinged edge portion of a vehicle closure and an adjacent portion of a vehicle body to which the vehicle closure is pivotally mounted includes a first portion secured to the vehicle body adjacent an opening defined therein and a second portion integral with said first portion and configured to obstruct entry of an extremity between the hinged edge portion of the closure and the adjacent portion of the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Ruby, III, Michael E. Franz
  • Publication number: 20100313969
    Abstract: A fuel filler adapter for a vehicle including a rigid housing connected to the vehicle and having a fuel pipe opening defined therethrough; and a flexible plastic overmold formed to the rigid housing. The overmold includes a radial wall defining an aperture that is in registry with the fuel pipe opening, a drainage skirt at least partially encircling the aperture for catching overflow fuel, and an overflow channel disposed below the aperture. The overflow channel may be defined by the radial wall and/or the skirt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Ryan Matthew Stokes, Michael E. Franz, Shawn Lee Tarr
  • Patent number: 7810872
    Abstract: A roof structure for a vehicle body includes a roof having a roof opening that is closed by a cover member. The roof structure comprises a frame member, a left side panel member and a right side panel member. The frame member is configured to frame the roof opening. The frame member supports the cover member. Each side panel member forms a part of the vehicle body and is adhesively secured to the frame member. A peripheral edge portion of each side panel member includes at least one channel adapted to allow escape of an adhesive disposed between the side panel member and the frame member for ease of assembly of the roof structure to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Kuribayashi, Brent Nathaniel Gaertner, Michael E. Franz, Yan Beaudoin