Patents by Inventor Nathaniel J. Radcliffe

Nathaniel J. Radcliffe 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: 20240082659
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as an iron-type golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface and a body connected to the face. The body has a sole surface extending rearward from a leading edge of the face, and a toe surface extending rearward from a toe edge of the face. The sole surface configured to confront the playing surface. The iron-type club head may have an elongated channel extending from a heel side in the sole member to an end point within the toe surface. The elongated channel is recessed from the sole surface and toe surfaces and is spaced from the leading and toe edges of the face. The iron-type club head may also have a plurality of weighting elements that are adjustable by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Daraskavich, Jamil Jacaman, Matthew Brian Neeley, Michael R. Pinto, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert Horacek
  • Publication number: 20240066364
    Abstract: A golf club head having a metal portion adhered to a non-metal portion to define a closed internal volume therebetween, and an elongated channel extending across a portion of the sole. The channel may be recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the width of the center portion of the channel is substantially constant, and wherein the width of the channel increases from the heel end of the center portion to the heel and from the toe end of the center portion to the toe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Eric A. Larson, Andrew G.v. Oldknow, Michael T. Prichard, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 11890513
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a channel extending across a portion of the sole. The channel may be recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and have a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the width and the depth of the center portion of the channel are substantially constant, and wherein the depth of the channel is greater at the heel and toe portions than at the center portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Eric A. Larson, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Michael T. Prichard, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 11883721
    Abstract: A golf club head includes: a sole; a crown; a toe; a heel opposite the toe; a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center; a rear portion; and a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion. The golf club head also includes at least one rib having a first portion secured to the strike face, having a second portion secured to the crown, and being positioned such that a location on the strike face laterally spaced toe-ward from the geometric center by no less than 0.4 in is associated with a COR value no less than 0.825.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Robert J. Horacek, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, John J. Rae, Michael J. Wallans, Sam G. Lacey
  • Patent number: 11819742
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as an iron-type golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface and a body connected to the face. The body has a sole surface extending rearward from a leading edge of the face, and a toe surface extending rearward from a toe edge of the face. The sole surface configured to confront the playing surface. The iron-type club head may have an elongated channel extending from a heel side in the sole member to an end point within the toe surface. The elongated channel is recessed from the sole surface and toe surfaces and is spaced from the leading and toe edges of the face. The iron-type club head may also have a plurality of weighting elements that are adjustable by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Daraskavich, Jamil Jacaman, Matthew Brian Neeley, Michael R. Pinto, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert Horacek
  • Publication number: 20230301262
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this invention relate to blade-type iron golf clubs or golf club heads. The blade-type golf club head may comprise a body forged of a metal material. The body may include a hosel, a top surface, a sole, a heel, a toe, a ball striking surface, and a rear surface opposite the ball striking surface. The rear surface may have an upper blade portion and a lower muscle portion with the upper blade portion separated from the lower muscle portion by a blade interface. The lower muscle portion may have a muscle portion surface are that includes a heel muscle surface area measured from the ball striking centerline to the heel and a toe muscle surface area measured from the ball striking centerline to the toe. The toe muscle surface area may make up at least 60% of the muscle portion surface area. The mass distribution of the lower muscle portion moves the center of gravity of the club head closer to the face center location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe
  • Patent number: 11759682
    Abstract: A golf club head having a metal portion adhered to a non-metal portion to define a closed internal volume therebetween, and an elongated channel extending across a portion of the sole. The channel may be recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the width of the center portion of the channel is substantially constant, and wherein the width of the channel increases from the heel end of the center portion to the heel and from the toe end of the center portion to the toe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Eric A. Larson, Andrew G. v. Oldknow, Michael T. Prichard, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 11642578
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this invention relate to blade-type iron golf clubs or golf club heads. The blade-type golf club head may comprise a body forged of a metal material. The body may include a hosel, a top surface, a sole, a heel, a toe, a ball striking surface, and a rear surface opposite the ball striking surface. The rear surface may have an upper blade portion and a lower muscle portion with the upper blade portion separated from the lower muscle portion by a blade interface. The lower muscle portion may have a muscle portion surface are that includes a heel muscle surface area measured from the ball striking centerline to the heel and a toe muscle surface area measured from the ball striking centerline to the toe. The toe muscle surface area may make up at least 60% of the muscle portion surface area. The mass distribution of the lower muscle portion moves the center of gravity of the club head closer to the face center location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe
  • Publication number: 20220152460
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a channel extending across a portion of the sole. The channel may be recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and have a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the width and the depth of the center portion of the channel are substantially constant, and wherein the depth of the channel is greater at the heel and toe portions than at the center portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Eric A. Larson, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Michael T. Prichard, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20220126177
    Abstract: A golf club head includes: a sole; a crown; a toe; a heel opposite the toe; a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center; a rear portion; and a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion. The golf club head also includes at least one rib having a first portion secured to the strike face, having a second portion secured to the crown, and being positioned such that a location on the strike face laterally spaced toe-ward from the geometric center by no less than 0.4 in is associated with a COR value no less than 0.825.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Robert J. HORACEK, Nathaniel J. RADCLIFFE, John J. RAE, Michael J. WALLANS, Sam G. LACEY
  • Patent number: 11278771
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a main body having a top portion, a bottom portion, a striking face, and an interior surface. A weight member is coupled to the interior surface of the main body. In an imaginary vertical plane that passes through the weight member, the interior surface of the main body comprises a first point and a second point. An imaginary line passes through the first point and the second point. A first imaginary boundary line and a second imaginary boundary line, both passing through the weight member and being perpendicular to the imaginary line, pass through the first point and the second point, respectively. Between the first point and the second point, the interior surface of the main body has an irregularity factor of at least 1.2 and the weight member comprises a distribution factor of at most 1.0 and a conformity factor of at most 0.07.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Sam G. Lacey, Dan S. Nivanh, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Dustin J. Brekke
  • Patent number: 11241604
    Abstract: A golf club head includes: a sole; a crown; a toe; a heel opposite the toe; a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center; a rear portion; and a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion. The golf club head also includes at least one rib having a first portion secured to the strike face, having a second portion secured to the crown, and being positioned such that a location on the strike face laterally spaced toe-ward from the geometric center by no less than 0.4 in is associated with a COR value no less than 0.825.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Robert J. Horacek, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, John J. Rae, Michael J. Wallans, Sam G. Lacey
  • Publication number: 20220032131
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this invention relate to blade-type iron golf clubs or golf club heads. The blade-type golf club head may comprise a body forged of a metal material. The body may include a hosel, a top surface, a sole, a heel, a toe, a ball striking surface, and a rear surface opposite the ball striking surface. The rear surface may have an upper blade portion and a lower muscle portion with the upper blade portion separated from the lower muscle portion by a blade interface. The lower muscle portion may have a muscle portion surface are that includes a heel muscle surface area measured from the ball striking centerline to the heel and a toe muscle surface area measured from the ball striking centerline to the toe. The toe muscle surface area may make up at least 60% of the muscle portion surface area. The mass distribution of the lower muscle portion moves the center of gravity of the club head closer to the face center location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe
  • Patent number: 11235206
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a channel extending across a portion of the sole. The channel may be recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and have a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the width and the depth of the center portion of the channel are substantially constant, and wherein the depth of the channel is greater at the heel and toe portions than at the center portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Eric A. Larson, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Michael T. Prichard, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 11148019
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this invention relate to blade-type iron golf clubs or golf club heads. The blade-type golf club head may comprise a body forged of a metal material. The body may include a hosel, a top surface, a sole, a heel, a toe, a ball striking surface, and a rear surface opposite the ball striking surface. The rear surface may have an upper blade portion and a lower muscle portion with the upper blade portion separated from the lower muscle portion by a blade interface. The lower muscle portion may have a muscle portion surface are that includes a heel muscle surface area measured from the ball striking centerline to the heel and a toe muscle surface area measured from the ball striking centerline to the toe. The toe muscle surface area may make up at least 60% of the muscle portion surface area. The mass distribution of the lower muscle portion moves the center of gravity of the club head closer to the face center location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe
  • Patent number: 11063996
    Abstract: An exemplary golf club head having an increased amount of discretionary mass may be realized by utilizing improved drop angles, an improved average crown height, and/or articulation points. The discretionary mass may be placed low and deep in the club head to improve the location of the center of gravity as well as the inertial properties. A preferred break length may also be utilized to further improve the depth of the center of gravity. In one example, the center of gravity may be positioned to substantially align the sweet spot with the face center of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: John J. Rae, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Daniel J. Stone, Trent E. Garner, Brad S. Hooley, Robert J. Horacek, Sam G. Lacey, Jeff D. Brunski, Kevin Schaeffer, Scott A. Carlyle, Stephen C. Chien, Craig R. Schnell, Douglas E. Roberts, Dan S. Nivanh, Michael J. Wallans
  • Publication number: 20210128990
    Abstract: A golf club head having a metal portion adhered to a non-metal portion to define a closed internal volume therebetween, and an elongated channel extending across a portion of the sole. The channel may be recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the width of the center portion of the channel is substantially constant, and wherein the width of the channel increases from the heel end of the center portion to the heel and from the toe end of the center portion to the toe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Eric A. Larson, Andrew G.v. Oldknow, Michael T. Prichard, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20210121745
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as an iron-type golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface and a body connected to the face. The body has a sole surface extending rearward from a leading edge of the face, and a toe surface extending rearward from a toe edge of the face. The sole surface configured to confront the playing surface. The iron-type club head may have an elongated channel extending from a heel side in the sole member to an end point within the toe surface. The elongated channel is recessed from the sole surface and toe surfaces and is spaced from the leading and toe edges of the face. The iron-type club head may also have a plurality of weighting elements that are adjustable by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Daraskavich, Jamil Jacaman, Matthew Brian Neeley, Michael R. Pinto, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert Horacek
  • Patent number: 10888744
    Abstract: A golf club head having a metal portion adhered to a non-metal portion to define a closed internal volume therebetween, and an elongated channel extending across a portion of the sole. The channel may be recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the width of the center portion of the channel is substantially constant, and wherein the width of the channel increases from the heel end of the center portion to the heel and from the toe end of the center portion to the toe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Eric A. Larson, Andrew G.v. Oldknow, Michael T. Prichard, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: RE49071
    Abstract: A golf club includes a club head having a volume of greater than about 360 cm3 and a mass less than 200 g. A shaft attachable to the club head has a tip end, a butt end, and a shaft balance point distance, BPs, as measured from the butt end, of no more than 19 inches. And the golf club has a mass less than 300 g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Dustin J. Brekke, Jeff D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Samuel G. Lacey, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Brian D. Schielke