Patents by Inventor Richard C. Helmstetter

Richard C. Helmstetter 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: 20040014534
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The face component (60) is composed of a metal material, and the aft-body (61) is composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of magnesium alloys, aluminum alloys, magnesium and aluminum. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has an aspect ratio less than 1.7. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has concentric regions of thickness with the thickness portion in the center (102). The club head (42) has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate portion (72) surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Richard C. Helmstetter, J. Andrew Galloway, D. Clayton Evans
  • Patent number: 6679782
    Abstract: A putter (100) having a club head (20) having a central aperture (32) with a rearward center of gravity is disclosed herein. The club head (20) has a body (22) that is preferably composed of stainless steel. The body (22) has a face portion (24), a crown portion (26), a sole portion (28) and an aft-mass portion (30). The face portion (24), the crown portion (26), the sole portion (28) and the aft-mass portion (30) define the central aperture (32). The crown portion (26) extends rearward from the face portion (24) over the aft-mass portion (30). The central aperture (32) separates the crown portion (26) from the sole portion (28) and the face portion (24) from the aft-mass portion (30). The crown portion (26) has an alignment means (40) thereon for aiming a golf ball during putting. The putter has novel inertial properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Larry G. Tang, Roger Cleveland, Richard C. Helmstetter, Augustin W. Rollinson, Wayne H. Byrne, Luke R. Williams
  • Patent number: 6669580
    Abstract: A golf club having products of inertia Ixy and Ixz with absolute values below 100 g-cm2 and a positive product of inertia Iyz is disclosed herein. The golf club has a large volume, a high moment of inertia, or both. Preferably, the moment of inertia, Izz, of the golf club head about a vertical axis Z through the center of gravity ranges from 3000 g-cm2 to 5000 g-cm2, and a moment of inertia, Iyy, about a horizontal axis Y through the center of gravity of the golf club head is greater than 1900 g-cm2. The golf club head may be composed of plies of pre-preg sheets. The volume of the golf club head preferably ranges from 300 cm3 to 600 cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew T. Cackett, D. Clayton Evans, Richard C. Helmstetter, Frank “Pin” H. Fan, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 6669577
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) having a body (22) with a front wall (30) with an opening (32) and a striking plate insert (40) is disclosed herein. The front wall (30) has a perimeter region (50) encompassing the opening (32), which has a thickness less than the thickness of the striking plate insert (40). The golf club head (20) has a volume between 200 cubic centimeters and 600 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) has a mass between 140 grams and 215 grams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Evan D. Gibbs, Richard C. Helmstetter
  • Publication number: 20030232662
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) having a body (22) with a front wall (30) with an opening (32) and a striking plate insert (40) is disclosed herein. The front wall (30) has a perimeter region (50) encompassing the opening (32), which has a thickness less than the thickness of the striking plate insert (40). The golf club head (20) has a volume between 200 cubic centimeters and 600 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) has a mass between 140 grams and 215 grams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Evan D. Gibbs, Richard C. Helmstetter
  • Patent number: 6663504
    Abstract: A fairway wood type golf club having a club head with a major body and a minor body is disclosed herein. The major body is composed of an amorphous metal material and has a striking plate section, a return section, a sole section, a ribbon section and a ledge portion. The minor body is preferably composed of a composite material and has a crown section and a ribbon section. The striking plate section preferably has variable face thickness. The minor body is preferably attached by a liquid adhesive to the ledge section of the major body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Uday V. Deshmukh, Richard C. Helmstetter, Matthew T. Cackett, Herebert Reyes, James M. Murphy, D. Clayton Evans, J. Andrew Galloway, Garth W. Smith, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Publication number: 20030195055
    Abstract: A golf club head and a set of golf clubs that are more forgiving are disclosed herein. The golf club head has an open cavity with an extended bottom wall in order to lower the center of gravity of the club head and to increase the moment of inertia of the club head. The set of golf clubs preferably consists of a driver, a plurality of fairway woods and a plurality of irons, with each of the club heads having a lower center of gravity and increased moment of inertia. Each club head preferably has a moment of inertia of at least 2600 grams centimeter squared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Calllaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Helmstetter, Augustin W. Rollinson, Roger Cleveland, Karl A. Clausen, Deedee Lasker, Larry G. Tang
  • Patent number: 6632391
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an insert having a plurality of tabs thereon in a cast molding operation is disclosed herein. The method commences with mixing a polyurethane prepolymer with a curing agent to form a polyurethane. The mixture is then poured into a mold cavity having a plurality of peripheral cavities. The mold is then subjected to pressure and heat for a predetermined time to cure the mixture thereby forming the polyurethane insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Helmstetter, Augustin W. Rollinson, John G. Guard, James F. Dooley, Victor S. Dennis, Pijush Dewanjee
  • Patent number: 6623374
    Abstract: A golf club head and a set of golf clubs that are more forgiving are disclosed herein. The golf club head has an open cavity with an extended bottom wall in order to lower the center of gravity of the club head and to increase the moment of inertia of the club head. The set of golf clubs preferably consists of a driver, a plurality of fairway woods and a plurality of irons, with each of the club heads having a lower center of gravity and increased moment of inertia. Each club head preferably has a moment of inertia of at least 2600 grams centimeter squared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Helmstetter, Augustin W. Rollinson, Roger Cleveland, Karl A. Clausen, Deedee Lasker, Larry G. Tang
  • Publication number: 20030176238
    Abstract: A fairway wood type golf club having a club head with a major body and a minor body is disclosed herein. The major body is composed of a metal material and has a striking plate section, a return section, a sole section, a ribbon section and a ledge portion. The minor body is preferably composed of a composite material and has a crown section and a ribbon section. The striking plate section preferably has variable face thickness. The minor body is preferably attached by a liquid adhesive to the ledge section of the major body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: J. Andrew Galloway, Richard C. Helmstetter, Matthew T. Cackett, Alan Hocknell, D. Clayton Evans, Herbert Reyes, Garth W. Smith, James M. Murphy, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 6620056
    Abstract: A golf club having a club head with a striking plate having a thickness in the range of 0.010 to 0.250 inch is disclosed herein. The club head may be composed of three pieces, a face, a sole and a crown. Each of the pieces may be composed of a titanium material. The striking plate of the club head may have an aspect ratio less than 1.7. The striking plate may also have concentric regions of thickness with the thickness portion in the center. The club head may be composed of a titanium material, have a volume in the range of 175 cubic centimeters to 400 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches. The golf club head may also have a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.8 under test conditions such as the USGA test conditions specified pursuant to Rule 4-1e, Appendix II, of the Rules of Golf for 1998-1999.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: J. Andrew Galloway, Richard C. Helmstetter, Ronald C. Boyce, Homer E. Aguinaldo, Curtis S. Woolley, Alan Hocknell
  • Publication number: 20030171160
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The face component (60) is composed of a metal material, and the aft-body (61) is composed of a non-metal material such as a composite material or a thermoplastic material. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has an aspect ratio less than 1.7. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has concentric regions of thickness with the thickness portion in the center (102). The club head (42) has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate portion (72) surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches. The golf club head (42) has a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: James M. Murphy, Herbert Reyes, Peter L. Soracco, Matthew T. Cackett, J. Andrew Galloway, Richard C. Helmstetter, Augustin W. Rollinson, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 6612938
    Abstract: A golf club having a club head with a face component composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material and having a striking plate portion with a thickness in the range of 0.050 to 0.250 inches is disclosed herein. The golf club head also has a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.8 under test conditions such as the USGA test conditions specified pursuant to Rule 4-1e, Appendix II, of the Rules of Golf for 1998-1999. The golf club also has a crown component composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material and a sole component composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: James M. Murphy, Herbert Reyes, J. Andrew Galloway, D. Clayton Evans, Richard C. Helmstetter, Daniel R. Jacobson, Steven M. Ehlers, Matthew T. Cackett, Robert S. Gonczi
  • Patent number: 6607452
    Abstract: A high moment of inertia golf club head composed of a composite material and having a weight strip in a ribbon section is disclosed herein. The weight strip may be composed of copper, tungsten or a similar metal. The moment of inertia, Izz, of the golf club head about a vertical axis Z through the center of gravity ranges from 2800 g-cm2 to 5000 g-cm2, and a moment of inertia, Iyy, about a horizontal axis Y through the center of gravity of the golf club head ranges from 1900 g-cm2 to 2500 g-cm2. The golf club head is preferably composed of plies of pre-peg sheets. The volume of the composite golf club head varies from 300 cm3 to 600 cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Helmstetter, Herbert Reyes, James M. Murphy, Matthew T. Cackett, Pin Fan
  • Patent number: D480440
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Augustin W. Rollinson, Karl A. Clausen, Christopher J. Wieland, Larry G. Tang, Roger Cleveland, Richard C. Helmstetter, Robert R. Lang
  • Patent number: D481089
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Robert R. Lang, Richard C. Helmstetter, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Patent number: D482091
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Augustin W. Rollinson, Roger Cleveland, Larry G. Tang, Luke R. Williams, Richard C. Helmstetter, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: D485320
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Richard C. Helmstetter, Ronald K. Hettinger
  • Patent number: D485321
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Robert R. Lang, Richard C. Helmstetter, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Patent number: D485592
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Ronald H. Hettinger, Richard C. Helmstetter, Joshua G. Breier