Patents by Inventor Richard P. Hulock
Richard P. Hulock 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).
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Patent number: 11771962Abstract: A golf club may include a head having a body and a faceplate coupled to the body. The faceplate may have a maximum thickness at a central location and a cross-section intersecting the central location. The cross-section may have continuously variable wall thickness across the faceplate. The faceplate may have a closed non-convex contour curve defined by constant faceplate wall thickness that encloses the central location.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.Inventors: Sean P. Griffin, Ninad Trifale, Richard P. Hulock, Jon C. Pergande, Robert T. Thurman
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Publication number: 20230181976Abstract: A golf club includes a face coupled to a body. A composite axis extends from a heel to a toe of the club and parallel to ground. The face is formed of a fiber composite material including at least first and second sets of ply arrangements. Each of the ply arrangements includes a pair of plies having first and second pluralities of fibers defining first and second angles with respect to the composite axis, respectively. The face has a ball contact surface, an rear surface, and a mid-zone positioned equidistant between the contact and rear surfaces. A majority of the first and second pluralities of fibers of the ply arrangements between the mid-zone and the contact surface are formed of glass fibers, and a majority of the first and second pluralities of ply arrangements between the mid-zone and the rear surface are formed of carbon fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2021Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.Inventors: Sean P. Griffin, Robert T. Thurman, Sean S. Epling, Ty B. Goodwin, Donald G. Loeffler, James M. Earley, Jon C. Pergande, Jeremy H. Yim, Richard P. Hulock
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Publication number: 20220054902Abstract: A golf club may include a head having a body and a faceplate coupled to the body. The faceplate may have a maximum thickness at a central location and a cross-section intersecting the central location. The cross-section may have continuously variable wall thickness across the faceplate. The faceplate may have a closed non-convex contour curve defined by constant faceplate wall thickness that encloses the central location.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2021Publication date: February 24, 2022Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.Inventors: Sean P. Griffin, Ninad Trifale, Richard P. Hulock, Jon C. Pergande, Robert T. Thurman
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Publication number: 20220054901Abstract: A golf club may include a head having a body and a faceplate coupled to the body. The faceplate may have a maximum thickness at a central location and a cross-section intersecting the central location. The cross-section may have continuously variable wall thickness across the faceplate. The faceplate may have a closed non-convex contour curve defined by constant faceplate wall thickness that encloses the central location.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2021Publication date: February 24, 2022Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.Inventors: Sean P. Griffin, Ninad Trifale, Richard P. Hulock, Jon C. Pergande, Robert T. Thurman
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Publication number: 20180111025Abstract: A golf club head may comprise a hosel portion, a front strike face, a sole, a crown and micro-vortex generators projecting from a surface of the crown. The micro-vortex generators may comprise a first elongated micro-vortex generator angled with respect to the front strike face and a second elongated micro-vortex generator having a front end rearward of the first micro-vortex generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2016Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Michael D. Vrska, JR., Richard P. Hulock, Mark A. Kerscher, Kevin W. Mayoux, Mark A. Spencer
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Patent number: 9358429Abstract: An adjustable assembly includes a golf club shaft, a golf club head having a hosel portion with a hosel opening, a hosel insert, a shaft adapter, and a fastener. The hosel insert is secured to the hosel portion and includes at least one inwardly extending pawl. The adapter extends about a longitudinal axis, and defines a shaft opening. The adapter includes outwardly projecting teeth aligned with the hosel insert. Each tooth includes leading and trailing surfaces. The leading surface is shaped to enable rotational movement of the adapter about the axis with respect to the hosel insert in a first rotational direction. The trailing surface is shaped to selectively engage the pawl to inhibit rotational movement of the adapter with respect to the hosel insert in a second rotation direction that is opposite the first direction. The fastener is releasably coupled to the head and the adapter.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2014Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.Inventors: Michael Vrska, Mark Spencer, Richard P. Hulock
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Publication number: 20150367185Abstract: An adjustable assembly includes a golf club shaft, a golf club head having a hosel portion with a hosel opening, a hosel insert, a shaft adapter, and a fastener. The hosel insert is secured to the hosel portion and includes at least one inwardly extending pawl. The adapter extends about a longitudinal axis, and defines a shaft opening. The adapter includes outwardly projecting teeth aligned with the hosel insert. Each tooth includes leading and trailing surfaces. The leading surface is shaped to enable rotational movement of the adapter about the axis with respect to the hosel insert in a first rotational direction. The trailing surface is shaped to selectively engage the pawl to inhibit rotational movement of the adapter with respect to the hosel insert in a second rotation direction that is opposite the first direction. The fastener is releasably coupled to the head and the adapter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2014Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: Michael Vrska, Mark Spencer, Richard P. Hulock
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Publication number: 20150367186Abstract: An adjustable assembly includes a golf club shaft having a tip portion, a golf club head, a hosel insert, a shaft adapter and a fastener. The hosel portion defines an upper hosel opening. The hosel insert is secured to the hosel portion and includes a first set of upwardly extending projections. The shaft adapter extends about a first longitudinal axis, and defines a shaft opening for engaging the tip portion. The shaft adapter includes a second set of downwardly extending projections for selectable engagement with the first set of projections. The first and second sets of projections are shaped to enable rotational movement of the shaft adapter about the first axis with respect to the hosel insert in a first rotational direction, and to inhibit rotational movement of the shaft adapter with respect to the hosel insert in a second rotation direction, opposite the first rotational direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2014Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: Michael Vrska, Mark Spencer, Richard P. Hulock
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Patent number: 9144720Abstract: An adjustable assembly includes a shaft, a club head having a hosel portion, a hosel insert, a shaft adapter, and a fastener. The hosel insert is secured to the hosel portion and includes a plurality of inwardly projecting teeth. Each tooth includes leading and surfaces. The adapter extends about a first longitudinal axis and includes at least one outwardly extending flexible or biased element aligned with the teeth. The leading surfaces are shaped to enable rotational movement of the adapter about the axis with respect to the hosel insert in a first rotational direction. The trailing surfaces are shaped to selectively engage the element to inhibit rotational movement of the adapter in a second rotation direction, opposite the first rotational direction. The assembly is adjustable between several locked positions. Each of the locked positions defines a separate loft and/or lie position of the head with respect to the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2014Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.Inventors: Michael Vrska, Mark Spencer, Richard P. Hulock
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Patent number: 9144719Abstract: An adjustable assembly includes a shaft, a club head having a hosel portion with a hosel opening, a hosel insert, a shaft adapter, and a fastener. The hosel insert is secured to the hosel portion and includes at least one pawl. The hosel portion or the hosel insert includes a first set of projections. The adapter extends about a first longitudinal axis and includes a second set of teeth aligned with the hosel insert, and a third set of projections for selectable engagement with the first set. Each tooth includes first leading and trailing surfaces. The first leading surface is shaped to enable rotational movement of the adapter about the axis with respect to the hosel insert in a first rotational direction. The first trailing surface is shaped to selectively engage the pawl to inhibit rotational movement of the adapter in a second rotation direction, opposite the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2014Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.Inventors: Michael Vrska, Mark Spencer, Richard P. Hulock
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Patent number: 8157669Abstract: A shaft for a golf club having a total length and a total weight. The shaft includes first and second tubular portions. The first and second tubular portions are formed of first and second materials, respectively. The second tubular portion has a proximal end and a tip end. The tip end has an outside diameter of less than 0.400 inches. The distal end of the first tubular portion is co-cured to the proximal end of the second tubular portion. The shaft has a resistance to twisting about a longitudinal axis of the shaft, when tested under a torsional stability test and measured at an approximate midpoint of the total length of the shaft, of less than 2.0 degrees in a torsional stability test. The shaft when measured from the tip end of the shaft in a balance point test device has a balance point of less than 46 percent.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.Inventors: Richard P. Hulock, Jon C. Pergande, Robert T. Thurman
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Publication number: 20100317457Abstract: A shaft for a golf club having a total length and a total weight. The shaft includes first and second tubular portions. The first and second tubular portions are formed of first and second materials, respectively. The second tubular portion has a proximal end and a tip end. The tip end has an outside diameter of less than 0.400 inches. The distal end of the first tubular portion is co-cured to the proximal end of the second tubular portion. The shaft has a resistance to twisting about a longitudinal axis of the shaft, when tested under a torsional stability test and measured at an approximate midpoint of the total length of the shaft, of less than 2.0 degrees in a torsional stability test. The shaft when measured from the tip end of the shaft in a balance point test device has a balance point of less than 46 percent.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2009Publication date: December 16, 2010Inventors: Richard P. Hulock, Jon C. Pergande, Robert T. Thurman
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Patent number: 6902495Abstract: A golf club vibration dampening and sound attenuation system including an elongated shaft, a club head, a resilient insert assembly, a dampener, and a grip. The shaft has a distal shaft end and a proximal shaft end. The club head is coupled to the distal shaft end, and includes a front wall and a sole portion. The front wall has a rearwardly sloped front strike side and a rear side. The sole portion rearwardly extends from a lower region of the rear side. The rear side and the sole portion define a cavity and a recess. The recess downwardly extends into the sole portion. A resilient insert assembly is positioned in and substantially fills the recess. The insert assembly is coupled to one or both of the sole portion and the lower region. The dampener is disposed within the shaft and has at least one annular radially extending projection.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2001Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.Inventors: Jon C. Pergande, Jeffrey D. Sheets, Frank Garrett, Jr., Richard P. Hulock, Mark W. Lin
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Publication number: 20030176234Abstract: A grip for mounting to a butt end of a golf putter shaft. The grip includes an elongate tubular body having a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and an open distal end. The body has a front face, a back face, and first and second side faces. The body also has a distal portion, a butt end portion, and a central portion positioned between the distal and butt end portions. The front face and the rear face have front and rear transverse thicknesses, respectively. The front and rear transverse thicknesses are measured at the central portion of the body along a first longitudinal plane extending through a forward most region of the front face, the longitudinal axis and a rearward region of the back face. The ratio of the rear transverse thickness to the front transverse thickness is at least five to one.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2002Publication date: September 18, 2003Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.Inventors: Jeffrey D. Sheets, Richard P. Hulock, Michael D. Vrska
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Publication number: 20030092502Abstract: A golf club vibration dampening and sound attenuation system including an elongated shaft, a club head, a resilient insert assembly, a dampener, and a grip. The shaft has a distal shaft end and a proximal shaft end. The club head is coupled to the distal shaft end, and includes a front wall and a sole portion. The front wall has a rearwardly sloped front strike side and a rear side. The sole portion rearwardly extends from a lower region of the rear side. The rear side and the sole portion define a cavity and a recess. The recess downwardly extends into the sole portion. A resilient insert assembly is positioned in and substantially fills the recess. The insert assembly is coupled to one or both of the sole portion and the lower region. The dampener is disposed within the shaft and has at least one annular radially extending projection.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2002Publication date: May 15, 2003Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.Inventors: Jon C. Pergande, Jeffrey D. Sheets, Frank Garrett, Richard P. Hulock, Mark W. Lin
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Publication number: 20030022729Abstract: A golf club vibration dampening and sound attenuation system including an elongated shaft, a club head, a resilient insert assembly, a dampener, and a grip. The shaft has a distal shaft end and a proximal shaft end. The club head is coupled to the distal shaft end, and includes a front wall and a sole portion. The front wall has a rearwardly sloped front strike side and a rear side. The sole portion rearwardly extends from a lower region of the rear side. The rear side and the sole portion define a cavity and a recess. The recess downwardly extends into the sole portion. A resilient insert assembly is positioned in and substantially fills the recess. The insert assembly is coupled to one or both of the sole portion and the lower region. The dampener is disposed within the shaft and has at least one annular radially extending projection.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2001Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods, Inc.Inventors: Jon C. Pergande, Jeffrey D. Sheets, Frank Garrett, Richard P. Hulock, Mark W. Lin
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Patent number: 6048278Abstract: A metal wood golf clubhead has a length "L" representing the distance, measured perpendicular to the centerline, between the heel and toe; a rearmost point that lies at a distance "A", measured perpendicular to said centerline, from the heel; and a rear edge having a radius of curvature R2, in the region of the rearmost point. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the distance "A" from the heel to the rearmost point on the clubhead rear edge is at least 60 mm and/or at least 56% of the overall clubhead length "L". In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the clubhead has a volume of at least 180 cm.sup.3, the center of curvature of the rear edge, in the region of the rearmost point, is offset from the club's centerline CL toward the toe, and the radius of curvature R2 in the region of the rearmost point is less than 41 mm. The club has a geometry where the body curves relatively sharply beyond the toe end of the face to extend rearwardly.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1998Date of Patent: April 11, 2000Assignee: Prince Sports Group, Inc.Inventors: Dean E. Meyer, Stephen J. Davis, Richard P. Hulock
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Patent number: 5711721Abstract: A ferrule for a golf club comprises a first member having at least one raised element with a top surface, and a second member molded about the first member so as to surround the raised element. The second member has a generally annular, outwardly facing surface that is at least generally flush with the top surface of the raised element, and at least one of the first and second members defines a longitudinal hole therethrough for receiving a golf club shaft. The raised element is made of a different color material than the second member, and can provide a number of functions, such as contain a logo or design, indicate the number of the club, or provide an alignment indicia for the club at the address position.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1996Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Assignee: Prince Sports Group, Inc.Inventors: Brenda Johnson, Richard P. Hulock
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Patent number: D387406Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1996Date of Patent: December 9, 1997Assignee: Prince Sports Group, Inc.Inventors: Richard P. Hulock, Richard Janes
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Patent number: D713901Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.Inventors: Michael Vrska, Douglas Thiel, Michael J. McCoy, Andrew K. Tryner, Richard P. Hulock, Michael R. Chmelik