Patents by Inventor Robert M. Boyd

Robert M. Boyd 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: 20240082657
    Abstract: Golf club heads (e.g. drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) according to at least some example aspects of this invention include a striking face and a rear portion opposite the striking face, the rear portion defining an opening to an interior cavity. A rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening is engaged with the rear portion of the club head. The rear body member may include multiple rear body parts that may be removable and/or interchangeable to permit flexibility in controlling the weight distribution of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew G.v. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Publication number: 20240082658
    Abstract: Golf club heads (e.g. drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) according to at least some example aspects of this invention include a striking face and a rear portion opposite the striking face, the rear portion defining an opening to an interior cavity. A rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening is engaged with the rear portion of the club head. The rear body member may include multiple rear body parts that may be removable and/or interchangeable to permit flexibility in controlling the weight distribution of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew G.v. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
  • 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: 11865415
    Abstract: Golf club heads (e.g. drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) according to at least some example aspects of this invention include a striking face and a rear portion opposite the striking face, the rear portion defining an opening to an interior cavity. A rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening is engaged with the rear portion of the club head. The rear body member may include multiple rear body parts that may be removable and/or interchangeable to permit flexibility in controlling the weight distribution of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew G. v. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230098481
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as an iron-type golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface and a rear surface, and a body connected to the face. The body has a sole member and a rear cavity defined at least partially by the sole member and the rear surface of the face. The body has an elongated, recessed channel extending within the cavity along a juncture line between the rear surface of the face and the sole member. Additionally, the head is formed in part by a face member having a first leg forming at least a major portion of the face and a second leg extending rearwardly from a bottom end of the first leg and forming at least a portion of the sole member. The head may further be formed by a body member connected to the face member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 11517797
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as an iron-type golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface and a rear surface, and a body connected to the face. The body has a sole member and a rear cavity defined at least partially by the sole member and the rear surface of the face. The body has an elongated, recessed channel extending within the cavity along a juncture line between the rear surface of the face and the sole member. Additionally, the head is formed in part by a face member having a first leg forming at least a major portion of the face and a second leg extending rearwardly from a bottom end of the first leg and forming at least a portion of the sole member. The head may further be formed by a body member connected to the face member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20220305353
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface, an inner surface opposite the ball striking surface, and a thickness defined between the ball striking surface and the inner surface, and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. The face has a modulus gradient across the thickness of the face, such that the modulus of the face varies at different distances from the ball striking surface. The face may also include at least one of an insert, a composite material, a multi-layered structure, and/or a portion treated by a surface treatment to contribute to the modulus gradient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Robert M. Boyd, Mark J. Perry, Jay R. Sayre
  • Patent number: 11383139
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 11358036
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface, an inner surface opposite the ball striking surface, and a thickness defined between the ball striking surface and the inner surface, and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. The face has a modulus gradient across the thickness of the face, such that the modulus of the face varies at different distances from the ball striking surface. The face may also include at least one of an insert, a composite material, a multi-layered structure, and/or a portion treated by a surface treatment to contribute to the modulus gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Boyd, Mark J. Perry, Jay R. Sayre
  • 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: 20220062720
    Abstract: Golf club heads (e.g. drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) according to at least some example aspects of this invention include a striking face and a rear portion opposite the striking face, the rear portion defining an opening to an interior cavity. A rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening is engaged with the rear portion of the club head. The rear body member may include multiple rear body parts that may be removable and/or interchangeable to permit flexibility in controlling the weight distribution of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew G.v. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20220016494
    Abstract: A set of ball striking devices, such as a set golf clubs, having similar characteristics between clubs within the set of clubs such as length, weight, and lie angle. Characteristics can include lengths and lie angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 11185745
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft proximate a heel thereof. The face has a thickened portion including an annular tapered area that tapers in thickness between an upper boundary and a lower boundary and encloses an elevated area bounded by the upper boundary. The upper and/or lower boundary defines a shape having two lobes, each with an outer edge with a convex profile, and a connecting portion extending between the lobes, such that the connecting portion is defined by two outer edges extending between the outer edges of the lobes, wherein at least one of the outer edges of the connecting portion has a concave outer profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Boyd, Jeremy N. Snyder, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, James S. Thomas, Raymond J. Sander, Rick S. Wahlin, Akira Shimozuma
  • Patent number: 11167184
    Abstract: Golf club heads (e.g. drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) according to at least some example aspects of this invention include a striking face and a rear portion opposite the striking face, the rear portion defining an opening to an interior cavity. A rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening is engaged with the rear portion of the club head. The rear body member may include multiple rear body parts that may be removable and/or interchangeable to permit flexibility in controlling the weight distribution of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 11083936
    Abstract: A ball striking device has a face with a striking surface and a body extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face. A channel crosses a centerline of the sole, and includes a trough defined between front and rear edges and extending in a heel-toe direction. The device further has internal interconnection structure for connection of a shaft to the head. A bore or access opening is provided to access the interconnecting structure. The rear edge of the first portion of the channel in its entirety is positioned more proximate to the face than to a rear of the golf club head. The access opening and the front edge of the channel at the centerline of the sole are spaced from the outer periphery of the face by equal distances, and a part of the channel passes between the access opening and the rear of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Boyd, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
  • Patent number: 11077343
    Abstract: Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wallans, Robert M. Boyd, Philip J. Hatton, Mario A. Lafortune, John T. Stites
  • 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