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).

  • Patent number: 9789371
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball, a channel extending across a portion of the sole, wherein the channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole, and/or a void defined on the sole of the body, wherein the channel has width defined in a front to rear direction and a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole at a vertical plane passing through the face center, wherein a ratio of the width to the depth is about 0.8:1 to 1.2:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    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: 9782641
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a collet, a ferrule, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Raymond J. Sander, Robert M. Boyd, Matthew P. Rubal
  • Patent number: 9776050
    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 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Michael Boggs, Eric A. Larson, Andrew G. v. Oldknow, Michael T. Prichard, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20170216686
    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: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20170197119
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head for a metal wood type club. The club head includes a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a rear, a crown and a sole. The sole includes a forward sole surface and a rearward sole surface. The substantially horizontally-oriented forward sole surface extends rearwardly from the ball striking face to a rearward edge. The substantially horizontally-oriented rearward sole surface extends forwardly from the rear of the club head. The rearward sole surface extends over and is offset in a height direction from the rearward edge. A cavity may be located above the forward sole surface, the cavity having a rearward facing opening located below the rearward sole surface. A projection may extend rearwardly from the rearward edge beneath the rearward sole surface, the projection having sides that extend in a generally breadthwise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert M. Boyd, Raymond J. Sander
  • Patent number: 9694255
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball, a body connected to the face, an elongated, inwardly recessed channel located on the body and extending across a portion of the body, and an insert mounted within the channel. The insert includes a resiliently deflectable base member that engages the channel to retain the insert within the channel and a rigid outer member connected to the base member and forming at least a portion of the outer surface of the insert, where the outer member is made from a different material than the base member. Additionally, the insert has an outer surface that is substantially flush with at least one immediately adjacent surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 9662551
    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 extends across at least a portion of the sole, and includes a trough defined between front and rear edges and extending in a heel-toe direction. The body further includes a spacing portion that forms a generally flattened surface extending from the front edge to proximate the outer periphery of the face. The rear edge of the channel is spaced rearwardly a different distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion of the channel as compared to the heel portion and/or the toe portion. One or more stiffening ribs may also be provided rearwardly of the channel, to increase the stiffness of the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Akiyama, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20170144033
    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 extends across at least a portion 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. The device may have a hosel connected to the body proximate the heel, with the hosel having the internal interconnection structure adapted for connection of the shaft to the hosel. A bore or access opening may be provided that intersects the channel, to access the interconnecting structure. The device may further include one or more stiffening ribs on the sole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Robert M. Boyd, Andrew G.V. Oldknow
  • Patent number: 9643064
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball, a channel extending across a portion of the sole, wherein the channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and/or a void defined on the sole of the body. The channel has width defined in a front to rear direction and a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole at a vertical plane passing through the face center, wherein a ratio of the width to the depth is approximately 3.5:1 to 4.5:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Eric A. Larson, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Michael T. Prichard, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 9630072
    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: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy N. Snyder, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 9616299
    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 extends across a portion of the sole in a heel to toe direction, wherein the channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and has 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 of the center portion of the channel is substantially constant, and the width of the channel at the heel and toe portions increases from the heel end of the center portion toward the heel and from the toe end of the center portion toward the toe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Eric A. Larson, Andrew G. v. Oldknow, Michael T. Prichard, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 9610480
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball, a channel extending across a portion of the sole, wherein the channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole, a void defined on the sole of the body, and/or at least one external rib connected to the cover and extending downward from the cover. The at least one external rib may include a first external rib and a second external rib wherein each external rib is connected to the cover and extends downward from the cover, such that the external ribs are positioned within the void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Eric A. Larson, Andrew G. v. Oldknow, Michael T. Prichard, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 9586100
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a collet, a ferrule, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Raymond J. Sander, Robert M. Boyd, Matthew P. Rubal
  • Patent number: 9586102
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head for a metal wood type club. The club head includes a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a rear, a crown and a sole. The sole includes a forward sole surface and a rearward sole surface. The substantially horizontally-oriented forward sole surface extends rearwardly from the ball striking face to a rearward edge. The substantially horizontally-oriented rearward sole surface extends forwardly from the rear of the club head. The rearward sole surface extends over and is offset in a height direction from the rearward edge. A cavity may be located above the forward sole surface, the cavity having a rearward facing opening located below the rearward sole surface. A projection may extend rearwardly from the rearward edge beneath the rearward sole surface, the projection having sides that extend in a generally breadthwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert M. Boyd, Raymond J. Sander
  • Publication number: 20160346635
    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: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Publication number: 20160325154
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a collet, a ferrule, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Raymond J. Sander, Robert M. Boyd, Matthew P. Rubal
  • Publication number: 20160325153
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a collet, a ferrule, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Raymond J. Sander, Robert M. Boyd, Matthew P. Rubal
  • Publication number: 20160317879
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a back and a hosel region, located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, the crown and the sole. The body member may have a first cross-section having a first airfoil-shaped surface in the heel. The first cross-section may be oriented at approximately 90° from the centerline of the club head. The body member may have a second cross-section having a second airfoil-shaped surface. The second cross-section may be oriented at approximately 45° or at approximately 70°. The airfoil-shaped surfaces may be defined by spline points or by equations. A golf club including the golf club head is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Publication number: 20160303443
    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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Philip J. Hatton, Brian Kammerer, Mario A. Lafortune, Michael Wallans, Robert M. Boyd, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Sherry L. Jones, Gregory S. Kramer, James H. Lua, John T. Stites, Douglas A. Thornton, Daniel F. Wisniewski
  • Publication number: 20160151687
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face. The body has an impact-influencing structure in the form of a channel positioned on at least one surface of the body. A majority of a force generated by impact with a ball is absorbed by the impact-influencing structure, and a majority of a response force generated by the head upon impact with the ball is generated by the impact-influencing structure. The face may have increased stiffness as compared to existing faces, and may include a stiffening structure to create the increased stiffness, such as a porous or cellular stiffening structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Eric A. Larson, Robert M. Boyd, Kenneth W. Brown, Martin Brouillette, Chris Scott Daniels