Patents by Inventor Robert W. Vokey

Robert W. Vokey 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: 9403068
    Abstract: A golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing and surface roughening to accommodate a plurality of different shots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, Peter J. Gilbert, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 9211450
    Abstract: A wedge type golf club head is disclosed herein where the wedge type golf club head has enhanced performance characteristics such as improved backspin, ball speed, and launch angle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wedge type golf club head having an adjustable center of gravity, where the center of gravity may be adjusted based on different backing profiles that comprises at least one hollow chamber. The wedge type golf club head disclosed above may also have a thickened topline, wherein the thickness of the topline progressively changes as a function of the loft angle of the wedge type golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Nelson, Gregory D. Johnson, Kevin Tassistro, Douglas C. Jorgensen, Robert W. Vokey, Eddie G. Perez
  • Publication number: 20140066227
    Abstract: A wedge type golf club head is disclosed herein where the wedge type golf club head has enhanced performance characteristics such as improved backspin, ball speed, and launch angle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wedge type golf club head having an adjustable center of gravity, where the center of gravity may be adjusted based on different backing profiles that comprises at least one hollow chamber. The wedge type golf club head disclosed above may also have a thickened topline, wherein the thickness of the topline progressively changes as a function of the loft angle of the wedge type golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Nelson, Gregory D. Johnson, Kevin Tassistro, Douglas C. Jorgensen, Robert W. Vokey, Eddie G. Perez
  • Publication number: 20130344984
    Abstract: A golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing and surface roughening to accommodate a plurality of different shots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, Peter J. Gilbert, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 8579729
    Abstract: A wedge type golf club head is disclosed herein where the wedge type golf club head has enhanced performance characteristics such as improved backspin, ball speed, and launch angle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wedge type golf club head having an adjustable center of gravity, where the center of gravity may be adjusted based on different backing profiles that comprises at least one hollow chamber. The wedge type golf club head disclosed above may also have a thickened topline, wherein the thickness of the topline progressively changes as a function of the loft angle of the wedge type golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Nelson, Gregory D. Johnson, Kevin Tassistro, Douglas C. Jorgensen, Robert W. Vokey, Eddie G. Perez
  • Patent number: 8517861
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing and surface roughening to accommodate a plurality of different shots. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, Peter J. Gilbert, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 8348784
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. Grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio. Preferred values for these dimensions are provided. A golf club head having a variety of groove types and a set of golf clubs with grooves varying among the individual clubs of the set are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 8342981
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances and angled relative to a leading edge of the golf club head. The sole of the golf club head is contoured so that the effective bounce and leading edge height are controlled when the golf club head is rotated to an opened orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gregory D. Johnson, Robert W. Vokey
  • Publication number: 20120184391
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances and angled relative to a leading edge of the golf club head. The sole of the golf club head is contoured so that the effective bounce and leading edge height are controlled when the golf club head is rotated to an opened orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Gregory D. Johnson, Robert W. Vokey
  • Publication number: 20120165114
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing and surface roughening to accommodate a plurality of different shots. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, Peter J. Gilbert, Robert W. Vokey
  • Publication number: 20120129628
    Abstract: A wedge type golf club head is disclosed herein where the wedge type golf club head has enhanced performance characteristics such as improved backspin, ball speed, and launch angle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wedge type golf club head having an adjustable center of gravity, where the center of gravity may be adjusted based on different backing profiles that comprises at least one hollow chamber. The wedge type golf club head disclosed above may also have a thickened topline, wherein the thickness of the topline progressively changes as a function of the loft angle of the wedge type golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Richard M. Nelson, Gregory D. Johnson, Kevin Tassistro, Douglas C. Jorgensen, Robert W. Vokey, Eddie G. Perez
  • Publication number: 20120122605
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. Grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio. Preferred values for these dimensions are provided. A golf club head having a variety of groove types and a set of golf clubs with grooves varying among the individual clubs of the set are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 8142309
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances and angled relative to a leading edge of the golf club head. The sole of the golf club head is contoured so that the effective bounce and leading edge height are controlled when the golf club head is rotated to an opened orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gregory D. Johnson, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 8128511
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing and surface roughening to accommodate a plurality of different shots. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, Peter J. Gilbert, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 8128513
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing to accommodate a plurality of different shots. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 8109840
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. Grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio. Preferred values for these dimensions are provided. A golf club head having a variety of groove types and a set of golf clubs with grooves varying among the individual clubs of the set are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, Robert W. Vokey
  • Publication number: 20110269569
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing and surface roughening to accommodate a plurality of different shots. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, Peter J. Gilbert, Robert W. Vokey
  • Publication number: 20110269570
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing to accommodate a plurality of different shots. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, Robert W. Vokey
  • Publication number: 20110177877
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances and angled relative to a leading edge of the golf club head. The sole of the golf club head is contoured so that the effective bounce and leading edge height are controlled when the golf club head is rotated to an opened orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory D. Johnson, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 7976406
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing to accommodate a plurality of different shots. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, Robert W. Vokey