Patents by Inventor Stephen Kraus

Stephen Kraus 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: 20260192161
    Abstract: A golf club head that includes a plate opening, a plate-opening recessed ledge defining the plate opening, and a strike plate attached to the plate-opening recessed ledge. The golf club head also comprises a hollow interior cavity. At least a portion of a top half of the plate-opening recessed ledge is made of a first material having a first density and at least a portion of a bottom half of the plate-opening recessed ledge is made of a second material having a second density that is greater than the first density. The top half of the plate-opening recessed ledge is closer to a crown portion of the golf club head than the bottom half of the plate-opening recessed ledge and the bottom half of the plate-opening recessed ledge is closer to a sole portion of the golf club head than the top half of the plate-opening recessed ledge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2025
    Publication date: July 9, 2026
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng, Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Jake Feuerstein, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20260192160
    Abstract: A method of creating a multi-layer composite strike face of a golf club head includes positioning a first non-cluster panel. The method also includes creating and attaching a cluster panel to the first non-cluster panel, which includes attaching a first elongated strip to the first non-cluster panel at a first strip angle, attaching a second elongated strip to a portion of the first elongated strip and a portion of the first non-cluster panel at a second strip angle, and attaching a third elongated strip to a portion of the second elongated strip, and a portion of the first non-cluster panel at a third strip angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2025
    Publication date: July 9, 2026
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Todd Beach, Stephen Kraus, Connie Hsiao, Tyson Hsiao, Pei-Yao Lin
  • Publication number: 20260166394
    Abstract: A golf club head and a method of making the golf club head including at least one significant aluminum alloy component and at least one significant non-metal component, and all the benefits afforded therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2025
    Publication date: June 18, 2026
    Inventors: Charles Chou, Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng, Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Matthew D. Johnson, Garrett Vierhout, Brad Pluschkell, Brett Walker, Christopher Rollins, Joseph Felipe, Jennifer Luoma
  • Publication number: 20260115548
    Abstract: A golf club head having discreet regions of specific mass relationships, including a lightweight forward portion, to achieve specific mass properties and performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2024
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Christopher John Harbert, Joseph Henry Hoffman, Christopher Rollins, Todd P. Beach, Mark Vincent Greaney, Justin D. Kleinert, David Bennett, Charles Chou, Stephen Kraus, Matthew Greensmith, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 12582879
    Abstract: A golf club head has a cast cup including a forward portion of a crown and a forward portion of a sole of the golf club head. A polymeric rear ring is coupled to heel and toe portions of the cast cup to form a club head body defining a crown opening and a sole opening. A crown insert is coupled to the crown opening, and a sole insert coupled to the sole opening. The club head has an inertia generator including an outwardly extending protrusion formed in the sole and a rear weight positioned at an aft end of the protrusion, the sole insert defining at least a portion of the protrusion of the inertia generator. The sole insert includes a composite material having a thickness between 0.45 mm and 1 mm, and a plurality of ribs positioned along an internal surface, and at least one rib is inside the inertia generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng, Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 12569727
    Abstract: A golf club head that comprises a hollow interior cavity, a first piece, a second piece, adhesively bonded to the first piece along a first bonded joint, a third piece, adhesively bonded to the first piece along a second bonded joint, and a fourth piece, adhesively bonded to the first piece along a third bonded joint. A volume of the golf club head is at least 120 cubic centimeters (cc) and at most 600 cc. The first bonded joint has a first-joint bond area. The second bonded joint has a second-joint bond area. The third bonded joint has a third-joint bond area. A summation of the first-joint bond area, the second-joint bond area, and the third-joint bond area is at least 1,950 mm2 and at most 3,400 mm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng, Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20260054140
    Abstract: A golf club head and a method of making the golf club head including bonding tape. The method additionally includes positioning the first piece, the second piece, and the bonding tape, interposed between the first piece and the second piece, in a vacuum bag, and reducing a pressure within the vacuum bag, relative to a pressure external to the vacuum bag, such that the vacuum bag collapses onto the first piece and the second piece and compresses the bonding tape between the first piece and the second piece. The method also includes heating the bonding tape, at least to a curing temperature of the bonding tape, when the pressure within the vacuum bag is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2025
    Publication date: February 26, 2026
    Inventors: Charles Chou, Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng, Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Matthew D. Johnson, Garrett Vierhout, Brad Pluschkell, Brett Walker, Christopher Rollins, Joseph Felipe
  • Patent number: 12527996
    Abstract: A golf club head that includes a plate opening, a plate-opening recessed ledge defining the plate opening, and a strike plate attached to the plate-opening recessed ledge. The golf club head also comprises a hollow interior cavity. At least a portion of a top half of the plate-opening recessed ledge is made of a first material having a first density and at least a portion of a bottom half of the plate-opening recessed ledge is made of a second material having a second density that is greater than the first density. The top half of the plate-opening recessed ledge is closer to a crown portion of the golf club head than the bottom half of the plate-opening recessed ledge and the bottom half of the plate-opening recessed ledge is closer to a sole portion of the golf club head than the top half of the plate-opening recessed ledge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2026
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng, Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Jake Feuerstein, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20260014791
    Abstract: A method of removing a backing layer from a panel, made of an uncured pre-impregnated fiber-reinforced polymer, comprises a step of orienting the panel into a backing-separation orientation relative to an edge-engagement tool. The method also comprises a step of positioning the panel into a backing-separation position relative to the edge-engagement tool. The method further comprises a step of moving the edge-engagement tool, when the panel is in the backing-separation orientation and the backing-separation position, so that backing-engagement features of the edge-engagement tool engage the backing layer, at only an edge portion of the backing layer, and just the edge portion of the backing layer separates from the panel. The method additionally comprises a step of gripping the edge portion of the backing layer, and, when gripped, moving the backing layer relative to the panel so that an entirety of the backing layer separates from the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2025
    Publication date: January 15, 2026
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Todd Beach, Stephen Kraus, Connie Hsiao, Tyson Hsiao, Pei-yao Lin
  • Patent number: 12508479
    Abstract: A method of creating a multi-layer composite strike face of a golf club head includes positioning a first non-cluster panel. The method also includes creating and attaching a cluster panel to the first non-cluster panel, which includes attaching a first elongated strip to the first non-cluster panel at a first strip angle, attaching a second elongated strip to a portion of the first elongated strip and a portion of the first non-cluster panel at a second strip angle, and attaching a third elongated strip to a portion of the second elongated strip, and a portion of the first non-cluster panel at a third strip angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2025
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Todd Beach, Stephen Kraus, Connie Hsiao, Tyson Hsiao, Pei-Yao Lin
  • Publication number: 20250319366
    Abstract: A golf club head including a crown defining the top surface of the club head and including a crown portion, a crown recess region formed in the crown portion and defined by a crown ledge and a bonding wall, and a crown insert disposed at least partially within the crown recess region. The size and uniformity of the junction between the crown insert and the bonding wall may be determined by measuring the dimensions of the junction at critical points on the club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2025
    Publication date: October 16, 2025
    Inventors: Mattieu BOVEE, Brian BAZZEL, Todd BEACH, Stephen KRAUS
  • Patent number: 12403684
    Abstract: A method of removing a backing layer from a panel, made of an uncured pre-impregnated fiber-reinforced polymer, comprises a step of orienting the panel into a backing-separation orientation relative to an edge-engagement tool. The method also comprises a step of positioning the panel into a backing-separation position relative to the edge-engagement tool. The method further comprises a step of moving the edge-engagement tool, when the panel is in the backing-separation orientation and the backing-separation position, so that backing-engagement features of the edge-engagement tool engage the backing layer, at only an edge portion of the backing layer, and just the edge portion of the backing layer separates from the panel. The method additionally comprises a step of gripping the edge portion of the backing layer, and, when gripped, moving the backing layer relative to the panel so that an entirety of the backing layer separates from the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2025
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Todd Beach, Stephen Kraus, Connie Hsiao, Tyson Hsiao, Pei-yao Lin
  • Publication number: 20250256173
    Abstract: A method of making a golf club head includes interposing bonding tape between a first piece and a second piece of the golf club head such that the first piece is temporarily adhered to the second piece via a tackiness of the bonding tape. The method additionally includes positioning the first piece, the second piece, and the bonding tape, interposed between the first piece and the second piece, in a vacuum bag, and reducing a pressure within the vacuum bag, relative to a pressure external to the vacuum bag, such that the vacuum bag collapses onto the first piece and the second piece and compresses the bonding tape between the first piece and the second piece. The method also includes heating the bonding tape, at least to a curing temperature of the bonding tape, when the pressure within the vacuum bag is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2025
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Inventors: Charles Chou, Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng, Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 12311238
    Abstract: A golf club head including a crown defining the top surface of the club head and including a crown portion, a crown recess region formed in the crown portion and defined by a crown ledge and a bonding wall, and a crown insert disposed at least partially within the crown recess region. The size and uniformity of the junction between the crown insert and the bonding wall may be determined by measuring the dimensions of the junction at critical points on the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mattieu Bovee, Brian Bazzel, Todd Beach, Stephen Kraus
  • Publication number: 20250144480
    Abstract: A golf club head having discreet regions of specific mass relationships, including a lightweight forward portion, to achieve specific mass properties and performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2024
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Christopher John Harbert, Joseph Henry Hoffman, Christopher Rollins, Todd P. Beach, Mark Vincent Greaney, Justin D. Kleinert, David Bennett, Charles Chou, Stephen Kraus, Matthew Greensmith, Matthew D. Johnson, Brett Christopher Walker, Garret Clifton Vierhout
  • Patent number: 12257484
    Abstract: A method of making a golf club head includes interposing bonding tape between a first piece and a second piece of the golf club head such that the first piece is temporarily adhered to the second piece via a tackiness of the bonding tape. The method additionally includes positioning the first piece, the second piece, and the bonding tape, interposed between the first piece and the second piece, in a vacuum bag, and reducing a pressure within the vacuum bag, relative to a pressure external to the vacuum bag, such that the vacuum bag collapses onto the first piece and the second piece and compresses the bonding tape between the first piece and the second piece. The method also includes heating the bonding tape, at least to a curing temperature of the bonding tape, when the pressure within the vacuum bag is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Chou, Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng, Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20250025965
    Abstract: Disclosed here is a method of making a golf club head. The method comprises steps of laser ablating a second-part surface of a second part of the golf club head such that a second-part ablated surface is formed in the second part, and bonding together a first-part surface, of a first part of the golf club head, and the second-part ablated surface of the second part of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng
  • Publication number: 20240390742
    Abstract: A golf club head that comprises a hollow interior cavity, a first piece, a second piece, adhesively bonded to the first piece along a first bonded joint, a third piece, adhesively bonded to the first piece along a second bonded joint, and a fourth piece, adhesively bonded to the first piece along a third bonded joint. A volume of the golf club head is at least 120 cubic centimeters (cc) and at most 600 cc. The first bonded joint has a first-joint bond area. The second bonded joint has a second-joint bond area. The third bonded joint has a third-joint bond area. A summation of the first-joint bond area, the second-joint bond area, and the third-joint bond area is at least 1,950 mm2 and at most 3,400 mm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng, Matthew Greensmith, Christopher Harbert, Todd Beach, Matthew D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20240343031
    Abstract: A method of removing a backing layer from a panel, made of an uncured pre-impregnated fiber-reinforced polymer, comprises a step of orienting the panel into a backing-separation orientation relative to an edge-engagement tool. The method also comprises a step of positioning the panel into a backing-separation position relative to the edge-engagement tool. The method further comprises a step of moving the edge-engagement tool, when the panel is in the backing-separation orientation and the backing-separation position, so that backing-engagement features of the edge-engagement tool engage the backing layer, at only an edge portion of the backing layer, and just the edge portion of the backing layer separates from the panel. The method additionally comprises a step of gripping the edge portion of the backing layer, and, when gripped, moving the backing layer relative to the panel so that an entirety of the backing layer separates from the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Todd Beach, Stephen Kraus, Connie Hsiao, Tyson Hsiao, Pei-yao Lin
  • Publication number: 20240308004
    Abstract: A golf club head that includes a first part, a second part, and an adhesive between and bonding together a first-part bonding surface and a second-part ablated bonding surface. The second-part ablated bonding surface includes a second-part ablation pattern of peaks and valleys. The second-part ablation pattern of peaks and valleys includes first paths spaced apart relative to each other, and second paths spaced apart relative to each other and intersecting the first paths at spaced apart locations. Each one of the first paths and the second paths has a depth, relative to the peaks, that varies along its length. The depths of the first paths and the second paths are greater at the spaced apart locations where the first paths and the second paths intersect than where the first paths and the second paths do not intersect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Stephen Kraus, Bryan Cheng, Kevin Cheng