Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Morris

Thomas C. Morris 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: 8235834
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Noah De La Cruz, Charles E. Golden, Thomas C. Morris
  • Patent number: 8235836
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Thomas C. Morris, Scott A. Rice
  • Patent number: 8216087
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head with a concave portion is disclosed and claimed. The club head includes a metallic portion and a light-weight portion, which may be formed of plastic, composite, or the like. The concave portion allows the club designer to make a club head having very thin portions while still maintaining the requisite structural integrity. Convex bulges may optionally be provided to house weight inserts to enhance the playing characteristics of the golf club. The metallic portion of the club head may take on the appearance of a frame, into which several light-weight inserts are positioned. These light-weight inserts may be positioned in the crown, skirt, and sole of the club head. The club head may be formed by co-molding, eliminating the need for welding or adhesives, freeing mass to be used in more beneficial ways. The club head may be large to increase playability and forgiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Gold Incorporated
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Gregory Haralson, Charles E. Golden, Thomas C. Morris
  • Publication number: 20120100925
    Abstract: A golf club head having a recess located in a top portion thereof between the heel and the toe and extending toward the sole. The recess may be only in the top line of the club head or extend from the heel around the toe. An insert may be placed within the recess. The insert may have a density that is less than the density of the club head body to lower the center of gravity and moment of inertia or greater than the density of the club head body to raise the center of gravity and moment of inertia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Ryan L. Roach, Thomas C. Morris
  • Patent number: 8133130
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head and a fastener. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The fastener retains the shaft sleeve in the hosel. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features are provided that provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Morris, Scott A. Rice, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 8096039
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head includes a first body member and a second body member. The first body member includes a strike face and a top portion. The second body member is coupled to the first body member and extends away from the first body member in a direction opposite the strike face. At least a top portion of the second body member is camouflaged. A preferred method of camouflage is color differentiation, wherein the second body member is darker than the first body member. Specific color values and club head geometries are also disclosed and claimed. The club head may include a body member and a weight member such as a bar that extends rearward from the body member. A cover may be included to camouflage the weight member. A separate core member and high visibility sight lines may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Christopher B. Best, Thomas C. Morris
  • Publication number: 20120010014
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head and a fastener. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The fastener retains the shaft sleeve in the hosel. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features are provided that provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas C. Morris, Scott A. Rice, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 8088022
    Abstract: A golf club head having a recess located in a top portion thereof between the heel and the toe and extending toward the sole. The recess may be only in the top line of the club head or extend from the heel around the toe. An insert may be placed within the recess. The insert may have a density that is less than the density of the club head body to lower the center of gravity and moment of inertia or greater than the density of the club head body to raise the center of gravity and moment of inertia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Ryan L. Roach, Thomas C. Morris
  • Patent number: 8057323
    Abstract: A weight adjusting structure of a golf club head comprises a 360-degree rotatable rotary table installed in a body of a golf club head, wherein the rotary table is combined with an incomplete annular weight block at a peripheral portion on an arbitrary side thereof, so that the rotary table and the weight block form a rotary table assembly whose weight orientation can be adjusted. The weighted rotary table assembly installed in the body of the golf club head can be used to adjust a distribution of different weights around 360 degrees, whereby a preferred location of the club head's gravity center can be set according to a golfer's swing posture and a location of the club head's gravity center the golfer is used to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Ming-Ching Liang, Tien-Ken Liang, Scott A. Rice, Thomas C. Morris, Peter L. Soracco
  • Publication number: 20110275448
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head and a fastener. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The fastener retains the shaft sleeve in the hosel. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features are provided that provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas C. Morris, Gregory Haralson, Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Scott A. Knutson, Thomas W. Preece
  • Publication number: 20110190070
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head includes a first body member and a second body member. The first body member includes a strike face and a top portion. The second body member is coupled to the first body member and extends away from the first body member in a direction opposite the strike face. At least a top portion of the second body member is camouflaged. A preferred method of camouflage is color differentiation, wherein the second body member is darker than the first body member. Specific color values and club head geometries are also disclosed and claimed. The club head may include a body member and a weight member such as a bar that extends rearward from the body member. A cover may be included to camouflage the weight member. A separate core member and high visibility sight lines may also be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: COBRA GOLF INC.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Morris, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 7980959
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head and a fastener. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The fastener retains the shaft sleeve in the hosel. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features are provided that provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Morris, Gregory Haralson, Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Scott A. Knutson, Thomas W. Preece
  • Publication number: 20110143857
    Abstract: A golf club head formed of multiple materials is disclosed. Those portions of the club head that are subject to high stresses during normal use of the golf club head are formed of a metallic material. Most of the material beyond what is required to maintain structural integrity, however, is removed and replaced with a lightweight material. This freed-up mass that can be redistributed to other, more beneficial locations of the club head. The lightweight material also damps vibrations generated during use of the golf club. This vibration damper may be retained in a state of compression to enhance the vibration damping. One or more weight members may be included to obtain desired center of gravity position, moments of inertia, and other club head attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ryan L. Roach, Peter Soracco, Nicholas M. Nardacci, Scott A. Rice, Thomas C. Morris, Christopher B. Best
  • Publication number: 20110118057
    Abstract: A composite material golf club head is provided having a body made from a first metal and a face insert press fitted to a portion of the body and made from a second metal The metals are chosen so that the first metal is heavier than the second metal. The second metal is disposed towards the front and top of the body, and is preferably hard-anodized. In addition, an interlocking structure, for example rectangular or dove tail shaped channels, is provided in the body so that the face insert becomes embedded in the interlocking structure to anchor the face insert to the body. Portions of the golf club head, such as the face insert or sole plate, are anodized to protect against corrosion. The anodized coating is colored to improve aesthetic characteristics or infused with a polymer to increase or reduce friction. Disclosed herein is a golf club head having a body portion and a face insert. The front of the body portion further comprises a cutout sized and dimensioned to receive the face insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ryan L. Roach, Thomas C. Morris
  • Publication number: 20110118048
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Thomas C. Morris, Scott A. Rice
  • Patent number: 7938737
    Abstract: A golf club head having a recess located in a top portion thereof is described and claimed. The recess is located between the heel and the toe and extends toward the sole. The recess may be in the top line of the club head. An insert may be placed within the recess. The insert has a density that is less than the density of the club head body, and the insert preferably is a light-weight insert. The insert may include one or more dampening materials. The recess removes material from the club head, which in turn may do one or more of the following: increase the overall size of the club head, expand the size of the club head sweet spot, lower the club head center of gravity, and/or produce a greater club head moment of inertia. Thus, the recess and insert produce a more forgiving and playable golf club. As an alternative to a recess, a thin protrusion may be provided at the top line of the club head and the insert provided with a corresponding groove to facilitate attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Ryan L. Roach, Thomas C. Morris
  • Patent number: 7922604
    Abstract: A golf club head formed of multiple materials is disclosed. Those portions of the club head that are subject to high stresses during normal use of the golf club head are formed of a metallic material. Most of the material beyond what is required to maintain structural integrity, however, is removed and replaced with a lightweight material. This freed-up mass that can be redistributed to other, more beneficial locations of the club head. The lightweight material also damps vibrations generated during use of the golf club. This vibration damper may be retained in a state of compression to enhance the vibration damping. One or more weight members may be included to obtain desired center of gravity position, moments of inertia, and other club head attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Ryan L. Roach, Peter Soracco, Nicholas M. Nardacci, Scott A. Rice, Thomas C. Morris, Christopher B. Best
  • Patent number: 7918745
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head includes a first body member and a second body member. The first body member includes a strike face and a top portion. The second body member is coupled to the first body member and extends away from the first body member in a direction opposite the strike face. At least a top portion of the second body member is camouflaged. A preferred method of camouflage is color differentiation, wherein the second body member is darker than the first body member. Specific color values and club head geometries are also disclosed and claimed. The club head may include a body member and a weight member such as a bar that extends rearward from the body member. A cover may be included to camouflage the weight member. A separate core member and high visibility sight lines may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Cobra Golf, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Morris, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: D643081
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Ryan L. Roach, Joshua G. Breier, Douglas E. Roberts, Thomas C. Morris, Thomas W. Preece, John Wooster
  • Patent number: D665472
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael T. McDonnell, Thomas C. Morris, Austin B. Oliveiro, Thomas W. Preece, Douglas E. Roberts