Patents by Inventor Travis D. Milleman

Travis D. Milleman 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: 11571611
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a club body and a resting face angle adjuster. The club body includes a crown opposite a sole, a toe end opposite a heel end, a back end opposite a face, and a hosel. The sole includes a sole surface. The resting face angle adjuster includes an adjustment member having a keel surface, and a recess formed in the sole such that a portion of the sole surface at least partially bounds the recess. The adjustment member is disposed in the recess and positionable between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position. In the first adjustment position, the keel surface is at a first distance relative to the portion of the sole surface. In the second adjustment position, the keel surface is at a second distance relative to the portion of the sole surface not equal to the first distance in the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Daniel K. Lee, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman
  • Publication number: 20230027166
    Abstract: Embodiments of wood-type club heads comprising one or more components are described herein. The wood-type club head comprises a first, metallic component, and a second, non-metallic component. The first component comprises the load bearing structure that forms the striking face, and portions of the crown, the heel, the toe, and the sole. The second component comprises a lightweight structure that wraps around the first component to form portions of the crown, the heel, the toe, and the sole. The first component comprises mass pads and receives removable weights to adjust the weight properties of the club head. The two-component design allows for additional discretionary mass redistribution to improve center of gravity location and moment of inertia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, Clayson C. Spackman, Cory S. Bacon, Jacob T. Clarke
  • Publication number: 20220409966
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a club body and a resting face angle adjuster. The club body includes a crown opposite a sole, a toe end opposite a heel end, a back end opposite a face, and a hosel. The sole includes a sole surface. The resting face angle adjuster includes an adjustment member having a keel surface, and a recess formed in the sole such that a portion of the sole surface at least partially bounds the recess. The adjustment member is disposed in the recess and positionable between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position. In the first adjustment position, the keel surface is at a first distance relative to the portion of the sole surface. In the second adjustment position, the keel surface is at a second distance relative to the portion of the sole surface not equal to the first distance in the direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Daniel K. Lee, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman
  • Patent number: 11534663
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the lightweight golf clubs described herein include a thin crown, a thin sole, a mass efficient weight system, and a thin faceplate to maximize performance gains (e.g., ball travel distance, impact efficiency, and ball speed) targeted to individuals with swing speeds less than 85 mph. As will be further described below, in order to achieve a lightweight golf club head (having a thin crown, a thin sole, a mass efficient weight system, and a thin faceplate), the golf club head further comprises a crown-to-faceplate bridge and a sole-to-faceplate bridge to control the characteristic time (CT) properties of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, Eric J. Morales, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Publication number: 20220387860
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with energy storage characteristics are presented herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a hollow body comprising a strikeface, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a top rail and an inflection point. The inflection point provides increase bending of the strikeface thereby providing performance enhancement over clubs without an inflection point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Eric J. Morales, Cory S. Bacon, Calvin Wang, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman
  • Patent number: 11511167
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a golf club head. The golf club head includes a front body having a front body front portion with a front body front surface and having a front body rear portion, and includes a rear body having a rear body front portion, a rear body rear portion, and multiple protrusions. The golf club head is configured such that (i) when the front body front surface strikes a golf ball with a first amount of force, the front body deflects toward the rear body with a first amount of deflection, and (ii) when the front body front surface strikes the golf ball with a second amount of force less than the first amount of force, the front body deflects toward the rear body with a second amount of deflection greater than the first amount of deflection. Other embodiments of related club heads and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, Martin R. Jertson
  • Patent number: 11465018
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan M. Stokke, Martin R. Jertson, Cory S. Bacon, Travis D. Milleman
  • Publication number: 20220288468
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of golf club heads with flexible soles. In one embodiment, the golf club head includes a body having a crown opposite a sole, a toe opposite a heel, a back end opposite a front end, and a hosel. The golf club head also includes a sole curvature profile comprising a radius of curvature that varies as the sole curvature profile extends between the front end and the back end. The golf club head further includes a negative draft angle and a substantially flat crown to increase the stiffness of the crown allows for maximum deformation of the sole. The radius of curvature of the sole is configured to increase the flexure of the entire golf club head, thereby increasing the internal energy of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Joshua B. Matthews, Eric J. Morales, Erik M. Henrikson, Travis D. Milleman
  • Publication number: 20220280848
    Abstract: Embodiments of an iron-type golf club head comprising a high moment of inertia and a damping system. The damping system includes an insert covering a lower portion of the back face and a badge covering an upper portion of the back face. The damping system covers a large proportion of the back face and provides a club head with desirable sound and feel characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, Matthew T. Schier, Murphy R. Alexander
  • Publication number: 20220258015
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with energy storage characteristics are presented herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a hollow body comprising a strikeface, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a top rail and an inflection point. The inflection point provides increase bending of the strikeface thereby providing performance enhancement over clubs without an inflection point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Eric J. Morales, Cory S. Bacon, Calvin Wang, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman, Evan R. Greer, Murphy R. Alexander
  • Patent number: 11413508
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with energy storage characteristics are presented herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a hollow body comprising a strikeface, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a top rail and an inflection point. The inflection point provides increase bending of the strikeface thereby providing performance enhancement over clubs without an inflection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Eric J. Morales, Cory S. Bacon, Calvin Wang, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman
  • Patent number: 11371114
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for forming a golf club head assembly comprising a golf club head body and a high strength faceplate. The high strength faceplate can be heat treated. After welding the faceplate to the club head body, vibrational waves can be used to relive stress in the weld heat affected zones of the golf club body and faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew W. Simone, Travis D. Milleman, Martin R. Jertson
  • Publication number: 20220176216
    Abstract: A golf club has a first shaft coupled to a club head, a second shaft configured to slidably engage a portion of the first shaft, a grip coupled to the second shaft, and an adjustable length shaft assembly received by the second shaft and configured to allow a portion of the first shaft to slide in relation to the second shaft in a first configuration, and to restrict a portion of the first shaft from sliding in relation to the second shaft in a second configuration. The grip is restricted from rotation about the first shaft or the second shaft as the first shaft slides in relation to the second shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, Anthony D. Serrano, Eric V. Cole, David S. Kultala, David L. Petersen, Les J. Bryant, Richard D. MacMillan, Rick Solesbee, John A. Solheim, Evan R. Greer
  • Publication number: 20220088450
    Abstract: Embodiments of a multi-material wood-type golf club head comprising a tuning element to damp dominant vibrations are described herein. The multi-material wood-type club head comprises a first, metallic component forming the striking face, and portions of the crown, the heel, the toe, and sole, and a second, non-metallic component forming a majority of the crown and portions of the heel, toe, and sole. The club head further comprises a tuning element secured to the interior surface of the crown, wherein the tuning element damps the amplitude vibration at a vibration hotspot in the club head by between 1-7 decibels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventor: Travis D. Milleman
  • Patent number: 11278772
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with energy storage characteristics are presented herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a hollow body comprising a strikeface, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a top rail and an inflection point. The inflection point provides increase bending of the strikeface thereby providing performance enhancement over clubs without an inflection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Eric J. Morales, Cory S. Bacon, Calvin Wang, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman, Evan R. Greer, Murphy R. Alexander
  • Patent number: 11278780
    Abstract: A golf club has a first shaft coupled to a club head, a second shaft configured to slidably engage a portion of the first shaft, a grip coupled to the second shaft, and an adjustable length shaft assembly received by the second shaft and configured to allow a portion of the first shaft to slide in relation to the second shaft in a first configuration, and to restrict a portion of the first shaft from sliding in relation to the second shaft in a second configuration. The grip is restricted from rotation about the first shaft or the second shaft as the first shaft slides in relation to the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, Anthony D. Serrano, Eric V. Cole, David S. Kultala, David L. Petersen, Les J. Bryant, Richard D. MacMillan, Rick Solesbee, John A. Solheim, Evan R. Greer
  • Publication number: 20220072398
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads comprising a club face with a variable thickness profile to adjust stiffness and characteristic time (CT) are described herein. The variable thickness profile comprises strategically positioned thickened and thinned regions. In many embodiments, variable thickness profile can taper from a thickened region to a thinned region. The thickened region can comprise a maximum thickness of the club face, and the thinned region can comprise a minimum thickness of the club face. The variable thickness profiles described in this disclosure increase stiffness in a high toe area of the club face and decrease stiffness in a heel area of the club face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, Alexander G. Woodward, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Publication number: 20220072399
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fairway-type golf club head combing (or comprising) features selected from the group consisting of lightweight crown inserts, main body of weight reducing features, a high density sole insert, a removable, adjustable, interchangeable rear weight assembly, or a combination thereof to enable a low center of gravity of the club head thereby increasing forgiveness, reducing spin, and positioning the center of gravity at or near the force line impact point axis of the fairway-type golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, David A. Higdon
  • Publication number: 20220040540
    Abstract: Embodiments of a golf club head with a plurality of energy storage features are presented herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a body comprising a strike face, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a crown, a channel, a chamfer spanning between a strike face and the crown, and an internal radius transition feature from the strike face to at least one of the sole or the crown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Cory S. Bacon, Eric J. Morales, Ryan M. Stokke, Calvin S. Wang, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman, Martin R. Jertson
  • Patent number: D963773
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Coperation
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, Xiaojian Chen