Integral With Or Attachable To Swingable Implement Head Patents (Class 473/242)
-
Publication number: 20130178301Abstract: Some embodiments include a club head with a club head alignment aid. Other embodiments for related club heads and methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2013Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONInventor: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
-
Patent number: 8480504Abstract: A golf club putter having an alignment pattern is disclosed herein. The alignment pattern has first and second long lines that approach each other as they extend from an aft region of the putter to a front region of the putter and, when the putter is properly aligned with a golf ball, create an optical illusion of convergence of said lines at or near a center of the golf ball without actually intersecting.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2011Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Thomas R. Hilton, Augustin W. Rollinston
-
Publication number: 20130165247Abstract: A golf putter head with a front portion comprising traditional shape and appearance, with an integral face insert extending through the head to an alignment and weighting portion extending beyond the main body of the putter, adding improved alignment, increased moment of inertia (MOI) and adjustable weighting and adjustable balance and optimizable center of percussion. The putter head comprises a central face insert portion extending through the body and above the traditional weight flange, with mass relieved portions below the top of the alignment piece in order to receive one or more optional weights, and the upper side of the rearwardly extending portion being engraved or marked with various alignment indicia, and the whole through-head insert face portion and rearwardly extending portion being affixed to the base portion of the head at least in part with threaded fasteners.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2013Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: DOGLEG RIGHT CORPORATIONInventor: DOGLEG RIGHT CORPORATION
-
Publication number: 20130123036Abstract: A golf club head in which a top surface of the body includes an actual top surface visible profile region and a varied top surface visible profile region is provided. The varied top surface visible profile region may provide a visual impression of a varied profile of the body distinct from an actual profile of the body. The visual impression is oriented in a manner that allows the golfer to address the ball at the heel region of the golf club. The perimeter of the top surface visible profile region may be complementary in shape to the perimeter of the top surface of the body and the varied top surface visible profile region and the actual top surface visible profile region may be distinct in shape, size, color, and/or finish etc. An associated golf club and a method for fitting a golf club are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2013Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventor: NIKE, INC.
-
Patent number: 8425341Abstract: A wood type golf club head according to this invention includes a face portion and a crown portion. A center-of-gravity position mark which indicates a point where the center of gravity of the wood type golf club head is projected to the crown portion is formed on the surface of the crown portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2010Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takaharu Takechi, Yasunori Imamoto, Tomoe Watanabe
-
Publication number: 20130095942Abstract: A golf club head is provided having a club body having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, and a heel portion. The club head also having a central portion connected with the front portion. A frame is connected with the central portion configured to provide a lightweight crown portion being located above an offset plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2012Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.Inventor: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
-
Patent number: 8419561Abstract: A club head can include a front end having a front face, a toe end, a heel end opposite the toe end, a rear end opposite the front face, a crown surface having a front crown end and a rear crown end, and an alignment aid at the crown surface that extends between the front crown end and the rear crown end. The club head can be a wood-type club head. Meanwhile, the front crown end can be closer to the front end than to the rear end, and the rear crown end can be closer to the rear end than to the front end. The alignment aid can have an alignment aid width approximately equal to a golf ball diameter and can include two or more alignment aid stripes.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Kevin W. Flaherty, John H. Loudenslager, Nicholas S. Radeleff
-
Patent number: 8414410Abstract: A driver club head can include a front end having a front face, a toe end, a heel end opposite the toe end, a rear end opposite the front end, a crown surface having a front crown end and a rear crown end, and an alignment aid at the crown surface. The front crown end can be closer to the front end than to the rear end, and the rear crown end can be closer to the rear end than to the front end. The alignment aid can include two or more alignment aid stripes. The two or more alignment aid stripes can include a first alignment aid stripe and a second alignment aid stripe extending between the front crown end and the rear crown end. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Kevin W. Flaherty, John H. Loudenslager, Nicholas S. Radeleff
-
Patent number: 8348780Abstract: A golf club head in which a top surface of the body includes an actual top surface visible profile region and a varied top surface visible profile region is provided. The varied top surface visible profile region may provide a visual impression of a varied profile of the body distinct from an actual profile of the body. The visual impression is oriented in a manner that allows the golfer to address the ball at the heel region of the golf club. The perimeter of the top surface visible profile region may be complementary in shape to the perimeter of the top surface of the body and the varied top surface visible profile region and the actual top surface visible profile region may be distinct in shape, size, color, and/or finish etc. An associated golf club and a method for fitting a golf club are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: John T. Stites
-
Patent number: 8342983Abstract: A golf putter comprising a body including a front face, and a rearward member joined to and extending rearwardly from the body and comprising a lower region, and a first cleat and a second cleat extending downwardly from the lower region. The first and second cleats may be positioned to extend downwardly along first and second cleat axes, such that a line segment extending between the cleat axes is parallel to the front face of the club body. The putter may be further comprised of a shaft joined to a top portion of the body and having a central axis which intersects a line segment extending from a junction of the first cleat with the lower region of the rearward member to a junction of the second cleat with the lower region of the rearward member. The central axis of the shaft may be substantially perpendicular to the line segment.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: D&M Precision, LLCInventor: Daniel C. Jeffres
-
Patent number: 8342979Abstract: Attachable systems and methods allow a golfer to ‘zero in’ on the desired striking zone or “sweet spot” of a club, including putters and non-putters. One or more guides are positionable relative to the desired striking zone, such that if a golf ball interacts with a guide during a swing, the guide provides aural or tactile feedback that the club has hit the ball outside of the desired striking zone. The device may include at least two guides, one positionable on one side of the desired striking zone and the other positionable on the other side of the desired striking zone. The device may comprise guides in the form of a tab or leaf pivotable from an up position when not in use to a down position for use. If the club head has a back side, a portion of the device may contact with the back side. In particular, if the club is an iron with a rear cavity on the club head, a portion of the device may be received in the cavity to enhance stability, particularly during a swing. Training methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Inventor: Jacob Kaufman
-
Publication number: 20120270672Abstract: A golf club head indicator is applied to a golf club head and the golf club head is attached to a golf club shaft. The golf club head has a substantially planar face for hitting a golf ball. The golf club head indicator includes an indicator providing a visual indication of alignment relative to a center point of the face of the golf club head and an indicator providing a visual indication of alignment relative to the angle of the face of the golf club head. The center point is approximately central to the face of the golf club head. The indicator providing the visual indication of the angle of the face of the golf club head is linear and is substantially parallel to a plane of the face of the golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2011Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventor: Jose Antonio Velasquez
-
Publication number: 20120252594Abstract: A golf club head and method of manufacturing are disclosed. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONInventors: John A. Solheim, Michael R. Nicolette
-
Patent number: 8262496Abstract: A wood-type golf club head with an adjustable keel zone member is disclosed herein. The golf club head includes a body and an adjustable keel zone member. The body has a front portion, a crown portion and a sole portion. The body also having a heel end, a toe end and an aft end. The sole portion has only a single keel point. The adjustable keel zone member is disposed within a keel zone of the sole and located preferentially with respect to the center of gravity. The keel zone member is capable of adjusting the face angle of the wood-type golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Matthew T. Cackett, D. Clayton Evans, Alan Hocknell
-
Patent number: 8262495Abstract: A golf club head, golf club and a set of golf heads and clubs is provided with a center of gravity indicator mechanism housed on the rear side that may include a latitudinal strip and a center of gravity locator structure positioned on an axis transverse to the rear side and extending through the center of gravity of the body. The center of gravity locator structure may be fixed on a golf club head or may be variable. Additionally, a set of golf club heads is provided in which the center of gravity indicator mechanism is varied for each club in the set as the position of the center of gravity locator structure is varied for each of the golf club heads. The golf club heads may be coupled to shafts and grips and other features to form a golf club or golf club set.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: John T. Stites
-
Patent number: 8246481Abstract: Putters and putter heads better camouflage the main body of the head and/or highlight the alignment aid. The top surface of the head (when viewed from a ball address orientation) may be finished in a non-reflective, matte finish, optionally, in a dark color and/or in a color or colors selected so as to blend into or match the color of a golf green. At least some portion of the shaft member may be colored and finished in this same manner. These features help in visualization of the alignment aid (which also may be designed to help in alignment). If desired, the club head and/or shaft color and finish may be customized based on the greens at a specific golf course, greens in a specific geographical region, greens of a specific grass type, greens at a specific time of year or under specific conditions, etc.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2007Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: John Thomas Stites, Alan W. Reichow, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Sean Miller, David N. Franklin
-
Patent number: 8235830Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an asymmetrical visual swing indicator is provided. The asymmetrical visual swing indicator may be formed to represent an apparent backswing path outward of an actual backswing path. In certain configurations the asymmetrical visual swing indicator is positioned such that a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to the hitting surface of the golf club is closer to a heel end plane of the golf club head then a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to a rear surface of the golf club head. A method of fitting a golf club head by determining an initial swing plane using a measuring device, determining a desired swing plane, and applying an asymmetrically shaped visual indicator to a golf club head based upon the determined initial swing plane and the desired swing is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: John T. Stites
-
Patent number: 8221258Abstract: A wood-type golf club head with an adjustable keel zone member is disclosed herein. The golf club head includes a body and an adjustable keel zone member. The body has a front portion, a crown portion and a sole portion. The body also having a heel end, a toe end and an aft end. The sole portion has only a single keel point. The adjustable keel zone member is disposed within a keel zone of the sole and located preferentially with respect to the center of gravity. The keel zone member is capable of adjusting the face angle of the wood-type golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2012Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Matthew T. Cackett, D. Clayton Evans, Alan Hocknell
-
Publication number: 20120172140Abstract: A “Concave Golf Club Assembly” having a curved concaved head face, which is designed to help a golfer drive a golf ball further and to its target more accurately, because the face of the club head is concaved, and its sweet spot location on the face of the club head and its shaft location at the club head, and a sight line located on top of the club head. The sweet spot is where the center-line of the head will pierce the face of the head. The club shaft is attached to the head so that its center-line will intersect the center-line of the club head. The centerline of the head is a line drawn from the center of gravity of the head to a perpendicular line that is tangent to a curved concaved surface, and is parallel to the ground, and is at the same height as the center of gravity of the head. This club head includes a high lighted straight line on the top of a fore and aft rib that is above and parallel to the center-line of the club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2011Publication date: July 5, 2012Inventor: Charles Placid Guerriero
-
Publication number: 20120129620Abstract: A golf club head comprising a front portion, a rear portion, an upper portion and a lower portion arranged below the upper portion and vertically spaced therefrom. The upper portion of the golf club head comprises an upper port that is formed therethrough and is defined by a first inner edge 27, 127) thereof. The lower portion of the golf club head comprises a lower port, which is formed therethrough and is defined by a second inner edge thereof. Said upper and lower ports are arranged such that when an eye of a user of the golf club head is aligned therewith along a predetermined alignment axis, the second inner edge defining said lower port is fully visible to the user through said upper port.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2009Publication date: May 24, 2012Inventors: Stephen J. Davis, Stefano Conte
-
Publication number: 20120108355Abstract: A “Fun Golf Club Assembly” having a curved convex head face, which is designed to help a golfer drive a golf ball further and to its target more accurately, because of its sweet spot location on the face of the club head and its shaft location at the club head, and a sight line located on top of the club head. The sweet spot is where the center-line of the head will pierce the face of the head. The club shaft is attached to the head so that its center-line will intersect the center-line of the club head. The centerline of the head is a line drawn from the center of gravity of the head to a perpendicular line that is tangent to a curved convex surface, and is parallel to the ground, and is at the height as the center of gravity of the head. This club head includes a high lighted straight line on the top of a fore and aft rib that is above and parallel to the center-line of the club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Inventor: Charles P. Guerriero
-
Patent number: 8162773Abstract: An invertible golf putting accessory having a body with an upper surface, a lower surface and a plurality of sides. Two of the sides converge towards each other to form an apex and one of the sides is removably connectable to a face of a putter by magnetic and/or adhesive material. The body includes an aperture that is configured to receive a golf ball positioned therein. The accessory is attached to the face of a putter so that a portion of the golf ball can extend above the upper surface and another portion can extend below the lower surface. In use, a golf ball is pulled back and automatically released in a desired direction as the user extends the foreswing beyond the constraints of the aperture. The body also includes indicia on one or more of the surfaces. The indicia may be used to assist in sighting the putter.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2010Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Inventor: Michael Pingalore
-
Patent number: 8133126Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf club having alignment markings that assist a golfer in finding a proper and consistent posture before addressing the ball. In one embodiment, a golf club according to the present invention includes a shaft, a club head having a striking face, a hosel coupling the club head to the shaft, and one or more alignment markings at a position substantially elevated from the club head and substantially behind the shaft. Embodiments of the golf club may further comprise an appendage extending outwardly from the golf club and carrying alignment markings thereon in a direction substantially parallel to the striking face. Such alignment markings provide a golfer with a proper setup when the shaft is seen by the golfer as interposed between, and parallel to, the alignment markings. A golf club according to the present invention may be configured in a variety of shapes, for example, as a putter, an iron, a driver or a wood.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2009Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Premium Golf Brands, LLCInventors: Jason Pouliot, Andre Shmoldas
-
Patent number: 8128505Abstract: A putter head including a fore body and an aft body. The fore body includes a planar front strike face, heel and toe side walls, a rear wall, a top surface and a generally planar sole. The top surface includes a sight line. The sight line extends along a first plane that is perpendicular to the strike face and to the sole, and is substantially evenly spaced from the heel and toe side walls. The aft body is coupled to the fore body and includes a rear main portion and an overhang. The rear main portion is engaged to the rear wall of the fore body, and has a central region positioned between first and second end regions. The overhang forwardly extends from the central region. The overhang includes an elongate slot extending along the first plane, and is positioned over at least a portion of the sight line.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2010Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Wilson Sporting GoodsInventors: Andrew K. Tryner, Douglas J. Thiel, Robert T. Thurman, Jon C. Pergande
-
Publication number: 20120052974Abstract: The Chipping Assistant was designed as a visual aid for use with most irons. The invention is a black, ¼? thick wafer-like disc approximately 1.25? in diameter which attaches to the face of the club with pressure sensitive two-sided tape which serves as a visual aid for golfers to hit the sweet spot and assist in golfer's keeping their head down and eye on the ball to connect with the ball and reduce mis-hits with most irons.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Inventors: Edwin E. Fellows, Robert Martzloff
-
Patent number: 8123626Abstract: A wood-type golf club head with an adjustable keel zone member is disclosed herein. The golf club head includes a body and an adjustable keel zone member. The body has a front portion, a crown portion and a sole portion. The body also having a heel end, a toe end and an aft end. The sole portion has only a single keel point. The adjustable keel zone member is disposed within a keel zone of the sole and located preferentially with respect to the center of gravity. The keel zone member is capable of adjusting the face angle of the wood-type golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2011Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Matthew T. Cackett, D. Clayton Evans, Alan Hocknell
-
Publication number: 20120046119Abstract: An integrated golf club comprising standard golf club shaft and an integrated electronics system golf club head apparatus for directly measuring physical parameters of the golf club head motional acceleration swing forces and golf club head face and golf ball impact forces and further processing those measurements and transmitting the measurement data wirelessly to a user interface device. The integrated electronics system golf club head comprises several optimized assemblies that support electronic measurement, processing and wireless communication functions that are integrated with a customized golf club head shell and club face to provide a golf club head with physical properties that are substantially similar to that of a regulation play golf club head of same type. The user interface device that receives wirelessly transmitted data further processes the data and provides the golfer with useful golf swing and impact metrics in multiple different user selectable formats.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2011Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: GOLF IMPACT LLCInventor: Roger Davenport
-
Publication number: 20120034989Abstract: An apparatus and method for a hinged golf swing training club that provides the kinesthetic feeling of the three most important mechanical aspects of the golf swing: the backswing, the transition and the release. It is composed of an upper portion, lower portion, hinge assembly, and a removable elastic means that can be attached to the upper portion and lower portions of the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2010Publication date: February 9, 2012Inventor: John Michael Novosel, SR.
-
Patent number: 8105181Abstract: A golf club head, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, comprises a metallic striking wall having a striking surface and at least one through score-line opening. At least one complementary component may be disposed rearward of the striking surface such that at least a part of the at least one complementary component extends into only a part of the at least one through score-line opening.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2011Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Mark Blumenkrantz, Michael J. Wallans
-
Publication number: 20120010011Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for protecting the top of a iron club head. The surface is protected by a piece of adhesive backed tape that is positioned entirely on the surface of the top with a straight front edge positioned parallel and behind the club head top line.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2010Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventor: Craig T. Piepho
-
Patent number: 8012034Abstract: A wood-type golf club head with an adjustable keel zone member is disclosed herein. The golf club head includes a body and an adjustable keel zone member. The body has a front portion, a crown portion and a sole portion. The body also having a heel end, a toe end and an aft end. The sole portion has only a single keel point. The adjustable keel zone member is disposed within a keel zone of the sole and located preferentially with respect to the center of gravity. The keel zone member is capable of adjusting the face angle of the wood-type golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2011Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Matthew T. Cackett, D. Clayton Evans, Alan Hocknell
-
Patent number: 8012033Abstract: The subject invention is comprised of a striking member adapted to emulate a specific selected sport, such striking member having removable indicator appendages that enable the user to feel by vibration and replicate by sight where the striking member is during the striking movement, and a target member adapted to emulate the playing object of the same selected sport, the target member including flexible, elongate momentum elements selectively attachable to the target member to provide progressive resistance and accurately simulate the characteristics of an actual ball or playing object.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2007Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Inventor: John Michael Novosel, Sr.
-
Publication number: 20110183771Abstract: A golf club head, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, comprises a metallic striking wall having a striking surface and at least one through score-line opening. At least one complementary component may be disposed rearward of the striking surface such that at least a part of the at least one complementary component extends into only a part of the at least one through score-line opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2011Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: SRI SPORTS LIMITEDInventors: Michael J. WALLANS, Mark BLUMENKRANTZ
-
Patent number: 7976399Abstract: A golf club alignment system, including: (a) a golf club shaft; (b) a golf club head connected to the golf club shaft, the golf club head including: (i) a hosel received onto an end of the golf club shaft; (ii) a ball-hitting face extending from the hosel; and (iii) an alignment system on the hosel, wherein the alignment system comprises a longitudinally extending marker positioned in a plane passing through a center axis of the golf club, and wherein the longitudinally extending marker terminates in an arrow point at the upper end of the hosel.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2010Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Inventor: Ronnie Pritchett
-
Publication number: 20110165956Abstract: A golf club that gives instant feedback for helping a player improve his/her ball striking skills while practicing a swing where the golf club has a shaft which is permanently or removably attached to the club head and the club head may have added weights. A shaft extension is attached to the heel of the club face. The toe area of the club head is higher than the club face and the toe and toe area curves down with a sharp indentation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Inventor: Othili Park
-
Patent number: 7955180Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved golf club with line markings on the head of the putter that facilitate a precise and accurate motion of the club. One of these markings, the aiming line, runs parallel to the club face across the top of the club and is intended to assist the golfer in aiming and placement of the club head. The other markings, the guide lines, run perpendicular to the club face across the top of the club and are intended to guide the path of the subsequent motion of the club to hit a golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Inventor: Norman Douglas Bittner
-
Patent number: 7942757Abstract: A golf club head, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, comprises a metallic striking wall having a striking surface and at least one through score-line opening. At least one complementary component may be disposed rearward of the striking surface such that at least a part of the at least one complementary component extends into only a part of the at least one through score-line opening.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Mark Blumenkrantz, Michael J. Wallans
-
Patent number: 7934999Abstract: A wood-type golf club head with an adjustable keel zone member is disclosed herein. The golf club head includes a body and an adjustable keel zone member. The body has a front portion, a crown portion and a sole portion. The body also having a heel end, a toe end and an aft end. The sole portion has only a single keel point. The adjustable keel zone member is disposed within a keel zone of the sole and located preferentially with respect to the center of gravity. The keel zone member is capable of adjusting the face angle of the wood-type golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2009Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Matthew T. Cackett, D. Clayton Evans, Alan Hocknell
-
Publication number: 20110081982Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an asymmetrical visual swing indicator is provided. The asymmetrical visual swing indicator may be formed to represent an apparent backswing path outward of an actual backswing path. In certain configurations the asymmetrical visual swing indicator is positioned such that a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to the hitting surface of the golf club is closer to a heel end plane of the golf club head then a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to a rear surface of the golf club head. The swing indicator is integral with the body of the golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventor: T. Stites John
-
Publication number: 20110070964Abstract: A golf club head, golf club and a set of golf heads and clubs is provided with a center of gravity indicator mechanism housed on the rear side that may include a latitudinal strip and a center of gravity locator structure positioned on an axis transverse to the rear side and extending through the center of gravity of the body. The center of gravity locator structure may be fixed on a golf club head or may be variable. Additionally, a set of golf club heads is provided in which the center of gravity indicator mechanism is varied for each club in the set as the position of the center of gravity locator structure is varied for each of the golf club heads. The golf club heads may be coupled to shafts and grips and other features to form a golf club or golf club set.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventor: John T. STITES
-
Patent number: 7905793Abstract: A golf club comprising: a shaft; a head affixed to a distal end of the shaft and having a ball striking face, the head comprising spaced apart lower and upper portions which have respectively: lower and upper primary alignment guides extending substantially perpendicular to the ball striking face, the lower primary alignment guide provided by at least one lower slot portion in the lower portion and the upper primary alignment guide provided by at least one upper slot portion in the upper portion; and lower and upper secondary alignment guides extending substantially parallel to the ball striking face, the lower secondary alignment guide provided by at least one further lower slot portion in the lower portion and the upper secondary alignment guide provided by at least one further upper slot portion in the upper portion, the primary and secondary alignment guides being positioned relative to one another so that a golfer's eyes are correctly aligned relative to the golf club head when the primary and secondaryType: GrantFiled: October 1, 2009Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Australian Putter Co Pty LtdInventor: Kevin O'Neill
-
Publication number: 20110034262Abstract: A wood type golf club head according to this invention includes a face portion and a crown portion. A center-of-gravity position mark which indicates a point where the center of gravity of the wood type golf club head is projected to the crown portion is formed on the surface of the crown portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2010Publication date: February 10, 2011Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Takaharu Takechi, Yasunori Imamoto, Tomoe Watanabe
-
Patent number: 7871334Abstract: A golf club head includes a club head having a plurality of components and a plurality of retaining members, with each retaining member positioned on one of the components. A tensioning assembly for releasably securing the components of the club head together includes a tension element coupled to the club head components by way of the retaining members, and a tensioning member for introducing tension into the tension element.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2008Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Matthew S. Young, Megan Sesslar Moore, Mark J. Perry, David M. Walters
-
Patent number: 7871335Abstract: A golf club head includes a club head having a plurality of components and a plurality of retaining members, with each retaining member positioned on one of the components. A tensioning assembly for releasably securing the components of the club head together includes a tension element coupled to the club head components by way of the retaining members, and a tensioning member for introducing tension into the tension element.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2010Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Matthew S. Young, Megan Sesslar Moore, Mark J. Perry, David M. Walters
-
Patent number: 7867103Abstract: A putting system with a putter substrate and modules that detachably couple to the putter substrate to form a putter head is disclosed. The modules detect, determine, measure and/or monitor alignment and/or tempo of the putter head. Modules include displays and/or audio outputs that provide visual and/or audio representations of the alignment and/or the tempo of the putter head. In accordance with the embodiments of the invention, the system includes a target module for generating alignment signals that are received by a positioning module with a built-in receiver unit. Preferably, the transmitter unit includes an array of infrared transmitters and the receiver unit includes an array of infrared detectors. In operation the positioning module is configured to detect, determine, measure and/or monitor angular alignment of the putter head with respect to the target module based on intensities of the alignment signals received at each of the infrared detectors.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Inventor: D'Miles Salmon
-
Patent number: 7857706Abstract: A system of training a golf swing including the steps of providing a positional apparatus that provides the golfer with variable impact heights and variable rotational positions to enable them to learn the correct swing, and also includes various additional training items. The stand provides heights ranging from the traditional on the ground striking position up to the golfer's waist to train the swing incrementally and can be positioned anywhere within the golfer's peripheral sight. It also provides the golfer a way to learn the correct movements used in the swing without the pressure of trying to effect a golf ball flight.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2008Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Inventor: John Michael Novosel, Sr.
-
Publication number: 20100323806Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an asymmetrical visual swing indicator is provided. The asymmetrical visual swing indicator may be formed to represent an apparent backswing path outward of an actual backswing path. In certain configurations the asymmetrical visual swing indicator is positioned such that a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to the hitting surface of the golf club is closer to a heel end plane of the golf club head then a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to a rear surface of the golf club head. A method of fitting a golf club head by determining an initial swing plane using a measuring device, determining a desired swing plane, and applying an asymmetrically shaped visual indicator to a golf club head based upon the determined initial swing plane and the desired swing is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventor: John T. Stites
-
Patent number: 7846033Abstract: An iron type golf club head has a toe inclination visually recognizing part and a heel inclination visually recognizing part. The toe inclination visually recognizing part, which is provided on a toe side of a face surface, formed by a visible boundary between a toe side region of the face surface and a center region of the face surface, can be visually recognized to be inclined to a heel side from the toe side in a direction toward a sole side from a top side. The heel inclination visually recognizing part, which is formed on the heel side of the face surface, formed by a visible boundary between a heel side region of the face surface and a center region of the face surface, can be visually recognized to be inclined to the heel side from the toe side in a direction toward the sole side from the top side.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2008Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Akira Kato, Kazuyoshi Takarada
-
Publication number: 20100298061Abstract: An apparatus which uses a club having a head portion and a shaft. Integrated with the head portion is a shaped recess with a golf ball holder. The golf ball holder is capable of gripping and holding a golf ball with a predetermined force requirement for release, which requires the use to execute a proper golf swing to release the ball. The predetermined force requirement may be adjustable. The user also may vary the angle of the club face on various planes relative to the shaft, thereby changing the swing required to release the ball.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Inventors: William Parks, Harpreet Suri
-
Patent number: 7837576Abstract: The two-faced golf putter includes a putter head having a putting face and a chipping face disposed on at least one side of the putter head, an angled toe, an angled heel and a bottom sole. Both the angled toe and heel include a respective setup guide to assist the user in properly positioning over the putter. A sight alignment groove is formed on the top of the putter head to help aim the ball. An elongated shaft extends upwardly from a centered bore in the top surface of the putter head, which improves balance and feel to the putter. The top portion of the shaft includes an elongated handle to accommodate a wide range of user grip sizes and techniques. To further assist accurate setup placement of the putter head, an alignment dot is disposed behind the shaft on top of the putter head. The bottom sole includes at least one upwardly extending sloping side to permit angling of the putter for chipping.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Inventor: David L Paige