Selectively Adjustable Positioning Means Patents (Class 473/244)
  • Patent number: 11554297
    Abstract: An adjustable interchangeable golf club with a faceplate-based platform to receive components for enhancing and controlling various aspects that control the golf ball flight and spin characteristics. Disclosed are components for adjusting loft and bounce angle, and interchangeable faceplate and rear flange styles. Novel milled surface roughness for enhanced spin control is disclosed along with new milling methods for achieving optimal surface roughness. Lightweight hosel and consequent redistribution of mass in club head greatly increases the inertia of the golf club. Centrally located hosel position aids in club head stability on off-center hits. This results in a golf club that hits the ball higher, straighter, longer, and with increased ball spin characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Mod Golf Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce E. Sizemore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11426638
    Abstract: A universal connector for an adjustable golf club is provided. Such a universal connector includes a first member having a head portion and a body portion and having a bore for receiving a terminal end of a shaft. The connector also includes a second member having a bore for receiving a portion of the first member therein. The first member includes a first anti-rotational member and the second member includes a second anti-rotational member. The first and second anti-rotational members are engageable with one another to prevent relative rotation of the first member relative to the second member about a longitudinal axis of the connector. The second member includes a third anti-rotational member, the third anti-rotational member configured to mate with an anti-rotational member of the golf club head to prevent relative rotation of the second member relative to the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Club-Conex LLC
    Inventor: Eric Burch
  • Patent number: 11117027
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf club head that comprises a body. The body comprises a sole portion, a crown portion, a skirt portion, and a face portion, positioned at a forward region of the golf club head, opposite a rearward region of the golf club head, and extending from a toe region to a heel region of the golf club head. At least a portion of the body is made of a titanium alloy. The golf club head also comprises a large weight, coupled to the sole portion of the body and made of a steel alloy. A mass of the large weight is at least 40% of a mass of the portion of the body made of the titanium alloy. A total mass of the large weight and the portion of the body made of the titanium alloy is at least 210 grams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph H. Hoffman, Chris Rollins
  • Patent number: 10543406
    Abstract: A golf club having a head with a series of tracks forming a three-dimensional pattern; weights for positioning along channels; and a mechanism for securing the weights at positions along the channels so as to customize center of gravity and moment of inertia. The channels can all interconnect to allow a weight to be moved from one to another. The club can include a removable cover for at least a portion of the surface to cover the channels and the weights. The weights can comprise a spherical member disposed in a channel; a member external to a surface of the head; and a coupling between the spherical member and the external member to allow the spherical member and the external member to capture between them a wall in which a track is formed. The channels may be in the removable cover, or below the removable cover, in the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Inventor: Vandette B. Carter
  • Patent number: 10398946
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob Clarke, Eric J. Morales, Ryan M. Stokke, Evan Greer, Eric V. Cole, David S. Kultala
  • Patent number: 10112083
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs with adjustable lie and loft and methods of manufacturing golf clubs with adjustable lie and loft are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Chris L. Jones, John P. Fife, Erik M. Henrikson
  • Patent number: 9757628
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve assembly, and a club head. The shaft sleeve assembly is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve assembly is removably coupled to the club head includes portions coupled by a flexible coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Knutson, Gery M. Zimmerman, Joshua C. Stokes
  • Patent number: 9694251
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Stites, James S. Thomas, Gary G. Tavares
  • Patent number: 9694252
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Mark V. Greaney, Ian C. Wright, Kraig A. Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Matthew D. Johnson, Gery M. Zimmerman, Kevin R. Harper
  • Patent number: 9669272
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a primary component and a secondary component, wherein the secondary component is rotatably or pivotally associated with the rear surface of the primary component. The secondary component is adjustable between a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the primary component such that the golf club head has a first sole contour when the secondary component is in the first orientation and a second sole contour when the secondary component is in the second orientation, the first sole contour being different from the second sole contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sharon J. Park, Brian D. Schielke, Kevin R. Tassistro
  • Patent number: 9630067
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft, a golf club head, a first adapter, a second adapter, and a fixing member that detachably fixes the second adapter to the first adapter. An internal space of the golf club head has a housing portion for housing the second adapter, and the housing portion is configured to regulate movement of the second adapter. A third opening portion that communicates with the housing portion and in which the second adapter can be inserted is formed in the surface of the golf club head. A first coupling portion of the first adapter is configured to incline relative to the shaft, and a second coupling portion of the second adapter is configured such that the first adapter is coupled at an angle to the second adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kohno, Yuki Motokawa
  • Patent number: 9561404
    Abstract: An adjustable shaft and hosel assembly allows for dependent and independent adjustment of a golf club's face angle, loft angle, and lie angle. The adjustable shaft and hosel assembly comprises a shaft sleeve, a hosel portion, and a ball joint, wherein the ball joint is located either on the shaft sleeve or the hosel portion and fits within, and is rotatable along various axes within, a socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Homer E. Aguinaldo, Broadus Perry Wall, Jr., Denver Holt, James A. Seluga, Scott Manwaring
  • Patent number: 9421436
    Abstract: A golf club head having a low-density interchangeable insert located in a top portion thereof. The interchangeable insert may be only in the top line of the club head or extend from the heel around the toe and optionally be visible from above when the club is at address. The interchangeable insert may extend through a hosel and optionally be visible on a heel-side surface. The interchangeable insert may be mounted on a back surface of a striking face, and may extend a distance down the back surface. The interchangeable insert may extend into, and provide part of, a golf ball striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Ryan L. Roach, Denise Herman, Thomas W. Preece, Michael S. Yagley
  • Patent number: 9364724
    Abstract: A golf club includes a golf club head provided with a first hole and a second hole on its bottom side, a shaft, a first fastener detachably attached to the first hole to detachably fix the shaft to the golf club head, and a second fastener detachably attached to the second hole to provide weight on the golf club, the second fastener having weight different from that of the first fastener. The first fastener and the second fastener are configured as mutually replaceable fasteners so that the first fastener is detachably attached to the second hole and the second fastener is detachably attached to the first hole to detachably fix the shaft to the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Motokawa
  • Patent number: 9216331
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of golf club heads, such as fairway wood heads, having an adjustable sole. In some embodiments, a club head includes a body, a sole plate, and a platform. The body has a front portion comprising a striking plate, a rear end, a toe, a heel, a crown, and a lower portion opposite the crown. The sole plate is coupled to the lower portion of the body and is pivotably adjustable relative to the body about a pivot location adjacent to the front portion of the body. The platform is positioned between the sole plate and the lower portion of the body and is adjustable, such as frontwardly and rearwardly, to plural positions along the lower portion of the body to change a pivot angle between the sole plate and the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Greensmith, Todd P. Beach
  • Patent number: 9180348
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Mark V. Greaney, Ian C. Wright, Kraig A. Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Matthew D. Johnson, Gery M. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9168427
    Abstract: An adjustable shaft and hosel assembly allows for dependent and independent adjustment of a golf club's face angle, loft angle, and lie angle. The adjustable shaft and hosel assembly comprises a shaft sleeve, a hosel portion, and a ball joint, wherein the ball joint is located either on the shaft sleeve or the hosel portion and fits within, and is rotatable along various axes within, a socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: Homer E. Aguinaldo, Broadus Perry Wall, Jr., Denver Holt, James A. Seluga, Scott R. Manwaring
  • Patent number: 9033814
    Abstract: Golf club heads which may include an iron-type golf club head body and an adjustable member configured to be engaged with iron-type golf club head body. The adjustable member may include a first surface and a second surface. The first surface of the adjustable member may form at least a portion of the sole of the iron-type golf club head and at least a portion of the rear of iron-type golf club head when the adjustable member is engaged with the iron-type golf club head body in a first orientation. Additionally, the second surface of the adjustable member may form at least a portion of the sole of the iron-type golf club head and at least a portion of the rear of iron-type golf club head when the adjustable member is engaged with the iron-type golf club head body in a second orientation, which is different from the first orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Raymond J. Sander, Hiromitsu Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9033813
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and being defined by a plurality of peripheral edges, a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the peripheral edges of the face, and a sole member connected to the sole of the body. The sole member may be removably connected to the sole, which can permit removal and replacement with another sole member having a different property. The sole member may additionally or alternately be movably connected to the sole, which can permit adjustment of the sole member, such as to change the lie angle of the head. The sole member may be at least partially received in a receiver in the sole and may form at least a portion of the lowermost surface of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, William F. Rauchholz
  • Patent number: 9022874
    Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads (102), may include a putter body and an adjustable ball striking face insert (116) forming at least a portion of the ball striking face (104) and contained within the putter body. The insert (116) may have a plurality of sides (118a, 118b, 118c, 118d), each of the sides having different performance characteristics to permit customization of the putter (100). In some examples, the adjustable ball striking face insert (116) may be rotatably mounted within the putter head. Additionally or alternatively, the insert (116) may be removably mounted within the putter head (102). In some arrangements, the insert (116) may be finely adjustable to alter the loft angle of the putter head (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Hatton, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Jeremy N. Snyder, Donald S. Rahrig
  • Patent number: 8956239
    Abstract: An apparatus which uses a club having a head portion and a shaft. Integrated with the head portion is 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 user 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: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Swing Sensei, LLC
    Inventor: William Parks
  • Patent number: 8932144
    Abstract: When hitting a ball to a target with a putter, the ball often travels to a point which is deviated to the right from the target. When a golfer looks at the target just after taking his address, he turns his head to a target about a rotation axis which extends through the back of his head. When this rotation axis is not horizontal and an angle defined by the rotation axis and his sighting line to a putter head is not 90°, he has an optical illusion which tricks him into believing that he has to correct his address position. The putter of the present invention is provided with a thin-plate pendulum thereby allowing him to turn his head about the rotation axis while keeping the angle defined by the rotation axis and his sighting line at 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Taiseikogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyosi Simizu
  • Patent number: 8905857
    Abstract: A putter for use in a game of golf including a handle from which exends a shaft having a lower extension portion connected to a hosel mounted on a putter head having a front putting face, upper and lower surfaces and opposite side portions and wherein a central alignment groove extends along a central longitudinal axis of the head toward the putting face and wherein pairs of alignment members extend parallel on opposite sides of the central alignment groove and perpendicular to the putting face, and wherein at least one projection from the hosel is spaced above one of the pairs of alignment members and includes an alignment band for aligning with the one of pair of alignment members when the putter is addressed relative to a ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: Lewis V. Eckhart
  • Patent number: 8876622
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a sole, a recessed sole port in the sole; and a rotatably adjustable sole piece adapted to be at least partially received within the sole port and comprising a central body having a plurality of contact surfaces adapted to contact the sole port and being offset from each other along a central axis extending through the central body of the sole piece. The sole piece can be positioned at least partially within the sole port at five or more rotational and axial positions with respect to the central axis, wherein at each rotational position, at least one of said contact surfaces of the central body contacts the sole port to set the axial position of the sole piece. The sole port and/or the sole piece can be generally pentagonal in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Kraig Alan Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Michael Franz
  • Patent number: 8840487
    Abstract: Golf club, golf club shaft and golf club head structures are presented. The golf club may include an adjustable shaft configured to be received in a slot formed in a crown of the golf club head. In some examples, the slot may include a plurality of receivers, such as apertures, configured to receive the shaft in various positions along the length of the slot. The various positions may be progressively closer to a central area of the ball striking surface in order to increase the power transferred to the ball upon striking it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex W. Okot
  • Publication number: 20140256461
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of adjustable golf clubs comprising features which allow for the adjustment of a lie angle, a loft angle, or both a lie angle and a loft angle of the golf club. In some embodiments, a golf club head includes a body and a hosel, the hosel including an adjustment screw which can be tightened or loosened to adjust the lie and/or loft angles of a golf club head. In some embodiments, certain angles of a golf club head's geometry can be continuously adjustable through a predetermined range of angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Bret H. Wahl, Scott Taylor, Peter L. Larsen
  • Patent number: 8821307
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a primary component and a secondary component, wherein the secondary component is rotatably or pivotally associated with the rear surface of the primary component. The secondary component is adjustable between a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the primary component such that the golf club head has a first sole contour when the secondary component is in the first orientation and a second sole contour when the secondary component is in the second orientation, the first sole contour being different from the second sole contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Sharon Park, Brian Schielke, Kevin Tassistro
  • Publication number: 20140221119
    Abstract: An adjustable shaft and hosel assembly allows for dependent and independent adjustment of a golf club's face angle, loft angle, and lie angle. The adjustable shaft and hosel assembly comprises a shaft sleeve with a joint portion, a hosel portion, and a fitting piece, wherein the joint portion fits within the fitting piece and the fitting piece fits within the hosel portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Homer E. Aguinaldo, Broadus Perry Wall, JR., Denver Holt, James A. Seluga, Scott R. Manwaring
  • Patent number: 8771096
    Abstract: A golf putter with a multi-component neck providing a novel offset and shaft-attachment design is described and claimed. The club includes a head having a strike surface, a sole, and a top line. The multi-component neck includes a lower neck component and a coupling member. The coupling member is joined to a shaft. The coupling member connects the lower neck component and the shaft such that they are relatively offset. The length of the lower neck component and/or the design of the coupling member determine the distance from the club head center of gravity and the intersection of the projected longitudinal axis of the shaft with the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Don T. Cameron
  • Patent number: 8740717
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 8727899
    Abstract: An adjustable hosel assembly allows for adjustment of shaft angle and the distance between the shaft and the club head. The adjustable hosel assembly comprises a hosel portion, a cam piece, a bolt, and a golf club head having a convex or concave surface, wherein the hosel portion can move along the surface of the cam piece, and the cam piece can move along the surface of the club head, to adjust the orientation of a shaft placed within the hosel with respect to the club head, and wherein the bolt secures the cam piece and the hosel to the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Yvonne Galloway
  • Publication number: 20140121032
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a cylindrical structure having a cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft, a rotation-inhibiting structure, and a securing structure; and (b) a securing system for releasably engaging the securing structure. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft connection assembly so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin, James S. Thomas, Gary G. Tavares
  • Patent number: 8668596
    Abstract: A golf club comprising an adjustable fitting member semi-permanently attached rearwardly on a sole is disclosed herein. The fitting member can be rotated to adjust the measured and perceived face angle of the golf club head at address without changing the relative relationship of the club with respect to the shaft, which would alter the lie and loft of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew T. Cackett, D. Clayton Evans, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 8641548
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for changing and controlling settings for adjustable golf clubs are described. Such setting adjustment systems may alter one or more of: lie angle, loft angle, face angle, shaft stiffness, shaft kickpoint location, weighting, weight positioning, face flexibility, maximum face flex location, etc. These systems and methods may use various types of information to determine the appropriate settings, such as: ball launch monitor data, swing path data, weather input data, course condition input data for a location of play, course design input data for a location of play, daily course layout input data for a location and a time of play, golfer past performance data (e.g., recent past performance, past performances at the location of play, past performance during an ongoing round of golf (i.e., on earlier played holes), etc.), current adjustable club setting information, and information indicating holes to be played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Rauchholz, Nicholas Yontz
  • Patent number: 8616990
    Abstract: A golf putter with an offset and shaft-attachment design is disclosed and claimed. The club includes a head having a strike surface, a sole, and a top line. A tube is coupled to the head, a coupling member is coupled to the distal end of the tube, and a shaft is also coupled to the coupling member. The coupling member connects the tube and the shaft such that they are relatively offset. The longitudinal axes of the tube and the shaft may be substantially parallel. An alignment indicia is provided on the club head. The tube is coupled to the head at an angle such that it blocks the indicia from a user's view at address when the head is aligned properly. If the club head is not properly aligned, the golfer will be able to see the indicia and therefore know to adjust the club head before putting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Don T. Cameron
  • Patent number: 8616991
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Billings
  • Publication number: 20130324276
    Abstract: Golf club heads which may include an iron-type golf club head body and an adjustable member configured to be engaged with iron-type golf club head body. The adjustable member may include a first surface and a second surface. The first surface of the adjustable member may form at least a portion of the sole of the iron-type golf club head and at least a portion of the rear of iron-type golf club head when the adjustable member is engaged with the iron-type golf club head body in a first orientation. Additionally, the second surface of the adjustable member may form at least a portion of the sole of the iron-type golf club head and at least a portion of the rear of iron-type golf club head when the adjustable member is engaged with the iron-type golf club head body in a second orientation, which is different from the first orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Raymond J. Sander
  • Patent number: 8579716
    Abstract: A golf putter including a handle from which exends a shaft having a lower extension connected to a hosel mounted on an adjustable putter head having a putting face, upper and lower surfaces, opposite side portions, an alignment groove extending along a central longitudinal axis of the upper surface toward the putting face, a first pair of alignment members extending parallel to and on opposite sides of the groove, and a second pair of alignment members extending parallel to and adjacent the putting face, and wherein at least one alignment projection extends from the hosel above the first and second pairs of alignment members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Lewis V. Eckhart
  • Patent number: 8574092
    Abstract: A golf club head having a body, a hosel, and a bolt that connects the hosel to the body such that the hosel can rotate around the bolt is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a worm gear engages gear teeth located at an interface of the hosel and the body, and turning the worm gear causes the hosel to rotate around the bolt. In another embodiment, a circular wedge is disposed between the hosel and the body, and rotating the circular wedge around the bolt changes the orientation of the hosel with respect to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: William C. Watson, Yvonne Galloway
  • Patent number: 8562452
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to golf clubs or golf club heads, having an adjustable ball striking face. The golf club head includes a club head body, a ball striking face, and a brace extending from a sole of the club head body to an inner surface of the ball striking face. The brace may further include an end portion engaged with the inner surface of the ball striking face, a fixed rod located between the end portion and an inner surface of the club head at the sole, a biasing member attached to the fixed rod. The biasing member may provide a biasing force to the ball striking face such that the ball striking face is adjustable between a first direction thereby adjusting a face angle of the club head and a second direction thereby adjusting a loft angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
  • Patent number: 8517851
    Abstract: A golf club comprising an adjustable fitting member semi-permanently attached rearwardly on a sole is disclosed herein. The fitting member can be rotated to adjust the measured and perceived face angle of the golf club head at address without changing the relative relationship of the club with respect to the shaft, which would alter the lie and loft of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew T. Cackett, D. Clayton Evans, Alan Hocknell
  • Publication number: 20130184091
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for changing and controlling settings for adjustable golf clubs are described. Such setting adjustment systems may alter one or more of: lie angle, loft angle, face angle, shaft stiffness, shaft kickpoint location, weighting, weight positioning, face flexibility, maximum face flex location, etc. These systems and methods may use various types of information to determine the appropriate settings, such as: ball launch monitor data, swing path data, weather input data, course condition input data for a location of play, course design input data for a location of play, daily course layout input data for a location and a time of play, golfer past performance data (e.g., recent past performance, past performances at the location of play, past performance during an ongoing round of golf (i.e., on earlier played holes), etc.), current adjustable club setting information, and information indicating specific holes to be played.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Rauchholz, James A. Niegowski
  • Patent number: 8419563
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Golf clubs are provided that have spherical releasable connections between the golf club head and the golf club shaft along with head/shaft position adjusting features to allow interchange of shafts and heads and to allow modification of the head/shaft positioning properties. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a shaft retainer, and a hosel insert located within an interior chamber of the club head. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, Vincent J. Contini, James Alan Prescott, Matthew P. Rubal, Gregory A. Trees, James Thomas
  • Publication number: 20130053161
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable connector including at least two parts, each having a main body with a bore having a longitudinal axis therein, wherein an external surface of the main body of a first part is configured to bear against an internal surface of the bore of a second part when the first part is at least partially inserted into the bore of the second part to form a connection, characterized in that the positioning of the bores with respect to the main bodies is such that when the parts are connected to each other, rotation of one part with respect to the other changes the inclination of the longitudinal axes of the bores with respect to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: Simon Garry Moore
  • Patent number: 8382604
    Abstract: 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 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Billings
  • Patent number: 8376873
    Abstract: A golf club head having a replaceable striking face is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head where at least a portion of the frontal striking surface of the face is detachable and replaceable to improve performance. A golf club head in accordance with the present invention may generally have a thinned striking face with a thickness of less than about 3.0 mm yielding a golf club head with a larger sweet spot that's greater than 6% of the frontal striking surface; defined as an area of the frontal striking surface having at least 99% of the maximum characteristic time between about 239 microseconds to about 257 microseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, John Morin, Helene Rick
  • Patent number: 8353780
    Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an adjustable ball striking face insert forming at least a portion of the ball striking face and contained within the putter body. The insert may have a plurality of sides, each of the sides having different performance characteristics to permit customization of the putter. In some examples, the adjustable ball striking face insert may be rotatably mounted within the putter head. Additionally or alternatively, the insert may be removably mounted within the putter head. In some arrangements, the insert may be finely adjustable to alter the loft angle of the putter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Hatton, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Jeremy N. Snyder, Donald S. Rahrig
  • Publication number: 20130012331
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying an alignment or aiming tool to a golf club.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Jason Goldsmith, Tim Tucker
  • Patent number: 8348780
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 8262497
    Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable panel secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable panel may have a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the removable panel to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable panel. A removable panel of the present invention may generally comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density. Even further, the removable panel may generally be releasably attached via a quick disconnect mechanism that allows easy interchangeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco