Adjustable Loft Angle Patents (Class 473/245)
  • Patent number: 11679312
    Abstract: A putter-chipper golf club may include: a body 110 including a coupling groove portion 110a having a through-hole formed therein; a variable face 120 disposed on one side of the body 110 and configured to function as a putter face or a chipper face; a spring 130 disposed on the circumference of a part of the coupling protrusion portion 120a; and a face cap 150 disposed adjacent to the spring 130. When the coupling groove portion 110a of the body 110 and the coupling protrusion portion 120a of the variable face 120 are disengaged from each other by pulling the variable face 120 from the body 110 toward one side, the golf club may be switched to a putter or a chipper through rotation of the variable face 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: DRG KOREA CO., LTD
    Inventor: Byung Yong You
  • Patent number: 11364423
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body and a stiffening structure is disclosed herein. The body comprises a face section, a sole section, and a crown section, and defines a hollow interior. The stiffening structure extends within the hollow interior from the crown section to the sole section to reduce stresses placed on the face section during impact with a golf ball. The stiffening structure is entirely located within 0.500 inch of a rear surface of the face section measured along a plane normal to the center of the face, and within 1 inch of the center of the face section along a horizontal axis parallel to the face section, and comprises heel and toe connectors connected to one another by a middle connector, such that the stiffening structure has an approximately X- or H-overall shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Christopher A. G. Nunez, James A. Seluga, Matthew Myers, Denver Holt, Evan D. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 11318363
    Abstract: Hinges for multipurpose golf training aids, and more particularly, long-wearing, durable low-profile hinges for multipurpose golf training aids, and methods for manufacturing such hinges are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Alignment Pro LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Nathanael Tolman
  • Patent number: 10981040
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body and a stiffening structure is disclosed herein. The body comprises a face section, a sole section, and a crown section, and defines a hollow interior. The stiffening structure extends within the hollow interior from the crown section to the sole section to reduce stresses placed on the face section during impact with a golf ball. The stiffening structure is entirely located within 0.500 inch of a rear surface of the face section measured along a plane normal to the center of the face, and within 1 inch of the center of the face section along a horizontal axis parallel to the face section, and comprises heel and toe connectors connected to one another by a middle connector, such that the stiffening structure has an approximately X- or H- overall shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Christopher A. G. Nunez, James A. Seluga, Matthew Myers, Denver Holt, Evan D. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 10946256
    Abstract: Provided is a golf putter head, which includes a head body; and a hitting member provided in front of the head body for hitting a golf ball, and to be freely slidable up and down within a predetermined range with respect to the head body. According to the present invention, when the golf putter hits the golf ball, as spin of the golf ball is smoother, directionality of the golf ball is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Hyun Seoung Ha
  • Patent number: 10786714
    Abstract: A golf club head, preferably a putter head, comprising a replaceable face insert is disclosed herein. The golf club head comprises a body with face cavity and a secondary cavity in communication with, and disposed behind, the face cavity, and at least one opening extending through a top or sole portion into the secondary cavity. The replaceable face insert comprises a striking portion and a support structure extending from a rear surface of the striking portion. The support structure is received within the secondary cavity and the striking portion is received within the face cavity, and then a rod or bolt is inserted through the opening and through the support structure to reversibly secure the face insert to the body. A linear bearing may be disposed within the support structure to receive the rod or bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Matthew Myers
  • Patent number: 10729955
    Abstract: A golf club length adjustment device, comprising a first member affixed to a main shaft, the main shaft configured to couple to a golf club head, a second member slideably coupled to the first member, the second member adapted to couple to a golf club grip, wherein the first member is configured to slide along a club axis relative to the second member to change the length of the golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Knutson, Donald S. Bone
  • Patent number: 10617920
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body and a stiffening structure is disclosed herein. The body comprises a face section, a sole section, and a crown section, and defines a hollow interior. The stiffening structure extends within the hollow interior from the crown section to the sole section to reduce stresses placed on the face section during impact with a golf ball. The stiffening structure is entirely located within 0.500 inch of a rear surface of the face section measured along a plane normal to the center of the face, and within 1 inch of the center of the face section along a horizontal axis parallel to the face section, and comprises heel and toe connectors connected to one another by a middle connector, such that the stiffening structure has an approximately X- or H-overall shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Christopher A. G. Nunez, James A. Seluga, Matthew Myers, Denver Holt, Evan D. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 10611013
    Abstract: A multiple purpose tool assembly for attaching a variety of implements to a handle includes a handle and a rod that is removably coupled to the handle. The rod has a first portion that is slidably coupled to a second portion such that the rod has a telescopically adjustable length. A lock is removably coupled to the second section of the rod. The lock is biased into a locking position for retaining the rod at a selected length. Additionally, the lock is urgeable into an unlocked position thereby facilitating the length of the rod to be adjusted. A plurality of attachments is each selectively and removably attached to the rod for performing specific tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Inventors: Frank Cavaliere, Sheri Taylor
  • Patent number: 10589153
    Abstract: An adjustable golf club. The adjustable golf club has a shaft that can selectively secure to a club head. The shaft includes an elongated member which incorporates a first plurality of splines along the elongated member. A club head is removably secured to the shaft by mating the first plurality of splines of the elongated member with a second plurality of splines in an interior cavity of the club head. The angle of the club head can be adjusted through the selective mating of the first plurality of splines of the elongated member to the second plurality of splines of the head. In one embodiment the shaft is further secured to the club head by a quick release system. In another embodiment the length of the shaft can be selectively adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventor: David Towell
  • Patent number: 10493333
    Abstract: A golf club head according to the present invention includes a face portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion. The face portion has a thin-walled portion on a peripheral edge on a toe side. The sole portion has an easily deformable portion extending in a toe-to-heel direction, on at least a heel side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Naruhiro Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10328317
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs with adjustable loft and lie and methods of manufacturing golf clubs with adjustable loft and lie are generally described herein. The invention relates in particular to a golf club head with an adjustment portion that allows a user to change the loft and lie. The separate adjustment portions of the club head can couple the upper hosel to the body at a plurality of positions. An insert part of the adjustment portion has an upper section for receiving the upper hosel portion, a middle section, and a lower hosel portion. The sections of the adjustment portion can be coupled together by a fastener so that the sections are rotationally moveable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Calvin Wang, Xiaojian Chen, Erik Henrikson
  • Patent number: 10322326
    Abstract: In a golf club according to one aspect of the present invention, a first coupling portion of a first adapter, to which the shaft is fixed, and a hosel first coupling portion of the golf club head are coupled so as to be incapable of axial rotation, and thus the shaft is attached to the golf club head so as to not be capable of axial rotation. Accordingly, the second adapter coupled to the first adapter at least does not need to be configured so as to be incapable of axial rotation, thus making it possible to increase the degree of freedom in adapter design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naruhiro Mizutani, Kiyofumi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10279231
    Abstract: A golf club head, preferably a putter head, comprising a replaceable face insert is disclosed herein. The golf club head comprises a body with face cavity and a secondary cavity in communication with, and disposed behind, the face cavity, and at least one opening extending through a top or sole portion into the secondary cavity. The replaceable face insert comprises a striking portion and a support structure having an elongated, vertical through bore extending from a rear surface of the striking portion. The support structure is received within the secondary cavity and the striking portion is received within the face cavity, and then a rod or bolt is inserted through the opening and into the elongated, vertical through bore to reversibly secure the face insert to the body. A linear bearing may be disposed within the elongated through bore to receive the rod or bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Matthew Myers
  • Patent number: 10279223
    Abstract: A golf club 100 includes a head 200 having a hosel part 202, a shaft 300, and a reverse-tapered engagement part RT. The reverse-tapered engagement part RT includes a sleeve 400 having a reverse-tapered shape and being fixed to a tip portion of the shaft 300, and a spacer fitted outside of the sleeve 400. The hosel part 202 includes a hosel hole 204 and a hosel slit 206 which is provided on a side of the hosel hole 204 and enables the shaft 300 to pass through the hosel slit. The hosel hole 204 has a reverse-tapered hole 205 having a shape corresponding to a shape of an outer surface of the reverse-tapered engagement part RT. The reverse-tapered engagement part RT is fitted to the reverse-tapered hole 205. A club length is changed by changing a wall thickness of the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahide Onuki, Yuki Motokawa, Naruhiro Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10099091
    Abstract: A golf club head including a club face defined by a toe end, a heel end, a top rail and a sole. The golf club head including a plurality of grooves disposed on the club face between the top rail and the sole. Each groove extends between the toe end and the heel end. Depths of the grooves vary in a direction extending between the top rail and the sole and in a direction extending between the heel end and the toe end. Widths of each of the plurality of grooves vary in a direction extending between the heel end and the toe end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony D. Serrano, Paul D. Wood, Bradley D. Schweigert, Calvin S. Wang
  • Patent number: 10004959
    Abstract: A golf club head, preferably a putter head, comprising a replaceable face insert is disclosed herein. The golf club head comprises a body with face cavity and a secondary cavity in communication with, and disposed behind, the face cavity, and at least one opening extending through a top or sole portion into the secondary cavity. The replaceable face insert comprises a striking portion and a support structure having an elongated, vertical through bore extending from a rear surface of the striking portion. The support structure is received within the secondary cavity and the striking portion is received within the face cavity, and then a rod or bolt is inserted through the opening and into the elongated, vertical through bore to reversibly secure the face insert to the body. A linear bearing may be disposed within the elongated through bore to receive the rod or bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Matthew Myers
  • Patent number: 9999813
    Abstract: A golf club head including a body having a face, a sole, a crown, and a skirt joining the face, sole and crown, the body having a center of gravity, wherein the body includes an open end and a terminal end, the terminal end opposite the open end, a weighted insert having a heavy end and a lighter end, the lighter end opposite the heavy end, wherein the cavity is configured to receive the weighted insert through the open end, wherein the cavity is configured to receive the weighted insert through the open end in both a first configuration and a second configuration, and wherein said weighted insert comprises a slideable flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Cleghorn, Nick Frame, Thomas Orrin Bennett
  • Patent number: 9981163
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises two weight members, and in a reference plan view where a sole part faces upward and a hosel hole central axis extension line is vertical, a reference imaginary straight line, a first imaginary straight line and a second imaginary straight line are set. The reference imaginary straight line passes through a central axis of a hosel hole and a head gravity center is determined when weight members are not attached. The first imaginary straight line passes through the central axis of the hosel hole and a center of the first opening part. The second imaginary straight line passes through the central axis of the hosel hole and a center of the second opening part. A first angle ?1 between the reference and first imaginary straight lines is ±10 degrees or less, and a second angle ?2 between the reference and second imaginary straight lines is larger than the first angle ?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kozue Wada, Takaharu Takechi
  • Patent number: 9808680
    Abstract: A putter head comprising a removable and replaceable hosel is disclosed herein. In particular, the putter comprises a first body portion with a plurality of protrusions, a second body portion with a plurality of cavities sized to receive the protrusions, a hosel with an engagement portion that is trapped within one of the cavities by a protrusion, and a mechanical fastener to removably fix each of these pieces together. The fastener preferably extends through a bore on the heel side of the putter head and into a threaded bore within one of the protrusions. In an alternative embodiment, the putter head has a single body portion, which receives the engagement portion of a hosel in a heel side cavity, and which is affixed to the hosel via a fastener that extends through a front surface of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew Myers, James A. Seluga
  • Patent number: 9526952
    Abstract: A putter-type golf club head with a sound chamber is disclosed herein. The club head comprises a body and a face insert over the sound chamber. The sound chamber comprises a central sound sub-chamber and an outer sound sub-chamber. The body, the sound chamber and the face insert amplify the sound generated by the putter-type golf club head striking a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Kevin Dacey, Craig E. Abbott, Augustin W. Rollinson, Brandon D. DeMille
  • Patent number: 9517394
    Abstract: A putter-type golf club head with a dampening screw is disclosed herein. The club head comprises a body and a face insert engaged by the dampening screw. The dampening screw is threadingly positioned within an aperture of an aft wall, and has a tip section and a threaded section. The sound of the putter striking a golf ball is dampened when the top section of the dampening screw engages the interior surface of the face insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Kevin Dacey, Craig E. Abbott, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 9358429
    Abstract: An adjustable assembly includes a golf club shaft, a golf club head having a hosel portion with a hosel opening, a hosel insert, a shaft adapter, and a fastener. The hosel insert is secured to the hosel portion and includes at least one inwardly extending pawl. The adapter extends about a longitudinal axis, and defines a shaft opening. The adapter includes outwardly projecting teeth aligned with the hosel insert. Each tooth includes leading and trailing surfaces. The leading surface is shaped to enable rotational movement of the adapter about the axis with respect to the hosel insert in a first rotational direction. The trailing surface is shaped to selectively engage the pawl to inhibit rotational movement of the adapter with respect to the hosel insert in a second rotation direction that is opposite the first direction. The fastener is releasably coupled to the head and the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Michael Vrska, Mark Spencer, Richard P. Hulock
  • Patent number: 9320950
    Abstract: A golf club 2 includes a face angle adjusting mechanism 20 provided on a sole s4. The face angle adjusting mechanism 20 has a grounding member 22 which can be protruded from the sole s4, a storing part 24 storing the grounding member 22, and a coil spring 26 pressing the grounding member 22 so that the grounding member 22 is protruded from the storing part 24. The grounding member 22 is set so that a protruding amount of the grounding member 22 from the sole s4 is varied depending on its position of rotation angle about its axis in a state where the grounding member 22 is stored in the storing part 24. By changing a position of rotation angle of the grounding member 22, the protruding amount of the grounding member 22 is changed thereby to change a face angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyofumi Matsunaga, Naruhiro Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9192823
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric V. Cole, Martin R. Jertson, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Patent number: 9155942
    Abstract: A head 2 includes a head body h1 and a neck part n1. The head body h1 and the neck part n1 are joined. The head body h1 has a body side joint surface s1 and a first recessed part opened in the body side joint surface s1. A space v1 is formed by the first recessed part r1. The neck part n1 has a neck side joint surface brought into surface contact with the body side joint surface s1 and a shaft hole 14. An abutted boundary surface Pt passes through a vicinity ad1 of a head height lowest point. When a plane perpendicular to an axis line z of the shaft hole 14 is defined as PL, and an angle between the plane PL and the abutted boundary surface Pt is ? degree, the angle ? is a plus value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Ueda, Naruhiro Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9144719
    Abstract: An adjustable assembly includes a shaft, a club head having a hosel portion with a hosel opening, a hosel insert, a shaft adapter, and a fastener. The hosel insert is secured to the hosel portion and includes at least one pawl. The hosel portion or the hosel insert includes a first set of projections. The adapter extends about a first longitudinal axis and includes a second set of teeth aligned with the hosel insert, and a third set of projections for selectable engagement with the first set. Each tooth includes first leading and trailing surfaces. The first leading surface is shaped to enable rotational movement of the adapter about the axis with respect to the hosel insert in a first rotational direction. The first trailing surface is shaped to selectively engage the pawl to inhibit rotational movement of the adapter in a second rotation direction, opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Michael Vrska, Mark Spencer, Richard P. Hulock
  • Patent number: 9144720
    Abstract: An adjustable assembly includes a shaft, a club head having a hosel portion, a hosel insert, a shaft adapter, and a fastener. The hosel insert is secured to the hosel portion and includes a plurality of inwardly projecting teeth. Each tooth includes leading and surfaces. The adapter extends about a first longitudinal axis and includes at least one outwardly extending flexible or biased element aligned with the teeth. The leading surfaces are shaped to enable rotational movement of the adapter about the axis with respect to the hosel insert in a first rotational direction. The trailing surfaces are shaped to selectively engage the element to inhibit rotational movement of the adapter in a second rotation direction, opposite the first rotational direction. The assembly is adjustable between several locked positions. Each of the locked positions defines a separate loft and/or lie position of the head with respect to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Michael Vrska, Mark Spencer, Richard P. Hulock
  • 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: 8870674
    Abstract: A golf club head having an adjustable hosel and a level is disclosed herein. The adjustable hosel is movable between a plurality of positions to adjust at least one feature of the golf club head, such as loft, lie, and/or face angle, and is held in place by an adjustment knob or adjustment lever. The level preferably is a bubble level that is disposed proximate a scale to indicate to a golfer an optimal loft, lie, and/or face angle of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Craig E. Abbott
  • 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: 8734265
    Abstract: A golf club head with multi-component construction. The golf club head includes heel and toe portions that generally provide ground contacting surfaces and a raised central region. A center of gravity of the club is located outside of an envelope defined by the outer surface of the club head below the raised central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventor: Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 8727900
    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: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    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: 8641554
    Abstract: A golf club having removable components is disclosed herein. The golf club having removable components includes a club head, a shaft, and a connection assembly. The connection assembly includes a sleeve mounted on the tip end of the shaft and a screw-cap. The sleeve has an offset aperture for receiving the tip end of the shaft in order to adjust the face angle of the golf club. The screw-cap is mounted over the sleeve and includes a body having an upper area and a threaded area, the latter of which is capable of engaging the upper threaded portion of the hosel to removably secure the shaft to the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, D. Clayton Evans
  • 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: 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: 8460120
    Abstract: A golf club that can automatically align the club head with intended path of ball direction. The golf club encompasses a movable club head, electronics, a power source and motor driver for adjusting golf club head position at time of impact with a golf ball. The golf club can also serve as teaching aid for tracking a golfer swing path and errors in golf club path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Saeed Azimi
  • Patent number: 8398503
    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: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    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
  • Publication number: 20130017898
    Abstract: A golf club head which may include a golf club head body, a ball striking face and a piezoelectric member in the golf club head, wherein the piezoelectric member is configured to be selectively adjusted by an input provided through a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric member. Further, the piezoelectric member may be capable of having a first configuration to provide the golf club head body with a first attribute and may also be capable of having a second configuration to provide the body with a second attribute in response to the input provided by the controller. Further, the second attribute may be different from the first attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: Arthur MOLINARI
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8235831
    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: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    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: 8210961
    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: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Finn, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
  • Patent number: 8172695
    Abstract: A golf putter with a novel 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, or the coupling member may be adjustable such that the longitudinal axes are not 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. Thus, putter disclosed and claimed herein provides both offset and a putting alignment aide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Don T. Cameron
  • Patent number: 8092316
    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 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 8088019
    Abstract: An adjustable golf club is disclosed having a hosel with a spherical section and positioning linkage that allows the face angle of the head to be changed without changing the lie angle or rotating the shaft around its axis. The hosel is fixed in place by tightening the spherical surface of a compression nut against the spherical section of the hosel and a receiving compression cup with matching spherical surface radiuses, along with a slotted rotation prevention section consisting of two flat surfaces, a threaded linkage engaging the lower hosel piece and anchored to a tube attached to the skirt of the head. The linkage is used to threadably position the angle of the hosel piece. The invention also provides a quick and easy way to remove and replace the hosel piece along with the shaft for additional customization of the club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Plus 2 International, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Clayton Long, Michael R. Cummings
  • Patent number: 8025587
    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 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    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: 7871336
    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: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 7862443
    Abstract: A golf putter with a novel 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, or the coupling member may be adjustable such that the longitudinal axes are not 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. Thus, putter disclosed and claimed herein provides both offset and a putting alignment aide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Don T. Cameron
  • Patent number: 7704155
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a golf club head is presented having a sole with three recessed cavities for attachment to a hosel-bending tool. In another embodiment, a golf club head is presented having a sole that includes one predetermined contact area proximal to the toe edge of the sole. In another embodiment, a golf club head is presented having a sole in which pads of material are incorporated that may be milled to vary the relief of the sole and to modify mass characteristics of the club head. Yet another embodiment presents a golf club head having a body with a cavity to receive a cartridge that has a constant density and weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Christopher D. Harvell, Stephen S. Murphy, Eddie G. Perez, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Patent number: 7517286
    Abstract: The invention is directed toward a trial golf club head and method for determining the optimal loft angle for any golf club, and in particular a hybrid-type golf club. The invention includes a trial golf club head having a face portion, a leading edge portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a back portion having a trailing edge portion, and a sole portion. The sole portion contains a number of equally spaced graduated indicia, which are substantially parallel to one another and extend from the toe portion to the heel portion. The distance between the graduated indicia is approximately 3.75 centimeters (cm), which corresponds to an incremental loft angle of approximately 3 degrees. The sole portion has a radius of curvature of 71.67 mm, which extends from the leading edge of the face portion to the trailing edge of the back portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Mizuno USA
    Inventors: Masao Nagai, Chris Voshall, Bill Price, David Llewellyn, Richard Delvac