Used For Putting Patents (Class 473/251)
  • Patent number: 11850482
    Abstract: A putter-type golf club head that, when oriented in a reference position, includes a striking wall extending in the heel to toe direction and defines a substantially planar striking face for hitting a golf ball. A central elongate member is in communication with, and extends rearward from, the striking wall. An upper surface of the central elongate member includes a plurality of separate alignment elements. At least one of the plurality of alignment elements has an edge that extends substantially parallel to the striking face. The length of the parallel edge is substantially equivalent to the diameter of a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Nick Trahan, Thomas Carlson, Christopher R. Cooper, Adam Sheldon
  • Patent number: 11298597
    Abstract: Examples of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a top portion of a golf club head may include an alignment aid having a first plurality of strip portions and a second plurality of strip portions. Each strip portion of the first plurality of strip portions and each strip portion of the second plurality of strip portions have a quadrilateral shape with a diagonal side. The diagonal sides of the first plurality of strip portions are aligned with one another to generate a first focal axis and the diagonal sides of the second plurality of strip portions are aligned with one another to generate a second focal axis that meets with the first focal axis at a focal point. Other examples and examples may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Matthew T. Andrews
  • Patent number: 11173361
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a rear portion, a front portion with a strike face, a sole portion, and a top portion with a plurality of ports. The body portion may define a periphery of the golf club head. The golf club head may also include a plurality of weight portions with each weight portion disposed in one port of the plurality of ports. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 11135496
    Abstract: A golf training club has a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis. A club head is coupled to the distal end, the club head having a sole, a club face, and an upper surface. An address alignment gauge extends along the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The club face defines a closed face angle about the longitudinal axis of the shaft with respect to the address alignment gauge that is between about 20 degrees and about 40 degrees. A lie angle between the shaft and ground surface is between about 55 and 75 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Bill Schmedes, III
  • Patent number: 10940370
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a golf putter having a putter head attached to an elongated shaft with the putter head defining a retention cavity configured to engage and retain a golf ball therein are disclosed. The retention cavity is formed along the back region of the putter head and is configured to have a diameter that is slightly less than the diameter of a regulation sized golf ball such that the golf ball is retained therein when urged into the confines of the retention cavity by the putter head. The putter head further includes an alignment aid that cooperates with the retention cavity to assist in aligning the golf putter during a putting stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Morris
  • Patent number: 10888757
    Abstract: A cue or golf club head having a sighting aid, a golf club having the golf club head, and uses thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventor: Stephen Patrick Feeney
  • Patent number: 10864415
    Abstract: A putter-type golf club head that, when oriented in a reference position, includes a blade portion comprising a striking face, a top line, and a sole, the striking face including a face center. A rear portion of the club head is in communication with, and rearward of, the blade portion. An alignment element of the club head is rearward of, and recessed toward the sole from, the top line, and the alignment element defines a virtual center line segment oriented in a substantially front-to-rear direction at a height equal to about 21.3 mm to about 21.4 mm. The center line segment is not spaced more than 10 mm from a virtual vertical plane passing through the face center and extending generally perpendicular to the striking face, and a width of the club head is no less than 3.0 in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Adam K Sheldon, Mika Becktor
  • Patent number: 10765923
    Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
  • Patent number: 10617916
    Abstract: The present invention is a golf club head containing a multicomponent weight system comprising a weight member, a cap, and a fastener. The weight member comprises of an upper surface, side surface, one or more splines, one or more slits, an aperture, and one or more bores. The cap comprises an aperture and at least one post. The fastener comprises a head portion and body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, Cory S. Bacon, Les Bryant, David A. Higdon
  • Patent number: 10456637
    Abstract: A putter-type golf club head is disclosed. When oriented in a reference position, the putter-type golf club head comprises a blade member and a central elongate member in communication with, and extending rearwardly from, the blade member. The blade member extends in a heel-to-toe direction and has a striking wall defining a substantially planar striking surface, and an upper surface of the central elongate member comprises at least one generally square-shaped alignment element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Mika Becktor, Keith Dolezel, Nick Trahan, Phillip C. Seagram, Brian Herr, Jeff Brunski, Adam Sheldon
  • Patent number: 10441858
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a rear portion, a front portion with a strike face, a sole portion, and a top portion with a plurality of ports. The body portion may define a periphery of the golf club head. The golf club head may also include a plurality of weight portions with each weight portion disposed in one port of the plurality of ports. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Parsons Xtreme Golf, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 10258844
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a rear portion, a front portion with a strike face, a sole portion, and a top portion with a plurality of ports. The body portion may define a periphery of the golf club head. The golf club head may also include a plurality of weight portions with each weight portion disposed in one port of the plurality of ports. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 10238923
    Abstract: A golf putter includes a head and a shaft. The head has a head body having a top surface that is formed with a mounting groove. The shaft has a main body portion and a connecting portion connected to the main body portion. The connecting portion is inserted into the mounting groove, is movable along the mounting in a longitudinal direction, and has a non-circular cross-section, such that the connecting portion is non-rotatable relative to the mounting groove of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventor: Lien-An Li
  • Patent number: 10214800
    Abstract: Articles of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys such as a golf club face insert with improved durability and fatigue resistance, and more specifically articles of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys subjected to a surface treatment, such as shot-peening, which creates deformations in the exterior surface, and methods of improving the durability and fatigue resistance of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys using a surface treatment, such as shot-peening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLC
    Inventors: Neil Paton, William L. Johnson, Tranquoc Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10052530
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to golf club having a crown a sole and a face and a primary alignment feature including a paint or masking line which delineates the transition between at least a first portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with the shade or color of the face. In some embodiments the golf club has a primary alignment feature comprising a paint or masking line which delineates the transition between at least a first portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color and the area of shade or color of the face and the club head also includes a secondary alignment feature including a paint or masking line which delineates the transition between the first portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with the shade or color of the face; and a second portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with the shade or color of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Vincent Greaney, Andrew Kickertz, Todd P. Beach, Craig Richard Slyfield
  • Patent number: 10022596
    Abstract: Provided is a putter in golf clubs for use in swinging and putting beside a golf ball while looking at front and keep watching the moving trace of the golf ball, which is titled as a look & watching side swing putter by which a golfer stands at the same point of place where he examined the green grass state and the distance previously, and practices swings while checking the estimated imaginary putting line of the golf ball, and executes putting of the golf ball on the side thereof like bowling while keep watching the golf ball, thereby reducing the putting errors or strokes to wrong directions due to the differences in views direction depending on putting posture and improving straight-line movement of the golf ball at putting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Inventor: Kwang-Young Park
  • Patent number: 9962581
    Abstract: A golf club comprising an elongate shaft having a grip at a first longitudinal end thereof; a club head coupled to a second longitudinal end of the elongate shaft, the club head comprising a sole and a ball striking face; and, an elongate marker comprising a longitudinal axis orientated such that, when the sole of the golf club lies substantially parallel to the plane of the ground, the longitudinal axis of the elongate marker extends in a plane defined by a first vector in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ground and a second vector substantially parallel to a normal of the face of the club head. In use, the marker assists the player in optimizing the orientation of the golf club and, particularly but not exclusively, assists in achieving a “hands-ahead” position”. Methods for adapting a golf club and manufacturing a golf club are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: DELAYED STRIKE TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Robert William John Cordle
  • Patent number: 9839817
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a golf club body including a sole, a crown connected to the sole by a skirt, and a hosel connected to at least one other feature of the golf club body; a face connected to the a front end of the golf club body; and features allowing striking of a golf ball above the ideal strike location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew David Johnson, Joseph Henry Hoffman, Jason Andrew Mata, Matthew Greensmith
  • Patent number: 9764204
    Abstract: Golf club heads include white diffusing top surfaces to aid in club head alignment. Wood type club heads also include a dark diffusing club face so that a crown/face border is emphasized. Scorelines in wood type clubs can be provided with an intermediate contrast surface, and can be displaced from club face center to accommodate player perception when confronted with a white diffusing crown. Putter heads can include dark diffusing alignment lines, and iron-type club heads can include white diffusing surfaces at a sole portion of a club face, at a top line, or a top portion of a club face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, David Anderson, Bill Price, Kevin Harper, Benoit Vincent, Bret H. Wahl
  • Patent number: 9694259
    Abstract: A putter-type golf club head that, when oriented in a reference position, includes a striking wall extending in the heel to toe direction and defines a substantially planar striking surface for hitting a golf ball. A central elongate member is in communication with, and extends rearward from, the striking wall. An upper surface of the central elongate member includes a plurality of alignment elements. At least one of the plurality of alignment elements has a parallel visual indicator section, at least a portion of which extends substantially parallel to the striking surface. The width of the at least one of the plurality of alignment elements is substantially equivalent to the diameter of a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Nick Trahan, Thomas Carlson, Chris Cooper, Adam Sheldon
  • Patent number: 9649543
    Abstract: A golf club head and method of manufacturing are disclosed. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Solheim, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 9446292
    Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
  • Patent number: 9427638
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an adjustable putter includes a club body defining a substantially planar face for striking a golf ball, and a hosel including a hosel neck and a hosel adapter configured to be received within a hosel chamber defined by the club body. The hosel adapter defines an interior channel. The adjustable putter also includes a shaft attachable to the hosel neck, and a housing column. The hosel adapter is configured to rotate about the housing column so as to adjust a lie angle of the hosel neck, and the hosel chamber is configured to prevent rotation of the hosel adapter from increasing the lie angle beyond a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventors: Vikash Sanyal, David Stuart Cooper, Jr., Jeffrey D. Sheets
  • Patent number: 9427651
    Abstract: A putting alignment apparatus comprises a vertical portion and a horizontal portion that may exist separately as an alignment device, or integrated within the putter itself. The vertical portion of the alignment apparatus is configured to be attached to the club head and sized to extend vertically above the height of a golf ball. The horizontal portion is coupled to an upper end of the vertical portion and sized to extend forwardly of the striking face when the putting alignment apparatus is attached to the club head. An alignment structure or aperture such as a slot is formed in the horizontal portion forwardly of the striking face, wherein a mark placed on the golf ball may be aligned with the structure or within the aperture to facilitate alignment of the golf club with the golf ball in a direction of intended movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: Sadao Hamada
  • Patent number: 9387375
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a rear portion, a front portion with a strike face, a sole portion, and a top portion with a plurality of weight ports. The body portion may define a periphery of the golf club head. The golf club head may also include a plurality of weight portions with each weight portion disposed in one weight port of the plurality of weight ports. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley Schweigert
  • Patent number: 9289659
    Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an adjustable alignment aid housed on a top surface of the body is provided. The adjustable alignment aid is pivotable relative to the top surface, either two-dimensionally or about an axis of rotation transverse to the top surface. The adjustable alignment aid may be coupled to the remainder of the golf club head through a resistive connection and may be shifted to assist a golfer in squaring the face of the golf club face to a perceived eye line and resulting in the golfer being able to better square the golf club head with the eye line at a point of contact. The golf club head may be a putter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: David N. Franklin
  • Patent number: 9233283
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a rear portion, a front portion with a strike face, a sole portion, and a top portion with a plurality of weight ports. The body portion may define a periphery of the golf club head. The golf club head may also include a plurality of weight portions with each weight portion disposed in one weight port of the plurality of weight ports. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 9192832
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a rear portion, a front portion with a strike face, a sole portion, and a top portion with a plurality of weight ports. The body portion may define a periphery of the golf club head. The golf club head may also include a plurality of weight portions with each weight portion disposed in one weight port of the plurality of weight ports. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Parsons Xtreme Golf, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 9149694
    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: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Billings
  • Patent number: 9033812
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a golf club. The golf club includes a golf club head body having a face surface arranged for impacting a golf ball, a rear surface opposite the face surface, a sole surface, a crown surface including a first crown surface and a second crown surface, and a toe surface including a first toe surface and a second toe surface. The toe surface transitions to the crown surface at a toe end curved boundary surface comprising a first curved boundary surface where the first toe surface transitions to the first crown surface, a second curved boundary surface where the second toe surface transitions to the second crown surface, and a toe end radius of curvature. At least part of the toe end radius of curvature varies. Other embodiments of related golf clubs and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Solheim, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 9022875
    Abstract: A golf putter with a clear insert in the clubhead is provided. One or more alignment lines are present on the top and bottom surfaces of the insert and lie directly vertically above one another. The alignment lines assist the player in ensuring that the clubhead is parallel to the ground. If the clubhead is not parallel to the ground, the alignment lines on the top and bottom surfaces will appear offset. The player can then reposition the clubhead until the alignment lines are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: Dennis Wong
  • 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: 9022876
    Abstract: Putter heads include a ball striking head body member and a rear body member. In some putter heads, the ball striking head body member includes a rearwardly extending body support having an opening defined therein, and the rear body member extends through this opening. In other putter heads, the rear body member includes a forwardly projecting platform that includes an alignment aid thereon. In still other putter heads, the ball striking head body member includes rearward extending arms at the heel and toe sides that extend rearward at an angle to a location outside the heel and toe edges, respectively, of the ball striking face. Additionally, the rear body member of other putter heads have a first end engaged at a heel side of the ball striking head body member and a free second end that is not engaged with any portion of the putter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, Jason P. Martin, Carl A. Jonsson
  • Publication number: 20150119160
    Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an adjustable alignment aid housed on a top surface of the body is provided. The adjustable alignment aid is pivotable relative to the top surface, either two-dimensionally or about an axis of rotation transverse to the top surface. The adjustable alignment aid may be coupled to the remainder of the golf club head through a resistive connection and may be shifted to assist a golfer in squaring the face of the golf club face to a perceived eye line and resulting in the golfer being able to better square the golf club head with the eye line at a point of contact. The golf club head may be a putter head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: David N. Franklin
  • Patent number: 9017183
    Abstract: An improved putter and method of use utilizing a putter shaft having a rectangular grip extending approximately half the shaft length. A polygonal-like ring provides a flat face with an extended toe and a short heel. The face of the putter head has a polymeric insert for weight redistribution and for better putting feel. The sides of the putter include triangular shaped indents also for weight redistribution. The rear of the putter head is arched to prevent ground contact during putting and further to increase head stability during the stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: John M. Ambrose
  • 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: 8900064
    Abstract: Putter heads include one or more of a main putter body portion which may including a ball striking face member, a first arm, a second arm, a central member which aligns with the heel-to-toe center of the ball striking face. The central member may include a center portion through which a center line of the putter heads extends and a rear portion. The first arm and the second arm may be symmetrical with respect to the center line of the putter head. The first arm may be configured to be angled towards the center line of the putter head such that the first arm defines a first line which, when extended, is tangent to a portion of an outside diameter of a golf ball when the golf ball is positioned in front of the ball striking member with the center of the golf ball aligned with the center line of the putter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: David N. Franklin
  • Patent number: 8888605
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved golf putter head with a unique shape and. sighting and alignment system. The head has an annular-like body with an undulating rim edge. A transparent plate extends across the opening of the annular body bearing the alignment aid. The alignment aid may have a crosshair component. The surface of the annular body is provided with a camouflage pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Kie-Ho Cynn
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140309051
    Abstract: An adaptable training putter head for use in a training putter includes an outer alignment guide, an inner alignment guide, and a sighting bar, all mounted to a conventional style putting head, to which is also attached a hosel, allowing for both right-handed and left-handed operation of a putting club. The adaptable training putter head allows a golf player to visually ensure that a putting club is oriented correctly during a putting swing, and is designed to improve accuracy during practice and recreational golf games. The adaptable training putter head can be used in a regulation conformant mode, with all alignment guides and sighting bar detached. A golf putter training clip-on device can include one or more alignment guides, a bridge, an elongator, and a clip, such that the golf putter clip-on device can be attached to a putter, with the elongator allowing for position and height adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: F. Scott Mudgett
  • Patent number: 8834285
    Abstract: Putter heads and putters include one or more of: (a) a main putter body portion including a first arm and a second arm; (b) a first polymeric and/or damping element engaged with the first arm; and (c) a second polymeric and/or damping element engaged with the second arm. The putter heads further may include polymeric material within the putter head structure and exposed at a central ball striking portion of the ball striking face, e.g., in elongated openings provided in the ball striking face. Grooves may be provided in the material of the ball striking face and/or in the exposed polymeric material to affect the ball launch. The putter heads may have various additional features or structures, e.g., relating to weighting features, alignment aid features, putter head constructions or parts, polymeric material exposure features, groove features, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Jason P. Martin, Carl A. Jonsson
  • Patent number: 8814715
    Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an insert forming a ball striking face and engaged with the putter body. Portions of the insert may be formed of a metal material, while portions of the insert may be formed of a polymer material. The insert may include a base portion having grooves formed therein. This base may be joined with another material to form the insert. In some arrangements, the insert may be a two-sided, reversible construction and may have different performance characteristics associated with each side of the insert. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Patent number: 8771095
    Abstract: Golf club heads include white diffusing top surfaces to aid in club head alignment. Wood type club heads also include a dark diffusing club face so that a crown/face border is emphasized. Scorelines in wood type clubs can be provided with an intermediate contrast surface, and can be displaced from club face center to accommodate player perception when confronted with a white diffusing crown. Putter heads can include dark diffusing alignment lines, and iron-type club heads can include white diffusing surfaces at a sole portion of a club face, at a top line, or a top portion of a club face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, David Anderson, Bill Price, Kevin Harper, Benoit Vincent, Bret H. Wahl
  • 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: 8771098
    Abstract: A golf club putter having a low head center of gravity and a high MOI is disclosed herein. The putter has a metal body comprising a face and a hosel, a low density dampening layer affixed to the body, and a high density rear weight affixed to the dampening layer, and the dampening layer has a first surface that forms an angle with an opposing second surface that is inversely proportional to the distance of the hosel from a heel side of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Thomas R. Hilton
  • Patent number: 8758154
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Demkowski, Bret H. Wahl, Sean Toulon, Marni D. Ines, Robert Nunez, Bill Price, Jose Miraflor
  • Patent number: 8747244
    Abstract: A putt break visualization instrument useful for improving putting includes an elongated object such as a crossbar that extends from the shaft of a putter and is normal thereto. The golfer begins by addressing the golf ball. The golfer then holds the putter above the green by the handle in the manner of a plumb line so that the shaft of the putter is vertically oriented and the crossbar is horizontally oriented. The golfer then aligns the shaft with the uphill edge of the golf ball and moves the shaft up or down along the vertical so that the crossbar extends in proximity to the cup. The golfer may use a slider on the crossbar to mark the cup. The golfer may now evaluate how well he or she has addressed the golf ball, and either repeat the process if improvement is needed or make the putt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventor: Gary Mitchell Bolen
  • Patent number: 8747245
    Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an insert forming a ball striking face and engaged with the putter body. Portions of the insert may be formed of a metal material, while portions of the insert may be formed of a polymer material. The insert may include a base portion having grooves or openings formed therein. This base may be joined with another material (such as a polymer backing material) to form the insert, wherein the backing material at least partially fills the grooves or openings. In some arrangements, the backing material of the insert may be visible at the top and/or bottom surfaces of the putter structures. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Patent number: 8734266
    Abstract: A golf putter head includes a contact face, a top surface extending rearwardly away from the contact face, a toe edge, a heel edge, and a sole spaced from the top surface. A center of gravity of the putter head is disposed closer to the toe edge than to the heel edge. A visual sight line is provided on the top surface and extends rearwardly away from the contact face, wherein the visual sight line and the center of gravity lie in a sight line plane disposed perpendicular to the top surface and to the contact face. The toe edge extends rearwardly away from the contact face and parallel to the visual sight line. A golf putter is also provided including a shaft and the golf putter head connected to an end of the shaft. A method of using a golf putter includes utilizing the golf putter to strike a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Tom David, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom David