Horizontally Spaced Linear Indicia Perpendicular To Projectile Striking Face Patents (Class 473/252)
  • Patent number: 11452922
    Abstract: Embodiments of a co-molded putter-type golf club head comprising a high-density chassis made of a first material and a low-density putter-type body made of a second material. The first material can be a high density metal (i.e., steel or tungsten, but not limited to). The second material can be a low density thermoplastic composite (i.e., polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyamide (PA), but not limited to). The chassis comprises a flow aperture, and one or more interlocking features. The putter-type body portion encases the entirety of the at least one interlocking feature. Further, the putter-type body encapsulates the chassis such that the body extends through, and completely fills the flow aperture, to interlock the body and chassis, and thus form the club head. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Clayson C. Spackman, Tom J. Nuttall, James D. Willmott
  • Patent number: 11235205
    Abstract: Unlike earlier visual alignment aids, the present devices and methods may transfer focus away from a central sight line to a plurality of multicolored auxiliary sight lines. The multicolored sight lines are typically brightly colored to maintain the player's focus and help avoid head movement during initiation of the swing. Further, in some embodiments, the central and/or auxiliary sight lines are dashed, with the dashes either aligned or offset from one another. In this way, hyper-acuity becomes two-dimensional with sight lines running in a first dimension (e.g., from face-to-back, when markings are on the crown, or top-to-bottom, when markings are on the face) and cross lines, made up of inter-sight line dashes, running in a second dimension (e.g., from heal-to-toe).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Heylmun Holdings LLC
    Inventor: David Clayton Heylmun
  • Patent number: 11207572
    Abstract: Embodiments of putter-type golf club head comprising a striking surface capable of achieving consistent ball speeds across the striking surface to account for various ball impact locations are described herein. The striking surface has at least two materials that differs in concentration away from the geometric center of the striking surface to provide this consistency. Consistent (or uniform) ball speed is achieved throughout the striking surface as the portion of the golf ball that contacts the striking surface interacts with at least two materials having a differing material characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Willmott, Erik M. Henrikson, David A. Higdon, Cole D. Brubaker, Anthony D. Serrano, John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: 11161022
    Abstract: Embodiments of putter-type golf club head comprising a striking surface capable of achieving consistent ball speeds across the striking surface to account for various ball impact locations are described herein. The striking surface has at least two materials that differs in concentration away from the geometric center of the striking surface to provide this consistency. Consistent (or uniform) ball speed is achieved throughout the striking surface as the portion of the golf ball that contacts the striking surface interacts with at least two materials having a differing material characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Willmott, Erik M. Henrikson, David A. Higdon, Cole D. Brubaker, Anthony D. Serrano, John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: 10881928
    Abstract: Briefly, a putter head is provided that concentrates the weight of the putter head at the far ends of the heel and toe of the putter head. The putter head has an ultralight putter body that includes a putter face and a shank for attaching a putter shaft. The ultralight putter body has an axially aligned heel cavity and toe cavity that are constructed to receive weights. The heel weight and toe weights are very dense, and constructed to be received into the respective weight cavity of the light putter body. Due to the extreme concentration of weight at the fare ends of the heel and toe of the putter head, the putter face has exceptional rotational stability with a substantially larger sweet spot than known putter heads. The weights may be provided as changeable weight pairs, such that the overall weight and balance of the putter head may be adjusted, while maintaining the position of the sweet spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Inventors: David Michael Morelock, Travis Donald Downing, Robert Raymond Lang
  • Patent number: 10874928
    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: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Demkowski, Bret H. Wahl, Sean Toulon, Marni D. Ines, Robert Nunez, Bill Price, Jose Miraflor
  • Patent number: 10086243
    Abstract: A putter-type golf club head that, when oriented in a reference position, includes a rear portion in communication with, and rearward of, a blade portion and having a rear portion top surface. The club head also includes a projection extending upwardly from the rear portion top surface, the projection having a projection top surface, a heel-ward side surface, a toe-ward side surface, and a rear surface, the projection top surface comprising a generally planar surface. And the club head further includes a sightline formed in the projection top surface and that comprises a groove at least partially filled with a filler material having a visually contrasting appearance to portions of the top surface surrounding the groove, the groove defining a virtual center line segment oriented in a substantially front-to-rear direction at a substantially constant height from a lowermost point of the sole between 16 mm and 26 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Adam K. Sheldon, Mika Becktor
  • Patent number: 9827479
    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: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    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: 9498685
    Abstract: A putter-type golf club head having a face insert composed of at least one thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer is disclosed herein. The face insert includes a plurality of oval-shaped holes having a specific size and spacing, and the at least one thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer incorporates polytetramethylene ether soft segments with molecular weights of greater than 1000 g/mol, preferably at least 1400 g/mol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Craig E. Abbott, Shane Parnell, Alan Hocknell, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 9457244
    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 patter 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: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Taiseikogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyosi Simizu
  • Patent number: 9415279
    Abstract: An adjustable golf club putter head is disclosed herein. The putter head includes a removable alignment feature that can be swapped with a different alignment feature to change the alignment pattern, and a removable divider piece that contrasts with the alignment feature and can be swapped with different divider pieces to affect the cosmetics of the putter head and also adjust the putter head's mass properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Philip G. Foster
  • Patent number: 9387379
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a golf club includes a reversible grip that that is universal to dexterity and can be used on a golf club configured for both right-handed golfers and left-handed golfers. Such a reversible golf club grip can provide the golf club with an identical grip configuration without removing the grip from the shaft of the golf club. In some embodiments, a reversible golf club grip as described herein can be used on an adjustable golf club such that as the orientation of the golf club shaft is reversed between a right-handed and left-handed dexterity, the grip can be used for either orientation without being repositioned on the shaft. In some embodiments, a reversible golf club grip can be configured to promote a traditional hands placement on the golf club grip in both right-handed and left-handed orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventors: Vikash Sanyal, David Stuart Cooper, Jeffrey D. Sheets
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20150105174
    Abstract: An adaptable training putter head for use in a training putter includes a conventional style putting head, further including a cavity, an outer cutout, and an inner cutout; an alignment guide piece, further including an outer alignment guide, an inner alignment guide, and a center insert bridge piece; all mounted to the conventional style putting head, to which is also attached a hosel connector. The alignment guides can be hollow, can each include an upper and a lower body, and can include alignment guide cavities, which can contain alignment guide weights for adjusting weight and balance. The adaptable training putter head allows a golf player to visually ensure that a putting club is oriented correctly during a putting swing, to improve accuracy during golfing. The adaptable training putter head supports both regulation conformant and non-conformant configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: F. Scott Mudgett
  • Patent number: 8974315
    Abstract: A golf club aiming sight device having a clamp portion and a rear sight portion. The rear sight portion has one or more openings to visualize a front sight on a club head of a golf club. The clamp portion provides for the attachment of the golf club aiming sight device to the shaft of the golf club so that the front sight is visually alignable with the opening in the rear sight. The front sight has a triangular shape and the rear sight has a triangular or V shape, thereby allowing rapid and accurate visual alignment of the front and rear sights, even while swinging the golf club. The golf club aiming sight device is used to train a user to swing the golf club without bending or rotating the wrists by having the user maintain the front sight visually aligned with the opening in the rear sight while swinging the golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventors: Alex F. Farris, III, Gerald M. Walsh
  • 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: 8777775
    Abstract: The mallet putter head in this present invention is comprised of a body cast in 304 stainless steel having a smooth putting face with a 3 degree loft and also balancing weights starting at the putter face and continuing to the rear curve of the putter head giving a proper look, weight and feel. There are three painted grooves perpendicular to the putter face to assist the golfer in aligning the putter to the intended line of the putt. A hole just smaller than a golf ball is also provided that will assist the golfer in aligning the putt. The sole of the putter is curved to permit easy movement of the putter head in the pendulum swing and also in or out in front of the body. The rear end of the putter allows the golfer to pick up a golf ball, if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: Lyle Dean Johnson
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140179456
    Abstract: A golf club putter having an alignment pattern is disclosed herein. The alignment pattern has first and second long lines that approach each other as they extend from an aft region of the putter to a front region of the putter and, when the putter is properly aligned with a golf ball, create an optical illusion of convergence of said lines at or near a center of the golf ball without actually intersecting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hilton, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 8740718
    Abstract: A golf club aiming sight device having a clamp portion and a rear sight portion. The rear sight portion has one or more openings to visualize a front sight on a club head of a golf club. The clamp portion provides for the attachment of the golf club aiming sight device to the shaft of the golf club so that the front sight is visually alignable with the opening in the rear sight. The golf club aiming sight device is used to train a user to swing the golf club without bending or rotating the wrists by having the user maintain the front sight visually aligned with the opening in the rear sight while swinging the golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventors: Alex F. Farris, III, Gerald M. Walsh
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8696483
    Abstract: A golf club putter having an alignment pattern is disclosed herein. The alignment pattern has first and second long lines that approach each other as they extend from an aft region of the putter to a front region of the putter and, when the putter is properly aligned with a golf ball, create an optical illusion of convergence of said lines at or near a center of the golf ball without actually intersecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hilton, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 8690700
    Abstract: A wood-type club head can include a front end having a front face, a toe end, a heel end opposite the toe end, a rear end opposite the front end, a crown surface having a front crown end and a rear crown end, and an alignment aid at the crown surface. The front crown end can be closer to the front end than to the rear end, and the rear crown end can be closer to the rear end than to the front end. The alignment aid can include three alignment aid stripes. The three alignment aid stripes can include a toe alignment aid stripe, a heel alignment aid stripe, and a center alignment aid stripe. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin W. Flaherty, John H. Loudenslager, Nicholas S. Radeleff
  • Patent number: 8616992
    Abstract: A putter includes a handle (2), a putter head (1) with a striking surface, and two alignment indicia (6) symmetrically arranged relative to a vertical plane (20) which is perpendicular to the striking surface and passes through a striking line. Wherein the visible part of the alignment indicia (6) are symmetrical to the vertical plane (20) when being viewed in the vertical plane (20), while not symmetrical to the vertical plane (20) when being viewed in a plane offsetting from the vertical plane (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Dae Wook Kim
  • 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: 20130344974
    Abstract: A golf club putter having an alignment pattern is disclosed herein. The alignment pattern has first and second long lines that approach each other as they extend from an aft region of the putter to a front region of the putter and, when the putter is properly aligned with a golf ball, create an optical illusion of convergence of said lines at or near a center of the golf ball without actually intersecting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hilton, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • 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: 8556742
    Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an asymmetrical visual swing indicator is provided. The asymmetrical visual swing indicator may be formed to represent an apparent backswing path outward of an actual backswing path. In certain configurations the asymmetrical visual swing indicator is positioned such that a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to the hitting surface of the golf club is closer to a heel end plane of the golf club head then a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to a rear surface of the golf club head. The swing indicator is integral with the body of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: T. Stites John
  • Patent number: 8550931
    Abstract: A golf club putter having an alignment pattern is disclosed herein. The alignment pattern has first and second long lines that approach each other as they extend from an aft region of the putter to a front region of the putter and, when the putter is properly aligned with a golf ball, create an optical illusion of convergence of said lines at or near a center of the golf ball without actually intersecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hilton, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 8517852
    Abstract: A golf club putter having an alignment pattern is disclosed herein. The alignment pattern has first and second long lines that approach each other as they extend from an aft region of the putter to a front region of the putter and, when the putter is properly aligned with a golf ball, create an optical illusion of convergence of said lines at or near a center of the golf ball without actually intersecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hilton, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Publication number: 20130210537
    Abstract: A golf putter head (10) having an under surface (14) for contacting the ground and a ball-striking face. The under surface comprises a setting surface (26), operable to facilitate setting of the putter in the most optimum position on the ground prior to putting a golf ball, and a first lateral surface (28) and a second lateral surface (30), the setting surface being disposed adjacent and between the first and second lateral surfaces, wherein at least one of the first and second lateral surfaces are disposed at an angle relative to the setting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Roy Arthur Ainscough, Yvonne Ainscough
  • Patent number: 8480504
    Abstract: A golf club putter having an alignment pattern is disclosed herein. The alignment pattern has first and second long lines that approach each other as they extend from an aft region of the putter to a front region of the putter and, when the putter is properly aligned with a golf ball, create an optical illusion of convergence of said lines at or near a center of the golf ball without actually intersecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hilton, Augustin W. Rollinston
  • Patent number: 8419561
    Abstract: A club head can include a front end having a front face, a toe end, a heel end opposite the toe end, a rear end opposite the front face, a crown surface having a front crown end and a rear crown end, and an alignment aid at the crown surface that extends between the front crown end and the rear crown end. The club head can be a wood-type club head. Meanwhile, the front crown end can be closer to the front end than to the rear end, and the rear crown end can be closer to the rear end than to the front end. The alignment aid can have an alignment aid width approximately equal to a golf ball diameter and can include two or more alignment aid stripes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin W. Flaherty, John H. Loudenslager, Nicholas S. Radeleff
  • Patent number: 8414410
    Abstract: A driver club head can include a front end having a front face, a toe end, a heel end opposite the toe end, a rear end opposite the front end, a crown surface having a front crown end and a rear crown end, and an alignment aid at the crown surface. The front crown end can be closer to the front end than to the rear end, and the rear crown end can be closer to the rear end than to the front end. The alignment aid can include two or more alignment aid stripes. The two or more alignment aid stripes can include a first alignment aid stripe and a second alignment aid stripe extending between the front crown end and the rear crown end. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin W. Flaherty, John H. Loudenslager, Nicholas S. Radeleff
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120214609
    Abstract: The mallet putter head in this present invention is comprised of a body cast in 304 stainless steel having a smooth putting face with a 3 degree loft and also balancing weights starting at the putter face and continuing to the rear curve of the putter head giving a proper look, weight and feel. There are three painted grooves perpendicular to the putter face to assist the golfer in aligning the putter to the intended line of the putt. A hole just smaller than a golf ball is also provided that will assist the golfer in aligning the putt. The sole of the putter is curved to permit easy movement of the putter head in the pendulum swing and also in or out in front of the body. The rear end of the putter allows the golfer to pick up a golf ball, if desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Lyle Dean Johnson
  • Patent number: 8235830
    Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an asymmetrical visual swing indicator is provided. The asymmetrical visual swing indicator may be formed to represent an apparent backswing path outward of an actual backswing path. In certain configurations the asymmetrical visual swing indicator is positioned such that a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to the hitting surface of the golf club is closer to a heel end plane of the golf club head then a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to a rear surface of the golf club head. A method of fitting a golf club head by determining an initial swing plane using a measuring device, determining a desired swing plane, and applying an asymmetrically shaped visual indicator to a golf club head based upon the determined initial swing plane and the desired swing is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 8157663
    Abstract: A sports head alignment trainer comprised of a pair telescoping tubes mounted to a bridge or frame provided at its opposite ends with hinge elements to which are connected a pair of temple bars or arms. The telescoping tubes are two identical hollow adjustable multi-scopes each comprised of an inner scope and outer scope that can be selectively retracted or extended. The arms are configured to be placed on the user's head and maintain position by wrapping around a person's ears, like ordinary glasses. The telescoping tubes selectively limit the wearer's field of view thereby preventing the wearer from focusing on a target unless proper head alignment is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph Winkelsas, Stephen Lynch
  • Publication number: 20120040771
    Abstract: A golf club putter having an alignment pattern is disclosed herein, The alignment pattern has first and second long lines that approach each other as they extend from an aft region of the putter to a front region of the putter and, when the putter is properly aligned with a golf ball, create an optical illusion of convergence of said lines at or near a center of the golf ball without actually intersecting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: THOMAS R. HILTON, AUGUSTIN W. ROLLINSON
  • Patent number: 7955180
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved golf club with line markings on the head of the putter that facilitate a precise and accurate motion of the club. One of these markings, the aiming line, runs parallel to the club face across the top of the club and is intended to assist the golfer in aiming and placement of the club head. The other markings, the guide lines, run perpendicular to the club face across the top of the club and are intended to guide the path of the subsequent motion of the club to hit a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: Norman Douglas Bittner
  • Publication number: 20110118042
    Abstract: A golf club with a club head attached to a shaft. The club head includes a wide front area, a narrower middle area, and a rear area. A straight line runs from the front area through the middle area to the rear area, extends perpendicular to the striking face of the front area viewed from the perspective of the user. A bore hole along the straight line in the middle area has, on a first plane, a first marking and has, on a second plane, a second marking visible to the user through the first opening, the second plane being farther from the eye of the user than the first plane. The second marking is visible to the eye of the user within the first marking when the club head is oriented in a certain way with respect to the eye of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: Dieter Ramsauer
  • Patent number: 7918745
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head includes a first body member and a second body member. The first body member includes a strike face and a top portion. The second body member is coupled to the first body member and extends away from the first body member in a direction opposite the strike face. At least a top portion of the second body member is camouflaged. A preferred method of camouflage is color differentiation, wherein the second body member is darker than the first body member. Specific color values and club head geometries are also disclosed and claimed. The club head may include a body member and a weight member such as a bar that extends rearward from the body member. A cover may be included to camouflage the weight member. A separate core member and high visibility sight lines may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Cobra Golf, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Morris, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 7887427
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method for computing and outputting a putting backstroke instruction for a planned putt of a golf ball during recreational play. A computing means includes means for initializing or customizing according to a specific golfer putting on a specific golf green, the golfer putting at least one initializing putt a pre-selected distance on a level area of a green. During recreational play thereafter, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the golfer, for each segment of a planned putt enters the applicable grade and length. The computing means outputs to the golfer an instruction for the length of the backstroke recommended, i.e., required for the planned putt. Another embodiment of the invention requires the inputting of the length of the planned putt but excludes the inputting of the grade of the green.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventors: Gary E. Schmidt, Philip A. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20100323807
    Abstract: Provided are a head and a putter, including the head, which are aimed to increase putting accuracy. The head includes a face portion including a heel end and a toe end; a crown portion extended from the face portion in a rear direction of a top surface of the face portion; a sole portion extended from the face portion in a rear direction of a bottom surface of the face portion; and a first alignment portion formed at the crown portion so as to indicate a direction to a golfer, wherein an extension line of a surface of the face portion makes an acute angle with an extension line of the first alignment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: ILJU RHA
  • Patent number: 7837576
    Abstract: The two-faced golf putter includes a putter head having a putting face and a chipping face disposed on at least one side of the putter head, an angled toe, an angled heel and a bottom sole. Both the angled toe and heel include a respective setup guide to assist the user in properly positioning over the putter. A sight alignment groove is formed on the top of the putter head to help aim the ball. An elongated shaft extends upwardly from a centered bore in the top surface of the putter head, which improves balance and feel to the putter. The top portion of the shaft includes an elongated handle to accommodate a wide range of user grip sizes and techniques. To further assist accurate setup placement of the putter head, an alignment dot is disposed behind the shaft on top of the putter head. The bottom sole includes at least one upwardly extending sloping side to permit angling of the putter for chipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: David L Paige
  • Patent number: 7828669
    Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an asymmetrical visual swing indicator is provided. The asymmetrical visual swing indicator may be formed to represent an apparent backswing path outward of an actual backswing path. In certain configurations the asymmetrical visual swing indicator is positioned such that a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to the hitting surface of the golf club is closer to a heel end plane of the golf club head then a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to a rear surface of the golf club head. A method of fitting a golf club head by determining an initial swing plane using a measuring device, determining a desired swing plane, and applying an asymmetrically shaped visual indicator to a golf club head based upon the determined initial swing plane and the desired swing is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 7806778
    Abstract: The invention relates to a putter head for a golf putter and to a golf putter that includes the putter head and a putter shaft secured to the putter head. The putter head includes a first head part, that defines the striking face of the putter, and a second head part that is located operatively rearwardly of the first head part and that is displaceable on guide rods with respect to the first head part along a line extending substantially perpendicularly to the striking face defined by the first head part. Securing screws displaceable within the second head part can engage the respective guide rods for securing the location of the head parts with respect to one another. A shaft securing formation is associated with the first head part and permits securing of a putter shaft to the putter head in different angular configurations with respect thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventor: John Clement Elmer
  • Patent number: 7771286
    Abstract: A golf putter comprising a shaft, a putter head attached along a top surface to the shaft, the head including an elongated body having a central axis along the length of the body. The golf putter includes a pair of aiming arms, each arm pivotally connected at opposing ends of the elongated body and adapted to pivot about the central axis between a forward aiming position and a second position away from the forward aiming position. The golf putter also includes a lever adapted to control rotation of the aiming arms from the forward aiming position to the second position, the lever operable from a portion of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: True Putt Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Michael Campadore, Alan N. O'Kain