Particular Correlated Head Characteristic Patents (Class 473/290)
  • Publication number: 20150126296
    Abstract: A set of golf club heads including two or more fairway wood-type golf clubs heads each having a different loft angle. The two or more fairway wood-type golf club heads can each include a sole, which can include a center point and a camber region having a radius of curvature. The camber region can extend at least approximately 0.5 inch from the center point in each of a toe direction and a heel direction. The loft angles of the two or more fairway wood-type golf club heads can progressively increase across the two or more fairway wood-type golf club heads. The radii of curvature of the two or more fairway wood-type golf club heads can progressively decrease across the two or more fairway wood-type golf club heads. Other embodiments for related sets of golf club heads, golf clubs, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brandon L. Fossum, Martin Jertson, John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: 8974317
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an iron-type golf club head formed from multiple materials that increase torsional stiffness of the club and aid in sound performance. In particular, the iron-type golf club head includes a rear flange and a composite component bonded to an external surface of the rear flange. The composite component may cover an entire surface of the rear flange, and may also extend upwards to make contact with a top portion of the club head and thus close off a rear cavity of the club head. The iron-type golf club head may further comprise a face support structure extending from the rear flange, to which the face plate may be affixed via welding or brazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Sean Griffin, Steven M. Ehlers
  • Publication number: 20150057096
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a golf club head. The golf club head includes a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end, a front end and a rear end opposite the front end, and a toe end and a heel end opposite the toe end. Further, the golf club head includes a club head body having an aggregate sole surface. The aggregate sole surface has multiple constituent sole surfaces and at least one riser surface. The multiple constituent surfaces and the riser surface(s) extend between the toe end and the heel end. The multiple constituent sole surfaces have a first sole surface and a second sole surface, and the riser surface(s) have a first riser surface located between the first sole surface and the second sole surface. Other embodiments of related club heads and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Nicolette, John Souza, Lou Beebe, Ron Abeyeta
  • Patent number: 8876623
    Abstract: A golf club head system and a golf club head for inclusion into a golf club are provided. The golf club head system includes two or more rear or secondary body members, each configured for interchangeable attachment to a front or main body member. Each rear body member may have a different external shape, and each rear body member may have a different combination of center-of-gravity and moment-of-inertia characteristics. The system further includes a detachable attachment element for interchangeably and detachably attaching the rear body members to the front body member. The system may further include the front body member, wherein the front body member has a striking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares, John Thomas Stites
  • Patent number: 8870675
    Abstract: This set 2 includes n (n is an integer equal to or greater than 2) iron golf clubs. Each of the n clubs has a rail r1 extending backward from an intermediate position in a face-back direction of a sole. When a distance d1 between a leading edge Le and a rail starting point Sr is defined as d1(1), d1(2), . . . , d1(n) in an ascending order of a real loft angle from the club having the smallest real loft angle, the set 2 satisfies the following relation: d1(1)?d1(2)? . . . ?d1(n), and d1(1)<d1(n). Preferably, the set 2 satisfies the following relation: d1(1)<d1(2)< . . . <d1(n).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuki Motokawa
  • Publication number: 20140274437
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. The head further has an indicator associated therewith, the indicator identifying a golf ball based on a vibration mode of the golf ball, such that the club head is configured to be used to strike the golf ball on the ball striking surface. In one embodiment, the face and the identified golf ball(s) may have the same or substantially the same vibration mode at one or more different swing speeds. The indicator may be positioned on the body or elsewhere on the club head, or may be alternately be positioned on a shaft connected to the head or separately from the ball striking device, such as in a written manual associated with the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Matthew S. Young, Charles A. Plaxico
  • Publication number: 20140274441
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a variable bounce height club head. Other embodiments of related club heads and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Evan Greer
  • Publication number: 20140179458
    Abstract: Embodiments of a golf club set with progressive tapered face thickness coordinated with club loft are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: Marty R. Jertson
  • Publication number: 20140148266
    Abstract: A plurality of golf club heads wherein the difference in spin is minimized is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a plurality of fairway wood type golf club head with a volume of between about 110 cubic centimeters (cc) and about 250 cc, wherein the change in backspin between any two clubs within the plurality of metal wood type golf club heads is less than about 600 revolutions per minute (rpm). A plurality of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention may generally have all of its clubs maintain a center of gravity (CG) location that is less than about 8.0 mm away from a neutral axis of the golf club head regardless of the difference in loft of the specific golf club head within the plurality of golf club heads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tim A. Beno, Douglas E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8672772
    Abstract: Embodiments of a golf club set with progressive tapered face thickness coordinated with club loft are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Marty R. Jertson
  • Patent number: 8657700
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert, Marty R. Jertson
  • Publication number: 20140045604
    Abstract: A system for fitting golf clubs to golfers that enables an overall club length to be varied without varying a length of a shaft. The system enables a greater number of combinations of club characteristics, such as shaft flex, brand, and length, to be contained within a club fitting cart and/or for a same number of combinations of club characteristics to be contained within a smaller cart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Brian D. Schielke, Dan S. Nivanh
  • Publication number: 20130324280
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Michael E. Finn, David N. Franklin, Raymond J. Sander, Jeremy Snyder
  • Patent number: 8574094
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert, Marty R. Jertson
  • Publication number: 20130252754
    Abstract: Golf club irons having improved forgiveness, playability and performance characteristics are disclosed. The embodiments set forth parameters of various irons that affect performance either alone or in combination with other parameters when the irons are utilized to strike a golf ball. The parameters, which in some cases may be systematically progressed or varied, include golf club shaft length, striking face area, loft, coefficient of restitution, face thickness, topline thickness, swing weight, sole width at the heel and toe, and other performance characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Bazzel, Marni D. Ines, Sean Toulon, Bret H. Wahl
  • Patent number: 8535177
    Abstract: A cavity back iron type club head includes a striking plate having a substantially planar striking surface and a rear surface defining a thickness therebetween. The rear surface defines a striking plate rear cavity region. A perimeter support is coupled to a peripheral portion of the striking plate. The surface area of the striking surface is related to the club head loft angle by the equation SSA?14.4(L)+2875, where SSA is the surface area of the striking surface in units of square-millimeters and L is the club head loft angle in units of degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bret H. Wahl, Marni D. Ines
  • Patent number: 8535176
    Abstract: Golf club irons having improved forgiveness, playability and performance characteristics are disclosed. The embodiments set forth parameters of various irons that affect performance either alone or in combination with other parameters when the irons are utilized to strike a golf ball. The parameters, which in some cases may be systematically progressed or varied, include golf club shaft length, striking face area, loft, coefficient of restitution, face thickness, topline thickness, swing weight, sole width at the heel and toe, and other performance characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Bazzel, Marni D. Ines, Sean Toulon, Bret H. Wahl
  • Publication number: 20130225311
    Abstract: This application generally relates to sets of golf clubs including at least one adjustable club to provide a set with no distance gap. The adjustable club may include a loft-adjustment mechanism and a mechanism to prevent unintended face-angle change. The club is reliable for shots covering the full range of distances associated with multiple loft settings. Thus, an adjustable club can be included in a golfer's golf bag and can play double-duty in terms of the ranges of shot distances it is reliably useful for. In this way, the golfer's bag can contain fourteen clubs that cover all desired ranges between the putter and the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Thomas W. Preece, Douglas E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8506425
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for matching a test golfer with a particular golf club selected from a group of golf clubs having a plurality of styles. The method utilizes data set derived in an initial procedure in which the club style preferences for each of a large number of pre-test golfers is recorded and correlated with a set of performance parameters for the golf swings of such pre-test golfers. This data enables the pre-test golfers to be classified into subgroups, in which golfers within the same subgroup generally prefer the same club style and golfers in different subgroups generally prefer different club styles. After this data set has been established, the test golfer takes a golf swing with a golf club, while performance parameters for the swing are measured. Based on the measured performance parameters and the previously established data set, the test golfer is classified according to swing type, and the optimum golf club is then selected from the plurality of styles of golf clubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian C. Wright, David Anderson, Peter J. Roberts, Benoit Vincent
  • Patent number: 8491407
    Abstract: An iron-type golf dub includes a conventional-weight section, a lightweight section and a heavyweight section. The conventional-weight section includes the hitting face and at least a portion of the hosel. The heavyweight section, made of a denser material than the conventional-weight section, includes the sole and an optional back flange. The lightweight section, made of a material less dense than either of the other sections, includes a core to which the other two sections are secured, such as by co-molding the core to the other two sections. The heavyweight section includes anchoring structures to which the lightweight section can securely attach. This arrangement maintains the overall weight of the club head compared to a similarly proportioned conventional club head while shifting the center of gravity low and aft. As such, the club head provides benefits such as forgiveness for thin shots, heel/toe shots, and provides longer drives with less roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David M. Shear, Peter J. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8480506
    Abstract: A golf club head having a recess located in a top portion thereof is described and claimed. The recess is located between the heel and the toe and extends toward the sole. The recess may be in the top line of the club head. An insert may be placed within the recess. The insert has a density that is less than the density of the club head body, and the insert preferably is a light-weight insert. The insert may include one or more damping materials. The recess removes material from the club head, which in turn may do one or more of the following: increase the overall size of the club head, expand the size of the club head sweet spot, lower the club head center of gravity, and/or produce a greater club head moment of inertia. Thus, the recess and insert produce a more forgiving and playable golf club. As an alternative to a recess, a thin protrusion may be provided at the top line of the club head and the insert provided with a corresponding groove to facilitate attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Cobra Gold Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Ryan L. Roach, Christopher B. Best
  • Publication number: 20130172096
    Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs and a set of iron-type golf club heads are disclosed. The loft angles of the heads are gradually increased from the lowest numbered golf club to the highest numbered golf club in the set. Given that a coefficient of inertia of the head is the ratio Ms/M of a moment of inertia Ms (gram sqĀ·cm) of the head around a horizontal axis extending in a toe-heel direction of the head passing through the center of gravity of the head, to the mass M (g) of the head, the coefficient of inertia is gradually increased with the increase in the loft angle, and the difference of the coefficient of inertia of the head of the highest numbered club from that of the lowest numbered club is 0.3 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd
  • Patent number: 8409029
    Abstract: Groove depths D1 of clubs are defined as D1(1), D1(2), . . . , D1(n) in an order from the club having the smallest real loft angle L1, and groove widths W1 of face lines of the clubs measured by the 30 degree method of measurement are defined as W1(1), W1(2), . . . , W1(n) in an order from the club having the smallest real loft angle L1. At this time, a golf club set satisfies D1(1)?D1(2)? . . . ?D1(n). A ratio [D1(m)/D1(m?1)] of the groove depths D1 between two golf clubs with adjacent club numbers is 1.0 or greater and 3.0 or less. The golf club set satisfies W1(1)?W1(2)? . . . ?W1(n). A ratio [W1(m)/W1(m?1)] of the groove widths W1 between two golf clubs with adjacent club numbers is 1.0 or greater and 3.0 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Hiroshi Abe
  • Patent number: 8403769
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft thereto. The head may include one or more stiffening elements or other structures contacting an inner surface of the face, to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. The stiffening element includes a chamber adapted to contain a viscous substance. The viscous substance can be selected and inserted into the chamber to create regions of increased stiffness in desired locations, leaving other regions of the face to have increased flexibility as compared to the stiffened regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: John Thomas Stites
  • Publication number: 20130072319
    Abstract: A correlated set of golf club heads is provided. The set of golf clubs has a first club head that, when oriented in a reference position, includes: a first loft angle, a first heel portion, a first toe portion opposite the first heel portion, a first top portion, and a first sole portion that comprises a first sole rail having a first setback length. The set of golf clubs also has a second club head that, when oriented in the reference position, includes: a second loft angle greater than the first loft angle, a second heel portion, a second toe portion opposite the second heel portion, a second top portion, and a second sole portion that comprises a second sole rail having a second setback length that is different from the first setback length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Keith F. DOLEZEL, Sharon J. PARK, Ryan J. A. RITCHIE
  • Patent number: 8393976
    Abstract: A golf club head having a recess located in a top portion thereof between the heel and the toe and extending toward the sole. The recess may be only in the top line of the club head or extend from the heel around the toe. An insert may be placed within the recess. The insert may have a density that is less than the density of the club head body to lower the center of gravity and moment of inertia or greater than the density of the club head body to raise the center of gravity and moment of inertia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Ryan L. Roach, Thomas C. Morris
  • Patent number: 8371955
    Abstract: A set of wood-type golf clubs having different club-lengths is disclosed. In order to decrease variations in the ball flying directions among the clubs, each of the wood-type golf clubs has a club-length WL in inches, a toe-side crown width L1 in millimeter, an overall crown width L in millimeter, and a crown tilt angle ?2 in degree which satisfy the following conditional expressions: 0.75=<{(L1/L)+0.01ƗWL}=<0.95, and ?22.5=<(?2?0.65ƗWL)=<?20.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Kiyofumi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8298095
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a number of customized sets of iron-type golf clubs selected from a relatively small number of clubs. The multiple custom-fitted iron sets can be achieved by pivoting these sets off a common 6-iron. In a preferred embodiment, a portfolio of clubs contains seventeen forged iron-type golf clubs, wherein the clubs are a blended collection of oversized cavity back-type clubs, mid-sized clubs, and standard-sized muscle back-type clubs, which can be configured to create at least four custom-fitted iron sets pivoted off a common 6-ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Bruce R. Pettibone
  • Patent number: 8235832
    Abstract: A set of iron clubs where each club in the set has the same or substantially the same ground roll. The set is produced by adjusting at least two club design characteristics of the clubs based upon measured or assumed player swing data. The design characteristics of the clubs include club length, static clubhead loft, location of the center of gravity, shaft flexibility, and groove volume. Preferably, club length and static clubhead loft are adjusted for coarse adjustments, while the other characteristics are used to fine-tune the design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, David A. Shear
  • Patent number: 8235833
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a set of golf club irons in which some of the club heads have a hollow space, and some of the club heads do not have a hollow space. The hollow space is preferably defined by a lower portion of the front face, a portion of the sole, and a rear wall. The presence of the hollow space moves the club head center of gravity back (away from the face) and down (toward the sole), making it easier to get a golf ball airborne. The volumes of the hollow spaces generally transition or get progressively smaller with an increase in the club loft angle, thus altering the center of gravity location and moments of inertia by different amounts for different clubs. The hollow spaces may be empty or filled, in whole or part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher B. Best, Ryan L. Roach
  • Publication number: 20120157222
    Abstract: An iron golf club set 2 includes n iron golf clubs. Toe side sole widths d1 of the clubs are defined as d1(1), d1(2), . . . , d1(n) in an ascending order of a real loft angle L1. A maximum value of the toe side sole widths d1 is defined as d1max. A minimum value of the toe side sole widths d1 is defined as d1min. Heel side sole widths d2 of the clubs are defined as d2(1), d2(2), . . . , d2(n) in an ascending order of a real loft angle L1. A maximum value of the heel side sole widths d2 is defined as d2max. A minimum value of the heel side sole widths d2 is defined as d2min. The maximum value d1max is substantially equal to the minimum value d1min. The maximum value d2max is substantially equal to the minimum value d2min.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Kenji KII
  • Patent number: 8197354
    Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long irons with channel back configurations and short irons with cavity back configurations. The rear face configurations transition from channel backs through to pure cavity backs for increased performance continuum for the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. At least one of the clubs of the set includes a sandwich-type construction for the hitting face having a dampening element disposed between a hitting face insert and a lightweight reinforcing core. In one embodiment, at least one club head is oversized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden
  • Patent number: 8187115
    Abstract: Golf equipment including a set of golf clubs having a substantially constant distance from the shaft axis to the central point of the club face for each club in the set. The central point may be the geometric center of the face or the impact point, which may be the same or different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas O. Bennett, Gery Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20120129621
    Abstract: A golf club head system and a golf club head for inclusion into a golf club are provided. The golf club head system includes two or more rear or secondary body members, each configured for interchangeable attachment to a front or main body member. Each rear body member may have a different external shape, and each rear body member may have a different combination of center-of-gravity and moment-of-inertia characteristics. The system further includes a detachable attachment element for interchangeably and detachably attaching the rear body members to the front body member. The system may further include the front body member, wherein the front body member has a striking surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares, John Thomas Stites
  • Patent number: 8182359
    Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long irons with channel back configurations and short irons with cavity back configurations. The rear face configurations transition from channel backs through to pure cavity backs for increased performance continuum for the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. At least one of the clubs of the set includes a sandwich-type construction for the hitting face having a dampening element disposed between a hitting face insert and a lightweight reinforcing core. In one embodiment, at least one club head is oversized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden
  • Publication number: 20120077613
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Xiaojian Chen
  • Publication number: 20120071259
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an iron-type golf club that may be included in a set. In particular, the inventive golf club includes an adjustable hosel coupling and a mechanism for altering the sole configuration. The golf club may be included in a set having a progressive sole configuration that provides desired bounce for each club within the set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8133128
    Abstract: A golf club head system and a golf club head for inclusion into a golf club are provided. The golf club head system includes two or more rear or secondary body members, each configured for interchangeable attachment to a front or main body member. Each rear body member may have a different external shape, and each rear body member may have a different combination of center-of-gravity and moment-of-inertia characteristics. The system further includes a detachable attachment element for interchangeably and detachably attaching the rear body members to the front body member. The system may further include the front body member, wherein the front body member has a striking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Chia-Chyi Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120034991
    Abstract: A golf club head with an improved face insert is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head wherein the face insert has a cavity near the top surface of the face insert that extends vertically downward towards the bottom surface of the face insert while terminating short of the bottom surface. The face insert having the cavity serves to remove unnecessary weight from the upper surface weight of the face insert; while the cavity that terminates short of the bottom surface yields a solid face insert near the bottom surface to preserve the structural integrity of the face insert where the golf club head impacts a golf ball. The cavity created within the face insert may be filled in with a lightweight material that helps further maintain the structural integrity of the entire face insert while still removing unnecessary weight from the face insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Bradford Hughes Hartwell, Uday V. Deshmukh
  • Publication number: 20120034992
    Abstract: Golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) according to at least some example aspects of this invention include: (a) a heel; (b) a toe; (c) a crown; (d) a sole; (e) a striking face; (f) a cavity, wherein the cavity is at least partially open; (g) a rear face opposite the striking face, the rear face defining an opening to the cavity; and (h) a rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening. The rear body member may be releasably engaged with the opening to the cavity, rear face, and/or other portion of the club head body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Gary Tavares
  • Patent number: 8070621
    Abstract: Set 2 according to the present invention includes m or more wood type golf clubs (wherein, m is an integer of no less than 2) having a loft angle of greater than 20 degrees. Provided that the face progression b2 of these m clubs is defined as from b2 (1) to b2 (m) following the ascending order of the loft angle of the club from the smallest value, this set 2 satisfies the relationships of: b2 (1) ?b2 (2) ? . . . ?b2 (m); and b2 (1) >b2 (m). Preferably, in all clubs having a loft angle of greater than 20 degrees, the ratio (a2/b2) of the loft angle a2 (degree) to the face progression (mm) is 0.7 or greater and 2.0 or less in this set 2. This set 2 is superior in ease to address. According to this set 2, the trajectory suited for each numerical designation can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20110294589
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball, a main body member connected to the face and having an engagement surface located in the rear side, a removable body member removably connected to the main body member, and a connecting element removably connecting the removable body member to the main body member. The connecting element includes a moveable engaging member that is moveable between a locked position, where the engaging member engages the engagement surface to retain the removable body member to the main body member, and an unlocked position, where the engaging member does not engage the engagement surface and the removable body member is removable from the main body member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, David Anthony Chargin, Aaron Barrett Size, Mark J. Perry, Timothy J. Lastrapes, Robert E. Mora, J. David Robbins
  • Publication number: 20110287852
    Abstract: Embodiments of a golf club set with progressive tapered face thickness coordinated with club loft are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Marty R. Jertson
  • Patent number: 8033927
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a number of customized sets of iron-type golf clubs selected from a relatively small number of clubs. The multiple custom-fitted iron sets can be achieved by pivoting these sets off a common 6-iron. In a preferred embodiment, a portfolio of clubs contains seventeen forged iron-type golf clubs, wherein the clubs are a blended collection of oversized cavity back-type clubs, mid-sized clubs, and standard-sized muscle back-type clubs, which can be configured to create at least four custom-fitted iron sets pivoted off a common 6-iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Bruce R. Pettibone
  • Patent number: 8025589
    Abstract: A sport set (10) and methods for golf club identification are provided. The sports set (10) includes a plurality of clubs (10 and 12) with each club (10 or 12) or subset of the plurality of clubs (10 or 12) provided with a distinguishing surface configuration on at least a portion of the exterior surface of head (18) to enable a golfer to visually distinguish between each club (10 or 12) or between subsets of clubs (10 or 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Inventors: Marshall K. Brinton, Daniel M. Mohs, Paul A. Vossen
  • Patent number: 8016691
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft thereto. The head may include one or more stiffening elements or other structures contacting an inner surface of the face, to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. The stiffening element includes a chamber adapted to contain a viscous substance. The viscous substance can be selected and inserted into the chamber to create regions of increased stiffness in desired locations, leaving other regions of the face to have increased flexibility as compared to the stiffened regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: John Thomas Stites
  • Patent number: 8012036
    Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs comprising ā€œnā€ pieces of golf clubs having club heads with different loft angles and having advantages that variation in spin amount at mis-shots by long irons is small and accuracy in shots of intentionally curving a ball by short irons is high, each of the club heads having face 4 provided with a plurality of face grooves 10 extending in the toe-heel direction and a plurality of auxiliary grooves 11 including a plurality of first auxiliary grooves 11a extending in at least a region between toe side line L1 and heel side line L2, the first auxiliary grooves 11a being, in this region, in the form of curved grooves convex upward such that a curve descends from peak 13 toward the toe and heel side lines L1 and L2, and average degrees of curvature ?i of the first auxiliary grooves of the club heads satisfying a specific relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7988564
    Abstract: Embodiments of a golf club set with progressive tapered face thickness coordinated with club loft are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Marty R. Jertson
  • Patent number: 7980960
    Abstract: An iron-type golf club includes a conventional-weight section, a lightweight section and a heavyweight section. The conventional-weight section includes the hitting face and at least a portion of the hosel. The heavyweight section, made of a denser material than the conventional-weight section, includes the sole and an optional back flange. The lightweight section, made of a material less dense than either of the other sections, includes a core to which the other two sections are secured, such as by co-molding the core to the other two sections. The heavyweight section includes anchoring structures to which the lightweight section can securely attach. This arrangement maintains the overall weight of the club head compared to a similarly proportioned conventional club head while shifting the center of gravity low and aft. As such, the club head provides benefits such as forgiveness for thin shots, heel/toe shots, and provides longer drives with less roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, David A. Shear
  • Patent number: RE44862
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for matching a test golfer with a particular golf club selected from a group of golf clubs having a plurality of styles. The method utilizes data set derived in an initial procedure in which the club style preferences for each of a large number of pre-test golfers is recorded and correlated with a set of performance parameters for the golf swings of such pre-test golfers. This data enables the pre-test golfers to be classified into subgroups, in which golfers within the same subgroup generally prefer the same club style and golfers in different subgroups generally prefer different club styles. After this data set has been established, the test golfer takes a golf swing with a golf club, while performance parameters for the swing are measured. Based on the measured performance parameters and the previously established data set, the test golfer is classified according to swing type, and the optimum golf-club is then selected from the plurality of styles of golf clubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian C. Wright, David Anderson, Peter J. Roberts, Benoit Vincent