Head, Shaft, And Handle Having Particular Combined Center Of Gravity Patents (Class 473/292)
  • Patent number: 11666804
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf club with an adjustable shaft angle and a method of adjusting the same. More specifically, the invention provides a golf club head, a rotating mechanism and a shaft. The rotating mechanism comprises a sphere easily rotatable within predetermined limits so that the angle of the shaft may be adjusted to desired values which fall under the restrictions of golfing ruling authorities. A method is also provided so as to adjust the angle of the above-mentioned shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventor: Roger Robert LeBel
  • Patent number: 11097172
    Abstract: A weight system for a putter type golf club that creates a balance point close to a golfer's hands when the putter is used in a normal manner for execution of a putting stroke. The putter is formed of a putter head, an elongated, constant ¼ inch diameter solid metal shaft; and a weighted, cylindrical adapter attached to an upper section of the elongated shaft between an overlying golf grip and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventors: William R. Diepenbrock, Jr., Jeffery D. Sheets
  • Patent number: 10912973
    Abstract: A golf grip having a weighted rear, longitudinal underside section providing a high Moment of Inertia to increase resistance to twisting and turning when the grip is connected to a golf club during the execution of a golf shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventor: Guerin D. Rife
  • Patent number: 9795841
    Abstract: A golf club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6, and a grip 8. A club inertia moment about a swing axis is defined as Isw. A club inertia moment about a grip end is defined as Ige. Ige is 2920 (kg·cm2) or greater and less than 2970 (kg·cm2). Isw/Ige is equal to or less than 2.48. A club weight is defined as Wc (kg), an axial direction distance from the grip end to a center of gravity of the club is defined as Lc (cm), and a club inertia moment about the center of gravity of the club is defined as Ic (kg·cm2). Isw is calculated by Equation (1) below. Ige is calculated by Equation (2) below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Ueda, Masahiko Ueda, Yasushi Sugimoto, Takashi Nakamura, Seiji Hayase, Wataru Kimizuka
  • Patent number: 9795847
    Abstract: A golf club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6 and a grip 8. The shaft 6 includes a plurality of layers, a tip end Tp and a butt end Bt. If a distance between a center of gravity of the shaft and the butt end Bt is defined as Lg (mm), a shaft full length is defined as Ls (mm), and a ratio of the distance Lg to the shaft full length Ls is defined as a ratio of the center of gravity of the shaft, the ratio of the center of gravity of the shaft is 44.5% or less. If a torsional rigidity at a point of 90 mm distant from the tip end Tp is defined as GJt (kgf·m2), and a torsional rigidity at a point of 210 mm distant from the butt end Bt is defined as GJb (kgf·m2), GJb/GJt is 5.5 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Nakamura, Tatsuya Yashiki
  • Patent number: 9776055
    Abstract: A golf club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6, and a grip 8. A club inertia moment about a swing axis is defined as Isw. A club inertia moment about a grip end is defined as Ige. Ige is 2870 (kg·cm2) or greater and less than 2920 (kg·cm2). Isw/Ige is equal to or less than 2.46. A club weight is defined as Wc (kg), an axial direction distance from the grip end to a center of gravity of the club is defined as Lc (cm), and a club inertia moment about the center of gravity of the club is defined as Ic (kg·cm2). Isw is calculated by Equation (1) below. Ige is calculated by Equation (2) below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Ueda, Masahiko Ueda, Yasushi Sugimoto, Takashi Nakamura, Seiji Hayase, Wataru Kimizuka
  • Patent number: 9737769
    Abstract: A golf club includes a club head having a volume of greater than about 360 cm3 and a mass less than 200 g. A shaft attachable to the club head has a tip end, a butt end, and a shaft balance point distance, BPs, as measured from the butt end, of no more than 19 inches. And the golf club has a mass less than 300 g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SRI SPORTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Dustin J. Brekke, Jeff D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Samuel G. Lacey, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Brian D. Schielke
  • Patent number: 9586107
    Abstract: A golf club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6, and a grip 8. A club inertia moment about a swing axis is defined as Isw. A club inertia moment about a grip end is defined as Ige. Ige is 2820 (kg·cm2) or greater and less than 2870 (kg·cm2). Isw/Ige is equal to or less than 2.42. A club weight is defined as Wc (kg), an axial direction distance from the grip end to a center of gravity of the club is defined as Lc (cm), and a club inertia moment about the center of gravity of the club is defined as Ic (kg·cm2). Isw is calculated by Equation (1) below. Ige is calculated by Equation (2) below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Ueda, Masahiko Ueda, Yasushi Sugimoto, Takashi Nakamura, Seiji Hayase, Wataru Kimizuka
  • Patent number: 9573028
    Abstract: A metal wood type golf club with improved performance characteristics is disclosed herein where the metal wood type golf club head will combined the performance characteristics of both a driver type golf club head and a fairway type golf club head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head with a volume of between about 150 cc to about 360 cc, a CG location between about 10 mm to about 20 mm above the ground, a face depth of between about 30 millimeters (mm) to about 65 millimeters (mm), a loft of about between 10 degrees to about 16 degrees, and a COR of about 0.790 to about 0.830, wherein the entire golf club has a length of between about 41 inches to about 45 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Curtis, Noah de la Cruz, Charles E. Golden, Bradford Hughes Hartwell, Gregory D. Johnson, John W. Morin
  • Patent number: 9421421
    Abstract: A weight member for optimizing weight distribution of a golf club, comprising a removable weight member configured to reside within a shaft of the golf club, the shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end opposite a head of the golf club, the distal end adjacent the head of the golf club, the weight member comprising a heavy weighted portion, the heavy weighted portion offset distally from the proximal end of the shaft, the weight member comprising a plurality of locating members, the plurality of locating members configured to limit movement of the heavy weighted portion relative to an inner wall of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Knutson, Daniel Stone
  • Patent number: 9403065
    Abstract: A club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6 and a grip 8. A club length L1is equal to or greater than 43 inches and equal to or less than 48 inches. A frequency of the club is equal to or greater than 240 (cpm) and equal to or less than 290 (cpm). A club inertia moment Ix is equal to or greater than 6.90×103 (kg·cm2) and equal to or less than 7.50×103 (kg·cm2). A ratio Iss/Ix is equal to or greater than 0.085 and equal to or less than 0.115. The inertia moment Ix is a club inertia moment about a swing axis Zx. The moment Iss is a shaft inertia moment about the swing axis Zx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9327169
    Abstract: A club length L1 of a golf club 2 is equal to or greater than 43 inches and equal to or less than 48 inches. A ratio Iss/Ix is equal to or greater than 0.070 and equal to or less than 0.100. A club inertia moment Ix about a swing axis is equal to or less than 6.90×103 (kg·cm2). The inertia moment Ix (kg·cm2) is calculated by the following formula (1). The shaft inertia moment Iss (kg·cm2) is calculated by the following formula (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9039542
    Abstract: Provided is a golf club having a head disposed at a front end of a shaft and a grip disposed at a back end of the shaft. A club weight is not larger than 290 g. A product of a ratio (head weight/club weight) of a head weight to the club weight, and a ratio (LG/LS) of a distance LG from the front end of the shaft to a center of gravity of the shaft to a full length LS of the shaft, is not smaller than 0.365.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamura, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Takashi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20150126297
    Abstract: A golf club includes a club head having a volume of greater than about 360 cm3 and a mass less than 200 g. A shaft attachable to the club head has a tip end, a butt end, and a shaft balance point distance, BPs, as measured from the butt end, of no more than 19 inches. And the golf club has a mass less than 300 g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Dustin J. BREKKE, Jeff D. BRUNSKI, Matthew R. DARASKAVICH, Samuel G. LACEY, Nathaniel J. RADCLIFFE, Brian D. SCHIELKE
  • Patent number: 9022878
    Abstract: There is provided a method and system for matching golf clubs to a specific user. The method includes providing both a height and a weight of the specific user; determining physical parameters of the specific user from both the height and the weight; providing data for each golf club; obtaining optimal club mass for a Driver; obtaining optimal values of both a moment of inertia about a grip center and a mass for each golf club; and modifying each golf club to enable each golf club to attain the optimal values. The system involves utilizing the aforementioned information gathered for the method. It is advantageous that each of the golf clubs matched to the specific user are effectively employed with an application of identical swings from the specific user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: Gisle Solhaug
  • Patent number: 8998743
    Abstract: Provided is a golf club having a head disposed at a front end of a shaft and a grip disposed at a back end of the shaft. A club weight is not larger than 290 g, and a ratio (head weight/club weight) of a head weight to a club weight is not lower than 0.67 but not higher than 0.72. Furthermore, a grip weight is not smaller than 27 g but not larger than 45 g, and when a distance from the front end of the shaft to a center of gravity the shaft is LG and when a full length of the shaft is LS, 0.54?LG/LS?0.65 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamura, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Takashi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20150087435
    Abstract: A club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6 and a grip 8. A club length L1 is equal to or greater than 43 inches and equal to or less than 48 inches. A frequency of the club is equal to or greater than 240 (cpm) and equal to or less than 290 (cpm). A club inertia moment Ix is equal to or greater than 6.90×103 (kg·cm2) and equal to or less than 7.50×103 (kg·cm2). A ratio Iss/Ix is equal to or greater than 0.085 and equal to or less than 0.115. The inertia moment Ix is a club inertia moment about a swing axis Zx. The moment Iss is a shaft inertia moment about the swing axis Zx.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20150087436
    Abstract: A club length L1 of a golf club 2 is equal to or greater than 43 inches and equal to or less than 48 inches. A ratio Iss/Ix is equal to or greater than 0.070 and equal to or less than 0.100. A club inertia moment Ix about a swing axis is equal to or less than 6.90×103 (kg·cm2). The inertia moment Ix (kg·cm2) is calculated by the following formula (1). The shaft inertia moment Iss (kg·cm2) is calculated by the following formula (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8951142
    Abstract: A golf club according to one or more aspects of the present invention may have a mass less than 300 g, a length greater than about 45 inches, a swing weight between D0 and D6, a head weighing less than about 200 g, a club-head volume of at least about 360 cm3, a grip weighing less than about 50 g, and a shaft having a tip end, a butt end, and a shaft balance point located no more than 24 inches from the butt end. The shaft may have a torsional displacement angle greater than about 5.5° and a mass less than about 50 g. A coordinate system having x-, y-, and z-axes may have its origin at the center of gravity of the club head. The golf club head may have a moment of inertia of at least about 4500 g·cm2 about the z-axis and a moment of inertia of at least about 3000 g·cm2 about the y-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Dustin J. Brekke, Jeff D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Samuel G. Lacey, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Brian D. Schielke
  • Publication number: 20150031467
    Abstract: A club includes a head, a shaft, and a grip. A club length L1 is 43 inches or greater and 48 inches or less. A ratio (Wh/Wc) between a head weight Wh and a club weight We is equal to or greater than 0.70. An inertia moment Ix about swing axis is 6.90×103 (kg·cm2) or greater and 7.50×103 (kg·cm2) or less. A static moment Mt (kg·cm) of the club is equal to or greater than 16.3 (kg·cm). The frequency of vibration of club is 240 (cpm) or greater and 280 (cpm) or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Takashi NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20150024865
    Abstract: The club length of a golf club is 43 inches or greater and 48 inches or less. A club inertia moment Ix about a swing axis is equal to or less than 6.90×103 (kg·cm2). A ratio (Ihs/Ix) is equal to or greater than 0.88, if a head inertia moment about the swing axis is defined as Ihs (kg·cm2). The inertia moment Ix (kg·cm2) is calculated by Equation (1) below, and the inertia moment Ihs (kg·cm2) is calculated by Equation (2) below: Ix=Wc×(Lc+60)2+Ic??(1) Ihs=Wh×(Lh+60)2+Ih??(2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Takashi NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8882607
    Abstract: Provided is a golf club having a head disposed at a front end of a shaft and a grip disposed at a back end of the shaft. A club weight is not larger than 265 g, and a ratio (head weight/club weight) of a head weight to a club weight is not lower than 0.67 but not higher than 0.75. When a distance from the front end of the shaft to a center of gravity of the shaft is LG and when a full length of the shaft is LS, 0.52?LG/LS?0.65 is satisfied, and when a frequency of flexural vibration of the club is F, 180 cpm?F?210 cpm is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamura, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Takashi Nakano
  • Patent number: 8876625
    Abstract: A metal wood type golf club with improved performance characteristics is disclosed herein where the metal wood type golf club head will combined the performance characteristics of both a driver type golf club head and a fairway type golf club head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head with a volume of between about 150 cc to about 360 cc, a CG location between about 10 mm to about 20 mm above the ground, a face depth of between about 30 millimeters (mm) to about 65 millimeters (mm), a loft of about between 10 degrees to about 16 degrees, and a COR of about 0.790 to about 0.830, wherein the entire golf club has a length of between about 41 inches to about 45 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Curtis, Noah de la Cruz, Charles E. Golden, Bradford Hughes Hartwell, Gregory D. Johnson, John W. Morin
  • Publication number: 20140315655
    Abstract: A self-balancing golf putter. The self-balancing golf putter includes a club head. The club head includes a clubface configured to make contact with a golf ball. The self-balancing golf putter also includes a shaft attached to the club head. The shaft includes a center axis, wherein the center axis converges with a balance point configured to make the club face seek square when making contact with the golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Bill Presse, IV, Scott Sulprizio
  • Publication number: 20140315656
    Abstract: A golf club. The golf club includes a club head. The club head includes a clubface configured to make contact with a golf ball. The golf club also includes a shaft attached to the club head. The shaft includes a center axis. The golf club further includes an elliptical grip, wherein the elliptical grip includes a center axis. The center axis of the elliptical grip is non-parallel to the center axis of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Bill Presse, IV, Scott Sulprizio
  • Patent number: 8858355
    Abstract: Provided is a golf club having a head disposed at a front end of a shaft and a grip disposed at a back end of the shaft. A club weight is not larger than 290 g, and a ratio (head weight/club weight) of a head weight to a club weight is not lower than 0.67 but not higher than 0.72. When an inertia moment of the club at a grip end is MI, 2700 kg·cm2?MI?3000 kg·cm2 is satisfied, and when a frequency of flexural vibration of the club is F, 190 cpm?F?230 cpm is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamura, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Takashi Nakano
  • Patent number: 8814717
    Abstract: A golf club 2 is provided with a head 4, a shaft 6, a grip 8, a head cavity body 10 mounted to the head, a grip cavity body 40 mounted to the grip 8, a head weight 12 attachable to/detachable from the head cavity body 10, and a grip weight 12 attachable to/detachable from the grip cavity body 40. A material of the grip cavity body is a polymer. A material of the head cavity body is a polymer. Preferably, the head weight 12 is attachable to/detachable from the grip cavity body 40. Preferably, the grip weight 12 is attachable to/detachable from the head cavity body 40. Preferably, in the golf club 2, a club mass can be adjusted without substantially changing a club balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Tatsuya Yashiki
  • Publication number: 20140206470
    Abstract: A golf club shaft having a weight distribution such that the balance point percentage is less than or equal to 44.50%. The weight distribution of the shaft allows for an increase in length and/or club head weight of a golf club while having a reduced impact on the swing weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott A. Rice, Donald S. Bone, Dustin A. Barksdale
  • Patent number: 8784231
    Abstract: A golf club according to one or more aspects of the present invention may have a mass less than 300 g, a length greater than about 45 inches, a swing weight between D0 and D6, a head weighing less than about 200 g, a club-head volume of at least about 360 cm3, a grip weighing less than about 50 g, and a shaft having a tip end, a butt end, and a shaft balance point located no more than 24 inches from the butt end. The shaft may have a torsional displacement angle greater than about 5.5° and a mass less than about 50 g. A coordinate system having x-, y-, and z-axes may have its origin at the center of gravity of the club head. The golf club head may have a moment of inertia of at least about 4500 g·cm2 about the z-axis and a moment of inertia of at least about 3000 g·cm2 about the y-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Dustin J. Brekke, Jeff D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Samuel G. Lacey, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Brian D. Schielke
  • Patent number: 8777770
    Abstract: A golf club 2 is provided with a head 4, a shaft 6, a grip 8, a head cavity body 10 mounted to the head, a grip cavity body 40 mounted to the grip 8, a head weight 12 attachable to/detachable from the head cavity body 10, and a grip weight 12 attachable to/detachable from the grip cavity body 40. A material of the grip cavity body is a polymer. A material of the head cavity body is a polymer. Preferably, the head weight 12 is attachable to/detachable from the grip cavity body 40. Preferably, the grip weight 12 is attachable to/detachable from the head cavity body 40. Preferably, in the golf club 2, a club mass can be adjusted without substantially changing a club balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Tatsuya Yashiki
  • Publication number: 20140155190
    Abstract: A club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6 and a grip 8. A club length L1 is 45 inches or greater and 48 inches or less. A ratio (Wh/Wc) of a head weight Wh to a club weight Wc is equal to or greater than 0.71. A moment of inertia Ix about an axis of a swing is equal to or less than 6.90×103 (kg·cm2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20140148267
    Abstract: A modification to a golf club including a shaft extension and a balance weight provides a significant modification of the golf club mass distribution to affect the combination of forces and torques that the body, via the arms and hands, must exert on the golf club grip in order to impart motion to the golf ball towards the cup. A preferred design reduces the torque that the hands impart on the golf club grip to move the golf club through its controlled arc motion to strike the golf ball. The distributed weight of the golf club shaft contributes to a smoother motion of the golf club.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventor: Richard B. Pitbladdo
  • Patent number: 8715101
    Abstract: An iron golf club has a club length L measured in accordance with 60-degrees method of at least 36.5 inches, and it includes: a carbon shaft; a weight attached to said carbon shaft; a grip attached to one end of said carbon shaft; and a head attached to the other end of said carbon shaft. Sum total of mass of the carbon shaft, the weight, the grip and the head is at least 0.3996 kg and at most 0.4197 kg. A value r/L, where r represents a distance from an upper end of the grip to the center of gravity of the iron golf club, is at least 0.765 and at most 0.795. Thus, an iron golf club realizing improved easiness of swing can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Naruo, Kazuya Ishida, Takashi Kimura, Yasuyuki Ohta, Tetsuya Kanayama
  • Publication number: 20140100054
    Abstract: A golf club with a club head comprising a body defining a volume, a shaft coupled to the club head, and a balance point established above the sole and no further away from the sole than five inches is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Richard E. Parente, Gene Parente, Steven Sacks
  • Publication number: 20140100053
    Abstract: Embodiments of customizable hang angle golf clubs and related mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples, systems, and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan M. Stokke, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 8678945
    Abstract: A golf club shaft having a weight distribution such that the balance point percentage is less than or equal to 44.50%. The weight distribution of the shaft allows for an increase in length and/or club head weight of a golf club while having a reduced impact on the swing weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Rice, Donald S. Bone, Dustin A. Barksdale
  • Publication number: 20140011604
    Abstract: A golf club according to one or more aspects of the present invention may have a mass less than 300 g, a length greater than about 45 inches, a swing weight between D0 and D6, a head weighing less than about 200 g, a club-head volume of at least about 360 cm3, a grip weighing less than about 50 g, and a shaft having a tip end, a butt end, and a shaft balance point located no more than 24 inches from the butt end. The shaft may have a torsional displacement angle greater than about 5.5° and a mass less than about 50 g. A coordinate system having x-, y-, and z-axes may have its origin at the center of gravity of the club head. The golf club head may have a moment of inertia of at least about 4500 g·cm2 about the z-axis and a moment of inertia of at least about 3000 g·cm2 about the y-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: SRI SPORTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Dustin J. Brekke, Jeff D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Samuel G. Lacey, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Brian D. Schielke
  • Publication number: 20140004970
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf club in which a shaft arranged beneath a grip portion of the golf club is processed to be used as means for grip swing performed by rotating the golf grip locally between both hands of a golfer. The aim of the present invention is to enable forces of both hands and both arms of the golfer and the weight of the golf club to be dynamically balanced at one or more center of gravity portions (S) designed at a specific position on the shaft beneath the grip during a typical gripping and swinging action of the golfer, that is, said center of gravity portions (S) may serve as a hinge or weight of minimum swing performed between both hands of the golfer, thereby enabling fine swing control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventor: Keun Shik Chang
  • Patent number: 8608586
    Abstract: A golf club with a club head comprising a body defining a volume, a shaft coupled to the club head, and a balance point established above the sole and no further away from the sole than five inches is provided. A method for creating a club head with enhanced balance point placement can also be provided. The method can include, in a golf club formed from a club head coupled to a shaft, moving a balance point from a position between no less than seven inches and no more than eighteen inches measured from the sole along a longitudinal axis of the shaft between a butt of the shaft and a sole of the club head to a position no further away from the sole than five inches measured from the sole along a longitudinal axis of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventors: Richard E. Parente, Gene Parente, Steven Sacks
  • Patent number: 8597134
    Abstract: A golf club having a value of L not less than 45.5 inches, with L representing a club length measured with a 60-degree method, includes a shaft, a grip attached to one end of the shaft, and a head attached to the other end of the shaft. A value of r/L is equal to or not smaller than 0.658 and equal to or not greater than 0.732, where r represents a distance from an upper end of the grip to the center of gravity of the golf club. Thus, a long-length golf club achieving an increased head speed can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Naruo, Tetsuya Kanayama, Kazuya Ishida, Takashi Kimura, Yoshinobu Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20130130824
    Abstract: An iron golf club has a club length L measured in accordance with 60-degrees method of at least 36.5 inches, and it includes: a carbon shaft; a weight attached to said carbon shaft; a grip attached to one end of said carbon shaft; and a head attached to the other end of said carbon shaft. Sum total of mass of the carbon shaft, the weight, the grip and the head is at least 0.3996 kg and at most 0.4197 kg. A value r/L, where r represents a distance from an upper end of the grip to the center of gravity of the iron golf club, is at least 0.765 and at most 0.795. Thus, an iron golf club realizing improved easiness of swing can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventor: Mizuno Corporation
  • Patent number: 8444501
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a set of at least three golf clubs having different club length Lk. The golf clubs 14; 20 comprises a shaft 21 with an upper end and a lower end, a grip section 22 on the upper end of the shaft, and a head 23; 30; 40 with a ball-striking surface mounted on the lower end of the shaft. The club length Lk of each golf club decreasing through the set and a value 61, 65, 75; 62, 66, 76; 63,67,77; 64, 68; 78 of at least one torsional moment PCF; HCF; ICF; GCF for each of the at least three golf clubs when swung by a golfer differs from each other. A linear function 71, 72, 73, 74 of club length Lk is based on the values of at least one torsional moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Isaren AB
    Inventors: Breit Olsson, Tony Björkman
  • Publication number: 20130102407
    Abstract: A golf club shaft having a weight distribution such that the balance point percentage is less than or equal to 44.50%. The weight distribution of the shaft allows for an increase in length and/or club head weight of a golf club while having a reduced impact on the swing weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventor: Acushnet Company
  • Publication number: 20130095944
    Abstract: Provided is a golf club having a head disposed at a front end of a shaft and a grip disposed at a back end of the shaft. A club weight is not larger than 290 g. A product of a ratio (head weight/club weight) of a head weight to the club weight, and a ratio (LG/LS) of a distance LG from the front end of the shaft to a center of gravity of the shaft to a full length LS of the shaft, is not smaller than 0.365.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130095943
    Abstract: Provided is a golf club having a head disposed at a front end of a shaft and a grip disposed at a back end of the shaft. A club weight is not smaller than 290 g, and a ratio (head weight/club weight) of a head weight to a club weight is not lower than 0.67 but not higher than 0.72. When a distance from the front end of the shaft to a center of gravity of the shaft is LG and when a full length of the shaft is LS, 0.55?LG/LS?0.67 is satisfied, and when a frequency of flexural vibration of the club is F, 240 cpm?F?280 cpm is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130095945
    Abstract: Provided is a golf club having a head disposed at a front end of a shaft and a grip disposed at a back end of the shaft. A club weight is not larger than 265 g, and a ratio (head weight/club weight) of a head weight to a club weight is not lower than 0.67 but not higher than 0.75. When a distance from the front end of the shaft to a center of gravity of the shaft is LG and when a full length of the shaft is LS, 0.52?LG/LS?0.65 is satisfied, and when a frequency of flexural vibration of the club is F, 180 cpm?F?210 cpm is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130095946
    Abstract: Provided is a golf club having a head disposed at a front end of a shaft and a grip disposed at a back end of the shaft. A club weight is not larger than 290 g, and a ratio (head weight/club weight) of a head weight to a club weight is not lower than 0.67 but not higher than 0.72. When an inertia moment of the club at a grip end is MI, 2700 kg·cm2?MI?3000 kg·cm2 is satisfied, and when a frequency of flexural vibration of the club is F, 190 cpm?F?230 cpm is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
  • Patent number: RE44598
    Abstract: The instant invention provides a putter for use by a golfer in playing golf. The putter includes: a shaft long enough to rest against the abdomen; a head of greater than conventional mass fixed to the first end of the putter; and, a handle fixed to the second end of the putter. The handle further includes: an upper hand grip; a lower hand grip substantially length to rest against the abdomen navel dimensionally spaced from the upper hand grip; and, a counterweight positioned within the handle substantially near the upper hand grip, for providing the putter with a conventional center of gravity. The putter is designed for maximizing the sweet spot of the head while enabling the golfer to putt a golf ball by pivoting the putter substantially only at a point located at about the upper hand grip, from an otherwise conventional crouched stance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Robert P. Prince
  • Patent number: RE48217
    Abstract: A golf club includes a club head having a volume of greater than about 360 cm3 and a mass less than 200 g. A shaft attachable to the club head has a tip end, a butt end, and a shaft balance point distance, BPs, as measured from the butt end, of no more than 19 inches. And the golf club has a mass less than 300 g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Dustin J. Brekke, Jeff D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Samuel G. Lacey, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Brian D. Schielke
  • Patent number: RE49071
    Abstract: A golf club includes a club head having a volume of greater than about 360 cm3 and a mass less than 200 g. A shaft attachable to the club head has a tip end, a butt end, and a shaft balance point distance, BPs, as measured from the butt end, of no more than 19 inches. And the golf club has a mass less than 300 g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Dustin J. Brekke, Jeff D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Samuel G. Lacey, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Brian D. Schielke