Detachable And Reattachable Patents (Class 473/307)
  • Patent number: 12208316
    Abstract: A multi-piece, multi-material golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention utilizes multiple pieces of different materials to form a frontal portion of a golf club head, allowing more of the frontal portion of the golf club head to be made out of a lightweight material to match the lightweight material of the aft body of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Richard Sanchez, Richard L. Cleghorn, Ryuichi Sugimae, Peter Larsen, Stephen Murphy, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Kyle A. Carr
  • Patent number: 12151147
    Abstract: Golf club fitting systems can include a golf club head along with multiple alternative adjustment sleeves that each mate with the club head to modify loft and lie angles. Each adjustment sleeve can include a first portion having a respective longitudinal axis and configured to mate and coaxially align with a hosel of the golf club head, and a second portion having a respective longitudinal axis angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the first portion and configured to mate and coaxially align with a golf club shaft. Each different adjustment sleeve can be configured to alter a position of the golf club head relative to a golf club shaft by a different adjustment value relative to each other. Fitting systems can also include a shaft sleeve that can join any of various different shafts with any of the adjustment sleeves. Fitting systems can also include additional club heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Hill, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 12076626
    Abstract: Golf club shaft assemblies with removable counterbalance weights are disclosed herein. In each embodiment, a shaft sleeve is secured within a butt end of a shaft and a weight is removably affixed to the shaft sleeve via locking structures, magnets, and/or spring devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.
    Inventor: Logan Johnston
  • Patent number: 12070660
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a hosel and a shaft sleeve insertable into the hosel, A shaft sleeve body of the shaft sleeve, the shaft sleeve body includes an outer wall and a first coupler protruding from the sleeve outer wall and having a first coupler surface area, a second coupler protruding from the sleeve outer wall and having a second coupler surface area, a third coupler protruding from the sleeve outer wall and having a third coupler surface area, and a fourth coupler protruding from the sleeve outer wall and having a fourth coupler surface area. Each of the first second, third and fourth couplers has an arcuate surface continuously curved throughout its respective surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob T. Clarke, Eric J. Morales, Ryan M. Stokke, Evan R. Greer, Eric V. Cole, David S. Kultala
  • Patent number: 11850486
    Abstract: A golf club has a first shaft coupled to a club head, a second shaft configured to slidably engage a portion of the first shaft, a grip coupled to the second shaft, and an adjustable length shaft assembly received by the second shaft and configured to allow a portion of the first shaft to slide in relation to the second shaft in a first configuration, and to restrict a portion of the first shaft from sliding in relation to the second shaft in a second configuration. The grip is restricted from rotation about the first shaft or the second shaft as the first shaft slides in relation to the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, Anthony D. Serrano, Eric V. Cole, David S. Kultala, David L Petersen, Les J. Bryant, Richard D. MacMillan, Rick Solesbee, John A. Solheim, Evan R. Greer
  • Patent number: 11654336
    Abstract: Disclosed golf club heads include a body defining an interior cavity, a face, a sole, a crown, a skirt, and a hosel. Some embodiments include one or more of a split mass pad and/or one or more weight ports positioned in a sole portion of the body. Additionally or alternatively, one or more mass pads or weight ports may be positioned adjacent to the periphery of the sole portion. Some embodiments further include an adjustable head-shaft connection assembly configured to adjustably couple the hosel to a golf club shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle Penney, David Bennett, Nathan T Sargent, Robert Story
  • Patent number: 11583736
    Abstract: Embodiments of putter-type golf club heads with adjustable loft and lie and methods of manufacturing of the same with adjustable loft and lie are generally described herein. These embodiments relate in particular to a putter-type club head with an adjustment portion that allows a user to change the loft and lie. The separate adjustment portions of the putter-type club head can couple the upper hosel to the body at a plurality of positions. An insert part of the adjustment portion has an upper section for receiving the upper hosel portion, a middle section, and a lower hosel portion. The sections of the adjustment portion can be coupled together by a fastener so that the sections are rotationally movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Calvin Wang, Xiaojian Chen, Erik Henrikson
  • Patent number: 11554300
    Abstract: A configurable golfing apparatus including a rectangular handle portion. The rectangular handle portion includes a golf club shaft that is securely mounted within the configurable golf club handle. The rectangular shape provides new and additional hand placement and new and additional configuration capabilities for both right handed and left handed golfers. The configurable golfing apparatus allows different golf club heads (e.g., drivers, irons, putters, etc.) to be inserted and removed from the configurable golfing apparatus. The golf club shaft inside the rectangular handle portions complies with straightness, bending and flexibility, and twisting and torque, properties and attachment to a golf club head requirements for a golf club shaft required by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Royal and Ancient (R&A) Golf Club of St Andrews rules and functions in a manner similar to a golf club shaft not enclosed in a rectangular handle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventor: Timothy N. Wright
  • Patent number: 11148016
    Abstract: To obtain a golf club and a combining member of a golf club shaft and a golf club head that can provide a flexibility in choice of reshafting to a user regardless of types of the golf club shaft and the golf club head. A golf club includes an inner-hosel-type golf club shaft, an over-hosel-type golf club head, and a combining member that combines the inner-hosel-type golf club shaft with the over-hosel-type golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIKURA COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventors: Masaki Wakabayashi, Yoshihito Kogawa, Keigo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11090530
    Abstract: A flexible putter shaft may be interchanged with a stiff putter shaft even though the two shafts have markedly different properties including different diameters, different degrees of elasticity, and so on. An external adapter for a flexible putter shaft and an internal adapter for a stiff shaft allow either one to be fastened through a customized hole on the hosel of a putter head using a locking fastener and tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventor: Anthony Aguilar
  • Patent number: 11065512
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body with a heel-side sole opening in communication with a hosel bore, a removable shaft sleeve with a tip sized to fit within the hosel bore, and a weight plug sized to fit within, and at least partially fill, the heel-side opening is disclosed herein. The weight plug, which has a base end with a through-opening, a tip end with a flange, and a side opening in communication with the through-opening, is connected to the shaft sleeve with a screw. When the golf club head is fully assembled, a hosel flange is trapped between the weight plug and the tip end of the shaft sleeve, and tightening the screw causes the weight plug and the shaft sleeve to move towards one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Keith L. Kingston
  • Patent number: 11013964
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob Clarke, Eric J. Morales, Ryan M. Stokke, Evan Greer, Eric V. Cole, David S. Kultala
  • Patent number: 10751584
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a channel extending across a portion of the sole. The channel may be recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and have a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole. The channel may have a cross-sectional profile that is asymmetric with a front wall and a rear wall where the front wall is longer than the rear wall. The channel may also have a center thickness that is different than a thickness at the heel and toe sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Boggs, Kevin Harper, Eric A. Larson, Michael T. Prichard, Hiromitsu Akiyama, Yoshimasa Fujita
  • Patent number: 10668336
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body with a heel-side sole opening in communication with a hosel bore, a removable shaft sleeve with a tip sized to fit within the hosel bore, and a weight plug sized to fit within, and at least partially fill, the heel-side opening is disclosed herein. The weight plug, which has a base end with a through-opening, a tip end with a flange, and a side opening in communication with the through-opening, is connected to the shaft sleeve with a screw. When the golf club head is fully assembled, a hosel flange is trapped between the weight plug and the tip end of the shaft sleeve, and tightening the screw causes the weight plug and the shaft sleeve to move towards one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Keith L. Kingston
  • Patent number: 10653932
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting configuration states of a golf club and adjustment systems of a golf club, such as a shaft connection system. A golf club configuration detection system captures configuration data from the adjustment system of the golf club by a configuration detection device, such as a camera, a barcode scanner, or an RFID scanner. The captured configuration data is compared to reference configuration data to determine a configuration state of the adjustment system. Swing data and ball-flight data are tracked for golf-ball strikes with the golf club in the detected configuration state. Recommendations for configuration states may be generated based on the tracked data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Leonidas Amarant, Felipe Marcelino, William Souza, Charles Hightower, Idris Screen
  • Patent number: 10596421
    Abstract: A golf club head having an adjustable hosel assembly and a plug assembly that can reversibly secure the hosel assembly in a chosen configuration within the club head is disclosed herein. In particular, the hosel assembly includes a shaft sleeve that is trapped within a hosel opening with a screw that extends through an interior flange. The plug assembly includes a wedge-shaped flange that is inserted into an opening in the body and fits between the interior flange and the head of the screw to temporarily immobilize the shaft sleeve. The plug assembly preferably completely fills the opening in the body so as to preserve a smooth outer mold line of the club head and allow graphics or decorations to extend across the exterior surface without disruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Matthew Myers
  • Patent number: 10478679
    Abstract: A golf club includes a golf club head having a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole, a crown and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. A face defines a forward portion of the club head and includes a striking surface width and a hosel defining a hosel bore. A channel and a recessed port are positioned in the sole. The channel extends substantially in a heel-to-toe direction. A sleeve is mounted on a tip end of the golf club shaft and is adapted to be inserted into the hosel bore. A fastener has a shaft portion extending through a passage and a head portion located in the recessed port. Selectively attaching the sleeve adjusts at least one of a loft angle and a lie angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Harbert, Todd P. Beach, Matthew David Johnson, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Michelle Penney, Marc Kronenberg, Matthew Greensmith, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10335648
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body with a heel-side sole opening in communication with a hosel bore, a removable shaft sleeve with a tip sized to fit within the hosel bore, and a weight plug sized to fit within, and at least partially fill, the heel-side opening is disclosed herein. The weight plug, which has a base end with a through-opening, a tip end with a flange, and a side opening in communication with the through-opening, is connected to the shaft sleeve with a screw. When the golf club head is fully assembled, a hosel flange is trapped between the weight plug and the tip end of the shaft sleeve, and tightening the screw causes the weight plug and the shaft sleeve to move towards one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Keith L. Kingston
  • Patent number: 10272297
    Abstract: A golf club according to one aspect of the present invention includes a shaft, a golf club head including a hosel containing a hole to attach the shaft, and a sleeve system including a body attached to a tip of the shaft and inserted together with the shaft into the hole of the hosel and an adaptor attached to the body so as to enable an adjustment of an axis-directional position with respect to the body and engaging with an upper end of the hosel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Naruhiro Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10086241
    Abstract: A head 2 includes a face 10 and a sole 6. The face 10 has a face center Fc. The sole 6 includes a groove 20 extending from a toe side to a heel side. The whole groove 20 is located below the face center Fc. A bottom part of the groove 20 is curved so that it projects to a lower side along a shape of the sole 6. A maximum value of a groove depth D of the groove 20 is 5% or greater but 15% or less of a height of a center of gravity of the head. The head 2 is a hollow golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Naruhiro Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10076691
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body with a heel-side sole opening in communication with a hosel bore, a removable shaft sleeve with a tip sized to fit within the hosel bore, and a weight plug sized to fit within, and at least partially fill, the heel-side opening is disclosed herein. The weight plug, which has a base end with a through-opening, a tip end with a flange, and a side opening in communication with the through-opening, is connected to the shaft sleeve with a screw. When the golf club head is fully assembled, a hosel flange is trapped between the weight plug and the tip end of the shaft sleeve, and tightening the screw causes the weight plug and the shaft sleeve to move towards one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Keith L. Kingston
  • Patent number: 10010768
    Abstract: Provided is a golf club enabling the rotation position of an adapter to be viewed without disassembling a coupling structure for coupling a shaft and a golf club head. This golf club includes a shaft, a golf club head having a hosel portion, a first adapter that is accommodated in the interior space of the hosel portion through a shaft attachment hole in the hosel portion, a second adapter that has a through-hole through which the first adapter passes, and at least a portion arranged outside the attachment hole, and a fixing member detachably fixing the first adapter in the interior space of the hosel portion. The shaft is coupled with an inclination relative to the first adapter, the first adapter is coupled with an inclination relative to the second adapter, and the first adapter and the second adapter are coupled so as to be capable of axial rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naruhiro Mizutani, Kiyofumi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 9724572
    Abstract: This golf club includes a shaft, a golf club head, a first adapter, a second adapter, and a fixing member that fixes the first adapter in an interior space of a hosel portion. The shaft is configured to be coupled with an inclination relative to the coupling portion of the first adapter, and the first adapter is configured to be coupled with an inclination relative to the second adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Naruhiro Mizutani, Kiyofumi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 9713750
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs or golf club components incorporating adjustment members that permit ready adjustability of golf club parameters and/or interchangeability of golf club components to change a golf club configuration, and methods for providing golf clubs. According to aspects of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of a golf club parameter to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics. According to another aspect of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of two golf club parameters independently to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, Joshua M. Boggs, Matthew P. Rubal
  • Patent number: 9545544
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs with adjustable lie and loft and methods of manufacturing golf clubs with adjustable lie and loft are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Chris L. Jones, John P. Fife, Erik M. Henrikson
  • Patent number: 9468816
    Abstract: A golf club head connection assembly having a non-metallic component possessing unique relationships that offer increased durability, weight savings, and reduced manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Barelmann, Joseph Yu
  • Patent number: 9440124
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a rear portion, a front portion with a strike face, a sole portion, and a top portion with a plurality of weight ports. The body portion may define a periphery of the golf club head. The golf club head may also include a plurality of weight portions with each weight portion disposed in one weight port of the plurality of weight ports. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 9265992
    Abstract: A golf club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6, and a fixing member Fx1. The head 4 has a hosel part 4h capable of swingably supporting the shaft 6. The shaft 6 has a tip connecting part 6t capable of being connected to the fixing member Fx1. The fixing member Fx1 has a connector 12 capable of being connected to the shaft 6, a first sliding member S1 capable of engaging the connector 12 with a plurality of positions in a first direction D1, and a second sliding member S2 capable of engaging the first sliding member S1 with a plurality of positions in a second direction D2. A movement of the connector 12 in the first direction D1 and a movement of the connector 12 in the second direction D2 are independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9211447
    Abstract: A golf club includes a golf club head having a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole, a crown and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. A face defines a forward portion of the club head and includes a striking surface width and a hosel defining a hosel bore. A channel and a recessed port are positioned in the sole. The channel extends substantially in a heel-to-toe direction. A sleeve is mounted on a tip end of the golf club shaft and is adapted to be inserted into the hosel bore. A fastener has a shaft portion extending through a passage and a head portion located in the recessed port. Selectively attaching the sleeve adjusts at least one of a loft angle and a lie angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Harbert, Todd P. Beach, Matthew David Johnson, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Michelle Penney, Marc Kronenberg, Matthew Greensmith, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9186560
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a club head body, a channel, and a recessed port. The club head body defines an interior cavity, a sole defining a bottom portion of the body, a crown defining a top portion of the body, a skirt portion defining a periphery of the body between the sole and crown, a face defining a forward portion of the club head, and a hosel defining a hosel bore. The channel is positioned in the sole of the club head and extends into the interior cavity, substantially in a heel-to-toe direction. The recessed port is positioned in the sole and extends into the interior cavity. The recessed port has a port width, and is located proximate a bottom end of the hosel such that a passage in the bottom end provides communication between the hosel bore and the recessed port. A golf club is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Harbert, Todd P. Beach, Matthew David Johnson, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Michelle Penney, Marc Kronenberg, Matthew Greensmith, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9053256
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs or golf club components incorporating adjustment members that permit ready adjustability of golf club parameters and/or interchangeability of golf club components to change a golf club configuration, and methods for providing golf clubs. According to aspects of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of a golf club parameter to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics. According to another aspect of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of two golf club parameters independently to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, Joshua M. Boggs, Matthew P. Rubal
  • Publication number: 20150148146
    Abstract: An adjustable putter head assembly having a hosel attachment member that includes a hosel for receipt of a golf club shaft, a striking face, a bottom surface, and an adjustment surface that is generally parallel to the striking face and opposite the striking face. The hosel attachment member further includes an extension member that includes an aperture for mating with a threaded opening of the adjustment surface, and a plurality of receptacles that vertically extend the length of the extension member and correspond with a plurality of settings disposed on the adjustment surface. The adjustment surface defines multiple hosel position points for selectively attaching the hosel along the length of the putter head, and, adjusting the angular orientation between the golf club shaft and bottom surface in the plane in which the shaft lies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Wolf
  • Patent number: 9033815
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs or golf club components incorporating adjustment members that permit ready adjustability of golf club parameters and/or interchangeability of golf club components to change a golf club configuration, and methods for providing golf clubs. According to aspects of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of a golf club parameter to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics. According to another aspect of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of two golf club parameters independently to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, Joshua M. Boggs, Matthew P. Rubal
  • Publication number: 20150126300
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Patent number: 9022879
    Abstract: A golf club includes: a shaft; a head mounted on the leading end of the shaft; and a shaft case having a substantially cylindrical shape and fixed to the leading end of the shaft and inserted into a hosel formed in the head, the shaft case being fixed to the head by a bolt inserted from the sole side of the head, wherein the shaft case includes a small-diameter cylindrical portion on the leading end side thereof and a key portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion, and multiple slits having different depths and engageable with the key portion are formed in the deep portion of the inside of the hosel, whereby, by changing the slits engageable with the key portion, the insertion depth of the shaft case into the hosel can be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumiaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20150111659
    Abstract: Golf club heads include a golf club head body, a ball striking face, and a shaft engaging member configured to engage a golf club shaft with the golf club head body. Further, the shaft engaging member may be configured to engage the golf club head body and the shaft below a center of gravity of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Chewei Tai
  • Publication number: 20150105176
    Abstract: Aspects of this invention relate to structures and methods for connecting golf club heads to shafts in a releasable and adjustable manner allowing independent adjustability of face angle, loft angle, and lie angle of a club head. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a hosel assembly; (b) an adjustment member; and (c) a securing system for releasably and adjustably securing the hosel assembly and adjustment member to the club head. The face angle, loft angle, and lie angle may be independently adjusted by releasing the securing system and rotating the different structures or exchanging the original parts with different parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, Robert Boyd
  • Patent number: 8961329
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a collet, a ferrule, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft adapter so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, James S. Thomas, Matthew Paul Rubal, Gregory A. Trees
  • Patent number: 8961330
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features provide discrete orientations between the shaft and club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gery M. Zimmerman, Jonathan Hebreo, Adrian L. Stanescu, Helene Hipp, Marni Ines, Stephanie Bezilla, Thomas Orrin Bennett, Stephen S. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8956240
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. Embodiments include club heads for a fairway wood that at least one of a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity, a thin crown and a high coefficient of restitution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Matthew David Johnson, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Michelle Penney, Marc Kronenberg, Matthew Greensmith, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20150045137
    Abstract: An adjustable golf club system is described herein. The adjustable golf club system includes a club shaft, a club head, a hosel, and an adjustment assembly that is removably coupled to the club head and the hosel to facilitate adjusting an orientation of the hosel with respect to the club head. The club head includes a club head cavity that extends between a toe portion and a heal portion. The hosel includes a first end that is coupled to the club shaft and a second end that includes a fastener head. The adjustment assembly includes a sliding member and a hosel fastener that is coupled to the sliding member. The sliding member is positioned within the club head cavity and movable between the toe portion and the heal portion. The hosel fastener extends through the fastener head to the sliding member to couple the hosel to the club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Brian Esposito
  • Publication number: 20150038253
    Abstract: The golf club of the present invention includes: a shaft; a golf club head having a hosel portion and a first opening portion that is formed on a side opposite to the hosel portion and is in communication with an interior space of the hosel portion, and having a hosel coupling portion in the interior space of the hosel portion; a first adapter having a first end portion and a second end portion, having a shaft receiving recessed portion that is open on the first end portion side and is fixed together with the shaft, and having a coupling portion in the second end portion; a second adapter accommodated in the interior space of the hosel portion, the second adapter having a first end portion and a second end portion; and a fixing member removably fixing the second adapter and the first adapter together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Naruhiro MIZUTANI, Kiyofumi MATSUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20150031469
    Abstract: A golf club 52 includes a shaft 56, a head 54 including a hosel, a sleeve 58 fixed to a tip part of the shaft 56, a grip 60 fixed to a back end part of the shaft 56, and a connecting member 10 which can be connected to the sleeve 58. The shaft 56 is detachably attached to the head 54. The shaft 56 includes an exposed part Ex. The sleeve 58 can be fixed to the head 54 at a plurality of circumferential direction fixed positions. A three-dimensional angle of the shaft 56 to the head 54 is changed depending on the circumferential direction fixed positions of the sleeve 58. The head 54 includes a head marking Hm. The exposed part Ex includes a shaft marking Sm for confirming the circumferential direction fixed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Kota YAMASAWA, Kiyofumi MATSUNAGA, Naruhiro MIZUTANI
  • Patent number: 8939847
    Abstract: Aspects of this invention relate to structures and methods for connecting golf club heads to shafts in a releasable and adjustable manner allowing independent adjustability of face angle, loft angle, and lie angle of a club head. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a hosel assembly; (b) an adjustment member; and (c) a securing system for releasably and adjustably securing the hosel assembly and adjustment member to the club head. The face angle, loft angle, and lie angle may be independently adjusted by releasing the securing system and rotating the different structures or exchanging the original parts with different parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, Robert Boyd
  • Patent number: 8936514
    Abstract: According to an aspect of this invention, a golf club includes: a shaft; a head attached to a distal end of the shaft; a substantially cylindrical shaft case is secured to the distal end of the shaft; the shaft case is inserted into a hosel hole in the head; and the shaft case is fixed to the head by a bolt which is inserted from a sole side of the head, wherein: a stopper member is attached to an outer circumference of the shaft case so that an attaching position can be changed; the stopper member is in abutment with an upper end portion of a hosel; and an inserting depth of the shaft case into the hosel hole can be changed by changing the attaching position of the stopper member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumiaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20150018116
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features provide discrete orientations between the shaft and club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gery M. Zimmerman, Kevin Tassistro, Scott A. Knutson, Joshua C. Stokes
  • Patent number: 8932147
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Karsten Maunfacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Patent number: 8926447
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Publication number: 20150005093
    Abstract: A golf club includes a golf club head provided with a first hole and a second hole on its bottom side, a shaft, a first fastener detachably attached to the first hole to detachably fix the shaft to the golf club head, and a second fastener detachably attached to the second hole to provide weight on the golf club, the second fastener having weight different from that of the first fastener. The first fastener and the second fastener are configured as mutually replaceable fasteners so that the first fastener is detachably attached to the second hole and the second fastener is detachably attached to the first hole to detachably fix the shaft to the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Yuki MOTOKAWA
  • Patent number: 8920260
    Abstract: A golf club putting head includes a flexible cylindrical roller body having a striking face defined thereon and thereabout. The roller body has a central bore extending therethrough from end to end thereof and configured to mount the body over an axle on a lower end of a putter shaft such that the body can undergo rotation about and relative to the axle. The striking face on the body is yieldably conformable to the shape of a golf ball upon impacting the ball and is formed by an annular bed of multiple flexible projections formed on and about the body. The putting head also includes a pommel fitted on an outer end of the axle and configured for adjusting the rollability of the roller body on the axle so as to enable a player to hit the ball with an impact that will cause it to roll towards the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Inventor: Manucher Azmudeh