Reduced Air Resistance Patents (Class 473/327)
  • Publication number: 20140235368
    Abstract: An aerodynamic golf club head that produces reduced aerodynamic drag forces. A crown section imparts beneficial aerodynamic properties due in part to the location of a crown apex and the curvature of the crown section. A sole section imparts beneficial aerodynamic properties due in part to the location of a sole apex and the curvature of the sole section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Jeffrey J. Albertsen
  • Publication number: 20140235367
    Abstract: An aerodynamic golf club head having a post apex attachment promoting region producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The post apex attachment promoting region is on the surface of the crown section at an elevation above a maximum face height and begins at the crown apex and extends toward the back of the club head. The post apex attachment promoting region is a relatively flat portion of the crown section that aides in keeping airflow attached to the club head once it flows past the crown apex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Publication number: 20140228147
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, and a skirt extending between the crown and the sole and between the toe and the heel. The club head includes a drag-reducing structure that may include one or both of a continuous groove extending from a front portion to a rear edge of the toe, and along an entire length of the skirt, and a substantially V-shaped recess formed in the sole and having a vertex positioned proximate the ball striking face and the heel and away from the skirt and the toe, and a pair of legs extending to a point proximate the toe and away from the ball striking face, and curving toward the skirt and away from the ball striking face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 8777773
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating a trip step feature located on the crown section. The benefits associated with the reduction in aerodynamic drag force associated with the trip step may be applied to drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids. A portion of the trip step is located between a crown apex and the back of the club head and may be continuous or discontinuous. The trip step enables a reduction in the aerodynamic drag force exerted on the golf club by forcing the air passing over the club head from laminar flow to turbulent flow prior to the natural separation point of the airstream from the crown. This selectively engineered transition from laminar to turbulent flow over the crown section slightly increases the skin friction but results in less aerodynamic drag than if the air were to detach from the crown section at the natural separation point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Marc Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8771097
    Abstract: A golf club with a plurality of protrusions separated by a trough and capable of improving turf interaction for various turf conditions with various turf undulations is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a metal wood type golf club having a plurality of protrusions separated by a trough on its sole that is capable of changing the lie angle of the metal wood type golf club head by varying the combination of protrusions that come into contact with the ground to provide improved turf interaction for various types of lies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Thomas C. Morris, Thomas W. Preece, Douglas E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8771101
    Abstract: A high volume aerodynamic golf club head having a post apex attachment promoting region with a club head volume of at least 400 cc producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The post apex attachment promoting region is on the surface of the crown section at an elevation above a maximum face height and begins at the crown apex and extends toward the back of the club head. The post apex attachment promoting region is a relatively flat portion of the crown section that is behind the crown apex, yet above the maximum top edge plane, and aides in keeping airflow attached to the club head once it flows past the crown apex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Patent number: 8758157
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising an aerodynamic hosel is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the hosel has an upper portion and a swept transition portion which connects to the golf club head, and all points at which the swept transition portion contacts the club head are spaced rearwardly from a vertical face plane. In a further embodiment, both the upper portion and the swept transition portion comprise coaxial shaft receiving bores. In yet another embodiment, the swept transition portion of the hosel has a trailing edge that is truncated, or that has one or more surface discontinuities. In yet another embodiment, the swept transition portion has a height and a diameter, each of which is less than or equal to one inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Steven M. Ehlers
  • Patent number: 8758156
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a rear, and a hosel region. The heel includes an airfoil-like surface shaped like the leading edge of an airfoil that extends over a majority of the length of the heel. The back may include a Kammback feature having a concavity extending from the heel-side to the toe-side of the back. The heel-side edge of the concavity may be shaped like the leading edge of an airfoil. Further, the sole may include a diffuser that extends at an angle of from approximately 10 degrees to approximately 80 degrees from a moment-of-impact trajectory direction. A hosel fairing that extends from the hosel region toward the toe may also be provided on the crown. A golf club including the golf club head is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John Thomas Stites, Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares
  • Patent number: 8753224
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body having a crown, a sole, a face component, a heel side, a toe side, and a rear side, and an air spoiler affixed to the rear side of the body is disclosed herein. In particular, the air spoiler comprises an upper shelf that extends outwards from the crown and approximately parallel to a ground plane, and is supported by one or more ribs that extend perpendicularly from the upper shelf towards the crown. The air spoiler may be used in connection with any type of golf club head, and particularly a wood-type golf club such as a driver or fairway wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Wee Joung Kim
  • Patent number: 8740723
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a striking face having a face center, a bottom portion, a top portion including an exterior surface, a hosel including an imaginary vertical hosel plane, a forwardmost point, and a rearwardmost point. In an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the hosel plane and passing through the face center, the exterior surface includes a path having a first point and a second point rearward of the first point. An imaginary infinite straight line passes through the first point and the second point, but does not penetrate the exterior surface. A segment of the imaginary straight line is delimited by the first point and the second point. A maximum distance between the segment and the exterior surface of the top portion is no greater than 0.70 mm and a distance between the first point and the second point is no less than 22 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Jimmy H. Kuan, Samuel G. Lacey, Dan S. Nivanh, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe
  • Patent number: 8734269
    Abstract: A high volume aerodynamic golf club head with a club head volume of at least 400 cc producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The club head has a crown section imparting beneficial aerodynamic properties due in part to the location of a crown apex and the curvature of the crown section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Jeffrey J. Albertsen
  • Patent number: 8734265
    Abstract: A golf club head with multi-component construction. The golf club head includes heel and toe portions that generally provide ground contacting surfaces and a raised central region. A center of gravity of the club is located outside of an envelope defined by the outer surface of the club head below the raised central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventor: Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 8721470
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, and a skirt extending between the crown and the sole and between the toe and the heel. The club head includes a drag-reducing structure that may include one or both of a continuous groove extending from a front portion to a rear edge of the toe, and along an entire length of the skirt, and a substantially V-shaped recess formed in the sole and having a vertex positioned proximate the ball striking face and the heel and away from the skirt and the toe, and a pair of legs extending to a point proximate the toe and away from the ball striking face, and curving toward the skirt and away from the ball striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 8702531
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head may include a ball striking face, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region. The hosel region may have a free end configured for receiving a shaft having a longitudinal axis. When the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position, at least a portion of the free end of the hosel region may extend above the adjacent crown surface. When the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position, the vertical distance between the horizontal projections of the outermost points of the sole and the crown may be greater than the vertical distance between the horizontal projections of the outermost points of the sole and the hosel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 8690704
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a length dimension, a height dimension, a breadth dimension, a center-of-gravity and a face-squared centerline. The body member includes a channel having an inlet, an outlet and a throughbore extending through the body member from the inlet to the outlet. The inlet is located to a heel-side of the centerline of the body member and the outlet is located to a toe-side of the centerline of the body member. A golf club including the golf club head is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: James S. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140087893
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with turbulators and methods to manufacture golf club heads with turbulators are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erik M. Henrikson, Paul D. Wood, John Hart, Bradley D. Schweigert, Marty R. Jertson
  • Patent number: 8678946
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a rear and a hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, the crown and the sole. A plurality of dimples are located on the hosel region, on the crown, on the sole, and/or on the heel, wherein at least some of the plurality of dimples have a major axis that is not aligned in a direction parallel to the moment-of-impact club-head-trajectory direction. A golf club including the golf club head is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Publication number: 20140066224
    Abstract: A high volume aerodynamic golf club head having a post apex attachment promoting region with a club head volume of at least 400 cc producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The post apex attachment promoting region is on the surface of the crown section at an elevation above a maximum face height and begins at the crown apex and extends toward the back of the club head. The post apex attachment promoting region is a relatively flat portion of the crown section that is behind the crown apex, yet above the maximum top edge plane, and aides in keeping airflow attached to the club head once it flows past the crown apex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Publication number: 20140057736
    Abstract: A high volume aerodynamic golf club head with a club head volume of at least 400 cc producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The club head has a crown section imparting beneficial aerodynamic properties due in part to the location of a crown apex and the curvature of the crown section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Jeffrey J. Albertsen
  • Patent number: 8651974
    Abstract: A “Aerodynamic Golf Club Assembly” is designed for a minimal amount of air resistance to the face of the club head when it's in a forward swing mode. This allows the golfer to swing the club head at a higher speed, which will cause the ball to travel a longer distance. This is done by means of one or more fore and aft straight round holes that protrude from the face of the head through the hill of the head. The hill of the head has a concave surface, so a stronger vacuum is created during a forward swing mode of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Charles Placido Guerriero
  • Patent number: 8651973
    Abstract: Golf club, golf club shaft and golf club head structures are presented. The golf club may include a shaft having a core and an airfoil shaped skin substantially surrounding the core and in contact with the core. The golf club may further include a golf club head having a plurality of apertures formed in a front face of the golf club head and extending through an interior of the golf club head to a rear portion of the golf club head. The apertures may narrow or widen as they extend from the front face to the rear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex W. Okot
  • Patent number: 8641557
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a striking face having a face center, a bottom portion, a top portion including an exterior surface, a hosel including an imaginary vertical hosel plane, a forwardmost point, and a rearwardmost point. In an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the hosel plane and passing through the face center, the exterior surface includes a path having a first point and a second point rearward of the first point. An imaginary infinite straight line passes through the first point and the second point, but does not penetrate the exterior surface. A segment of the imaginary straight line is delimited by the first point and the second point. A maximum distance between the segment and the exterior surface of the top portion is no greater than 0.70 mm and a distance between the first point and the second point is no less than 22 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Jimmy H. Kuan, Samuel G. Lacey, Dan S. Nivanh, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe
  • Publication number: 20140031140
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a back and a hosel region, located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, the crown and the sole. The body member may have a first cross-section having a first airfoil-shaped surface in the heel. The first cross-section may be oriented at approximately 90° from the centerline of the club head. The body member may have a second cross-section having a second airfoil-shaped surface. The second cross-section may be oriented at approximately 45° or at approximately 70°. The airfoil-shaped surfaces may be defined by spline points or by equations. A golf club including the golf club head is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: NIKE, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8628433
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a crown that extends over the void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry L. Jones
  • Patent number: 8622849
    Abstract: A driver type golf club head comprising a body having a face, a crown and a sole, wherein the highest point of the crown surface is located within a crown apex zone, and a portion of the crown contour exists above a radius arc of approximately 5.25 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: D. Clayton Evans, Evan Gibbs, Matthew T. Cackett, Steven M. Ehlers
  • Publication number: 20130344983
    Abstract: A high volume aerodynamic golf club head with a club head volume of at least 400 cc producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The club head has a crown section imparting beneficial aerodynamic and playability properties due in part to the location of a crown apex and the curvature of the crown section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Jeffrey J. Albertsen
  • Publication number: 20130344982
    Abstract: A high volume aerodynamic golf club head having a post apex attachment promoting region with a club head volume of at least 400 cc producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The post apex attachment promoting region is on the surface of the crown section at an elevation above a maximum face height and begins at the crown apex and extends toward the back of the club head. The post apex attachment promoting region is a relatively flat portion of the crown section that is behind the crown apex, yet above the maximum top edge plane, and aides in keeping airflow attached to the club head once it flows past the crown apex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Patent number: 8608587
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a crown surface extending between the face, the rear, the heel and the toe of the golf club head. A highest point on the surface of the crown defines an apex. The golf club head also includes a plurality of crown turbulators projecting from the surface of the crown. Each adjacent pair of crown turbulators is separate and spaced apart to define a space between the adjacent pair of crown turbulators, and each crown turbulator extends between the heel and the toe to define a width and extending between the face and the rear to define a length, which is substantially greater than the width. At least a portion of at least one crown turbulator is located between the face and the apex. The space between each adjacent pair of crown turbulators is substantially greater than the width of each of the adjacent pair of crown turbulators that define the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Erik M. Henrikson, Paul D. Wood, John Hert, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 8602909
    Abstract: A high volume aerodynamic golf club head with a club head volume of at least 400 cc producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The club head has a crown section imparting beneficial aerodynamic and playability properties due in part to the location of a crown apex and the curvature of the crown section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Jeffrey J. Albertsen
  • Publication number: 20130324293
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a rear and a crown. The crown may include a forward crown region, a rearward crown region, and a crown transition region therebetween. The rearward crown region may have a lower height than the forward crown region. The crown transition region may extend generally in a heel-to-toe direction. The vertical slope of the crown transition region may decrease as the crown transition region extends from the heel toward the toe. The crown transition region may lie at an angle from a front plane of the club head. Optionally, a club head may include a forward sole region, a rearward sole region, and a sole transition region therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Raymond J. Sander, Eric A. Larson
  • Publication number: 20130324295
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head may have a channel extending adjacent to a trailing edge of the club head. The channel may have a maximum depth of 6 mm and a maximum width ranging from 10 mm to 20 mm. A rough textured surface region may be provided on a sole, wherein the rough textured surface region has a surface roughness of greater than or equal to 1.00 ?m. A recess, formed in the sole, may extend from a mid-region to a toe of the club head, wherein the mid-region extends over the middle 40% of a length of the club head. A crown has an upper, forward surface and a stepped-down region, and the upper, forward surface transitions to the stepped-down region at a transition feature that extends from the hosel region at an angle of from 25 to 50 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew G.V. Oldknow
  • Publication number: 20130324294
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a back, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel and the crown. The sole includes a channel extending from the hosel region toward the toe. An insert is received within the channel. The club head further includes means for detachably securing the insert to the channel. A second insert configured for being received within the channel may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew G.V. Oldknow
  • Publication number: 20130324296
    Abstract: This invention provides a golf club head which includes a face portion, and has a volume of 400 cc or more. When the golf club head is disposed on a horizontal plane at a specific lie angle while the face portion is matched with the flight trajectory direction, and images of the face portion and the golf club head are projected onto a vertical plane from the front side of the face portion upon defining the flight trajectory direction as the projection direction, the area of a projected figure H of the golf club head is defined as HA, and the area of a projected figure F of the face portion is defined as FA. The golf club head satisfies 0.5<FA/HA<0.7, and a centroid Hc of the projected figure H coincides with a centroid Fc of the projected figure F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru BAN, Kozue WADA, Tadahiro NARITA
  • Patent number: 8597137
    Abstract: A high volume aerodynamic golf club head having a post apex attachment promoting region with a club head volume of at least 400 cc producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The post apex attachment promoting region is on the surface of the crown section at an elevation above a maximum face height and begins at the crown apex and extends toward the back of the club head. The post apex attachment promoting region is a relatively flat portion of the crown section that is behind the crown apex, yet above the maximum top edge plane, and aides in keeping airflow attached to the club head once it flows past the crown apex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Publication number: 20130316846
    Abstract: The present invention provides a golf club head having air flow guiding slot with uneven surface, which includes a ball striking plate, a connection portion, a top plate, a bottom portion and at least one air flow guiding slot. The at least one air flow guiding slot is mounted on the top plate and the bottom portion, is near to the connection portion, and has an uneven surface. Utilizing the uneven surface of the at least one air flow guiding slot, the stability of air flow can be improved and the surface area of the air flow guiding slot can be greatly increased so as to raise the weight of the air flow guiding slot so that the centre of gravity for the golf club head can be mounted on the at least one air flow guiding slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: WEN-TA CHEN
  • Patent number: 8585510
    Abstract: A golf club head (40) with a face component (50), an aft body (70), and an aerodynamic hosel (50) is disclosed herein. The hosel (50) is connected to the club head (40) at a head connection point (55) and to a shaft at a shaft connection point (57), and a YZ plane (85) defined by a y-axis and an x-axis that intersects the center of gravity (80) also intersects the head connection portion (55) of the hosel (50). In one further embodiment, a plane (95) aligned with the hosel (50) is parallel to an XZ plane (90) defined by the horizontal x-axis and the vertical z-axis. In another further alternative embodiment, a plane (95) aligned with the hosel (50) intersects the XZ plane 90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Steven M. Ehlers, D. Clayton Evans, Matthew T. Cackett
  • Publication number: 20130288819
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, and a skirt extending between the crown and the sole and between the toe and the heel. The club head includes a drag-reducing structure that may include one or both of a continuous groove extending from a front portion to a rear edge of the toe, and along an entire length of the skirt, and a substantially V-shaped recess formed in the sole and having a vertex positioned proximate the ball striking face and the heel and away from the skirt and the toe, and a pair of legs extending to a point proximate the toe and away from the ball striking face, and curving toward the skirt and away from the ball striking face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 8568247
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising an aerodynamic hosel is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the hosel may have an airfoil cross-section with a high thickness to chord ratio. In a further embodiment, the thickness to chord ratio may increase from a hosel head connection point to a hosel shaft connection point. In another embodiment, a shaft connection point of the hosel is closer to a club face vertical plane than to a head connection point vertical plane, e.g., is swept. In yet another embodiment, the hosel has an endplate proximate a shaft connection point. In yet another embodiment, the exterior surface of the hosel is rough, comprises at least one vertex generator, comprises a fillet, or comprises at least one trip step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Steven M. Ehlers
  • Patent number: 8562455
    Abstract: A driver type golf club head comprising a body having a face, a crown and a sole, wherein the highest point of the crown surface is located within a crown apex zone, and a portion of the crown contour exists above a radius arc of approximately 5.25 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: D. Clayton Evans, Evan D. Gibbs, Matthew T. Cackett, Steven M. Ehlers
  • Patent number: 8556742
    Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an asymmetrical visual swing indicator is provided. The asymmetrical visual swing indicator may be formed to represent an apparent backswing path outward of an actual backswing path. In certain configurations the asymmetrical visual swing indicator is positioned such that a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to the hitting surface of the golf club is closer to a heel end plane of the golf club head then a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to a rear surface of the golf club head. The swing indicator is integral with the body of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: T. Stites John
  • Patent number: 8550936
    Abstract: A high volume aerodynamic golf club head with a club head volume of at least 400 cc and a front-to-back dimension of at least 4.4 inches producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The club head has a crown section imparting beneficial aerodynamic and playability properties due in part to the location of a crown apex and proximity to a club head center of gravity, a height of the crown apex and a maximum face top edge height, and the curvature of the crown section. These attributes of the crown section contribute to desirable airflow reattachment close to the face and improve airflow attachment to the crown section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Jeffrey J. Albertsen
  • Patent number: 8540586
    Abstract: A high volume aerodynamic golf club head having a post apex attachment promoting region with a club head volume of at least 400 cc and a front-to-back dimension of at least 4.4 inches producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The post apex attachment promoting region is on the surface of the crown section at an elevation above a maximum face height and begins at the crown apex and extends toward the back of the club head. The post apex attachment promoting region is a relatively flat portion of the crown section that is behind the crown apex, yet above the maximum top edge plane, and aides in keeping airflow attached to the club head once it flows past the crown apex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Patent number: 8485917
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, and a skirt extending between the crown and the sole and between the toe and the heel. The club head includes a drag-reducing structure that may include one or both of a continuous groove extending from a front portion to a rear edge of the toe, and along an entire length of the skirt, and a substantially V-shaped recess formed in the sole and having a vertex positioned proximate the ball striking face and the heel and away from the skirt and the toe, and a pair of legs extending to a point proximate the toe and away from the ball striking face, and curving toward the skirt and away from the ball striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Publication number: 20130123040
    Abstract: A high volume aerodynamic golf club head having a post apex attachment promoting region with a club head volume of at least 400 cc and a front-to-back dimension of at least 4.4 inches producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The post apex attachment promoting region is on the surface of the crown section at an elevation above a maximum face height and begins at the crown apex and extends toward the back of the club head. The post apex attachment promoting region is a relatively flat portion of the crown section that is behind the crown apex, yet above the maximum top edge plane, and aides in keeping airflow attached to the club head once it flows past the crown apex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130109495
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body member that includes a ball striking face, a crown region, a toe region, a heel region, a sole region, a rear region and a hosel region. The body member has a drag-reduction feature that may include first and second elongated fins. The fins extend in a generally front-to-rear orientation. The fins are spaced farther apart at their forward-most ends than at their rearward-most ends. Alternatively, the drag-reduction feature may include first and second elongated indentations. The indentations extend in a generally front-to-rear orientation. The indentations are spaced farther apart at their forward-most ends than at their rearward-most ends. The drag-reduction features may be located on one or both of the crown region or the sole region. A golf club including the golf club head is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: NIKE, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130109494
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with turbulators and methods to manufacture golf club heads with turbulators are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Erik M. Henrikson, Paul D. Wood, John Hert, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 8398505
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, and a skirt extending between the crown and the sole and between the toe and the heel. The club head includes a drag-reducing structure that may include one or both of a continuous groove extending from a front portion to a rear edge of the toe, and along an entire length of the skirt, and a substantially V-shaped recess formed in the sole and having a vertex positioned proximate the ball striking face and the heel and away from the skirt and the toe, and a pair of legs extending to a point proximate the toe and away from the ball striking face, and curving toward the skirt and away from the ball striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 8366565
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a back and a hosel region, located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, the crown and the sole. The body member may have a first cross-section having a first airfoil-shaped surface in the heel. The first cross-section may be oriented at approximately 90° from the centerline of the club head. The body member may have a second cross-section having a second airfoil-shaped surface. The second cross-section may be oriented at approximately 45° or at approximately 70°. The airfoil-shaped surfaces may be defined by spline points or by equations. A golf club including the golf club head is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, John Thomas Stites
  • Patent number: 8360900
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body member that includes a ball striking face, a crown region, a toe region, a heel region, a sole region, a rear region and a hosel region. The body member has a drag-reduction feature that may include first and second elongated fins. The fins extend in a generally front-to-rear orientation. The fins are spaced farther apart at their forward-most ends than at their rearward-most ends. Alternatively, the drag-reduction feature may include first and second elongated indentations. The indentations extend in a generally front-to-rear orientation. The indentations are spaced farther apart at their forward-most ends than at their rearward-most ends. The drag-reduction features may be located on one or both of the crown region or the sole region. A golf club including the golf club head is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Patent number: 8337323
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a striking face having a face center, a bottom portion, a top portion including an exterior surface, a hosel including an imaginary vertical hosel plane, a forwardmost point, and a rearwardmost point. In an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the hosel plane and passing through the face center, the exterior surface includes a path having a first point and a second point rearward of the first point. An imaginary infinite straight line passes through the first point and the second point, but does not penetrate the exterior surface. A segment of the imaginary straight line is delimited by the first point and the second point. A maximum distance between the segment and the exterior surface of the top portion is no greater than 0.70 mm and a distance between the first point and the second point is no less than 22 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Jimmy H. Kuan, Samuel G. Lacey, Dan S. Nivanh, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe