Reduced Ground Resistance Patents (Class 473/328)
  • Patent number: 12201879
    Abstract: A golf club head formed of an alloy of steel that is capable of improving the center of gravity (CG) location while maintaining traditional external dimensions of the golf club head. More specifically, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention achieves a relatively low CG while maintaining traditional external dimensions by reducing the amount of mass contributed by the crown, the striking face, and the hosel, and strategically reallocating this mass within and/or proximate the sole of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Mitchell E. Bac
  • Patent number: 12134014
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads having transition profiles to reduce aerodynamic drag during a swing are described herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head includes a crown transition profile having a first crown radius of curvature, a sole transition profile having a first sole radius of curvature, and a rear transition profile having a rear radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan M. Stokke, Sina Ghods
  • Patent number: 12128278
    Abstract: An aerodynamic golf club head producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces via unique club head relationships.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Patent number: 12121781
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a club body including a crown, a sole, a skirt disposed between and connecting the crown and the sole and a face portion connected to a front end of the club body. The face portion includes a geometric center defining the origin of a coordinate system when the golf club head is ideally positioned, the coordinate system including an x-axis being tangent to the face portion at the origin and parallel to a ground plane, a y-axis intersecting the origin being parallel to the ground plane and orthogonal to the x-axis, and a z-axis intersecting the origin being orthogonal to both the x-axis and the y-axis. The golf club head defines a center of gravity CG, the CG being a distance CGY from the origin as measured along the y-axis and a distance CGZ from the origin as measured along the z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, John Francis Lorentzen, Bing-Ling Chao, Mark Vincent Greaney
  • Patent number: 12121783
    Abstract: A co-forged iron type golf club is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses an iron type golf club head from a pre-form billet that already contains two or more materials before the actual forging process resulting in a multi-material golf club head that doesn't require any post manufacturing operations such as machining, welding, swaging, gluing, and the like. The resultant golf club head may be capable of achieving center of gravity locations previously unachievable without utilizing this co-forging technique. The resultant golf club head may be used to create a set of golf club heads with center of gravity locations that are more advantageous throughout a set of golf clubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Kevin Tassistro, Ronald K. Hettinger
  • Patent number: 12036452
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of golf club heads having a balance of the following parameters: a low and back club head center of gravity position, a high moment of inertia, and low aerodynamic drag. Methods of manufacturing the embodiments of golf club heads having a balance of club head center of gravity position, moment of inertia, and aerodynamic drag are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan M. Stokke, Sina Ghods
  • Patent number: 11998810
    Abstract: A golf club head can include a body having a toe region and a heel region. The golf club body defines an opening to an internal cavity of the body and the opening is surrounded by a perimeter. The golf club head includes a face, a first support member, and a sole plate supported by the first support member and secured to the body at the perimeter. The sole plate is configured to be secured to the body in a plurality of arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Cameron J. Day, Bryce W. Hobbs, Ryan L. Roach, Michael T. McDonnell, Michael S. Yagley
  • Patent number: 11957965
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a club body and a resting face angle adjuster. The club body includes a crown opposite a sole, a toe end opposite a heel end, a back end opposite a face, and a hosel. The sole includes a sole surface. The resting face angle adjuster includes an adjustment member having a keel surface, and a recess formed in the sole such that a portion of the sole surface at least partially bounds the recess. The adjustment member is disposed in the recess and positionable between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position. In the first adjustment position, the keel surface is at a first distance relative to the portion of the sole surface. In the second adjustment position, the keel surface is at a second distance relative to the portion of the sole surface not equal to the first distance in the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Daniel K. Lee, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman
  • Patent number: 11806604
    Abstract: A skating aid comprising novelty figure, such as a snowman, from which a stick or handle, similar to the handle of the hockey stick, protrudes is described. The base of the novelty figure typically has two flat sections proximate its bottom angled relative to each other with the first flat section defining a storage position of the aid when it is not in use, and the second flat section defining a skating position for the aid when in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Craig J Plizga
  • Patent number: 11786787
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a striking face, a sole portion, a top portion, a hosel, a rear surface, a loft no less than 40°, a virtual vertical plane, and a center of gravity. The striking face has a face center, a leading edge, and a virtual striking face plane. The hosel includes an internal bore configured to receive a golf shaft and includes a peripheral side wall and a shaft abutment surface configured to abut a tip end of the golf shaft. The rear surface is opposite the striking face and has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including a forward-extending recess. The insert covers the recess forming a hollow portion. The virtual vertical plane is perpendicular to the striking face plane and passes through the face center. The center of gravity is spaced a distance from the virtual vertical plane in the heel-to-toe direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Patrick Ripp, Philip Seagram, Mika Becktor, Keith Dolezel
  • Patent number: 11771965
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of iron-type golf club heads that comprise weight reducing features in the topline region of the club head that facilitate changing the Z-up location of the club head. In some exemplary embodiments, the body comprises a weight reducing feature in a topline weight reduction zone of the club head that extends over the entire face length from the par line to the toe portion ending at approximately the Z-up location of the iron type golf club head. The weight reducing feature results in a mass savings of about 2 g to about 20 g, and a Zup shift of about 0.5 mm to about 2.0 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Issertell, Joshua J. Dipert, Bret H. Wahl, Maresala Milo, Zac Atwell, Scott Taylor
  • Patent number: 11731011
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of golf club heads with flexible soles. In one embodiment, the golf club head includes a body having a crown opposite a sole, a toe opposite a heel, a back end opposite a front end, and a hosel. The golf club head also includes a sole curvature profile comprising a radius of curvature that varies as the sole curvature profile extends between the front end and the back end. The radius of curvature is configured to increase the flexure of the entire golf club head, thereby increasing the internal energy of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Morales, Erik M. Henrikson
  • Patent number: 11717730
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with energy storage characteristics are presented herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a hollow body comprising a strikeface, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a crown, and a cavity positioned behind the strikeface on at least one of the sole and the crown. In many embodiments, the cavity comprises a front surface, and a rear surface, wherein at least a portion of the front surface extends toward the strikeface of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Eric J. Morales, Cory S. Bacon, Calvin Wang, Xiaojian Chen, Ryan M. Stokke, Travis D. Milleman
  • Patent number: 11697051
    Abstract: Embodiments of a golf club head with a plurality of energy storage features are presented herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a body comprising a strike face, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a crown, a channel, a chamfer spanning between a strike face and the crown, and an internal radius transition feature from the strike face to at least one of the sole or the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Cory S. Bacon, Eric J. Morales, Ryan M. Stokke, Calvin S. Wang, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman, Martin R. Jertson
  • Patent number: 11684833
    Abstract: A head of a golf club that comprises a ball striking face. The ball striking face has a top ridge, a leading edge, a heel edge, and a toe edge. The top ridge has a first base length and the leading edge has a second base length that is less than the first base length. The heel edge extends from the top ridge to the leading edge and slants at a first angle, relative to the top ridge, towards the toe edge. The toe edge extends from the top ridge to the leading edge and slants at a second angle, relative to the top ridge, towards the heel edge. The leading edge is arcuate and defines a leading edge radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Richard H. Walsh
  • Patent number: 11679311
    Abstract: A golf club head formed of an alloy of steel that is capable of improving the center of gravity (CG) location while maintaining traditional external dimensions of the golf club head. More specifically, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention achieves a relatively low CG while maintaining traditional external dimensions by reducing the amount of mass contributed by the crown, the striking face, and the hosel, and strategically reallocating this mass within and/or proximate the sole of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Mitchell E. Bac
  • Patent number: 11577133
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body having a ball striking face, a rear opposite the ball striking face, a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe, the body having a void defined by a peripheral edge on the sole. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void and forms at least a portion of the crown. At least a portion of the peripheral edge of the void includes a lip extending from the peripheral edge inwardly into the void. The golf club head may additionally or alternately include one or more weight receptacles connected to the sole and having an opening in the sole, such that each weight receptacle is configured to receive insertion of a weight through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. Taylor, Michael Wallans, John T. Stites, Sherry L. Jones
  • Patent number: 11571611
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a club body and a resting face angle adjuster. The club body includes a crown opposite a sole, a toe end opposite a heel end, a back end opposite a face, and a hosel. The sole includes a sole surface. The resting face angle adjuster includes an adjustment member having a keel surface, and a recess formed in the sole such that a portion of the sole surface at least partially bounds the recess. The adjustment member is disposed in the recess and positionable between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position. In the first adjustment position, the keel surface is at a first distance relative to the portion of the sole surface. In the second adjustment position, the keel surface is at a second distance relative to the portion of the sole surface not equal to the first distance in the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Daniel K. Lee, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman
  • Patent number: 11534663
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the lightweight golf clubs described herein include a thin crown, a thin sole, a mass efficient weight system, and a thin faceplate to maximize performance gains (e.g., ball travel distance, impact efficiency, and ball speed) targeted to individuals with swing speeds less than 85 mph. As will be further described below, in order to achieve a lightweight golf club head (having a thin crown, a thin sole, a mass efficient weight system, and a thin faceplate), the golf club head further comprises a crown-to-faceplate bridge and a sole-to-faceplate bridge to control the characteristic time (CT) properties of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Travis D. Milleman, Eric J. Morales, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Patent number: 11465019
    Abstract: An aerodynamic golf club head producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces via unique club head relationships.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Patent number: 11369846
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a club body including a crown, a sole, a skirt disposed between and connecting the crown and the sole and a face portion connected to a front end of the club body. The face portion includes a geometric center defining the origin of a coordinate system when the golf club head is ideally positioned, the coordinate system including an x-axis being tangent to the face portion at the origin and parallel to a ground plane, a y-axis intersecting the origin being parallel to the ground plane and orthogonal to the x-axis, and a z-axis intersecting the origin being orthogonal to both the x-axis and the y-axis. The golf club head defines a center of gravity CG, the CG being a distance CGY from the origin as measured along the y-axis and a distance CGZ from the origin as measured along the z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, John Francis Lorentzen, Bing-Ling Chao, Mark Vincent Greaney
  • Patent number: 11370012
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a striking face including a face center, a top portion, a sole including a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a rear side opposite the striking face. The rear side includes a channel configured to permit bending at least a portion of the sole to cause plastic deformation to change a bounce angle defined as an angle between a virtual sole line and a virtual ground plane when the golf club head is orientated in a reference position where the golf club head is addressed to hit a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Ripp, Keith Dolezel
  • Patent number: 11344773
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a main body and a cover member. The main body is provided with a sole opening, and a receiving area therearound. The cover member integrally includes a crown cover and a sole cover. The sole cover has a peripheral edge portion on the receiving area. The sole portion is provided with a convexed or concaved shape-changing portion. The peripheral edge portion of the sole cover is located between the shape-changing portion and the back-side outer rim portion. The outer surface of the sole portion includes a first region on a side opposite of the shape-changing portion opposite to the back-side outer rim portion, and a second region on the same side of the shape-changing portion as the back-side outer rim portion. The second region includes a polished area formed from a part of the sole cover and a part of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomotaka Aramaki
  • Patent number: 11344774
    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 having a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a bottom portion, a rear portion, a first interior cavity portion, and a second interior cavity portion. The second interior cavity portion may include a filler material. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 11305163
    Abstract: Disclosed golf club heads include a body defining an interior cavity, a striking surface, a sole, a crown, and a hosel, which is configured to provide improved aerodynamic and inertia generating properties of the golf club head. Certain embodiments include an inertia generator positioned in the sole between an area proximate the club head's center of gravity and a position toeward of the center of gravity at the rear of the golf club head. Some embodiments include fixed or removable mass elements, weights or weight assemblies positioned in the sole, including, in some instances, within or adjacent to the inertia generator. In particular embodiments, one or more weight assemblies are movably retained within a weight channel defining a path along the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew David Johnson, David Bennett, Dana Ehyaei, Robert Story, Jake Feuerstein
  • Patent number: 11117025
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body including a top and a bottom and a hosel connected to the body. The body comprises a forward face defining a leading edge and an opposing rearward facing surface defining a trailing edge. At least one weight shifting element is positioned on the rearward facing surface. A sole extends between the leading edge and the trailing edge and defines a center portion, a first end surface and a second end surface. A static bounce angle is equal to an effective bounce angle when the center portion is square with the ground, and the effective bounce angle is greater than the static bounce angle when the center portion is not square with the ground and the second end surface is positioned away from the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Grant William Gulick
  • Patent number: 11083936
    Abstract: A ball striking device has a face with a striking surface and a body extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face. A channel crosses a centerline of the sole, and includes a trough defined between front and rear edges and extending in a heel-toe direction. The device further has internal interconnection structure for connection of a shaft to the head. A bore or access opening is provided to access the interconnecting structure. The rear edge of the first portion of the channel in its entirety is positioned more proximate to the face than to a rear of the golf club head. The access opening and the front edge of the channel at the centerline of the sole are spaced from the outer periphery of the face by equal distances, and a part of the channel passes between the access opening and the rear of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Boyd, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
  • Patent number: 11065517
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body having a ball striking face, a rear opposite the ball striking face, a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe, the body having a void defined by a peripheral edge on the sole. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void and forms at least a portion of the crown. At least a portion of the peripheral edge of the void includes a lip extending from the peripheral edge inwardly into the void. The golf club head may additionally or alternately include one or more weight receptacles connected to the sole and having an opening in the sole, such that each weight receptacle is configured to receive insertion of a weight through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. Taylor, Michael Wallans, John T. Stites, Sherry L. Jones
  • Patent number: 11020641
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a club body and a resting face angle adjuster. The club body includes a crown opposite a sole, a toe end opposite a heel end, a back end opposite a face, and a hosel. The sole includes a sole surface. The resting face angle adjuster includes an adjustment member having a keel surface, and a recess formed in the sole such that a portion of the sole surface at least partially bounds the recess. The adjustment member is disposed in the recess and positionable between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position. In the first adjustment position, the keel surface is at a first distance relative to the portion of the sole surface. In the second adjustment position, the keel surface is at a second distance relative to the portion of the sole surface not equal to the first distance in the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Daniel K. Lee, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman
  • Patent number: 11020636
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head includes a face portion, and a sole portion including a toe-side thick walled portion formed on a toe-side thereof, a heel-side thick walled portion formed on a heel-side thereof, and a middle thin walled portion formed between the toe-side thick walled portion and the heel-side thick walled portion. At least a part of the toe-side thick walled portion and at least a part of the heel-side thick walled portion are located on the face portion to a club head center of gravity. The middle thin walled portion having a smaller thickness than the toe-side thick walled portion and the heel-side thick walled portion. The sole portion is provided with a toe-side through hole between the toe-side thick walled portion and the middle thin walled portion and a heel-side through hole between the heel-side thick walled portion and the middle thin walled portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomotaka Aramaki
  • Patent number: 10894193
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with cavities and methods to manufacture golf club heads with cavities are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a body. The body comprises a strikeface, a backside of the strikeface, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a first cavity at the backside of the strikeface, a rear portion opposite the strikeface, and a second cavity at the rear portion. In many embodiments, the golf club head further comprises a cap closing off the second cavity. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaojian Chen, Cory S. Bacon
  • Patent number: 10857429
    Abstract: Golf club heads are described herein, and in one embodiment including a body with an exterior surface defining a first body volume of at least about 400 cm3. The body has a bottom portion having a sole, a top portion, a front portion, a back portion, and a front-rear dimension of at least about 111 mm. A face positioned at the front portion of the body and is configured to receive an impact. A groove located in the sole and extending from the heel portion to the toe portion. The golf club head has a moment of inertia about a center of gravity z-axis of at least about 450 kg·mm2 and a coefficient of restitution greater than about 0.810.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett
  • Patent number: 10821337
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a heel, a toe, a sole, and a rail. The toe is opposite the heel. The sole is between the toe and the heel. The sole has a forward portion and an aft portion. A forward-aft direction is defined from the forward portion to the aft portion. A heel-toe direction is defined from the heel to the toe. The rail extends outwardly from the sole along the forward-aft direction. The rail and the sole define an open-ended first channel extending along the rail in the forward-aft direction. The rail defines a second channel extending in the heel-toe direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Bryce Hobbs, D. Clayton Evans, Cameron J. Day, Tim A. Beno, Ryan L. Roach
  • Patent number: 10758792
    Abstract: A head includes a face surface, a back surface, and a top blade. The back surface includes a top-side region and a sole-side region. The top-side region includes a toe recess part located on a toe side relative to a face center, a heel recess part located on a heel side relative to the face center, and a first thick portion extending along the top blade and located on an upper side relative to the toe recess part and the heel recess part. In a reference state in which the head is placed on a horizontal plane, an angle between a lower edge of the first thick portion and the horizontal plane is denoted by ?1, and an angle between the top blade and the horizontal plane is denoted by ?2. The angle ?1 is smaller than the angle ?2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Shimahara
  • Patent number: 10675520
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body having a ball striking face, a rear opposite the ball striking face, a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe, the body having a void defined by a peripheral edge on the sole. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void and forms at least a portion of the crown. At least a portion of the peripheral edge of the void includes a lip extending from the peripheral edge inwardly into the void. The golf club head may additionally or alternately include one or more weight receptacles connected to the sole and having an opening in the sole, such that each weight receptacle is configured to receive insertion of a weight through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. Taylor, Michael Wallans, John T. Stites, Sherry L. Jones
  • Patent number: 10668341
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a club body and a resting face angle adjuster. The club body includes a crown opposite a sole, a toe end opposite a heel end, a back end opposite a face, and a hosel. The sole includes a sole surface. The resting face angle adjuster includes an adjustment member having a keel surface, and a recess formed in the sole such that a portion of the sole surface at least partially bounds the recess. The adjustment member is disposed in the recess and positionable between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position. In the first adjustment position, the keel surface is at a first distance relative to the portion of the sole surface. In the second adjustment position, the keel surface is at a second distance relative to the portion of the sole surface not equal to the first distance in the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Daniel K. Lee, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman
  • Patent number: 10661131
    Abstract: A golf club head with an improved sole profile is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a wedge type golf club head wherein the sole is formed from continuously variable radius of curvature from the leading edge to the trailing edge, without any identifiable inflection points. The resulting golf club head improves performance, as this new sole profile allows specific portions of the sole to have a profile that meets the needs at that location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: James P. Harrington, Oswaldo Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 10603554
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Oldknow
  • Patent number: 10512827
    Abstract: A golf club head with at least one hollow rail disposed on the sole of the club head body, and an insert positioned within at least a portion of the at least one hollow rail. The insert may include a thermoplastic polymer, such as thermoplastic urethane, and may be positioned to beneficially modify a mass distribution of the club head. By providing sole rail(s), a player may benefit from improved ball speed due to the improved interaction between the club head and turf or ground. The golf club head may further include a channel along a length of the sole of the club head, wherein the channel traverses the at least one hollow rail. The channel may extend in a heel-toe direction along the sole and allow greater flexibility in the club head upon impact with a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Bryce Hobbs, D. Clayton Evans, Cameron J. Day, Tim A. Beno, Ryan L. Roach
  • Patent number: 10265589
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body having a crown, sole and skirt therebetween, the head body defining an opening in a front portion and having a frame support around the periphery of the opening. A face plate is mounted within the opening and has a transition radius along one or more edges to at least partially wrap around one or more of the crown, sole and skirt. The head includes thin wall zones in the crown and skirt, a hosel flush with the crown and a weight mounted in the sole proximate to the face plate, such that the golf club head has a center of gravity located relatively low and forward in proximity to the face plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, Todd P. Beach, John Francis Lorentzen
  • Patent number: 10258849
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body having a ball striking face, a rear opposite the ball striking face, a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe, the body having a void defined by a peripheral edge on the sole. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void and forms at least a portion of the crown. At least a portion of the peripheral edge of the void includes a lip extending from the peripheral edge inwardly into the void. The golf club head may additionally or alternately include one or more weight receptacles connected to the sole and having an opening in the sole, such that each weight receptacle is configured to receive insertion of a weight through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. Taylor, Michael Wallans, John T. Stites, Sherry L. Jones
  • Patent number: 10166443
    Abstract: A golf club head according to the present invention includes a face portion, a crown portion and a sole portion, the sole portion including a toe-side recessed portion arranged on a toe side, a heel-side recessed portion arranged on a heel side, and a middle recessed portion arranged between the toe-side recessed portion and the heel-side recessed portion, and at least one readily deformable portion that extends linearly in a toe-heel direction is formed in the toe-side recessed portion and the heel-side recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamura, Mika Becktor
  • Patent number: 10130853
    Abstract: An iron-type golf club head comprising a topline, a sole in opposed relation to the topline, and a front portion extending from the topline toward the sole. The front portion includes a leading edge, a substantially planar hitting region including a face center, and a peripheral region. The peripheral region at least partially surrounds the hitting region such that the hitting region and the peripheral region define therebetween a visually-recognizable hitting region boundary line including a sole-proximate boundary line segment such that when the club head is oriented in a reference position relative to a virtual ground plane, and in a virtual vertical plane perpendicular to the hitting region and passing through the face center, the sole-proximate boundary line segment is vertically spaced above the leading edge by a distance D1 that is no less than 2.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mika Becktor, Patrick Ripp
  • Patent number: 10029164
    Abstract: A roller apparatus integrated with one or more inner side protective landings of a roller hockey goalie's leg protective member. The apparatus may include a first planar layer having a first plurality of openings arranged in a planar array, a second planar layer having a second plurality of openings aligned with the first plurality of openings of the first layer; and a plurality of roller bearings shaped and sized for positioning in the aligned first plurality of openings and second plurality of openings, with outer surfaces of the roller bearings projecting outwardly from the first plurality of openings of the first planar layer of the roller assembly to enable rolling movement of the roller assembly when engaged in contact with a dry surface. Also described are methods of configuring a roller assembly, such as the aforementioned roller apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Inventor: Ioane Keehu
  • Patent number: 10022595
    Abstract: A method of customizing a golf club, wherein the method includes generating operating data representative of a user operating a mechanical device. The operating data is generated by a first sensor sized and configured to be removably positioned in a mounting port formed on the mechanical device during operation of the mechanical device. The sensor is interchangeably positionable in the mounting port with at least one mass insert, the at least one mass insert being adapted to be interchangeably positioned in the mounting to provide at least two different mass configurations. The method further includes determining a recommended configuration of the at least one mass insert specific to the user based on the operating data generated by the sensor, and transmitting information representative of the recommended mass insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keith Dolezel, Dan Nivanh, Patrick Ripp
  • Patent number: 9956459
    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 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert M. Boyd, John T. Stites, Andrew G.V. Oldknow
  • Patent number: 9937396
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to a golf club head which includes a wood type golf club head body including a ball striking face portion at a front side thereof, a rear side opposite the front side, a crown portion, and a sole portion. Further, the sole or crown or rear portion of the golf club head body may be configured so that the golf club head body includes a bump portion which protrudes from the sole or crown or rear portion and an indented portion which recedes into the sole or crown or rear portion and creates a recess in the sole or crown or rear portion of the golf club head body. Further, the bump portion and the indented portion may be configured so that a center of gravity of the club head body is nearer to one of the heel edge of the club head body and the toe edge of the club head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Karsten Maufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Patent number: 9908018
    Abstract: A muscle-back iron golf club head includes a blade-like upper mass, a muscle-like lower mass, a planar front surface, a top surface, a sole surface, a heel surface, a toe surface, and a rear surface having a first contour. A recess is in the rear surface, the recess having a first portion in the blade-like upper mass and a second portion in the muscle-like lower mass. An insert may be provided in the recess, and such insert may substantially fill the recess and may include a back surface having a second contour which is different from the first contour of the club head rear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Roberts, Trent E. Garner, Kevin A. Wolfe, Daniel J. Stone, Christopher J. Beck, Todd D. Harman, Brent L. Newsome, Michael J. Wallans, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe
  • Patent number: 9889349
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body and a plurality of stiffening members is disclosed herein. The body comprises a face section, a sole section, and a crown section or a return section, and also defines a hollow interior. Each of the plurality of stiffening members extends from the crown section or return section to the sole section to reduce stresses placed on the face during impact with a golf ball. The stiffening members preferably are preloaded, and may be tightened using a tool. Each of the stiffening members has a midsection that is preferably selected from the group consisting of a solid metal rod, a hollow metal tube, and a spring, and each preferably is composed of a titanium alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Callway Golf Company
    Inventors: James A. Seluga, Matthew Myers, Patrick Dawson
  • Patent number: 9868037
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a striking face with a plurality of scorelines. A first virtual vertical plane is perpendicular to the striking face and passes through a toe-wardmost extent of the scorelines, and a second virtual vertical plane is parallel to the first virtual vertical plane and passes through a heel-wardmost extent of the scorelines. A central region bounded by the first virtual vertical plane, the second virtual vertical plane, and a striking face periphery has a first average surface roughness Ra1 of between about 40 ?in and about 180 ?in. And a majority of a toe region bounded by the first vertical plane and the striking face periphery is textured to have a second average surface roughness Ra2 no less than 1.5 times Ra1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Patrick Ripp, Jeff D. Brunski