Plural Grooves Patents (Class 473/331)
  • Patent number: 9656136
    Abstract: A game stick and game are disclosed. The game stick includes a shaft with a head at one end. A channel wide enough for a game ball is defined in the head. The ball is placed in the channel and when the game stick is swung, the ball rides along the channel and is released therefrom to fly through the air. The head may be adjustable to affect the way in which the ball is thrown. The game is similar to golf except that instead of hitting the ball, the ball is thrown toward a target location at the end of a fairway. When the target location is reached, the game stick may be used as a putter to push or putt the ball to sink it into a sunken cup in the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: PlusOne Sports LLC
    Inventors: Alex Van Alen, Douglas G. Sabin
  • Patent number: 9649542
    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 face portion, a toe portion, a top portion, a sole portion, and a back portion with a plurality of weight portions. The golf club head may include an interior cavity. The golf club head may include face markings on the face portion that include a first set of markings extending between the toe portion and the heel portion and a second set of markings extending between the top portion and the sole portion. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventor: Michael R Nicolette
  • Patent number: 9636757
    Abstract: A cutting tool for simultaneously forming grooves and face surface features on the face of a golf club head, and methods of using said cutting tool, is disclosed herein. The tool preferably includes at least one groove cutting portion, which creates a groove having a sidewall angle, at least one radius cutting portion, which creates each groove's edge radii, and at least one face cutting portion, which flattens and/or textures the landing area disposed between each pair of grooves and is wider than the at least one groove cutting portion. The cutting tool of the present invention preferably spins around an axis parallel to the golf club face, and can include one or more micro-feature forming portions to create positive and/or negative texturing in the land areas between each pair of grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Bradley C. Rice, Esteban Aguilar, Irina Ivanova
  • Patent number: 9579550
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a heel portion, a toe portion, a hosel, and a striking face. The striking face includes a plurality of scorelines each having an average depth no less than about 0.10 mm, a plurality of micro-grooves each having an average depth no greater than about 0.010 mm, and a plurality of textured surface treatment regions superimposed on the micro-grooves so as to at least partially intersect the micro-grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Roberto Aguayo, Jeffrey D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Sharon J. Park
  • Patent number: 9555298
    Abstract: A golf club head has a striking face with a plurality of scorelines including a first scoreline and a second scoreline adjacent thereto. The striking face also has a plurality of auxiliary grooves each spaced from the scorelines. In a first imaginary vertical plane, a first path is formed by a first intersection between the first imaginary vertical plane and the striking face, and the auxiliary grooves have a first concentration no less than 0.17 measured between the first and second scorelines. A second imaginary vertical plane is horizontally spaced from the first imaginary plane. A second path is formed in the second imaginary vertical plane by a second intersection between the second imaginary vertical plane and the striking face. The auxiliary grooves in the second imaginary vertical plane have a second concentration that is different from the first concentration measured between the first and second scorelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SRI SPORTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Scott A. Carlyle, Sharon J. Park, Brian D. Schielke
  • Patent number: 9539477
    Abstract: Provided are a golf club head and a method for producing the golf club head. The golf club head comprises a striking face that in turn comprises a recurrent texture pattern that has a period T and that is defined by a plurality of depressions, each depression having an average depth no greater than 0.10 mm. The striking face also comprises a plurality of scorelines that at least partially intersect the recurrent texture pattern and that have a scoreline pitch Ps such that T/Ps is greater than 1.0, each scoreline having an average depth no less than 0.10 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Patrick Ripp, Roberto Aguayo, Michael J. Kline
  • Patent number: 9504885
    Abstract: A golf club head of this invention is a wood type golf club head including a face portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion. A plurality of grooves arrayed in the vertical direction of the face portion are formed in the face portion. The depth of the plurality of grooves is less than 0.025 mm. When pitches between, out of the plurality of grooves, grooves adjacent in the vertical direction of the face portion are represented by P1, P2, . . . , Pn sequentially from the upper side to the lower side of the face portion, P1?P2? . . . ?Pn, and P1>Pn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wataru Ban
  • Patent number: 9393464
    Abstract: A golf club head includes at least one second score line that is formed such that when a lie angle in a first state where a sole portion is horizontal or substantially horizontal is defined as a first lie angle, the second score line is parallel to a horizontal plane in a second state where a second lie angle that is a lie angle greater than the first lie angle is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Posting Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 9308421
    Abstract: A golf club head of this invention includes a sole portion and a face portion. The golf club head includes a metal member that forms the face portion. The surface of the metal member includes a plurality of score lines, and undulations continuously formed in the up-down direction of the face portion. The pitch between adjacent apexes of the undulations exceeds 3 mm. The score lines are formed at the apexes of the undulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Ban, Atsushi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 9283448
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body and a face plate insert. The body includes an annular face support having a recessed shelf configured to receive the face plate insert, and partially defining a central cavity. The face plate insert includes a hitting surface and a rear surface that is opposite the hitting surface. The face plate insert is disposed within the annular face such that the rear surface of the face plate insert abuts the recessed shelf. The face plate insert includes a polymeric material that is disposed across the cavity and that has a tensile strength of at least about 220 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Nike Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond J. Sander
  • Patent number: 9162116
    Abstract: A golf club head has a striking face with a plurality of scorelines including a first scoreline and a second scoreline adjacent thereto. The striking face also has a plurality of auxiliary grooves each spaced from the scorelines. In a first imaginary vertical plane, a first path is formed by a first intersection between the first imaginary vertical plane and the striking face, and the auxiliary grooves have a first concentration no less than 0.17 measured between the first and second scorelines. A second imaginary vertical plane is horizontally spaced from the first imaginary plane. A second path is formed in the second imaginary vertical plane by a second intersection between the second imaginary vertical plane and the striking face. The auxiliary grooves in the second imaginary vertical plane have a second concentration that is different from the first concentration measured between the first and second scorelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: SRI SPORTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Scott A. Carlyle, Sharon J. Park, Brian D. Schielke
  • Patent number: 9138619
    Abstract: A golf club head includes: a face portion; a crown portion, furrows being formed on an interior surface of at least a part of the crown part in a mesh-like pattern; a side portion; a sole portion, at least a front part of the sole portion being made of metal, and furrows being formed on an interior surface of at least a part of the front part in a mesh-like pattern; and a hosel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaharu Takechi
  • Patent number: 9033820
    Abstract: A golf club head of the present invention includes a face. The face has a score line groove, a fine groove, and a land area. A depth of the fine groove is 0.01 mm or greater and less than 0.03 mm. A width of the fine groove is 0.1 mm or greater and 0.3 mm or less. A pitch of the fine groove is 0.3 mm or greater and 0.7 mm or less. Preferably, the face further has a protruding part protruding beyond the land area. Preferably, the protruding part is provided on a top blade side of the fine groove. Preferably, the protruding part extends along the fine groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Kato
  • Patent number: 9033819
    Abstract: A golf club head is provided having a club body and a contact plate secured to the club body. The contact plate defines at least a portion of a striking surface having a plurality of striking surface grooves. The contact plate is formed using an electroforming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bret H. Wahl, Xinhui Deng
  • Publication number: 20150133234
    Abstract: A golf club head of this invention includes a sole portion and a face portion. The golf club head includes a metal member that forms the face portion. The surface of the metal member includes a plurality of score lines, and undulations continuously formed in the up-down direction of the face portion. The pitch between adjacent apexes of the undulations exceeds 3 mm. The score lines are formed at the apexes of the undulations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru BAN, Atsushi KOMATSU
  • Patent number: 9028340
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of forming a fine groove with a width smaller than that of a scoreline in a golf club head. The method according to this invention includes a first step of forming a base groove in a face surface as a base of the fine groove, and a second step of forming a recess in at least one side wall of the base groove to reduce the angle between this side wall and the face surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wataru Ban
  • Patent number: 9022876
    Abstract: Putter heads include a ball striking head body member and a rear body member. In some putter heads, the ball striking head body member includes a rearwardly extending body support having an opening defined therein, and the rear body member extends through this opening. In other putter heads, the rear body member includes a forwardly projecting platform that includes an alignment aid thereon. In still other putter heads, the ball striking head body member includes rearward extending arms at the heel and toe sides that extend rearward at an angle to a location outside the heel and toe edges, respectively, of the ball striking face. Additionally, the rear body member of other putter heads have a first end engaged at a heel side of the ball striking head body member and a free second end that is not engaged with any portion of the putter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, Jason P. Martin, Carl A. Jonsson
  • Patent number: 9022880
    Abstract: A golf club head which may include an iron-type golf club head body, a face plate, and a filler positioned behind the ball striking face. According to aspects of the disclosure, the face plate may include score lines which define holes in the face plate. Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, the filler may be comprised of a material that readily absorbs the deflection of the face plate during impact with a golf ball during a golf swing and dampens the impact between the golf club head and the golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Chris Savage
  • Patent number: 9022874
    Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads (102), may include a putter body and an adjustable ball striking face insert (116) forming at least a portion of the ball striking face (104) and contained within the putter body. The insert (116) may have a plurality of sides (118a, 118b, 118c, 118d), each of the sides having different performance characteristics to permit customization of the putter (100). In some examples, the adjustable ball striking face insert (116) may be rotatably mounted within the putter head. Additionally or alternatively, the insert (116) may be removably mounted within the putter head (102). In some arrangements, the insert (116) may be finely adjustable to alter the loft angle of the putter head (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Hatton, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Jeremy N. Snyder, Donald S. Rahrig
  • Publication number: 20150111660
    Abstract: A co-forged iron type golf club is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses a co-forged iron type golf club with the body portion made out of a first material and at least one weight adjustment portion monolithically encased within the body portion of the co-forged iron type golf club head without the need for secondary attachment or machining operations. The present invention creates of 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Wu, Jonathan Hebreo
  • Patent number: 9011268
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of manufacturing a golf club head including a face surface. This manufacturing method includes a step of forming a plurality of recessed portions in the face surface, included in a first member, to extend in the toe-to-heel direction, a fixing step of fixing, to the recessed portions, second members which are formed by a material different from that of the first member, and fill the recessed portions, and after the fixing step, a scoreline forming step of forming at least one scoreline in each of the second members, while not forming the scoreline in a portion, between the recessed portions, of the face surface of the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wataru Ban
  • Patent number: 9005046
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having the ball striking surface located at a front of the head and a plurality of parallel face grooves extending laterally across at least a portion of the ball striking surface, a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face, and an indicator on the ball striking surface of the face. The indicator is located in an area between the face grooves and proximate a lateral center of the ball striking surface, and includes at least one indent in the ball striking surface. The indent has a depth that is substantially less than a depth of any of the face grooves. Methods associated with such ball striking devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Thomas, Chris Savage, Don Rahrig
  • Publication number: 20150087438
    Abstract: The invention provides methods of making a component for a golf club by shaping a workpiece by a first process and also shaping the workpiece by a second process that includes electrical discharge machining. A first process such as forging or casting can shape the gross morphology of the workpiece and material can be removed by the second process to form desired features or textures. In certain aspects, the invention provides a golf club head with a club head body having a face, a sole, a toe, a heel, and a hosel extending upwards from a heel-side of the club head body when the club head is at address. A part of the club head body is formed by the first process, with material having been removed from the part by the second process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Matthew R. Johnson, Michael S. Yagley
  • Patent number: 8979670
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a heel portion, a toe portion, a hosel, and a striking face. The striking face includes a plurality of scorelines each having an average depth no less than about 0.10 mm, a plurality of micro-grooves each having an average depth no greater than about 0.010 mm, and a plurality of textured surface treatment regions superimposed on the micro-grooves so as to at least partially intersect the micro-grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Dunlop Sports Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Roberto Aguayo, Jeffrey D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Sharon J. Park
  • Patent number: 8979667
    Abstract: A golf putter head which includes a putting face having a positive loft angle diverging from vertical to a putter head base. The putting face is formed from a plurality of substantially parallel blades, each of the blades contiguous with each other wherein the blades are arrayed at a downward angle. Each of the blades narrows in width towards the putting face and terminates in a narrow tip. Each of the blades is flexible at its tip in order impart an upward spring force upon impact with a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Tulsa
    Inventor: Steven M. Tipton
  • Publication number: 20150072801
    Abstract: A striking plate of a golf club head includes roughened textured surface portions and scoring line portions. The roughened textured surface portions are spaced apart from each other. Each roughened textured surface portion includes ridges. The scoring line portions are arranged alternatingly with the roughened textured surface portions. Each scoring line portion includes a sunken surface, a surrounding surface surrounding the sunken surface, and two connecting surface segments each extending from one end of the surrounding surface to connect to a respective adjacent roughened textured surface portion. The sunken surface cooperates with the surrounding surface to define a groove that extends along a line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL MULTITECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chin-Tang CHANG
  • Patent number: 8968115
    Abstract: A method for surface treating a golf club head, includes: (a) forming a depression unit in the golf club head, the depression unit being indented inwardly from an outer surface of the golf club head, the outer surface being divided into a working area and a non-working area, the depression unit being formed in the working area; (b) filling the depression unit with a shielding material and covering the non-working area with a covering material; and (c) sandblasting the golf club head after step (b) and removing subsequently the shielding material from the depression unit and the covering material from the non-working area so as to form the working area into sandblasted and non-sandblasted regions that differ in gloss intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Sharon J. Park, Daniel J. Stone, Chih-Lung Liu, Chin-Chun Tseng, Jiann-Hsing Chuang
  • Publication number: 20150057100
    Abstract: Embodiments of grooves of golf club heads and methods to manufacture grooves of golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Anthony D. Serrano, Paul D. Wood, Bradley D. Schweigert, Calvin S. Wang
  • Patent number: 8961334
    Abstract: Putter heads have a ball striking face portion and a rear body portion (as one or more parts). These putter heads may have a DCG/B ratio of at least 0.425 (where B is the overall breadth dimension and DCG is the depth of the center of gravity). Some putter heads may include: (a) a ball striking face body member having a ball striking face with plural openings defined in its central portion; (b) a polymeric material mostly located behind an exterior surface of the ball striking face, wherein a portion of the polymeric material is exposed at the exterior surface of the ball striking face through the openings; and (c) a rear body member engaged with the ball striking face body member. Rear body members or portions thereof can be interchanged to allow for customization and/or better fitting of the putter to the user's putting stroke and/or tastes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Jeremy N. Snyder, Michael R. Pinto, Carl Jonsson, Gregory Scott Hinzmann
  • Publication number: 20150024868
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads having a hydrophobic surface and methods to manufacture such golf club heads are generally described herein. The golf club heads are configured to comprise a ball-striking face and at least two channels formed therein. The channels are separated by a land portion of the ball-striking face extending therebetween. The land portion is associated with at least a first step portion extending at a first elevation and a second step portion extending at a second elevation, the second elevation being higher than the first elevation relative to a bottom of the channels. Each of the first and second step portions is so dimensioned as to be associated with a substantially hydrophobic contact angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Matthew W. Simone
  • Publication number: 20150024869
    Abstract: An iron type golf club head that comprises a face part, a sole part, a hosel part, and a cavity part. A lower part of an inner surface of the cavity part on a face surface side is a forward recess part that is recessed toward a face surface, and following formulas are satisfied: ?2??3 and ?2??1 wherein an intersectional angle that is formed between the lower part of the inner surface of the cavity part on the face surface side and the face surface is marked with ?2, an intersectional angle that is formed between a rear surface of the cavity part and the face surface is marked with ?3, and an intersectional angle that is formed between a bottom surface of the cavity part and the face surface is marked with ?1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Tomonori KITAGAWA, Kozue WADA
  • Publication number: 20140378245
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a heel portion, a toe portion, a hosel, and a striking face. The striking face includes a plurality of scorelines each having an average depth no less than about 0.10 mm, a plurality of first micro-grooves each having an average depth no greater than about 0.010 mm, and a plurality of second micro-grooves overlaid on the first micro-grooves, each of the second micro-grooves having an average depth greater than the average depth of the first micro-grooves. Some embodiments can also have a plurality of textured surface treatment regions superimposed on the overlaid first and second micro-grooves so as to at least partially intersect the micro-grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Patrick RIPP, Roberto AGUAYO, Jeffrey D. BRUNSKI, Matthew R. DARASKAVICH, Sharon J. PARK
  • Patent number: 8900064
    Abstract: Putter heads include one or more of a main putter body portion which may including a ball striking face member, a first arm, a second arm, a central member which aligns with the heel-to-toe center of the ball striking face. The central member may include a center portion through which a center line of the putter heads extends and a rear portion. The first arm and the second arm may be symmetrical with respect to the center line of the putter head. The first arm may be configured to be angled towards the center line of the putter head such that the first arm defines a first line which, when extended, is tangent to a portion of an outside diameter of a golf ball when the golf ball is positioned in front of the ball striking member with the center of the golf ball aligned with the center line of the putter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: David N. Franklin
  • Publication number: 20140342846
    Abstract: Golf club heads with enlarged grooves, wherein a portion of the finish adjacent or within the groove is removed to create the visual appearance of enlarged grooves. The surface finish of the groove enhancement area surrounding the groove is matched to be the same as the surface finish of the groove, preferably a bright, smooth or shiny metallic finish. This surface finish of the remainder of the striking face of the golf club is a second surface finish, preferably a dark or black matte, or rough finish. The contrast between the two finishes gives the perception that the grooves are larger than they are physically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Douglas E. Roberts, James G. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8858361
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a heel portion, a toe portion, a hosel, and a striking face. The striking face includes a plurality of scorelines each having an average depth no less than about 0.10 mm, a plurality of first micro-grooves each having an average depth no greater than about 0.010 mm, and a plurality of second micro-grooves overlaid on the first micro-grooves, each of the second micro-grooves having an average depth greater than the average depth of the first micro-grooves. Some embodiments can also have a plurality of textured surface treatment regions superimposed on the overlaid first and second micro-grooves so as to at least partially intersect the micro-grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Ripp, Roberto Aguayo, Jeffrey D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Sharon J. Park
  • Publication number: 20140295989
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an iron-type golf club head having features that permit adjustment to the principal moment of inertia angle, the center of gravity location, turf interaction, loft, and overall club forgiveness. In particular, the golf club head includes a rear cavity sized to receive a weight cartridge composed of one or more materials, the adjustment of which changes one or more of the mass properties of the golf club head and also changes the interaction of the golf club head with turf during play. The weight cartridge may comprise one or more high density materials, and may be located in or proximate the sole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Wee Joung Kim, Homer E. Aguinaldo, James A. Seluga
  • Patent number: 8845455
    Abstract: This invention provides a golf club head including a plurality of scorelines formed in its face surface and extending in the toe-to-heel direction. This golf club head includes a recessed portion for the cutting start of each scoreline, which is formed at one end or each of both ends of the scoreline in the longitudinal direction at a depth equal to or larger than that of the scoreline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Wataru Ban, Kozue Wada
  • Publication number: 20140274452
    Abstract: A golf club with a golf club head having various front face characteristics is presented. The golf club head may include a front face having one or more regions including texture to aid in movement of the ball, such as from the sand. In some examples, the front face may include a ball striking portion having regions with distinct and different score line arrangements. For instance, one region of the ball striking portion may have score lines that are more widely spaced than another region of the ball striking portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: NIKE, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140274451
    Abstract: A golf club with a golf club head having a plurality of grooves formed in a ball striking surface of the golf club head wherein the side walls of each groove slope inwardly from the striking face toward a bottom of the groove at an angle of 25.5 to 27.5 degrees from an axis of symmetry extending perpendicular from the striking face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: William C. Knight, Christopher R. Savage, Michael G. Taylor, James S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8834291
    Abstract: This invention provides a golf club head including a plurality of parallel scorelines formed in its face surface, and a plurality of grooves which are formed in the face surface and have a width narrower than the scorelines. Rounded portions are formed on the edges of the scorelines. The plurality of grooves are formed at positions on the two sides of each of the scorelines to extend parallel to the scorelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Wataru Ban
  • Patent number: 8827832
    Abstract: Golf club heads with enlarged grooves, wherein a portion of the finish adjacent or within the groove is removed to create the visual appearance of enlarged grooves. The surface finish of the groove enhancement area surrounding the groove is matched to be the same as the surface finish of the groove, preferably a bright, smooth or shiny metallic finish. This surface finish of the remainder of the striking face of the golf club is a second surface finish, preferably a dark or black matte, or rough finish. The contrast between the two finishes gives the perception that the grooves are larger than they are physically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Douglas E. Roberts, James G. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8827833
    Abstract: There is provided a golf club head capable of reliably preventing a backspin rate from varying in rainfall. A plurality of fine grooves are formed on a face surface 2. When observing a cross-sectional surface perpendicular to the face surface 2 involving a vertical line passing through the center G of gravity of the golf club head 1 with the golf club head 1 set at preset loft and lie angles, an average width of the fine grooves 4 in the cross-sectional surface is 100 ?m or less and an average pitch thereof in the cross-sectional surface is 100 ?m or less. Hence, the discharge of water can be accelerated by a capillary phenomenon, making it possible to reliably prevent a backspin rate of a golf ball from varying in rainfall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: K.K. Endo Seisakusho
    Inventors: Junichi Amano, Toru Tamaki
  • Patent number: 8827830
    Abstract: A golf club head designed for an open face approach is provided. Several factors encountered when hitting a ball from an open face position are addressed by the disclosed club head. As a result, precision, spin rate, loft, and stopping power are significantly improved from an open face strike. The club head includes a club face having a plurality of parallel, non-intersecting grooves extending across the club face and offset at an angle to optimize backspin and minimize sidespin when a ball is struck in the toe region. The club head also provides a sole and/or trailing edge designed to accommodate an open face position and to avoid “thinned” shots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventor: Steve Beaulieu
  • Patent number: 8814720
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs, golf club heads, and methods of manufacture are described herein. In one embodiment, a golf club head includes a strike face having one or more grooves with edges, where one or more of the edges is unsmooth. Other embodiments are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Solheim, David L. Petersen
  • Patent number: 8814721
    Abstract: An improved face for a golf club head includes shallow and deep markings configured to provide a pleasing appearance when viewed head on, and to frame the central region of the impact surface of the face when viewed at address. Use of only shallow markings in the central region of the impact surface prevents existence of stress fractures resulting from use of deep markings in the central region. This allows for a face thinner than those incorporating conventional grooves in the central regions of their impact surfaces, resulting in both superior resistance to cracking and improved C.O.R. Specified methods of manufacture are particularly suited for making clubs incorporating these shallow and deep markings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd P. Beach
  • Patent number: 8814715
    Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an insert forming a ball striking face and engaged with the putter body. Portions of the insert may be formed of a metal material, while portions of the insert may be formed of a polymer material. The insert may include a base portion having grooves formed therein. This base may be joined with another material to form the insert. In some arrangements, the insert may be a two-sided, reversible construction and may have different performance characteristics associated with each side of the insert. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Patent number: 8790193
    Abstract: Embodiments of grooves of golf club heads and methods to manufacture grooves of golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony D. Serrano, Paul D. Wood, Bradley D. Schweigert, Calvin S. Wang
  • Publication number: 20140206472
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a heel portion, a toe portion, a hosel, and a striking face. The striking face includes a plurality of scorelines each having an average depth no less than about 0.10 mm, a plurality of micro-grooves each having an average depth no greater than about 0.010 mm, and a plurality of textured surface treatment regions superimposed on the micro-grooves so as to at least partially intersect the micro-grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Roberto Aguayo, Jeffrey D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Sharon J. Park
  • Publication number: 20140206473
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a heel portion, a toe portion, a hosel, and a striking face. The striking face includes a plurality of scorelines each having an average depth no less than about 0.10 mm, a plurality of first micro-grooves each having an average depth no greater than about 0.010 mm, and a plurality of second micro-grooves overlaid on the first micro-grooves, each of the second micro-grooves having an average depth greater than the average depth of the first micro-grooves. Some embodiments can also have a plurality of textured surface treatment regions superimposed on the overlaid first and second micro-grooves so as to at least partially intersect the micro-grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Ripp, Roberto Aguayo, Jeffrey D. Brunski, Matthew R. Daraskavich, Sharon J. Park
  • Publication number: 20140187343
    Abstract: Embodiments of grooves of golf club heads and methods to manufacture grooves of golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony D. Serrano, Paul D. Wood, Bradley D. Schweigert, Calvin S. Wang