Plural Grooves Patents (Class 473/331)
  • Publication number: 20130053170
    Abstract: A putter type golf club head having a unique ball striking face configuration to eliminate the dimple effect of grooved putters formed with a series of grooves and intermediate land areas between the grooves extending in a longitudinal direction across the striking face. Each of the grooves is characterized by a plurality of repeating, non-linear wave forms located at the center of the striking face and extending outwardly therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Guerin Rife
  • Patent number: 8382608
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs with grooves and methods of manufacturing thereof are described herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head includes: a body having a strike face with one or more channels; and at least one insert located within at least one of the one or more channels. The at least one of the one or more channels includes a single groove. The at least one insert forms at least a portion of the single groove. A radius of an exterior edge of the single groove is partially formed by the at least one insert and is also partially formed by the strike face. A first part of the at least one insert is formed by a first material, and a second part of the at least one insert is formed by a second material different from the first material. Other embodiments and related methods are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: 8375556
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of the present invention includes the steps of: preparing a pre-line forming member having no face line; and cutting the pre-line forming member using a cutter 12 to form the face line on the pre-line forming member. The cutter 8 has a tip part having a cutting surface. The cutting surface has a recessed curved surface c4. An edge of the face line 8 is cut by the recessed curved surface c4. Preferably, the step of cutting is carried out by axial rotation of the cutter 8. Preferably, the cutting surface has a plane part c5 formed on an upper side of the recessed curved surface c4. Preferably, the upper side plane part c5 is perpendicular to a rotation axis rz of the cutter 12. Preferably, the cutting surface has a conical surface Fc formed on a lower side of the recessed curved surface c4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Nakano
  • Patent number: 8371958
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a heel, a toe, a level golf ball striking face extending from the heel to the toe and including a top edge and a bottom edge, and a patterned striking surface covering the level golf ball striking face extending to the heel, the toe, the top and the bottom edge. The patterned striking surface includes a plurality of generally pyramidal shaped extensions protruding from the level golf ball striking face, each of the pyramidal shaped extensions including a generally square base, four side walls and a top surface, each of the side walls extending outwardly a height H and at an angle ?, the angle ? being approximately equal to 60 degrees, from the golf ball striking face and the base, the center of the top surface of any pyramidal shaped extensions being separated from the centers of the top surfaces of all neighboring pyramidal shaped extensions by a width W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventor: Douglas Ames Treadwell
  • Publication number: 20130017898
    Abstract: A golf club head which may include a golf club head body, a ball striking face and a piezoelectric member in the golf club head, wherein the piezoelectric member is configured to be selectively adjusted by an input provided through a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric member. Further, the piezoelectric member may be capable of having a first configuration to provide the golf club head body with a first attribute and may also be capable of having a second configuration to provide the body with a second attribute in response to the input provided by the controller. Further, the second attribute may be different from the first attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: Arthur MOLINARI
  • Patent number: 8353780
    Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an adjustable ball striking face insert forming at least a portion of the ball striking face and contained within the putter body. The insert may have a plurality of sides, each of the sides having different performance characteristics to permit customization of the putter. In some examples, the adjustable ball striking face insert may be rotatably mounted within the putter head. Additionally or alternatively, the insert may be removably mounted within the putter head. In some arrangements, the insert may be finely adjustable to alter the loft angle of the putter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Hatton, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Jeremy N. Snyder, Donald S. Rahrig
  • Patent number: 8348784
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. Grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio. Preferred values for these dimensions are provided. A golf club head having a variety of groove types and a set of golf clubs with grooves varying among the individual clubs of the set are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 8342981
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances and angled relative to a leading edge of the golf club head. The sole of the golf club head is contoured so that the effective bounce and leading edge height are controlled when the golf club head is rotated to an opened orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gregory D. Johnson, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 8342985
    Abstract: An iron-type golf club head 1 having excellent durability and weight distribution design and comprising a metallic head body 1A having a face 2 for hitting a golf ball and a recess portion 13, and a metallic weight member 1B having a larger specific gravity than the head body 1A, the member 1B being fitted to and welded to the recess portion to form a part of the outer surface of the head body 1A, wherein at least one closed space 14 surrounded by the weight member 1B and the surface of the recess portion 13 is formed inside the head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Tomoya Hirano
  • Patent number: 8337324
    Abstract: Golf club heads for iron-type golf clubs (including 1 through 9 irons, iron-type hybrid clubs, driving irons, and wedges (e.g., pitching wedges, lob wedges, gap wedges, sand wedges, etc.)) include a striking face. The striking face may comprise a plurality of spaced, parallel grooves that extend across at least a portion of the striking face. The grooves may form a herringbone groove pattern. The herringbone groove pattern may include two or more rows of diagonal, parallel grooves slanting in alternate directions to form a series of parallel Vs. The grooves may be rounded. Other possible groove shapes also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, Robert Boyd
  • Patent number: 8337320
    Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 8292754
    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 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, David N. Franklin, Donald S. Rahrig, John T. Stites
  • Publication number: 20120264537
    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: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Douglas E. Roberts, James G. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8287401
    Abstract: A putter head includes: a face; a first group of grooves which are mutually-parallel grooves; and a second group of grooves which differ in depth from the first group of grooves, wherein the face includes the first group of grooves and the second group of grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Tateno, Tatsuya Ishikawa, Wataru Ban, Fumiaki Sato
  • Patent number: 8282505
    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: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Solheim, David L. Petersen
  • Publication number: 20120252598
    Abstract: Embodiments of club heads with contoured back faces and methods of manufacturing the same are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric V. Cole, Randall B. Noble, David L. Petersen
  • Publication number: 20120244958
    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: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Steve Beaulieu
  • Publication number: 20120238375
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a primary component and a secondary component, wherein the secondary component is rotatably or pivotally associated with the rear surface of the primary component. The secondary component is adjustable between a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the primary component such that the golf club head has a first sole contour when the secondary component is in the first orientation and a second sole contour when the secondary component is in the second orientation, the first sole contour being different from the second sole contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: SRI SPORTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Sharon PARK, Brian SCHIELKE, Kevin TASSISTRO
  • Patent number: 8251835
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a face line. A depth D1 (mm) is 0.100 (mm) or greater and 0.508 (mm) or less. A first curvature radius r1 is smaller than a second curvature radius r2. An upper end point of an edge of the face line is Pa. A point placed at a position where a depth is 0.015 mm is Pb. A point placed at a position where a depth is 0.030 mm is Pc. A point placed at a position where a depth is [(D1?0.03)/2+0.03] (mm) is Pd. A point placed at a position where a depth is [D1/4] (mm) is Pe. The first curvature radius is a radius of a circle passing through the point Pa, the point Pb, and the point Pc; and the second curvature radius is a radius of a circle passing through the point Pc, the point Pd, and the point Pe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Hiroshi Abe
  • Publication number: 20120190477
    Abstract: A golf club head has a clubface for striking a ball, wherein face grooves are formed by pressing a die; a metallic skin is forming on the clubface including the interior surfaces of the face grooves so that the surface roughness Ral of the interior surfaces of the face grooves becomes not more than 0.20 micrometers; the interior surface of the face grooves is masked with a masking agent; the clubface is provided with a surface roughness of more than 0.20 micrometers by blasting abrasive; and then the masking agent is removed from the face grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Takashi NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8221262
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacture and design such that very small detail features can be produced within the groove profile on an iron or wedge. The advantage in being able to do this is that spin will be enhanced for a variety of shot types and conditions when striking a golf ball with cover composed of a urethane-based material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew T. Cackett, Augustin W. Rollinson, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 8216086
    Abstract: A wedge-type golf club having a plurality of parallel grooves offset at an angle with respect to the base of the club face. The grooves provide enhanced backspin and control on a golf ball when struck with the club face open. The grooves are beneficial for “getting the ball up” and stopping the ball on the green using an open face approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventor: Steve Beaulieu
  • Patent number: 8216081
    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: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig
  • Patent number: 8210962
    Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John Thomas Stites
  • Patent number: 8210966
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions including a first portion that interfaces the striking surface with a variety of configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Gregory D. Johnson, Helene Rick
  • Publication number: 20120165114
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing and surface roughening to accommodate a plurality of different shots. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, Peter J. Gilbert, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 8206240
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a strike face having a heel portion, a toe portion, and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion includes one or more score lines. At least a portion of one or more score lines include a different average surface roughness and associated surface reflectance than at least the intermediate portion. A method for producing such a club head is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Sharon J. Park, Daniel J. Stone
  • Patent number: 8206239
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head has a body member and a face insert formed of different materials. The body material is relatively soft and ductile to allow the club to be customized, and the face insert member is relatively hard and wear resistant to ensure that the face groove geometry remains substantially unaltered through use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, M. Scott Burnett, Thomas O. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20120157228
    Abstract: A golf club or component thereof has a surface, wherein at least one area of the surface has a level of hydrophilicity which is less than the level of hydrophilicity in at least one surrounding portion, causing moisture to be preferentially attracted to the surrounding portion. In one aspect, the surface is a striking face and the surrounding portion is one or more grooves formed in the striking face. In another aspect, the surface is a grip and the surrounding portion is one or more channels formed in the grip. In some examples, hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surfaces on golf club components repel water and, in some instances, also offer self-cleaning functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David S. Lee, John Thomas Stites
  • Publication number: 20120142448
    Abstract: A golf club head is provided and includes a club head body, a club head face connected to a front portion of the club head body, wherein the club head face includes a club face surface having a plurality of face cavities arranged across the club face surface and a plurality of protrusion posts, wherein each of the plurality of protrusion posts includes a post body having a post base and a post head, wherein the plurality of protrusion posts is associated with the club face to extend away from the club face surface such that the post base of each of the plurality posts is located in separate cavities of the plurality of face cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Irwin A. Knafel
  • Publication number: 20120135819
    Abstract: A face insert for a golf club head comprises an electroform that is securely connected to a substrate. The electroform is comprised of fine-grained materials having an average grain size that is in the range of 2 nm to 5000 nm, a yield strength that is in the range of 200 MPa to 2,750 MPa, a hardness that is in the range of 100 Vickers to 2,000 Vickers, a thickness that is in the range from 30 microns to 5 cm, and a modulus of resilience that is in the range from 0.25 MPa to 25 MPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: INTEGRAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Michael Uetz, Gino Palumbo, Iain Brooks, Yijian Zhou, David Ueno, Dave Limoges, Andrew Robertson, Jonathan McCrea
  • Publication number: 20120122605
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. Grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio. Preferred values for these dimensions are provided. A golf club head having a variety of groove types and a set of golf clubs with grooves varying among the individual clubs of the set are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 8172698
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs with grooves and methods of manufacturing thereof are described herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head includes: a body having a strike face with one or more channels; and at least one insert located within at least one of the one or more channels. The at least one of the one or more channels includes a single groove. The at least one insert forms at least a portion of the single groove. A radius of an exterior edge of the single groove is partially formed by the at least one insert and is also partially formed by the strike face. A first part of the at least one insert is formed by a first material, and a second part of the at least one insert is formed by a second material different from the first material. Other embodiments and related methods are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: 8167738
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a golf club head can include a golf club face comprising two or more grooves. A first cross section of a first region of a first end of a first groove of the two or more grooves is taken perpendicular to an edge of a sidewall of the first region of the first end, and a second cross section of a second region of the first end is taken perpendicular to an edge of a sidewall of the second region of the first end, and the first cross section is substantially proportional to the second cross section, and each of the first and second cross sections are symmetric. A third cross section of the first region of the first end is taken perpendicular to a bottom of the first region of the first end, and a fourth cross section of the second region of the first end is taken perpendicular to a bottom of the second region of the first end, and the third cross section is substantially non-proportional to the fourth cross section, and each of the third and fourth cross sections are symmetric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Petersen, Michael Jakubowski, John A. Solheim
  • Publication number: 20120083353
    Abstract: Putter heads and putters include one or more of: (a) a main putter body portion including a first arm and a second arm; (b) a first polymeric and/or damping element engaged with the first arm; and (c) a second polymeric and/or damping element engaged with the second arm. The putter heads further may include polymeric material within the putter head structure and exposed at a central ball striking portion of the ball striking face, e.g., in elongated openings provided in the ball striking face. Grooves may be provided in the material of the ball striking face and/or in the exposed polymeric material to affect the ball launch. The putter heads may have various additional features or structures, e.g., relating to weighting features, alignment aid features, putter head constructions or parts, polymeric material exposure features, groove features, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Jason P. Martin, Carl A. Jonsson
  • Patent number: 8147352
    Abstract: A golf club or component thereof has a surface, wherein at least one area of the surface has a level of hydrophilicity which is less than the level of hydrophilicity in at least one surrounding portion, causing moisture to be preferentially attracted to the surrounding portion. In one aspect, the surface is a striking face and the surrounding portion is one or more grooves formed in the striking face. In another aspect, the surface is a grip and the surrounding portion is one or more channels formed in the grip. In some examples, hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surfaces on golf club components repel water and, in some instances, also offer self-cleaning functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Lee, John Thomas Stites
  • Patent number: 8142309
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances and angled relative to a leading edge of the golf club head. The sole of the golf club head is contoured so that the effective bounce and leading edge height are controlled when the golf club head is rotated to an opened orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gregory D. Johnson, Robert W. Vokey
  • Publication number: 20120071269
    Abstract: A golf club with a golf club head having a plurality of grooves formed using electrical discharge machining is presented. The grooves may be formed in a ball striking surface of the golf club head and may include portions having a texture. In some examples, the roughness of the texture may vary as the groove extends from the ball striking surface along a sidewall of the groove. For instance, texture formed along an edge radius of the groove extending between the ball striking surface and the sidewall may be rougher than texture extending lower along the sidewall. In some examples, portions of the sidewall and/or bottom of the groove may be void of texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald S. Rahrig, Robert Boyd, William J. Ritchie
  • Patent number: 8128513
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing to accommodate a plurality of different shots. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 8128510
    Abstract: A golf club head having a multi-material face. The golf club head has a hard, wear resistant material as the ball-impacting face surface coupled to a softer material, allowing the multi-material face to be joined to a soft body material such that the body can be bent and customized. The multi-material face allows for improved playing characteristics by allowing the club designer to use a thinner face and lighter body material while still providing improved face wear resistance and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Peter J. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8128512
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing to accommodate a plurality of different shots. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, and a portion having a v-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Gregory D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8128511
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing and surface roughening to accommodate a plurality of different shots. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, Peter J. Gilbert, Robert W. Vokey
  • Publication number: 20120052979
    Abstract: Disclosed is a golf club head including a variation part, which is easily flexible, formed at a striking surface of a head, and capable of increasing repulsive power caused by an elastic deformation rate of the striking surface upon striking a ball to improve a flying distance, and strengthening an elastic recovering force of corner parts formed by the variation part to further enhance stability in a ball-flying direction and a ball spin function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: KOREA NUCLEAR ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Se-yup Lee
  • Publication number: 20120052980
    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: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Todd P. Beach
  • Patent number: 8118688
    Abstract: A golf club head 1 having an improved dischargeability of foreign matters such as water and mud caught in face line grooves and a sufficient frictional force with a golf ball generated when hitting the ball, the club head 1 comprising a ball hitting face 2 including a hitting surface 7 and at least one face line groove 8 formed in the hitting surface 7, wherein the hitting surface 7 includes a rough surface portion 7a having an arithmetic mean roughness Raf of 0.20 to 0.55 ?m, and the surface of the face line groove 8 has an arithmetic mean roughness Ra1 smaller than the arithmetic mean surface roughness Raf of the rough surface portion 7a, and a method for producing the club head 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8113965
    Abstract: This invention provides a golf club head comprising a plurality of scorelines formed in its face. The golf club head is configured such that an angle ? of the side wall of the scoreline with respect to the face is 70° or less, the edge of the scoreline has a ridged portion projecting from the face, and a height H of the ridged portion from the face satisfies: 5 ?m?H?20 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wataru Ban
  • Patent number: 8109840
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. Grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio. Preferred values for these dimensions are provided. A golf club head having a variety of groove types and a set of golf clubs with grooves varying among the individual clubs of the set are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, Robert W. Vokey
  • Patent number: 8105180
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacture and design such that very small detail features can be produced within the groove profile on an iron or wedge. The advantage in being able to do this is that spin will be enhanced for a variety of shot types and conditions when striking a golf ball with cover composed of a urethane-based material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew T. Cackett, Augustin W. Rollinson, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 8105181
    Abstract: A golf club head, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, comprises a metallic striking wall having a striking surface and at least one through score-line opening. At least one complementary component may be disposed rearward of the striking surface such that at least a part of the at least one complementary component extends into only a part of the at least one through score-line opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Mark Blumenkrantz, Michael J. Wallans
  • Publication number: 20120010017
    Abstract: Embodiments of club heads with grooves are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventor: John A. Solheim