Vibratory Wave (e.g, Shock Wave, Etc.) Modifying Feature Patents (Class 473/332)
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Patent number: 8771098Abstract: A golf club putter having a low head center of gravity and a high MOI is disclosed herein. The putter has a metal body comprising a face and a hosel, a low density dampening layer affixed to the body, and a high density rear weight affixed to the dampening layer, and the dampening layer has a first surface that forms an angle with an opposing second surface that is inversely proportional to the distance of the hosel from a heel side of the body.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: Thomas R. Hilton
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Publication number: 20140187346Abstract: The invention provides a golf club head with a fully removable component that can withstand the stress of repeated hits. When assembled, the removable component is held in place by a fastening mechanism that includes structural elements that distribute the holding force across the component and tend to equalize the forces around the periphery where the component meets the body. The fastening mechanism may include a post that reaches across the open space within the hollow club head, pulling the removable component towards an opposed main club head body. Since a golf club of the present invention can be opened, it may include a mechanism on the inside for use by a golfer, such as an electronic device or an adjustment mechanism. The golf club may include a weight adjustment system that allows the club to be custom-fitted to a golfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2014Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATEDInventors: Tim A. Beno, Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Andrew Curtis, Caleb Kroloff, Steven M. Mitzel, Scott H. Moreira, Richard Romo Sanchez, Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 8764579Abstract: A hollow golf club head according to this invention includes a face portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion, and is formed by connecting a plurality of shell members to each other. This golf club head includes a rib which is provided in the sole portion and used to adjust an impact sound. The plurality of shell members are divided using at least the rib as a boundary. The plurality of shell members include a rib forming shell member including a sole portion forming portion which forms part of the sole portion, and a rib forming portion which stands upright from the end of the sole portion forming portion and forms the rib.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wataru Ban
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Patent number: 8758164Abstract: A golf club head with sound tuning. The golf club head includes a hollow body that defines an interior cavity and at least one tuning member extends across the interior cavity. The tuning member dimensions, stiffness and dampening characteristics are selected to alter the vibration behavior of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2013Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventor: Joshua G. Breier
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Patent number: 8758163Abstract: Iron golf club heads and clubs include a body having a ball striking face, a rear face opposite the ball striking face and a sole portion positioned between the ball striking face and the rear face. The rear face has an opening in communication with a slot positioned in the body. A weight element is positioned in the slot through the opening. The weight element has at least one aperture wherein the center of gravity is shifted when the weight element is positioned in the slot.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2010Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: John T. Stites
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Patent number: 8753220Abstract: A set of progressive golf clubs with an elliptical pad construction on the back of the striking face that corresponds to a location, shape and size of a predetermined golfer's impact pattern for the lofts and lengths of each of the golf clubs in the set. The elliptical pad progressively changes in location, shape and size from the long irons, to the mid irons, to the short irons, and to the wedges, based on the location, shape and size of a predetermined golfer's impact pattern for each of the long irons, mid irons, short irons, and wedges.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2013Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Ryan L. Roach, Joshua G. Breier
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Patent number: 8753223Abstract: A golf club head (such as a putter head), has a face that includes a ball-contacting region. The ball-contacting region has an inset containing an elastically deformable material and at least one rigid element disposed within the elastically deformable material. When a golf ball is struck, the elastically deformable material compresses and the rigid element imparts overspin to the ball that causes it to roll more accurately.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: John T. Stites
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Publication number: 20140162809Abstract: A golf club head with sound tuning composite members forming at least a portion of the golf club head is disclosed herein. The composite members being a composite layer made out of a sandwiched core layer that is interposed inside the midsection of the composite member to provide strength, vibration-damping, and/or sound-tuning characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2014Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventor: Peter L. Soracco
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Publication number: 20140162808Abstract: A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void. The golf club head may further have support structures and adjustable weight members.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2014Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Yoshimasa Fujita
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Patent number: 8747252Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads include: (a) a club head body member defining an interior chamber; (b) a weight system engaged with a rear perimeter portion of the club head body member; and (c) a connection system connecting the weight system with the club head body (e.g., with the rear of the ball striking face portion). The club heads further may include one or more damping members in the interior chamber to alter the sound and/or otherwise attenuate a vibrational response of the club head. The damping members may extend between the ball striking face and the weight system, and optionally may engage the connection system. The damping member(s) may constitute a foam material compressed within the interior chamber of the club head. Methods of making such golf club head structures also are described.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Robert Lukasiewicz, Jr., Robert Boyd
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Patent number: 8747250Abstract: A golf club head with a club head body having an external surface with a heel portion, a toe portion, a crown portion, a sole portion, and a front opening is described. A face insert support structure is located at the front opening. The support structure includes a peripheral member and a rear support member. The rear support member has a front surface and a rear surface. A face insert is attached at the front opening and closes the front opening of the body. An undercut fill structure is attached to a portion of the rear surface of the rear support member.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, John Francis Lorentzen, Hsiang Lee
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Patent number: 8747251Abstract: A golf club head is provided with a crown, a sole, and a continuously extending rib (X). The rib (X) is provided on an inner surface of the head. Preferably, the rib (X) is substantially parallel to a toe-heel direction. When a maximum amplitude of vibration in a first-order mode in a state where the rib (X) is removed is defined as Ma1 and an amplitude ratio with respect to the maximum amplitude Ma1 is defined as Rh (%), disposal of the rib (X) satisfies the following items (a), (b), and (c): (a) the rib (X) crosses at least one of high Rh regions having the amplitude ratio Rh of equal to or greater than 80%; (b) no region having the amplitude ratio Rh of equal to or greater than 60% exists on a toe side than the rib (X); and (c) no region having the amplitude ratio Rh of equal to or greater than 60% exists on a heel side than the rib (X).Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Seiji Hayase, Masahide Onuki
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Patent number: 8747245Abstract: 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 or openings formed therein. This base may be joined with another material (such as a polymer backing material) to form the insert, wherein the backing material at least partially fills the grooves or openings. In some arrangements, the backing material of the insert may be visible at the top and/or bottom surfaces of the putter structures. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig, Jeremy N. Snyder
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Patent number: 8740721Abstract: An iron-type golf club head comprises a head main portion having a face for hitting a golf ball, and weight members made of metallic material having heavier specific gravity than the head main portion. The head main portion has a tubular portion provided on a heel side of the face and having a shaft inserting hole. The tubular portion is provided continuously on the lower side of the shaft inserting hole with a bottomed hole part for arranging the weight members. The weight members include a heel-side weight member disposed in the bottomed hole part.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Akio Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20140141903Abstract: A golf club including a club head having a club head main body including a hitting face and a face support, and a support extension. The support extension extends between the face support and a back flange to define a lower cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2014Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Douglas C. Jorgensen, Scott A. Knutson, Helene S. Hipp, Adrian L. Stanescu
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Patent number: 8708837Abstract: A golf club head with a face insert that is only partially connected to the body of the golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head with a face insert wherein the face insert is only connected to the body of the golf club head at specific engagement portions around the perimeter of the face insert while keeping the remainder of the perimeter unengaged. The golf club head disclosed in accordance with the present invention will allow for removal of excessive weight traditionally needed to connect the face insert to the body of the golf club head, therefore improving the performance of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2013Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Ryan L. Roach, Joshua G. Breier
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Patent number: 8702532Abstract: A golf club head is provided having a body and a face insert, with a slot in a perimeter region of the body of the club head adjacent the face insert. The slot increases the flex of the hitting surface on impact with a golf ball, thereby increasing the speed with which the ball rebounds off the hitting face and increases the overall distance the ball is hit. The slot preferably moves the sweet spot of the hitting face a distance X from the face center of the hitting face. The slot may be filled with an elastomeric material.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventor: David M. Shear
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Patent number: 8690710Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2010Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert, Marty R. Jertson
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Patent number: 8684862Abstract: Golf club heads include: (a) a body having a ball-striking face and a rear face, the body defining a cavity; (b) a bridge member extending across the cavity, wherein the bridge member is provided to affect, at least in part, a position of a center of gravity of the club head; and (c) a feel altering element provided between the bridge member and the rear face. The feel altering element may affect a wide variety of parameters that relate to the “feel” of the golf club head when it strikes a golf ball, such as the sound produced by the club head during the strike, the vibrational response of the club head during the strike, the swing characteristics of the club head (e.g., weight, center of gravity position, etc.), and the like.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi
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Patent number: 8678948Abstract: A hollow golf club head according to this invention includes a face portion, a crown portion, and a sole/side portion including a sole portion and a side portion. The sole/side portion includes a thin region formed to traverse at least the sole portion from the toe side to the heel side, and thick regions formed on the side of the face portion and the back side, respectively, with respect to the thin region to be adjacent to the thin region. The golf club head further includes a rib which extends from the toe side to the heel side only in the thin region of the thin region and the thick region, and is connected to the side portion on the toe side and the side portion on the heel side.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2011Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kozue Wada, Wataru Ban
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Publication number: 20140080626Abstract: A golf club head including a crown, a sole, a hosel, a face and a flexure. The flexure provides compliance during an impact between the golf club head and a golf ball, and is tuned to vibrate, immediately after impact, at a predetermined frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2012Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Stephanie Bezilla, Uday V. Deshmukh, Charles E. Golden, Mark C. Myrhum, Noah de la Cruz, John Morin, Darryl C. Galvan
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Publication number: 20140080627Abstract: A golf club head including a crown, a sole, a hosel, a face and a flexure. The flexure provides compliance during an impact between the golf club head and a golf ball, and is tuned to vibrate, immediately after impact, at a predetermined frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Stephanie Bezilla, Richard L. Cleghorn, Uday V. Deshmukh, Noah de la Cruz, Darryl C. Galvan, Charles E. Golden, Marni Ines, John Morin, Stephen S. Murphy, Mark C. Myrhum, Gery Zimmerman
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Patent number: 8668598Abstract: An iron-type golf club includes a conventional-weight section, a lightweight section and a heavyweight section. The conventional-weight section includes the hitting face and at least a portion of the hosel. The heavyweight section, made of a denser material than the conventional-weight section, includes the sole and an optional back flange. The lightweight section, made of a material less dense than either of the other sections, includes a core to which the other two sections are secured, such as by co-molding the core to the other two sections. In the co-molding context, the components need not be constrained by their respective weight and density, but could be classified more generically as having a pre-formed component and a molding component irrespective of the densities of the components.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Peter J. Gilbert, James G. Lewis, Ryan L. Roach
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Patent number: 8663028Abstract: A golf club head having a good feel of hitting a ball, comprising a head body 1A having a face 2 for hitting a ball on a front side of the head body and having at least one recess portion 10 in an outer surface 1S thereof except the face 2, and at least one vibration absorbing member made of a viscoelastic material and disposed in the recess portion 10, the recess portion 10 including a bottom surface 10a and a sidewall surface 10b extending from the bottom surface 10a to the outer surface 1S, and the vibration absorbing member 11 being fixed to the bottom surface 10a to provide a free vibration portion 11A extending up to a position corresponding to the outer surface 1S of the head body 1A without coming into contact with the sidewall surface 10b of the recess portion 10.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Takashi Nakano
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Patent number: 8657700Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2010Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert, Marty R. Jertson
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Patent number: 8651975Abstract: A golf club head with sound tuning composite members forming at least a portion of the surface of the golf club head is disclosed herein. The composite members being a composite layer made out of a sandwiched core layer that is interposed inside the midsection of the composite member to provide vibration damping and sound tuning characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2013Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventor: Peter L. Soracco
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Publication number: 20140045607Abstract: A golf club putter having a low head center of gravity and a high MOI is disclosed herein. The putter has a metal body comprising a face and a hosel, a low density dampening layer affixed to the body, and a high density rear weight affixed to the dampening layer, and the dampening layer has a first surface that forms an angle with an opposing second surface that is inversely proportional to the distance of the hosel from a heel side of the body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: Thomas R. Hilton
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Publication number: 20140038744Abstract: A golf club (10) is configured to dissipate kinetic energy during the impact when striking the golf ball, thereby to reduce the quantum of kinetic energy transferred from the golf club (10) to the ball and reducing the distance that the ball travels. The reduction in ball travel encourages the player to use more concentric muscle action at the moment of impact and thus to have better control over the impact. The golf club (10) includes a shaft (18) and a head (14) and the head (14) comprises a support structure (22) that is connected to the shaft (18), and an impact absorbent structure (16) that defines a face (46) of the golf club (10). The impact absorbent structure (16) includes a cushion (48), disposed between the face (46) and the support structure (22) and the cushion (48) is made of a shear thickening material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Leatt CorporationInventors: Christopher James Leatt, Willem Van Der Merwe, Robert Pilz
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Publication number: 20140038737Abstract: The invention relates to golf club heads with improved mass distribution provided by novel cellular features. Because a club head can have very low mass density in certain parts, the club head can have much more mass in other parts, while keeping the overall club head mass equal to the mass of prior art club heads. A club head can be provided with optimized MOI and CG. The novel cellular structures of invention provide extensible functionality in the form of pockets, recesses, and windows and provide materials with excellent strength and restitution properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Ryan L. Roach, Joshua G. Breier, Douglas E. Roberts, Lauren Wilson
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Patent number: 8641549Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 22, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
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Patent number: 8632421Abstract: A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may include a main cavity having at least one auxiliary cavity and a base surface. An insert may be associated with the base surface and may comprise at least two contact elements, with a bridge member disposed therebetween. Different contact elements of the insert may be disposed in separate respective auxiliary cavities, such that each contact element may be associated with the base surface. The bridge member of the insert may be dissociated from the base surface. Moreover, a surface coating may be selectively applied to the head to permit a durable adhesive bond between the insert and the base surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2012Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Sharon J. Park, Douglas E. Roberts, Andrew P. Chick
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Publication number: 20140018183Abstract: A golf club head having a recess located in a top portion thereof is described and claimed. The recess is located between the heel and the toe and extends toward the sole. The recess may be in the top line of the club head. An insert may be placed within the recess. The insert has a density that is less than the density of the club head body, and the insert preferably is a light-weight insert. The insert may include one or more damping materials. The recess removes material from the club head, which in turn may do one or more of the following: increase the overall size of the club head, expand the size of the club head sweet spot, lower the club head center of gravity, and/or produce a greater club head moment of inertia. Thus, the recess and insert produce a more forgiving and playable golf club. As an alternative to a recess, a thin protrusion may be provided at the top line of the club head and the insert provided with a corresponding groove to facilitate attachment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATEDInventors: Peter L. Soracco, Ryan L. Roach
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Patent number: 8622850Abstract: This invention provides a putter head comprising a head body and a face insert mounted on a face surface of the head body. Slits are vertically aligned in multiple stages so as to extend in the face insert in a toe-to-heel direction. A depending portion is provided in the slit on a side of the face surface so as to reduce a vertical dimension of the slit. The slit is filled with a viscoelastic material.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tadahiro Narita, Wataru Ban
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Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads Including Structure to Selectively Control the Sound of the Club Head
Publication number: 20140004972Abstract: The invention relates generally to golf clubs and golf club heads that enable users, club fitters, club manufacturers, and the like to selectively control, change, and customize aspects of the “sound” associated with the golf club and golf club head when it strikes a golf ball. Golf clubs and golf club heads according to this invention may include: a) a club head body; b) a ball striking face engaged with or integrally formed as part of the club head body; c) a hosel member engaged with or integrally formed as at least a portion of the club head; and d) means for changing a sound emanated by the club head when a golf ball contacts the ball striking face. A user may change the vibrational characteristics associated with the club head when a golf ball is struck, thereby changing the sound emanating from the club head when a golf ball is struck.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: NIKE, IncInventors: James S. Thomas, Tyrone Northcutt -
Patent number: 8616998Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Eric V Cole, Randall B Noble, David L Petersen
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Publication number: 20130344985Abstract: A golf club head with sound tuning. The golf club head includes a hollow body that defines an interior cavity and at least one tuning member extends across the interior cavity. The tuning member dimensions, stiffness and dampening characteristics are selected to alter the vibration behavior of the golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATEDInventor: Joshua G. Breier
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Publication number: 20130324298Abstract: This invention provides a hollow golf club head including a face portion, a crown portion, a sole/side portion which includes a sole portion and a side portion, and a weight member. The golf club head includes a recessed portion which is formed in the sole/side portion, and has an outer surface to which the weight member is attached, and a rib which is formed on the inner surface of the sole/side portion, and traverses the recessed portion across the peripheral edge defining the recessed portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Kozue WADA, Wataru BAN
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Publication number: 20130316847Abstract: A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may include a strike face, a rear wall behind the strike face, and a perimeter-weighting element at least partially surrounding the rear wall. The club head may further include a preload spacer associated with the rear wall and a resilient component associated with the perimeter-weighting element. The preload spacer engages the resilient component to provide positive reinforcement of the coupling between the resilient component and the perimeter-weighting element.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: SRI SPORTS LIMITEDInventor: Michael J. Wallans
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Patent number: 8579717Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig
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Publication number: 20130281227Abstract: The invention provides a golf club head that uses a light-weight material for part of the body and a strong material for a face-to-sole transition to provide a durable face with a high coefficient of restitution. The club head may have a first body part and a second body part. Material of the first body part extends down from a face member, bends around a face-sole transition, and continues into a sole return member to provide at least a portion of a ball-striking face and a sole surface. The first body part also provides a hosel. The second body part provides a significant proportion of the volume of the club head (e.g., at least about a third or even a majority). The low-density of the second body part allows for inclusion of one or more high-density third body parts to optimize mass distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2013Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: Ryan L. Roach, Andrew Curtis
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Publication number: 20130267345Abstract: A golf club head having a translucent insert disclosed. The club head includes a body defining a striking face, a top line, a sole, a back, a heel, and a toe. The back contains a cavity that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the face. A recess is provided within the cavity, with the recess extending away from the cavity and toward the sole. The recess causes more of the club head mass to be oriented towards the perimeter of the club head, and optionally also toward the back of the club head. This enlarges the club sweet spot and increases the moment of inertia, and facilitates imparting a desired flight path to a struck golf ball, producing a more forgiving club. The recess may have a varying depth and/or a varying draft angle. A rear wall of the recess may be provided with a cutout to further reposition mass toward the club head perimeter. A translucent insert, such as a vibration dampening member, may be provided within the recess.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATEDInventor: Ryan L. Roach
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Patent number: 8540587Abstract: A golf club head with sound tuning. The golf club head includes a hollow body that defines an interior cavity and at least one tuning member extends across the interior cavity. The tuning member dimensions, stiffness and dampening characteristics are selected to alter the vibration behavior of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Robert D Hirsch, Joshua G. Breier
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Patent number: 8523698Abstract: A golf putter head includes a metal back body adapted to be secured to a golf club shaft and a metal face body including a golf ball contact surface. The metal back body and the metal face body have non-planar, inter-fitting surfaces facing one another without contact across a gap defined by the inter-fitting surfaces. The golf putter head further includes a vibration dampening intermediate body filling the gap to isolate the metal face body from the metal back body. Other embodiments of golf putters and golf putter heads are further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Product Insight, Inc.Inventors: Bryan R. Hotaling, James R. Varney
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Patent number: 8523704Abstract: Golf club heads with ribs are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric V. Cole
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Publication number: 20130225316Abstract: Some embodiments include a reinforced face of a club head. Other embodiments for related reinforced faces of club heads and related methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONInventors: Eric V. Cole, Eric J. Morales
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Publication number: 20130225308Abstract: 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 or openings formed therein. This base may be joined with another material (such as a polymer backing material) to form the insert, wherein the backing material at least partially fills the grooves or openings. In some arrangements, the backing material of the insert may be visible at the top and/or bottom surfaces of the putter structures. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Nike, Inc.
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Patent number: 8517860Abstract: A hollow golf club head incorporating a stress reducing feature including a sole located stress reducing feature. The location and size of the sole stress reducing feature, and their relationship to one another and other club head engineering variables, play a significant role in selectively increasing deflection of the face.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2012Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
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Patent number: 8506415Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 13, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: David N. Franklin
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Publication number: 20130196785Abstract: This invention provides a golf club head to which a damping member is attached. The damping member is formed by combining a plurality of materials including at least a resin material and a damping alloy. Alternatively, the damping member is formed by combining a plurality of materials including at least a resin material and a magnetic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2013Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventor: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
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Patent number: 8491413Abstract: A metal golf club head that allows a user to customize the location of the center of gravity. The metal golf club head comprises a hollow body with a weighting port. The weighting port allows a user to place weighting material inside the hollow body, customizing the location of the center of gravity, the swing weight, the total weight, and the balance of the golf club.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2012Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Dogleg Right CorporationInventor: David P. Billings