Vibratory Wave (e.g, Shock Wave, Etc.) Modifying Feature Patents (Class 473/332)
  • Publication number: 20090227389
    Abstract: A metal wood golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, comprising of a body portion and a crown portion, each portion constructed of a different density material. Combining a high-density material in the body portion, with a low-density material in the crown portion, creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. The material for the crown portion is preferably a composite. A vibration dampening gasket is disposed between the ledge and lip sections of the body and crown respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Meyer, Scott A. Rice, Raymond L. Poynor
  • Publication number: 20090221380
    Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable panel secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable panel may have a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the removable panel to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable panel. A removable panel of the present invention may generally comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density. Even further, the removable panel may generally be releasably attached via a quick disconnect mechanism that allows easy interchangeability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco
  • Publication number: 20090221381
    Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable panel secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable panel may have a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the removable panel to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable panel. A removable panel of the present invention may generally comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density. Even further, the removable panel may generally be releasably attached via a quick disconnect mechanism that allows easy interchangeability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 7582024
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: David A. Shear
  • Patent number: 7575523
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a head main body being provided with at least one hole having a helical groove on its inner surface, and a damper having a thread on its outer surface and screwed to the hole of the head main body, the damper being made of elastic material at least partially for absorbing vibration of the head main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Masatoshi Yokota
  • Patent number: 7568984
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head is provided that includes a face portion, a sole portion extending backward from a lower portion of the face portion to form a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown portion extending backward from an upper portion of the face portion to form an upper portion of the golf club head, and a vibration absorbing layer in a film form composed of an elastic body on an inner surface of the crown portion. The sole portion and the crown portion are configured such that a ratio of a rigidity of the sole portion to a rigidity of the crown portion is 1: 0.1 to 0.8, and the vibration absorbing layer has a ring shape covering an outer peripheral portion of the crown portion. The launch angle of a ball is increased so that the traveling distance of a shot can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hideo Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20090191979
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head comprises a main body, a striking plate and a thermoplastic elastic vibration-absorbing material. The main body includes a chamber. The striking plate is disposed on the front side of the main body. The thickness of the striking plate is between 0.76 mm and 2.25 mm. The thermoplastic elastic shock absorber is formed in the chamber of the main body and touches the back of the striking plate, wherein the density of the thermoplastic elastic vibration-absorbing material is between 0.5 g/cm3 and 1.3 g/cm3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Wen-Ching HOU, Chan-Tung Chen, Chun-Yung Huang
  • Patent number: 7563176
    Abstract: A muscle-back iron golf club head includes a blade-like upper mass, a muscle-like lower mass, a planar front surface, a top surface, a sole surface, a heel surface, a toe surface, and a rear surface having a first contour. A recess is in the rear surface, the recess having a first portion in the blade-like upper mass and a second portion in the muscle-like lower mass. An insert may be provided in the recess, and such insert may substantially fill the recess and may include a back surface having a second contour which is different from the first contour of the club head rear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Roger Cleveland Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Roberts, Trent E. Garner, Kevin A. Wolfe, Daniel J. Stone, Christopher J. Beck, Todd D. Harman, Brent L. Newsome, Michael J. Wallans, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe
  • Patent number: 7563177
    Abstract: A golf club head with a front wall, a rear wall and a reinforced crown includes ribs in the crown that are spaced more closely together near the front wall than near the rear wall. Preferably, the ribs radiate from a point in space located forward of the front wall. This arrangement of ribs significantly increases the fundamental structural frequency of the club head and significantly reduces the peak stress in the crown of the club head when compared with ribs extending perpendicular to the front wall and parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric V. Cole
  • Patent number: 7559850
    Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long, mid- and short irons with channel back configurations and a mass control insert. The mass of the insert is systematically varied through the set such that the mass distribution properties of the set may be systematically varied while retaining a continuous look and feel through the set. The mass of the insert is varied by altering the volume or the density of the insert through the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. In one embodiment, the mass control insert comprises a dense insert and a lightweight cover. The density of the dense insert can be easily varied to change the mass distribution properties of the club head. One application of the mass control insert is to provide customization of the club head at the point of sale or distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Bruce R. Pettibone, Michael Scott Burnett, Christopher R. Kays, Tomas Diaz
  • Patent number: 7553242
    Abstract: A metal wood golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, comprising of a body portion and a crown portion, each portion constructed of a different density material. Combining a high-density material in the body portion, with a low-density material in the crown portion, creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. The material for the crown portion is preferably a composite. A vibration dampening gasket is disposed between the ledge and lip sections of the body and crown respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Meyer, Scott A. Rice, Raymond L. Poynor
  • Publication number: 20090163295
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body, a shock absorber and a plug assembly. The body has multiple faces, an inner chamber, an injection base and at least one discharging hole. The injection base is formed on one of the faces beside the front and has an injection hole defined through the injection base and communicating with the inner chamber. The shock-absorber is hollow, is mounted in the inner chamber and tightly abuts with the inner surface of the inner chamber and the hitting plate. The plug assembly is securely mounted in the injection base and has an airtight inflating pad and a plug base. The airtight inflating pad is mounted in the injection hole and seals a passage between the injection hole and the inner chamber. The plug base is mounted in the injection hole and presses against the airtight inflating pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventor: Wen-Cheng Tseng
  • Publication number: 20090156324
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs with a cavity and their methods of manufacture are generally described herein. In one embodiment, a golf club head comprises: a strike face, a back face opposite the strike face; a heel region; a toe region opposite the heel region; and a cavity integral with the golf club head. Among various embodiments, the cavity: extends from the heel region to the toe region; extends along a lower portion of the back face of the golf club head; extends approximately parallel to the strike face; and is approximately symmetrical about a centerline that bisects the golf club head between the heel region and the toe region. Among various embodiments, the cavity further comprises a vibration dampening material. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Eric V. Cole, Randall B. Nobel, Eric J. Morales
  • Publication number: 20090149272
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf club head having multiple undercuts. The club head includes a body defining a striking face, a top line, a sole, and a back, and having a heel and a toe. The back contains a cavity. Multiple undercuts in the form of a plurality of recesses are provided within the cavity. The recesses extend away from the cavity. The recesses may be oriented in a variety of ways. In a first arrangement, the recesses are aligned longitudinally to the striking face in a heel-to-toe direction. In a second arrangement, the recesses are recesses are aligned transverse to the striking face in a front-to-back direction and extend in a heel-to-toe direction. In a third arrangement, the plurality of recesses includes both longitudinally arranged and transversely arranged recesses. An insert, such as a weight insert, a dampening insert, or a combination insert, is preferably positioned within each of the recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Ryan L. Roach, Christopher B. Best
  • Publication number: 20090137339
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a head main body made of a metal material and having a club face for striking a ball, and a vibration absorber made of a viscoelastic material and attached to the head main body. The vibration absorber is provided with a cut having a width of not more than 1.0 mm. Preferably, the cut is substantially parallel with the club face, and the surface at which the cut is opened, comes into contact with the head main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Takashi NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20090131199
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Douglas C. Jorgensen, Scott A. Knutson, Helene Rick, Adrian L. Stanescu
  • Publication number: 20090131200
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body formed with a cavity, and a counterweight unit fitted in the cavity and including a sleeve body and an insert body. The sleeve body has a first end face, a second end face, first and second cavities, and first and second inner walls. The first inner wall has at least one first corner. The second inner wall has at least one second corner out of alignment with the first corner. The sleeve body further has at least one shoulder face formed at a junction of the first and second cavities. The insert body includes an insert portion removably inserted into the sleeve body, and an abutting portion extending outward from the sleeve body and abutting against the first end face. The insert portion has at least one flange engaging the second corner and having a stop face abutting against the shoulder face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Sasamoto Akinori, Cheng-Tao Lee, Yuan-Jen Hou, Te-Fu Hsiao
  • Publication number: 20090131198
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: ROGER CLEVELAND GOLF CO., INC.
    Inventor: Michael J. WALLANS
  • Publication number: 20090118033
    Abstract: A golf club head with a vibration absorber capable of absorbing unpleasant vibrations on off-center hits without absorbing agreeable vibrations on on-center hits is disclosed. The head comprises a head main body made of a metal material, and a vibration absorber made of a visco-elastic material attached to the head main body, wherein the loss tangent of the vibration absorber exhibits its maximum value within a temperature range of ?20 to 50 deg. C., the loss tangent at 30 deg. C. is not less than 0.30, and the loss tangent at ?40 deg. C. is less than 0.20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Takashi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20090118032
    Abstract: A wood-type golf club head has a hollow structure comprising a face portion having a back surface and a front surface defining a club face for striking a ball, a crown portion, a sole portion, and a side portion between the crown portion and sole portion. The hollow structure is provided with a hollow and a solid part. The solid part extends forward from the backmost point of the club head by a distance of from 0.08 to 0.20 times the maximum size of the club head in the back-and-forth direction, the hollow extends between the front surface of the solid part and the back surface of the face portion. The main frame of the hollow structure integrally includes the solid part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Tomoya Hirano
  • Publication number: 20090111604
    Abstract: A golf club head is provided. The golf club head comprises a main body and a club portion. The main body has a first junction surface, and the main body is made of a first material. The club portion has a second junction surface, the second junction surface is used to be jointed with the first junction surface, and the club portion is made of a second material. The second material and the first material are substantially different materials. As compared with the first material, the second material has a higher ductility, so after the main body and the club portion are jointed, the club portion has the function of adjusting the angle, the golf club head has a preferred damping effect and a high coefficient of rebound, so as to solve the problem that the integrally-formed main body and the club portion of the conventional golf club head must be manufactured with plenty of expensive material, and to reduce the manufacturing cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL MULTITECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liang-Ho TSAI, Cheng-Tao LEE, Chia-Lin CHUANG
  • Publication number: 20090105007
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a hollow head body, a striking plate, and a shock absorber. The hollow head body has a front opening. The striking plate covers the front opening, and has a front face, a rear face, and a sweet spot. The shock absorber is connected to the rear face of the striking plate, corresponds in position to the sweet spot, and has a size smaller than that of the front opening and substantially equal to an area of the sweet spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Chon-Chen Lin, Shun-Fu Hu, Yen-Chi Hsu
  • Publication number: 20090088267
    Abstract: This invention provides a hollow golf club head including a fixing member which includes a shaft body formed with a threaded portion at one end, and a head portion at the other end of the shaft body, a viscoelastic body having an opening through which the shaft body extends, a recess portion formed in a circumferential wall of the golf club head and in which the viscoelastic body is disposed, and a screw hole formed in a bottom portion of the recess portion and threadably engages with the threaded portion. The viscoelastic body is fixed between the head portion and the bottom portion by threadably engaging the threaded portion with the screw hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo SHIMAZAKI, Hideo Matsunaga, Wataru Ban
  • Publication number: 20090082131
    Abstract: A golf club head with a vibration damping insert is disclosed. The club head includes a face member, a damping member, and a body member. The damping member is sandwiched between the face member and the body member and extends along a large percentage of the face member. The damping layer attenuates vibrations, providing consistent feel across the length of the striking face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher B. Best, Thomas C. Morris, Peter L. Soracco
  • Publication number: 20090075750
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf club including a club head having a muscle back shell or a lightweight muscle back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Publication number: 20090075751
    Abstract: A a golf club including a club head having a club head main body, a supporting member and a muscle back shell. The muscle back shell is coupled to the club head main body and the supporting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Patent number: 7500923
    Abstract: A putter head that includes: a head body having a face portion; and a face insert fitted in the face portion, the face insert including a high-hardness portion that forms a hitting surface, a low-hardness portion jointed to the high-hardness portion and having a hardness lower than that of the high-hardness portion, and a projecting portion formed at least on a central portion of the high-hardness portion, the low-hardness portion filling a recessed portion formed by the projecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsuo Tateno
  • Patent number: 7500924
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head comprises a face portion whose front face defines a club face for striking a golf ball, a sole portion intersecting the club face at the lower edge thereof, at least one groove being provided on an outer surface of the sole portion, the groove extending in a v-shaped formation whose corner portion is smoothly bended and protrudes toward a leading edge of the head, the groove having a ratio (W/L) of a length w in its front-rear direction to a length L in its toe-heel direction being from 0.20 to 1.50 at least partially, and a distance between the leading edge and the corner of the groove being in the range. of from 5 to 30 mm in the front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Masatoshi Yokota
  • Publication number: 20090062032
    Abstract: Iron golf clubs heads and clubs include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) an opposite rear surface; (c) a sole portion extending rearward from the ball striking face and defining a cavity having an open upper portion; (d) an insert element mounted in the cavity, wherein the insert element includes at least one weight port; and (e) a weight member mounted in the port. The insert element may substantially fill the cavity to dampen vibrations and/or noise when a ball is struck. Additionally, the insert element may allow the weight(s) to be selectively placed to enable customization and tuning of the overall weight of the club head (e.g., for swing weighting purposes, for ball flight control purposes, etc.). Methods of making such club heads and clubs also are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Byron Cole Slaughter, Charles Jack Green, III
  • Publication number: 20090042663
    Abstract: A force dampening and redirection system for use with a golf driver or fairway club head including an elongated handle terminating in a three-dimensional shaped driver or fairway head exhibiting a substantially smooth ball striking face. A vibration dampening and absorbing component, such as an elongated spring, extends within a hollow three dimensional interior associated with the club head. Upon impacting a golf ball offset from a center line associated with the striking face, an off-center striking force is more readily transferred to the spring, both to counteract twisting of the putter head and to reduce vibration of the club face at the ball contact zone, thereby increasing an effective surface area of the striking face creating a perpendicular travel direction of the ball relative to the golf club striking face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: JOSEPH CONSIGLIO
  • Patent number: 7481718
    Abstract: 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 dampening 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 7481719
    Abstract: A golf club head has a head main body, an elastic body, and a lid body. The head main body has a back surface and a sole surface, and defines a recess portion depressed from one of the back surface and the sole surface. The elastic body is fixed in the recess portion in an compressed state and defines an empty portion. The lid body is attached to an entrance portion of the recess portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Imamoto
  • Publication number: 20090023511
    Abstract: A metal wood golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, comprising of a body portion and a crown portion, each portion constructed of a different density material. Combining a high-density material in the body portion, with a low-density material in the crown portion, creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. The material for the crown portion is preferably a composite. A vibration dampening gasket is disposed between the ledge and lip sections of the body and crown respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Meyer, Scott A. Rice, Raymond L. Poynor
  • Patent number: 7476162
    Abstract: A cavity back golf club head having a bridge member and a damping element is disclosed. The bridge member extends across a first rear cavity connecting a heel and a toe of the golf club head to control the trajectory of a golf ball. For the longer iron clubs, a damping element extends from the sole portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member to define a second cavity to further influence the trajectory of the golf ball. For the shorter iron clubs, the damping element extends from the top portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member. The damping element may reduce the vibration and sound of the golf club head upon impact with a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Byron C. Slaughter, Michael G. Taylor, David N. Franklin
  • Patent number: 7473186
    Abstract: A golf club head with a vibration dampening insert is disclosed. The club head includes a face member, a dampening member, and a body member. The dampening member is sandwiched between the face member and the body member and extends along a large percentage of the face member. The dampening layer attenuates vibrations, providing consistent feel across the length of the striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Christopher B. Best, Thomas C. Morris, Peter L. Soracco
  • Publication number: 20080318705
    Abstract: A set of golf clubs having a plurality of construction types. The clubs of each construction type are constructed to have a volumetric bias in a pre-selected range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Scott A. Rice
  • Publication number: 20080305887
    Abstract: A golf club head for an iron includes a back part, a striking plate covering the back part, and a fixing unit to join the striking plate and the back part. The fixing unit has a looped groove provided between the striking plate and the back part, and a welding material interconnecting the striking plate and the back part and filled in the looped groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Chon-Chen Lin, Hsiao-Wen Chao, Ming-Yung Pan, Yu-Cheng Huang, Yuan-Cheng Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20080305888
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body and a hitting plate. The body has a front side, a rear side, a chamber and a recess. The chamber is defined in the front side, hold a shock absorbing material inside and has a top edge, an opening defined in the front side and at least one air-discharging channel. The air-discharging channel is defined in the top edge and has a depth being small as for allowing air inside the chamber to discharge via the air-discharging channel but keeping the shock absorbing material inside the chamber from exhausting through the air-discharging channel. The recess is defined in the rear side and has a bottom and an injection hole defined through the bottom and communicating with the chamber. The hitting plate is attached to the front side of the body and closes the opening of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventor: Wen-Cheng Tseng
  • Patent number: 7462109
    Abstract: A wood-type golf club head (40) having a major body (50), a striking plate insert (55) and a minor body (60) is disclosed herein. The major body (50) is composed of a metal material and has a front wall section (72), a return section (74), a sole section (76), a ribbon section (78) and a ledge portion (80). The minor body (50) is preferably composed of a low density material and has a crown section (62) and a ribbon section (64). The striking plate insert (55) is composed of a metal material. An epoxy-based composition (200) is placed at a face-sole junction (205) to lower the amplitude of the sound of the golf club head (40) during impact with a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew J. Erickson, Bradley C. Rice, D. Clayton Evans, Evan D. Gibbs
  • Publication number: 20080293512
    Abstract: A wood golf club head includes a shock-absorption member and a face member connected together. The shock-absorption member is made of a light and shock absorption material, such as aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy, fiber reinforced resin, or plastic, with a specific weight less than three. The shock-absorption member includes a crown and a neck. The face member is made of a heavy material, such as titanium alloy, or stainless, or Maraging steel, with a specific weight greater than four. The face member includes a face and a sole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Archer C. C. Chen
  • Patent number: 7448961
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a golf club head body and a complex plate. The golf club head body includes an assembling opening to mount the complex plate. The complex plate includes a base plate and a protrusion structure which are made of different metal material. The upraised protrusion structure has a buffer structure formed therein. The complex plate has an outer (front) surface and an inner (rear) surface opposite to the outer surface. The protrusion structure is disposed on the inner surface of the complex plate. In assembling operation, the complex plate is received in the assembling opening of the golf club head body so as to constitute the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignees: Fu Sheng Industrial Co., Ltd., Nelson Precision Casting Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 7445562
    Abstract: A golf putter head includes: a head body having a face surface; and a different member fixed to the head body and having a plurality of end portions as fixed portions to the head body, and a spaced extension extended between the end portions and spaced away from the head body, the different member fixed to the head body as elastically deformed by being fixed to the head body in a manner that the end portions thereof have a relative positional relation varied from that when the different member is in an independent piece state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: SRI Sports Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Sano
  • Patent number: 7445563
    Abstract: An internal vibration damper for hollow golf club heads is disclosed. Of particular concern is vibration of the club sole and crown when the face of the club impacts a golf ball. At least one column extends from the sole to the crown, approximately perpendicular to the surfaces of the sole and crown. The column construction or its mounting acts to dampen and reduce vibrations of the sole and crown toward and apart from each other upon ball impact on the face of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Origin, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Werner
  • Publication number: 20080261717
    Abstract: A wood-type golf club head is described that includes a body including one or more walls defining an interior cavity and multiple weight ports formed in the body. At least one weight is configured to be retained at least partially within at least one of the weight ports. One or more fins or ribs are secured to each of the weight ports and to another structural member of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Joseph H. Hoffman, Kraig A. Willett, Todd P. Beach, John F. Lorentzen, Allan C. Saliba
  • Patent number: 7431664
    Abstract: A metal wood golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, comprising of a body portion composed of titanium alloy and a graphite crown portion, each portion constructed of a different density material. Combining a high-density material in the body portion, with a low-density material in the crown portion, creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. The body portion has an attachment ledge section and the crown portion has attachment section that overlays the attachment section of the body. A vibration dampening gasket is disposed between the attachment sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Meyer, Scott A. Rice, Raymond L. Poynor
  • Publication number: 20080242444
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: ROGER CLEVELAND GOLF CO., INC.
    Inventors: Sharon J. Park, Douglas E. Roberts, Andrew P. Chick
  • Patent number: 7396293
    Abstract: A golf club with improved performance over a larger percentage of the strike face, including the lower extremities of the face, is disclosed and claimed. The club head has a coefficient of restitution that approaches substantial uniformity across the face. The golf club head includes a body having a face, a sole, a transition zone between the face and the sole. The transition zone has an internal surface and an external surface. Both the internal and external surfaces have radii of curvature greater than 0.2 inch. The transition zone transitions smoothly from the face, through the transition zone, to the sole. An extension may be provided adjacent the transition zone, cooperating with the transition zone to form a chamber. Dampening and/or weight inserts may be positioned within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 7396294
    Abstract: A golf putter including an elongated handle terminating in a three-dimensional shaped putter head exhibiting a substantially smooth ball striking face. A vibration inducing component being mounted to first and second locations associated with a surface of the putter head and located opposite the ball striking face. Upon impacting a golf ball offset from a center line associated with the striking face, the vibration inducing components counteract twisting of the putter head, thereby increasing an effective surface area of the striking face creating a perpendicular travel direction of the ball relative to the putting face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: Joseph Consiglio
  • Patent number: 7393287
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body and a striking portion. The body includes a front side with a coupling section. The striking portion is coupled with the coupling section. The striking portion includes a metal matrix forming a basic structure of the striking portion. The metal matrix includes at least one groove. At least one light, reinforcing member is securely mounted in the at least one groove to reduce a weight of the striking portion to allow downward and rearward shifting of a center of gravity of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Nelson Precision Casting Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-Yung Huang
  • Patent number: 7390270
    Abstract: A muscle-back iron golf club head includes a blade-like upper mass, a muscle-like lower mass, a planar front surface, a top surface, a sole surface, a heel surface, a toe surface, and a rear surface having a first contour. A recess is in the rear surface, the recess having a first portion in the blade-like upper mass and a second portion in the muscle-like lower mass. An insert may be provided in the recess, and such insert may substantially fill the recess and may include a back surface having a second contour which is different from the first contour of the club head rear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Roger Cleveland Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Roberts, Trent E. Garner, Kevin A. Wolfe, Daniel J. Stone, Christopher J. Beck, Todd D. Harman, Brent L. Newsome, Michael J. Wallans, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe