Selectively Adjustable Weighting Element Patents (Class 473/334)
  • Patent number: 8876623
    Abstract: A golf club head system and a golf club head for inclusion into a golf club are provided. The golf club head system includes two or more rear or secondary body members, each configured for interchangeable attachment to a front or main body member. Each rear body member may have a different external shape, and each rear body member may have a different combination of center-of-gravity and moment-of-inertia characteristics. The system further includes a detachable attachment element for interchangeably and detachably attaching the rear body members to the front body member. The system may further include the front body member, wherein the front body member has a striking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares, John Thomas Stites
  • Publication number: 20140323238
    Abstract: A golf putter head with a front portion comprising traditional shape and appearance, with an integral face insert extending through the head to an alignment and weighting portion extending beyond the main body of the putter, adding improved alignment, increased moment of inertia (MOI) and adjustable weighting and adjustable balance and optimizable center of percussion. The putter head comprises a central face insert portion extending through the body and above the traditional weight flange, with mass relieved portions below the top of the alignment piece in order to receive one or more optional weights, and the upper side of the rearwardly extending portion being engraved or marked with various alignment indicia, and the whole through-head insert face portion and rearwardly extending portion being affixed to the base portion of the head at least in part with threaded fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Dogleg Right Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Billings
  • Patent number: 8870678
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body, a track formed in or attached to the body and having a length and a weight and weight retainer. The weight is continuously repositionable such that it can be positioned at any selected point along the track between its ends. The weight has a major dimension, and the weight retainer comprises a fastening member having a diameter not greater than about one half of the major dimension of the weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8870677
    Abstract: A golf club may include a front surface, a rear surface having a recess, and an insert at least partially disposed in the recess. The insert may comprise a durometer hardness of less than about 95 Shore A and a cavity having a reinforcement member disposed therein. Preferably, the durometer hardness of the reinforcement member is also less than about 95 Shore A. The insert may further comprise an anterior perimetric boundary having a first length and a posterior perimetric boundary having a second length. The ratio of the first length to the second length may be less than 1 and greater than 0.5. In one example, the insert may have a triangular front profile and a triangular side profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Andrew P. Chick, Christopher R. Cooper, Sharon J Park, Kevin R. Tassistro
  • Patent number: 8858362
    Abstract: A golf club head having a face component, a crown, and a sole or a body patch with one or more weight ports for receiving one or more weight inserts is disclosed herein. At least part of each of the weight ports is integrally formed in the sole or body patch, and each of the weight ports includes an upper edge, a lower edge, and a wall having a variable thickness and varying radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Mark Leposky, Bradley C. Rice, William C. Watson, Patrick Dawson, Irina Ivanova
  • Publication number: 20140248976
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a club head with sole mass element. Other embodiments of related club heads and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryan Stokke
  • Patent number: 8821307
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Sharon Park, Brian Schielke, Kevin Tassistro
  • Patent number: 8814722
    Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including a fixed portion proximal to the ball striking face, and a removable weight portion, which is configured to be coupled with the fixed portion on a side of the crown potion away from the ball striking face. The club head body may further include an interior portion with a frame member defined therein. The crown weight may further include a weight member attached to the frame member, the weight member including at least one receptacle defined therein. The removable weight portion may further include at least one weight insert supported within the weight member in the at least one receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, William F. Rauchholz, Gary G. Tavares
  • Patent number: 8790194
    Abstract: A cavity back golf club and golf club head having one or more support brackets is disclosed. Each support bracket includes a first portion engaged with the rear surface of the striking face, a second portion engaged with the perimeter weighting member, and a third portion that is curved. The one or more of the support brackets are engaged with a rear surface of a striking face and a perimeter weight member of the golf club head. The one or more support brackets are at least partially located in a rear cavity of the golf club head. The support brackets provide structural integrity to a thin striking face on the golf club head. Additionally, a discretionary weight is engaged with the at least one of the support brackets at the toe portion of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Adam D. Liber, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
  • Patent number: 8777774
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an iron-type golf club head having features that permit adjustment to the principal moment of inertia angle, the center of gravity location, turf interaction, loft, and overall club forgiveness. In particular, the golf club head includes a rear cavity sized to receive a weight cartridge composed of one or more materials, the adjustment of which changes one or more of the mass properties of the golf club head and also changes the interaction of the golf club head with turf during play. The weight cartridge may comprise one or more high density materials, and may be located in or proximate the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Wee Joung Kim, Homer E. Aguinaldo, James A. Seluga
  • Patent number: 8771098
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Thomas R. Hilton
  • Publication number: 20140187346
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 8758163
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 8758165
    Abstract: A golf club having features that permit easy customization by consumers is disclosed herein. The golf club includes at least one weight port, a ribbon, at least one removable weight port ring, and at least one removable ribbon insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Gold Company
    Inventors: Craig E. Abbott, Catherine Brookshire, Tim Goudarzi, Scott Manwaring
  • Patent number: 8753225
    Abstract: A golf club having features that permit easy customization by consumers is disclosed herein. The golf club includes at least one weight port, at least one removable weight port insert, which may be a weight port ring or one or more weight port medallions, and at least one weight screw. The weight port of the golf club head preferably is non-circular and asymmetric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Craig E. Abbott, Kevin Weejoung Kim, Bradley C. Rice, Irina Ivanova, Patrick Dawson, William C. Watson
  • Patent number: 8753226
    Abstract: A golf club head having a face component, a crown, and a composite sole or a composite body patch with one or more weight ports for receiving one or more weight inserts is disclosed herein. At least part of each of the weight ports is integrally formed in the composite sole or composite body patch, and each of the weight ports includes an upper edge, a lower edge, and a wall having a variable thickness and varying radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Bradley C. Rice, William C. Watson, Patrick Dawson, Irina Ivanova
  • Patent number: 8747252
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lukasiewicz, Jr., Robert Boyd
  • Patent number: 8747250
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, John Francis Lorentzen, Hsiang Lee
  • Patent number: 8747253
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball, a body connected to the face, and a plurality of inserts connected to the outer surface of the body. The plurality of inserts are removable and interchangeable with other inserts, and at least one of the inserts has a weight that is greater than at least another one of the inserts. The inserts may be substantially identical in size and shape to enable the inserts to be interchanged with each other. Additionally, one or more of the inserts may be a primary insert with a secondary insert connected to the primary insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 8740721
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Akio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8740722
    Abstract: A clubhead of an iron golf club includes: a head main body including a face portion and a hosel portion; a back member including a sole surface and a back surface; and a fixing member configured to detachably fix the back member to the head main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Fumiaki Sato
  • Patent number: 8734271
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body, a track formed in or attached to the body and having a length and a weight and weight retainer. The weight is continuously repositionable such that it can be positioned at any selected point along the track between its ends. The weight has a major dimension, and the weight retainer comprises a fastening member having a diameter not greater than about one half of the major dimension of the weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Gold Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8715105
    Abstract: A cavity back golf club head having an interchangeable bridge member is disclosed. The interchangeable bridge member extends across a rear cavity connecting a heel and a toe of the golf club head to control the trajectory of a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd
  • Patent number: 8715106
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an iron-type golf club head having features that permit adjustment to the principal moment of inertia angle, the center of gravity location, and overall club forgiveness. In particular, the golf club head includes a rear cavity sized to receive a weight cartridge composed of one or more materials, the adjustment of which changes one or more of the mass properties of the golf club head and may change the interaction of the golf club head with turf during play, and a composite face plate. The weight cartridge may comprise one or more high density materials, and may be located in or proximate the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: James A. Seluga, Sean Griffin, Evan D. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 8708838
    Abstract: A golf club with a new innovative construction to attach a high density weight to an external surface of the sole of a golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention relates to utilizing a thickened sole portion having a specific surface area to thickness ratio to provide adequate support for a high density weight having a significant amount of mass. The new innovative method of attachment also incorporates a unique mechanical lock to properly secure the high density weight to the club head, as materials used for high density weighting may not be easily weldable to the titanium material currently used for metalwood type golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gentry Ferguson, Takeshi Casey Funaki, Keisuke Yamane
  • Publication number: 20140113739
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a club head for adjusting vertical spin of a golf ball. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric Joel Morales, Anthony D. Serrano, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 8702533
    Abstract: A titanium bodied driver that utilizes a lightweight receiving back cap, which is designed to be non-removable from the club head but can be loosened to allow its interior to be accessed to reposition one or more movable weights into alternative receiving locations, is disclosed herein. The back cap may also be designed to be completely removable from the driver body to gain access to the one or more weights that can be re-positioned in alternative receiving areas within the back cap's interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: D. Clayton Evans
  • Patent number: 8696491
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a channel and an expandable weight that can be removably fixed at any point within the channel is disclosed herein. The channel preferably is disposed on the sole and extends from a heel side of the golf club head, around a rear side, and ends at a toe side of the golf club head. This channel is not constrained to a planar arc, but instead twists as it extends around the golf club head so that it follows the contours, and preserves the aesthetics, of the golf club head. The expandable weight preferably is trapped within the channel so that it cannot fall out of the channel during use, and includes an anti-rotation feature so that it does not twist within the channel and cause an undesirable rattling noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Matthew Myers
  • Patent number: 8690706
    Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a sole portion, wherein the sole portion includes a slot or rail defined therein; and (c) a weight member at least partially located within the slot or rail. The weight member may be mounted at plural positions along the slot or rail (optionally at least partially within a weight cartridge member provided with the club head body). The weight member also may be movably engaged with the weight cartridge member, slot, rail, and/or other portion of the club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making and using such golf clubs and golf club heads also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Eric A. Larson
  • Patent number: 8684863
    Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a weight member secured to a weight mount. The weight member is preferably constructed so that it has a low profile and so that it interacts with an angled abutment portion of the weight mount to locate the weight member in the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Stephanie Bezilla, Gery M. Zimmerman, Darryl C. Galvan
  • Patent number: 8684862
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 8663029
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. Some embodiments of the club head form a club head for a fairway wood that has a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity and a thin crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Joseph Henry Hoffman, Scott Taylor, Sang S. Yi
  • Patent number: 8663030
    Abstract: A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a body comprising a crown and a sole and a removable skid plate attached to the sole, wherein the removable skid plate affects the face angle of the golf club head at address. The face angle of the golf club can be further altered by removing the first skid plate and replacing it with a second skid plate having a structure that, when the second skid plate is affixed to the golf club head, causes the golf club head to have a different face angle at address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: D. Clayton Evans
  • Patent number: 8657702
    Abstract: Golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) according to at least some example aspects of this invention include: (a) a heel; (b) a toe; (c) a crown; (d) a sole; (e) a striking face; (f) a cavity, wherein the cavity is at least partially open; (g) a rear face opposite the striking face, the rear face defining an opening to the cavity; and (h) a rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening. The rear body member may be releasably engaged with the opening to the cavity, rear face, and/or other portion of the club head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Gary Tavares
  • Publication number: 20140038746
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body, a track formed in or attached to the body and having a length and a weight and weight retainer. The weight is continuously repositionable such that it can be positioned at any selected point along the track between its ends. The weight has a major dimension, and the weight retainer comprises a fastening member having a diameter not greater than about one half of the major dimension of the weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20140031141
    Abstract: The present invention provides golf clubs and golf club heads that can be weight adjusted to move the center of gravity of the clubs and heads. The wood-type clubs have heads with crown and soles plates containing weighted and non-weighted sections. The crown and sole plates can be rotated or removed. In this manner, the weighted sections of the crowns and sole plates can be moved to a particular location, and this adjusts the center of gravity of the club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventor: Mark C. Myrhum
  • Patent number: 8632421
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Sharon J. Park, Douglas E. Roberts, Andrew P. Chick
  • Patent number: 8628431
    Abstract: A golf club head can comprise a head body and a protrusion weight coupled thereto. The protrusion weight can protrude from at least the heel portion of the head body. The head center of gravity of the golf club head can be defined by both a mass of the head body and a mass of the protrusion weight. The body center of gravity of the head body can be defined by the mass of the head body independent of the mass of the protrusion weight. A weight center of gravity of the protrusion weight can be defined by the mass of the protrusion weight independent of the mass of the head body, and can be external to a body volume of the head body. The protrusion weight can be at least partially visible from an exterior of the club head. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 8616991
    Abstract: A golf putter head with a front portion comprising traditional shape and appearance, with an integral face insert extending through the head to an alignment and weighting portion extending beyond the main body of the putter, adding improved alignment, increased moment of inertia (MOI) and adjustable weighting and adjustable balance and optimizable center of percussion. The putter head comprises a central face insert portion extending through the body and above the traditional weight flange, with mass relieved portions below the top of the alignment piece in order to receive one or more optional weights, and the upper side of the rearwardly extending portion being engraved or marked with various alignment indicia, and the whole through-head insert face portion and rearwardly extending portion being affixed to the base portion of the head at least in part with threaded fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Billings
  • Patent number: 8617000
    Abstract: A metal wood golf club with externally protruding weights that improves the performance of a golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a metal wood type golf club head that is capable of pushing the boundaries of performance all while maintaining the size and shape of a classic pear shaped golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gentry Ferguson, Keisuke Yamane, Ronald K. Hettinger
  • Publication number: 20130337938
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head for a metal wood type club. The club head includes a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a rear, a crown, a sole and a centerline extending from the ball striking face to the rear. The sole includes a substantially horizontally-oriented sole surface extending rearwardly from the ball striking face to the rear. A first insert-receiving feature is located to a heel-side of the centerline, and a second insert-receiving feature is located to a toe-side of the centerline. The first and second insert-receiving features are substantially symmetrically located with respect to the centerline. The first and second insert-receiving features have substantially mirror-images shapes with respect to the centerline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd
  • Publication number: 20130337937
    Abstract: Golf clubs, club heads, and club weighting systems may include: (a) a club head body member; and (b) one or more weight members removably and/or movably engaged with the club head body member so as to move between a first position and a second position to change an overall exterior shape of the club head. This shape change may result in changes to the overall center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Alternatively or additionally, the weight member(s) may be removed from the club head body member, reoriented, and/or replaced with a different weight member, e.g., to change the overall exterior shape, center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Methods of making and using these clubs, club heads, and weighting systems also are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: NIKE, INC.
  • Patent number: 8608588
    Abstract: A putter head has a moment of inertia that can be adjusted easily by the golfer himself or herself. A putter head includes a body member having a face surface for hitting a ball and a back member turnably installed at the body member. The back member includes a plurality of movable parts, and the movable parts are turnably fixed to the body part. The movable part is turnably installed with one screw only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Horii
  • Patent number: 8608589
    Abstract: A golf club with a new innovative construction to attach a high density weight to an external surface of the sole of a golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention relates to utilizing a thickened sole portion having a specific surface area to thickness ratio to provide adequate support for a high density weight having a significant amount of mass. The new innovative method of attachment also incorporates a unique mechanical lock to properly secure the high density weight to the club head, as materials used for high density weighting may not be easily weldable to the titanium material currently used for metalwood type golf club head. The present invention's mechanical lock mechanism utilizes a protruding extension stemming from an internal surface of the weight and an attachment socked located within an internal cavity of the golf club head to engage one another to help secure the weight to the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gentry Ferguson, Keisuke Yamane, Stephanie Bezilla
  • Publication number: 20130324299
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to golf clubs with adjustable mass properties. In certain aspects, the invention provides methods and mechanisms for adjusting a club head center of gravity in a vertical direction. Changing a center of gravity in the vertical direction can be done without substantially changing the center of a gravity in other directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Peter L. Soracco, Richard Romo Sanchez, Joshua G. Breier, Ryan L. Roach, Tim A. Beno, Andrew Curtis, Bret A. Newmiller, David Morelock
  • Patent number: 8585514
    Abstract: A golf club head system and a golf club head for inclusion into a golf club are provided. The golf club head includes a main body member and a secondary body member. The main body member has a striking surface, a sole portion, a crown portion, and a rear face substantially opposed to the striking surface. The main body member defines an at least substantially enclosed main body cavity. The secondary body member is attached to the main body member and extends at least substantially over the entire rear face of the main body member. The golf club head system includes two or more secondary body members, each configured for interchangeable attachment to a main body member. Each secondary body member defines an internal concavity, has a different external shape, and has a different combination of center-of-gravity and moment-of-inertia characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Chia-Chyi Cheng
  • Patent number: 8579724
    Abstract: A titanium bodied driver that utilizes a lightweight receiving back cap, which is designed to be non-removable from the club head but can be loosened to allow its interior to be accessed to reposition one or more movable weights into alternative receiving locations, is disclosed herein. The back cap may also be designed to be completely removable from the driver body to gain access to the one or more weights that can be re-positioned in alternative receiving areas within the back cap's interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: D. Clayton Evans
  • Patent number: 8579718
    Abstract: Embodiments of a putter-type golf club head with an increased moment of inertia about the X axis (MOIXX) and an increased moment of inertia about the Z axis (MOIZZ) are disclosed. Generally, the MOIZZ is increased by designing the putter such that the center of gravity (CG) of the putter head is located at or behind the geometric center of the putter head. Additionally, the mass of the putter head is concentrated at the outer edges of the putter head. To accomplish this, the ratio of the width of the front of the putter head to the width of the rear of the putter head is no greater than 0.55:1. The MOIXX is further increased by locating the CG relatively close to the bottom of the putter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Marni D. Ines, Bret H. Wahl
  • Patent number: 8579716
    Abstract: A golf putter including a handle from which exends a shaft having a lower extension connected to a hosel mounted on an adjustable putter head having a putting face, upper and lower surfaces, opposite side portions, an alignment groove extending along a central longitudinal axis of the upper surface toward the putting face, a first pair of alignment members extending parallel to and on opposite sides of the groove, and a second pair of alignment members extending parallel to and adjacent the putting face, and wherein at least one alignment projection extends from the hosel above the first and second pairs of alignment members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Lewis V. Eckhart
  • Publication number: 20130296070
    Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a sole portion, wherein the sole portion includes a slot or rail defined therein; and (c) a weight member at least partially located within the slot or rail. The weight member may be mounted at plural positions along the slot or rail (optionally at least partially within a weight cartridge member provided with the club head body). The weight member also may be movably engaged with the weight cartridge member, slot, rail, and/or other portion of the club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making and using such golf clubs and golf club heads also are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: John Thomas Stites, Robert Boyd, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Eric A Larson