Selectively Adjustable Weighting Element Patents (Class 473/334)
  • Publication number: 20100173724
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed that includes a weight integral to a bridge member extending across a cavity back golf club head. The weight modifies a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. The weight is independently movable in multiple directions to further vary the center of gravity of a golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John Thomas Stites, Gary Gene Tavares
  • Publication number: 20100167831
    Abstract: A putter-type golf club comprising an alignment system and a club head assembly. The putter-type club head has a body that is preferably composed of aluminum, with a rear weight disc and small inserts composed of a material denser than the material used for the remainder of the club head (excluding inserts in the “wings” on the club head and/or neck of the club). The body has an alignment channel that is approximately the same width as a standard golf ball, and which runs from the face to the rear of the club head. In a preferred embodiment this alignment channel is black or dark in colour with a white or light-coloured border. The putter-type club has a neck that is inserted laterally through the side of the club head, such that it runs parallel to the face of the club head and for substantially the length of the face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: SERAPH SPORTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Ashley Smith, Simon Chan
  • Publication number: 20100167836
    Abstract: A putter head has the performance and characteristics of a putter, such as appearance, center of gravity, moment of inertia, ease of finding a putting line, and ease of setting, and can be adjusted by easily changing the shape of putter head by the golfer himself or herself, and a putter head set is also provided. A putter head includes a body member having a face surface for hitting a ball, and a back member detachably installed to the body member. The back member is detachably installed to the body member with one screw only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Horii, Takaharu Takechi
  • Patent number: 7744485
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs, golf club heads and removable golf club weights are generally described herein. According to certain embodiments, an example golf club head comprises a face for striking a golf ball, a backside portion, a sole portion, and one or more removable weights. According to such embodiments, the example golf club head may further comprise a vibration damping composition disposed between the removable weights and the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Jones, Richard R. Sanchez, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 7744484
    Abstract: Embodiments of movable weights, such as weight plugs and other types of movable weights, for a golf club head are disclosed herein. One embodiment for a weight plug, for example, includes a mass element with a first end that has a threaded portion and a second end. The weight plug also has a weight cap with a seal retention portion that is configured to engage a seal. The cap is also configured to engage the threaded portion of the mass element. A seal is positioned between the first end of the mass element and the seal retention portion of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Bing-Ling Chao
  • Publication number: 20100160091
    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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Publication number: 20100137072
    Abstract: A golf club head 2a of a first aspect is provided with a head body h1a, a double-stick tape w1, and an adherend s1a bonded to the head body h1a by the double-stick tape w1. When an average thickness of a lower part of the adherend s1a is defined as f1 and an average thickness of an upper part of the adherend s1a is defined as f2, the thickness f2 is smaller than the thickness f1. A golf club head 2 according to a second aspect is provided with a head body h1, a double-stick tape w1 and an adherend s1 bonded to the head body h1 by the double-stick tape w1. When an average thickness of a heel part of the adherend s1 is defined as t1 and an average thickness of a toe part of the adherend s1 is defined as t2, the thickness t2 is smaller than the thickness t1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Tomio Kumamoto, Kiyofumi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7717803
    Abstract: A C-shaped golf club head is disclosed herein. The body has a striking plate wall, a crown section, a sole section and a rear wall. The golf club head also has a plurality of weight members positioned on the rear wall of the body. Each of the plurality of weight members is movable along the rear wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. DiMarco
  • Patent number: 7713143
    Abstract: A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a face component having a face and a flange, a crown-plate attached to the flange, a sole-plate attached to the flange, a skid-plate attached to the sole-plate, a swing-weight member, and a plurality of removable weight members with each of the plurality of weight members positioned within a pocket of the plurality of pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: D. Clayton Evans
  • Patent number: 7713142
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Henry Hoffman, Kraig Alan Willett, Todd P. Beach, John F. Lorentzen, Allan C. Saliba
  • Publication number: 20100113178
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft thereto. The head may include one or more stiffening elements or other structures engaging the face to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. The stiffening element can be movable to create regions of increased stiffness in desired locations, leaving other regions of the face to have increased flexibility as compared to the stiffened regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: John Thomas Stites
  • Publication number: 20100113176
    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 removable wrapping element proximal to the ball striking face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Mark J. Perry
  • Patent number: 7704163
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed that includes a weight integral to a bridge member extending across a cavity back golf club head. The weight modifies a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. The weight is independently movable in multiple directions to further vary the center of gravity of a golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Publication number: 20100099511
    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: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, David N. Franklin
  • Patent number: 7691004
    Abstract: An improved golf putter incorporating a weight management system that allows for adjustment of a golf club head weighting by incorporating an adjustable weight system wherein weights may be removed and replaced quickly and easily without requiring a specialized tool is disclosed. Weights received within weight ports formed in the heel and toe portions of the putter are maintained securely affixed within the club head body by plugs adapted for snap fit engagement with the club head. Unlike other putter weight adjustment systems disclosed in the art, the present invention does not require use of a special tool, such as a wrench, to remove and replace the weights. While the preferred golf club embodiment disclosed is a putter, the present invention contemplates incorporating any of the features and/or advancements disclosed herein into any golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Lueders
  • Publication number: 20100075773
    Abstract: A sporting article having moveable weight members of various weight values that may be positioned along a guide in various configurations, for example, transversally, longitudinally and/or diagonally, at various positions and angles on the sporting article so that the user may properly adjust the weight distribution of the sporting article to perform a desired shot or improve maneuverability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: POWER GOLF CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ettore Casati, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100069171
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at a quick release connection system to facilitate customization of golf clubs. It can be used to interchange shafts, removable weights, or soleplates quickly and easily. Teeth are disposed on the inside of a frame so that a shaft may be inserted with minimal resistance, but cannot be removed without specific steps which may require the use of a simple tool. Strengthening and interlock devices are provided to ensure performance quality akin to traditional golf clubs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Peter L. Soracco
  • Publication number: 20100056296
    Abstract: A head of a first aspect is provided with a head body h1x, a double-stick tape t1, and an adherend s1x bonded to the head body h1x by the double-stick tape t1. The double-stick tape t1 has a first adhesive layer 30 provided as an innermost layer, a second adhesive layer 36 provided as an outermost layer, and intermediate layers 32 and 34 provided between the first adhesive layer 30 and the second adhesive layer 36. The intermediate layer includes a fiber layer 34 and/or a resin layer 32. The resin layer 32 is free of bubbles. In a head of a second aspect, a head body h1y or an adherend s1y has a recessed part 27y. In a head of a third aspect, an adherend s1 has a metal member 27 and an elastic member 29. The elastic member 29 has a peripheral part 29a directly or indirectly abutting on a side surface 31 of the metal member 27.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Tomio KUMAMOTO, Takashi Nakano, Yasushi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7670232
    Abstract: Ball striking devices, such as golf club heads (including putter heads), have a high moment of inertia about their center, to help prevent twisting and mis-hits, particularly when the ball striking device hits the ball at a somewhat off-center position. The ball striking head of the ball striking device may be structured and/or weighted (optionally with separately attachable weight elements) to have a moment of inertia about a center of the ball striking surface of at least 10,000 g-cm2, and in some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 11,000 g-cm2, or even at least 12,000 g-cm2. In some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 20,000 g-cm2, or even at least 25,000 g-cm2 or at least 28,000 g-cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Publication number: 20100041493
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an iron-type golf club that may be included in a set. In particular, the inventive golf club includes an adjustable hosel coupling and a mechanism for altering the sole configuration. The golf club may be included in a set having a progressive sole configuration that provides desired bounce for each club within the set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7658686
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head with a concave portion is disclosed and claimed. The club head includes a metallic portion and a light weight portion, which may be formed of plastic, composite, or the like. The concave portion allows the club designer to make a club head having very thin portions while still maintaining the requisite structural integrity. Convex bulges may optionally be provided to house weight inserts to enhance the playing characteristics of the golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Peter L. Soracco
  • Publication number: 20100029403
    Abstract: A golf club is described, in which the weight of the head is increased compared with conventional clubs, and in which the upper part of the shaft is also increased in weight, whereby the centre of gravity is disposed in the central zone of the shaft. Preferably, the weight distribution within the head of the club is such that, with the club balanced about its centre of gravity, the shaft will rotate until the face of the club faces upwardly and preferably essentially parallel with the ground whereby, in striking the ball, the inertia of the head is such as to resist any tendency for the club to rotate or twist about the longitudinal axis of the shaft in the hands of the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Brian Alzano Mayes
  • Publication number: 20100029406
    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: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd
  • Publication number: 20100016098
    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: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, William F. Rauchholz
  • Patent number: 7648425
    Abstract: A high inertia golf putter head is generally wedge-shaped, with the leading face being less wide than the trailing face. Cavities and weights are provided to optimize the moment of inertia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bret H. Wahl, Marni Ines, Robert Nunez, Jose Miraflor
  • Publication number: 20100009771
    Abstract: This present invention is a golf club head that has a concave shaped crown directly downwardly from behind the striking face toward the read edge of the club head. The rearwardly directed side portions of the club head include rudder elements extending along both sides at the same height as the club face, much like the rudder of an airplane. The rudders are connected across the respective top rear portions of the side elements of the club head, with an optional aero stabilizer that is roughly one quarter of the front to rear dimension of the club head. One or more removable fins can be inserted into the channel shaped slots between the side rudders to act as additional rudders for additional influence to the club head. The rear of the club head is open between the rudders and below the optional stabilizer for directing the flow of air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Ronald E. Newcomer
  • Patent number: 7632193
    Abstract: A golf club is described having a club head which is fastened to a club shaft end and whose striking plate is connected at an edge side to a main body, with the main body made as a hollow body having a receiver and fixing for a central weight disposed opposite and centered with respect to the striking plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Thielen Feinmechanik GmbH & Co. Fertigungs KG
    Inventor: Klaus Thielen
  • Patent number: 7632194
    Abstract: Embodiments of movable weights, such as weight assemblies and weight screws, for a golf club head are disclosed herein. One embodiment for a weight assembly, for example, comprises a mass element having a first end, a second end and a sidewall extending between the first end and the send end. The sidewall of the mass element defines a first bore extending through the mass element and at least a portion of the sidewall of mass element tapers in a direction from the first end to the second end. This embodiment further includes a retaining element configured to engage the first bore adjacent the first end of the mass element and defining a second bore. The weight assembly further includes an elongate fastener having a first end configured to be received within the second bore of the retaining element and a second end extending through the first bore and beyond the second end of the mass element when the mass element, retaining element and fastener are assembled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Bing-Ling Chao, Mark Vincent Greaney, Marc Kronenberg, Thomas Olsavsky, Benoit Vincent, Ian Wright, Kraig Alan Willett, Gery Mel Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 7625298
    Abstract: This invention, in contrast to other golf club head inventions, presents an entirely new concept in the formulation of golf club heads. Wherein this invention utilizes the scientific properties of the spherical weight, resulting in substantial improvements in the functioning of the golf club heads and the corresponding improvements in the golf swing. A spherical weight is disposed in golf club heads, as specified, employing the scientific properties of the sphere, to develop an “in line momentum”. This results in a responsive control and an easier executed golf swing. The conventional golf club, actually, is made like a small paddle with an upright handle at one end. Whereas, the golf club, of this invention, because of its specifications, embodies the weight of the club head, the spherical weight, and the club shaft, substantially, all in one line, producing a superior functioning golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: John Emmanuel Bennett
  • Publication number: 20090280924
    Abstract: A golf club head having integrally attached weight members is disclosed and claimed. The club head body defines at least a toe chamber and a heel chamber. Weights of variable mass are positioned within the chambers, moving the club head center of gravity back and down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher D. Harvell, Jeffrey W. Meyer, Raymond L. Poynor
  • Patent number: 7611424
    Abstract: A golf club head of the wood-type, including: a body defining an interior cavity and including a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, and a ribbon extending rearwardly from the face; an elongated groove that extends along a portion of the ribbon; a weight slidably disposed in the elongated grove; and a fastener affixed to the weight capable of selectively fixing a location of the weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Mizuno USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Masao Nagai, David Llewellyn, Tetsuya Kanayama
  • Patent number: 7604548
    Abstract: A method of forming a golf club head includes providing a body having an end portion such as a heel end or a toe end of the club head, wherein the body end portion includes a lower surface and a boss extending therefrom. The method comprises providing a weight having a top surface and a cavity configured to receive the boss, and inserting the boss on the body into the cavity in the weight by rotating the weight about an axis extending normal to the front surface of the body such that the boss interlocks with the cavity and so that at least a portion of the top surface of the weight contacts at least a portion of the lower surface of the body end portion. The weight further includes a protrusion having a concave surface and the body has a corresponding convex surface. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Eric V. Cole
  • Patent number: 7594864
    Abstract: A golf club having a sole portion extending rearwardly from a rear surface of the head, wherein the sole portion includes a forward end, a rearward end, an upper surface and a lower surface. The intersection of the upper surface and the rear surface defines an interior sole lone. The intersection of the upper surface and the rearward end defines a trailing edge exterior sole line. The upper surface comprises a sink portion having substantial variation in heel-to-toe contour, including variation of at least one of: the height of the trailing edge or exterior sole line relative to the height of the interior sole line, measured in vertical alignment; the height of any of the interior sole line or trailing edge or exterior sole line relative to the height of the general outer periphery measured in vertical alignment; and concavity as defined by forward-to-rear contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Roger Cleveland Golf Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Jesse D. Sukman
  • Patent number: 7594865
    Abstract: A golf club head has a main body and at least two side members such as wings. The wings can be configured to be removably coupled to side portions of the main body. The wings can be reconfigured with respect to the main body. For example: the positions of wings relative to the main body can be swapped; the wings can be rotated (e.g., flipped over); and/or one or more wings can be replaced with other wings. The wings can be of varying sizes, shapes, and constructions, including generally symmetrical and generally asymmetrical shapes, and can possess generally homogenous or generally non-homogenous densities. Varying configurations of the main body and wings can allow for a golf club head having varying properties, e.g., shape, size, appearance, weight, and center of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Marni D. Ines
  • Publication number: 20090239679
    Abstract: A cavity back golf club head having a bridge member 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 wall extending from the sole portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member defines a second cavity to further influence the trajectory of the golf ball. For the shorter iron clubs, the wall extends from the top portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John Thomas Stites, Michael G. Taylor, David N. Franklin, Byron C. Slaughter
  • Patent number: 7588501
    Abstract: A golf club head (42) having a substantially square or rectangular body is disclosed herein. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Luke R. Williams, Larry G. Tang, Daniel M. Stevens, Ronald K. Hettinger, Michael Hallack, Evan D. Gibbs, Matthew T. Cackett, Alan Hocknell
  • Publication number: 20090209364
    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: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Lukasiewicz, JR., Robert Boyd
  • Publication number: 20090203462
    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: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: John Thomas Stites, Robert Boyd, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Eric A. Larson
  • Publication number: 20090203463
    Abstract: A C-shaped golf club head is disclosed herein. The body has a striking plate wall, a crown section, a sole section and a rear wall. The golf club head also has a plurality of weight members positioned on the rear wall of the body. Each of the plurality of weight members is movable along the rear wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventor: THOMAS J. DIMARCO
  • Patent number: 7572194
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a recessed part on the external surface of a head main body, and a weight member mounted in this recessed part and formed of a material having a specific gravity greater than that of the head main body. This golf club head has a first addition member mounted on and abutting the external side of the weight member. A base of this first addition member is a resin or a rubber. The head has a second addition member mounted on and abutting the external side of the first addition member. This second addition member is formed of a metal having a specific gravity greater than that of the first addition member and smaller than that of the weight member. Therefore, the joint strength between the head main body and the weight member can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Akio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7566276
    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 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: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Billings
  • Publication number: 20090186717
    Abstract: Golf clubs, club heads, and club weighting systems may include: (a) a club head body member; and (b) one or more weight members 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: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: John Thomas Stites, Robert Boyd, David N. Franklin
  • Patent number: 7559854
    Abstract: A golf club head having integrally attached weight members is disclosed and claimed. The club head body defines at least a toe chamber and a heel chamber. Weights of variable mass are positioned within the chambers, moving the club head center of gravity back and down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Christopher D. Harvell, Jeffrey W. Meyer, Raymond L. Poynor
  • Publication number: 20090170629
    Abstract: A putter-type club head (20) having a main body (25) and a removable aft member (30) is disclosed herein. The putter-type club head (20) has a main body (25) that is preferably composed of an aluminum alloy. The removable aft member (30) is preferably composed of stainless steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventor: THOMAS R. HILTON
  • Publication number: 20090170622
    Abstract: A putter-type club head (20) having a main body (25) and a removable aft member (30) is disclosed herein. The putter-type club head (20) has a main body (25) that is preferably composed of an aluminum alloy. The removable aft member (30) is preferably composed of stainless steel and preferably has a fang-like shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventor: THOMAS R. HILTON
  • Publication number: 20090156326
    Abstract: A golf club head (42) having a substantially square or rectangular body is disclosed herein. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: LUKE R. WILLIAMS, LARRY G. TANG, DANIEL M. STEVENS, RONALD K. HETTINGER, MICHAEL HALLACK, EVAN D. GIBBS, MATTHEW T. CACKETT, ALAN HOCKNELL
  • 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: 20090143167
    Abstract: A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a face component having a face and a flange, a crown-plate attached to the flange, a sole-plate attached to the flange, a skid-plate attached to the sole-plate, a swing-weight member, and a plurality of removable weight members with each of the plurality of weight members positioned within a pocket of the plurality of pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventor: D. CLAYTON EVANS
  • Patent number: 7540810
    Abstract: A putter-head (20) with a main body (22) having a striking face (24), a weight body (25) and an isolation layer 27 is disclosed herein. The striking face (24) has a dual milled pattern thereon. Preferably, a central area (40) has a first milled pattern and a periphery region (42) has a second milled pattern. The main body (22) is composed of a metal material, preferably a stainless steel material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Ronald K. Hettinger, Wayne H. Byrne, Lionel Poincenot
  • Patent number: 7530901
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head includes a fiber-reinforced-plastic body and a metal body. The fiber-reinforced-plastic body includes a main portion of a crown portion. The metal body includes a face portion, a front edge portion of the crown portion continuous with the face portion, and a central portion of a sole portion in a toe-heel direction. The front edge portion of the crown portion made of a metal defines a recess portion in an upper surface thereof. A front edge portion of the fiber-reinforce-resin body overlaps and is joined to the front edge portion of the crown portion made of the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Imamoto, Hisashi Yamagishi