Selectively Adjustable Weighting Element Patents (Class 473/334)
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Patent number: 7530901Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 19, 2005Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasunori Imamoto, Hisashi Yamagishi
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Patent number: 7524249Abstract: 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. The metallic portion of the club head may take on the appearance of a frame, into which several light-weight inserts are positioned. These light-weight inserts may be positioned in the crown, skirt, and sole of the club head.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2006Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Joshua G. Breier, Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Gregory Haralson
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Publication number: 20090105009Abstract: Embodiments of weighted club heads and methods for forming the same are described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: April 23, 2009Inventor: Eric V. Cole
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Patent number: 7520820Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: Thomas J. Dimarco
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Patent number: 7510484Abstract: Ball striking devices, such as golf club heads (including putter heads), include devices within and/or otherwise engaged with the ball striking head that allow users to selectively change the sound and/or other aspects of the “feel” associated with using the ball striking device to strike a ball. In this manner, a user, a club fitter, or the like can freely customize and adjust the sound and/or other aspects of the ball striking device's feel to correspond to a particular user's preferences.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2008Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Todd A. Waatti, Carl L. Madore
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Publication number: 20090075750Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf club including a club head having a muscle back shell or a lightweight muscle back.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2007Publication date: March 19, 2009Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, Michael Scott Burnett
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Patent number: 7494424Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 8, 2007Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Luke R. Williams, Larry G. Tang, Daniel M. Stevens, Ronald K. Hettinger, Michael Hallack, Evan D. Gibbs, Matthew T. Cackett, Alan Hocknell
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Publication number: 20090029791Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs and methods of manufacture are generally described herein. In one embodiment, a golf club head comprises a body having a toe region, a heel region, a sole region, and a top region. The golf club head further comprises a front face, a first back, and a second back that extends farther from the front face than the first back. The second back extends from the heel region to the toe region, and extends from the sole region to about a midpoint between the sole region and the top region. The golf cub head also comprises a first cavity between the first back and the second back, and a second cavity integral with the second back at the toe region. This embodiment may further comprise first and second weights that are inserted into the first and second cavities respectively. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2007Publication date: January 29, 2009Inventor: John A. Solheim
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Patent number: 7476161Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 8, 2007Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Luke R. Williams, Larry G. Tang, Daniel M. Stevens, Ronald K. Hettinger, Michael Hallack, Evan D. Gibbs, Matthew T. Cackett, Alan Hocknell
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Publication number: 20080318706Abstract: Golf club heads include an iron type golf club head body having a rear surface (e.g., a perimeter weighting member) that defines a first weight receiving portion, and a weight member is mounted in the first weight receiving portion. The club head body further defines a second weight receiving portion independent of the first weight receiving portion, and a second weight member is removably engaged with the golf club head body at this second weight receiving portion. The weight members may be interchangeably mounted in the two weight receiving portions to thereby allow selective placement of the center of gravity characteristics of the club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf club and golf club heads also are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Eric A. Larson
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Patent number: 7462110Abstract: A golf club head is provided with a recessed part provided on the external side of a head main body, with a weight member formed of a material having a specific gravity greater than that of the head main body and mounted in the recessed part. A first addition member is mounted on the external side of the weight member in an abutting relationship, with a base of the addition member being a resin or a rubber. The head has a second addition member formed of metal is mounted on the external side of the first addition member in an abutting relationship. The metal of the second addition member has a specific gravity greater than that of the first addition member and smaller than that of the weight member. Through this arrangement, joint strength between the head main body and the weight member is enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2006Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Akio Yamamoto
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Patent number: 7455598Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 8, 2007Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Luke R. Williams, Larry G. Tang, Daniel M. Stevens, Ronald K. Hettinger, Michael Hallack, Evan D. Gibbs, Matthew T. Cackett, Alan Hocknell
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Patent number: 7452285Abstract: Individual weights and a related kit for adjustably weighting a golf club head are provided, allowing a golfer to fine-tune the club for his or her swing. The kit is useable with a club head that defines a plurality of weight recesses spaced about the club head. The kit includes a plurality of weights, including weights of different mass. Each weight is sized to be threadably received within a recess of the club head. Varying placement of the weights enables a golfer to vary impact conditions in the club head, for optimum distance and accuracy. The kit may further include a tool having an engagement end configured to operatively mate with the fasteners of the weights. The tool preferably includes a torque limiting mechanism configured to inhibit over-tightening of the weights into the recess of the club head. The tool and weights may be provided along with the golf club.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2006Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, Brian Weed, Kraig A. Willett, Joseph H. Hoffman, Gery Zimmerman, Benoit Vincent
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Patent number: 7452286Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body, at least one arcuate rail, and at least one counterweight unit. The head body includes a front striking face, and a rear arcuate face that extends rearwardly from two opposite sides of the front striking face and that has top and bottom ends. The arcuate rail projects from an outer surface of the rear arcuate face proximate to the bottom end. The counterweight unit is positioned adjustably on the arcuate rail.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2006Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: O-Ta Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chon-Chen Lin, Shun-Fu Hu, Yen-Chi Hsu
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Patent number: 7448962Abstract: A golf club of the invention has a head with a hollow outer shell construction which includes a crown portion, a sole portion, a back portion, a toe portion, a heel portion and a face portion which hits a ball and a shaft that is to be mounted on the head at a predetermined lie angle, wherein a weight concentrated portion is provided closer to a back portion side than to an axis of the shaft in the interior of the head in such a manner as to rise from a heel side to a toe side of the head with respect to a reference horizontal plane which regulates the lie angle.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2005Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Daiwa Seiko, Inc.Inventor: Harunobu Kusumoto
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Publication number: 20080268979Abstract: Wood-type golf clubs and/or golf club heads include a club head body having a breadth to length ratio of at least 0.9, optionally a club head volume of at least 450 cubic centimeters, and a diagonal dimension of at least 75% of a theoretical maximum diagonal dimension (as measured along a diagonal of a bounding box enclosing the club head body and defined by the length dimension and the breadth dimension). In some examples, the diagonal dimension may be at least 80%, 85%, or even 90% of the theoretical maximum diagonal dimension. Additionally or alternatively, if desired, at least one horizontal cross section of the club head body will enclose or encompass an area of at least 0.8×BL, at least 0.85×BL, at least 0.9×BL, or even at least 0.95×BL.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd
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Patent number: 7438647Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The face component (60) is composed of a metal material, and the aft-body (61) is composed of an injectable polymer material such as a nylon. A plating layer (300) is disposed on at least a portion of the aft-body (61). The plating layer (300) preferably comprises a nanocrystalline material. The club head (42) preferably has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2007Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: Alan Hocknell
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Patent number: 7431660Abstract: A putter-type club head comprises a head main body with a face for hitting a ball in a front side, and a plurality of rod members firmly fixed to said head main body and extending to a rear side of the head. The rod members comprise a toe side rod member provided in a toe side, a heel side rod member provided in a heel side and an intermediate rod member provided therebetween. Each rod member has a high specific gravity larger than said head main body.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2005Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Hiroshi Hasegawa
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Patent number: 7419441Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Joseph H. Hoffman, Kraig A. Willett, Todd P. Beach, John F. Lorentzen, Allan C. Saliba
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Patent number: 7413517Abstract: A reconfigurable golf club head and a method for fitting a golf club to a golfer are described. Optimum club head design parameters are determined based on one or more of the following factors: the golfer's swing characteristics, ball flight trajectory tendency information, course and weather conditions, golf ball dynamic flight characteristics and personal preferences. Lookup tables or mathematical algorithms, such as impact and trajectory simulations, may be used. Features of the reconfigurable golf club head include a replaceable face plate to adjust the profile of the club face and a replaceable weight plate to adjust the club head center of gravity and inertia properties. Adjustable characteristics of the club face include the loft angle, bulge radius and roll radius.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2005Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Inventors: Joseph H. Butler, Jr., Michael J. Twigg
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Publication number: 20080194354Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2007Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: Mizuno USAInventors: Masao Nagai, David Llewellyn
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Patent number: 7410425Abstract: The invention provides a golf club head having adjustable weight, allowing the golfer to fine tune the club for his or her swing. The club head includes a body having a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, and a side extending rearwardly from the face. The body defines an interior cavity and a recess on a selected wall of the body spaced apart from the striking face. A threaded opening is disposed in the recess. The club head further includes a weight assembly having fastener and a mass element configured to be press-fit into the recess the such that a first end is adjacent the bottom of the recess. The mass element also has an aperture configured to receive the fastener flush. The fastener removably attaches the weighting assembly to the selected wall of the club head. Pressure from the fastener attachment provides a press-fit of the mass element in the tapered recess of the selected wall.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig A. Willett, Joseph H. Hoffman
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Patent number: 7410426Abstract: The invention provides a golf club head having adjustable weight, allowing the golfer to fine tune the club for his or her swing. The club head includes a body having a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, and a side extending rearwurdly from the face. The body defines an interior cavity and a recess on a selected wall of the body spaced apart from the striking face. A threaded opening is disposed in the recess. The club head farther includes a weight assembly having fastener end a mass element configured to be press-fit into the recess the such that a first end is adjacent the bottom of the recess. The mass element also has an aperture configured to receive the fastener flush. The fastener removably attaches the weighting assembly to the selected wall of the club head. Pressure from the fastener attachment provides a press-fit of the mass element in the tapered recess of the selected wall.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig A. Willett, Joseph H. Hoffman
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Patent number: 7407443Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 7, 2004Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
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Patent number: 7407448Abstract: A golf club head (42) having more than 50% of a volume forward of a center of gravity and more than 50% of a mass rearward of the center of gravity is disclosed herein. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 480 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 2000 grams-centimeters squared.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2007Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Daniel M. Stevens, Luke R. Williams, Larry G. Tang, Ronald K. Hettinger, Michael Hallack, Evan D. Gibbs, Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett
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Patent number: 7407447Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 23, 2005Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 7404772Abstract: The ring shape guide 9 and a thin plate shaped retention body 10 project from the back face 5 of a putter head, and the weight 11 is movably retained along the guide 9, by pressing the guide 9 and the retention body 10 in the vertical direction, through a concave slot provided in the circumferential direction of the disk shape weight 11.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2006Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: Niigata TLO CorporationInventors: Hiroichi Koide, Tsuneo Nakamura, Shinichi Yamamura
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Patent number: 7396293Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventor: Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 7396299Abstract: A weight adjustment member may be mounted in a tuning port in a golf club head and secured therein using adhesive. The weight adjustment member includes a lip which prevents excess adhesive from escaping the tuning port and hides adhesive that might otherwise be visible between the weight adjustment member and the tuning port. Locating devices that mate with each other are included in the tuning port and on the weight adjustment member. A method of mounting the weight adjustment member in the tuning port of a golf club head is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2005Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Michael R. Nicolette, John A. Solheim, Bradley D. Schweigert
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Patent number: 7390267Abstract: A golf club head, particularly for putting, includes a main body having a leading section and a trailing section where the leading section has a top edge and a bottom edge and the trailing section has a top edge and a bottom edge. A sole portion interconnects the bottom edge of the leading section and the bottom edge of the trailing section. A heel portion and a toe portion each include a weight disposed therein. In addition, a third weight is disposed in the trailing section of the club. The weighting is such that the moment of inertia of the club head is increased over known putters.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: MacGregor Golf CompanyInventor: Robert M. Grace
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Publication number: 20080146369Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2006Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventors: Bret H. Wahl, Marni Ines, Robert Nunez, Jose Miraflor
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Patent number: 7377860Abstract: An improved golf club head is disclosed which comprises the positioning of secondary weights at such low, rearward and outward locations that it causes an alteration in the traditional look of the club head wherein each secondary weight has a portion of the weight that bulges outwards of the natural contour of the club head.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Joshua G Breier, Thomas C. Morris, Kevin C. Chau, Scott A. Rice, Peter L. Soracco
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Publication number: 20080090674Abstract: A hollow golf club head includes: a metal head main body including a hollow section; and a weight formed from magnesium or a magnesium alloy in at least one of a toe side, a heel side, a back side and a sole of the metal head main body.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2007Publication date: April 17, 2008Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Makoto KUBOTA, Hideo MATSUNAGA
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Patent number: 7354355Abstract: Ball striking devices, such as golf club heads (including putter heads), include devices within and/or otherwise engaged with the ball striking head that allow users to selectively change the sound and/or other aspects of the “feel” associated with using the ball striking device to strike a ball. In this manner, a user, a club fitter, or the like can freely customize and adjust the sound and/or other aspects of the ball striking device's feel to correspond to a particular user's preferences.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2004Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Todd A. Waatti, Carl L. Madore
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Patent number: 7351161Abstract: An improved golf ball driver has a first weight positioned within the clubhead of the driver, and a first means for adjusting the first weight in a generally vertical direction within the clubhead, that is, from top to bottom thereof. The improved driver also has a second weight positioned within the clubhead, and a second means for adjusting the second weight in a generally horizontal direction within the clubhead, that is from the heel to the toe thereof. Adjusting the weights allows a golfer to eliminate natural swing problems and/or to make a desired change in the flight pattern of a golf ball when it is struck by the driver.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2006Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Inventor: Adam Beach
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Patent number: 7344450Abstract: A metal golf club head that allows a user to customize the location of the center of gravity. The metal golf club head comprises a hollow body with a weighting port. The weighting port allows a user to place weighting material inside the hollow body, customizing the location of the center of gravity, the swing weight, the total weight, and the balance of the golf club.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2006Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Dogleg Right CorporationInventor: David P. Billings
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Publication number: 20080020861Abstract: The present invention relates to golf clubs having a movable weight which may be used to adjust the center of gravity of the golf club head. The golf club may include a slidable weight movable to various positions along a slot between the heel and the toe of the club. The head may include a cavity shaped to receive an insert. In one embodiment, a slidable weight consisting of a screw and a weight which may engage with each other may be configured to move along the length of the insert. During assembly, the weight may be inserted into an opening in the end of the insert and slid along a close fitting channel running the length of the insert. The weight's position along the channel may be secured by engaging the screw and tightening down the screw with a portion of the insert secured between the screw head and the weight. The assembled insert and slidable weight may then be press fit into the cavity in the head.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2006Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: Huffy Sports Delaware, Inc.Inventors: Mark Wayne Adams, Simon Chu
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Publication number: 20080009361Abstract: A golf putter having a shaft with a grip at a proximal end and a head at a distal end of the shaft for contacting a golf ball on the ground during putting of the golf ball includes an elongate blade having opposed ends, with a top side and a bottom side, and a linear edge extending therebetween. The top side of the blade is mounted on the distal end of the shaft, and the first linear edge acts as a striking face for the golf ball and strikes the golf ball in an essentially linear contact area horizontal to the ground. The golf putter includes a weight having an alignment point to be used as an aid in aligning the golf putter.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2006Publication date: January 10, 2008Inventor: Lanny L. Johnson
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Patent number: 7316622Abstract: An adjustable putter 10 having a shaft (12) and a grip assembly (16) that is connected to the butt end of shaft (12). A hosel assembly (20) is connected to the tip end (18) of shaft (12) and a head assembly (22) is connected to the hosel assembly. The grip assembly is adjustable on shaft (12) to adjust the length of the putter. A collet (106) is angularly moveable in a housing (94) to adjust the lie and to determine the right-hand/left-hand sense of the putter. The loft is adjusted by substituting different collets (106) with passageways (108) having varying orientations in collet (106). The weight of the putter is adjusted by substituting various weights (156, 158) in the head assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2005Date of Patent: January 8, 2008Inventor: Ron Lucas
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Publication number: 20070298903Abstract: Wood-type golf clubs and/or golf club heads include a club head body having a breadth to length ratio of at least 0.9, optionally a club head volume of at least 450 cubic centimeters, and a diagonal dimension of at least 75% of a theoretical maximum diagonal dimension (as measured along a diagonal of a bounding box enclosing the club head body and defined by the length dimension and the breadth dimension). In some examples, the diagonal dimension may be at least 80%, 85%, or even 90% of the theoretical maximum diagonal dimension. Additionally or alternatively, if desired, at least one horizontal cross section of the club head body will enclose or encompass an area of at least 0.8×BL, at least 0.85×BL, at least 0.9×BL, or even at least 0.95×BL.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2006Publication date: December 27, 2007Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd
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Patent number: 7311613Abstract: A golf club head (42) having more than 50% of a volume forward of a center of gravity and more than 50% of a mass rearward of the center of gravity is disclosed herein. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 480 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 Lxx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 2000 grams-centimeters squared.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2006Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Daniel M. Stevens, Luke R. Williams, Larry G. Tang, Ronald K. Hettinger, Michael Hallack, Evan D. Gibbs, Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett
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Publication number: 20070293343Abstract: A back recess balance weight structure for golf club heads is located on a back side of a golf club head relative to the striking face and includes a back recess body and a sealing cap. The back recess body has a back recess with a plurality of cavities formed therein. The sealing cap covers the back recess by bonding. The structure consists of simple elements. The sealing cap is made from a material of a smaller specific gravity to move the weight of the club head to the optimal position. The adhesive can absorb shock and vibration to form a tight sealing of the sealing cap and the back recess body. Thereby optimal stability and striking accuracy can be achieved during swinging of the golf club.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2006Publication date: December 20, 2007Inventors: Li-Yang Lai, Chien-Chi Lai
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Patent number: 7309297Abstract: A weight system for a golf club. The golf club has an impact head, which is swung by a golfer to strike a golf ball. The weight system has at least one cavity within the impact head of the golf club; a plurality of weights, shaped and dimensioned to slidingly fit within the cavity; and a top plate on an upper surface of the impact head, the top plate covering the cavity to prevent the weights from dislodging from the cavity. The top plate is removable to provide access to the cavity for the insertion or removal of the weights.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2006Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Inventor: Ray Solari
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Publication number: 20070281796Abstract: Disclosed herein are muscle-back iron golf clubs that have improved mass qualities to provide higher rotational moments of inertia and lower center of gravity while retaining the workability of muscle-back irons and the size, shape and dimensions preferred by tour players and low handicap players.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2006Publication date: December 6, 2007Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Douglas C. Jorgensen
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Patent number: 7297073Abstract: A weight interchangeable golf putter is provided having a T shaped head. The head has a main body constituting the main weight and a striking face. From the trailing edge of the top surface a center tail extends rearward to form the T shape of putter plane. At the sides of the tail there are formed end fins with their free ends opened rearward to better guide the putter head through the air during the stroking address. The top of the back weight extends to near midway of the length of the tail and merges with the bottom of the tail. The back weight has a bottom surface in flush with the corresponding bottom of the main body and terminates with an end wall tapered gradually toward the main body to avoid hitting the ground when strokes are made. Three cylindrical bores are formed facing the same backward direction in the common 90-degree angle from the rear wall to receive different metal screws.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2005Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Inventor: Man Young Jung
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Publication number: 20070265108Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body, at least one arcuate rail, and at least one counterweight unit. The head body includes a front striking face, and a rear arcuate face that extends rearwardly from two opposite sides of the front striking face and that has top and bottom ends. The arcuate rail projects from an outer surface of the rear arcuate face proximate to the bottom end. The counterweight unit is positioned adjustably on the arcuate rail.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2006Publication date: November 15, 2007Inventors: Chon-Chen LIN, Shun-Fu HU, Yen-Chi HSU
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Publication number: 20070178988Abstract: Golf club heads include: (a) a body member constructed, at least in part, from cellular structure material; (b) a ball striking face engaged or integrally formed with the body member; and/or (c) a shaft member engaged with the body member. Weight savings realized through the use of lightweight cellular structure materials allows additional weight to be placed at other desired locations in the club head structure. By adjusting and selectively placing weight in the club head structure, the club head's moment of inertia, center of gravity, and/or stability characteristics may be favorably affected and/or the resulting ball flight may be influenced and/or customized to a specific individual golfer, to provide a more controlled, consistent, and/or straight ball flight.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2006Publication date: August 2, 2007Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, David N. Franklin, Abhishek Gupta, David Soong-hua Lee
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Publication number: 20070161430Abstract: A golf club having a shaft and an elongated head projecting at a lie angle relative to the shaft, the head having the shape of a regular polygon in a cross section at right angles to the central axis of the head, with each face being formed of a material that provides a different ball rebound factor, the head section being rotatable about the central axis so that any one of the faces may be presented for use with the club.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2006Publication date: July 12, 2007Inventor: Ilir Bardha
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Publication number: 20070155534Abstract: A golf club head with dual weighted parties having fixing structure is provided, which includes a body, a first weighted part having a fastening portion, and a second weighted part with two fixing portions on side of two ends and a joining portion at the bottom part. The body has a cavity for the first weighted part to be fastened and a snapping portion at the bottom of one side surface. The second weighted part uses the fixing portion and the joining portion to respectively snap with the snapping portion of the body and embed in the fastening portion of the first weighted part, such that the first weighted part and the second weighted part are fixed in the body, thus, the golf club head achieves preferred weighting effect and damping function.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2006Publication date: July 5, 2007Inventors: Chia-Jen Tsai, Te-Fu Hsiao
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Publication number: 20070149315Abstract: A golf club head is provided with a body that has an address position with a zero degree bounce portion on the sole and a center sole position with a multi-relief surface of the sole having a negative bounce portion. The negative bounce portion may comprise a negative 0.5 to a negative 4.0 degree surface. In one embodiment, the multi-relief surface may comprise the negative bounce portion and a cutaway portion extending to the back of the sole, which may have a depth of about 0.05 to 0.5 inch from a regular sole surface. In another embodiment, the golf club head includes a weight system to adjust the center of gravity. In one embodiment, the weight system is a tube having a weight at one end that may be inserted into the golf club head to move the center of gravity at least forward and backward within 6 mm and up and down within 6 mm. Preferably, the tube is angled downward toward the face by at least 3 degrees.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2006Publication date: June 28, 2007Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Michael Scott Burnett, Daniel S. Callinan, Christopher D. Harvell, Jeffrey W. Meyer, Stephen S. Murphy