Embedded In Head Patents (Class 473/335)
  • Patent number: 11951363
    Abstract: A golf club head is described having a body defining an interior cavity and comprising a heel portion, a toe portion, and a sole portion positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, and a crown positioned at a top portion. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head can have a non-metallic striking surface positioned at the forward portion of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Peter T. Larsen, Kraig Alan Willett, Bing-Ling Chao, John Francis Lorentzen
  • Patent number: 11951364
    Abstract: An iron-type golf club head comprises a face having a striking surface, a back surface, and a face thickness defined therebetween. The back surface is provided with a cavity cavity-forming portion dented toward the striking surface. The cavity cavity-forming portion is provided with a protuberance in which the face thickness is partially increased, and which extends in the top-bottom direction of the head. In the cross section of the face perpendicular to the striking surface and parallel to the toe-heel direction, the protuberance has: a ridge at which the face thickness is largest in the protuberance; and a pair of inclined surfaces extending from the ridge toward a toe side and heel side of the cavity cavity-forming portion while decreasing the face thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuki Shimahara
  • Patent number: 11944879
    Abstract: Embodiments of an iron-type golf club head comprising an L-shaped faceplate configured for flexibility are described herein. The L-shaped faceplate comprises a strike face portion and a sole return that wraps around a leading edge of the golf club head. In some embodiments, the L-shaped faceplate further comprises a top rail extension and a toe extension that extend to the peripheries of the golf club head. The golf club head comprises a rear body configured to receive the L-shaped faceplate to form a hollow interior cavity. The rear body comprises a sole ledge configured to receive the sole return. In some embodiments, the golf club head further comprises a weight pad that overhangs a portion of the sole return. In some embodiments, the golf club head further comprises dynamic lofting features that increase the bending in the rear body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Alex G. Woodward, Ryan M. Stokke, Xiaojian Chen, Suraj Megharaja
  • Patent number: 11938385
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads, golf clubs, and methods to manufacture golf club heads and golf clubs are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head includes a body portion having an interior cavity and a face portion, first and second mass portions, first and second ports on the body portion connected to the interior cavity, a third port inside the body portion connected to the interior cavity and configured to receive the second mass portion, a port sleeve inside the second port and configured to receive the first mass portion, and a filler material inside the interior cavity and coupled to the port sleeve and coupled to a back surface of the face portion. The port sleeve is moveable inside the second port toward and away from the face portion. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert, Daniel C. Kirtley
  • Patent number: 11931628
    Abstract: A golf club head is formed by joining various parts to a head shell made of metal and having a hollow structure. The head shell has a region where a face and a sole are continuous with each other, thereby forming a leading edge between the face and the sole. The sole of the head shell is provided with a concave slot along the leading edge. The slot is configured to bend in a target direction upon hitting a ball with the face. A reinforcing member made of fiber reinforced plastic configured to apply a resistance to bending of the slot is attached in the slot. The slot has a thickness of, for example, about 0.8 mm to 1.3 mm and has a cross-sectional shape forming a parabola. The reinforcing member has a thickness of, for example, about 10% to 20% of the width of the slot in the target direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: HONMA HOLDINGS GROUP LIMITED
    Inventor: Daisuke Saito
  • Patent number: 11931627
    Abstract: A ball striking device may include a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking device may include a covering element located behind the rear surface. The covering element may be affixed to the rear surface of the ball striking plate with an adhesive member. The adhesive member may include a double-sided tape. Further, a thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be located behind a desired-contact region of the ball striking plate and the covering element may be affixed thereto. The covering element may be a highly-contoured element. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Cardani, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11931630
    Abstract: A head includes a face portion, a sole portion, and an internal weight portion provided on an inner surface of the sole portion and located apart from the face portion. The internal weight portion includes a base portion, and a protruding portion protruding from the base portion toward a face side and located apart from the inner surface of the sole portion. The protruding portion is positioned on the face side with respect to the head center of gravity. A thickness of a toe-side part of the protruding portion and/or a thickness of a heel-side part of the protruding portion is greater than a thickness of a middle part of the protruding portion. Alternatively, a middle part of the protruding portion in a toe-heel direction is absent. The internal weight portion may be formed integrally with the sole portion, or may be a different member from the sole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naruhiro Mizutani, Daisuke Kohno, Akio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11931632
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a golf club body including a crown, a sole, and a skirt connected between the crown and the sole, the golf club body including a front including a leading edge and a back including a trailing edge, and a hosel connected to the golf club body; a face connected to the front of the golf club body, the face including a geometric center, the golf club head including modifiable boundary conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kraig Alan Willett, Matthew Greensmith, Andrew James, Jason Andrew Mata, Matthew David Johnson, David Anderson, Brandon H. Woolley
  • Patent number: 11918871
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads having adjustable weighting systems with a plurality of discrete attachment locations capable of receiving one or more weights are described herein. The golf club heads described herein provide user adjustability of club head center of gravity to adjust ball flight while maintaining a high moment of inertia and low and back center of gravity position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Ryan M. Stokke, Xiaojian Chen, Cory S. Bacon, Jeremy Pope, Daniel K. Lee, David A. Higdon, Eric J. Morales
  • Patent number: 11918870
    Abstract: Golf clubs having weighting systems with movable weights are disclosed. In one embodiment, the golf club head includes: a main body having a periphery; and a weighting system including a movable weight, wherein the weighting system is configured to allow the weight to move between: a first position inward of the periphery of the main body; and a second position wherein at least a portion of the weight is located outward of the periphery of the main body. In other cases, the movable weight need not be movable to a position that is outward of the periphery of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Pelican Golf, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey V Bamber
  • Patent number: 11826620
    Abstract: A golf club head including a striking face; a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face; wherein the striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a support arm spaced from the rear surface of the striking face; wherein the support arm abuts the periphery portion at two distinct locations; a damping element residing between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face; wherein the damping element comprises a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face and a rear surface in contact with the support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Marni D. Ines, Jonathan Hebreo, Charles E. Golden, Oswaldo Gonzalez, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Jason A. Mata, Michael E. Franz, John Morin
  • Patent number: 11819743
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a rear body having a crown member coupled to a sole member, and a front body coupled to the rear body to define a substantially hollow structure. The front body includes a strike face and a surrounding frame that extends rearward from a perimeter of the strike face. At least a portion of an outer wall of the club head comprises a thermoplastic composite having a plurality of lamina layers. The plurality of lamina layers include at least a fabric reinforced thermoplastic composite layer and a filled thermoplastic layer, and the fabric reinforced thermoplastic composite layer and the filled thermoplastic layer are directly bonded to each other without an intermediate adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Morales, Ryan M. Stokke, Martin R. Jertson, Clayson C. Spackman, Cory S. Bacon, Yujen Huang, Travis D. Milleman
  • Patent number: 11786789
    Abstract: A golf club head including a striking face, a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face, wherein the striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface, a support arm spaced from the rear surface of the striking face, the support arm extending from the periphery portion, wherein the support arm is affixed to the periphery portion at two distinct locations, a damping element residing between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face, wherein the damping element comprises a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face and a rear surface in contact with the support arm, wherein the support arm extends substantially parallel a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: John Morin, Jason A. Mata, Jonathan Hebreo, Michael E. Franz, Charles E. Golden, Grant M. Martens, Doug M. Takehara, Oswaldo Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11779819
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion. The front portion may include a front pocket having a horizontal interior wall. A face portion may be positioned in the front pocket and against the horizontal interior wall. The horizontal interior wall may reinforce the front portion and support the face portion during impact with a golf ball. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 11766592
    Abstract: A multi-material golf club head having an improved performance is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a multi-material golf club head having a metallic frontal portion and a lightweight aft portion with an addition of an internal ribbon support member. The present invention may also further be comprised of a weighting mechanism that is accessible via an opening in the lightweight after portion but connects directly to the metallic frontal portion to mitigate any of the structural integrity issues associated with installing weights in a lightweight portion of a golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Ryuichi Sugimae, Darryl C. Galvan, Richard L. Cleghorn, Christopher D. Harvell
  • Patent number: 11752404
    Abstract: A golf club head and golf club having a lightweight non-metallic face insert bonded in an insert opening, large head dimensions, and large face characteristics, as well as unique mass property attributes driven by relationships not often considered in conventional club head design, to achieve a resistance to squaring the club head during a golf swing that is comfortable to the novice golfer, stability during off-center impacts, and preferred launch characteristics. This is achieved in part via establishing a club head configuration and associated center of gravity location that results in a preferred magnitude of Delta1 and Delta2 values, CG angle, moments of inertia, and associated ratios, relationships, and club head mass property characteristics influenced by these variables to achieve improved performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Vincent Greaney, John Francis Lorentzen, Matthew Greensmith, Craig Richard Slyfield
  • Patent number: 11731013
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads, golf clubs, and methods to manufacture golf club heads and golf clubs are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head includes a body portion comprising a material having a first density and an interior cavity having a filler material therein comprising a material having a second density. The golf club head also includes a first mass portion coupled to the body portion and a second mass portion coupled to the hosel portion. The first mass portion and the second mass portion comprise a material having a third density. A port on the body portion is configured to receive the first mass portion. At least a portion of the first mass portion is below a horizontal midplane of the body portion. The first density is greater than the second density. The third density is greater than the first density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 11691056
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads may include a golf club head having a body portion, a first mass portion, and a second mass portion. The first mass portion has a first mass portion first end and a first mass portion second end such that a distance between the first mass portion first end and the first mass portion second end defines a first mass portion dimension. The second mass portion includes a second mass portion first end and a second mass portion second end such that a distance between the second mass portion first end and the second mass portion second end defines a second mass portion dimension. The second mass portion dimension may be substantially greater than the first mass portion dimension, and a total mass of the second mass portion may be greater than or equal to three times a total mass of the first mass portion. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 11666809
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with energy storage characteristics are presented herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a hollow body comprising a strikeface, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a top rail and an inflection point. The inflection point provides increase bending of the strikeface thereby providing performance enhancement over clubs without an inflection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Eric J. Morales, Cory S. Bacon, Calvin Wang, Xiaojian Chen, Travis D. Milleman, Evan R. Greer, Murphy R. Alexander
  • Patent number: 11541290
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising two components, wherein the first component comprise a ball striking surface, a striking face return, and a sole extension with a rear mass. And wherein the second component comprises a lower density material, comprising part of the crown and part of the sole. The first component comprises a majority of the mass of the golf club head, having a rear mass comprising 20% to 35% of the mass of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, Erik M. Henrikson, Samuel J. Pendred, Jeremy S. Pope
  • Patent number: 11504589
    Abstract: A co-forged iron type golf club is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses an iron type golf club head from a pre-form billet that already contains two or more materials before the actual forging process resulting in a multi-material golf club head that doesn't require any post manufacturing operations such as machining, welding, swaging, gluing, and the like. The resultant golf club head may be capable of achieving center of gravity locations previously unachievable without utilizing this co-forging technique. The resultant golf club head may be used to create a set of golf club heads with center of gravity locations that are more advantageous throughout a set of golf clubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Kevin Tassistro, Ronald K. Hettinger
  • Patent number: 11484756
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion having a bottom portion with a forward portion; a rear protrusion; a first weight port, a second weight port, and a third weight port at the forward portion; a fourth weight port at the rear protrusion; and a recessed portion separating the forward portion and rear protrusion. The recessed portion may include a plurality of contoured transition regions. An opening in the bottom portion may be defined by the rear protrusion and the plurality of contoured transition regions. A sole insert portion may be coupled to the bottom portion to cover the opening. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 11273348
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns embodiments of a badge and golf club head having a badge therein that can dampen the impact sound made when a hitting surface (a.k.a., face) of the golf club head impacts a golf ball. In one embodiment, a golf club head includes: a face portion surrounded by a topline portion, a toe portion, a sole portion and a heel portion, the face portion having a front striking surface and a back surface; and a badge coupled to the back surface of the face portion, the badge including a planar main body portion and at least one structural member extending outwardly from the main body portion, wherein the at least one structural member includes a lower portion and an upper portion disposed between the topline portion and lower portion, and wherein the at least one structural member has a maximum height, above the main body portion, at the lower portion and a minimum height at the upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Taylor, Jason Issertell
  • Patent number: 11235213
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a main body and a weight attached to and detached from the main body. The main body includes a face having a ball striking face, and a sole having a sole surface brought into contact with the ground when striking a ball. The sole has formed thereon a first guide track recessed with respect to the sole surface and having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction in a plan view. The weight is fixed inside the first guide track. The first guide track includes an attachment/detachment region in which the weight is attached/detached, and a first fixing region and a second fixing region in which the weight is moved in the longitudinal direction and fixed. The first fixing region and the second fixing region are disposed to be contiguous to the attachment/detachment region in the longitudinal direction and sandwich the attachment/detachment region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: MIZUNO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kei Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11235212
    Abstract: Described herein is a tour iron having a golf club head with a faceplate, a body, and an insert. A sole, top rail, rear, and the faceplate enclose a cavity within the body. The cavity can house the insert. The insert can comprise a low-density material, allowing weight to be concentrated around the peripheral edge of the golf club head. The rear of the golf club head has an inflection seam running from the heel to the toe. The golf club head has an upper portion, above the inflection seam and a lower portion below the inflection seam. The lower portion can have a depth greater that the upper portion depth. The faceplate, body, and insert can be formed of different materials having different densities. The golf club head has a comparatively high moment of inertia and a low center of gravity. Other embodiments and methods are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob T. Clarke, Cory S. Bacon, Dave Wu, Martin R. Jertson, Travis D. Milleman, Ryan M. Stokke, Clayson C. Spackman
  • Patent number: 11219802
    Abstract: A ball striking device may include a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking device may include a covering element located behind the rear surface. The covering element may be affixed to the rear surface of the ball striking plate with an adhesive member. The adhesive member may include a double-sided tape. Further, a thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be located behind a desired-contact region of the ball striking plate and the covering element may be affixed thereto. The covering element may be a highly-contoured element. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Cardani, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11220075
    Abstract: Wood-type golf clubs and/or golf club heads include: (a) a golf club head base member including a face member having a ball striking face; and (b) a polymeric body member engaged with the golf club head base member, wherein the polymeric body member is formed via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process) and/or engaged with the golf club head base member via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process). The polymeric body member forms at least a portion of a crown member of the club head in some structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Todd A. Waatti
  • Patent number: 11167187
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads, golf clubs, and methods to manufacture golf club heads and golf clubs are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with an interior cavity and a port having an opening to the interior cavity. A polymer material is injected into the interior cavity from the port. The golf club head may further include a first mass portion and a second mass portion. The first mass portion may have a first end, a second end, and a first mass portion distance between the first end and the second end. The second mass portion may be coupled to the back wall portion below a horizontal midplane of the body portion. The second mass portion may include a first end, a second end, and a second mass portion distance between the first end and the second end. The total mass of the second mass portion may be greater than a total mass of the first mass portion, and the second mass portion distance may be greater than the first mass portion distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 10974109
    Abstract: A golf club head having an adjustable weight system. The golf club head having a single, relatively compact slot for receiving a weight assembly. The weight assembly comprising a relatively high mass. Wherein small lateral movements of the heavy weight assembly are sufficient to shape a golfer's shot. Wherein the small movements also prevents the reduction of the total golf club head moment of inertia, thus preserving the forgiveness of the golf club when the ball is miss-hit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Stokke, David Higdon
  • Patent number: 10960274
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a bottom portion, a top portion. The top portion may include a heel-side top portion, a toe-side top portion, and a raised central top portion between the heel-side top portion and toe-side top portion. The top portion may include a toe-side integral rib and a heel-side integral rib. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 10821344
    Abstract: A golf club head, including a body including a striking face and a perimeter portion extending aft from the striking face, a badge affixed to a rear surface of the striking face, wherein the badge comprises a first layer aft of the striking face, the first layer including a first density, a second layer aft of the first layer, the second layer including a second density, and a third layer aft of the first layer, wherein the third layer comprises a third layer front surface located adjacent the second layer, wherein the first density is less than 2.0 g/cm3, wherein the second density is greater than 2.0 g/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Jason A. Mata
  • Patent number: 10799778
    Abstract: The present invention is a unique advanced hybrid iron type golf club having a curved face. The golf club incorporates the discovery of unique relationships among key club head engineering variables such as volume, blade length, heel blade length section, Zcg, front-to-back dimension, and club moment arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC
    Inventors: Michael Guerrette, Tim Reed, Clive Roberts
  • Patent number: 10792541
    Abstract: A ball striking device may include a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking device may include a covering element located behind the rear surface. The covering element may be affixed to the rear surface of the ball striking plate with an adhesive member. The adhesive member may include a double-sided tape. Further, a thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be located behind a desired-contact region of the ball striking plate and the covering element may be affixed thereto. The covering element may be a highly-contoured element. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Cardani, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Patent number: 10751585
    Abstract: Some disclosed golf club heads include body having at least one raised sole portion and a cantilevered ledge extending down around a perimeter of the club head below the level of the raised sole portion. Some disclosed golf club heads include one or more sole openings in the body and a sole insert that is mounted inside the body over the sole openings. The sole can include weight tracks as well, and a rear weight track can extend between a toe side sole opening and a heel side sole opening. A crown insert can also be included that is mounted over an upper opening in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Johnson, David Bennett, Nathan T. Sargent, Christopher John Harbert, Todd P. Beach
  • Patent number: 10709943
    Abstract: An iron golf club head includes: a face portion including a ball striking surface and a first reverse surface; and a sole back portion including a second reverse surface connected with the first reverse surface and located below the first reverse surface. The iron golf club head has a first hollow separated from outside by the face portion and the sole back portion. The ratio W/V1 of the weight W (unit: g) of the iron golf club head relative to the volume V1 (unit: mm3) of the iron golf club head is 6.5×10?3 or less. The sole maximum projected width Sw of the iron golf club head is 25 mm or more. The sweet spot height Sh of the iron golf club head is 20 mm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke Maenaka, Kazuhiro Doi
  • Patent number: 10653926
    Abstract: Disclosed golf club heads include a body defining an interior cavity, a face, a sole, a crown, and a hosel. Certain embodiments include a weight channel positioned in the sole and defining a path along the sole. Some embodiments include a weight member positioned in the weight channel that is configured to be adjusted to any of a range of selectable positions to adjust mass properties of the golf club head. A fastener may be configured to secure the weight member in any of the selectable positions, while the fastener itself, regardless of where the weight member is positioned along the path, may be secured to the body at a fixed location that is independent of the position of the weight member along the path. Additional discretionary mass elements may be added to the weight member, such as at its ends, to further adjust mass properties of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Story, Nathan T. Sargent, Justin D. Kleinert
  • Patent number: 10543405
    Abstract: Golf club heads are described having a club head portion, a shaft portion connected to the club head portion, and a grip portion connected to the shaft portion. The club head portion has a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a crown portion, a hosel portion, and a striking face. The striking face can have a center face roll contour, a toe side roll contour, a heel side roll contour, a center face bulge contour, a crown side bulge contour, and a sole side bulge contour. The toe side roll contour can be more lofted than the center face roll contour. The heel side roll contour can be less lofted than the center face roll contour. The crown side bulge contour can be more open than the center face bulge contour, and the sole side bulge contour can be more closed than the center face bulge contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Vincent Greaney, Kraig Alan Willett, Joe Hoffman, Todd P. Beach, Robert Story, Jake Feuerstein, Michelle Penney, Bradley Poston, Christopher Rollins, Joseph Yu, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Patent number: 10471319
    Abstract: A golf club head, including a body including a striking face and a perimeter portion extending aft from the striking face, a badge affixed to a rear surface of the striking face, wherein the badge comprises a first layer aft of the striking face, the first layer including a first density, a second layer aft of the first layer, the second layer including a second density, and a third layer aft of the first layer, wherein the third layer comprises a third layer front surface located adjacent the second layer, the third layer font surface including a third layer cavity, wherein the second layer resides within the third layer cavity, wherein the first density is less than 2.0 g/cm3, wherein the second density is greater than 2.0 g/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Jason A. Mata
  • Patent number: 10463926
    Abstract: A golf club head is described having a club head portion, a shaft portion connected to the club head portion, and a grip portion connected to the shaft portion. The club head portion has a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a crown portion, a hosel portion, and a striking face. The striking face has a center face roll contour, a toe side roll contour, a heel side roll contour, a center face bulge contour, a crown side bulge contour, and a sole side bulge contour. The toe side roll contour is more lofted than the center face roll contour. The heel side roll contour is less lofted than the center face roll contour. The crown side bulge contour is more open than the center face bulge contour, and the sole side bulge contour is more closed than the center face bulge contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Vincent Greaney, Kraig Alan Willett, Joe Hoffman, Todd P. Beach
  • Patent number: 10456641
    Abstract: A weight member for removable attachment to a weight port of a golf club head is provided. The weight member comprises a head that has a tool mating port for operatively receiving a portion of a fastening tool. The weight member further comprises a shaft that is associated with the head such that the shaft terminates at an end surface. The shaft has a threaded external surface and a non-threaded internal bore that extends from the end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SRI SPROTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Dan S. Nivanh, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Jimmy H. Kuan
  • Patent number: 10449426
    Abstract: Ball striking devices, such as golf clubs, have a head that includes a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball, and a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face, with the body having a crown, a sole, a heel side, and a toe side, such that the face and the body combine to define an enclosed internal cavity. A damping member is connected to the body and includes a post extending inwardly into the cavity from an inner surface of the body, a first arm extending from the post toward the heel side of the body, and a second arm extending from the post toward the toe side of the body. The damping member is configured to produce a mass damping effect upon an impact on the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Michael Wallans
  • Patent number: 10420989
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion having a first interior cavity portion, a second interior cavity portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a bottom portion, a rear portion, a front portion, and a structural support portion formed in the bottom portion. The second interior cavity portion may include a filler material. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Parsons Xtreme Golf, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 10369441
    Abstract: Embodiments of a golf club head are described herein including a plurality of ports with doors. The golf club head comprises a ball striking face and a body, wherein the body comprises a plurality of ports each adapted to receive a threaded fastener and defines an outer surface of the golf club head. The plurality of ports comprises a bore recessed inward relative to the outer surface of the body, wherein the bore is fluidly isolated from the internal volume, wherein the bore is adapted to receive a threaded fastener; and a door hingably coupled to the body and pivotable between a first position that is substantially flush with the outer surface and a second position that is deflected inward of the outer surface; wherein the door at least partially blocks ingress of the threaded fastener into the bore when in the first position, and permits ingress of the threaded fastener into the bore when in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy Pope, Daniel K. Lee, Martin R. Jertson
  • Patent number: 10357693
    Abstract: Golf club heads include a golf club head body, a ball striking face, and a shaft engaging member configured to engage a golf club shaft with the golf club head body. Additionally, the shaft engaging member may be configured to engage the golf club head body and the shaft below a center of gravity of the golf club head, and/or the shaft engaging member may have rotational locking structure that can be locked in a plurality of positions. Further, the golf club head may include a face member and a rear member, where the rear member is configured to transfer energy and/or momentum to the face member, particularly on off-center hits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Jason Cardani, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Raymond J. Sander
  • Patent number: 10357700
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with optimized characteristics presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Patent number: 10293221
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may have a body portion having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion. The golf club head may include a first plurality of weight ports in the bottom portion and a second plurality of weight ports in the bottom portion. The first plurality of weight ports may form a first discrete arc along the bottom portion. The second plurality of weight ports may form a second discrete arc along the bottom portion. The first plurality of weight ports and the second plurality weight ports may be separated by a gap. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 10286267
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a face portion, a toe portion, a top portion, a sole portion, and a back portion with at least one weight portion. The golf club head may include an interior cavity. The golf club head may include face markings on the face portion that include a first set of markings extending between the toe portion and the heel portion and a second set of markings extending between the top portion and the sole portion. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventor: Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 10258840
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Eric A. Larson
  • Patent number: 10220275
    Abstract: A co-forged iron type golf club is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses a co-forged iron type golf club with the body portion made out of a first material and at least one weight adjustment portion monolithically encased within the body portion of the co-forged iron type golf club head without the need for secondary attachment or machining operations. The present invention creates of an iron type golf club head from a pre-form billet that already contains two or more materials before the actual forging process resulting in a multi-material golf club head that doesn't require any post manufacturing operations such as machining, welding, swaging, gluing, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Jonathan A. Hebreo
  • Patent number: 10201740
    Abstract: Provided is a weight pattern determination apparatus for determining, in a golf club having a head capable of mounting one or more weights in a plurality of mounting patterns, the mounting pattern suited to a golfer. The apparatus has an impact point specification unit and a pattern determination unit. The impact point specification unit specifies an impact point distribution of the golfer. The pattern determination unit determines a recommended pattern which is the mounting pattern that approximates a sweet area of the golf club to the impact point distribution. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the impact point distribution of the golfer is specified, and a mounting pattern is determined based on this impact point distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahide Onuki, Masaru Kono