Embedded In Head Patents (Class 473/335)
  • Patent number: 10130849
    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: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Michael Wallans
  • Patent number: 10092806
    Abstract: An iron-type golf club head 4 comprises: a head main body 10 including a face 2, a hosel 6, a sole 4 and a back portion 9 extending upward from the trailing edge Te of the sole; and a weight member 20 having a specific gravity larger than the head main body. The face 2 is provided with score lines 7 extending in the toe-heel direction of the head. The weight member 20 is disposed in the sole and extends in the toe-heel direction across a position in the toe-heel direction corresponding to the center position FC of the score lines. The weight member 20 includes a toe-side first portion 21 extending over the sole 4 and the back portion 9, and a heel-side second portion 22 extending within the sole 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Abe
  • Patent number: 10086238
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf club head constructed from multiple components formed of different materials. In particular, a club head of the present disclosure includes a club head body, such as a cast or forged body portion, made from a first metal, and at least one removable component configured to be releasably attached to the club head body, the removable component being made from a second metal that is different than the first metal. The golf club head includes a semi-hollow, or completely hollow-bodied, ball-striking face cartridge made from at least titanium. In some embodiments, the hollow face cartridge may be integrally formed with the club head body. In other embodiments, the hollow face cartridge may be formed separately from the club head body and may be removed from and re-attached to the club head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Ryan L. Roach, Tim A. Beno, Andrew Curtis, Bryce Hobbs, Collin Lervick, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 10065090
    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: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC
    Inventors: Michael Guerrette, Tim Reed, Clive Roberts
  • Patent number: 10029156
    Abstract: A golf club head having a body having a first receptacle having ant aperture and a weight retention member affixed to the receptacle, the weight retention member having an opening, the weight retention member configured to receive a weighted insert, wherein at least a portion of the receptacle is located on the sole, wherein the receptacle includes a pair of perimeter walls, each of the perimeter walls substantially perpendicular to the sole adjacent the perimeter walls, wherein the pair of perimeter walls are separated by the aperture and are substantially parallel to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Sang Yi, Richard Sanchez, Thomas Orrin Bennett
  • Patent number: 9999814
    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 hollow body portion having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a bottom portion, a top portion, a plurality of ports on the bottom portion and a plurality of inner support portions in the hollow body portion. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 9987526
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a method of manufacturing a golf club head may include providing a body portion and providing a plurality of weight portions. The body portion may include a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a bottom portion having a plurality of ports. Each port of the plurality of ports may be configured to receive a weight portion of the plurality of weight portions. The plurality of ports may include a first set of ports and a second set of ports. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 9987523
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a sole, a recessed sole port in the sole; and a rotatably adjustable sole piece adapted to be at least partially received within the sole port and comprising a central body having a plurality of contact surfaces adapted to contact the sole port and being offset from each other along a central axis extending through the central body of the sole piece. The sole piece can be positioned at least partially within the sole port at five or more rotational and axial positions with respect to the central axis, wherein at each rotational position, at least one of said contact surfaces of the central body contacts the sole port to set the axial position of the sole piece. The sole port and/or the sole piece can be generally pentagonal in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Kraig Alan Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Michael Franz
  • Patent number: 9981165
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a conformal weight sized to fit within a recess or channel disposed in a crown or sole is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the crown or sole itself is a conformal weight, and is removably affixed to a base structure comprising a striking face and a skeletal support structure. In other embodiments, the golf club head comprises a conformal weight in the form of a sole cap that is removably affixed to the golf club head and covers small weight ports disposed in the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Tim Goudarzi, Steven M. Ehlers, Matthew Myers, Larry Tang, Wee Joung Kim, Philip G. Foster, Wayne H. Byrne
  • Patent number: 9956462
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising features for adjusting the location of the center of gravity along all three axes is disclosed herein. In particular, the head comprises a body with a channel in its sole, at least one slidable receptacle sized to engage the channel, and a slidable weight. The channel preferably comprises a first floor and a pair of rails, while the slidable receptacle comprises a first base portion, a first bolt, and a first upper portion with a slot having a second floor and another pair of rails. The first upper and base portions grip the channel's rails when the first bolt is tightened. Similarly, the slidable weight comprises a second upper portion, a second base portion, and a second bolt, and the second upper and base portions grip the slot's rails when the second bolt is tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Christopher A. G. Nunez, Larry Tang
  • Patent number: 9937388
    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 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Cardani, Jeremy N. Snyder
  • Patent number: 9873029
    Abstract: A golf club head may include a body having a hollow interior and a removable sole plate. The body may include a hosel portion, a front strike face, a crown and a sole. The sole may include a floor and sidewalls extending from the floor to the crown, wherein the floor may have openings opening into the hollow interior. The removable sole plate mounted to the sole over the openings of the floor the sole plate may include wings and a tail. The wings are proximate the front strike face and curve along the sidewalls towards the crown. The tail extends from the wings away from the front strike face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventor: Eric Sillies
  • Patent number: 9849355
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a main body having a topline and an opposing sole. The main body includes a striking face extending between the topline and sole, and a rear face in opposed relation to the striking face. A sole body is proximate the rear face and extends at least partially along the sole. A peripheral flange extends at least partially about the rear face and is of a flange height, HF, relative to the rear face. A truss protrudes from the rear face and includes a at least a first truss arm which is of a first truss arm height, HT1, relative to the rear face, wherein the difference between HF and HT1 is less than about 0.25 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Phillip C. Seagram
  • Patent number: 9849353
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a golf club head having improved mass distribution characteristics. The golf club head includes a body and a face positioned at a forward portion of the body. The golf club head also includes one or more mass elements positioned at predetermined locations about the head. The mass elements assist in achieving a desired relationship between the moment of inertia about a center of gravity x-axis and the moment of inertia about a center of gravity z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Peter L. Larsen, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9802084
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises: a head main body having a hollow therein; a weight member disposed in the hollow and extending from its first end to its second end; a first end side portion of the weight member is secured to a first position of the head main body rotatably around a first axis at the first position so that a second end side portion of the weight member is movable to at least a second position and a third position of the head main body which positions are on a locus described by the first end side portion of the weight member during rotating about said first axis; and a fastener for fixing the second end side portion of the weight member to any of said at least second and third positions of the head main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Shimahara, Naruhiro Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9764205
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads comprising a head interior and a hosel structure, the head interior bounded by a head front portion, a head rear portion, a head heel portion, a head toe portion, a head top portion, and a head sole portion, the golf club heads further comprising various optimized characteristics, are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Patent number: 9731175
    Abstract: A golf club head with means for adjusting a center of gravity along more than one axis is disclosed herein. The golf club head comprises at least one rectangular weight bar disposed within a recessed region on the sole and adjustable within the recessed region. One end of the weight bar is reversibly fixed to the sole with a connection element, while the other end includes an engagement feature that engages a retention feature at the edge of the recessed region. The retention feature provides multiple locations at the edge of the recessed region to which the engagement feature can be fixed, and when the weight bar is in a configuration desired by a golfer, the weight bar can be reversibly secured to the sole and immobilized within the recessed region by tightening the connection element. The weight bar may also include a slidable weight assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew Myers, James A. Seluga
  • Patent number: 9694256
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a slidable weight for adjusting the location of the golf club head center of gravity, as well as the golf club head bias, is disclosed herein. In particular, the golf club head, which may be a wood or iron-type head, comprises a pair of rails extending along at least one surface, such as a rear surface of an iron type head or a channel disposed in a wood-type head, and a slidable weight comprising a pair of grooves sized to receive the rails. In some embodiments, an applique or one or more clips are applied over or to the rails to prevent the weight from disengaging from the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew Myers, Denver Holt, James A. Seluga, Wee Joung Kim, Steven C. Sutton
  • Patent number: 9694261
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising features for adjusting the location of the center of gravity along all three axes is disclosed herein. In particular, the head comprises a body with a channel in its sole, at least one slidable receptacle sized to engage the channel, and a slidable weight. The channel preferably comprises a first floor and a pair of rails, while the slidable receptacle comprises a first base portion, a first bolt, and a first upper portion with a slot having a second floor and another pair of rails. The first upper and base portions grip the channel's rails when the first bolt is tightened. Similarly, the slidable weight comprises a second upper portion, a second base portion, and a second bolt, and the second upper and base portions grip the slot's rails when the second bolt is tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Christopher A. G. Nunez, Larry Tang
  • Patent number: 9669271
    Abstract: A golf club head having a low-density interchangeable insert located in a top portion thereof. The interchangeable insert may be only in the top line of the club head or extend from the heel around the toe and optionally be visible from above when the club is at address. The interchangeable insert may extend through a hosel and optionally be visible on a heel-side surface. The interchangeable insert may be mounted on a back surface of a striking face, and may extend a distance down the back surface. The interchangeable insert may extend into, and provide part of, a golf ball striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Ryan L. Roach, Thomas C. Morris
  • Patent number: 9662547
    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 and a plurality of weight portions. The body portion may include a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a bottom portion having a plurality of ports. Each port of the plurality of ports may be configured to receive a weight portion of the plurality of weight portions. The plurality of ports may include a first set of ports and a second set of ports. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 9555295
    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 and a plurality of weight portions. The plurality of weight portions may include a first set of weight portions and a second set of weight portions. Each weight portion of the first set of weight portions may be associated with a first mass, and each weight portion of the second set of weight portions may be associated with a second mass that is less than the first mass. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 9555299
    Abstract: An iron-type golf club head comprises an upper heel-side region having a specific gravity ?1, a lower heel-side region having a specific gravity ?2, an upper middle region having a specific gravity ?3, a lower middle region having a specific gravity ?4, an upper toe-side region having a specific gravity ?5 and a lower toe-side region having a specific gravity ?6 which satisfy the following conditions: ?1<?2, ?3<?4, ?5<?6, ?4<?2, ?4<?6, ?3<?1, and ?3<?5. These six regions are sectioned by a horizontal plane, a toe-side vertical plane and a heel-side vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamura, Takahiro Norimura
  • Patent number: 9452324
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a golf club head having improved mass distribution characteristics. The golf club head includes a body and a face positioned at a forward portion of the body. The golf club head also includes one or more mass elements positioned at predetermined locations about the head. The mass elements assist in achieving a desired relationship between the moment of inertia about a center of gravity x-axis and the moment of inertia about a center of gravity z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Peter L. Larsen, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9381410
    Abstract: A weight system configured to adjust the location of the center of gravity of a golf club head comprising an adjustable weight comprising an aperture dimensioned to receive a fastener, a threaded bore formed in said sole and configured to receive a fastener, and a fastener configured to pass through the aperture of the adjustable weight and engage the threaded bore, wherein rotation of said fastener in a first direction locks said adjustable weight into a locked position, preventing said adjustable weight from rotating relative to said body, and wherein rotation of said fastener in a second direction, opposite said first direction, unlocks said adjustable weight into an unlocked position and allows said adjustable weight to rotate about said fastener, and wherein said adjustable weight can be unlocked and rotated without completely removing said fastener from said threaded bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Charles E Golden, Stephen S. Murphy, Mark C. Myrhum, Darryl C. Galvan, Thomas O. Bennett
  • Patent number: 9352197
    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 and a plurality of weight portions. The body portion may include a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a bottom portion having an outer surface associated with an outer surface curve, and a weight port region located at or proximate to the bottom portion. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 9295885
    Abstract: A golf club 1 includes a head 3 and a shaft 5. The head 3 has a head body M3, a grounding member Y1 and a movement restricting member Y2. The head body M3 has a sole s3. The sole s3 has a slide part S1 that can slide the grounding member Y1. The movement restricting member Y2 restricts slide movement of the grounding member Y1 while allowing the grounding member Y1 to be fixed at a plurality of slide positions. A face angle can be varied depending on the plurality of slide positions of the grounding member Y1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyofumi Matsunaga, Naruhiro Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9289661
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void. The golf club head may further have support structures and adjustable weight members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Yoshimasa Fujita
  • Patent number: 9205312
    Abstract: A golf club head, comprising a weight mount comprising a first portion and a second portion, a first weight member and a second weight member, each configured to be coupled to said weight mount, a single fastener configured to force said first weight member to translate in a first direction towards said first portion of said weight mount and said second weight member to translate in a second direction towards said second portion of said weight mount, wherein said first direction is different than said second direction, and wherein said fastener, said first portion of said weight mount, and said second portion of said weight mount are configured to limit said first weight member and said second weight member from moving relative to said weight mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gery M. Zimmerman, Thomas O. Bennett
  • Patent number: 9168439
    Abstract: A recess 14 is formed in a sole 9 of a head 4. The recess 14 is an example of an opening part. A socket 10 is mounted to the recess 14. A weight body 12 capable of being attached/detached is attached to the socket 10. The weight body 12 has an engaging part 32 and an exposed part E1. The socket 10 has an interposition part 11. The interposition part 11 is interposed in at least a part between the exposed part E1 and a head body h1 in an attached state where the engaging part 32 is placed at an engaging position EP. The exposed part E1 is exposed to the outside in the attached state. The interposition part 11 does not fix the weight body 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Motokawa
  • Patent number: 9162115
    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. A face is positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face has a center face location and includes a center face characteristic time. An off-center location on the face is located at about ?40 mm in a heel direction away from the center face location. The off-center location has an off-center characteristic time of at least 80% of the center face characteristic time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan Sargent, Peter L. Larsen, Kraig Alan Willett, Bing-Ling Chao, John Francis Lorentzen
  • Patent number: 9144717
    Abstract: A putter head has a putter body having a base member defining a ball striking face surface. The putter body further has a first arm extending away from the base member and a second arm extending away from the base member, and a central member extending away from the base member and positioned between the first arm and the second arm. A weight assembly is supported by the putter body. The weight assembly has a beam member having a first end, a second end and a central portion. The central portion is supported by the central member along a first plane, and the first end of the beam member is supported by the first arm along a second plane. The second plane is generally transverse to the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Jason P. Martin, Carl A. Jonsson
  • Patent number: 9132325
    Abstract: A golf club head having an aperture communicating between the face surface for ball striking and a rear of the head. The aperture is configured for cooperative engagement with a flange having a vertically disposed shoulder portion extending from a horizontally disposed base. A front surface of the flange having indicia thereon is viewable in a central portion of the face when the flange is engaged to the head, thereby providing viewable indicia for advertising, targeting the ball, and identifying ownership or a locale visited by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Inventor: David Whitlam
  • Patent number: 9044653
    Abstract: Iron-type golf club heads are disclosed having a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and a striking face. The iron-type golf club heads include a flexible boundary structure (“FBS”) that is provided at one or more locations on the club head. The flexible boundary structure may comprise, in several embodiments, a slot, a channel, a gap, a thinned or weakened region, or other structure that enhances the capability of an adjacent or related portion of the golf club head to flex or deflect and to thereby provide a desired improvement in the performance of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bret H. Wahl, Scott Taylor, Peter L. Larsen, Joshua J. Dipert
  • Publication number: 20150126303
    Abstract: Golf club heads comprising weighted materials that can be added, removed, and moved in order to change the weight and center of gravity of the club. In some instances, the weighted material is a polymer composition comprising metal and having a specific gravity greater than about 4. Also disclosed are methods of modifying the center of gravity of a golf club head and methods of manufacturing golf club heads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Ryan L. Roach, Peter L. Soracco, Tim A. Beno, Andrew Curtis, Michael S. Yagley
  • Patent number: 9022881
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a crown with an edge support structure and a flexible, conformal weight sized to fit within the edge support structure is disclosed herein. The edge support structure preferably is disposed on an internal surface of the crown so that the conformal weight is invisible when the golf club head is viewed at address. The conformal weight can be removed to adjust the vertical center of gravity of the club head, and preferably is oriented in a front-to-back direction along the club head's X-axis. The conformal weight preferably is composed of a high-density polymeric material with a specific gravity ranging from 1.8 to 4.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Steven M. Ehlers
  • Publication number: 20150119164
    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: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Uday V. Deshmukh, Ronald K. Hettinger, Jonathan Hebreo
  • Patent number: 9017186
    Abstract: Embodiments of club heads with multiple density weighting and methods of manufacturing the same are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Jertson, John A Solheim
  • Patent number: 9011269
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Billings
  • Publication number: 20150105177
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. Embodiments include club heads for a fairway wood that at least one of a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity, a thin crown and a high coefficient of restitution. A sleeve for easily disconnecting a shaft to the club head allows for selective adjustment of the head's loft and lie angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Matthew David Johnson, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Michelle Penney, Marc Kronenberg, Matthew Greensmith, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8998747
    Abstract: A weight screw for a golf club head having one or more weight ports is disclosed herein. A set of weight screws is also disclosed herein, the set comprising at least one low-weight screw comprising multiple materials and at least one weight screw comprising a single material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew T. Cackett, Patrick Dawson, Philip G. Foster, Brooks Roche, Brandon D. DeMille
  • Publication number: 20150094166
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body having a ball striking face, a rear opposite the ball striking face, a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe, the body having a void defined by a peripheral edge on the sole. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void and forms at least a portion of the crown. At least a portion of the peripheral edge of the void includes a lip extending from the peripheral edge inwardly into the void. The golf club head may additionally or alternately include one or more weight receptacles connected to the sole and having an opening in the sole, such that each weight receptacle is configured to receive insertion of a weight through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Michael G. Taylor, Michael Wallans, John T. Stites, Sherry L. Jones
  • Patent number: 8992339
    Abstract: A golf club head 1 comprising a hollow head body 1b and a gravity center adjuster 14 fixed to the head body 1b and comprising a first weight member 15 and a second weight member 16 having a lower specific gravity than the first weight member 15, wherein the first and second weight members are provided in the head body 1b so that the locations thereof are exchangeable with each other, and a depth GL of the center of gravity which is a distance from the head's center of gravity G to a sweet spot SS of a face 2 can be changed by location exchange between the first and second weight members 15 and 16 without substantially changing a distance GK of the center of gravity which is the shortest distance from an axial center line of a shaft-inserting hole 7a to the head's center of gravity G.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Kiyofumi Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20150087439
    Abstract: A removable weight in the form of a plug screw that is received in a receptacle of a golf club head. The weight includes adjustment weight pieces that are added to or subtracted from the screw body to yield the desired weight adjustment. The plug screw is removably connected to the golf club head and includes multiple recesses which receive various shaped weight pieces. The weight pieces can be formed from a variety of materials, each having a particular density to provide a multitude of weight choices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Yu Jin Song
  • Patent number: 8979671
    Abstract: A golf club head having a face component, a crown, and a composite sole or a composite body patch with one or more weight ports for receiving one or more weight inserts is disclosed herein. At least part of each of the weight ports is integrally formed in the composite sole or composite body patch, and each of the weight ports include a weight receiving region for receiving a weight and a screw receiving region for receiving a screw that secures the weight in the weight port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Brandon D. DeMille, William C. Watson, Patrick Dawson
  • Publication number: 20150065264
    Abstract: A computer program is disclosed for reconfiguring a property-adjustable golf club. The program receives data input corresponding to a current configuration of an adjustable feature of the golf club, and data input corresponding to trajectory adjustment information. Based on the data input, reconfiguration information is generated, and outputted, that corresponds to one of a plurality of configurations of the adjustable feature of the golf club.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher J. BECK, Casey CASBURN, John J. RAE, Aram SALEHI
  • Publication number: 20150065265
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a head main body having a hollow therein and a weight member having a specific gravity more than that of the head main body. The head main body has a face portion for hitting a ball and a sole portion continuous from the face portion to form a bottom surface of the club head. The weight member is disposed in the hollow and extends in the toe-heel direction. In a vertical cross section of the club head including the sweet spot, the weight member is arranged without contacting with the face portion and the sole portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yuki MOTOKAWA, Michael J. KLINE
  • Patent number: 8968116
    Abstract: A golf club head with means for adjusting a center of gravity along more than one axis and means adjusting at least one of a characteristic selected from the group consisting of face angle, loft angle, and lie angle is disclosed herein. The golf club head comprises one or more adjustable features such as weight bars, weight screws, weight cartridges, and adjustable sole members, and preferably includes structural features such as pegs, teeth, and polymeric dampeners that serve to preload the one or more adjustable features on the golf club head and prevent or reduce unwanted vibrations when the golf club head is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew Myers, Wayne H. Byrne, Larry Tang
  • Patent number: 8961336
    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 plurality of weight portions and a body portion. The plurality of weight portions may be associated with a total weight portion mass. The body portion may include a face portion, a toe portion, a sole portion, an interior cavity that may extend between the top and sole portions, and a back portion with a plurality of exterior weight ports having a first set of exterior weight ports and a second set of exterior weight ports. Each of the plurality of exterior weight ports is associated with a port diameter and configured to receive at least one weight portion of the plurality of weight portions. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Parsons Xtreme Golf, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 8956240
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. Embodiments include club heads for a fairway wood that at least one of a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity, a thin crown and a high coefficient of restitution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Matthew David Johnson, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Michelle Penney, Marc Kronenberg, Matthew Greensmith, Joseph Henry Hoffman