Embedded In Head Patents (Class 473/335)
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Publication number: 20140106900Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Mark V. Greaney, Ian C. Wright, Kraig A. Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Matthew D. Johnson, Gery M. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 8690707Abstract: Golf clubs, club heads, and club weighting systems may include: (a) a club head body member; and (b) one or more weight members movably engaged with the club head body member so as to move between a first position and a second position to change an overall exterior shape of the club head. This shape change may result in changes to the overall center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Alternatively or additionally, the weight member(s) may be removed from the club head body member, reoriented, and/or replaced with a different weight member, e.g., to change the overall exterior shape, center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Methods of making and using these clubs, club heads, and weighting systems also are described.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John Thomas Stites, Robert Boyd, David N. Franklin
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Patent number: 8690706Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a sole portion, wherein the sole portion includes a slot or rail defined therein; and (c) a weight member at least partially located within the slot or rail. The weight member may be mounted at plural positions along the slot or rail (optionally at least partially within a weight cartridge member provided with the club head body). The weight member also may be movably engaged with the weight cartridge member, slot, rail, and/or other portion of the club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making and using such golf clubs and golf club heads also are described.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Eric A. Larson
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Patent number: 8684863Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a weight member secured to a weight mount. The weight member is preferably constructed so that it has a low profile and so that it interacts with an angled abutment portion of the weight mount to locate the weight member in the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Stephanie Bezilla, Gery M. Zimmerman, Darryl C. Galvan
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Patent number: 8672771Abstract: A golf putter having a head with a negative loft angle on the two ball striking surfaces, heel, and toe surfaces. The overall weight of the putter may be adjusted and the center of gravity of the putter may be shifted laterally as desired with removable weights that are coupled to the putter head.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Inventor: Richard Vlosich
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Patent number: 8668596Abstract: A golf club comprising an adjustable fitting member semi-permanently attached rearwardly on a sole is disclosed herein. The fitting member can be rotated to adjust the measured and perceived face angle of the golf club head at address without changing the relative relationship of the club with respect to the shaft, which would alter the lie and loft of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2013Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Matthew T. Cackett, D. Clayton Evans, Alan Hocknell
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Patent number: 8668599Abstract: A golf club iron having a head center of gravity that is low and forward enough to provide a better swing, good striking and swinging feel, and improved ball flight is disclosed. The iron has a recess in a leading edge region and a high density insert disposed within the recess to achieve the desired center of gravity location.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2012Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Matthew T. Cackett, Brandon T. Vincent
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Publication number: 20140066223Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, a sleeve including a top portion, a middle portion connected to the top portion is described. The middle portion includes a thin wall thickness. A bottom portion is connected to the middle portion including a plurality of engaging surfaces. A central longitudinal axis and an offset angle offset from the central longitudinal axis is described. The offset angle allows a maximum loft change of about 0.5 degrees to about 4.0 degrees. The total weight of the sleeve is less than 9 g.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Joseph Henry Hoffman
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Patent number: 8663030Abstract: A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a body comprising a crown and a sole and a removable skid plate attached to the sole, wherein the removable skid plate affects the face angle of the golf club head at address. The face angle of the golf club can be further altered by removing the first skid plate and replacing it with a second skid plate having a structure that, when the second skid plate is affixed to the golf club head, causes the golf club head to have a different face angle at address.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2013Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: D. Clayton Evans
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Patent number: 8657703Abstract: This invention provides a hollow golf club head including a face portion, a crown portion, and a sole/side portion including a sole portion and a side portion. This golf club head includes a rib which extends from the toe side to the heel side in the sole portion, and a weight portion which is provided in the sole portion on the side of the face portion with respect to the rib or the back side with respect to the rib, and increases the amplitude of vibration of the sole portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kozue Wada, Wataru Ban
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Publication number: 20140045608Abstract: A titanium bodied driver that utilizes a lightweight receiving back cap, which is designed to be non-removable from the club head but can be loosened to allow its interior to be accessed to reposition one or more movable weights into alternative receiving locations, is disclosed herein. The back cap may also be designed to be completely removable from the driver body to gain access to the one or more weights that can be re-positioned in alternative receiving areas within the back cap's interior.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2013Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventor: D. Clayton Evans
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Patent number: 8647216Abstract: 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 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: GrantFiled: May 6, 2010Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Peter L. Larsen, Joseph Henry Hoffman
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Publication number: 20140038746Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body, a track formed in or attached to the body and having a length and a weight and weight retainer. The weight is continuously repositionable such that it can be positioned at any selected point along the track between its ends. The weight has a major dimension, and the weight retainer comprises a fastening member having a diameter not greater than about one half of the major dimension of the weight.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Joseph Henry Hoffman
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Publication number: 20140031142Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: Dogleg Right CorporationInventor: David P. Billings
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Patent number: 8636606Abstract: A golf club includes: a hosel of a head to which a leading end of a shaft is attached; a weight material for adjusting weight being provided in a lower end portion of a hosel hole; and a communication opening which communicates the lower end portion of the hosel hole with an inside of the head, wherein the weight material is detachably screwed into the communication opening.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2011Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventor: Fumiaki Sato
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Patent number: 8632420Abstract: A golf club head enables the initial velocity of a ball to be increased and enables the carry to be lengthened. In some example structures, the golf club includes a face plate formed from metal and club head body (e.g., a crown and sole) formed from fiber reinforced plastic. A weighted body is provided inside the rearmost portion of the golf club head and a low rigidity portion whose width becomes gradually narrower as it approaches the rearmost portion is provided in the crown extending from the vicinity of the face plate to the rearmost portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2012Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Michael L. Kelly, Hitoshi Kodama, Tsuneo Takano
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Publication number: 20140018184Abstract: A golf club head and a removable weight that is received in a receptacle of the golf club head. The weight includes a cap and a slug. The cap is removably coupled to the receptacle and includes a recess that receives a portion of the slug so that the cap and slug are able to rotate relative to each other. The slug includes an anti-rotation feature that prevents relative rotation between the slug and the receptacle and a lead-in portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Stephanie Bezilla, Thomas Orrin Bennett, Stephen S. Murphy, Gery M. Zimmerman
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Publication number: 20140011605Abstract: A ball striking device has a head that includes a metal face configured for striking a ball, a rearwardly extending metal band, a top piece, and a bottom piece. The metal band has a first end extending from one side of the face, a second end extending from the opposite side of the face, and a rear portion extending between the first and second ends and defining at least a portion of the rear periphery of the head. The top piece and the bottom piece are non-metallic or substantially non-metallic. The top piece is connected to the top side of the metal band and forms at least a portion of a top side of the head, and the bottom piece is connected to the bottom side of the metal band and forms at least a portion of a bottom side of the head. The top piece and the bottom piece are separated by the metal band.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2013Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventor: NIKE, INC.
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Patent number: 8622847Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Mark V. Greaney, Ian C. Wright, Kraig A. Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Matthew D. Johnson, Gery M. Zimmerman
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Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads Including Structure to Selectively Control the Sound of the Club Head
Publication number: 20140004972Abstract: The invention relates generally to golf clubs and golf club heads that enable users, club fitters, club manufacturers, and the like to selectively control, change, and customize aspects of the “sound” associated with the golf club and golf club head when it strikes a golf ball. Golf clubs and golf club heads according to this invention may include: a) a club head body; b) a ball striking face engaged with or integrally formed as part of the club head body; c) a hosel member engaged with or integrally formed as at least a portion of the club head; and d) means for changing a sound emanated by the club head when a golf ball contacts the ball striking face. A user may change the vibrational characteristics associated with the club head when a golf ball is struck, thereby changing the sound emanating from the club head when a golf ball is struck.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: NIKE, IncInventors: James S. Thomas, Tyrone Northcutt -
Patent number: 8616997Abstract: A composite material golf club head is provided having a body made from a first metal and a face insert press fitted to a portion of the body and made from a second metal The metals are chosen so that the first metal is heavier than the second metal. The second metal is disposed towards the front and top of the body, and is preferably hard-anodized. In addition, an interlocking structure, for example rectangular or dove tail shaped channels, is provided in the body so that the face insert becomes embedded in the interlocking structure to anchor the face insert to the body. Portions of the golf club head, such as the face insert or sole plate, are anodized to protect against corrosion. The anodized coating is colored to improve aesthetic characteristics or infused with a polymer to increase or reduce friction. Disclosed herein is a golf club head having a body portion and a face insert. The front of the body portion further comprises a cutout sized and dimensioned to receive the face insert.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2010Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Ryan L. Roach, Thomas C. Morris
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Patent number: 8617000Abstract: A metal wood golf club with externally protruding weights that improves the performance of a golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a metal wood type golf club head that is capable of pushing the boundaries of performance all while maintaining the size and shape of a classic pear shaped golf club.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Gentry Ferguson, Keisuke Yamane, Ronald K. Hettinger
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Publication number: 20130344976Abstract: A golf club head for an iron-type club is provided. The club head includes a striking face, a slotted member and a first weight member. The striking face has a surface configured to engage a golf ball. The slotted member is positioned behind the striking face. The slotted member includes a slot network having at least two intersecting slots and at least three ends. The first weight member slidably engages the slot network to vary the position of the center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to the striking face.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: John T. Stites
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Publication number: 20130337935Abstract: A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a body comprising a crown and a sole and a removable skid plate attached to the sole, wherein the removable skid plate affects the face angle of the golf club head at address. The face angle of the golf club can be further altered by removing the first skid plate and replacing it with a second skid plate having a structure that, when the second skid plate is affixed to the golf club head, causes the golf club head to have a different face angle at address.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventor: D. Clayton Evans
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Patent number: 8608589Abstract: A golf club with a new innovative construction to attach a high density weight to an external surface of the sole of a golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention relates to utilizing a thickened sole portion having a specific surface area to thickness ratio to provide adequate support for a high density weight having a significant amount of mass. The new innovative method of attachment also incorporates a unique mechanical lock to properly secure the high density weight to the club head, as materials used for high density weighting may not be easily weldable to the titanium material currently used for metalwood type golf club head. The present invention's mechanical lock mechanism utilizes a protruding extension stemming from an internal surface of the weight and an attachment socked located within an internal cavity of the golf club head to engage one another to help secure the weight to the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Gentry Ferguson, Keisuke Yamane, Stephanie Bezilla
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Publication number: 20130324300Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body and at least one self-extracting pressed weight assembly. The body comprises a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. The body defines an interior cavity. The weight assembly comprises at least three components and is configured for a press fit engagement with the golf club head. The assembly has a drive portion and a threaded portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Benoit Vincent, Ian Wright, Kraig Alan Willett, Gery Mel Zimmerman, Joseph Henry Hoffman
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Publication number: 20130324298Abstract: This invention provides a hollow golf club head including a face portion, a crown portion, a sole/side portion which includes a sole portion and a side portion, and a weight member. The golf club head includes a recessed portion which is formed in the sole/side portion, and has an outer surface to which the weight member is attached, and a rib which is formed on the inner surface of the sole/side portion, and traverses the recessed portion across the peripheral edge defining the recessed portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Kozue WADA, Wataru BAN
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Publication number: 20130324299Abstract: The invention generally relates to golf clubs with adjustable mass properties. In certain aspects, the invention provides methods and mechanisms for adjusting a club head center of gravity in a vertical direction. Changing a center of gravity in the vertical direction can be done without substantially changing the center of a gravity in other directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Peter L. Soracco, Richard Romo Sanchez, Joshua G. Breier, Ryan L. Roach, Tim A. Beno, Andrew Curtis, Bret A. Newmiller, David Morelock
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Publication number: 20130303304Abstract: According to an aspect of this invention, a golf club head includes: a head main body; and a weight material detachably mounted in a weight material mounting portion in the head main body, an external screw thread on the weight material meshing with an internal screw thread in the weight material mounting portion, wherein: the weight material comprises a head portion having the external screw thread and a rod portion which projects from the head portion; and the internal screw thread is provided on an entrance side and a cylindrical portion is provided on a deeper side for engagement with the rod portion in the weight material mounting portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventor: Fumiaki SATO
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Patent number: 8579725Abstract: Golf club heads include at least one weight port situated to retain weights and positioned above an approximate club face geometric center with the club in a standard address position. One, two, or more weight ports can be located above the club face center in a club crown or other portion of a club body. Club head vertical center of gravity can be selected to compensate dynamic loft associated with locating the club head center of gravity well behind the club face. Three-dimensional adjustment of club head center of gravity is possible.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2012Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig Alan Willett, Todd P. Beach, Christopher John Harbert, Gery Mel Zimmerman
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Publication number: 20130288821Abstract: A golf club includes a golf club head having a body, a ball-striking face member and one or more mass members. The body extends from a shaft-attachment structure. The ball-striking face member is located on a front surface of the body. The body is configured to releasably accommodate a first mass member in a first region on its back surface and a second mass member in a second region on its back surface. At least one of the first and second mass members may be releasably attached to the back surface. The ball-striking face member may have an average density that is less than the average density of the body. The mass members may have an average density that is more than the average density of the ball-striking face member and/or of the body. The mass distribution of the club head may be customized via the selection and attachment of a particular mass member. The golf club head may be an iron-type golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: Phillip J. Hatton, Andrew G.V. Oldknow
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Patent number: 8562457Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body and at least one self-extracting pressed weight assembly. The body comprises a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. The body defines an interior cavity. The weight assembly comprises at least three components and is configured for a press fit engagement with the golf club head. The assembly has a drive portion and a threaded portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2011Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Thomas Olsavsky, Benoit Vincent, Ian Wright, Kraig Alan Willett, Gery Mel Zimmerman, Joseph Henry Hoffman
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Patent number: 8550935Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads include: (a) a club head body including heel, toe, crown, sole, and weighted rear portions; and (b) a variable thickness ball striking face. The club head body parts and weighted portion(s) may be arranged such that the club head has a moment of inertia about a vertical axis passing through the club head center of gravity of at least 5000 g-cm2. Such club heads may include: (a) a cup face member including a ball striking face portion and a return portion; (b) sole and crown portions engaged with the return portion; (c) a rear body member engaged with the crown and/or sole portions; (d) a weight member at the club head rear; and/or (e) a hosel member engaged with the cup face member, the crown portion, and/or the sole portion. Methods of making such club heads also are described.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John Thomas Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Daisuke Tsukada
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Patent number: 8550934Abstract: A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a body comprising a crown and a sole and a removable skid plate attached to the sole, wherein the removable skid plate affects the face angle of the golf club head at address. The face angle of the golf club can be further altered by removing the first skid plate and replacing it with a second skid plate having a structure that, when the second skid plate is affixed to the golf club head, causes the golf club head to have a different face angle at address.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2011Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: D. Clayton Evans
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Publication number: 20130260913Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body, a track formed in or attached to the body and having a length and a weight and weight retainer. The weight is continuously repositionable such that it can be positioned at any selected point along the track between its ends. The weight has a major dimension, and the weight retainer comprises a fastening member having a diameter not greater than about one half of the major dimension of the weight.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Joseph Henry Hoffman
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Patent number: 8540588Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 20, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Inventors: Bradley C. Rice, William C. Watson, Patrick Dawson, Irina Ivanova
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Patent number: 8540589Abstract: A golf club head and a removable weight that is received in a receptacle of the golf club head. The weight includes a cap and a slug. The cap is removably coupled to the receptacle and includes a recess that receives a portion of the slug so that the cap and slug are able to rotate relative to each other. The slug includes an anti-rotation feature that prevents relative rotation between the slug and the receptacle and a lead-in portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2010Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Stephanie Bezilla, Thomas Orrin Bennett, Stephen S. Murphy, Gery M. Zimmerman
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Publication number: 20130244807Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Matthew David Johnson, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Michelle Penney, Marc Kronenberg, Matthew Greensmith, Joseph Henry Hoffman
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Publication number: 20130244808Abstract: 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: May 2, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Gery M. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 8523705Abstract: 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. The club head may be formed by co-molding, eliminating the need for welding or adhesives, freeing mass to be used in more beneficial ways. The club head may be large to increase playability and forgiveness.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2006Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Joshua G. Breier, Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Gregory Haralson
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Patent number: 8517851Abstract: A golf club comprising an adjustable fitting member semi-permanently attached rearwardly on a sole is disclosed herein. The fitting member can be rotated to adjust the measured and perceived face angle of the golf club head at address without changing the relative relationship of the club with respect to the shaft, which would alter the lie and loft of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2011Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Matthew T. Cackett, D. Clayton Evans, Alan Hocknell
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Patent number: 8506421Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads include: (a) a ball striking face member; and (b) a club head body attached to or integrally formed with the face member. One body component of the club head (e.g., a weight or cover member) may be formed from a transparent, partially transparent, or translucent material. In some club head structures, an external weight member may extend around a part of a club head body member and beyond or outside of at least a portion of the body member's exterior perimeter (e.g., rearwardly, laterally toward a toe side, and/or laterally toward a heel side of the club head body, beyond the exterior perimeter portion, when viewed from overhead). Golf club structures that include golf club heads, e.g., of the types described above, and methods of constructing and/or using such clubs and club heads, also are described.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
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Publication number: 20130190105Abstract: Golf club and golf club head structures having a void formed in the golf club head body are presented. In some arrangements, the golf club head may include a first arm and a second arm extending rearward from the golf club head body defining the void. In some examples, the golf club head body, first arm and second arm may form a substantially V-shaped golf club head. In other arrangements, the golf club head body may have a portion of the body removed to form a void defined by the golf club head body. In some arrangements, the void may be substantially T-shaped and may include a void insert.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: NIKE, INCInventor: Nike, Inc
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Publication number: 20130190104Abstract: A golf club with a golf club head having one or more adjustable weights is presented. The club head may include a club head body having a recessed formed therein. In some arrangements, the recess may be formed in a sole portion of the club head body. The golf club head further includes an adjustable weight that may be rotated from a first position to a second position to adjust the weight characteristics, and thus the performance characteristics of the golf club. In some arrangements, the adjustable weight and/or any hardware, fasteners, etc. associated with the adjustable weight may be constantly connected to the golf club head such that adjustment of the weight does not include removal of the weight and/or any hardware, fasteners, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: NIKE, INCInventor: NIKE, INC
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Patent number: 8491414Abstract: A wedge type golf club head is disclosed herein where the wedge type golf club head has enhanced performance characteristics such as improved backspin, ball speed, and launch angle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wedge type golf club head having an adjustable center of gravity, where the center of gravity may be adjusted based on different backing profiles that comprises at least one hollow chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Aaron Dill, Charles E. Golden, Gregory D. Johnson, Douglas C. Jorgensen, John Morin
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Patent number: 8491413Abstract: 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: May 12, 2012Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Dogleg Right CorporationInventor: David P. Billings
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Publication number: 20130184099Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2012Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicant: Nike,Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry Jones, Frank Fujita
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Patent number: 8485919Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Bradley C. Rice, William C. Watson, Patrick Dawson, Irina Ivanova
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Patent number: 8485920Abstract: 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: May 22, 2008Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Joshua G. Breier, Thomas C. Morris, Kevin C. Chau, Scott A. Rice, Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 8475292Abstract: Wood-type golf clubs as described herein may include: (a) a hosel to receive a golf club shaft; (b) a club head; and (c) a ball striking face. The club head include may include: a plurality of weights, a plurality of tubes, and an exterior cover structure (e.g., an exterior skin) that covers at least a portion of the plurality of weights and at least a portion of the plurality of tubes, and wherein the exterior cover structure defines the shape of the club head. Additionally, the ball striking face may be engaged with at least two of the plurality of weights and/or at least two of the tubes. The plurality of weights may include a first weight, a second weight, a third weight, and a fourth weight that are all engaged with the striking face.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2010Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Donald S. Rahrig, Robert Boyd, James S. Thomas