Embedded In Head Patents (Class 473/335)
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Patent number: 8226499Abstract: A hollow golf club head with a concave portion is disclosed and claimed. The club head includes a metallic portion and a light weight portion, which may be formed of plastic, composite, or the like. The concave portion allows the club designer to make a club head having very thin portions while still maintaining the requisite structural integrity. Convex bulges may optionally be provided to house weight inserts to enhance the playing characteristics of the golf club.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2011Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventor: Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 8221260Abstract: 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: February 4, 2010Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Daisuke Tsukada
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Patent number: 8221258Abstract: A wood-type golf club head with an adjustable keel zone member is disclosed herein. The golf club head includes a body and an adjustable keel zone member. The body has a front portion, a crown portion and a sole portion. The body also having a heel end, a toe end and an aft end. The sole portion has only a single keel point. The adjustable keel zone member is disposed within a keel zone of the sole and located preferentially with respect to the center of gravity. The keel zone member is capable of adjusting the face angle of the wood-type golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2012Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Matthew T. Cackett, D. Clayton Evans, Alan Hocknell
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Patent number: 8216087Abstract: 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: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Cobra Gold IncorporatedInventors: Joshua G. Breier, Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Gregory Haralson, Charles E. Golden, Thomas C. Morris
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Patent number: 8216088Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 21, 2009Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Hatton, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
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Publication number: 20120165115Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Inventor: Kiyofumi MATSUNAGA
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Publication number: 20120149491Abstract: 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. Some embodiments of the club head form a club head for a fairway wood that has a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity and a thin crown.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2012Publication date: June 14, 2012Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Joseph Henry Hoffman, Scott Taylor, Sang S. Yi
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Patent number: 8197357Abstract: 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: February 1, 2012Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Bradley C. Rice, William C. Watson, Patrick Dawson, Irina Ivanova
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Patent number: 8192303Abstract: A golf club head of this invention includes a head body, a weight member attached to the head body, and a fixing unit to fix the weight member at any one of a plurality of attachment positions of the head body. The plurality of attachment positions are located on a straight line included in a plane. The plane includes the center-of-gravity position of the head body without the weight member attached thereto and is perpendicular to the toe-and-heel direction of the head body.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2009Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wataru Ban
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Patent number: 8192302Abstract: 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 curved abutment surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2008Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Scott A. Knutson, Stephanie Bezilla, Thomas Orrin Bennett, Stephen S. Murphy
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Publication number: 20120135820Abstract: A golf club head having a face component, a crown, and a composite sole 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, 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: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2012Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: William C. WATSON, Martin PERALTA, Patrick DAWSON, Irina IVANOVA, Bradley C. RICE
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Publication number: 20120129625Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2012Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: BRADLEY C. RICE, WILLIAM C. WATSON, PATRICK DAWSON, IRINA IVANOVA
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Patent number: 8182363Abstract: 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 slidably 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2010Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Stephanie Bezilla, Thomas Orrin Bennett, Stephen S. Murphy, Scott A. Knutson, Denise T. Herman, Gery M. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 8182364Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs with one or more cavities described herein. Related examples and methods are also disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2011Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Eric V. Cole, Randall B. Noble, Eric J. Morales
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Patent number: 8177657Abstract: The present invention is directed at a quick release connection system to facilitate customization of golf clubs. It can be used to interchange shafts, removable weights, or soleplates quickly and easily. Teeth are disposed on the inside of a frame so that a shaft may be inserted with minimal resistance, but cannot be removed without specific steps which may require the use of a simple tool. Strengthening and interlock devices are provided to ensure performance quality akin to tradition al golf clubs.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2011Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Karl A. Clausen, Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 8177662Abstract: A metal golf club head that allows a user to customize the location of the center of gravity. The metal golf club head comprises a hollow body with a weighting port. The weighting port allows a user to place weighting material inside the hollow body, customizing the location of the center of gravity, the swing weight, the total weight, and the balance of the golf club.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2006Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Dogleg Right CorporationInventor: David P. Billings
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Publication number: 20120071259Abstract: The present invention is directed to an iron-type golf club that may be included in a set. In particular, the inventive golf club includes an adjustable hosel coupling and a mechanism for altering the sole configuration. The golf club may be included in a set having a progressive sole configuration that provides desired bounce for each club within the set.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATEDInventors: Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts
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Publication number: 20120064991Abstract: 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: August 29, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventor: D. CLAYTON EVANS
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Patent number: 8133135Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2008Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: John Thomas Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Daisuke Tsukada
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Patent number: 8133129Abstract: An iron type golf club head includes a club head having a first body component defining a striking face, and a second body component releasably secured to the first body component with a fastener. The second body component defines at least a perimeter portion of a rear face of the club head body and may define substantially an entire rear face of the club head body.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Robert Boyd, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Chia-Chyi Cheng
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Publication number: 20120034992Abstract: Golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) according to at least some example aspects of this invention include: (a) a heel; (b) a toe; (c) a crown; (d) a sole; (e) a striking face; (f) a cavity, wherein the cavity is at least partially open; (g) a rear face opposite the striking face, the rear face defining an opening to the cavity; and (h) a rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening. The rear body member may be releasably engaged with the opening to the cavity, rear face, and/or other portion of the club head body.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites, Gary Tavares
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Patent number: 8105175Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable panel secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable panel may have a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the removable panel to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable panel. A removable panel of the present invention may generally comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density. Even further, the removable panel may generally be releasably attached via a quick disconnect mechanism that allows easy interchangeability.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 8088023Abstract: An iron golf club head includes: a block that is made by a magnesium alloy; and a metal head main body, wherein the block is embedded into the metal head main body.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventor: Makoto Kubota
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Publication number: 20110312437Abstract: A wood-type golf club head comprises a body having one or more ribs extending across the internal surface of the sole. The plurality of ribs can include two or more ribs, such as three or four ribs, that converge at a convergence location, such as above a recessed pocket in the sole configured to receive an adjustable sole piece. At least one rib can extend along an internal surface of the recessed pocket and along an internal surface of a surrounding sole region. The ribs can extend from the convergence location to a toe weight port, to a heel weight port, to a rear portion of the body and/or toward the face. At least one rib can extend from a hosel, such as to the toe weight port.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Inventors: Nathan T. Sargent, Todd P. Beach, Kraig A. Willett, Christopher J. Harbert
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Publication number: 20110294597Abstract: This invention provides a golf club head that is made with simple structure and can be changed of its total shape and mounting position of a golf club shaft by partly replacing its parts. Therefore it is superior in flexibility of choosing its shape, and in versatility. Since the golf club head can commonize many parts, inventory control will be easy, and is superior in mass productivity. Further, beginner and amateur players can easily customize the center of gravity position depending on their preference. Therefore, they can use the golf club head for a long term. Further, it is superior in maintenance characteristics, the handling characteristics, and the resource saving characteristics. It contributes to not only the golf population but also, resources-saving and environmental protection.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Applicant: ANEEGING GOLF LTD.Inventor: Seiichiro TERAMOTO
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Publication number: 20110287857Abstract: 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: May 27, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Thomas Olsavsky, Benoit Vincent, Ian Wright, Kraig Alan Willett, Gery Mel Zimmerman, Joseph Henry Hoffman
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Patent number: 8047930Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having improved flexural stiffness properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. The main portion of the hitting face is a plate-like face made from a first material having a first density. A dense insert made from a second material having a second density that is greater than the first density is attached directly or indirectly to the plate-like face at or near the geometric center thereof. The dense insert increases the flexural stiffness of in a central zone of the hitting face so that a golf club head that has a larger zone of substantially uniform high initial ball speed. In another embodiment, the hitting face includes an insert that includes main plate and at least one wing extending therefrom. The insert is welded to the golf club head so that the main plate does not deflect separately from the remainder of the hitting face. The geometry of the insert controls the stiffness in the axial directions.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2011Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Scott A. Rice, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Publication number: 20110230278Abstract: In one embodiment, a golf club head is presented having a sole with three recessed cavities for attachment to a hosel-bending tool. In another embodiment, a golf club head is presented having a sole that includes one predetermined contact area proximal to the toe edge of the sole. In another embodiment, a golf club head is presented having a sole in which pads of material are incorporated that may be milled to vary the relief of the sole and to modify mass characteristics of the club head. Yet another embodiment presents a golf club head having a body with a cavity to receive a cartridge that has a constant density and weight.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Christopher D. Harvell, Stephen S. Murphy, Eddie G. Perez, Michael Scott Burnett
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Patent number: 8020606Abstract: A method of making a wax mold for a golf club head includes the steps of: a) positioning a male die in a cavity of a female die; b) injecting and filling dissolvable wax into a gap between an outer surface of the male die and an inner surface of the female die; c) cooling and solidifying the dissolvable wax in the gap to obtain a wax shell; d) removing the wax shell from the male die and the female die, the wax shell being provided with a hole extending through inner and outer surfaces of the wax shell; and e) inserting a wax plug into the hole to form the wax mold.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2008Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: O-TA Precision Industry Co. Ltd.Inventors: Hsiao-Wen Chao, Lung-Sheng Sun, Yung-Yueh Liu
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Patent number: 8016694Abstract: A golf club head of the wood-type, including: a body defining an interior cavity and including a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, and a ribbon extending rearwardly from the face; an elongated groove that extends along a portion of the ribbon; a weight slidably disposed in the elongated grove; and a fastener affixed to the weight capable of selectively fixing a location of the weight. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Mizuno USAInventors: David Llewellyn, Tetsuya Kanayama, Masao Nagai
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Patent number: 7967699Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable weight member secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable weight member has a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the weight member to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable weight member. A weight member of the present invention may comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventor: Peter L. Soracco
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Publication number: 20110151995Abstract: 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: February 2, 2011Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventor: D. CLAYTON EVANS
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Publication number: 20110152001Abstract: A golf club head comprises: a hollow structure having an insertion-opening in the outer surface of the golf club head; a quick-release lid of the insertion-opening; a tubular part disposed in a hollow of the hollow structure and having a bottomed hole with which the insertion-opening communicates; and a gravity point adjuster. The gravity point adjuster comprises: a heavy-weight member having a specific gravity and a length L2; a light-weight member having a specific gravity less than that of the heavy-weight member and a length L1 more than the length L2; and an elastic member having a specific gravity less than that of the heavy-weight member, and an elastic modulus lower than those of the heavy-weight member and light-weight member. The heavy-weight member, light-weight member and elastic member are inserted in the bottomed hole by the use of the insertion-opening so that their relative positions relative to the bottomed hole can be changed easily by the golfer himself or herself.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventor: Tomoya HIRANO
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Patent number: 7963861Abstract: One embodiment of a golf club head having movable weights includes a body with 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. Two or more weight ports are formed in the body and at least two weights are configured to be retained at least partially within the weight ports.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2007Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: 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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Publication number: 20110143858Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf club head with external weights that allows for weight modification after the manufacturing process. The golf club head comprises a face component and an aft-body. A plurality of recessed cavities are located on the aft-body. A weight component is disposed within the recessed cavities. A timesert is located at the bottom center of each of the recessed cavities. The timesert is comolded to the aft-body. The weight component is fastened to the timesert by use of a bolt. The recessed cavities are preferably circular in shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: MARTIN PERALTA, ALAN HOCKNELL
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Publication number: 20110136586Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including a fixed portion proximal to the ball striking face, and a removable weight portion, which is configured to be coupled with the fixed portion on a side of the crown portion away from the ball striking face. The club head body may further include an interior portion with a frame member defined therein. The crown weight may further include a weight member attached to the frame member, the weight member including at least one receptacle defined therein. The removable weight portion may further include at least one weight insert supported within the weight member in the at least one receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2011Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, William F. Rauchholz, John T. Stites
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Publication number: 20110124433Abstract: A cavity back golf club and golf club head having one or more support brackets is disclosed. Each support bracket includes a first portion engaged with the rear surface of the striking face, a second portion engaged with the perimeter weighting member, and a third portion that is curved. The one or more of the support brackets are engaged with a rear surface of a striking face and a perimeter weight member of the golf club head. The one or more support brackets are at least partially located in a rear cavity of the golf club head. The support brackets provide structural integrity to a thin striking face on the golf club head. Additionally, a discretionary weight is engaged with the at least one of the support brackets at the toe portion of the golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2009Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Robert Boyd, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Adam D. Liber
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Patent number: 7938741Abstract: A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a face component having a face and a flange, a crown-plate attached to the flange, a sole-plate attached to the flange, a skid-plate attached to the sole-plate, a swing-weight member, and a plurality of removable weight members with each of the plurality of weight members positioned within a pocket of the plurality of pockets.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2010Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: D. Clayton Evans
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Patent number: 7938740Abstract: 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 16, 2006Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Cobra Golf, Inc.Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Gregory Haralson, Scott A. Rice, Allan Saliba
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Publication number: 20110092306Abstract: Golf putters comprising features that assist in locating a directly overhead view of the putter heads include sight aligning marks, sight aligning notch, rods and plates are disclosed. Putter heads with interchangeable mirror, weight and sighting attachments designed for quick release and replacement are described with interconnected attachment mounting faces. The combination of threaded aperture, apertures in the attachments and screws requiring the use of tools releasably interconnect the mirror attachment, sighting attachment or weight attachment to the putter head. Openings or contours are described that assist the golfer in estimating the distance between the golfer and a hole or cup on the green. Methods of customizing, calibrating or indicating in golf putters to individual golfers are also disclosed, including the use of weights to alter the weight distribution of in the putter head.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2009Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Michael Lee, Mark Kenworthy
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Patent number: 7927229Abstract: In one embodiment, a golf club head comprises a body comprising a first material, a front end, a rear end, a bottom wall portion, a top wall portion, and a first aperture into the first material and located in a wall surface of the bottom wall portion. The golf club head also comprises a first insert comprising a second material different than the first material and located in the first aperture. The golf club head comprises a club head mass; the first insert comprises an insert mass, the club head mass comprises the insert mass; the insert mass comprises more than half of the club head mass; the first insert comprises less than half of a volume of materials of the golf club head; and the materials of the golf club head comprise the first material and the second material. Other examples and related methods are described herein.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric J. Morales, Bradley D. Schweigert, Anthony D. Serrano
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Publication number: 20110070970Abstract: The present invention relates to a customizable golf club head with a chamber for adjustable weight component(s). The invention consists of a golf club head with at least one weight chamber; and at least one weight component that is capable of flexible compression whose outer dimensions are slightly greater than the inner dimensions of said weight chamber, can be compressed to embed in the club head weight chamber, and can be taken out to be changed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Inventor: WU WAN
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Publication number: 20110045921Abstract: A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a face component having a face and a flange, a crown-plate attached to the flange, a sole-plate attached to the flange, a skid-plate attached to the sole-plate, a swing-weight member, and a plurality of removable weight members with each of the plurality of weight members positioned within a pocket of the plurality of pockets.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2010Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventor: D. CLAYTON EVANS
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Patent number: 7892109Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having improved flexural stiffness properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. The main portion of the hitting face is a plate-like face made from a first material having a first density. A dense insert made from a second material having a second density that is greater than the first density is attached directly or indirectly to the plate-like face at or near the geometric center thereof. The dense insert increases the flexural stiffness of in a central zone of the hitting face so that a golf club head that has a larger zone of substantially uniform high initial ball speed. In another embodiment, the hitting face includes an insert that includes main plate and at least one wing extending therefrom. The insert is welded to the golf club head so that the main plate does not deflect separately from the remainder of the hitting face. The geometry of the insert controls the stiffness in the axial directions.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2009Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Scott A. Rice, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 7892110Abstract: A training apparatus for temporarily increasing the weight of a golf club head has a body member having a perimeter profile which may at least partially mimic that of the golf club head and has a substantially flat surface for positioning adjacent the striking face of the golf club head. When fixed to the head of a golf club, the training apparatus increases the weight of the club and redistributes the center of gravity closer to the club head, allowing the golfer to benefit more from warm-up swings prior to actual play. The training apparatus may be formed of metal and contains a cutout or cavity in which a magnetic material resides to enable temporary attachment to the club head. In various other embodiments, the body member of the training apparatus may be substantially formed from either all metal or all magnetic material.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2007Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Inventor: Frank John Bertolino, Jr.
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Publication number: 20110039634Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including a fixed portion proximal to the ball striking face, and a removable weight portion, which is configured to be coupled with the fixed portion on a side of the crown portion away from the ball striking face. The club head body may further include an interior portion with a frame member defined therein. The crown weight may further include a weight member attached to the frame member, the weight member including at least one receptacle defined therein. The removable weight portion may further include at least one weight insert supported within the weight member in the at least one receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, William F. Rauchholz, John T. Stites
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Patent number: 7883431Abstract: There is provided a golf club head capable of increasing carry on average even if being used by an amateur golfer who is prone to hit a ball with various hit points across the clubface. A golf club head 1 has a face part 2, a crown part 3, a sole part 4, a side part 5, and a hosel part 6, which are formed of titanium or a titanium alloy. The golf club head 1 is formed by integrating a head body 10 and a face plate 30 with each other by welding such as laser welding or plasma welding. A thick part 20 is provided only in the central portion in the toe-heel direction of the cross corner portion between the face part 2 and the sole part 4. The width in the toe-heel direction of the thick part 20 is 20 mm or narrower.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2007Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., LtdInventors: Hideo Matsunaga, Makoto Kubota, Masaomi Hiruta
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Publication number: 20110028237Abstract: A weight adjusting structure of a golf club head comprises a 360-degree rotatable rotary table installed in a body of a golf club head, wherein the rotary table is combined with an incomplete annular weight block at a peripheral portion on an arbitrary side thereof, so that the rotary table and the weight block form a rotary table assembly whose weight orientation can be adjusted. The weighted rotary table assembly installed in the body of the golf club head can be used to adjust a distribution of different weights around 360 degrees, whereby a preferred location of the club head's gravity center can be set according to a golfer's swing posture and a location of the club head's gravity center the golfer is used to.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: COBRA GOLF, INC.Inventors: Ming-Ching Liang, Tien-Ken Liang, Scott A. Rice, Thomas C. Morris, Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 7878924Abstract: The present invention is directed at a quick release connection system to facilitate customization of golf clubs. It can be used to interchange shafts, removable weights, or soleplates quickly and easily. Teeth are disposed on the inside of a frame so that a shaft may be inserted with minimal resistance, but cannot be removed without specific steps which may require the use of a simple tool. Strengthening and interlock devices are provided to ensure performance quality akin to traditional golf clubs.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2009Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Cobra Golf Inc.Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 7878919Abstract: A golf club head includes a face plate and a body member positioned rearwardly of the face plate and having at least two body components. Each of a plurality of apertures is formed in one of the face plate and the body components. At least one fastener extends through at least two of the apertures, the fasteners being configured to removably secure the face plate and the body components together upon being turned a portion of a revolution.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2008Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Mark J. Perry, Megan Sesslar Moore, Matthew S. Young, David M. Walters