Embedded In Head Patents (Class 473/335)
  • Patent number: 7281991
    Abstract: A hollow golf club having a hosel sleeve weight made from tungsten material in the upper hosel area and a tungsten toe plug in the lower toe portion of the club head. This combination creates an increase in the moment of inertia of the club head about the x, y and z axes of the club head. A composite core is bladder molded into a cavity in the club head to provide support for a relatively thin front face and the composite core is visible on the rear surface of the club head. The core material is less dense and has greater flexibility than the front face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Tomas Diaz, Christopher R. Kays
  • Patent number: 7281988
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body with a striking plate that has a front side for striking a golf ball and a rear side. A vibration-absorbing area is defined behind the striking plate. At least one gas cushion is mounted in the vibration-absorbing area and includes a bladder defining a gas chamber. The bladder is made of an elastomeric material, and the gas chamber is filled with at least one gas to provide the at least one gas cushion with compressibility. The at least one gas cushion includes an engaging section with which at least one weight member is engaged. The at least one weight member and the at least one gas cushion together adjust a center of gravity of the golf club head while absorbing residual vibrations generated as a result of striking a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Nelson Precision Casting Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Ching Hou
  • Patent number: 7278927
    Abstract: A golf club head (42) having a delta of the coefficient of restitution between a geometric face center of the face (72) and a location (806) 0.5 inch sole-ward from the face center that is less than 0.065. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Evan D. Gibbs, Ronald K. Hettinger, Luke R. Williams
  • Patent number: 7258625
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Michael F. Kelly, Hitoshi Kodama, Tsuneo Takano
  • Patent number: 7244191
    Abstract: A putter-type club head (20) having a body (22) that is preferably composed of a material having a density ranging from ranging from 2.0 g/cm3 to 3.0 g/cm3. and a plurality of mass members (56, 58 and 60). The body (22) has a plurality of mass ports (50, 52 and 54) for placement of the plurality of mass members (56, 58 and 60) therein. The body (22) preferably has a heel aperture (34) and a toe aperture (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Larry G. Tang, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Publication number: 20070155534
    Abstract: A golf club head with dual weighted parties having fixing structure is provided, which includes a body, a first weighted part having a fastening portion, and a second weighted part with two fixing portions on side of two ends and a joining portion at the bottom part. The body has a cavity for the first weighted part to be fastened and a snapping portion at the bottom of one side surface. The second weighted part uses the fixing portion and the joining portion to respectively snap with the snapping portion of the body and embed in the fastening portion of the first weighted part, such that the first weighted part and the second weighted part are fixed in the body, thus, the golf club head achieves preferred weighting effect and damping function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Chia-Jen Tsai, Te-Fu Hsiao
  • Publication number: 20070149316
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a main body provided with at least two holes and detachable parts attached to said holes, the detachable parts including a weight member and a damper, the weight member having a specific gravity larger than the main body, the damper having a specific gravity different from the weight member and made of elastic material at least partially for absorbing a vibration of the main body, and the damper and the weight member being attached to the holes of the main body so that each position can be exchanged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventor: Takumi Nishino
  • Patent number: 7232380
    Abstract: A golf club head has a ratio of a head mass to a head volume equal to or grater than 3 g/cm2, and a face portion that includes an impact surface is configured by a member made from an aluminum alloy having a maximum tensile strength equal to or greater than 600 MPa. The aluminum alloy is made by using a rapid quenching method. The golf club head can improve the carry distance and the flight direction characteristics of a hit golf ball compared with a conventional golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norihiko Nakahara
  • Patent number: 7186190
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Bing-Ling Chao, Mark Greaney, Marc Kronenberg, Thomas Olsavsky, Benoit Vincent, Ian Wright, Kraig Willett, Gery Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 7175541
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body and at least one transparent cover. The body includes a striking face for striking golf balls and a hosel for coupling with a shaft. The body includes a crown in which at least one opening is defined. A perimeter delimiting the opening includes a stepped portion. The transparent cover is securely mounted to the opening of the crown. The transparent cover is made of a transparent material having a specific gravity smaller than 1.5 g/cm3 for reducing a weight of the crown of the golf club head and for shifting a center of gravity of the golf club head downward and rearward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Fu Sheng Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lai-Fa Lo
  • Patent number: 7169060
    Abstract: A golf club head (42) having more than 50% of a volume forward of a center of gravity and more than 50% of a mass rearward of the center of gravity is disclosed herein. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Daniel M. Stevens, Luke R. Williams, Larry G. Tang, Ronald K. Hettinger, Michael Hallack, Evan D. Gibbs, Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett
  • Patent number: 7166041
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) with an adjustable weight member (50) is disclosed herein. The weight member (50) is preferably positioned within a recess (40) of the golf club head (20). The weight member (50) is moved to a desired location and locked in place using a locking mechanism. The weight member (50) is preferably composed of a material having a greater density than the density of the material of a body (22) of the golf club head (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: D. Clayton Evans
  • Patent number: 7163468
    Abstract: A golf club head (42) having a standard deviation of coefficient of restitution of less than 0.226 is disclosed herein. The golf club head (42) also preferably has a delta of the coefficient of restitution between a geometric face center of the face (72) and a location (806) 0.5 inch sole-ward from the face center that is less than 0.065. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Evan D. Gibbs, Ronald K. Hettinger, Luke R. Williams, Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett
  • Patent number: 7153220
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having at least one recessed portion for securely receiving at least one weight member. The weight member includes a lid with a plurality of protrusions respectively received in receiving portions of the recessed portion. At least one of the protrusions has a weight different from those of other protrusions. The lid has a symmetric shape the same as that of the recessed portion of the body, allowing the lid to be mounted in the recessed portion in one of at least two orientations that correspond to at least two different locations of a center of gravity of the golf club head, thereby allowing rapid change in the center of the gravity of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Fu Sheng Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lai-Fa Lo
  • Patent number: 7147576
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head has a face portion, a sole portion, a side portion, a crown portion, and a hosel portion. A main portion of the crown portion is made of fiber reinforced plastic. At least the face portion and the front edge portion of the crown portion continuing to the face portion are made of metal. A circumferential edge portion of the crown portion made of fiber reinforced plastic is joined to the rear end surface and the internal surface of the metal front edge portion of the crown portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Imamoto, Katsumi Iida
  • Patent number: 7147573
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) with an adjustable weight member (50) is disclosed herein. The weight member (50) is preferably positioned within a recess (40) of the golf club head (20). The weight member (50) is attached to a cable (42) and moved to a desired location and locked in place within a recess (40). The weight member (50) is preferably composed of a material having a greater density than the density of the material of a body (22) of the golf club head (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. DiMarco
  • Patent number: 7121956
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body including at least one compartment, at least one positioning member removably mounted in the at least one compartment, at least one weight member mounted in at least one the positioning member, and at least one retaining member for retaining the at least one weight member in the at least one positioning member. The weight member is concealed in the compartment of the body to provide a good appearance while simplifying polishing procedure and allowing easy replacement of the weight member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Fu Sheng Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lai-Fa Lo
  • Patent number: 7108609
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed that includes weight positioning system for modifying a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. The weight positioning system includes a weight and a support. The weight is independently movable along the support to change the position of the center of gravity in a first direction, and the weight is independently movable around the support to change the position of the center of gravity in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John Thomas Stites, Gary Gene Tavares
  • Patent number: 7077763
    Abstract: The present invention resides in a perimeter-weighted, iron-type golf club head incorporating one or more internal chambers. The golf club head has a face plate defining a striking face of the club head and a body having an annular mass disposed behind the striking face. The annular mass extends about a periphery of the face plate defining an external cavity on a rear side of the face plate. The annular mass includes a top portion extending along a top edge of the face plate, a toe portion extending along a toe edge of the face plate, a heel portion, and a bottom portion. At least one internal chamber is located adjacent to the top edge, as defined by the top portion of annular mass. The club head also includes a weight member disposed in a recess defined by the bottom portion of the annular mass. The internal chamber, or a selected number of a plurality of internal chambers defined by the annular mass, can be filled to further manage the weight distribution of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bret Wahl, Marni Ines
  • Patent number: 7074132
    Abstract: A golf putter is formed with a clubhead including a striking face, added weight along the bottom at the rear of the clubhead to form a soleplate and weight added to the toe and heel portions. Secured to the back side of the clubhead is a weight support member. An elongated weight member secured to the weight support member is centered thereon and extends parallel to the striking face. In one alternative embodiment the weight is concealed in a cavity within the clubhead with its support member secured to a separate striking face member. In another embodiment, the weight member is faired into an open cavity open to the rear of the clubhead and spaced from the walls of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventor: Charles A. Finn
  • Patent number: 7048647
    Abstract: An iron type golf club head includes a plurality of weights mounted at a rear side thereof in a spatially laminated array. The club head includes a front impact face oriented at a selected loft angle for striking a golf ball, and a rear side having an integrally formed weight frame protruding rearwardly therefrom. The weight frame defines a plurality of peripheral or perimeter grooves disposed in generally fore-aft spaced relation and adapted to receive and support weights of selected mass. In a preferred form, each weight includes one or more weight elements seated within the associated groove to wrap substantially about the entire periphery of the weight frame, with an outboard marginal edge of each weight element being visible from the exterior of the club head. Abutting ends of the weight element or elements within each groove may be interconnected end-to-end as by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: BGI Acquistions,LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Burrows
  • Patent number: 7048639
    Abstract: A golf putter head has a generally triangular shape where a ball-striking leading wall has a first breadth greater than a second breadth of a trailing wall. The leading wall and trailing wall are interconnected at their respective opposite ends by sidewalls that converge toward one another and define a cavity having a trapezoidal shape. The center of gravity of the golf putter head is closer to the trailing wall than the leading wall so that a moment of inertia is generated that reduces the effects of missing a sweet spot on the leading wall during a putt. In a second embodiment, the trailing wall is weighted to move the center of gravity still closer to the trailing wall. In a third embodiment, a web interconnects the leading and trailing walls along a longitudinal axis of the golf putter head, dividing the cavity into two equal-sized cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: MacGregor Golf Company
    Inventor: Robert M. Grace
  • Patent number: 7025692
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft-body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The face component (60) is composed of a metal material, and the aft-body (61) is composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of magnesium alloys, aluminum alloys, magnesium and aluminum. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has an aspect ratio less than 1.7. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has concentric regions of thickness with the thickness portion in the center (102). The club head (42) has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate portion (72) surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Joel B. Erickson, J. Andrew Galloway, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 6974394
    Abstract: A putter-type club head (20) has a body (22) that is preferably composed of a material having a density ranging from ranging from 2.0 g/cm3 to 3.0 g/cm3. The body (22) has a plurality of mass ports (50, 52 and 54) and a plurality of mass members (56, 58, and 60), each of which is located in a respective mass port. The body (22) further includes a heel aperture (34) and a toe aperture (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Larry G. Tang, Augustin W. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 6929563
    Abstract: A golf club head has a head body, filler fixedly attached to the head body 1 by press fitting into a recess portion of the head body, and a back weight disposed on the rear surface side of the filler and fixedly attached to a sole portion of the head body. Titanium, titanium alloys, aluminum, aluminum alloys and magnesium alloys are preferable as the filler. The back weight may be made of the same material as the head body or may be made of metal higher in specific gravity than the head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masafumi Nishitani
  • Patent number: 6926615
    Abstract: A golf putter head with a heel end and a toe end includes a face member arranged for impacting a golf ball. A rear member extends in an arcuate path from one end of the face member to the other end of the face member. The face member and the rear member are made of a low density material such as carbon fiber. A first plurality of three weight members is disposed in the rear member, and each of these three weight members is each made of high density material, such as tungsten. A second plurality of two weight members is disposed in the face member, and each of these weight members is also made of high density material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Souza, Anthony D. Serrano, John A. Solheim, David D. Jones, Eric J. Morales, John P. Fife, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6896627
    Abstract: A golf club head. The golf club head includes a recession on a rear surface of a striking plate. A weight is embedded into the recession. The striking plate is punched or welded on the golf club head to thereby form a gap between a sole plate of the golf club head and the weight combined with the rear surface of the striking plate. The golf club head includes a finishing surface of the striking plate and a surface of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Fu Sheng Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Ching Hou
  • Patent number: 6896625
    Abstract: A golf putter head of triangular shape. A ball-striking leading wall has a first breadth greater than a second breadth of a trailing wall. The leading and trailing walls are interconnected at their respective opposite ends by sidewalls that converge toward one another. A web interconnects the leading and trailing walls along a longitudinal axis of the golf putter head. A first embodiment may include a trailing copper weight and side wall aluminum weights. A second embodiment may include three copper weights, a third embodiment may include three copper-tungsten weights, and a fourth embodiment may include three tungsten weights. The weights are removable so that a putter having a low swingweight or a high swingweight can be brought up to or down to a standard swingweight. The weights may also be mixed in the second, third, and fourth embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: MacGregor Golf Company
    Inventor: Robert M. Grace
  • Patent number: 6881158
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a golf club head body and a weight member. The golf club head member has a recession in which the weight member is mounted. The weight member is securely mounted in the recession of the golf club head body by a welding procedure that uses a welding material. The weight member is made of a material having a melting point higher than that of the golf club head body, avoiding melting of the weight member during the welding procedure. Only a portion of the golf club head body fuses with the welding material while using the welding material for proceeding with the welding procedure for the weight member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Fu Sheng Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shun-Fa Yang, Chan-Tung Chen, Yan-Zheng Su
  • Patent number: 6855069
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising of a top, a sole, a toe, a heel, a front plate having a front and rear side, and an extended back portion integral with the sole and the rear side defining a cavity wherein the extended back portion is integral with the rear side between the top and the sole of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Nagai, David G. Llewellyn
  • Publication number: 20040259664
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft-body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The face component (60) is composed of a metal material, and the aft-body (61) is composed of a non-metal material such as a composite material or a thermoplastic material. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has an aspect ratio less than 1.7. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has concentric regions of thickness with the thickness portion in the center (102). The club head (42) has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate portion (72) surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches. The golf club head (42) has a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: James M. Murphy, Herbert Reyes, Peter L. Soracco, Matthew T. Cackett, J. Andrew Galloway, Richard C. Helmstetter, Augustin W. Rollinson, Alan Hocknell
  • Publication number: 20040248665
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) having a body (22) with a front wall (30) with an opening (32) and a striking plate insert (40) is disclosed herein. The body (22) is preferably composed of a light weight material such as a magnesium alloy or an aluminum alloy. A ribbon (28) of the body (22) has a recess (52) therein for placement of a rear weighting member (50). The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) preferably has a mass between 105 grams and 300 grams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: Joel B. Erickson, D. Clayton Evans, Matthew T. Cackett, J. Andrew Galloway, Herbert Reyes, Alan Hocknell
  • Publication number: 20040214657
    Abstract: A golf club head manufacturing method comprises steps of: forming a recession on a rear surface of a striking plate; punching a predetermined specification of a weight to thereby embed it into the recession; punching or welding the striking plate on the golf club head to thereby form a gap between a sole plate of the golf club head and the weight combined with the rear surface of the striking plate; and finishing on a surface of the striking plate and a surface of the golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: Fu Sheng Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Ching Hou
  • Publication number: 20040192466
    Abstract: The performance of a golf club may be enhanced through the provision of a void space behind a face plate and above the sole plate, to decrease club weight and provide single or combinations of selectable weighting elements within volumetric coordinates of an orthonormal matrix about the void space. The weighting coordinates are provided in response to ball strike, flight analysis and physiologic observation of the golf strike swing. Ball backspin, trajectory, penetration and hook or slice may be modified through the use of a definable weighting strategy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: John P. Gillig
  • Patent number: 6776727
    Abstract: Several features are combined to provide a balanced putter, which assists a player in perfecting a putt stroke during practice and repeating it with the same club during play. The clubhead is substantially symmetric around the shaft and has tapered top and bottom surfaces such that the angle of the shaft relative to the sole of the putter is no more than 80 degrees. The shaft is attached at the center of the clubhead, and the clubhead and shaft are arranged so that the center of gravity of the clubhead strikes the center of the golf ball. The clubhead has a playing surface on one face that is parabolic and can be flat in the extreme. The clubhead has a practice surface on the other face that is curved, preferably elliptical, to assist the golfer in learning the proper stroke. The putter conforms to the Rules of Golf so that the player does not have to change clubs between practice and play. The club may be used for a right- or left-handed stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Duane Charles John Engdahl
  • Patent number: 6773361
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a metal head member, a weight element of smaller specific gravity attached to the upper portion and another weight element of greater specific gravity attached to the lower portion of the head member, to lower the center of gravity of the head member. One or more weight members may be selectively attached to the head member by the users themselves, in order to further adjust the head member to different center of gravity. The head member includes a screw hole formed in either or both of the rear and the front portions to tread with the weight member, and to adjust the center of gravity of the head member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: Chia Wen Lee
  • Publication number: 20040152533
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a non-putting iron-type golf club head having an improved striking face configuration comprising of a non-pear like shaped contour but rather a substantially symmetrical shaped one. The striking face extends to the intersection with the top face creating a top line trailing edge, wherein this edge extends from the heel to the toe and is substantially symmetrical in shape. All score lines on the striking face are symmetrical too. A theoretical vertical centerline, positioned in-line with the geometric center of the striking face and an equal distance from the toe and the heel edges. Various methods are employed to position the center of gravity of the total mass of the club head in positioned along the theoretical vertical centerline. This equates the mass of the head portion towards the heel and that of the toe as divided by the vertical centerline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: Joseph Sery
  • Publication number: 20040142761
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) having a body (22) with a front wall (30) with an opening (32) and a striking plate insert (40) is disclosed herein. The body (22) is preferably composed of a light weight non-metal material. A ribbon (28) of the body (22) has a recess (52) therein for placement of a rear weighting member (50). The golf club head (20) has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) has a mass between 105 grams and 300 grams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: D. Clayton Evans
  • Publication number: 20040138002
    Abstract: A golf club head for a driver has a slot that extends from the toe portion around the rear portion to the heel portion of the head. The club head is fabricated from a titanium alloy that is compressed to create the slot, which improves club head structural integrity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Murray
  • Patent number: 6743112
    Abstract: A golf putter head having a visual alignment aid includes a face member and a back body both of which may be selected from a plurality of differently configured face members and back bodies. The face member has a front surface, a top ledge, a rear surface, and a visual alignment aid comprising a rear edge parallel to the front surface. The rear edge is defined by the intersection of the rear surface and the top ledge. The back body comprises a flange portion that extends rearwardly and has an upper surface that is displaced below the top ledge. The face member and back body are selected from materials having contrasting colors so that the rear edge of the face member is contrasted against the background of the back body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Michael J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6739983
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an interchangeable aft body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61), which is attached to the return portion (74) of the face component (60), is selected from a plurality of aft-bodies, each having a different center of gravity location. Each of the aft-bodies (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64), and at least one weight member (122) for adjusting location of the center of gravity. An aft-body (61) is selected from the plurality of aft-bodies (61) based on its center of gravity location, so as to provide the club head (40) with a center of gravity location suited to a particular golfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Helmstetter, Matthew T. Cackett, Alan Hocknell, Augustin W. Rollinson, J. Andrew Galloway
  • Patent number: 6739982
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The face component (60) is composed of a metal material, and the aft-body (61) is composed of a non-metal material such as a composite material or a thermoplastic material. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has an aspect ratio less than 1.7. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has concentric regions of thickness with the thickness portion in the center (102). The club head (42) has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate portion (72) surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches. The golf club head (42) has a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: James M. Murphy, Herbert Reyes, Peter L. Soracco, Matthew T. Cackett, J. Andrew Galloway, Richard C. Helmstetter, Augustin W. Rollinson, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 6695714
    Abstract: An iron-type golf club head includes a body having a front face arranged for impact with a golf ball, a heel end, a toe end and a beveled sole. The beveled sole has leading and trailing edges with a ridge located between them. The beveled sole includes a primary surface and a secondary surface, both of which vary in width from the heel end to the toe end. The primary surface is located between the leading edge and the ridge, and the secondary surface is located between the trailing edge and the ridge. The primary surface has a first width dimension adjacent the heel end, a second width dimension measured along a center line located substantially between the heel and toe ends, and a third width dimension adjacent the toe end. The first and third width dimensions of the primary surface are less than the second width dimension of the primary surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Bliss, David L. Petersen, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Publication number: 20030220155
    Abstract: A golf club head is a hollow head made of metal, preferably titanium or a titanium alloy. The golf club head has a face portion, a crown portion, a sole portion, a side portion, and a hosel portion. A thin and small plate made of metal is fixedly attached to the internal surface of the sole portion on the toe side so as to be in tight contact with the internal surface. The thin and small plate made of metal preferably has a thickness of 0.2 mm-1.2 mm, particularly 0.4 mm-1.1 mm, more particularly 0.5 mm-1.0 mm, and a weight of 0.5 g-1.5 g, particularly 0.6 g-1.0 g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masafumi Nishitani
  • Patent number: 6645086
    Abstract: A golf club head is constructed to include a hollow casing molded from a compound material, an L-shaped thin sheet of metal packing plate and a cover plate. The casing has a front face, a bottom face, a back face, a toe, a heel, a neck, and a top open side. The packing plate is fixedly fastened to the front face and bottom face of the casing, thereby forming a face panel and a sole for the golf club head. The cover plate is fixedly fastened to the casing and covered the top open side of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Arthur C. C. Chen
  • Patent number: 6638183
    Abstract: A golf club with a further lowered center of gravity, while retaining an excellent external appearance. A head body 2A is provided with a shaft attachment portion 5 and a recess portion 8 formed in a portion corresponding to a face 4. A face member 6 is provided in the recess portion 8. An balance weight 7 is provided in a through-hole 13 formed in a sole portion 12 of the head body 2A in the longitudinal direction. Thus, the balance weight 7 is effectively arranged in the sole portion 12 which is formed the thickest in an iron head 2 so that not only the volume of the balance weight 7 but also the weight thereof can be increased. Hence, the strength of junction can be insured without using screws and pins, keeping the external appearance from being impaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: K.K. Endo Seisakusho
    Inventor: Hitoshi Takeda
  • Publication number: 20030144074
    Abstract: A golf club is modified by substantially hollowing out the entire portion or a predominant portion of the club head before purchase. The placement of the position of the weight can now be placed to increase or decrease clockwise spin, counterclockwise spin, and backspin of the golf ball propelled by the club. If the purchaser's golf swing changes, the golfer can get fitted for a new sole plate insert to adjust the weight to achieve a more desirable ball spin for an improved flight of the golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: John P. Gillig
  • Publication number: 20030069081
    Abstract: A golf putter club comprising: a putter head having a first ball striking face formed between a toe end and a heel end; a second ball striking face formed on said toe end, said second ball striking face narrower than said first ball striking face; a shaft attached closer to the heel end of said putter head, said shaft having a grip of circular cross section, said shaft shaped to allow a player to address a ball with said second putting face by aligning said second putting face by manually rotating the putter toe counterclockwise by 90 degrees from the first gripping position when a player is in a right handed stance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventor: Man Young Jung
  • Patent number: 6533679
    Abstract: A golf club head, wherein the head comprises a front striking face, a back plate, a toe wall, a heel wall, and a sole plate, configured to form an interior cavity; a hosel and a bore for receiving a shaft; at least one chamber formed inside the interior cavity by a plurality of wall members and one of the front striking face, back plate, toe wall, heel wall, and sole plate; a weight member disposed within the chamber; and a filler material juxtaposed the weight member and the wall members forming the cavity such that the weight member is isolated from the wall members and is securely held within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Terrill R. McCabe, Peter J. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 6524196
    Abstract: A method of forming patterns, trademarks and balance weight in a golf club head includes fabricating a rough working piece of the club head which has a trough located at a lower portion and reverse recesses for selected patterns and trademarks located at an upper portion thereof. Then fill and stuff the trough and recesses with a metallic material different from the club head that has a lower melting point (such as copper powder). Thereafter the stuffed recesses and trough and rough working piece of the club head are heated until the stuffed metallic material melted to form a strong binding with the rough working piece. Then grinding the rear side of the stuffed patterns and trademarks to expose the patterns and trademarks. The stuffed material in the trough becomes a balance weight. Finally to engage a hitting plate with a front circumferential edge of the trough to form a finished club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Inventor: Wang-Chiu Yeh