Elongated Horizontal Bore Patents (Class 473/336)
  • Patent number: 12128281
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: 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, Kevin R. Harper
  • Patent number: 12102892
    Abstract: Some embodiments include club heads having reinforced club head faces. In one example, the club head comprises a variable face thickness profile with thickened and thinned regions. The face includes a thinned perimeter region positioned near a perimeter of the face, and a thickened central region positioned over a geometric center of the face. The club head further comprises a 360 undercut that extends along the entire perimeter of the face. The club head further comprises one or more reinforcement ribs to improve the frequency response during golf ball impacts. The combination of the thinned perimeter region, thickened central region, and 360 undercut reinforces the club head while permitting the face to bend. Other embodiments of related club heads and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Evan R. Greer, Jacob T. Clarke, Ryan M. Stokke, Cory S. Bacon, Eric J. Morales
  • Patent number: 12042702
    Abstract: An iron-type golf club incorporating an aperture extending through the shell on the sole. The location and size of the aperture selectively increase deflection of the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Bryan Seon, Jeffrey T. Halstead, Justin Girard
  • Patent number: 11980796
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having a toe region, a heel region, and a sole weight bar extending between the toe region and the heel region, a sole defining a toe segment, a medial segment, and a heel segment, and a face coupled to the body. A gap is arranged between the sole weight bar and a rear surface of the face. The gap extends around an outer periphery of the sole weight bar and is formed between the sole weight bar and the medial segment of the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Bryce W. Hobbs, Ryan L. Roach
  • Patent number: 11786785
    Abstract: A golf club head has a hollow portion therein. The golf club head includes a head main body comprising a striking face portion, a crown portion and a sole portion, the head main body being provided with a recess extending in a toe-heel direction of the club head on at least one of the crown portion and the sole portion, and a reinforcing rod being fixed to the recess and extending in the toe-heel direction of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 11752406
    Abstract: A weighted golf club is disclosed herein. More specifically, a golf club head includes a chassis with a heel opening and a toe opening defined therein. A heel weight member is disposed within the heel opening and a toe weight member is disposed within the toe opening. The heel weight member and the toe weight member are securely mechanically attached to the chassis by a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Oswaldo Gonzalez, Gery M. Zimmerman, Marni D. Ines
  • Patent number: 11691057
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having a recessed channel formed in an outer surface. A weight assembly that includes a weight at least partially disposed within the recessed channel, a cover extending at least partially over the recessed channel, and a fastener coupling the cover to the body. The fastener is adapted to retain the weight in the recessed channel only indirectly by the cover. The weight is slidably engaged with the cover and the cover is positionable in at least an unlocked configuration whereby the cover is raised at least partially out of the recessed channel and the weight is selectively slidable within the recessed channel, and a locked configuration whereby the cover is at least partially disposed within the recessed channel and the weight is secured within the recessed channel. The weight moves with the cover between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Mitchell E. Bac, Tyrone Northcutt, Takeshi Casey Funaki
  • Patent number: 11642576
    Abstract: In one embodiment the golf club head includes three main components, a frame component, a rear cap component, and a striking plate. In another embodiment the club head may also comprise a front component, which is manufactured as a single unitary piece, and a rear cap component. The front component may also be overmolded by a thermoplastic polymeric outer portion which may or may not cover the striking face and which provides additional reinforcement at the load bearing sections of the club head and allows a more facile connection to the rear cap component. In another embodiment, a club head having a main body, crown insert, sole insert and metal face plate frame is formed by forming the sole insert and crown insert from a polymeric material using a thermoforming or thermosetting process and then injection molding the main body over the sole insert, crown insert and metal face plate frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Reber Wester, Nathan T. Sargent, Joseph Reeve Nielson, Christopher John Harbert, Hong G. Jeon
  • Patent number: 11497974
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body, a recessed channel, and a weight assembly. The weight assembly has a weight, a cover, and a fastener coupling the cover to the body. The cover includes a first end, a second end, and a rabbet extending at least partially between the first end and the second end. The rabbet formed by at least two walls and sized and shaped to at least partially receive the weight and allow the weight to slide therein. One or more of the at least two walls have a retention rib extending therefrom. The retention rib is elongated in a direction between the first end and the second end and discontinuous in the elongated direction. The fastener is configured to move the cover between at least two positions, a first position whereby the weight is selectively slidable and a second position whereby the weight is secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Tyrone Northcutt, Takeshi Casey Funaki, Thomas Orrin Bennett
  • Patent number: 11439877
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having a recessed channel formed in the outer surface. A weight assembly that includes a weight disposed within the recessed channel and a cover extending over the recessed channel. A shelf is defined in the cover and slidably receives the weight. The weight assembly also includes a fastener coupling the cover to the body. The fastener is adapted to retain the weight in the recessed channel only indirectly by the cover. The cover is positionable in an unlocked configuration whereby the cover is raised at least partially out of the recessed channel and the weight is slidable within the shelf and the recessed channel, and a locked configuration whereby the cover is disposed within the recessed channel and the weight is secured within the recessed channel and the shelf. The weight moves with the cover between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Tyrone Northcutt, Thomas Orrin Bennett, Takeshi Casey Funaki
  • Patent number: 11439878
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having an outer surface with a recessed channel formed therein. A weight assembly that includes a weight at least partially disposed within the recessed channel, a cover extending over the recessed channel, and a fastener coupling the cover to the body. The fastener is adapted to retain the weight in the recessed channel only indirectly by the cover. The weight assembly is selectively positionable between at least three configurations: a first configuration where the weight is secured within the recessed channel; a second configuration where the weight is slidable within the recessed channel; and a third configuration where the weight is completely removable from the golf club head. The cover is coupled to the body in all three configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Richard Sanchez, Sang Yi, Stephanie Luttrell, Ryuichi Sugimae
  • Patent number: 11351427
    Abstract: A multi-material iron type golf club head is disclosed. More specifically, the golf club head may have a first metallic portion, a second metallic portion, and a lightweight portion. The first metallic portion and the second metallic portion collectively define all external surfaces of the golf club head. The lightweight portion may be located within an interior cavity of the golf club head and may contact and support the striking face, the topline portion, the rear wall portion, and the sole portion of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Grant M. Martens, Uday V. Deshmukh
  • Patent number: 11311781
    Abstract: Examples of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a body portion of a golf club head may include a cavity having an opening and an internal structure defined by a wall portion and a base portion. A hosel portion may include an insert portion and a neck portion extending therefrom. The hosel portion may be attached to the body portion by an interference fit between the neck portion and the opening of the cavity. The insert portion may be received inside the cavity and may be spaced apart from the internal structure of the cavity. A space between the insert portion and the internal structure of the cavity may be partially or entirely filled with an adhesive to hold the hosel portion in place. Other examples may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Caleb S. Kroloff, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 11278771
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a main body having a top portion, a bottom portion, a striking face, and an interior surface. A weight member is coupled to the interior surface of the main body. In an imaginary vertical plane that passes through the weight member, the interior surface of the main body comprises a first point and a second point. An imaginary line passes through the first point and the second point. A first imaginary boundary line and a second imaginary boundary line, both passing through the weight member and being perpendicular to the imaginary line, pass through the first point and the second point, respectively. Between the first point and the second point, the interior surface of the main body has an irregularity factor of at least 1.2 and the weight member comprises a distribution factor of at most 1.0 and a conformity factor of at most 0.07.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Sam G. Lacey, Dan S. Nivanh, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Dustin J. Brekke
  • Patent number: 11167183
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a metal frame having a sole opening, a composite laminate crown joined to the frame, a composite laminate sole insert joined to the frame and overlying the sole opening, and a thermoplastic composite component overmolded on the sole insert. The composite component may include a weight track, ribs, supports or other features. A method of making the golf club includes the steps of forming a frame having a sole opening, forming a composite laminate sole insert, forming a composite laminate crown insert, injection molding a thermoplastic composite head component over the sole insert to create a sole insert unit, and joining the sole insert unit and crown insert to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Harbert, Joseph Reeve Nielson, Nathan T. Sargent, Christian Reber Wester
  • Patent number: 11090536
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having a recessed channel formed in an outer surface. A weight assembly that includes a weight at least partially disposed within the recessed channel, a cover extending at least partially over the recessed channel, and a fastener coupling the cover to the body. The fastener is adapted to retain the weight in the recessed channel only indirectly by the cover. The weight is slidably engaged with the cover and the cover is positionable in at least an unlocked configuration whereby the cover is raised at least partially out of the recessed channel and the weight is selectively slidable within the recessed channel, and a locked configuration whereby the cover is at least partially disposed within the recessed channel and the weight is secured within the recessed channel. The weight moves with the cover between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Mitchell E. Bac, Tyrone Northcutt, Takeshi Casey Funaki
  • Patent number: 10981039
    Abstract: A main body of a golf club head includes a topline portion, a sole portion, a heel portion, a toe portion, a striking face defining a face plane, and a rear surface opposite the striking face. A track member is at least partially nonparallel to the face plane and extends across at least a portion of the rear surface. A weight member is translatable along the track member such that the golf club head has a first center of gravity (CG) defining a first CG depth when the weight member is located in a first position, and a second CG defining a second CG depth when the weight member is located in a second position farther from the striking face than the first position. The second CG depth is greater than the first CG depth, with the CG depth measured normal to the face plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Ripp, Christopher Cooper
  • Patent number: 10722767
    Abstract: A forged golf club face has a continuous outer layer of a first material encasing at least one inner layer made of second material. The materials may have differing properties, such as Young's Modulus, density, and strength properties, among others. By incorporating the different materials into the outer layer and the inner layer, the coefficient of restitution (COR) of the golf club face is improved without sacrificing durability. The club face is forged from a pre-formed billet having at least one monolithically encased inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventor: Uday V. Deshmukh
  • Patent number: 10716978
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, and a front portion. The golf club head may include an interior cavity. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 10688352
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a metal frame having a sole opening, a composite laminate crown joined to the frame, a composite laminate sole insert joined to the frame and overlying the sole opening, and a thermoplastic composite component overmolded on the sole insert. The composite component may include a weight track, ribs, supports or other features. A method of making the golf club includes the steps of forming a frame having a sole opening, forming a composite laminate sole insert, forming a composite laminate crown insert, injection molding a thermoplastic composite head component over the sole insert to create a sole insert unit, and joining the sole insert unit and crown insert to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Harbert, Joseph Reeve Nielson, Nathan T. Sargent, Christian Reber Wester
  • Patent number: 10646755
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed having a main body comprising a face portion, a top portion, a bottom portion opposite the top portion, a toe portion and a heel portion opposite the toe portion. The golf club head includes one or more slideably adjustable weights within one or more weight tracks and/or one or more interchangeable weights within one or more weight ports, the weights provided so as to adjust a center of gravity (CG) of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin David Kleinert, Mattieu J. Bovee, Joseph Reeve Nielson, Nathan T. Sargent, Christopher John Harbert, Rachel Elizabeth Gardner, Wester Reber Christian
  • Patent number: 10646759
    Abstract: A golf club head, including an adjustable weight system including a drive mechanism, a locking mechanism, and a weight, wherein the drive mechanism is rotatable about an axis of rotation, and the weight is slidable along an axis of translation, wherein the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the axis of translation at an interface of the drive mechanism and the weight, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein the weight comprises a plurality of cogs, wherein the plurality of teeth of the drive mechanism engage the plurality of cogs of the weight so that rotation of the drive mechanism about an axis of rotation forces the weight to translate along the axis of translation, wherein a component of the locking mechanism translates between an unlocked position and a locked position in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Cleghorn, Nick Frame, Mitchell E. Bac
  • Patent number: 10617921
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a weight and a head body defining a channel configured to receive the weight. A position of the weight within the channel is magnetically adjustable using an adjuster that is separate from the head body during use of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: ArcLine Research, LLC
    Inventors: Maximilian K. Busch, David M. Baranson
  • Patent number: 10596428
    Abstract: Disclosed is a golf club and a self-contained balancing mechanism for existing golf club. The golf club includes a shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion opposite to the proximal end portion; a grip attached to the proximal end portion of the shaft; a golf club head attached to the distal end portion of the shaft, the golf club head having a cavity formed therein; and a balancing mechanism adapted to be received within the cavity of the golf club head. The self-contained balancing mechanism comprises, a housing member, an elongated threaded member rotatably associated with the housing member, and a weighted member threadably engaged with the elongated threaded member. The rotation of the elongated threaded member moves the weighted member along the elongated threaded member to change a center of gravity of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Inventor: Clive Roy Rumble
  • Patent number: 10576337
    Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a weight member that is slidable in an elongate weight mount including a rail with or without a cover. The weight member is preferably constructed so that it is assembled in the weight mount and is locked by configuring the weight member to pinch the rail. The cover member can cover the weight, the weight mount, or even just an opening on the sole of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Sang Yi
  • Patent number: 10561911
    Abstract: Examples of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a rear portion, a front portion with a strike face, a sole portion, and a top portion with a plurality of weight ports. The body portion may define a periphery of the golf club head. The golf club head may also include a plurality of weight portions with each weight portion disposed in one weight port of the plurality of weight ports. Other examples and examples may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 10512829
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion having an interior cavity, a port connected to the interior cavity, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, a port, and a front portion having a perimeter ledge portion defining at least a portion of an outer boundary of the front portion. The example golf club head may also include a face portion having a front surface with at least one groove and a back surface opposite the front surface and associated with a total back surface area. The back surface may include a first back surface region associated with a first back surface area and a second back surface region associated with a second back surface area. The total back surface area may equal to the sum of the first back surface area and the second back surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Parsons Xtreme Golf, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 10507365
    Abstract: Golf club heads are described herein, and in one embodiment including a body with an exterior surface defining a first body volume of at least about 400 cm3. The body has a bottom portion, a top portion, a front portion, and a back portion. A face positioned at the front portion of the body and is configured to receive an impact. A top portion silhouette profile located along a perimeter of the top portion is further described. The top portion silhouette profile defines the outer bounds of the top portion in an X-direction and Y-direction. At least one indentation can be located on the bottom portion below the crown silhouette profile. The removal of the at least one indentation from the bottom portion can create a second body volume that is at least 12 cm3 larger than the first body volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett
  • Patent number: 10369427
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body, wherein the body comprises a cavity, wherein the cavity comprises an open end and a terminal end, the terminal end opposite the open end, an elongate weighted insert configured to reside in the cavity, the weighted insert having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the cavity is configured to receive the weighted insert through the open end, a head locking feature located at the open end of the cavity, an insert locking member comprising an insert locking feature configured to engage the head locking feature and lock the weighted insert in the cavity, a second head locking feature located at the open end of the cavity, wherein the insert locking member comprises a second insert locking feature configured to engage the second head locking feature and lock the weighted insert in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Richard Sanchez, Ryuichi Sugimae, Nick Frame, Scott A. Knutson, Thomas Orrin Bennett, Richard L. Cleghorn
  • Patent number: 10369437
    Abstract: A golf club head, including an adjustable weight system including a drive mechanism, a locking mechanism, and a weight, wherein the drive mechanism is rotatable about an axis of rotation, and the weight is slidable along an axis of translation, wherein the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the axis of translation at an interface of the drive mechanism and the weight, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein the weight comprises a plurality of cogs, wherein the plurality of teeth of the drive mechanism engage the plurality of cogs of the weight so that rotation of the drive mechanism about an axis of rotation forces the weight to translate along the axis of translation, wherein a component of the locking mechanism translates between an unlocked position and a locked position in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Cleghorn, Nick Frame, Mitchell E. Bac
  • Patent number: 10279233
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a face portion, a toe portion, a top portion, a sole portion, and a back portion. The golf club head may include an interior cavity. A port may be located on the body portion and connected to the interior cavity. The interior cavity may be filled with a polymer material from the port. A weight portion may be located on the body portion closer to the toe portion than the heel portion. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 10258839
    Abstract: A wood-type golf club head includes first and second ribs projecting from a bottom club head wall portion, the wall portion, the first rib, and the second rib forming an elongate recess defining a weight path. A weight element is translatable along the weight path and includes a first weight portion, a second weight portion, and a fastener, the first and second ribs each being interposed between the first weight portion and the second weight portion such that the first weight portion is located proximate the club head wall portion and the second weight portion is located distal the club head wall portion. The second weight portion has a contact surface that includes a recessed region, and when the weight element is in a secured position, at least a portion of the first weight portion is located within the recessed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Beck, Casey Casburn, John J. Rae, Aram Salehi
  • Patent number: 10207162
    Abstract: A forged golf club face has a continuous outer layer of a first material encasing at least one inner layer made of second material. The materials may have differing properties, such as Young's Modulus, density, and strength properties, among others. By incorporating the different materials into the outer layer and the inner layer, the coefficient of restitution (COR) of the golf club face is improved without sacrificing durability. The club face is forged from a pre-formed billet having at least one monolithically encased inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Uday V. Deshmukh
  • Patent number: 10183202
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a metal frame having a sole opening, a composite laminate crown joined to the frame, a composite laminate sole insert joined to the frame and overlying the sole opening, and a thermoplastic composite component overmolded on the sole insert. The composite component may include a weight track, ribs, supports or other features. The head may include a cast metal frame having a drop sole construction, polymeric crown insert and polymeric sole insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Harbert, Joseph Reeve Nielson, Nathan T. Sargent, Christian Reber Wester
  • Patent number: 10183203
    Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a weight member that is slidable in an elongate weight mount including a rail. The weight member is preferably constructed so that it is assembled in the weight mount and is locked by configuring the weight member to pinch the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Sang Yi, Richard L. Cleghorn
  • Patent number: 10173111
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body, a weight, a retaining element, and a cover. The head body defines an interior chamber. The weight is selectively received and repositionable within the interior chamber. The retaining element is positioned to selectively engage with the weight to secure the weight in a selected position. The cover is positioned to enclose the interior chamber of the head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: ArcLine Research, LLC
    Inventors: Maximilian Klaus Busch, David Marc Baranson
  • Patent number: 10099094
    Abstract: A golf club head, comprising a body having a center of gravity, wherein the body comprises a coordinate system with an x-axis located horizontal to the face, a y-axis located vertical to the face, and a z-axis located through the face; and a weight system configured to adjust the location of the center of gravity of the body, wherein the weight system comprises a plurality of weight channels formed in the body, an elongate adjustable weight configured to selectively reside in each of the plurality of weight channels, wherein the elongate adjustable weight comprises an aperture at a first end of the elongate adjustable weight, and a fastener configured to reside in the aperture and engage the body, wherein the fastener is configured to affix the elongate adjustable weight to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mark C. Myrhum, Stephen S. Murphy, Darryl C. Galvan
  • Patent number: 10071292
    Abstract: A co-forged iron type golf club is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses a co-forged iron type golf club with the body portion made out of a first material and at least one weight adjustment portion monolithically encased within the body portion of the co-forged iron type golf club head without the need for secondary attachment or machining operations. The present invention creates of an iron type golf club head from a pre-form billet that already contains two or more materials before the actual forging process resulting in a multi-material golf club head that doesn't require any post manufacturing operations such as machining, welding, swaging, gluing, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael Wu, Jonathan Hebreo
  • Patent number: 9993700
    Abstract: Golf club heads are described herein, and in one embodiment including a body with an exterior surface defining a first body volume of at least about 400 cm3. The body has a bottom portion, a top portion, a front portion, and a back portion. A face positioned at the front portion of the body and is configured to receive an impact. A top portion silhouette profile located along a perimeter of the top portion is further described. The top portion silhouette profile defines the outer bounds of the top portion in an X-direction and Y-direction. At least one indentation can be located on the bottom portion below the crown silhouette profile. The removal of the at least one indentation from the bottom portion can create a second body volume that is at least 12 cm3 larger than the first body volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett
  • Patent number: 9731172
    Abstract: A sporting apparatus includes a monitoring device. The monitoring device may add no weight to the sporting apparatus relative to a comparable sporting apparatus without the monitoring device. The monitoring device may have a center of gravity substantially aligning with the center of gravity of the sporting apparatus, resulting in a sporting apparatus with a monitor having substantially the same center of gravity as a comparable sporting apparatus without a monitor. The sporting apparatus monitor may be configured to trim unreliable post impact swing data and replace it with extrapolated pre-impact swing data and/or more reliable post impact swing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Keith Dolezel, Scott Carlyle, Michael J. Kline
  • Patent number: 9616304
    Abstract: A co-forged iron type golf club is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses a co-forged iron type golf club with the body portion made out of a first material and at least one weight adjustment portion monolithically encased within the body portion of the co-forged iron type golf club head without the need for secondary attachment or machining operations. The present invention creates of an iron type golf club head from a pre-form billet that already contains two or more materials before the actual forging process resulting in a multi-material golf club head that doesn't require any post manufacturing operations such as machining, welding, swaging, gluing, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Uday V. Deshmukh, Ronald K. Hettinger, Jonathan Hebreo
  • Patent number: 9616303
    Abstract: A co-forged iron type golf club is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention discloses a co-forged iron type golf club with the body portion made out of a first material and at least one weight adjustment portion monolithically encased within the body portion of the co-forged iron type golf club head without the need for secondary attachment or machining operations. The present invention creates of an iron type golf club head from a pre-form billet that already contains two or more materials before the actual forging process resulting in a multi-material golf club head that doesn't require any post manufacturing operations such as machining, welding, swaging, gluing, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael Wu, Jonathan Hebreo
  • Patent number: 9498686
    Abstract: 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 and/or moment of inertia by way of an adjustable weight assembly positionable along the sole of the club head body. When in a first position, the weight assembly provides a lower center of gravity so as to increase launch angle and reduce spin rate, resulting in greater overall distance of ball flight. When in a second position, the weight assembly provides a greater mass moment of inertia, which effectively enlarges the sweet spot and produces a more forgiving club for off-center hits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Andrew Curtis, Oswaldo Gonzalez, Scott H. Moreira, Douglas E. Roberts, Ryan L. Roach
  • Patent number: 9272194
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a back, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel and the crown. The sole includes a channel extending from the hosel region toward the toe. An insert is received within the channel. The club head further includes means for detachably securing the insert to the channel. A second insert configured for being received within the channel may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc
    Inventor: Andrew Oldknow
  • Patent number: 9238162
    Abstract: 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 and/or moment of inertia by way of an adjustable weight assembly positionable along the sole of the club head body. When in a first position, the weight assembly provides a lower center of gravity so as to increase launch angle and reduce spin rate, resulting in greater overall distance of ball flight. When in a second position, the weight assembly provides a greater mass moment of inertia, which effectively enlarges the sweet spot and produces a more forgiving club for off-center hits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Andrew Curtis, Oswaldo Gonzalez, Scott H. Moreira, Douglas E. Roberts, Ryan L. Roach
  • Patent number: 9095753
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a weight mount including a weight recess and a stud, wherein the weight mount is disposed on at least one of the sole, the crown and the skirt, and wherein at least a portion of the stud comprises external threads, a weight member comprising a non-circular shape, wherein a majority of the weight member is configured to reside in the weight recess of the weight mount, wherein the weight member includes a weight bore formed through the weight member, a nut including an internally threaded bore, the internally threaded bore configured to engage the stud of the weight mount, wherein at least a portion of the nut resides within the weight bore of the weight member, wherein the nut is rotatably coupled to the weight member, wherein the weight member comprises a snap ring groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Stephanie Bezilla, Richard L. Cleghorn, Thomas O. Bennett, Darryl C. Glavan
  • Publication number: 20150072802
    Abstract: A golf club head comprising a channel and an expandable weight that can be removably fixed at any point within the channel is disclosed herein. The weight comprises at least an upper portion, a lower portion, and a bolt, and preferably is formed of a metal material co-molded with a polymeric material such as rubber. The channel has an opening with a width that is less than the width of both an inner part of the channel and the weight, such that the weight cannot fall out of the channel during use. The channel may also have an end that opens into a port, which can be filled with a plug or weight screw to prevent the weight from falling out of the channel, and also can be removed so that the weight can be removed and replaced with another expandable weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew Myers, Wee Joung Kim
  • Patent number: 8968116
    Abstract: A golf club head with means for adjusting a center of gravity along more than one axis and means adjusting at least one of a characteristic selected from the group consisting of face angle, loft angle, and lie angle is disclosed herein. The golf club head comprises one or more adjustable features such as weight bars, weight screws, weight cartridges, and adjustable sole members, and preferably includes structural features such as pegs, teeth, and polymeric dampeners that serve to preload the one or more adjustable features on the golf club head and prevent or reduce unwanted vibrations when the golf club head is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew Myers, Wayne H. Byrne, Larry Tang
  • Publication number: 20150051012
    Abstract: A golf club head is provided 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. In another embodiment, the weight system may adjust the center of gravity of the golf club head along the x and z axis simultaneously using a weighted insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Darryl C. Galvan, Richard L. Cleghorn, Thomas Orrin Bennett, Mark C. Myrhum, Stephanie Bezilla, Eddie G. Perez, Richard Sanchez, Kenneth C. Scott, Stephen S. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8956243
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an iron-type golf club head having features that permit adjustment to the principal moment of inertia angle, the center of gravity location, turf interaction, loft, and overall club forgiveness. In particular, the golf club head includes a rear cavity sized to receive a weight cartridge composed of one or more materials, the adjustment of which changes one or more of the mass properties of the golf club head and also changes the interaction of the golf club head with turf during play. The weight cartridge may comprise one or more high density materials, and may be located in or proximate the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Wee Joung Kim, Homer E. Aguinaldo, James A. Seluga