In Vertical Bore Access By Sole Patents (Class 473/338)
  • Publication number: 20150011328
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a club head body, a channel, and a recessed port. The club head body defines an interior cavity, a sole defining a bottom portion of the body, a crown defining a top portion of the body, a skirt portion defining a periphery of the body between the sole and crown, a face defining a forward portion of the club head, and a hosel defining a hosel bore. The channel is positioned in the sole of the club head and extends into the interior cavity, substantially in a heel-to-toe direction. The recessed port is positioned in the sole and extends into the interior cavity. The recessed port has a port width, and is located proximate a bottom end of the hosel such that a passage in the bottom end provides communication between the hosel bore and the recessed port. A golf club is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher John Harbert, Todd P. Beach, Matthew David Johnson, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Michelle Penney, Marc Kronenberg, Matthew Greensmith, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20150011327
    Abstract: A golf club 2 includes a head 4 and a shaft 6. A face 5 includes a sole s4 and a grounding member X1. The sole s4 includes a plurality of attaching portions r1. The grounding member X1 can be fixed to each of the plurality of attaching portions r1. A face angle can be varied depending on an attached position of the grounding member X1. Preferably, the golf club 2 further includes a non-grounding member X2. Preferably, the non-grounding member X2 can be fixed to each of the attaching portions r1. Preferably, attached position of the non-grounding member X2 does not influence the face angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Kiyofumi MATSUNAGA, Naruhiro MIZUTANI
  • Patent number: 8926449
    Abstract: According to an aspect of this invention, a golf club head includes: a head main body; and a weight material detachably mounted in a weight material mounting portion in the head main body, an external screw thread on the weight material meshing with an internal screw thread in the weight material mounting portion, wherein: the weight material comprises a head portion having the external screw thread and a rod portion which projects from the head portion; and the internal screw thread is provided on an entrance side and a cylindrical portion is provided on a deeper side for engagement with the rod portion in the weight material mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumiaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20150005097
    Abstract: A golf club includes a golf club head provided with a first hole and a second hole on its bottom side, a shaft detachably fixed to the golf club head, a weight member comprising a first weight member and a second weight member each detachably fixed to the golf club head, and a faster including a first fastener for fixing the shaft and the first weight member to the golf club head through the first hole, and a second fastener for fixing the second weight member to the golf club head through the second hole. The first weight member and the second weight member are configured as mutually replaceable weights so that the first weight member is fixed to the second hole using the second fastener and the second weight member is fixed to the first hole using the first fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Yuki MOTOKAWA
  • Patent number: 8915797
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an iron-type golf club head having a body and at least one weight disc having a first diameter, the body having a sole with a first recess, which comprises a first bore having a second diameter, a second bore having a third diameter, and a shelf located between the first bore and the second bore, the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter and greater than the third diameter, the first bore is sized to receive the at least one weight disc, the at least one weight disc rests against the shelf, and the at least one weight disc is secured within the first bore. The sole may further comprise second, third, and fourth recesses, each of which may have a first bore, a second bore, and a shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Justin Kuhar, Joseph Mehren, Irina Ivanova, Bradley C. Rice, Scott R. Manwaring, Brandon D. DeMille, Patrick Dawson
  • Patent number: 8911302
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an iron-type golf club head having a body with at least one sole pocket and a cap sized to at least partially close the sole pocket. The pocket is bounded on one side by a face plate, which is only partially affixed to the body via welding, and may be completely or partially filled with the cap. The cap, which can be made of multiple materials having different densities, is located within the pocket such that one or more gaps are disposed between the cap and the sidewalls of the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Irina Ivanova, Bradley C. Rice, Scott R. Manwaring, Brandon D. DeMille
  • Patent number: 8900069
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. Embodiments include club heads for a fairway wood that at least one of a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity, a thin crown and a high coefficient of restitution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Matthew David Johnson, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Michelle Penney, Marc Kronenberg, Matthew Greensmith, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8888607
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. Embodiments include club heads for a fairway wood that at least one of a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity, a thin crown and a high coefficient of restitution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Harbert, Todd P. Beach, Matthew David Johnson, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Michelle Penney, Marc Kronenberg, Matthew Greensmith, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8876633
    Abstract: An intersection point between a shaft axis Z1 and a sole surface 18 is defined as S1. A point S2, a point S3, and a point S4 are set on the sole surface 18. An intersection point between a straight line passing through a center of gravity of the head and being perpendicular to the horizontal plane and the sole surface 18 is defined as G1. A point R1, a point R2, a point R3, and a point R4 are set on the sole surface 18. A section A1 and a section A2 are set based on the points. An angle between the shaft axis Z1 and a ground plane is defined as ?. The angle ? exists so that at least a point belonging to the section A1 and at least a point belonging to the section A2 are brought into contact with the ground plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Kiyofumi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8876630
    Abstract: A golf club head of an iron type includes a face plate part for hitting a ball, which has a cavity part on the back side thereof; a sole part; a hosel part for connecting the head to a shaft; a viscoelastic body made to adhere to the back face of the face plate part, the viscoelastic body including a board-shaped part located on the back face of a central portion of the face plate part and extending parts extending from the board-shaped part to the toe side and the heel side of the head; and a cover plate lapping over the viscoelastic body, the cover plate including a concavity for accommodating the board-shaped part of the viscoelastic body and concave lines for accommodating the extending parts of the viscoelastic body. The cover plate has an opening, and a part of the viscoelastic body is exposed through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaharu Takechi
  • Patent number: 8858362
    Abstract: A golf club head having a face component, a crown, and a sole or a 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 sole or body patch, and each of the weight ports includes an upper edge, a lower edge, and a wall having a variable thickness and varying radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Mark Leposky, Bradley C. Rice, William C. Watson, Patrick Dawson, Irina Ivanova
  • Patent number: 8834293
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to golf clubs and golf club heads that enable users, club fitters, club manufacturers, and the like to selectively control, change, and customize aspects of the “sound” associated with the golf club and golf club head when it strikes a golf ball. Golf clubs and golf club heads according to this invention may include: a) a club head body; b) a ball striking face engaged with or integrally formed as part of the club head body; c) a hosel member engaged with or integrally formed as at least a portion of the club head; and d) means for changing a sound emanated by the club head when a golf ball contacts the ball striking face. A user may change the vibrational characteristics associated with the club head when a golf ball is struck, thereby changing the sound emanating from the club head when a golf ball is struck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Thomas, Tyrone Northcutt
  • Patent number: 8834294
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a golf club head comprising a body having a crown, a sole, a front will and a hosel, wherein the body defines a hollow interior. The golf club head further comprises a center of gravity height adjustment assembly wherein the center of gravity height adjustment assembly is positioned within the hollow interior of the body. The center of gravity of the golf club head can be adjusted approximately 0.050 inch and 0.100 inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: James A. Seluga, Patrick Dawson
  • Publication number: 20140256465
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Nathan T. Sargent, Todd P. Beach, Kraig Alan Willett, Christopher John Harbert
  • Patent number: 8821313
    Abstract: An iron-type golf club head comprising a high strength face plate with a face support is disclosed herein. In particular, the face plate is affixed to a perimeter region and to a face support that extends upwards from the sole proximate a front opening. The face plate preferably is welded to the perimeter region and brazed to the face support to optimize the sound and feel of the golf club head while preserving the strength of the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Patrick Dawson, Sean Griffin, Brett Carter, Irina Ivanova
  • Patent number: 8790195
    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 may comprise one or more adjustable features such as weight bars, weight screws, weight cartridges, and adjustable sole members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew Myers, Wayne H. Byrne, Larry Tang
  • Patent number: 8784232
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric J. Morales, Bradley D. Schweigert, Anthony D. Serrano, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Publication number: 20140179459
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion and a heel portion that together form a two-piece body and for which a center of gravity is defined. The body comprises a central portion as a first piece and a frame as a second piece. The frame encloses a substantial portion of the central portion within an XY-plane. The central portion is connected with the frame with fasteners along at least the front portion. The moment inertia of the club head about a z-axis of the center of gravity is between about 7,000 kg·mm2 and about 14,000 kg·mm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Chris Schartiger, Peter L. Larsen
  • Patent number: 8758165
    Abstract: A golf club having features that permit easy customization by consumers is disclosed herein. The golf club includes at least one weight port, a ribbon, at least one removable weight port ring, and at least one removable ribbon insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Gold Company
    Inventors: Craig E. Abbott, Catherine Brookshire, Tim Goudarzi, Scott Manwaring
  • Patent number: 8753226
    Abstract: A golf club head having a face component, a crown, and a composite sole or a composite body patch with one or more weight ports for receiving one or more weight inserts is disclosed herein. At least part of each of the weight ports is integrally formed in the composite sole or composite body patch, and each of the weight ports includes an upper edge, a lower edge, and a wall having a variable thickness and varying radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Bradley C. Rice, William C. Watson, Patrick Dawson, Irina Ivanova
  • Patent number: 8753222
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. Embodiments include club heads for a fairway wood that at least one of a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity, a thin crown and a high coefficient of restitution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Matthew David Johnson, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Michelle Penney, Marc Kronenberg, Matthew Greensmith, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8753225
    Abstract: A golf club having features that permit easy customization by consumers is disclosed herein. The golf club includes at least one weight port, at least one removable weight port insert, which may be a weight port ring or one or more weight port medallions, and at least one weight screw. The weight port of the golf club head preferably is non-circular and asymmetric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Craig E. Abbott, Kevin Weejoung Kim, Bradley C. Rice, Irina Ivanova, Patrick Dawson, William C. Watson
  • Publication number: 20140162808
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void. The golf club head may further have support structures and adjustable weight members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Yoshimasa Fujita
  • Patent number: 8747250
    Abstract: A golf club head with a club head body having an external surface with a heel portion, a toe portion, a crown portion, a sole portion, and a front opening is described. A face insert support structure is located at the front opening. The support structure includes a peripheral member and a rear support member. The rear support member has a front surface and a rear surface. A face insert is attached at the front opening and closes the front opening of the body. An undercut fill structure is attached to a portion of the rear surface of the rear support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, John Francis Lorentzen, Hsiang Lee
  • Patent number: 8721472
    Abstract: An adjustable golf club incorporates instructions into the golf club, and more particularly, in connection with the club head. More specifically, encoded information is visibly provided on the club head, the encoded information relating to the performance of the club head. In addition to the encoded information, a decoder or device for interpreting the encoded performance information is also provided on the club head. The encoded information, in conjunction with the decoder, allows the golfer to easily adjust his or her club head based on playing conditions or his or her swing. Typically, the encoded information relates to a weight of the club head, and may be used to vary the weight of the club head. A method of configuring a putter-type golf club head adaptable to a plurality of configurations is described, as well as a kit for selectively configuring components of a golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Jimmy Kuan, Christopher R. Cooper, Michael Sandoval, Adam K. Sheldon, Edward Mendoza
  • Patent number: 8708838
    Abstract: A golf club with a new innovative construction to attach a high density weight to an external surface of the sole of a golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention relates to utilizing a thickened sole portion having a specific surface area to thickness ratio to provide adequate support for a high density weight having a significant amount of mass. The new innovative method of attachment also incorporates a unique mechanical lock to properly secure the high density weight to the club head, as materials used for high density weighting may not be easily weldable to the titanium material currently used for metalwood type golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gentry Ferguson, Takeshi Casey Funaki, Keisuke Yamane
  • Publication number: 20140106901
    Abstract: A golf club head is provided with a body that has an address position with a zero degree bounce portion on the sole and a center sole position with a multi-relief surface of the sole having a negative bounce portion. The negative bounce portion may comprise a negative 0.5 to a negative 4.0 degree surface. In one embodiment, the multi-relief surface may comprise the negative bounce portion and a cutaway portion extending to the back of the sole, which may have a depth of about 0.05 to 0.5 inch from a regular sole surface. In another embodiment, the golf club head includes a weight system to adjust the center of gravity. In one embodiment, the weight system is a tube having a weight at one end that may be inserted into the golf club head to move the center of gravity at least forward and backward within 6 mm and up and down within 6 mm. Preferably, the tube is angled downward toward the face by at least 3 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Michael Scott Burnett, Daniel S. Callinan, Christopher D. Harvell, Jeffrey W. Meyer, Stephen S. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8696488
    Abstract: A length adjustment system for joining a golf club head to a shaft is provided. The length adjustment system may be utilized to produce a minor length and an intermediate length of a golf club. In a minor length configuration, the length adjustment system includes a shaft sleeve attached to an end of the shaft. The minor length configuration also features a minor length weight system. The intermediate length configuration further includes a first hosel sleeve and an intermediate length weight system. The length adjustment system results golf club that has similar characteristics in each configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Jason Sulak
  • Patent number: 8690706
    Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a sole portion, wherein the sole portion includes a slot or rail defined therein; and (c) a weight member at least partially located within the slot or rail. The weight member may be mounted at plural positions along the slot or rail (optionally at least partially within a weight cartridge member provided with the club head body). The weight member also may be movably engaged with the weight cartridge member, slot, rail, and/or other portion of the club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making and using such golf clubs and golf club heads also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Eric A. Larson
  • Patent number: 8684863
    Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a weight member secured to a weight mount. The weight member is preferably constructed so that it has a low profile and so that it interacts with an angled abutment portion of the weight mount to locate the weight member in the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Stephanie Bezilla, Gery M. Zimmerman, Darryl C. Galvan
  • Patent number: 8663029
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. 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: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Joseph Henry Hoffman, Scott Taylor, Sang S. Yi
  • Patent number: 8663030
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: D. Clayton Evans
  • Publication number: 20140024475
    Abstract: A recess 14 is formed in a sole 9 of a head 4. The recess 14 is an example of an opening part. A socket 10 is mounted to the recess 14. A weight body 12 capable of being attached/detached is attached to the socket 10. The weight body 12 has an engaging part 32 and an exposed part E1. The socket 10 has an interposition part 11. The interposition part 11 is interposed in at least a part between the exposed part E1 and a head body h1 in an attached state where the engaging part 32 is placed at an engaging position EP. The exposed part E1 is exposed to the outside in the attached state. The interposition part 11 does not fix the weight body 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Yuki MOTOKAWA
  • Patent number: 8616991
    Abstract: A golf putter head with a front portion comprising traditional shape and appearance, with an integral face insert extending through the head to an alignment and weighting portion extending beyond the main body of the putter, adding improved alignment, increased moment of inertia (MOI) and adjustable weighting and adjustable balance and optimizable center of percussion. The putter head comprises a central face insert portion extending through the body and above the traditional weight flange, with mass relieved portions below the top of the alignment piece in order to receive one or more optional weights, and the upper side of the rearwardly extending portion being engraved or marked with various alignment indicia, and the whole through-head insert face portion and rearwardly extending portion being affixed to the base portion of the head at least in part with threaded fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Billings
  • Publication number: 20130337938
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head for a metal wood type club. The club head includes a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a rear, a crown, a sole and a centerline extending from the ball striking face to the rear. The sole includes a substantially horizontally-oriented sole surface extending rearwardly from the ball striking face to the rear. A first insert-receiving feature is located to a heel-side of the centerline, and a second insert-receiving feature is located to a toe-side of the centerline. The first and second insert-receiving features are substantially symmetrically located with respect to the centerline. The first and second insert-receiving features have substantially mirror-images shapes with respect to the centerline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd
  • Patent number: 8608589
    Abstract: A golf club with a new innovative construction to attach a high density weight to an external surface of the sole of a golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention relates to utilizing a thickened sole portion having a specific surface area to thickness ratio to provide adequate support for a high density weight having a significant amount of mass. The new innovative method of attachment also incorporates a unique mechanical lock to properly secure the high density weight to the club head, as materials used for high density weighting may not be easily weldable to the titanium material currently used for metalwood type golf club head. The present invention's mechanical lock mechanism utilizes a protruding extension stemming from an internal surface of the weight and an attachment socked located within an internal cavity of the golf club head to engage one another to help secure the weight to the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Gentry Ferguson, Keisuke Yamane, Stephanie Bezilla
  • Patent number: 8591352
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Tomoya Hirano
  • Publication number: 20130303304
    Abstract: According to an aspect of this invention, a golf club head includes: a head main body; and a weight material detachably mounted in a weight material mounting portion in the head main body, an external screw thread on the weight material meshing with an internal screw thread in the weight material mounting portion, wherein: the weight material comprises a head portion having the external screw thread and a rod portion which projects from the head portion; and the internal screw thread is provided on an entrance side and a cylindrical portion is provided on a deeper side for engagement with the rod portion in the weight material mounting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fumiaki SATO
  • Patent number: 8550934
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: D. Clayton Evans
  • Patent number: 8540588
    Abstract: A golf club head having a face component, a crown, and a composite sole or a composite body patch with one or more weight ports for receiving one or more weight inserts is disclosed herein. At least part of each of the weight ports is integrally formed in the composite sole or composite body patch, and each of the weight ports include a weight receiving region for receiving a weight and a screw receiving region for receiving a screw that secures the weight in the weight port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventors: Bradley C. Rice, William C. Watson, Patrick Dawson, Irina Ivanova
  • Publication number: 20130210542
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. Embodiments include club heads for a fairway wood that at least one of a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity, a thin crown and a high coefficient of restitution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8491413
    Abstract: A metal golf club head that allows a user to customize the location of the center of gravity. The metal golf club head comprises a hollow body with a weighting port. The weighting port allows a user to place weighting material inside the hollow body, customizing the location of the center of gravity, the swing weight, the total weight, and the balance of the golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Billings
  • Publication number: 20130184099
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void. The golf club head may further have support structures and adjustable weight members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Nike,Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry Jones, Frank Fujita
  • Patent number: 8485919
    Abstract: A golf club head having a face component, a crown, and a composite sole or a composite body patch with one or more weight ports for receiving one or more weight inserts is disclosed herein. At least part of each of the weight ports is integrally formed in the composite sole or composite body patch, and each of the weight ports include a weight receiving region for receiving a weight and a screw receiving region for receiving a screw that secures the weight in the weight port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Bradley C. Rice, William C. Watson, Patrick Dawson, Irina Ivanova
  • Publication number: 20130165255
    Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a weight member secured to a weight mount. The weight member is preferably constructed so that it has a low profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Stephanie Bezilla, Gery M. Zimmerman, Darryl C. Galvan
  • Patent number: 8444506
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: William C. Watson, Martin Peralta, Patrick Dawson, Irina Ivanova, Bradley C. Rice
  • Patent number: 8430763
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. Embodiments include club heads for a fairway wood that at least one of a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity, a thin crown and a high coefficient of restitution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Matthew David Johnson, Nathan T. Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Michelle Penney, Marc Kronenberg, Matthew Greensmith, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8414422
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Martin Peralta, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 8388465
    Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a weight member secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the 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 weight member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Noah De La Cruz, Charles E. Golden, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 8382607
    Abstract: A length adjustment system for joining a golf club head to a shaft is provided. The length adjustment system may be utilized to produce a minor length, an intermediate length, and an extended length of a golf club. In a minor length configuration, the length adjustment system includes a shaft sleeve attached to an end of the shaft. A retainer releasably secures the shaft and shaft sleeve to the golf club head. The minor length configuration also features a minor length weight system. The intermediate length configuration further includes a first spacer, a first hosel sleeve, and an intermediate length weight system. The extended length configuration further includes a second spacer, a second hosel sleeve, and an extended length weight system. The length adjustment system incorporates the discovery of unique relationships among its components so that the resulting golf club has similar characteristics in each configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Jason Sulak