Having Particular Sole Plate Patents (Class 473/344)
  • Patent number: 11904217
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a crown surface having an apex at a highest point and extending between the face, the rear, the heel and the toe of the golf club head. The golf club head also includes a plurality of crown turbulators projecting from the surface of the crown and located between the face and the apex, wherein each adjacent pair of crown turbulators is separate and spaced apart to define a space between the adjacent pair of crown turbulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Erik M. Henrikson, Paul D. Wood, John Hart, Marty R. Jertson, Ryan M. Stokke, Xiaojian Chen, Matthew W. Simone, Yujen Huang
  • Patent number: 11517797
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as an iron-type golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface and a rear surface, and a body connected to the face. The body has a sole member and a rear cavity defined at least partially by the sole member and the rear surface of the face. The body has an elongated, recessed channel extending within the cavity along a juncture line between the rear surface of the face and the sole member. Additionally, the head is formed in part by a face member having a first leg forming at least a major portion of the face and a second leg extending rearwardly from a bottom end of the first leg and forming at least a portion of the sole member. The head may further be formed by a body member connected to the face member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Robert M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 11358039
    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: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Patent number: 11338180
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a first portion joined to a second portion to at least partially define an interior club head volume. The first portion includes a wall defining an outer boundary of the club head volume, and a support rib extending from the wall to operatively stiffen the first portion. The second portion of the golf club head can engage the support rib, and the support rib can be adhered to the second portion to join the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Joshua Boggs
  • Patent number: 11164171
    Abstract: An iron-type golf club and a method of creating the iron-type golf club including the steps of forming a club head blank having an external sacrificial region with an ESR thickness, an ESR sole portion, an ESR face portion, and an ESR leading edge portion. A finished club head is formed having a finished club head weight of less than 310 grams by machining off an ESR removed mass from at least a portion of the external sacrificial region including at least a portion of the ESR sole portion, a portion of the ESR face portion, and a portion of the ESR leading edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: D. Clayton Long, Peter Barker
  • Patent number: 11071894
    Abstract: A ball striking device has a head that includes a metal face configured for striking a ball, a rearwardly extending metal band, a top piece, and a bottom piece. The metal band has a first end extending from one side of the face, a second end extending from the opposite side of the face, and a rear portion extending between the first and second ends and defining at least a portion of the rear periphery of the head. The top piece and the bottom piece are non-metallic or substantially non-metallic. The top piece is connected to the top side of the metal band and forms at least a portion of a top side of the head, and the bottom piece is connected to the bottom side of the metal band and forms at least a portion of a bottom side of the head. The top piece and the bottom piece are separated by the metal band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: David S. Lee
  • Patent number: 10806980
    Abstract: The golf club head has a body including a hosel, topline, face and a back section, an opening in the body provided between the back section and the face, and a sole member provided to mate with the opening where the sole member has a sole portion, a bend portion and a bridge portion connecting the sole portion to the bend portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Hebreo, Grant M. Martens, Oswaldo Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 10722764
    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 a first interior cavity portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a bottom portion, a rear portion, a front portion having a face portion, and a plurality of ports in the bottom portion. The plurality of ports may include a first set of ports, a second set of ports, and a third set of ports. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 10420990
    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 a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a bottom portion, and a top portion. The golf club head may also include inner support portions and a plurality of ports. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Parsons Xtreme Golf, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Patent number: 10384105
    Abstract: The golf club head has a body including a hosel, topline, face and a back section, an opening in the body provided between the back section and the face, and a sole member provided to mate with the opening where the sole member has a sole portion, a bend portion and a bridge portion connecting the sole portion to the bend portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Hebreo, Grant M. Martens, Oswaldo Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 10357698
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and being defined by a plurality of peripheral edges, a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the peripheral edges of the face, and a sole member connected to the sole of the body. The sole member may be removably connected to the sole, which can permit removal and replacement with another sole member having a different property. The sole member may additionally or alternately be movably connected to the sole, which can permit adjustment of the sole member, such as to change the lie angle of the head. The sole member may be at least partially received in a receiver in the sole and may form at least a portion of the lowermost surface of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, William F. Rauchholz
  • Patent number: 10279224
    Abstract: A multiple-material golf club head with an improved scarf joint between the crown and the body, and a method of finishing said golf club head is disclosed herein. The golf club preferably has a metal body comprising a striking face, a sole, a return portion, a bond flange, and a rear flange, and a composite crown having a scarf region, a step portion, and a constant thickness region directly behind the scarf region. The golf club is manufactured by providing a club head with a bond flange, providing a composite crown with a scarf region delineated by a front edge and a step portion and/or groove, bonding the scarf region to the bond flange to form an upper golf club head surface, and grinding the upper golf club head surface only from a location proximate the front edge to a location proximate the step portion and/or groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Brian Webb, Brandon D. DeMille, Dominic LeBlanc, Patrick Dawson, William C. Watson, Bradley C. Rice
  • Patent number: 9950222
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating a club head having a stress reducing feature located at least partially on the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Patent number: 9643065
    Abstract: Golf clubs and/or golf club heads include a club head body defining an interior chamber, structure for engaging a shaft with the body, and/or a shaft engaged with the body. The club head body may have an overall length of at least 4.5 inches and an overall breadth of at least 4.2 inches. In other examples, the club head body may have an overall length of at least 4.6 inches and a ratio of the overall breadth dimension to the overall length dimension of 1 or less. If desired, the ratio of the head breadth to head length dimensions may be in a range from at least 0.94 to 1 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Patent number: 9597563
    Abstract: An adjustable golf club is disclosed. The adjustable golf club can include a club head having a sole. The sole of the club head may have two or more tracks located thereon. Each track can be configured to receive at least one weight. The two or more tracks may be three tracks. The three tracks can comprise an elongated central track, a first short track disposed on a first side of the elongated central track, and a second short track disposed on the second side of the elongated central track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Mizuno USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Voshall, David Llewellyn, Kazuya Ishida, Tetsuya Kanayama, Kei Tsuji
  • Patent number: 9561411
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body having a crown portion, a face portion, and a sole portion; at least one regular weight member configured to be detachably attached to the sole portion; and a cover kit configured to be detachably attached to the sole portion. The cover kit includes a cover provided with a decoration and configured to cover at least a portion of the sole portion, and optionally includes at least one auxiliary weight member configured to be attached to the cover. A weight of the cover kit is the same as the weight of the regular weight member. The sole portion is configured to selectively be in one of a first mode in which the regular weight member is attached, and a second mode in which the cover kit is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Naruhiro Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9095752
    Abstract: Golf clubs and/or golf club heads include a club head body defining an interior chamber, structure for engaging a shaft with the body, and/or a shaft engaged with the body. The club head body may have an overall length of at least 4.5 inches and an overall breadth of at least 4.2 inches. In other examples, the club head body may have an overall length of at least 4.6 inches and a ratio of the overall breadth dimension to the overall length dimension of 1 or less. If desired, the ratio of the head breadth to head length dimensions may be in a range from at least 0.94 to 1 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Patent number: 9033813
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and being defined by a plurality of peripheral edges, a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the peripheral edges of the face, and a sole member connected to the sole of the body. The sole member may be removably connected to the sole, which can permit removal and replacement with another sole member having a different property. The sole member may additionally or alternately be movably connected to the sole, which can permit adjustment of the sole member, such as to change the lie angle of the head. The sole member may be at least partially received in a receiver in the sole and may form at least a portion of the lowermost surface of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, William F. Rauchholz
  • Patent number: 9028342
    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 and a sole. The sole includes a forward sole surface and a rearward sole surface. The substantially horizontally-oriented forward sole surface extends rearwardly from the ball striking face to a rearward edge. The substantially horizontally-oriented rearward sole surface extends forwardly from the rear of the club head. The rearward sole surface extends over and is offset in a height direction from the rearward edge. A cavity may be located above the forward sole surface, the cavity having a rearward facing opening located below the rearward sole surface. A projection may extend rearwardly from the rearward edge beneath the rearward sole surface, the projection having sides that extend in a generally breadthwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Raymond J. Sander
  • Patent number: 8998746
    Abstract: A body member has a face plate and a first engaging member. A sole plate has a second engaging member, the first and second engaging members being interlocked with one another. A layer of resilient material is disposed between the first engaging member and the second engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Kenneth Brown
  • Patent number: 8986134
    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. A system having a golf club head with an insert-receiving feature and multiple interchangeable inserts configured for being received within the insert-receiving feature is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd
  • Patent number: 8986133
    Abstract: A golf club head including a crown, a sole, a hosel, a face and a flexure. The flexure provides compliance during an impact between the golf club head and a golf ball, and is tuned to vibrate, immediately after impact, at a predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Stephanie Bezilla, Richard L. Cleghorn, Uday V. Deshmukh, Noah de la Cruz, Darryl C. Galvan, Charles E. Golden, Marni Ines, John Morin, Stephen S. Murphy, Mark C. Myrhum, Gery Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8979673
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with weight redistribution channels are described herein. Other examples and related embodiments are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Eric J. Morales, Eric V. Cole, Jeffrey A. Blankenship
  • Patent number: 8956248
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60), an aft body (61), and a sound modifying sole and crown design is disclosed herein. The face component, which may be composed of a metal material, (60) has a striking area portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61), which may be composed of a non-metal material such as composite or thermoplastic material, is composed of a crown portion (62) and a sole portion (64). The sound modifying design, which may include deep pockets or pillars extending from the sole portion (64) to the crown portion (62), alters the sound of the golf club head (42) when it impacts a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Brandon D. DeMille, Matthew T. Cackett
  • 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
  • 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: 8870679
    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: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew G. V. Oldknow
  • Patent number: 8840485
    Abstract: A modular golf club includes a plurality of components that are removably coupled so that the physical attributes of the golf club head may be tuned. The inventive golf club head includes a body member and at least one of a removable sole member and a removable face member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Douglas C. Jorgensen, Helene S. Hipp, Ryan L. Roach, Peter L. Soracco, Eddie Perez
  • Patent number: 8790196
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with apertures and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Solheim, Eric J. Morales, Erik M. Henrikson, Eric V. Cole, Paul D. Wood, Bradley D. Schweigert, Martin R. Jertson, Tyler A. Shaw
  • Patent number: 8777774
    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: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Wee Joung Kim, Homer E. Aguinaldo, James A. Seluga
  • Patent number: 8764579
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head according to this invention includes a face portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion, and is formed by connecting a plurality of shell members to each other. This golf club head includes a rib which is provided in the sole portion and used to adjust an impact sound. The plurality of shell members are divided using at least the rib as a boundary. The plurality of shell members include a rib forming shell member including a sole portion forming portion which forms part of the sole portion, and a rib forming portion which stands upright from the end of the sole portion forming portion and forms the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wataru Ban
  • Patent number: 8715108
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at a quick release connection system to facilitate customization of golf clubs. It can be used to interchange soleplates quickly and easily. Teeth are disposed on the inside of a frame so that a soleplate may be inserted with minimal resistance, but cannot be removed without specific steps which may require the use of a simple tool. Strengthening and interlock devices are provided to ensure performance quality akin to traditional golf clubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Karl Clausen, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 8702534
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60), an aft body (61), and a sound modifying sole and crown design is disclosed herein. The face component, which may be composed of a metal material, (60) has a striking area portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61), which may be composed of a non-metal material such as composite or thermoplastic material, is composed of a crown portion (62) and a sole portion (64). The sound modifying design, which may include deep pockets or pillars extending from the sole portion (64) to the crown portion (62), alters the sound of the golf club head (42) when it impacts a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Brandon D. DeMille, Matthew T. Cackett
  • 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: 8668599
    Abstract: A golf club iron having a head center of gravity that is low and forward enough to provide a better swing, good striking and swinging feel, and improved ball flight is disclosed. The iron has a recess in a leading edge region and a high density insert disposed within the recess to achieve the desired center of gravity location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew T. Cackett, Brandon T. Vincent
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8579728
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with weight redistribution channels are described herein. Other examples and related embodiments are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Morales, Eric V. Cole, Jeffrey A. Blankenship
  • Patent number: 8562459
    Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60), an aft body (61), and a sound modifying sole and crown design is disclosed herein. The face component, which may be composed of a metal material, (60) has a striking area portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61), which may be composed of a non-metal material such as composite or thermoplastic material, is composed of a crown portion (62) and a sole portion (64). The sound modifying design, which may include deep pockets or pillars extending from the sole portion (64) to the crown portion (62), alters the sound of the golf club head (42) when it impacts a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Brandon D. DeMille, Matthew T. Cackett
  • Patent number: 8523705
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head with a concave portion is disclosed and claimed. The club head includes a metallic portion and a light-weight portion, which may be formed of plastic, composite, or the like. The concave portion allows the club designer to make a club head having very thin portions while still maintaining the requisite structural integrity. Convex bulges may optionally be provided to house weight inserts to enhance the playing characteristics of the golf club. The metallic portion of the club head may take on the appearance of a frame, into which several light-weight inserts are positioned. These light-weight inserts may be positioned in the crown, skirt, and sole of the club head. The club head may be formed by co-molding, eliminating the need for welding or adhesives, freeing mass to be used in more beneficial ways. The club head may be large to increase playability and forgiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Gregory Haralson
  • Patent number: 8496543
    Abstract: A golf club having a golf club head 20 with a keel zone that makes the actual face angle of the golf club appear differently when the golf club is at address. The golf club head 20 has a keel zone that is preferably 0.5 inch wide in the fore- aft direction and 1.0 inch wide in the heel-toe direction, which changes the appearance of the face angle while the golf club is at address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matt Cackett, Alan Hocknell
  • Patent number: 8491405
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a modular golf club. In particular, a golf club includes a plurality of components that are removably coupled so that the physical attributes of the golf club head may be tuned. The inventive golf club head includes a body member and at least one of a removable sole member and a removable face member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Douglas C. Jorgensen, Helene Rick, Ryan L. Roach, Peter L. Soracco, Eddie Perez
  • Patent number: 8403772
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at a quick release connection system to facilitate customization of golf clubs. It can be used to interchange soleplates quickly and easily. Teeth are disposed on the inside of a frame so that a soleplate may be inserted with minimal resistance, but cannot be removed without specific steps which may require the use of a simple tool. Strengthening and interlock devices are provided to ensure performance quality akin to traditional golf clubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Peter L. Soracco
  • 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: 8292757
    Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable weight member secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable weight member has a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the weight member to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable weight member. A weight member of the present invention may comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 8287400
    Abstract: Fairway wood-type golf clubs as described herein may include: (a) a club head with a volume of at least 300 cc; (b) a shaft member attached to the club head, wherein the golf club has a length between 37 and 43 inches; and (c) a grip or handle member attached to the shaft member. The club head may further include: (1) a ball striking face, wherein the ball striking face has a loft angle between 12 and 32 degrees; and (2) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, with a sole portion that includes a ground-engaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: James S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8262497
    Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable panel secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable panel may have a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the removable panel to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable panel. A removable panel of the present invention may generally comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density. Even further, the removable panel may generally be releasably attached via a quick disconnect mechanism that allows easy interchangeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 8182365
    Abstract: A golf club head according to this invention is a hollow golf club head including a face portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion. The sole portion includes a first region which starts from the boundary portion between the sole portion and the face portion, and a second region which is spaced apart from the boundary portion toward the back side, and is adjacent to the first region. The second region is thinner than the first region and a third region adjacent to the back-side periphery of the second region. The second region includes the position of an antinode of the primary vibration mode of the sole portion at the time of impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kozue Wada, Wataru Ban
  • Patent number: 8177657
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at a quick release connection system to facilitate customization of golf clubs. It can be used to interchange shafts, removable weights, or soleplates quickly and easily. Teeth are disposed on the inside of a frame so that a shaft may be inserted with minimal resistance, but cannot be removed without specific steps which may require the use of a simple tool. Strengthening and interlock devices are provided to ensure performance quality akin to tradition al golf clubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 8147354
    Abstract: A golf club head with multi-component construction. The golf club head includes a hollow body that is created from components constructed of different materials so that the weight distribution may be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradford Hughes Hartwell, Michael T. McDonnell, Ryan L. Roach, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 8105175
    Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable panel secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable panel may have a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the removable panel to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable panel. A removable panel of the present invention may generally comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density. Even further, the removable panel may generally be releasably attached via a quick disconnect mechanism that allows easy interchangeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco