Hollow Body Patents (Class 473/345)
With internal support rib or injected material (Class 473/346)
  • Golf club head with multi-material face
    Patent number: 8956247
    Abstract: A metal wood golf club with a striking face portion made from more than one material is disclosed. More specifically, due to the unique construction of the striking face portion having multiple materials, the present invention utilizes diffusion bonding, liquid interface diffusion, or even super plastic forming techniques to achieve the desirable bond between the more than one material used to form the striking face. The striking face portion is formed by adding a chip insert made from a secondary material that is different from the remainder of the striking face portion substantially near a geometric center of the striking face portion; wherein the secondary material has a higher Young's modulus than the remainder of the striking face portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: John Morin, Noah de la Cruz, Charles E. Golden, Uday V. Deshmukh
  • Striking face of a golf club head
    Patent number: 8956246
    Abstract: A golf club head with improved striking face performance is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head having a thickened central region surrounded by an internal and an external transition region; wherein the thickened central region has an inner perimeter that takes on a shape that substantially resembles the shape of an outer perimeter of the striking face of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mark C. Myrhum, Uday V. Deshmukh, John Morin, Noah de la Cruz, Christopher D. Harvell, Thomas Orrin Bennett
  • Golf club head
    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
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD
    Publication number: 20150045147
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head has a crown portion extending from a face portion and configured so as to generate good ball hitting sound. The crown portion is provided with a first region having a first thickness, a second region having a second thickness and a third region having a third thickness, wherein the third thickness is less than the second thickness which is less than the first thickness. The first region is disposed in a face portion side of the crown portion and extending in the toe-heel direction. The third region is disposed backward of the first region. The second region surrounds the third region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Hiroshi ABE
  • Golf club weight attachment mechanisms and related methods
    Patent number: 8951143
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club weight attachment mechanisms are described herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a head body with an interior cavity, a shell portion, and a bracket with a weight member coupled to the bracket. In one embodiment, the bracket and the weight member can be configured to be fully contained within the interior cavity. Other examples and related methods are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Morales, Martin R. Jertson
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD HAVING A COMPOSITE CROWN
    Publication number: 20150038262
    Abstract: A golf club head having a high COR that is durable and has desirable acoustic qualities. The club head includes a body portion, a striking face and a crown forming a hollow cavity of at least 150 cc in volume. The body portion defines a front opening and an upper opening, and it includes a sole and a side section that extends rearward of the front opening. The striking plate is secured to the body portion, enclosing the front opening. While partially assembled, final weighting and/or other attachment of other members to the inner surface of the club head can be preformed, as desired. The crown is secured to the body portion, enclosing the upper opening. A surface veil may also be provided about a junction of the crown and body. The crown has a maximum thickness no greater than about 2 mm. The density of the crown is less than the density of the body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Drew T. DeShiell, Kraig Alan Willett, Michael Scott Burnett, Benoit Vincent, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Golf Club Head Or Other Ball Striking Device Having Impact-Influencing Body Features
    Publication number: 20150038261
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball, a body connected to the face, an elongated, inwardly recessed channel located on the body and extending across a portion of the body, and an insert mounted within the channel. The insert includes a resiliently deflectable base member that engages the channel to retain the insert within the channel and a rigid outer member connected to the base member and forming at least a portion of the outer surface of the insert, where the outer member is made from a different material than the base member. Additionally, the insert has an outer surface that is substantially flush with at least one immediately adjacent surface of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Robert Boyd
  • Sole with a Shaft Adjusting Hole for a Gold Club Head
    Publication number: 20150031473
    Abstract: A sole with a shaft adjusting hole for a golf club head includes a recessed portion adjacent to a striking portion and a root of the gold club head. The recessed portion includes a shaft adjusting hole. The sole of the golf club head is a plate separate from the striking portion and a crown of the golf club head. The shaft adjusting hole includes a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending upward from the bottom wall. The peripheral wall includes a plurality of inclined plane faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Ching-Lin Wu
  • Golf club head with high specific-gravity materials
    Patent number: 8938871
    Abstract: Golf club heads comprising weighted materials that can be added, removed, and moved in order to change the weight and center of gravity of the club. In some instances, the weighted material is a polymer composition comprising metal and having a specific gravity greater than about 4. Also disclosed are methods of modifying the center of gravity of a golf club head and methods of manufacturing golf club heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Ryan L. Roach, Peter L. Soracco, Tim A. Beno, Andrew Curtis, Michael S. Yagley
  • GOLF CLUB
    Publication number: 20150018115
    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 have a high moment of inertia and variable thickness face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Joseph Henry Hoffman, Drew T. DeShiell
  • Golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features
    Patent number: 8932149
    Abstract: A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head may have a channel extending adjacent to a trailing edge of the club head. The channel may have a maximum depth of 6 mm and a maximum width ranging from 10 mm to 20 mm. A rough textured surface region may be provided on a sole, wherein the rough textured surface region has a surface roughness of greater than or equal to 1.00 ?m. A recess, formed in the sole, may extend from a mid-region to a toe of the club head, wherein the mid-region extends over the middle 40% of a length of the club head. A crown has an upper, forward surface and a stepped-down region, and the upper, forward surface transitions to the stepped-down region at a transition feature that extends from the hosel region at an angle of from 25 to 50 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew G. V. Oldknow
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: 8926450
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head includes a face portion, a sole portion, a side portion, a crown portion, and a hozel portion. A main portion of the crown portion is made of a fiber reinforced resin. The fiber reinforced resin portion includes a bulk molding compound (BMC) molded body. At least the face portion, a leading edge of the crown portion continuous with the face portion, and a center portion of the sole portion in a toe-heel direction are made of a metal. Alternatively to this configuration, the face portion may be provided with a metal faceplate, a portion subsequent to the face portion may include a BMC molded body, and a rear portion of the crown portion may include a molded laminate of prepreg sheets. The height of center of gravity may be 24 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takahashi, Yasunori Imamoto
  • Weighted golf club head
    Patent number: 8926448
    Abstract: A golf club head having a center of gravity located at a point close to the face and the sole is disclosed herein. In particular, the golf club head comprises a hollow body including a weight lip and face component, and the weight lip extends from the sole inside the body towards the face component without making contact with the face component. The golf club head is preferably a wood-type or hybrid-type golf club head. In other embodiments, the golf club head comprises a weight bar disposed within the hollow body proximate the face component, and the weight bar bridges at least a portion of the sole. The weight bar may be movable within the hollow body to allow for center of gravity adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Irina Ivanova, Joel B. Erickson, Bradley C. Rice, Brandon D. DeMille, Patrick Dawson, William C. Watson
  • Golf coupling mechanisms and related methods
    Patent number: 8926447
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Ryan M. Stokke
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD HAVING A STRESS REDUCING FEATURE WITH APERTURE
    Publication number: 20140371002
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating a stress reducing feature including an aperture located on the crown or sole of the club head. The location and size of the stress reducing feature and aperture, and their relationship to one another, play a significant role in selectively increasing deflection of the face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Bryan Seon, Jeffrey T. Halstead, Justin Girard
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD
    Publication number: 20140364248
    Abstract: An iron-type golf club head is disclosed having a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and a striking face. A back wall is also disclosed in the rear portion enclosing a portion of the rear portion to create an enclosed cavity. The cavity is defined by at least a rear surface of the striking face, an inner back wall surface, and the sole portion. A plug and a filler material is located within the enclosed cavity. The filler material surrounds the plug and is configured to hold the plug in place. The plug is lighter than the filler material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Bret H. Wahl, Peter L. Larsen, Loren Stowe
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH SLOTS
    Publication number: 20140357401
    Abstract: A golf club head having a plurality of slots that are strategically placed on its sole to enhance sound and reduce weight is disposed herein. In particular, the slots are disposed in a triangular pattern or around a triangular panel proximate the face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Sean P. Griffin, Philip G. Foster
  • Golf club head with vertical center of gravity adjustment
    Patent number: 8900072
    Abstract: Golf club heads include at least one weight port situated to retain weights and positioned above an approximate club face geometric center with the club in a standard address position. One, two, or more weight ports can be located above the club face center in a club crown or other portion of a club body. Club head vertical center of gravity can be selected to compensate dynamic loft associated with locating the club head center of gravity well behind the club face. Three-dimensional adjustment of club head center of gravity is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kraig Alan Willett, Todd P. Beach, Christopher John Harbert, Gery Mel Zimmerman
  • Weighted golf club head
    Patent number: 8900070
    Abstract: A golf club head having a center of gravity located at a point close to the face and the sole is disclosed herein. In particular, the golf club head comprises a hollow body including a weight lip and face component, and the weight lip extends from the sole inside the body towards the face component without making contact with the face component. The golf club head is preferably a wood-type or hybrid-type golf club head. In other embodiments, the golf club head, which may be an iron-type golf club head, comprises a weight bar disposed within the hollow body proximate the face component, and the weight bar bridges at least a portion of the sole. The weight bar may be movable within the hollow body to allow for center of gravity adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Patrick Dawson, Irina Ivanova, Bradley C. Rice, Joel B. Erickson
  • Fairway wood center of gravity projection
    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
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH ACCESSIBLE INTERIOR
    Publication number: 20140349777
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf club head having a port for providing a view into the interior cavity of the club head. The club head further includes at least one rib positioned along an internal surface of the club head and adjacent to the port. The at least one rib is configured to provide sound tuning characteristics, increasing the frequency of the port, thereby improving acoustic properties of the club head, particularly the sound produced by the golf club head during ball impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Tim A. Beno, Karl Clausen
  • GOLF CLUB HEADS WITH SLIT FEATURES AND RELATED METHODS
    Publication number: 20140349780
    Abstract: Golf club heads with slit features are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brandon L. Fossum
  • Golf club head with adjustable center of gravity
    Patent number: 8894506
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew Myers, Wee Joung Kim
  • Golf club head with multi-material face
    Patent number: 8894508
    Abstract: A metal wood golf club with a striking face portion made from more than one material is disclosed. More specifically, due to the unique construction of the striking face portion having multiple materials, the present invention utilizes diffusion bonding, liquid interface diffusion, or even super plastic forming techniques to achieve the desirable bond between the more than one material used to form the striking face. The striking face portion is formed by adding a chip insert made from a secondary material that is different from the remainder of the striking face portion substantially near a geometric center of the striking face portion; wherein the secondary material has a higher Young's modulus than the remainder of the striking face portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mark C. Myrhum, Uday V. Deshmukh, Charles E. Golden, John Morin, Nicholas Abbruzzese, Richard L. Cleghorn, Christopher D. Harvell, Steven J. Forshner, Scott A. Knutson
  • Golf club head or other ball striking device with thermoreactive face
    Patent number: 8894507
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. The face has an area of highest response located proximate a center of the ball striking surface. The face is formed of a first material and a second material that forms at least a portion of the area of highest response. The second material has a thermal modulus response that is different from a thermal modulus response of the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Rachel M. Thurston, Jeffrey A. Hadden, Ivan E. Tornes
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD HAVING A STRESS REDUCING FEATURE
    Publication number: 20140342848
    Abstract: A hollow golf club incorporating a stress reducing feature including at least a toe located stress reducing feature or a heel located stress reducing feature at least partially located on the skirt of the golf club head. The location and size of the stress reducing feature and their relationship to one another play a significant role in selectively increasing deflection of the face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: MICHAEL SCOTT BURNETT, ALEXANDER THEODORE BERGER, JUSTIN HONEA
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH CHANNEL AND STABILIZING STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20140342847
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to a golf club with a channel area. The channel area includes a groove disposed alongside a ramp having a shallow slope with respect to the horizontal when the club head is at address. The channel area may extend across a portion of the club head such as the crown or the sole. The ramp is oriented such that, during a high speed drive, the ramped portion of the sole may distribute and neutralize torsional stresses, dampening unwanted and unpredictable twisting, preventing the ball from flying in unpredictable directions while the deeper groove contributes to a high coefficient of restitution of a ball-striking face, a large sweet spot area, or both, thus causing the ball to fly a long distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Steven M. Mitzel
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: 8888608
    Abstract: This invention provides a golf club head which includes a face portion, and has a volume of 400 cc or more. When the golf club head is disposed on a horizontal plane at a specific lie angle while the face portion is matched with the flight trajectory direction, and images of the face portion and the golf club head are projected onto a vertical plane from the front side of the face portion upon defining the flight trajectory direction as the projection direction, the area of a projected figure H of the golf club head is defined as HA, and the area of a projected figure F of the face portion is defined as FA. The golf club head satisfies 0.5<FA/HA<0.7, and a centroid Hc of the projected figure H coincides with a centroid Fc of the projected figure F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Ban, Kozue Wada, Tadahiro Narita
  • Fairway wood center of gravity projection
    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
  • Golf club head having movable weights
    Patent number: 8888609
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body and at least one self-extracting pressed weight assembly. The body comprises a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. The body defines an interior cavity. The weight assembly comprises at least three components and is configured for a press fit engagement with the golf club head. The assembly has a drive portion and a threaded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Benoit Vincent, Ian Wright, Kraig Alan Willett, Gery Mel Zimmerman, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Golf club head or other ball striking device with face having modulus variance
    Patent number: 8882609
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface, an inner surface opposite the ball striking surface, and a thickness defined between the ball striking surface and the inner surface, and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. The face has a modulus gradient across the thickness of the face, such that the modulus of the face varies at different distances from the ball striking surface. The face may also include at least one of an insert, a composite material, a multi-layered structure, and/or a portion treated by a surface treatment to contribute to the modulus gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Mark J. Perry, Jay R. Sayre
  • Multi-piece golf club heads formed from titanium and zirconium alloys
    Patent number: 8876632
    Abstract: A golf club head and a method for forming a golf club head are disclosed. The golf club head may include multiple components with varying densities to manipulate the weight, volume, and properties of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Uday Deshmukh, Thomas O. Bennett, Charles E. Golden
  • Golf club head and system
    Patent number: 8876623
    Abstract: A golf club head system and a golf club head for inclusion into a golf club are provided. The golf club head system includes two or more rear or secondary body members, each configured for interchangeable attachment to a front or main body member. Each rear body member may have a different external shape, and each rear body member may have a different combination of center-of-gravity and moment-of-inertia characteristics. The system further includes a detachable attachment element for interchangeably and detachably attaching the rear body members to the front body member. The system may further include the front body member, wherein the front body member has a striking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Gary G. Tavares, John Thomas Stites
  • Golf club head having a multi-material face
    Patent number: 8876629
    Abstract: A golf club with a multi-material face is disclosed herein. More specifically, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention has a striking face that forms a pocket, wherein the pocket is filled with a secondary material having a lower density to improve the performance of the golf club head. The multi-material face disclosed in accordance with the present invention may generally have a characteristic time slope of greater than about 5 and less than about 50, wherein the characteristic time slope is determined based on the various data points collected according to the United States Golf Association's (USGA's) Characteristic Time (CT) test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Uday V. Deshmukh, Charles E. Golden
  • Golf club with improved performance characteristics
    Patent number: 8876625
    Abstract: A metal wood type golf club with improved performance characteristics is disclosed herein where the metal wood type golf club head will combined the performance characteristics of both a driver type golf club head and a fairway type golf club head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head with a volume of between about 150 cc to about 360 cc, a CG location between about 10 mm to about 20 mm above the ground, a face depth of between about 30 millimeters (mm) to about 65 millimeters (mm), a loft of about between 10 degrees to about 16 degrees, and a COR of about 0.790 to about 0.830, wherein the entire golf club has a length of between about 41 inches to about 45 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Curtis, Noah de la Cruz, Charles E. Golden, Bradford Hughes Hartwell, Gregory D. Johnson, John W. Morin
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD
    Publication number: 20140323239
    Abstract: A high forgiveness wood-type golf club head comprises a body and a face. The body comprises a sole that forms a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown that forms a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt that forms a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. The face place is positioned at a front portion of the golf club head opposite a rear portion of the golf club head. The body defines an outer periphery having a generally triangular shape in plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Peter L. Larsen, Bing-Ling Chao
  • VARIABLE THICKNESS GOLF CLUB HEAD AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20140323240
    Abstract: A portion of a golf club head comprising an external surface, an internal surface opposite said external surface, said internal surface adjacent an interior of said golf club head, wherein said external surface and said internal surface combine to create a plurality of thin regions and a plurality of thick regions, wherein said internal surface is created via a stamped forging process and wherein said external surface is created via a machining process, wherein said stamped forging process comprises placing said crown between a top punch and a bottom cavity, said top punch having a plurality of protrusions and said bottom cavity having a plurality of depressions, and compressing said top punch towards said bottom cavity to alter a shape of said crown, and wherein said machining process comprises machining off excess material from said external surface of said crown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark C. Myrhum, Uday V. Deshmukh, Stephanie Bezilla
  • Golf club head and golf club
    Patent number: 8870680
    Abstract: A golf club head (1) has a hollow structure provided on a heel side thereof with a hosel portion (7) having a shaft inserting hole. The hollow structure comprises a main frame (1A) made of at least one kind of metal material and a rear casing (1C) made of a fiber reinforced resin and fixed to the main frame. The main frame comprises: the hosel portion; a front section (8) extending from the hosel portion toward a club face (2A) for hitting a ball and toward a toe side of the golf club head; and a rear section (9) extending from the hosel portion toward a back face of the golf club head and toward the toe side of the golf club head while keeping a distance (L3) in the front-back direction of the golf club head from the front section (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Yamamoto
  • Golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features
    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
  • Golf club head with repositionable weight
    Patent number: 8870678
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a body, a track formed in or attached to the body and having a length and a weight and weight retainer. The weight is continuously repositionable such that it can be positioned at any selected point along the track between its ends. The weight has a major dimension, and the weight retainer comprises a fastening member having a diameter not greater than about one half of the major dimension of the weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Golf club head and golf club
    Patent number: 8870681
    Abstract: A golf club head with a hollow portion therein, includes a head main body provided with at least one opening which includes at least a part of a sole portion forming a bottom of the head, a resin member composed of a fiber reinforced resin which is attached to the head main body so as to close the opening, and a reinforcing member across the opening having a specific gravity greater than that of the resin member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Yamamoto
  • Golf club head with improved aerodynamic characteristics
    Patent number: 8864601
    Abstract: Designs and methods of improving aerodynamic performance of golf club heads are disclosed herein. In particular, the designs and methods of the present invention address airflow behavior modification at or immediately adjacent to the counter or edge of the striking face to reduce club head drag while minimizing any adverse effect on the impact performance of the face. The designs and methods of the present invention also address airflow behavior over the crown of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Steven M. Ehlers
  • Golf club head having a multi-material face
    Patent number: 8864602
    Abstract: A golf club with a multi-material face is disclosed herein. More specifically, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention has a striking face that forms a pocket, wherein the pocket is filled with a secondary material having a lower density to improve the performance of the golf club head. The multi-material face disclosed in accordance with the present invention may generally have a characteristic time slope of greater than about 5 and less than about 50, wherein the characteristic time slope is determined based on the various data points collected according to the United States Golf Association's (USGA's) Characteristic Time (CT) test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Curtis, Noah de la Cruz, Uday V. Deshmukh, Charles E. Golden, Bradford Hughes Hartwell, John Morin
  • High volume aerodynamic golf club head
    Patent number: 8858359
    Abstract: A high volume aerodynamic golf club head having a post apex attachment promoting region with a club head volume of at least 400 cc and a front-to-back dimension of at least 4.4 inches producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The post apex attachment promoting region is on the surface of the crown section at an elevation above a maximum face height and begins at the crown apex and extends toward the back of the club head. The post apex attachment promoting region is a relatively flat portion of the crown section that is behind the crown apex, yet above the maximum top edge plane, and aides in keeping airflow attached to the club head once it flows past the crown apex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kraig Alan Willett, Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Golf club head with weight ports
    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
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD
    Publication number: 20140302946
    Abstract: An exemplary golf club head having an increased amount of discretionary mass may be realized by utilizing improved drop angles, an improved average crown height, and/or articulation points. The discretionary mass may be placed low and deep in the club head to improve the location of the center of gravity as well as the inertial properties. A preferred break length may also be utilized to further improve the depth of the center of gravity. In one example, the center of gravity may be positioned to substantially align the sweet spot with the face center of the club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: SRI SPORTS LIMITED
    Inventors: John J. RAE, Nathaniel J. RADCLIFFE, Daniel J. STONE, Trent E. GARNER, Brad S. HOOLEY, Robert J. HORACEK, Sam G. LACEY, Jeff D. BRUNSKI, Kevin SCHAEFFER, Scott A. CARLYLE, Stephen C. CHIEN, Craig R. SCHNELL, Douglas E. ROBERTS, Dan S. NIVANH, Michael J. WALLANS
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD
    Publication number: 20140295991
    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: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, John Francis Lorentzen, Hsiang Lee
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH A BODY-CONFORMING WEIGHT MEMBER
    Publication number: 20140295992
    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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: SRI SPORTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Sam G. LACEY, Dan S. NIVANH, Nathaniel J. RADCLIFFE, Dustin J. BREKKE
  • CONTRAST-ENHANCED GOLF CLUB HEADS
    Publication number: 20140295990
    Abstract: Golf club heads include white diffusing top surfaces to aid in club head alignment. Wood type club heads also include a dark diffusing club face so that a crown/face border is emphasized. Scorelines in wood type clubs can be provided with an intermediate contrast surface, and can be displaced from club face center to accommodate player perception when confronted with a white diffusing crown. Putter heads can include dark diffusing alignment lines, and iron-type club heads can include white diffusing surfaces at a sole portion of a club face, at a top line, or a top portion of a club face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, David Anderson, Bill Price, Kevin Harper, Benoit Vincent, Bret H. Wahl
  • Golf club head with improved aerodynamic characteristics
    Patent number: 8845453
    Abstract: Designs and methods of improving aerodynamic performance of golf club heads are disclosed herein. In particular, the designs and methods of the present invention address airflow behavior modification at or immediately adjacent to the counter or edge of the striking face to reduce club head drag while minimizing any adverse effect on the impact performance of the face. The present invention also provides a face with visually distinct and apparent treatments and improved visibility at address. The approaches to contouring a golf club face disclosed herein are new because they are confined to a relatively narrow band along the inside of the face boundary curve. The dimensions of the modification zone are kept small and subtle contour changes are made to influence airflow in a highly critical region with minimal effect on the impact performance of the striking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Steven M. Ehlers