With Internal Support Rib Or Injected Material Patents (Class 473/346)
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Patent number: 8641555Abstract: 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, and a channel located in the body. The channel is configured to influence the characteristics of the impact of a ball on the face, such as by flexing or compressing in response to the force of the impact, exerting a response or reaction force on the face, changing the motion or behavior of the face, and other manners. The head may also include a pair of channels that have a gap between them.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Rick Wahlin, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
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Patent number: 8632420Abstract: A golf club head enables the initial velocity of a ball to be increased and enables the carry to be lengthened. In some example structures, the golf club includes a face plate formed from metal and club head body (e.g., a crown and sole) formed from fiber reinforced plastic. A weighted body is provided inside the rearmost portion of the golf club head and a low rigidity portion whose width becomes gradually narrower as it approaches the rearmost portion is provided in the crown extending from the vicinity of the face plate to the rearmost portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2012Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Michael L. Kelly, Hitoshi Kodama, Tsuneo Takano
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Publication number: 20140011607Abstract: Golf club heads with ribs are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2013Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONInventors: Ryan M. Stokke, Martin R. Jertson, Eric V. Cole
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Publication number: 20140004973Abstract: Golf club heads with ribs are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: Karsten Manufactuting CorporationInventors: Ryan M. Stokke, Martin R. Jertson, Eric V. Cole
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Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads Including Structure to Selectively Control the Sound of the Club Head
Publication number: 20140004972Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: NIKE, IncInventors: James S. Thomas, Tyrone Northcutt -
Publication number: 20130344985Abstract: A golf club head with sound tuning. The golf club head includes a hollow body that defines an interior cavity and at least one tuning member extends across the interior cavity. The tuning member dimensions, stiffness and dampening characteristics are selected to alter the vibration behavior of the golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: COBRA GOLF INCORPORATEDInventor: Joshua G. Breier
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Publication number: 20130344986Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: Brandon D. DeMille, Matthew T. Cackett
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Golf club head or other ball striking device having a reinforced or localized stiffened face portion
Patent number: 8608585Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face. A brace extends from an inner surface of the body or from a perimeter weight system to a contact point on the rear surface of the face. This brace may extend from the sole or a sole oriented perimeter weight member to the rear surface of the face. The brace applies force to the face (at least when the face is flexed by a threshold amount) such that the area of the face surrounding the contact point has less flexibility relative to other areas of the face located away from the contact point. The brace and club head may include structures that allow one to control and customize the force applied to the face.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2009Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Adam Liber -
Patent number: 8602912Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft thereto. The head may include one or more stiffening elements or other structures engaging the face to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. The stiffening element can be movable to create regions of increased stiffness in desired locations, leaving other regions of the face to have increased flexibility as compared to the stiffened regions.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: John Thomas Stites
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Publication number: 20130324308Abstract: Golf club and golf club head structures include a ball striking face, a frame member and a perimeter stiffening element. The frame member may extend rearwardly from a perimeter of the ball striking face. The perimeter stiffening element may extend along at least a portion of the perimeter of the ball striking face and further may extend from the ball striking face to the frame member. The thickness of the ball striking face may be less than or equal to 2.0 mm. The cross-sectional area of the perimeter stiffening element may be greater than or equal to 10 mm2. The golf club head may be a wood-type club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Robert Boyd, Kenneth W. Brown
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Publication number: 20130324281Abstract: A ball striking device has a face with a striking surface and a body extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face. A channel extends across at least a portion of the sole, and includes a trough defined between front and rear edges and extending in a heel-toe direction. The device further has internal interconnection structure for connection of a shaft to the head. The device may have a hosel connected to the body proximate the heel, with the hosel having the internal interconnection structure adapted for connection of the shaft to the hosel. A bore or access opening may be provided that intersects the channel, to access the interconnecting structure. The device may further include one or more stiffening ribs on the sole.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Robert Boyd, Andrew G.V. Oldknow
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Patent number: 8597139Abstract: A golf club head and a method for forming a golf club head are disclosed. The golf club head may include a low density portion and a high density portion. The high density portion includes at least a sole, a face, and at least one support member. The support member is operatively connected to the face and the sole, and maintains the structural integrity of the golf club head. The low density portion comprises the crown and the skirt of the club head. When the low density portion is attached to the at least one support member, a golf club head may be formed. In this manner, the center of gravity of the club head may be lowered and moved away from the face of the club.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2010Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventor: Douglas C. Jorgensen
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Patent number: 8591354Abstract: When a length of a cross section CS1 in a face-back direction is defined as L; a point being 0.1L from a forefront point Mz2 of the cross section and positioned on an outer surface of the sole is defined as Ma; a point being 0.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Masatoshi Yokota
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Patent number: 8574095Abstract: A golf club head comprises has an inner surface including a back surface of the face portion that is provided with a crown-side thick-walled rib and a sole-side thick-walled rib. The crown-side thick-walled rib includes an upper face rib disposed in the face portion and extending from the central thick-walled part to a peripheral edge of the back surface of the face portion on a crown portion side, and a crown rib disposed in the crown portion and extending backwardly of the head from the upper face rib. The sole-side thick-walled rib includes a lower face rib disposed in the face portion and extending from the central thick-walled part to a peripheral edge of the back surface of the face portion on a sole portion side, and a sole rib disposed in the sole portion and extending backwardly of the head from the lower face rib.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Tomoya Hirano
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Publication number: 20130288822Abstract: A ball striking device has a face with a striking surface and a body extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face. A channel extends across at least a portion of the sole, and includes a trough defined between front and rear edges and extending in a heel-toe direction. The body further includes a spacing portion that forms a generally flattened surface extending from the front edge to proximate the outer periphery of the face. The rear edge of the channel is spaced rearwardly a different distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion of the channel as compared to the heel portion and/or the toe portion. One or more stiffening ribs may also be provided rearwardly of the channel, to increase the stiffness of the sole.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventor: Nike, Inc.
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Patent number: 8568248Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 16, 2012Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Drew T. DeShiell, Kraig Alan Willett, Michael Scott Burnett, Benoit Vincent, Joseph Henry Hoffman
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Patent number: 8562452Abstract: This invention relates generally to golf clubs or golf club heads, having an adjustable ball striking face. The golf club head includes a club head body, a ball striking face, and a brace extending from a sole of the club head body to an inner surface of the ball striking face. The brace may further include an end portion engaged with the inner surface of the ball striking face, a fixed rod located between the end portion and an inner surface of the club head at the sole, a biasing member attached to the fixed rod. The biasing member may provide a biasing force to the ball striking face such that the ball striking face is adjustable between a first direction thereby adjusting a face angle of the club head and a second direction thereby adjusting a loft angle of the club head.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2012Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Michael E. Finn, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
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Patent number: 8562459Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 18, 2013Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Brandon D. DeMille, Matthew T. Cackett
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Patent number: 8540587Abstract: A golf club head with sound tuning. The golf club head includes a hollow body that defines an interior cavity and at least one tuning member extends across the interior cavity. The tuning member dimensions, stiffness and dampening characteristics are selected to alter the vibration behavior of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Robert D Hirsch, Joshua G. Breier
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Patent number: 8540590Abstract: There is provided a Ti alloy hollow club head which is more lightweight yet capable of realizing a better repulsion force by adjusting weight and thickness of a club head plate, with its strength ensured. Ribs are formed by chemically polishing the inner surface of a material of a crown plate to a 0.3 to 0.9 mm thickness, and a 0.3 to 4 mm width, and then first concave portions are formed to a 0.2 to 0.5 mm thickness. Thus, strength of the crown plate can be ensured by the ribs, while making the thickness thereof as thin as possible.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: K.K. Endo SeisakushoInventors: Daisuke Tsukada, Tomonari Funayama, Toshimitsu Oyamatsu
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Patent number: 8523704Abstract: Golf club heads with ribs are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric V. Cole
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Patent number: 8523706Abstract: The examples provided describe a golf club having a hollow rail member constructed to provide improved strength while reducing weight. The weight removed by using the hollow rail member may be redistributed to change club performance. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2009Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Eric V. Cole, Randall B. Noble, Jeff A. Blankenship
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Patent number: 8517863Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 10, 2012Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Bret H. Wahl, Peter L. Larsen, Loren Stowe
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Patent number: 8506423Abstract: A cavity back golf club and golf club head having a reinforcing member is disclosed. The reinforcing member includes a connecting member, a first truss member, and a second truss member. The reinforcing member is engaged with a rear surface of a striking face of the golf club head and is at least partially located in a rear cavity of the golf club head. The reinforcing member provides structural integrity to a thin striking face on the golf club head. Additionally, a discretionary weight is engaged with a perimeter weight member at the toe portion of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2009Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, John T. Stites
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Patent number: 8491416Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 17, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Brandon D. Demille, Matthew T. Cackett
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Patent number: 8469834Abstract: A golf club head having a hollow construction includes a face part having a ball-impacting surface and a first main rib and a second main rib disposed on the inner surface of the face part. The first main rib extends from a crown side to a sole side, and the second main rib extends from a hosel side to a toe-side part of the sole side, the first and second main ribs intersecting each other. The material thickness on a toe side of the face part, with the first main rib being the boundary, is formed so as to be thinner than the material thickness on a heel side of the face part.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kozue Wada, Hideo Matsunaga
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Publication number: 20130157777Abstract: Golf club heads with ribs are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2013Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONInventor: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
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Patent number: 8465379Abstract: A face portion of a golf club head includes first to fourth main ribs on an inner surface of the head. The first main rib extends from a center portion of the face portion toward a crown, and the second main rib extends from the center portion toward a sole. The face portion is formed to have such a thickness that the center portion, the first main rib, and the second main rib become thinner in this order. The third and fourth main ribs extend from the center portion in outward directions of the face portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2011Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kozue Wada, Hideo Matsunaga
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Patent number: 8465380Abstract: A hollow golf club head includes a sole, a crown, a skirt, and a striking face. The golf club includes a junction interconnecting the sole, crown, and skirt to the striking face, the junction including at least one stiffening member.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2012Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Robert J. Horacek, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, John J. Rae, Michael J. Wallans, Sam G. Lacey
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Patent number: 8460122Abstract: A golf club head having a striking wall having a front surface, and a rear surface, a top surface, and a sole portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface, the sole portion having a forward end, a rearward end, an upper surface and a lower surface. The intersection of the upper surface and the rear surface defines an interior sole line. The intersection of the upper surface and the rearward end defines a trailing edge. A region on the upper surface includes variation of the height of the trailing edge or exterior sole line relative to the height of the interior sole line.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2012Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jesse D. Sukman
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Patent number: 8449407Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having improved flexural stiffness properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. The main portion of the hitting face is a plate-like face made from a first material having a first density. A dense insert made from a second material having a second density that is greater than the first density is attached directly or indirectly to the plate-like face at or near the geometric center thereof. The dense insert increases the flexural stiffness of in a central zone of the hitting face so that a golf club head that has a larger zone of substantially uniform high initial ball speed. In another embodiment, the hitting face includes an insert that includes main plate and at least one wing extending therefrom. The insert is welded to the golf club head so that the main plate does not deflect separately from the remainder of the hitting face. The geometry of the insert controls the stiffness in the axial directions.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Scott A. Rice, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Publication number: 20130130833Abstract: A golf club head according to this invention includes a face portion, a crown portion having a shape which bulges out upward, and a sole portion. The crown portion includes a vibration promotion region and a surrounding region which surrounds the vibration promotion region. The vibration promotion region has a circular or elliptical shape, and is flatter than the surrounding region.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: May 23, 2013Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTDInventor: Wataru BAN
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Publication number: 20130130834Abstract: 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 crown that extends over the void.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2013Publication date: May 23, 2013Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventor: Nike, Inc.
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Publication number: 20130130826Abstract: A golf club head with sound tuning composite members forming at least a portion of the surface of the golf club head is disclosed herein. The composite members being a composite layer made out of a sandwiched core layer that is interposed inside the midsection of the composite member to provide vibration damping and sound tuning characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2013Publication date: May 23, 2013Inventor: Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 8444504Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 21, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, John Francis Lorentzen, Hsiang Lee
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Patent number: 8439769Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having a location of longest characteristic time shifted away from the geometric center of the hitting face. The hitting face of the club head has varying thickness, with a thickest portion being at or near the geometric center of the plate-like hitting face. A second thickened portion of the hitting face substantially surrounds the thickest portion. The portions of varying thickness taper therebetween for relatively smooth cross-sectional profiles. The hitting face may further comprise a plurality of indentations at least partially located within the outer intermediate zone of the hitting face, having a thickness that is less than the thickness of the hitting face at the geometric center and tapered portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2010Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Scott A. Rice, Joshua G. Breier
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Publication number: 20130109503Abstract: A golf club head having a hollow portion therein, includes a crown portion forming a top surface of the head, a resin member composed of a fiber reinforced resin forming said crown portion at least partially, a reinforcing member attached to said resin member and said reinforcing member integrally comprising a plate-like portion which is embedded in the resin member and extends along a plane direction of the resin member and a rib protruding from the plate-like portion toward the hollow portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2012Publication date: May 2, 2013Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.Inventor: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd.
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Publication number: 20130102415Abstract: A golf club head manufacturing method, including: welding a first reinforcing piece with first thickness to a central portion between a toe and a heel, so as to extend along an edge of a face side of a sole part, the sole part being part of a lower part formed integrally with a side part; welding a second reinforcing piece of second, larger thickness to a central portion between the toe and heel so as to extend along the edge on the face side of the first piece; welding a face part to the first and second pieces from an inner space of the lower part; welding a hosel part to the lower and face parts; welding a crown part to the lower, face and hosel parts; and welding the lower and face parts together from the outside.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2011Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTDInventor: Hideo SHIMAZAKI
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Patent number: 8425347Abstract: A golf club head with reinforced crown is described herein. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric V. Cole
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Patent number: 8425346Abstract: 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 into the face component. The golf club head is preferably a wood-type or hybrid-type golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2013Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: Joel B. Erickson
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Patent number: 8414421Abstract: A golf club head with reinforced crown is described herein. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric V. Cole
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Patent number: 8414420Abstract: 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 into the face component. The golf club head is preferably a wood-type or hybrid-type golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2012Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: Joel B. Erickson
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Patent number: 8409030Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a golf club head having at least one rib with an external portion. For example, according to one embodiment, a wood-type golf club head includes a body that has at least one wall defining an interior cavity. The golf club head further includes at least one rib projecting from the at least one wall. The at least one rib can include an internal portion located within the interior cavity and an external portion located without the interior cavity.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2012Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Henry Hoffman, Matthew David Johnson, Joshua J. Dipert
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Patent number: 8382609Abstract: A golf club head has a hollow structure comprising a main body member and a face member. The face member is made of an unidirectionally rolled plate of a titanium alloy having alpha phase crystals. The rolled direction of the unidirectionally rolled plate is inclined at an angle ?1 of not more than 30 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction. The face member is provided on the rear face with a ribbed part having its longitudinal direction inclined at an angle ?2 of not more than 30 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. A method for manufacturing the golf club head comprises a step of preparing the face member which comprises the steps of: preparing the unidirectionally rolled plate; cutting out a blank for the face member from the unidirectionally rolled plate; and forming the ribbed part on the cutout blank by machining.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Masatoshi Yokota
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Patent number: 8366567Abstract: A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may include a main cavity having at least one auxiliary cavity and a base surface. An insert may be associated with the base surface and may comprise at least two contact elements, with a bridge member disposed therebetween. Different contact elements of the insert may be disposed in separate respective auxiliary cavities, such that each contact element may be associated with the base surface. The bridge member of the insert may be dissociated from the base surface. Moreover, a surface coating may be selectively applied to the head to permit a durable adhesive bond between the insert and the base surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2012Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Sharon J. Park, Douglas E. Roberts, Andrew P. Chick
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Patent number: 8357056Abstract: A golf club head having a crown, a sole having a length, ls, a strike face, a structural response modifying element having a constraining portion and a cantilever portion, the constraining portion extending from the sole to the crown and having a length lsc that is between about 10% to about 40% of length ls, wherein the cantilever portion extends form the constraining member toward the strike face. In another embodiment the constraining portion extends from the crown to a skirt portion of the club head, but is not connected to the strike face.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Robert J. Horacek, John J. Rae, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Clark Radcliffe
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Patent number: 8353784Abstract: A cavity back golf club and golf club head having one or more support brackets is disclosed. Each support bracket includes a first portion engaged with the rear surface of the striking face, a second portion engaged with the perimeter weighting member, and a third portion that is curved. The one or more of the support brackets are engaged with a rear surface of a striking face and a perimeter weight member of the golf club head. The one or more support brackets are at least partially located in a rear cavity of the golf club head. The support brackets provide structural integrity to a thin striking face on the golf club head. Additionally, a discretionary weight is engaged with the at least one of the support brackets at the toe portion of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Robert Boyd, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Adam D. Liber
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Patent number: 8353783Abstract: A golf club head with sound tuning composite members forming at least a portion of the surface of the golf club head is disclosed herein. The composite members being a composite layer made out of a sandwiched core layer that is interposed inside the midsection of the composite member to provide vibration damping and sound tuning characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2011Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventor: Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 8353786Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 28, 2007Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Joseph Henry Hoffman
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Patent number: 8353787Abstract: A metal wood golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, with a body comprising of a first body portion and a second body portion, each portion constructed of a different density material. Combining a high density material in the first body portion with a low density material in the second body portion, creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. Thickening the lower area of the front face lowers the center of gravity and upwardly shifts the coefficient of restitution to the geometric center of the face.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jeffrey W. Meyer, Christopher D. Harvell, Stephen S. Murphy, Douglas C. Jorgensen