Recess Or Cavity Behind Striking Face Patents (Class 473/350)
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Patent number: 8834295Abstract: An iron golf club is one made of metal material, which is manufactured integrally through press working and gives dedication to improvement of golf club design. The head (1) has a concave portion (4) surrounded by a convex portion (6) in the backside portion (3) behind the face portion (2). Treatment for making a mirror surface is applied to the bottom portion (5) of this concave portion through press working with a fixed die (11) having a surface roughness finer than the mirror surface for which treatment for making a mirror surface is to be performed and a movable die (10). Press working of this bottom portion can be also performed through treatment for making a mirror surface with a liner member (17).Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: K. K. Endo SeisakushoInventors: Rui Kondo, Tamotsu Hasegawa
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Patent number: 8821313Abstract: An iron-type golf club head comprising a high strength face plate with a face support is disclosed herein. In particular, the face plate is affixed to a perimeter region and to a face support that extends upwards from the sole proximate a front opening. The face plate preferably is welded to the perimeter region and brazed to the face support to optimize the sound and feel of the golf club head while preserving the strength of the face.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2013Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Patrick Dawson, Sean Griffin, Brett Carter, Irina Ivanova
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Patent number: 8821314Abstract: A muscle-back iron golf club head includes a blade-like upper mass, a muscle-like lower mass, a planar front surface, a top surface, a sole surface, a heel surface, a toe surface, and a rear surface having a first contour. A recess is in the rear surface, the recess having a first portion in the blade-like upper mass and a second portion in the muscle-like lower mass. An insert may be provided in the recess, and such insert may substantially fill the recess and may include a back surface having a second contour which is different from the first contour of the club head rear surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd.Inventors: Douglas E. Roberts, Trent E. Garner, Kevin A. Wolfe, Daniel J. Stone, Christopher J. Beck, Todd D. Harman, Brent L. Newsome, Michael J. Wallans, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe
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Patent number: 8821307Abstract: A golf club head includes a primary component and a secondary component, wherein the secondary component is rotatably or pivotally associated with the rear surface of the primary component. The secondary component is adjustable between a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the primary component such that the golf club head has a first sole contour when the secondary component is in the first orientation and a second sole contour when the secondary component is in the second orientation, the first sole contour being different from the second sole contour.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Sharon Park, Brian Schielke, Kevin Tassistro
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Patent number: 8814715Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an insert forming a ball striking face and engaged with the putter body. Portions of the insert may be formed of a metal material, while portions of the insert may be formed of a polymer material. The insert may include a base portion having grooves formed therein. This base may be joined with another material to form the insert. In some arrangements, the insert may be a two-sided, reversible construction and may have different performance characteristics associated with each side of the insert. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2013Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig, Jeremy N. Snyder
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Patent number: 8808106Abstract: Golf club heads include: (a) a club head body having a ball striking face and defining a rear cavity; (b) a fluid-filled bladder in the cavity; and (c) a retaining member holding the fluid-filled bladder in the cavity. Other club heads include: (a) a club head body having a ball striking face and defining a rear cavity; and (b) an insert member in the rear cavity, wherein the insert member interior includes one or more chambers facing the rear surface of the ball striking face. The chamber(s) may cover at least 30% of a total surface area of the interior surface of the insert member and/or at least 30% of a total interior major surface area of the rear cavity. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf clubs and golf club heads also are described.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Eric A. Larson, Chia-Chyi Cheng
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Patent number: 8808109Abstract: A golf club head having a translucent insert disclosed. The club head includes a body defining a striking face, a top line, a sole, a back, a heel, and a toe. The back contains a cavity that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the face. A recess is provided within the cavity, with the recess extending away from the cavity and toward the sole. The recess causes more of the club head mass to be oriented towards the perimeter of the club head, and optionally also toward the back of the club head. This enlarges the club sweet spot and increases the moment of inertia, and facilitates imparting a desired flight path to a struck golf ball, producing a more forgiving club. The recess may have a varying depth and/or a varying draft angle. A rear wall of the recess may be provided with a cutout to further reposition mass toward the club head perimeter. A translucent insert, such as a vibration dampening member, may be provided within the recess.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2013Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventor: Ryan L. Roach
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Patent number: 8801540Abstract: A golf club iron having a thin front face which is supported by a biasly connected insert that is inserted into a perimeter groove defined in the body of the club which gives the thin front face added support. The insert has a flange about its perimeter, and the perimeter groove has an opening ledge. The insert flange is slightly larger in thickness than the ledge and when the insert is biasly pushed into the perimeter groove a mechanical connection is created between the insert and the body of the club.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jonathan Hebreo, Marni Ines
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Patent number: 8801543Abstract: Golf club heads which include an iron type golf club head body including a ball striking face, a rear surface opposite the ball striking face (e.g., including a perimeter weighting member) and an indicator which indicates the location of the center of gravity of the golf club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf club and golf club heads also are provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2013Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Inventor: John T. Stites
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Patent number: 8795102Abstract: Golf club heads according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure include: an iron-type golf club head including an iron-type golf club head body, a ball striking face, or face plate, a rear plate, a sole, and a sole channel. According to aspects of the disclosure, the sole may be considered a wide sole as compared to conventional iron-type club head. The sole may be approximately 30-50% wider than conventional iron-type club heads. Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, the sole channel may be a channel generally defined as an undercut portion removed from the sole. The sole channel may be located generally within the sole portion of the club head.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: William C. Knight, David N. Franklin
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Patent number: 8795100Abstract: 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: May 17, 2013Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Robert J. Horacek, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, John J. Rae, Michael J. Wallans, Sam G. Lacey
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Patent number: 8790194Abstract: 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: January 15, 2013Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Robert Boyd, Adam D. Liber, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
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Patent number: 8777776Abstract: A golf club head having a composite face insert attached to a metallic body is provided. The club head preferably has a volume of at least 200 cc and provides superior durability and club performance. The face insert includes prepreg plies having a fiber areal weight (FAW) of less than 100 g/m2. The face insert preferably has a thickness less than 4 mm and a mass at least 10 grams less than an insert of equivalent volume formed of the metallic material of the body of the club head. A metallic cap with a peripheral rim is also provided to protect the ends of the composite material of the face insert. Related methods of manufacturing and alternative materials are disclosed. The resin content of the prepreg plies can be controlled through management of the timing and environment in which the resultant prepreg plies are cured and soaked.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Bret H. Wahl, Peter L. Larsen, Chris Schartiger, Xinhui Deng, Bing-Ling Chao
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Patent number: 8771100Abstract: An iron type golf club set includes a set of “n” iron type golf clubs, “n” being an integer of 3 or more, wherein the golf clubs each have a different face loft angle. If the head of each golf club is inclined at a specified lie angle with respect to a horizontal plane and the face is disposed at a specified loft angle with respect to a vertical plane, the head moment of inertia “A” per unit mass represented by a ratio MI/ml of the moment of inertia “MI” of the head alone around a horizontal axis passing through the head center of gravity and being parallel to the face with respect to the head mass “m” increases in the order from the golf club with the smallest loft angle to the golf club with the largest loft angle.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Kiyofumi Matsunaga
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Patent number: 8758159Abstract: An iron type golf club head with improved performance is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses an iron type golf club head having a frontal face portion made out of a lightweight material that is separate and distinct from the material used to form the remaining body portion of the iron type golf club head. The thinner material allows the frontal face portion of the iron type golf club head to be made thinner, yielding improved performance characteristics such as a higher Coefficient of Restitution (COR) of greater than about 0.770, a lower Center of Gravity (CG) location of less than about 5.0 mm from a ground, and a lower primary resonant frequency of less than about 5,000 Hertz.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2013Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: John W. Morin, Eduardo Mendoza, Noah de la Cruz, Charles E. Golden, Andrew J. Curtis
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Patent number: 8758163Abstract: Iron golf club heads and clubs include a body having a ball striking face, a rear face opposite the ball striking face and a sole portion positioned between the ball striking face and the rear face. The rear face has an opening in communication with a slot positioned in the body. A weight element is positioned in the slot through the opening. The weight element has at least one aperture wherein the center of gravity is shifted when the weight element is positioned in the slot.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2010Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: John T. Stites
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Publication number: 20140171220Abstract: The present disclosure concerns embodiments of a badge or insert for a golf club head that can eliminate undesired gaps between the insert and the peripheral sidewall of the cavity that receives the insert. In one embodiment, a golf club head comprises a main body comprising a cavity, which defines a central surface and an inner peripheral surface at least partially surrounding the central surface. An insert comprises a central portion and a deflectable portion coupled to and extending along a peripheral edge section of the central portion. The deflectable portion has a shape corresponding to and contacting a corresponding section of the inner peripheral surface of the cavity. The deflectable portion forms a press-fit engagement with the corresponding section of the inner peripheral surface of the cavity that retains the deflectable portion in a deflected state relative to the central portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Scott Taylor, Scott Edward Folck
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Patent number: 8753230Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Ryan M. Stokke, Marty R. Jertson, Michael R. Nicolette, John A. Solheim
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Patent number: 8753219Abstract: A set of golf clubs including golf club heads having improved mass distribution characteristics. The set includes golf club heads having a club head main body including a hitting face and a face support, a muscle back shell and a weight insert.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Helene Hipp, Edward Mendoza, Adrian L. Stanescu, Douglas C. Jorgensen
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Patent number: 8753220Abstract: A set of progressive golf clubs with an elliptical pad construction on the back of the striking face that corresponds to a location, shape and size of a predetermined golfer's impact pattern for the lofts and lengths of each of the golf clubs in the set. The elliptical pad progressively changes in location, shape and size from the long irons, to the mid irons, to the short irons, and to the wedges, based on the location, shape and size of a predetermined golfer's impact pattern for each of the long irons, mid irons, short irons, and wedges.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2013Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Ryan L. Roach, Joshua G. Breier
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Patent number: 8747245Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an insert forming a ball striking face and engaged with the putter body. Portions of the insert may be formed of a metal material, while portions of the insert may be formed of a polymer material. The insert may include a base portion having grooves or openings formed therein. This base may be joined with another material (such as a polymer backing material) to form the insert, wherein the backing material at least partially fills the grooves or openings. In some arrangements, the backing material of the insert may be visible at the top and/or bottom surfaces of the putter structures. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig, Jeremy N. Snyder
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Patent number: 8740721Abstract: An iron-type golf club head comprises a head main portion having a face for hitting a golf ball, and weight members made of metallic material having heavier specific gravity than the head main portion. The head main portion has a tubular portion provided on a heel side of the face and having a shaft inserting hole. The tubular portion is provided continuously on the lower side of the shaft inserting hole with a bottomed hole part for arranging the weight members. The weight members include a heel-side weight member disposed in the bottomed hole part.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Akio Yamamoto
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Patent number: 8740719Abstract: An iron-type golf club head is disclosed including a main body including a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and a striking face. The main body has a recessed region including a relief region in the front portion. A replaceable striking plate is inserted into the recessed region and the relief region. The replaceable striking plate includes a front surface, a first rear surface region and a second rear surface region. A threaded opening is located on the rear surface of the replaceable striking plate and receives a fastener to retain the replaceable striking plate on the front portion of the main body and within the recessed region and relief region.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2013Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Bret H. Wahl, Chris Schartiger, Marni D. Ines, Peter L. Larsen
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Patent number: 8740722Abstract: A clubhead of an iron golf club includes: a head main body including a face portion and a hosel portion; a back member including a sole surface and a back surface; and a fixing member configured to detachably fix the back member to the head main body.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., LtdInventor: Fumiaki Sato
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Publication number: 20140148269Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2014Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
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Publication number: 20140141903Abstract: A golf club including a club head having a club head main body including a hitting face and a face support, and a support extension. The support extension extends between the face support and a back flange to define a lower cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2014Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Douglas C. Jorgensen, Scott A. Knutson, Helene S. Hipp, Adrian L. Stanescu
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Patent number: 8727907Abstract: This invention provides a method of manufacturing a golf club head by processing a head base body having a face base surface which becomes a face surface by finishing. The head base body includes a main body portion having the face base surface, and projecting portions which project from the main body portion. The method includes a finishing step of performing the finishing while the head base body is fixed in position by supporting the projecting portions, and a separation step of separating the projecting portions after the finishing.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2010Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Wataru Ban, Katsutoshi Kasuya
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Patent number: 8727910Abstract: A head 2 is hollow. The head 2 includes a face part 4, a crown part 6 and a sole part 8. Ribs 20 and 22 are provided on the inner surface of the head. The ribs 20 and 22 have a height being greater than a thickness. The ribs 20 and 22 are separated from the face part, and are separated from the crown part. An extending direction of the rib 20 is inclined with respect to a front-back direction of the head. The rib 20 has a height change part 30 formed in a face side end part of the rib 20, the height change part 30 having a height gradually lowered as approaching a rib end part. The rib 20 extends toward a heel side in the direction of a backside of the head.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2009Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Takashi Nakano
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Patent number: 8727911Abstract: 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 dub head (42) when it impacts a golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2013Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Brandon D. DeMille, Matthew T. Cackett
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Patent number: 8721471Abstract: A hollow golf club head incorporating a stress reducing feature including a sole located stress reducing feature. The location and size of the sole stress reducing feature, and their relationship to one another and other club head engineering variables, play a significant role in selectively influencing deflection of the face.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2013Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey J. Albertsen, Michael Scott Burnett
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Patent number: 8715105Abstract: A cavity back golf club head having an interchangeable bridge member is disclosed. The interchangeable bridge member extends across a rear cavity connecting a heel and a toe of the golf club head to control the trajectory of a golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd
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Patent number: 8715106Abstract: 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, 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 may change the interaction of the golf club head with turf during play, and a composite face plate. The weight cartridge may comprise one or more high density materials, and may be located in or proximate the sole.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2013Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: James A. Seluga, Sean Griffin, Evan D. Gibbs
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Patent number: 8708837Abstract: A golf club head with a face insert that is only partially connected to the body of the golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head with a face insert wherein the face insert is only connected to the body of the golf club head at specific engagement portions around the perimeter of the face insert while keeping the remainder of the perimeter unengaged. The golf club head disclosed in accordance with the present invention will allow for removal of excessive weight traditionally needed to connect the face insert to the body of the golf club head, therefore improving the performance of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2013Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Ryan L. Roach, Joshua G. Breier
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Patent number: 8702533Abstract: A titanium bodied driver that utilizes a lightweight receiving back cap, which is designed to be non-removable from the club head but can be loosened to allow its interior to be accessed to reposition one or more movable weights into alternative receiving locations, is disclosed herein. The back cap may also be designed to be completely removable from the driver body to gain access to the one or more weights that can be re-positioned in alternative receiving areas within the back cap's interior.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2013Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: D. Clayton Evans
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Publication number: 20140106904Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.Inventors: Sharon J. PARK, Douglas E. ROBERTS, Andrew P. CHICK
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Patent number: 8690709Abstract: A golf club with a golf club head formed of two distinct parts is presented. The club head includes a lower, ball striking member configured to contact a golf ball. The club head further includes an upper member, connected to the ball striking member at a top surface of the ball striking member. The ball striking member may be formed of a more dense material than the upper portion, thereby lowering the center of gravity of the club to provide improved performance characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2009Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, John T. Stites
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Patent number: 8690707Abstract: Golf clubs, club heads, and club weighting systems may include: (a) a club head body member; and (b) one or more weight members movably engaged with the club head body member so as to move between a first position and a second position to change an overall exterior shape of the club head. This shape change may result in changes to the overall center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Alternatively or additionally, the weight member(s) may be removed from the club head body member, reoriented, and/or replaced with a different weight member, e.g., to change the overall exterior shape, center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Methods of making and using these clubs, club heads, and weighting systems also are described.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John Thomas Stites, Robert Boyd, David N. Franklin
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Patent number: 8690710Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2010Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert, Marty R. Jertson
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Patent number: 8684862Abstract: Golf club heads include: (a) a body having a ball-striking face and a rear face, the body defining a cavity; (b) a bridge member extending across the cavity, wherein the bridge member is provided to affect, at least in part, a position of a center of gravity of the club head; and (c) a feel altering element provided between the bridge member and the rear face. The feel altering element may affect a wide variety of parameters that relate to the “feel” of the golf club head when it strikes a golf ball, such as the sound produced by the club head during the strike, the vibrational response of the club head during the strike, the swing characteristics of the club head (e.g., weight, center of gravity position, etc.), and the like.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Hiroshi Kawaguchi
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Patent number: 8672773Abstract: A ball striking device, such as an iron-type golf club, includes a head that has a face having a ball striking surface defined thereon and an arched top edge, an iron-type golf club body connected to the face, and a hosel connected to the body. The arched top edge of the face includes a crest portion, a first upwardly sloping portion extending from a toe edge of the face to the crest portion, and a second upwardly sloping portion extending from the hosel to the crest portion, such that the distance from the bottom edge of the face to the top edge of the face is greatest at the crest portion. The hosel has a first end connected to the body and a second end located below the crest portion of the face.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Michael E. Finn
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Patent number: 8672772Abstract: Embodiments of a golf club set with progressive tapered face thickness coordinated with club loft are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2011Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventor: Marty R. Jertson
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Publication number: 20140073451Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventor: NIKE, INC.
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Patent number: 8668600Abstract: A unique golf club putter head having a fluted rear mass design. This rear mass is shaped as a concave mass that merges with the sole of the blade and dips just below the sweet spot of the head at the center thereof. It lowers the center of gravity of the head along the sweet spot while also controlling the mass at heel and toe. Fluting the rear mass permits controlled variation in the distribution of the mass from heel-to-center-to-toe so that it doesn't overwhelm the ball-hitting surface and instead produces stable smooth roll.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2012Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Butler Cabin Golf, L.L.C.Inventor: Byron Butler
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Patent number: 8668598Abstract: An iron-type golf club includes a conventional-weight section, a lightweight section and a heavyweight section. The conventional-weight section includes the hitting face and at least a portion of the hosel. The heavyweight section, made of a denser material than the conventional-weight section, includes the sole and an optional back flange. The lightweight section, made of a material less dense than either of the other sections, includes a core to which the other two sections are secured, such as by co-molding the core to the other two sections. In the co-molding context, the components need not be constrained by their respective weight and density, but could be classified more generically as having a pre-formed component and a molding component irrespective of the densities of the components.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Peter J. Gilbert, James G. Lewis, Ryan L. Roach
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Publication number: 20140066227Abstract: A wedge type golf club head is disclosed herein where the wedge type golf club head has enhanced performance characteristics such as improved backspin, ball speed, and launch angle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wedge type golf club head having an adjustable center of gravity, where the center of gravity may be adjusted based on different backing profiles that comprises at least one hollow chamber. The wedge type golf club head disclosed above may also have a thickened topline, wherein the thickness of the topline progressively changes as a function of the loft angle of the wedge type golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Richard M. Nelson, Gregory D. Johnson, Kevin Tassistro, Douglas C. Jorgensen, Robert W. Vokey, Eddie G. Perez
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Patent number: 8657701Abstract: 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 proximate a heel thereof. The face includes one or more stiffening members or other structures on the inner surface of the face to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. Certain stiffening members may provide greater stiffness than other stiffening members, allowing the face to be configured for areas of greatest stiffness and greatest COR tailored to common impact patterns.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Robert Boyd, John T. Stites
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Patent number: 8657700Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2010Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert, Marty R. Jertson
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Patent number: 8647218Abstract: A golf club including a club head having a club head main body including a hitting face and a face support, and a support extension. The support extension extends between the face support and a back flange to define a lower cavity.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Douglas C. Jorgensen, Scott A. Knutson, Helene Rick, Adrian L. Stanescu
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Publication number: 20140038737Abstract: The invention relates to golf club heads with improved mass distribution provided by novel cellular features. Because a club head can have very low mass density in certain parts, the club head can have much more mass in other parts, while keeping the overall club head mass equal to the mass of prior art club heads. A club head can be provided with optimized MOI and CG. The novel cellular structures of invention provide extensible functionality in the form of pockets, recesses, and windows and provide materials with excellent strength and restitution properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Ryan L. Roach, Joshua G. Breier, Douglas E. Roberts, Lauren Wilson
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Patent number: 8641556Abstract: A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may include a body comprising a front surface, having an opening therein for receiving a primary insert. One or more secondary inserts may be disposed in the primary insert and may include a leading surface and a trailing surface. The trailing surface may be physically exposed to the elements and the leading surface may be physically exposed and/or visually exposed.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2013Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Jimmy H. Kuan, Michael D. Sandoval, Adam K. Sheldon