Nike, Inc.

Glassimetal Technology Inc.

Apple Inc.

Karsten Manufacturing Corporation

Other

David S Lee

William L Johnson

Marios D Demetriou

Joseph P Schramm

Jong Hyun Na

John T Stites

Robert M Boyd

Raymond J Sander

Glenn Garrett

Michael Floyd

Danielle Duggins

Montague Rittgers

Sander J Raymond

A ball striking device has a head that includes a metal face configured for striking a ball, a rearwardly extending metal band, a top piece, and a bottom piece. The metal band has a first end extending from one side of the face, a second end extending from the opposite side of the face, and a rear portion extending between the first and second ends and defining at least a portion of the rear periphery of the head. The top piece and the bottom piece are non-metallic or substantially non-metallic. The top piece is connected to the top side of the metal band and forms at least a portion of a top side of the head, and the bottom piece is connected to the bottom side of the metal band and forms at least a portion of a bottom side of the head. The top piece and the bottom piece are separated by the metal band.

Golf club head or other ball striking device having multi-piece construction and method for manufacturing

The present disclosure is directed to the use of cellulosic materials, such as wood, paper, etc., or synthetic polymeric materials, such as a thermoplastic, rubber, etc., or a composite containing one or more of these materials as feedstock barrels for the process of injection molding of metallic glasses by rapid capacitor discharge forming (RCDF) techniques.

Cellulosic and synthetic polymeric feedstock barrel for use in rapid discharge forming of metallic glasses

The present disclosure is directed to feedstock barrels comprising thermally and electrically insulating films configured to be adjacent to a feedstock sample when it is loaded in the barrel for the process of shaping metallic glasses by rapid capacitor discharge forming (RCDF) techniques.

Feedstock barrels coated with insulating films for rapid discharge forming of metallic glasses

Golf clubs formed from bulk-solidifying amorphous metals (i.e., metallic glasses) having high elastic modulus and fracture toughness, and to methods of forming the same are provided. Among other components, the golf club materials disclosed enable fabrication of flexural membranes or shells used in golf club heads (drivers, fairways, hybrids, irons, wedges and putters) exhibiting enhanced flexural or bending compliance together with the ability to deform plastically and avoid brittle fracture or catastrophic failure when overloaded under bending loads. Further, the high strength of the material and its density, comparable to that of steel, enables the redistribution of mass in the golf club while maintaining a desired overall target mass.

Golf club fabricated from bulk metallic glasses with high toughness and high stiffness

A fluxing method is disclosed by which the melt of aluminum-contaminated Ni-based glass-forming alloys is fluxed using a fluxing agent based on boron and oxygen in order to reverse the adverse effects of aluminum impurities on the glass-forming ability and toughness.

Fluxing method to reverse the adverse effects of aluminum impurities in nickel-based glass-forming alloys

Methods and apparatus for forming high aspect ratio metallic glass, including metallic glass sheet and tube, by a melt deposition process are provided. In some methods and apparatus a molten alloy is deposited inside a tubular channel formed by two concentrically arranged substrates, and shaped and quenched by conduction to the substrates in a manner that enables the molten alloy to vitrify prior to undergoing substantial shear flow. The deposition method allows the molten alloy to be deposited and formed while being quenched, without undergoing substantial shear flow.

Production of metallic glass by melt deposition

The disclosure is directed to a method of forming high-aspect-ratio metallic glass articles that are substantially free of defects and cosmetic flaws by means of rapid capacitive discharge forming. Metallic glass alloys that are stable against crystallization for at least 100 ms at temperatures where the viscosity is in the range of 10to 10Pa-s are considered as suitable for forming such high-aspect-ratio articles.

Methods for shaping high aspect ratio articles from metallic glass alloys using rapid capacitive discharge and metallic glass feedstock for use in such methods

An automated rapid capacitive discharge apparatus is provided for sequentially or simultaneously rapidly heating and shaping a plurality of metallic glass feedstock samples. The apparatus includes a sample feeder defining a body for holding a plurality of samples and being capable of sequentially positioning at least one feedstock sample into a discharge position within the processing compartment. In the processing compartment the sample is heated by a discharge of a quantum of electrical energy supplied via electrodes, then shaped into a desired shape by means of a shaping tool, and subsequently moved out of the discharge position as a second feedstock moves into a discharge position.

Automated rapid discharge forming of metallic glasses

A golf having hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions is disclosed. In wet playing conditions, moisture may be repelled by the hydrophobic portions and attracted to the hydrophilic portions. Thus, the surface of the hydrophobic portions may remain dry such that the friction between a golf club head and the golf ball surface is not reduced. As a result, the golf ball may not be adversely affected by wet playing conditions.

Golf ball having hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions

A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a head that includes a face having an outer surface located at a front of the head, a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face, and a face mask connected to the outer surface of the face, the face mask having a first surface configured for forming at least a portion of a ball striking surface of the head configured for striking a ball, a second surface opposite the first surface and confronting the outer surface of the face, and a plurality of elongated slots extending completely through the face mask, from the first surface to the second surface. The slots combine with the outer surface of the face to form a plurality of face grooves on the ball striking surface.

Golf club head or other ball striking device with slotted face mask

A golf club head has structure for assisting a golfer, and a head cover has structure for supporting the golfer-assisting structure. In one aspect, the golfer-assisting structure provides a visual indicator, such as an alignment marker, a ball impact indicator, a temperature indicator, or the like. In another aspect, the golfer-assisting structure includes sensor(s) and/or other electronic components for measuring swing characteristics, course conditions, global position, or the like. The supporting structure may provide a source of energy, such as a power source, a light source, or a heat source. In some aspects, the supporting structure may include a processor for receiving data from the golfer-assisting structure, and may transmit data to a display on the head cover and/or to an external source.

Growing community of inventors

Wenham, MA, United States of America

David S Lee