All Potter Clay Golf Putter Head

Abstract

A golf putter head is made entirely of pottery clay and can have a glazed body and an unglazed striking face. This putter head is preferably fabricated by forming a basic disc shape on a potter's wheel and then removing a portion of the disc shape away to form a striking face. The putter head can also be formed in a ram press. A putter with a mallet shaped head can be formed or the putter can have an elongate shape other than a mallet shaped head. After drying, the clay can be glazed and then fired. The dried clay is then cut to form a planar striking face. The putter head can alternatively be fabricated using a ram press molding technique or can be initially formed on a pottery wheel and then molded to a final shape in a ram press.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to a golf putter head, more specifically to a putter head made entirely of pottery clay with a glazed exterior surface and an unglazed striking face.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The most important features of a golf putter are its appearance, feel, and function. The aesthetic appearance of a golf club putter is one of the most important features in the consumer's acceptance of a golf club. Many conventional golf putters are polished or painted to provide a reflective surface. In normal use these surfaces tend to wear or patina over a period of time. The present invention is superior in that the surface is permanent and remains aesthetically pleasing.

The prior art know to the applicant comprises the following U.S. patents which relate to the present invention. These include U.S. Pat. No. 2,908,502 to Bradstreet who uses ceramic composites to coat the surface of a metal golf club. U.S. Pat. No. 3,975,023 to Inamori, U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,306 to Jepson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,102 to Fukayma, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,661 to Helmstetter are directed to golf club heads that have a ceramic composite or polyurethane face insert. U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,826 to Nishigaki is directed to a golf club head with a plurality of ceramic plates and layers of glass fibers or carbon fibers laminated alternately, allowing for a change of hardness and roughness of the ball-striking surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,616 to Fernandez is directed to the use of a foam core surrounded by a rigid shell including resin impregnated fibers and ceramic particles dispersed in the resin. U.S. Pat. 5,340,107 to Baker is directed to a dry pressed silicon nitride composite monolithic ceramic putter whose main focus is on the weighting system and the method of manufacturing using bi-axial symmetric pressure to form the unique shape of the golf club. The finishing is completed with sandblasting and diamond lapping to polish the surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is for a golf putter head made entirely of pottery clay, usually stoneware or porcelain with an aesthetically pleasing glazed exterior and an unglazed striking face. The body of the putter head is formed using traditional pottery forming techniques. After firing the vitrified clay putter head has the weight and density to function as a standard golf putter head with a “soft feel” when striking a golf ball.

A golf club putter head according to this invention is formed entirely of pottery clay, usually stoneware or porcelain, with a glazed exterior and an unglazed striking face.

The glazed vitrified putter head according to this invention is aesthetically pleasing.

The glazed vitrified putter head according to this invention is functional.

The putter head according to this invention has a “soft feel” when putting a golf ball.

The putter head according to this invention can be formed by traditional pottery forming techniques using pottery clay in an uncommon way.

A method of fabricating a golf putter according to one aspect of this invention comprises the steps beginning with forming a wet pottery clay into a disc. The pottery clay is then dried. An exterior glaze is placed on at least a portion of the exterior of the pottery clay after drying. The pottery clay is fired to a temperature that vitrifies the clay and allows the exterior glaze to melt and the fired clay is then cut to form a planar striking face by removing a portion of the disc thus forming a club head for use in a golf putter.

According to another aspect of this invention the method of fabricating a golf putter comprising the steps beginning with forming a wet pottery clay into a first profile. The clay can then be formed into a second profile in a ram press. Subsequently the remaining pottery clay is dried. An exterior glaze is placed on at least a portion of the exterior of the pottery clay after drying. The pottery clay is then fired to a temperature that vitrifies the clay and allows the exterior glaze to melt after which the second profile of the fired clay is cut to form a planar striking face so as to form a club head for use in a golf putter.

A golf club according to this invention can comprise a putter head, formed in a ram press from an initially wet pottery clay that is fired after being shaped in the ram press. A shaft can be attached to the putter head. The putter head has an unglazed clay striking face with the remainder of the exterior surface of the club head being glazed. The fired pottery clay is formed from clay particles ordered in horizontal layers extending rectilinearly and transversely from the unglazed clay striking face into the putter head. Ends of the clay particles have been cut along the striking face to impart a soft feel when a golf ball is struck by the putter head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the top view of the putter head of the present invention showing the drilled hole 4 for the putter shaft.

FIG. 2 is the front view of the putter head of the present invention with the shaft attached.

FIG. 3 is a perspective of the putter head of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view of a disc shaped or mallet head putter in which cut ends of layered clay particles, which will form the putter striking face, are schematically represented. The shape of the ends of the clay particle is simplified for purposes of illustration and the cross sectional shape may differ from that depicted herein, but the layering of clay particles is apparent from this schematic.

FIG. 5 is a view of a blade type putter head that could be formed in a ram press, with the cut ends of layered clay particles, which will form the putter striking face, again schematically represented. The shape of the ends of the clay particle is simplified for purposes of illustration and the cross sectional shape may differ from that depicted herein, but the layering of clay particles is apparent from this schematic.

FIGS. 6-11 are views showing blade putter clay heads that can be formed using a ram press to create features of the type commonly employed on conventional putters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a unique functional golf putter head 1 that is aesthetically pleasing.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a golf putter head 1 that has a permanent exterior surface.

It is still an additional object of the present invention to use pottery clay and traditional pottery forming techniques to create a golf putter head 1 that capitalizes on the inherent properties of vitrified clay for an unusual, but very functional application.

A golf putter head 1 made entirely of pottery clay, typically stoneware or porcelain, with a glazed body 2 and an unglazed striking face 3. The present invention is preferably fabricated by forming the basic disc shape of the putter head 1 on the potter's wheel. After drying, the clay putter head 1 is glazed and then fired to a temperature that vitrifies the clay and allows the exterior glaze to melt. A portion of the dried clay disc is cut away to form a striking face 3 to make a traditionally shaped “mallet” putter head 1. A hole 4 is then drilled in the top of the finished putter head 1 for the putter shaft 5 to be glued into place. The invention may also be fabricated using a ram press molding technique.

The present invention capitalizes of the inherent nature of vitrified clay. Vitrified clay is strongest in compression. Just observe an all brick building. With a mallet putter head 1 shape the full depth of the putter head 1 supports the portion of the striking face 3 where the golf ball is generally hit. The weight and strength of the vitrified clay makes it functional as a putter head 1.

Many of the newer metal putters have an insert of composite ceramic material embedded in the striking face 3 to create a “soft feel” when striking the golf ball. The density of vitrified pottery clay is a similar to these composite materials. With a density less than most metals, but greater that a golf ball, the all clay putter head 1 has a “soft feel”.

Forming clay on a potter's wheel is nothing new. However, forming solid discs of clay results in a putter head 1 having this soft feel. The centering of the clay aligns the clay particles in a concentric pattern that adds to the strength of the thrown object. When the clay disc is cut to form the striking face 3 of the putter head 1, the ends of the concentric clay particles are exposed, adding to the strength of the structure.

In moist pottery clay, the clay particles are hexagonal plate shapes. When forming a clay object the clay particles tend to slide over each other like a deck of playing cards. When the clay is turned on the potter's wheel, and compresses into a putter head 11, the clay particles 16 slide over each other with the majority of the particles lying flat, as the head is formed into a disc shape. FIG. 4 shows a putter head 11 having a generally disc shape with a flat striking face 13 which will form a mallet head putter when a shaft is inserted into the hole 15 in the top of the putter head 11. These horizontal particle plate shapes stack up almost like a sedimentary rock and form layers. The putter striking face, which is formed by cutting the fired clay is defined by the cut ends of the exposed horizontal clay particles 16.

When wet clay is put in a ram press and forced into a solid shape under 30 tons of pressure, the clay particles slide over each other and are flattened into the same flat alignment as when turned. The density, strength and feel of the two processes are the same even though the resulting shape of the putter head may be different. FIG. 5 shows a blade type putter 21 that can be formed in a ram press. The clay particles 23 are also layered with the cut ends of the clay particles defining the striking face 23. The blade type putter 21 does not have the disc or circular shape of a mallet head putter 1 and 11. A hole 25 is drilled into the exterior of the blade for insertion of a putter shaft.

FIGS. 4 and 5, showing the layered clay particles, are representative and illustrative of both of the putters made on the wheel and putters that would be made with a press. No attempt has been made to show the precise shape of the ends of the clay particles in FIGS. 4 and 5, because such drawing would be too complicated for present purposes, but the layering of the particles is illustrated herein. However, rubbing the striking face, constructed according to this invention, with a fingernail reveals the layered configuration of the clay particles. When the striking face is rubbed vertically, between the top and bottom of the putter head, the roughened surface indicative of the layering is readily apparent. When the striking face is rubbed sided to side or horizontally between opposite ends, a much smoother surface is felt. This makes sense because the striking face is then being rubbed along the layers, which should constitute a smoother surface. When a putter it turned on the wheel and then pressed it into a shape other than a round or curved disc shape, the clay particles on the putter face would be layered the same as when the putter head is formed on a potter's wheel. The difference would be that the putter formed on the wheel would have the flattened clay particles radiating from the striking face in a curved orientation. The turned and then pressed putter would have the flattened clay particles radiating from the striking face in a curved shape in which the curvature may not be the same as when the putter is fully formed on a wheel. In the pressed putter, formed in a ram press with no turning, the flattened clay particles would radiate from the striking face in a straighter rectilinear orientation. Again the unglazed striking face in all three forming methods would be the same, formed from the ends of flattened layered clay particles.

The flat striking face is formed by cutting the wet clay, both when the complete putter head is formed on a potter's wheel, as well as when the final shape of the putter head is formed solely in a ram press or when the claim is first turned and then shaped in a ram press as part of a multi-step process. The wet clay in a first profile is placed in the ram press and a shape in the form of a second profile distinct from the first profile is formed as the wet clay is compressed in the ram press. After the clay has been glazed and dried, the striking face is formed by cutting the dried clay, leaving a planar, unglazed striking face.

FIGS. 6-11 are examples of putters that can be formed using a ram press to include features of the type that may be found on machined, forged or cast metal putters. FIG. 6 shows a blade type clay putter head having rearwardly extending projections at each end to improve the balance and alignment of the putter during a putting stroke. FIG. 7 shows a blade type putter in which a small curved indentation is formed on the top face of the putter, essentially symmetrical about the putter center line. FIG. 8 shows another blade type putter that would also have an indentation, which in this case is wider than the version shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 shows a clay putter head in which two indentations are formed into the top of the putter head, which in this case has an overall shape that is deeper than an ordinary blade type putter head. FIG. 10 shows a putter head similar to FIG. 9 in which the rear face of the putter head has a tapered configuration. FIG. 11 shows a clay putter head with a single indentation on the top of the putter, but with a rear of the putter head having a more rounded shape. An important aspect of the putter heads shown in FIG. 6-11 is that when formed in a ram press, different shapes that can improve the putter's feel and balance and lead to a smoother and more effective putting stroke can be incorporated on the clay putter head.

Other configurations would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore the embodiments depicted herein are merely representative and the following claims are not limited to the specific embodiments shown and discussed herein.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a golf putter comprising the steps of: forming a wet pottery clay into a disc;drying the remaining pottery clay;placing an exterior glaze on at least a portion of the exterior of the pottery clay after drying;firing the pottery clay to a temperature that vitrifies the clay and allows the exterior glaze to melt to form a club head, andcutting the fired pottery clay to form a planar striking face by removing a portion of the disc to form a club head for use in a golf putter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein clay particles are formed into concentric circles as the wet pottery is formed into a disc and ends of the clay forming the concentric circles are exposed on the striking face when the wet pottery clay is cut.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the striking face is unglazed.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the putter head is formed by placing the wet pottery clay in a ram press.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the putter head is formed on a pottery wheel.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the wet pottery clay is initially turned to form a disc and is thereafter the disc is formed into a final shape in a ram press.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein clay particles are aligned as the wet pottery clay is formed into a disc.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the clay particles slide over each other as the wet potter clay is formed so that the clay particles are flattened and form layers.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the clay particles have hexagonal plate shapes.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the final shape of the pottery clay is formed in a ram press and after firing the clay particles extend from the striking face in a rectilinear pattern.

11. A method of fabricating a golf putter comprising the steps of: forming a wet pottery clay into a first profile;drying the remaining pottery clay;placing an exterior glaze on at least a portion of the exterior of the pottery clay after drying; andfiring the pottery clay to a temperature that vitrifies the clay and allows the exterior glaze to melt; andcutting the first profile after firing the pottery clay to form a planar striking face by removing a portion of the first profile, to form a club head for use in a golf putter.

12. The method of fabrication a golf putter of claim 11 wherein the wet clay in the first profile is pressed in a ram press to form a second profile having a shape differing from the first profile.

13. The method of fabrication of a golf putter of claim 11 wherein ends of layered clay particles are exposed when the first profile of the wet pottery claim is cut so that the ends of the clay particles form a flat striking face of the golf putter.

14. A golf club, comprising a putter head, formed in a ram press from an initially wet pottery clay that is fired after being shaped in the ram press, with a shaft attached to the putter head, wherein the putter head including an unglazed clay striking face with the remainder of the exterior surface of the club head being glazed, wherein the fired pottery clay is formed from clay particles ordered in horizontal layers extending rectilinearly and transversely from the unglazed clay striking face into the putter head, ends of the clay particles being cut along the striking face to impart a soft feel when a golf ball is struck by the putter head.

15. The golf club of claim 14 wherein the clay particles have hexagonal plate shapes along the horizontal layers.

16. The golf club of claim 14 wherein the wet pottery clay is compressed when shaped in the ram press to force the clay particles to flatten the layers.

17. The golf club of claim 14 wherein the putter head comprises a blade putter head.

18. The golf club of claim 17 wherein the blade putter head includes rearward projections on opposite ends thereof to maintain alignment of the golf club during a putting stroke.

19. The golf club of claim 17 wherein the blade putter head includes indentations extending from the striking face toward a rear face along a top face.

20. The golf club of claim 17 wherein the blade putter head has a curved rear face.