Patent Application
20090118036
The present invention relates generally to golf equipment and in particular to putters with inserts.
With reference to
With particular reference to
Rearward surface 22 of first body member 12 also includes a recessed portion 48 defined by a recessed surface 50, a near side wall 52 and a far side wall 54. Recessed surfaces 32, 42 and 50 are of equal depth below front surface 20, top rail 38 and rearward surface 22, respectively. Therefore recessed surfaces 32, 42 and 50 cooperate to form a relatively thin web portion 56 joining the relatively thicker mass concentrations at heel end 16 and toe end 18 of first body member 12. For example, the depth of the recessed portions can be from 0.100 to 0.250 inches. In one example, web portion 56 may have a thickness between recessed surfaces 32 and 50 of from 0.200 to 0.450 inches.
Second body member 14 is attached to first body member 12 as discussed more fully hereinafter. Second body member 14 has a substantially upright front flange portion 60 having a thickness equal to the depth of recessed portion 30, a horizontally extending flange portion 62 having a thickness equal to the depth of recessed portion 40 and a rear flange portion 64 having a thickness equal to the depth of recessed portion 48. Accordingly, when second body member 14 is placed over web portion 56, forward surface 66 of second body member 14 is substantially coplanar with forward surface 20 of first body member 12. Similarly, the upper surface of intermediate portion 68 and the outer surface of rear portion 70 of second body member 14 are coplanar with their respective adjoining top rail 38 and rearward surfaces 22 of first body member 12.
In one example, second body member 14 comprises a relatively lower density material such as a polymer. In another example, second body member 14 is an injection molded thermoplastic such as thermoplastic polyurethane or cellulose acetate propionate. In particular, second body member 14 may be formed of a thermoplastic polyurethane having a hardness of between 50 Shore D and 80 Shore D. Alternatively, second body member 14 may be formed of thermoplastic polyurethane having a hardness of approximately 72 Shore D. The methods and apparatus described herein are not limited in this regard.
As can be determined from the foregoing, providing a thin web portion 56 joining the relatively more massive heel and toe portions of first body member 12 increases the perimeter weighting of the club head over other insert putters in which the insert is poured or placed into a cavity formed in the metallic portion of the club head. Moreover, because second body member 14 extends across the full height of golf club head 10 from sole 72 to top rail 38, there is no metallic rim surrounding nonmetallic second body member 14. Accordingly, only second body member 14 will contact the golf ball even if the ball is struck high or is struck low, thereby leading to more consistent performance of the putter in use.
In the illustrative embodiment of
In the illustrative embodiment, second body member 14 is retained to first body member 12 by one or more detents 92 formed on first body member 12, which engage corresponding recesses in second body member 14, either alone or in combination with adhesive tape, which prevents second body member 14 rattling against first body member 12 when the club is struck. This feature allows one of a plurality of second body members 14c, 14d, 14e as shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, rear extension 24 of first body member 12 also includes a recessed portion 78 defined by a recessed surface 80, a near side wall 82 and a far side wall 84. Second body member 14 has a corresponding rear projection 86 having a thickness equal to the depth of recessed portion 78 so that when second body member is in place, top surface 88 is flush with upper surface 90 of rear extension 24. The upper surface of intermediate portion 68 and top surface of rear projection 88 of second body member 14 are inherently contrasting in color and/or surface finish compared to first body member 12. Accordingly, the surfaces cooperate to form a natural alignment aid to assist the golfer with aligning forward surface 66 of second body member 14 with the golf ball to be putted.
As shown in
As noted above, second body member 14 may be temporarily coupled to first body member 12 with detents to allow interchangeability of the alignment indicia and/or color associated with golf club head 10. Alternatively, second body member 14 may be temporarily coupled to first body member 12 via one or more alternative temporary attachment devices such as hook and loop fasteners or magnetic devices. In an illustrative embodiment, first body member 12 is made of a ferrous material and second body member 14 includes one or more magnetic devices embedded within second body member 14. Alternatively, first body member is made of a non ferrous material and first body member may have imbedded magnets or imbedded ferrous targets to attract the magnets imbedded in second body member 14. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
Although the above examples may describe and depict first and second body members with particular configurations, shapes, sizes, and/or materials, the methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein may include first and second body members with other suitable configurations, shapes, sizes, and/or materials, such as first body 130 together with second body member 132 as shown in
Although certain illustrative embodiments and methods have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of such embodiments and methods may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention should be limited only to extent required by the appended claims and the rules and principals of applicable law.
