Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6796911
-
Patent Number
6,796,911
-
Date Filed
Friday, January 10, 200321 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 28, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis, L.L.P.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 473 340
- 473 341
- 473 313
- 473 345
- 473 346
- 473 350
- 473 251
- 473 334
- 473 335
- 473 336
- 473 337
- 473 338
- 473 339
- 473 349
- 473 288
- 473 290
- 473 291
- D21 736
- D21 742
- D21 745
- D21 746
- D21 759
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A golf putter head has a generally triangular shape where a ball-striking leading wall has a first breadth greater than a second breadth of a trailing wall. The leading wall and trailing wall are interconnected at their respective opposite ends by sidewalls that converge toward one another and define a cavity having a trapezoidal shape. The center of gravity of the golf putter head is closer to the trailing wall than the leading wall so that a moment of inertia is generated that reduces the effects of missing a sweet spot on the leading wall during a putt. In a second embodiment, the trailing wall is weighted to move the center of gravity still closer to the trailing wall. In a third embodiment, a web interconnects the leading and trailing walls along a longitudinal axis of the golf putter head, dividing the cavity into two equal-sized cavities.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, generally, to golf putters. More particularly, it relates to a golf putter of generally triangular configuration having a high moment of inertia.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a perfect putt, the golfer strikes the ball exactly on the sweet spot of the putter head. This prevents the putter head from twisting about the axis defined by the golf club shaft. However, when the sweet spot is missed, the inertia offered by the ball imparts a torque to the golf club shaft. The torque increases in direct proportion to the distance by which the sweet spot is missed.
A putter head having a high moment of inertia resists the torque caused by missing the sweet spot. Putter heads having high moments of inertia are typically very wide and have weights attached to their outermost points. Most golfers prefer to play, however, with normal-sized, attractive putter heads rather than obviously over-sized putter heads.
Accordingly, there is a need for an attractive golf club putter head having a substantially normal width or breadth that provides a very high moment of inertia.
However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how such need could be fulfilled.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for a golf putter head of acceptable size that provides a high moment of inertia is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious invention. The novel golf putter head includes a main body having a generally triangular configuration. A leading wall of the main body has a first breadth, a top edge and a bottom edge. A trailing wall of the main body has a second breadth less than said first breadth, a top edge, and a bottom edge.
A first sidewall interconnects a first end of the leading wall and a first end of the trailing wall. A second sidewall interconnects a second end of the leading wall and a second end of the trailing wall.
A soleplate interconnects the bottom edge of the leading wall and the bottom edge of the trailing wall. The soleplate has a breadth less than the breadth of the trailing wall. The soleplate is normal to the leading wall and the trailing wall and has a length greater than the breadth of the leading wall.
A cavity is formed in the main body, bounded on four sides by the leading wall, the trailing wall, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall. The cavity is unbounded on a top end and is partially bounded on a lower end by the soleplate.
The trailing wall is spaced in trailing relation to the leading wall by a sufficient distance to position a center of gravity of the putter head about two-thirds of the way between the leading wall and the trailing wall. Accordingly, the center of gravity is closer to the trailing wall than to the leading wall. Such positioning of the center of gravity provides an enhanced moment of inertia to minimize the effects of a putt that misses a sweet spot on a ball-striking surface that is adapted to be mounted to the leading wall.
In a second embodiment, a weight-receiving cavity is formed in a trailing part of the putter head. The trailing part of the putter head is defined as the part between the trailing wall of the putter head and the respective trailing ends of the cavity.
A weight means is positioned within the cavity to further enhance the moment of inertia by positioning the center of gravity further away from the leading wall and closer to the trailing wall.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, an upstanding web is disposed in interconnecting relation between the leading wall and the trailing wall. The web is disposed normal to the leading wall and the trailing wall. The cavity is therefore divided into two cavities by the web. Thus, the web transmits forces applied to the leading wall at least in part to the trailing wall so that resistance offered by the trailing wall supplements resistance offered by the leading wall to the applied forces.
The soleplate is centered on a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the golf putter head and the web is mounted in upstanding relation to the soleplate. More particularly, the web is disposed on the longitudinal axis of the golf putter head and divides the cavity into two cavities of equal size.
An important object of this invention is to provide a golf putter head having a moment of inertia greater than 4,000 gm cm
2
. A closely related object is to accomplish the foregoing object in a putter head that is light-in-weight and inexpensive to manufacture.
Another important object is to provide a high moment of inertia putter head having an acceptable, aesthetically-pleasing size.
These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this description proceeds.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the description set forth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a putter equipped with the novel putter head;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the novel putter head;
FIG. 3
is a rear elevational view of said first embodiment;
FIG. 4
is a top plan view thereof;
FIG. 5
is a side elevational view thereof;
FIG. 6
is a bottom plan view thereof;
FIG. 7
is a transverse sectional view taken along line
7
—
7
in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 8
is a transverse sectional view taken along line
8
—
8
in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 9
is a top perspective view of a second embodiment; and
FIG. 10
is a top perspective view of a putter head of the second embodiment for a left-handed golfer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to
FIG. 1
, it will there be seen that the reference numeral
10
denotes an illustrative of the present invention as a whole.
Golf putter
10
includes grip
12
, shaft
14
, and novel putter head
16
.
As best depicted in
FIG. 2
, novel putter head
16
includes transversely disposed leading wall
18
having recess
20
formed therein for receiving a ball-striking insert, not shown. Recess
20
has less depth at its right end
22
to provide increased structural support for the leading end of shaft
14
, said leading end being received within blind bore
24
.
In a preferred embodiment, the breadth of leading wall
18
is only four inches (4″). This distinguishes putter head
16
from any high moment of inertia putter head that relies upon a very wide, unaesthetic leading wall.
Golf putter head
16
further includes transversely disposed trailing wall
26
that is parallel with leading wall
18
. The breadth, width, or transverse extent of leading wall
18
is greater than the breadth, width, or transverse extent of trailing wall
26
.
As perhaps best understood by considering
FIGS. 2-5
together, first sidewall
28
interconnects a first end of leading wall
18
and a first end of trailing wall
26
. Second sidewall
30
interconnects a second end of leading wall
18
and a second end of trailing wall
26
. Accordingly, sidewalls
28
and
30
converge toward one another from said leading wall to said trailing wall. As best indicated in the top plan view of
FIG. 4
, the novel structure creates a generally triangular-shaped putter head; more accurately, the shape is that of a trapezoid with rounded corners.
Note that the longitudinal extent from leading wall
18
to trailing wall
26
is greater than the transverse extent of said leading wall
18
. It is also worth observing that trailing wall
26
is centered with respect to the sweet spot of the putter head, rearwardly thereof, and has a truncate breadth so that its opposite ends are positioned close to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the putter head, it being understood that said sweet spot is centered on said longitudinal axis of symmetry.
Soleplate
34
, best seen in
FIGS. 4 and 6
, is disposed in interconnecting relation between leading wall
18
and trailing wall
26
and is centered with a longitudinal axis of symmetry of golf putter head
16
. More particularly, soleplate
34
interconnects a bottom edge of leading wall
18
and a bottom edge of trailing wall
26
. Forces applied to leading wall
18
are transmitted to trailing wall
26
by said soleplate and by sidewalls
28
,
30
as well.
Upstanding web
36
is mounted on and projects upwardly from soleplate
34
and is coincident with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of putter head
16
. Top edge
36
a
of web
36
is flush with top edge
28
a
of sidewall
28
and top edge
30
a
of sidewall
30
.
With the exception of soleplate
34
and web
36
, the space peripherally bounded by leading wall
18
, trailing wall
26
, and sidewalls
28
,
30
is empty, i.e., putter head
16
is substantially of hollow construction. Thus it is understood that web
36
divides that hollow space into cavities
38
and
40
. Cavities
38
,
40
reduce the weight of putter head
16
and enable the center of gravity of said putter head to be positioned on the trailing side of leading wall
18
.
Cavities
38
,
40
do not extend all the way to trailing wall
26
. Thus, a large part of the mass of putter head
16
is provided in trailing end
26
a
thereof, thereby positioning the center of gravity of putter head
16
in trailing relation to leading wall
16
. This increases the moment of inertia of the putter head. If putter head
16
is made of a single material, such as stainless steel, the moment of inertia will still be high but will be less than a moment of inertia achieved by weighting said trailing end
26
a.
The center of gravity is moved further from leading wall
18
, and the moment of inertia thereby increased, by adding a weight means to trailing end
26
a
. A weighted putter head represents the second embodiment of this invention. Such a weight means is denoted
42
in FIG.
6
. Cavity
42
a
is milled into trailing end
26
a
to accommodate said weight means, and said weight means is flush with the top of cavity
42
a
when the weight means is secured therewithin by suitable fastening means such as fasteners
44
,
44
(FIGS.
2
and
4
).
Where weight means
42
is formed of copper, the moment of inertia of putter head
16
is approximately 5860 gm cm
2
. Where weight means
42
is formed of a 25/75 copper/tungsten mixture, the moment of inertia is about 6800 gm cm
2
, and where weight means
42
is formed of tungsten only, the moment of inertia is about 7200.
Where weight means
42
is formed of copper, the center of gravity of putter head
16
is positioned about 60% of the distance from leading wall
18
to trailing wall
26
. Where weight means
42
is formed of a 25/75 copper/tungsten mixture, the center of gravity is positioned about 70% of the distance from leading wall
18
to trailing wall
26
, and where weight means
42
is formed of tungsten only, the center of gravity is positioned about 78% of the distance from leading wall
18
to trailing wall
26
Groove
46
is formed in the top of putter head
26
and extends from the top edge of leading wall
18
to the top edge of trailing wall
26
, along the top edge of web
36
. Said groove
46
thus is coincident with a longitudinal axis of putter head
16
and provides a sighting line that a golfer may use when lining up a putt.
In a third embodiment depicted in
FIGS. 9 and 10
, web
36
is obviated and a single cavity
39
is thereby provided. Thus, groove
46
is broken up into truncate leading part
46
a
and truncate trailing part
46
b
, but said truncate parts still collectively provide a sighting line that a golfer can use when lining up a putt.
The elimination of web
36
moves the center of gravity still further to the trailing side of leading wall
18
, relative to the first two embodiments, and the moment of inertia may therefore be increased further still, depending upon whether a weight means is added to trailing part
26
a
as in the second embodiment hereof.
FIG. 10
also indicates that strengthening insert
22
a
is moved to an opposite end of recess
20
for a left-handed golfer, and that blind bore
24
is re-positioned as well.
The high moments of inertia of achieved by these embodiments of the inventive putter head have never before been achieved in a golf putter having a leading wall that is only four inches (4″) in breadth or in a golf putter head that weighs under 350 grams or in a putter head of such an acceptable size.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
Now that the invention has been described,
Claims
- 1. A golf putter head, comprising:a main body having a generally triangular configuration; said main body having a leading wall having a first breadth; said leading wall having a top edge and a bottom edge; said main body having a trailing wall having a second breadth less than said first breadth; said trailing wall having a top edge and a bottom edge; a first sidewall interconnecting a first end of said leading wall and a first end of said trailing wall; a second sidewall interconnecting a second end of said leading wall and a second end of said trailing wall; a soleplate interconnecting said bottom edge of said leading wall and said bottom edge of said trailing wall; said soleplate having a breadth less than said second breadth of said trailing surface; a cavity formed in said main body, said cavity bounded on four sides by said leading wall, said trailing wall, said first sidewall, and said second sidewall; said cavity being unbounded on a top end and being partially bounded on a lower end by said soleplate; a ball-striking surface adapted to be mounted to said leading wall; said soleplate being normal to said leading wall and said trailing wall and having a length greater than the breadth of said leading wall; whereby said trailing wall is spaced in trailing relation to said leading wall by a sufficient distance to position a center of gravity of said putter head about two-thirds of the way between said leading wall and said trailing wall, said center of gravity being closer to said trailing wall than to said leading wall; and whereby said positioning of said center of gravity provides an enhanced moment of inertia to minimize the effects of a putt that misses a sweet spot on said ball-striking surface.
- 2. The golf putter head of claim 1, further comprising:a cavity formed in said trailing wall; and a weight means positioned within said cavity to further enhance said moment of inertia by positioning said center of gravity further away from said leading wall and closer to said trailing wall.
- 3. The golf putter head of claim 1, further comprising:a web disposed in interconnecting relation between said leading wall and said trailing wall; said web being disposed normal to said leading wall and said trailing wall; said cavity being divided into two cavities by said web; whereby said web transmits forces applied to said leading wall at least in part to said trailing wall; whereby resistance offered by said leading wall to said applied forces is supplemented by resistance offered by said trailing wall.
- 4. The golf putter head of claim 3, further comprising:said soleplate being centered on a longitudinal axis of symmetry of said golf putter head; said web being mounted in upstanding relation to said soleplate; said web being disposed on said longitudinal axis of said golf putter head and dividing said cavity into two cavities of equal size.
- 5. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein said leading wall of said golf putter head is about four inches in breadth.
- 6. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein said golf putter head has a weight that does not exceed three hundred fifty grams (350 gm).
- 7. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the moment of inertia is in excess of four thousand grams centimeter squared (4,000 gm cm2).
- 8. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein said leading wall of said golf putter head is about four inches in breadth, wherein said golf putter head has a weight that does not exceed three hundred fifty grams (350 gm), and wherein the moment of inertia is in excess of four thousand grams centimeter squared (4,000 gm cm2).
US Referenced Citations (33)