Patent Application
20120083353
The invention relates generally to putter heads and putters. Putter heads and putters in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may be constructed to include rearward extending arms, polymeric and/or damping materials on the putter body, and/or a relatively soft polymeric material as at least a portion of the ball striking surface.
Golf is enjoyed by a wide variety of players—players of different genders and players of dramatically different ages and skill levels. Golf is somewhat unique in the sporting world in that such diverse collections of players can play together in golf events, even in direct competition with one another (e.g., using handicapped scoring, different tee boxes, in team formats, etc.), and still enjoy the golf outing or competition. These factors, together with increased availability of golf programming on television (e.g., golf tournaments, golf news, golf history, and/or other golf programming) and the rise of well-known golf superstars, at least in part, have increased golf's popularity in recent years both in the United States and across the world.
Golfers at all skill levels seek to improve their performance, lower their golf scores, and reach that next performance “level.” Manufacturers of all types of golf equipment have responded to these demands, and recently, the industry has witnessed dramatic changes and improvements in golf equipment. For example, a wide range of different golf ball models now are available, with some balls designed to complement specific swing speeds and/or other player characteristics or preferences, e.g., with some balls designed to fly farther and/or straighter, some designed to provide higher or flatter trajectories, some designed to provide more spin, control, and/or feel (particularly around the greens), etc. A host of swing aids and/or teaching aids also are available on the market that promise to help lower one's golf scores.
Being the sole instruments that set golf balls in motion during play, golf clubs also have been the subject of much technological research and advancement in recent years. For example, the market has seen improvements in putter designs, golf club head designs, shafts, and grips in recent years. Additionally, other technological advancements have been made in an effort to better match the various elements and/or characteristics of the golf club and/or characteristics of a golf ball to a particular user's swing features or characteristics (e.g., club fitting technology, ball launch angle measurement technology, ball spin rate characteristics, ball fitting technology, etc.).
Golfers tend to be sensitive to the “feel” of a golf club, particularly with respect to putters. The “feel” of a golf club comprises the combination of various component parts of the club and various features associated with the club that produce the sensory sensations experienced by the player when a ball is swung at and/or struck. Club “feel” is a very personal characteristic in that a club that “feels” good to one user may have totally undesirable “feel” characteristics for another. Club weight, weight distribution, aerodynamics, swing speed, ball characteristics, and the like all may affect the “feel” of the club as it swings and strikes a ball. “Feel” also has been found to be related to the visual appearance of the club and the sound produced when the club head strikes a ball to send the ball in motion.
To successfully putt a ball in the hole, the ball must be launched at a proper combination of speed and direction to arrive at the intended destination. While some errors in putt speed and/or direction may be the result of mental or physical mistakes by the player (e.g., mis-hits, mis-alignment, etc.), the putter also can contribute to inconsistencies in ball launch speed and/or launch direction that result in missed putts. For example, if the putter head twists in the player's hands before or during ball contact, this may cause the ball to start out “off-line,” with some undesired spin and/or at the wrong speed. As another example, if the ball is launched with backspin or bounces excessively during the early phase of its locomotion, this can cause inconsistencies in ball speed. All of these things may result in missed putts and inconsistent putting.
While technological improvements to putter designs have been made, because of the very personal nature of the putting stroke and the “feel” aspects of putting a golf ball, no single putter structure is best suited for all players. New putter structures that change the look and feel of the club are welcomed by at least some players. Moreover, technological advances that provide improved and more consistent initial ball launch direction and launch speed would be a welcome advance in the art.
The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of this invention. This summary is not intended as an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a general form as a prelude to the more detailed description that follows.
Aspects of this invention relate to putters and putter heads that include: (a) a ball striking face member including a front portion for contacting a ball during a putting stroke and a rear portion opposite the front portion; (b) a main putter body portion including: (1) a base surface, (2) a first arm at a first side of the base surface and extending away from the rear portion of the ball striking face member, and (3) a second arm at a second side of the base surface, the second arm extending away from the rear portion of the ball striking face member and away from the first arm; and (c) a polymeric element engaged with at least one of the base surface, the first arm, or the second arm.
Other aspects of this invention relate to putters and putter heads that include one or more of the following: (a) a main putter body portion including a first arm and a second arm; (b) a first element engaged with the first arm; (c) a second element engaged with the second arm; (d) a ball striking face member engaged with or integrally formed as part of the main putter body portion, the ball striking face member including a central portion for contacting a ball during a putting stroke, wherein the central portion includes a plurality of openings defined therein; (e) a polymeric material located between at least the central portion of the ball striking face member and the main putter body portion, wherein a portion of the polymeric material is exposed at an exterior surface of the ball striking face member through the plurality of openings; and/or (f) a shaft engaged with the putter head (e.g., with at least one of the main putter body portion or the ball striking face member). The elements engaged with the arms of the main putter body portion may be polymeric elements, e.g., provided to control the weighting characteristics of the putter head and/or to dampen or attenuate vibration (e.g., when a ball is struck). If desired, a hosel for engaging the shaft may be provided on a third arm of the main putter body portion that extends above the ball striking face member. Putter heads in accordance with examples of this aspect of the invention may have various additional features or structures, e.g., relating to weighting features, alignment aid features, putter head constructions or parts, polymeric material exposure features, groove features, etc., as described in more detail below.
Still additional aspects of this invention relate to putters and putter heads that include: (a) a main putter body portion including a ball striking face having a central recess defined therein, a first arm, and a second arm; (b) a first element engaged with the first arm; (c) a second element engaged with the second arm; (d) an insert engaged within the central recess of the main putter body portion, the insert including a polymeric base material, wherein a plurality of depressions are defined in an exposed surface of the polymeric base material, wherein at least some of the plurality of depressions include an edge element mounted therein to thereby provide a ball striking surface of the putter head with grooves defined therein between edges of the depressions and adjacent edges of the edge elements mounted within the depressions; and/or (e) a shaft engaged with the putter head (e.g., with the main putter body portion). Again, the elements engaged with the arms of the main putter body portion may be polymeric elements, e.g., provided to control the weighting characteristics of the putter head and/or to dampen or attenuate vibration (e.g., when a ball is struck). Putter heads in accordance with examples of this aspect of the invention may have various additional features or structures, e.g., relating to weighting features, alignment aid features, putter head constructions or parts, polymeric material exposure features, groove features, etc., as described in more detail below.
Additional aspects of this invention relate to methods for making putting devices, e.g., such as putters and putter heads of the types described above. Such methods will be described in more detail below.
A more complete understanding of the present invention and certain advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following detailed description in consideration with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numbers indicate the same or similar features, and wherein:
In the following description of various example putter heads and other aspects of this invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example structures, systems, and steps in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, structures, example devices, systems, and steps may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “side,” “rear,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures and/or the orientations during typical use (e.g., at a ball address orientation). Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention.
At least some example aspects of this invention relate to putters and putter heads, as well as to methods of making such structures. A general description of aspects of the invention followed by a more detailed description of specific examples of the invention follows.
In general, aspects of this invention relate to putters and putter heads. One example aspect of this invention relates to putters and putter heads that include: (a) a ball striking face member including a front portion for contacting a ball during a putting stroke and a rear portion opposite the front portion; (b) a main putter body portion including: (1) a base surface, (2) a first arm at a first side of the base surface and extending away from the rear portion of the ball striking face member, and (3) a second arm at a second side of the base surface, the second arm extending away from the rear portion of the ball striking face member and away from the first arm; and (c) a polymeric element engaged with at least one of the base surface, the first arm, or the second arm. The polymeric element may constitute a single component or a multi-piece component, e.g., that extends along the base surface of the main putter body portion from the first arm to the second arm, and optionally up along the side surfaces of the arm and/or up the rear surface of the putter ball striking face. Optionally, if desired, at least one of the base surface, the first arm, or the second arm may include an opening defined through it and/or a thinned area (e.g., to reduce weight of the putter body portion).
The base surface of the main putter body portion may include a rearmost component extending in a direction between a rearmost portion of the first arm and a rearmost portion of the second arm. While it may connect to the arms, if desired, in at least some examples of this invention, the rearmost component will not extend to contact the first and second arms (i.e., the rearmost component may include free ends).
Additional putters and putter heads, according to at least some examples of the invention, may include one or more of the following: (a) a main putter body portion including a first arm and a second arm; (b) a first element engaged with the first arm (e.g., made from a polymeric material and/or provided for vibration damping); (c) a second element engaged with the second arm (e.g., made from a polymeric material and/or provided for vibration damping); (d) a ball striking face member engaged with or integrally formed as part of the main putter body portion, the ball striking face member including a central portion for contacting a ball during a putting stroke, wherein the central portion includes a plurality of openings defined therein; (e) a polymeric material located between at least the central portion of the ball striking face member and the main putter body portion, wherein a portion of the polymeric material is exposed at an exterior surface of the ball striking face member through the plurality of openings; and/or (f) a shaft engaged with the putter head (e.g., with at least one of the main putter body portion or the ball striking face member). If desired, a hosel for engaging the shaft may be provided on a third arm of the main putter body that extends above the ball striking face member. Also, if desired, the first element (engaged with the first arm) and the second element (engaged with the second arm) may constitute opposite sides or edges of a single polymeric member mounted on the main putter body portion that extends from the first arm to the second arm.
If desired, putter heads and putters in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may include weight members, e.g., to improve the club head's balance, to affect the club head's center of gravity location, to affect the club head's moment of inertia (particularly about a vertical or Z-axis located at the club head's center of gravity (Izz)), to allow user customization of the club head's feel, etc. As some more specific examples, such putter heads and putters may include at least a first weight member engaged with the first arm of the main putter body portion (e.g., at the arm's free end) and a second weight member engaged with the second arm (e.g., at the arm's free end). Optionally, these weight members may be releasably mounted to the arms in a weight port or other weight engaging structure by some type of mechanical connector, such as a threaded connection, to enable easy removal, replacement, and interchange of weight members. The polymeric material (or at least portions of it) also may act as weight members (e.g., rubberized tungsten or other polymeric materials doped with lead, tungsten, or other dense materials).
Additional aspects of this invention relate to the putter head's alignment aid(s). For example, if desired, a portion of the polymeric material may be exposed at an upper surface of the putter head to function as an alignment aid. This may be accomplished, for example, by having the exposed polymeric material form a line along at least the top surface of the putter head, wherein the line extends in a direction parallel to the ball striking surface of the putter head. Other alignment aid shapes and configurations also may be made using exposed polymeric material provided in the putter body. As additional or alternative potential features, at least a portion of an alignment aid may be provided on the main putter body portion, e.g., on a surface extending between the first arm and the second arm. This surface may be integrally formed as part of the arms and/or the main putter body portion or it may be one or more separate parts attached to the main putter body portion (e.g., to the arms). The alignment aid on this surface may include, for example, one or more shapes (such as rectangles or line segments) that are generally arranged such that an overall exterior perimeter of the alignment aid has a triangular shape (e.g., an isosceles triangle) or a trapezoidal shape with a first side extending in a direction substantially parallel to a ball striking surface of the ball striking face member (optionally, this parallel first side will be the side located closest to the ball striking face member). In putter head structures in accordance with examples of this invention where both the exposed top surface polymeric material and a separate main putter body portion alignment aid are provided, at least some of the features of the main putter body alignment aid (e.g., one or more of its color, texture, surface reflectivity, size, orientation, etc.) may match or complement corresponding features of the polymeric material exposed at the top surface of the putter head.
The polymeric material may be included in the overall putter structure in a variety of different manners and with a variety of different characteristics without departing from this invention. As one example, the ball striking face member may constitute a plate member that is separate from and engaged with a front surface of the main putter body portion with the polymeric material sandwiched between the plate member and the main putter body portion. If desired, in such an arrangement, a portion of the polymeric material may be exposed around a 360 degree perimeter of the putter head between the plate member and the main putter body portion (and, as noted above, the exposed top surface may function as an alignment aid). As another example, the main putter body portion may form a portion of the ball striking surface and the ball striking face member may constitute an insert element that is engaged within a recess provided in the main putter body portion with the polymeric material provided in the recess behind the front-most surface of the ball striking face member. If desired, the insert element may include a first layer (optionally made from a metal material) that is exposed at the ball striking surface and a second layer that constitutes the polymeric material (most of which is located within the recess behind the first layer). The first layer may be harder than the second layer, in such structures.
As noted above, putter head and putter structures in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may include one or more elements engaged with the arms of the main putter body portion. These elements may be polymeric material arranged on the arms so that at least some portions of the exposed surfaces of the polymeric elements face one another (e.g., the elements may be mounted on surfaces of the arms located closest to the putter head's geometric center). Alternatively, these elements may be arranged so that their exposed surfaces face away from one another (e.g., on surfaces of the arms located furthest away from the putter head's geometric center). As yet another example, if desired, these elements may be located on both of these types of surfaces, as well as on other surfaces of the main putter body portion. These elements, as noted above, may be made from polymeric material, and this material may be used to control the weighting characteristics of the putter head and/or to dampen or attenuate vibrations in the putter head when a ball is struck. If desired, two or more of these elements may be connected to one another, optionally by the same or similar material extending between the two arms, e.g., along a surface of the main putter body portion.
Additional aspects of this invention relate to features of the ball striking surface of the putter head, e.g., at the central portion of the ball striking face member between a top and a bottom of the putter head. Putter heads in accordance with at least some examples of this invention will include a top-to-bottom cross section of the exposed ball striking surface at the central portion of the ball striking face having alternating polymeric material and metal material and a plurality of grooves. These grooves may include, for example, one or more grooves defined in the exposed ball striking surface, wherein, in the cross section, first edges of these groove are defined by metal material and second edges of these grooves opposite the corresponding first edges are defined by polymeric material (the polymeric material may be softer than the metal material). The plurality of grooves may extend in parallel along at least some part of the central portion of the ball striking face. The grooves further may be formed in either or both of (a) the material making up the ball striking face member between adjacent openings and (b) the polymeric material exposed in the openings in the ball striking face member.
In some example putter head structures in accordance with this invention, the plurality of openings in the ball striking face member will include at least a first elongated opening that extends across the central portion of the ball striking face member, wherein a first groove is defined in a ball striking surface of the putter head and is formed such that a material making up the central portion of the ball striking face member forms a first edge of the first groove and the polymeric material exposed in the first elongated opening forms a second edge of the first groove located opposite the first edge. Again, this groove may be formed in either or both of (a) the material making up the ball striking face member between adjacent openings and (b) the polymeric material exposed in the openings in the ball striking face member. The grooves may have any desired cross sectional shape (e.g., square, rectangular, V-shaped, C-shaped, etc.).
Another aspect of this invention relates to putter heads that include: (a) a main putter body portion including a ball striking face having a central recess defined therein, a first arm, and a second arm; (b) a first element (e.g., a polymeric element and/or a damping element) engaged with the first arm; (c) a second element (e.g., a polymeric element and/or a damping element) engaged with the second arm; and (d) an insert engaged within the central recess of the main putter body portion, the insert including a polymeric base material. A plurality of depressions may be defined in an exposed surface of the polymeric base material, wherein at least some of the plurality of depressions include an edge element mounted therein to thereby provide a ball striking surface of the putter head with grooves defined therein between edges of the depressions and adjacent edges of the edge elements mounted within the depressions. Such putter heads also may include any of the various features described above (e.g., alignment aid features, weighting features, etc.)
At least some putter heads and putter constructions in accordance with this invention will include one or more weights engaged with a toe side edge of the ball striking face member and/or one or more weights engaged with a heel side edge of the ball striking face member. At least some of these weights (and optionally any mounting ports therefor) may be completely located within 1.5 inches in a front-to-rear direction from a forward-most ball striking surface of the ball striking face member (and optionally within 1 inch or less or even 0.75 inches or less in the front-to-rear direction from the ball striking surface). As opposed to the side edges, weights of this type (near the ball striking surface) also may be mounted on the top or bottom surfaces of the putter head.
Additional aspects of this invention relate to methods for making putter devices (such as putters and putter heads of the types described above). Such methods may include, for example, one or more of the following steps: (a) placing a polymeric material between a central portion of a ball striking face member and a main putter body portion, wherein the ball striking face member is engaged with or integrally formed as part of the main putter body portion, wherein the main putter body portion includes a first arm and a second arm, wherein the central portion of the ball striking face member includes a plurality of openings defined therein, and wherein a portion of the polymeric material is exposed at an exterior surface of the ball striking face member through the plurality of openings; (b) engaging a first element (e.g., a polymeric element and/or a damping element) with the first arm; (c) engaging a second element (e.g., a polymeric element and/or a damping element) with the second arm; (d) engaging a shaft with at least one of the ball striking face member and the main putter body portion; (e) engaging a first weight member with the first arm; and/or (f) engaging a second weight member with the second arm. The putting device (e.g., the putting head) further may be formed to include any one or more of the features described above (e.g., weighting features, alignment aid features, putter head constructions, polymeric material exposure features, groove features, etc.).
Specific examples of the invention are described in more detail below. The reader should understand that these specific examples are set forth merely to illustrate examples of the invention, and they should not be construed as limiting the invention.
The various figures in this application illustrate examples of putters, components thereof, and methods in accordance with examples of this invention. When the same reference number appears in more than one drawing, that reference number is used consistently in this specification and the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts throughout.
As illustrated in
One potential advantage of providing a polymeric material within a putter head relates to the potential for weight savings. By removing some of the metal material from the putter head body, this material may be at least partially replaced by a lighter weight or less dense polymeric material. This weight savings allows the club designer to place additional weight at other areas of the putter head structure, such as toward the rear corners of the putter head structure (as will be described in more detail below). Such features may allow the club designer to control and design a club head having a higher moment of inertia (resistance to twisting, particularly about a vertical axis) and desired center of gravity location characteristics. Additionally, by including this relatively soft polymeric material 104b as part of the ball striking surface 104 (such that the polymeric material 104b also directly contacts the ball during a putt) and in the putter head 102, the ball strike characteristics of the putter head may be altered and controlled, which affects the launch, sound, rebound, and other “feel” characteristics of the putter head 102 (e.g., by damping vibrations and altering the sound of a ball strike). The polymeric material 104b and/or the junction between the polymeric material 104b and the ball striking face member 104a also may influence ball spin as the ball comes off the putter face. These features also will be described in more detail below.
The example putter head structure 102 of
As shown in
The putter main body portion 112 of this example structure further includes two arms 118a and 118b that extend in a direction away from the ball striking face 104 and away from one another (as one moves rearward in the overall putter head structure). These arms 118a and 118b may be integrally formed with the base surface 114, or they may be engaged with the rear 122 of the base surface 114. In this illustrated example, the arms 118a and 118b have a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape from top to bottom and have a curved or twisted construction and generally extend rearward and outward (away from one another) with respect to a geometric center of the ball striking face 104. The arms 118a and 118b of this example bend outward away from each other and their bottoms are twisted outward at their free ends with respect to their tops. The curved lines of the arms 118a and 118b may mimic and/or help the golfer visualize a smooth flowing arc of a swing of a putter.
Each arm 118a and 118b of this example structure further includes a polymeric element 120a and 120b, respectively, engaged therewith. The polymeric elements 120a and 120b may dampen or attenuate vibrations throughout the putter head 102 and shaft 110 when a ball is contacted by the putter head 102 and/or they may be used to control the weighting characteristics of the putter head 102 (e.g., center of gravity location, moment of inertia characteristics, etc.). The polymeric elements 120a and 120b may take on a wide variety of shapes, constructions, and arrangements in the putter main body portion 112 without departing from this invention. For example, each element 120a and 120b may constitute one or more separate parts, or the two elements 120a and 120b may be interconnected (e.g., along the rear 122 of the base surface 114, along the intermediate surface 124 (if any), etc.). As other options, rather than (or in addition to) providing the elements 120a and 120b where at least portions of their exposed surfaces face one another as shown in
The polymeric elements 120a and 120b may be engaged with the arms 118a and 118b in any desired manner without departing from this invention, such as via adhesives or cements, via mechanical connectors, etc. Also, if desired, the polymeric elements 120a and 120b may fit into recessed areas or openings provided in the surfaces of the arms 118a and 118b.
Any desired material(s) may be used for the elements 120a and 120b without departing from this invention, including, for example elastomeric polymer materials, such as polyurethanes (including thermoplastic polyurethanes), rubbers (synthetic and natural), latexes, foamed polymeric materials, ethylvinylacetates, etc. Also, while any desired hardnesses may be used for these elements 120a and 120b without departing from this invention, in some examples of this invention, the elements 120a and 120b may have a Shore A hardness of less than 140 (optionally in the range of 60 to 120) and/or a Shore D hardness of less than 60 (optionally in the range of 30 to 55).
As noted above, the putter main body portion 112 of this example structure includes an intermediate surface 124 extending between the arms 118a and 118b. This surface 124 may be integrally formed with the arms 118a and 118b and/or with the rear 122 of the base surface 114, or it may be separate from these members (and optionally joined to at least one of them in some manner). In this illustrated example, the surface 124 includes an alignment aid 126 thereon. This example alignment aid 126 includes several line segments aligned in parallel from the rear 122 of the base surface 114 toward a rear center of the putter head body 102. The line segments of this example structure generally get somewhat shorter as one moves rearward to thereby form somewhat of a general trapezoidal or truncated cone exterior perimeter to this overall alignment aid 126. Alignment aids on surface 124 may take on a wide variety of different features without departing from this invention, several options of which are described in more detail below.
In at least some example putter heads 102 in accordance with this invention, as shown in
If desired, some example putter head structures in accordance with aspects of this invention may combine features of the polymeric material 104b alignment aid and the intermediate surface 124 alignment aid 126 to get an improved overall or composite alignment aid effect. For example, the alignment aid 126 on the intermediate surface 124 may have some of the same features of the exposed polymeric material 104b alignment aid so that these aids are visually tied together and/or work in manners that complement one another. As some more specific examples, the alignment aid 126 may have the same color, texture, and/or surface reflectivity as the exposed polymeric material 104b. If desired, the alignment aid 126 may be made from the same material as the exposed polymeric material 104b (e.g., as strips of material adhered to surface 124). As additional examples, the size, shape, and/or orientation of the alignment aid 126 may provide features to draw the eye forward toward the ball, such as longer line segments toward the front of the putter head 102 and progressively shorter line segments as one moves rearward. Other example alignment aids are described in more detail below in conjunction with
The openings 128 expose the polymeric material 104b and allow it to extend to the ball striking surface 104 (i.e., positioned to contact the ball during a putt). A variety of different face constructions are possible without departing from this invention, and several examples or alternatives are described in more detail below (in this illustrated example, the polymeric material 104b is sandwiched between the ball striking face member 104a and the mounting surface 114 of the main putter body portion 112).
The thicknesses T1 and T2 of the ball striking face member 104a and the polymeric material 104b, respectively, also may vary without departing from this invention. As more specific examples, these thicknesses T1 and T2 may be the same or different and may range, for example, from 0.1 to 2 inches, and in some examples, from about 0.25 to 1 inch. These thicknesses also may change over the heel-to-toe direction of the putter ball striking face.
As illustrated in
A flat and/or smooth ball striking surface 104 is not a requirement. To the contrary, as illustrated in
Providing grooves or scorelines (e.g., like grooves 210) can affect the manner in which the ball leaves the putter ball striking surface 104 during the course of a putt. For example, the grooves 210 can affect launch angle and/or ball spin as the ball leaves the putter ball striking surface 104 during a putt. As one more specific example, in at least some instances, the grooves 210 and the polymeric material 104b will grip the ball somewhat and produce top spin on the ball when putted (particularly if ball contact occurs while the putter head movement includes an upward vertical component or on the upswing), which tends to get the ball rolling earlier and truer (e.g., and may eliminate some early bouncing during a putt).
The grooves 210 may have any desired height without departing from this invention. For example, if desired, the grooves 210 may extend up to 10% of the height of the portion 104a and/or 104b into which it is provided, and in some examples, up to 25% or even up to 50% or 75% of this height. The grooves 210 may extend into the portions 104a and/or 104b (in the front-to-rear or depth direction), for example, a distance of about 0.25 to 2 times the groove's height, and in some examples, from 0.5 to 1.5 times the groove's height. The grooves 210 also may have any desired cross sectional shape in the top-to-bottom and front-to-rear directions, such as U-shaped, V-shaped, C-shaped, etc. The various grooves 210 on a putter ball striking surface 104 may have the same or different sizes and/or shapes, and every junction and/or every portion 104a and/or 104b on a given putter structure need not include an associated groove 210.
The grooves 210 may have other constructions without departing from this invention. For example, as illustrated in
While
Notably, by making the groove 210 V-shaped, the angle between the front ball striking face and the groove side wall is not as sharp (e.g., more than 90°, and optionally between 120° and 170°, and in some examples, between 135° and 155°). This less sharp angle may grip the ball somewhat less aggressively (as compared to the 90° box shaped grooves 210 of various other figures), to allow fine tuning of the ball's typical launch angle and/or rolling characteristics (e.g., to suit an individual player's preferences, typical course conditions, etc.). While V-shaped and box-shaped grooves 210 are illustrated in these figures, other groove cross sectional shapes also may be utilized, such as C-shaped, non-symmetric shapes (e.g., with the top entry angle into the groove different from the bottom entry angle into the groove), etc. Also, if desired, a single ball striking face may have grooves 210 of different cross sectional shapes (e.g., with some grooves box-shaped, some V-shaped, etc.) and/or grooves 210 with changes in cross-sectional shape over the length of the groove 210.
V-shaped grooves as shown in
The openings 128 on the ball striking surface 104 through which the polymeric material 104b is exposed also may have a wide variety of configurations without departing from this invention.
In addition, if desired, one or more individual slanted segments 306 may be provided independent of horizontal segments, e.g., at the upper edges of the overall polymeric segment design (running parallel to or substantially parallel to slanted segments 304 associated with a horizontal segment 302). As other alternatives, if desired, the slanted segments 304 and/or 306 may be parallel or non-parallel, may extend upward or downward, may differ in number from those illustrated, may be discontinuous (spaced apart somewhat) from their associated horizontal segment 302 (if any), may all extend downward to a common base line of the putter structure (e.g., to a common horizontal line), may all extend downward to different horizontal locations, etc. In this illustrated structure (as well as the other opening/exposed polymeric material structures described above), grooves may be included in the polymeric material, in the material between the polymeric material, or both, e.g., as described above in conjunction with
The presence of contiguous segments is not a requirement. As other examples, the ball striking surface 104 may include multiple sets of separated openings filled with polymeric material. These sets of openings may align with one another or may be offset from one another as one moves across the ball striking surface 104. The sets of openings may extend to a common cavity in the body member, to different cavities, or to no common cavity at all, if desired. Also, if desired, the openings 128 and the exposed polymeric material 104b included therein may be oriented at different angles from one another and/or they need not be parallel to one another.
The openings (and thus the exposed polymeric material on the ball striking surface) are not limited to narrow, elongated slots. Rather, if desired, all or some portion of the openings may be of a different shape, e.g., shaped and arranged to produce a stylized design, pattern, alphanumeric information, or other information on the ball striking surface, such as a logo, manufacturer name, brand name, or trademark information, etc. This feature also may be used to customize the putter head, e.g., to include a personal name or initials (such as the putter owner's name or initials), a team name, or any other desired information, or to provide an end user (such as the club purchaser or other person) with the ability to design his or her own putter face.
The overall pattern of exposed polymeric material 104b at the putter ball striking surface 104 (and thus the size of the openings 128) may extend and span any desired amount across the ball striking surface 104 in the heel-to-toe direction, such as from 25-100% of the face's heel-to-toe direction, from 30-90% of the face's heel-to-toe direction, or even from 40-80% of the face's heel-to-toe direction. In some example structures in accordance with this invention, the overall pattern of exposed polymeric material 104b at the ball striking surface 104 may extend across at least the central 25% of the surface 104 in the heel-to-toe direction, and in some examples, the polymeric material 104b will extend across at least the central 40% of the surface 104 or across at least the central 50% of the surface 104 in the heel-to-toe direction.
Other putter constructions are possible without departing from this invention, and
In at least some examples, the insert 406 may include a front plate portion 408, into which openings of any desired sizes, configurations, shapes, etc. may be machined or otherwise formed. In some examples, the plate 408 may be between 1 mm and 4 mm thick and, in some examples, may be approximately 2 or 3 mm thick. As mentioned, the plate 408 may include openings, such as channels 410, formed therein. The openings 410 may, in some arrangements, extend completely through the plate 408 (i.e., forming one or more through holes in the plate 408), or they may extend partially through the plate 408. Additionally or alternatively, the openings 410 may have a constant depth, width, height, etc. across the plate 408. However, in some examples, the depth, width, height, etc. of one or more openings 410 may vary along the length of the opening 410, along the plate 408, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, the openings 410, or at least some portion thereof, may be arranged generally horizontally across the ball striking surface 404 of the putter head 402 when the club is in a ball address position. In other arrangements, the openings 410 may extend in a non-horizontal linear, circular, semi-circular, or other curved pattern on the face.
The plate 408 may be formed of any suitable material, including metals such as aluminum, steel (e.g., stainless steel), titanium, nickel, beryllium, copper, combinations or alloys including these metals; polymers; and the like. Once the openings 410 are formed in the plate 408, the plate 408 may be pressed together (optionally “co-molded”) with a moldable, polymer material backing 414, such as thermoplastic polyurethane or thermoset materials. In some examples, the polymer material 414 in the final putter structure (once cured, if necessary) may have a hardness range between 25 and 85 Shore D. In some more specific examples, the polymer material backing 414 may have a hardness range between 35 and 45 Shore D, 50 and 60 Shore D or 60 and 70 Shore D. Forcing the polymer material 414 together with the front plate 408 (for example, as indicated by arrows 416) may be used to form the insert 406 (as shown in
In some examples, during the pressing or co-molding process, the front surface of the plate 408 (which will correspond to a portion of the ball striking surface 404 of the putter head 402) may be held against a mold surface so that grooves (e.g., grooves 210) may be formed in the polymer material (e.g., as described above in conjunction with
As noted above, the putter main body 412 may include a recess 412b formed in the front face 412a thereof, and this recess 412b may be formed in any desired manner. For instance, the recess 412b may be milled or otherwise machined into the front face 412a during manufacture, or the front face 412a may simply be formed into the desired shape, e.g., formed during a molding, casting, forging, or other fabrication operation to include the recess 412b. The insert 406 may be shaped to correspond to the shape of the recess 412b and may be configured to be received in the recess 412b (e.g., as shown by arrow 420). The insert 406 may be engaged with or connected to the recess 412b and/or the main putter body portion 412 in any desired manner, such as via adhesives and cements (e.g., double sided adhesive tape); via fusing techniques (e.g., welding, soldering, brazing, etc.); via mechanical fasteners or connectors (including releasable mechanical connectors); and the like. If desired, the insert 406 may rest on or press against a ledge or other structure defined in the recess 412b (e.g., along the side, top, and/or bottom edges of the recess 412b).
In some examples, the insert 406 may be removable to allow for replacement, customization, and/or personalization of the insert 406 and/or putter head 402. For instance, the insert 406 may be releasably connected to the putter main body portion 412 using mechanical connectors to secure the insert 406 in the recess 412b (e.g., screws, bolts or other connectors may extend from a rear side of the putter head toward a front region of the putter head to engage threaded regions provided on the insert 406, it may be engaged from the bottom surface of the putter head upward, it may be engaged from the top surface of the putter head downward, etc.). Personalization and customization features may include various characteristics such as polymer and/or metal color (e.g., team colors, color associated with a cause or promotion, player preference, etc.); polymer and/or metal hardness (e.g., harder or softer for different play conditions or swing types); graphics on the polymer and/or metal (e.g., logos, etc.); alphanumeric or textual information; etc.
In some arrangements, the metal plate 408 may be replaced by a plate formed of a polymer of a different hardness from the backing material polymer 414, thereby forming an insert 406 of all polymer. For instance, the metal plate 408 may be replaced with a plate formed of a polymer material having a higher Shore D hardness value than the polymer 414 filling the grooves 410 of the insert 406. This “all polymer” insert may aid in further reducing weight associated with the putter head 402. Additionally or alternatively, the polymer material 414 may be replaced with a metal of a different hardness from the metal plate 408, thereby forming an insert 406 of all metal.
If desired, the major interior surface defining the recess 412b may be formed to include a polymer or other material, to provide a consistent backing or base against which insert 406 is mounted. As another alternative, if desired, the material of the polymer backing layer 414 may be included in the recess 412b and the putter head 402 may be formed by pressing plate 408 against the polymer backing material 414 in the recess 412b to force the polymer material 414 into the openings 410 of the plate 408. If necessary, one or more overflow holes may be provided at appropriate locations to allow any excess polymer material 414 to escape from the putter head during the pressing operation.
In some examples, the polymer included in the recess 412b (if any) may be a material different from the polymer material 414 filling the openings 410 of the insert 406. For instance, polymers of different Shore hardness values may be used for the polymer in the recess 412b and the polymer 414 filling the openings 410. In some examples, the polymer 414 filling the openings 410 may have a higher Shore hardness than the polymer in the recess 412b. The harder polymer 414 in the openings 410 may aid in creating top spin on the ball (e.g., when the ball is hit with an upward stroke trajectory) while the softer polymer in the recess may aid in providing a soft or consistent “feel” for the putter head 402 (e.g., by damping vibrations).
As further shown in
Alternatively, if desired, an insert structure similar to that of
In some examples, a thin metal bar, strip or other metal layer 512 is formed or laid within the recesses 510.
The metal strips 512 may be provided within the recesses 510 and/or connected to the polymer insert 506 in any desired manner. For instance, the metal 512 may be engaged with the insert 506 via adhesives or cements, mechanical connectors, deposition techniques, etc. The metal strips 512 also may be interconnected with one another and mounted on a rear surface of the main base portion of the insert 506 such that the front of the strips 512 extend to and project through openings in the insert 506 and are exposed at the front surface 508.
Insert 506 may be engaged with the main putter body portion (e.g., portion 412) (as indicated by arrow 514) using various engagement or connection techniques as described above. For instance, the insert 506 may be connected to the recess 412b and/or other portion of the main putter body portion 412 via adhesives (e.g., double sided adhesive tape), fusing techniques, mechanical connectors, and the like.
Optionally, if desired, a rear or back side of the insert 506 may include a similar groove and metal strip structure, thus forming a two-sided, reversible insert. The rear or back side insert arrangement may optionally include a different groove pattern or configuration, different metal type, different polymer type, different hardnesses, etc. in order to provide different sound, feel, hardnesses, etc.
In still other arrangements, the metal and polymer may of insert 506 be reversed to provide an insert 506 having an opposite arrangement. For instance, the main base portion of the insert 506 may be formed of a metal (e.g., aluminum, titanium, steel, nickel, beryllium, copper, combinations or alloys including these metals, etc.) and may have a plurality of recesses 510 formed in a surface of the insert 506. Strips of polymer 512 may then be positioned within the recesses 510, such as in a center of the recesses 510. The edges of the metal recesses 510 and the edges of the polymer strips 512 may then act as grooves or scorelines, similar to other arrangements described herein.
In the example structure shown in
The insert 604 may be engaged with the putter head 602 (as indicated by arrow 614) using any of the techniques and/or methods described above. For instance, the insert 604 may engaged with the club head 602 at recess 602a using adhesives (e.g., double sided adhesive tape), fusing techniques, mechanical connectors, etc. Also, microgrooves 606 of the types described above also may be used in conjunction with any of the arrangements and ball striking surfaces described herein.
Also, the ball striking surface 704 may include grooves defined in the material of the ball striking face portion 704a and/or the polymeric material 710, e.g., in any of the manners described above in conjunction with
First, as a ball sits on the green, its weight forces it down somewhat into the grass. When putting, the putter must first somewhat “pop” the ball out of this settled condition. Therefore, putter faces generally have some loft to help launch the ball at an upward angle (e.g., angle Θ from
Putter structures in accordance with at least some examples of this invention, however, may provide quicker and truer roll (and thus a more consistent roll) as compared to conventional putters. As noted above, because of the soft polymer materials and the sharp edges in the polymer and metal (e.g., from the grooves), the putter face tends to “grip” the ball a bit better during a putt (particularly if the putt is struck with somewhat of an upward swing or trajectory of the putter head). This helps “pop” the ball out of its settled condition somewhat more easily and tends to better induce top spin on the ball (which tends to keep the ball on the ground and get it rolling somewhat more quickly). Also, these features allow some example putter heads to have a less lofted face angle (e.g., 2° vs. a conventional 4°). Thus, the ball does not tend to launch as high out of the settled condition, causing it to more quickly contact the ground once out of the settled position, and the induced top spin helps hold the ball on the ground and gets it rolling more quickly. A schematic diagram of an example initial trajectory and roll of the ball using an example putter according to this invention is shown in
The microgrooves, as described above in conjunction with the arrangement illustrated in
As shown in a comparison of
Also, the combination of metal and polymer on the ball striking surface of the putter provides a nice, soft and consistent feel (optionally controllable by selecting the hardnesses of the various parts) while still providing a more conventional “metal-on-ball” sound (or “click”) of conventional putters. This sound feature also is an important part of the “feel” for many golfers, and maintaining this metallic sound helps prevent a more “dead” sound of putting a ball against a full polymer material on a putter face (e.g., as provided in many conventional putters that simply have a polymer ball striking insert).
Any desired polymeric material may be used in the putter head without departing from this invention, including thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric materials, synthetic rubber type polymeric materials, etc., such as polyurethanes, vinyls (e.g., ethylvinylacetates, etc.), nylons, polyethers, polybutylene terephthalates, etc. Additionally or alternatively, recycled materials, such as recycled polymer materials, may be used in any of the above-described arrangements without departing from the invention. In some examples, portions of the club head, insert, golf club grip, etc. may be formed a recycled material such as regrind. Regrind may include additives used in the formation of portions of the ball striking surface, club head, grip, etc., and this regrind may include finely ground recycled materials. In some examples, the finely ground recycled materials may be recycled footwear materials that may be scraps, shavings, etc. generated during manufacture, defective or used articles of footwear, and the like. The additives may include leather, cotton, thermoplastics, synthetic and natural rubber, millable/partially cross-linked polyurethane, and synthetic fibers. The thermoplastics may include polyamides, polyesters and polyurethanes.
In some examples, the regrind additives may be ground to a desired particle size and added to raw material (such as new polymeric material) to form the desired portions of the club head, grip, ball striking surface, insert, etc. In other instances, the desired portions may be formed entirely of regrind. One advantage of using regrind materials in forming portions of the putter, such as the ball striking surface, grip, insert, etc., is the reduction in waste associated with the manufacture of the articles being ground into regrind and the reduction in first-use materials in manufacturing portions of the putter. The use of recycled materials generally reduces waste that would have consumed landfill space and aids in reducing the carbon footprint of manufacturers. Additional examples of regrind materials, manufacture, etc. may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,934 to Chriss, entitled “Footwear Additive Made From Recycled Materials,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
As shown in these figures, in at least some examples of this invention, the intermediate surface 924 alignment aid 926 may have a generally triangular perimeter shape. Even in examples where the alignment aid 926 is a series of line segments (as shown in
Those skilled in the art will appreciate, given benefit of this specification, that the alignment aids of
In one example, it may be desirable to reposition the weight saved by using the polymeric material in the putter head to various other locations within the club head structure, such as rearward and toward the side edges of the putter head (e.g., to increase the club head's moment of inertia, particularly the Izz moment (about a vertical axis through the club head's center of gravity)). The example putter head 1302 of
The weights 1350 may be connected to the putter head 1302 using various techniques. In one example, the weights 1350 may be provided in weight ports 1352 that may include threaded openings in which weights 1350 formed as screws, bolts, or other mechanical connectors may be inserted for holding the weights 1350 in the club head body. See
Weights 1350 and/or weight ports 1352 of the types described above may be included in any of the putter head constructions described above, e.g., those described in conjunction with
Optionally, if desired, the polymeric member 1420 may extend up on the interior (facing) side walls SW of at least some portion of the arms 1418a and 1418b and/or on the rear surface RS of the ball striking face. The polymeric member(s) 1420 may help dampen vibrations when a golf ball is struck, as noted above.
As further shown in
Alternatively, if desired, the putter head 1400 of
As further shown in these figures, if desired, the weights 1502 and the ports 1552 therefor may be recessed or countersunk into the putter head structure 1500, optionally, so that the weights 1502 are not visible to the player when the putter head 1500 is being used. This is shown in
If desired, in at least some example structures in accordance with this invention, during manufacture of the putter heads 1500, one or both countersink hole(s) 1510 may form a portion of the machined-in recess formed behind the ball striking face portion, e.g., like the machined-in recess described in the example putter head structure shown in
Weights 1502 and their location close to the ball striking surface 1504 as described above in conjunction with
Additionally, these features of the invention can help customize or personalize the putter head to help users make better contact with the ball and launch the ball in the desired direction. More specifically, the amount of weight provided in the heel and toe weight ports 1552 can affect the putter head's motion during a putting stroke. As some more concrete examples, for players that tend to hit the ball with an open putter face, more weight can be provided in the putter heel port(s) 1552 to help the putter face close a bit earlier in the putting stroke. Alternatively, for players that tend to hit the ball with a closed putter face, more weight can be provided in the putter toe port(s) 1552 to help the putter face remain open a bit longer in the putting stroke. Adjusting the weighting in the vertical direction can also help fine tune and control the location and/or height of the bottom of the arc of the putting stroke. Club fitters and/or others can use these weights 1502 and weight ports 1552 to help better match a putter head to the user's stroke to provide more consistent, on-line, and straight putting.
Heel and/or toe oriented weights, optionally as part of or very close to the ball striking portion of the putter head (e.g., just back from the ball striking face) as shown in
As further shown in
While the putter 1600 may be made from a variety of different materials without departing from this invention, in this illustrated example, the main putter body portion 1612 may be made from a lightweight metal material, such as aluminum, titanium, alloys containing aluminum and/or titanium, stainless steel, copper, copper alloys, etc. In this illustrated example, the main putter body portion 1612 (including the ball striking face 1604 and arms 1618a and 1618b) is made from a single piece of material and includes recesses or ports for attachment of the insert member 1606 and the weights 1650. Any overall number of parts and pieces may be provided in such a putter head 1600 without departing from this invention.
One aspect of this putter head 1600 that differs from others described above relates to the inclusion of various openings or holes in the main putter body portion 1612. For example, one or both arms 1618a and 1618b may include one or more openings 1620 defined through them. Optionally, if desired, both arms 1618a and 1618b need not include openings 1620 (e.g., the heel side arm 1618a may have a closed side wall). The bottom base surface 1630 of this example structure 1600 includes a central ridge element 1632 that in part defines two openings 1622 in the bottom base surface 1630. Any number of openings may be provided in this bottom base surface 1630. A central alignment aid 1634 is provided along the central ridge element 1632 to provide a portion of an alignment aid for this putter structure 1600. This central alignment aid 1634 may be provided as a raised surface (raised from central ridge element 1632), as a recessed surface (recessed into central ridge element 1632), or it may constitute a gap between two sides of the central ridge element 1632 (exposing the ground between the two sides of central ridge element 1632). If desired, rather than complete openings through the putter head 1600, areas 1620 and 1622 in
The various openings 1620 and 1622 (or reduced material thickness areas), when present, further reduce the weight of the main putter body portion 1612. This weight savings enables a user, club fitter, club manufacturer, or the like, to reposition weight to other locations on the club head body 1612, such as in the weight ports 1652. Selective weighting and weight positioning can increase the putter head's moment of inertia, particularly about a vertical axis (e.g., through the putter head's center of gravity, at the center of the ball striking face, etc.), which reduces the tendency for the putter head 1600 to twist, even if the ball is hit at somewhat of an off center position on the putter face.
In addition or as an alternative to the weight ports 1652 and weight members 1650 shown in
As shown in
Also, as shown in
Putters and putter heads may have any desired constructions, materials, dimensions, loft angles, lie angles, colors, designs, and the like without departing from this invention, including conventional constructions, materials, dimensions, loft angles, lie angles, colors, designs, and the like, as are known and used in the art.
Of course, many modifications to the putter and putter head structures and/or methods for making these structures may be used without departing from the invention. For example, with respect to the structures, grips, aiming indicia or markings, other indicia or markings, different types of putter heads, various shaft curvatures and/or shapes, various shaft connecting member shapes, and/or other structural elements may be provided and/or modified in the structure without departing from the invention. With respect to the methods, additional production steps may be added, various described steps may be omitted, the steps may be changed and/or changed in order, and the like, without departing from the invention. Therefore, while the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described structures and methods. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/880,737 filed Sep. 13, 2010 in the name of David N. Franklin entitled “Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball Striking Surface,” and it also claims priority benefits based on U.S. Provisional Patent Appln. No. 61/526,350 filed Aug. 23, 2011 in the names of David N. Franklin, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Jason Martin, and Carl Jonsson entitled “Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball striking Surface.” Additionally, information in this application builds on information contained in the following U.S. patents and patent applications: (a) U.S. Pat. No. 7,717,801 issued May 18, 2010 in the names of David N. Franklin and John Thomas Stites and entitled “Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball Striking Face,” (b) U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,779 issued Oct. 5, 2010 in the names of David N. Franklin and John Thomas Stites and entitled “Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball Striking Face,” (c) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/612,236 filed Nov. 4, 2009 in the names of Jeremy N. Synder, David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, and Donald S. Rahrig and entitled “Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball Striking Face,” and (d) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/755,330 filed Apr. 6, 2010 in the names of Jeremy N. Synder, John T. Stites, David N. Franklin, and Donald S. Rahrig and entitled “Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball Striking Face.” Each of the earlier patents and patent applications identified in the paragraphs above is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61526350 | Aug 2011 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12880737 | Sep 2010 | US |
| Child | 13228310 | US |
