Golf putter heads

• US 10,071,293 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2016
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Green Golf, LLC
• Original Assignee: Green Golf, LLC
• Inventors: Green, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US15/349,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20170136322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/007 Putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/065 for putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand

Abstract

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of golf putter heads having customizable centers of gravity that are adjustable in three dimensions. Also disclosed are exemplary embodiments of methods of adjusting a center of gravity of a golf putter head.

Claims

1. A golf putter head comprising:

a hollow body portion having a top surface; and

a plurality of weights configured to be added at a plurality of different available locations along the top surface of the hollow body portion, thereby providing a plurality of different options for adding weight to the golf putter head for adjusting a center of gravity of the golf putter head in three dimensions;

wherein;

the top surface of the hollow body portion includes a plurality of openings that define the different available locations along the top surface;

the weights are configured to be inserted into the openings in the top surface of the golf putter head;

the top surface of the hollow body portion includes first, second, and third recessed portions respectively located adjacent or along a heel portion, a middle portion, and a toe portion of the golf putter head; and

the openings in the top surface are disposed within the first, second, and third recessed portions; and

wherein the golf putter head further comprises first, second, and third caps configured to positioned over the respective first, second, and third recessed portions, and/or wherein each of the first, second, and third recessed portions includes two or more of the openings equally and circumferentially spaced apart from each other within the corresponding recessed portion.

2. A golf putter head comprising:

a hollow body portion having a top surface; and

a plurality of weights configured to be added at a plurality of different available locations along the top surface of the hollow body portion, thereby providing a plurality of different options for adding weight to the golf putter head for adjusting a center of gravity of the golf putter head in three dimensions, wherein;

the golf putter head includes a plurality of dials slidably and/or rotatably supported within a hollow interior of the hollow body portion, the dials including a plurality of openings that define the different available locations along the top surface of the hollow body portion;

the weights are configured to be inserted into the openings in the dials;

the golf putter head includes a striking surface and a bracket having a first portion attached internally along or to an inner surface of a portion of the golf putter head that defines the striking surface;

the bracket includes a plurality of elongate members that extend outwardly from the first portion; and

the dials are rotatingly and slidably coupled to corresponding ones of the elongate members.

3. The golf putter head of claim 2, wherein:

each elongate member includes a slot extending along a portion of a length of the elongate member; and

the dials are rotatable and slidable along the slots of the corresponding elongate members.

4. The golf putter head of claim 2, wherein:

the openings of the dials are internally threaded;

the weights include outer threaded surfaces such that the weights are threadingly engageable within the internally threaded openings of the dials; and

each dial includes two or more of the internally threaded openings circumferentially spaced apart from each other.

5. The golf putter head of claim 2, wherein:

the first portion of the bracket has a shape and size complementary to a shape and size of the striking surface; and

the elongate members extend outwardly from the first portion such that an acute angle is defined therebetween.

6. A golf putter head comprising:

a hollow body portion having a top surface;

a bottom portion;

an interior cavity defined between the hollow body portion and the bottom portion; and

a plurality of weights configured to be added at a plurality of different available locations along the top surface of the hollow body portion, thereby providing a plurality of different options for adding weight to the golf putter head for adjusting a center of gravity of the golf putter head in three dimensions;

wherein;

the golf putter head includes a single-piece main body that integrally includes the hollow body portion and the bottom portion, which is integrally attached to or an integral part of the hollow body portion;

or

the bottom portion is removably attachable to the hollow body portion; and

the golf putter head includes a main body that includes the hollow body portion and the bottom portion and that has a center of gravity higher than a center of gravity of a golf ball without any of the weights added.

7. The golf putter head of claim 6, wherein:

the top surface of the hollow body portion includes a plurality of openings that define the different available locations along the top surface; and

the weights are configured to be inserted into the openings in the top surface of the golf putter head.

8. The golf putter head of claim 7, wherein:

the openings in the top surface of the hollow body portion are internally threaded; and

the weights include outer threaded surfaces such that the weights are threadingly engageable within the internally threaded openings.

9. The golf putter head of claim 7, wherein:

the top surface of the hollow body portion includes first, second, and third recessed portions respectively located adjacent or along a heel portion, a middle portion, and a toe portion of the golf putter head; and

two or more of the openings in the top surface are disposed within each of the first, second, and third recessed portions.

10. The golf putter head of claim 6, wherein:

a plurality of inserts disposed at different locations along an inside top surface of the hollow body, the inserts include openings that define the different available locations along the top surface of the hollow body; and

the weights are configured to be inserted into the openings of the inserts.

11. The golf putter head of claim 6, wherein:

the golf putter head includes a plurality of openings that define the different available locations, and a plurality of weight holders or sleeves configured to be slidably inserted into the corresponding openings; and

the weights are configured such that one or more of the weights are insertable into any one or more of the weight holders or sleeves for adjusting a center of gravity of the golf putter head in three dimensions.

12. A golf putter comprising the golf putter head of claim 6, coupled to a shaft, wherein the golf putter head includes a material defining the hollow body portion, the bottom portion, and the interior cavity such that the golf putter head is configured to use spring force for putting a golf ball.

13. The golf putter head of claim 12, wherein the material comprises titanium.

14. The golf putter head of claim 6, wherein

the golf putter head includes a striking surface;

and

the top surface has a parabolic shape and/or a geometric shape curving upwards from the striking surface.

15. The golf putter head of claim 6, wherein the golf putter head and the weights are configured to allow for adjusting an overall weight of the golf putter head relative to the center of gravity of a golf ball including such that a majority of an overall weight of the golf putter head is higher than the center of gravity of a golf ball when the weights are added along the top surface of the hollow body portion.

16. A golf putter head comprising:

a hollow body portion having a top surface;

a bottom portion;

an interior cavity defined between the hollow body portion and the bottom portion; and

a plurality of weights configured to be added at a plurality of different available locations along the top surface of the hollow body portion, thereby providing a plurality of different options for adding weight to the golf putter head for adjusting a center of gravity of the golf putter head in three dimensions;

wherein;

the golf putter head includes one or more support members slidably and/or rotatably supported within the interior cavity, the one or more support members including a plurality of openings that define the different available locations along the top surface of the hollow body portion;

the weights are configured to be inserted into the openings of the one or more support members; and

the bottom portion of the golf putter head is removable and to allow access into the cavity for adding and removing weights into the openings of the one or more support members and/or for slidably and/or rotatably repositioning the one or more support members within the interior cavity.

17. A golf putter head comprising:

a hollow body portion having a top surface;

a bottom portion;

an interior cavity defined between the hollow body portion and the bottom portion; and

a plurality of weights configured to be added at a plurality of different available locations along the top surface of the hollow body portion, thereby providing a plurality of different options for adding weight to the golf putter head for adjusting a center of gravity of the golf putter head in three dimensions;

wherein the top surface of the hollow body portion includes a plurality of openings that define the different available locations along the top surface, and the weights are configured to be inserted into the openings in the top surface of the golf putter head;

wherein the top surface of the hollow body portion includes one or more recessed portions; and

wherein;

each of the one or more recessed portions include two or more of the openings spaced apart from each other within the corresponding recessed portion; and

/or

the golf putter head further comprises one or more caps configured to be positioned over the respective one or more recessed portions.