Golf putter head

• US 20040132542A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Olsavsky, Thomas, Gray, Steven D., Toulon, Sean, Morgulis, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,929,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/336
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A putter head is provided having enhanced inertia and alignment characteristics. The putter head includes a front body and a weight body. The weight body includes a central weight extending rearwardly from the front body a prescribed distance to a rear weight. The putter head is configured such that the rear weight has a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight. Thus, both the longitudinal and lateral moments of inertia are improved to offer greater forgiveness and increased accuracy during putts. The central weight may include at least one and more preferably two elongated, high-density elements that are visible on a top surface of the sole between the front body and the rear weight. The visibility of the elongated elements, with optional parallel markings on the top surface, also act as alignment aids to the golfer.

Claims

1. A putter head comprising:

a front body defining a front surface and an opposing rear surface, the front body having a width measured from a toe end to a heel end; and

a weight body including

an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and

a rear weight spaced from the front body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight;

wherein the rear weight is spaced from the front body by at least 2.5 cm.

2. A putter head as defined in claim 1, wherein the front body includes a face plate that defined at least a portion of the front surface.

3. A putter head as defined in claim 1, wherein the weight body includes two tungsten rods extending rearwardly from the front body throughout the length of the weight body, the tungsten rods being visible from above the putter head.

4. A putter head comprising:

a front body having a front surface and a rear surface, the front body having a width measured from a toe end to a heel end and a height measured from a bottom to a top of the front surface; and

a weight body including

an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and

a rear weight spaced from the front body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight and having a height greater than the height of the sole and less than the height of the front body.

5. A putter head as defined in claim 4, wherein the front body includes a face plate that defined at least a portion of the front surface.

6. A putter head as defined in claim 4, wherein the weight body includes two tungsten rods extending rearwardly from the front body throughout the length of the weight body, the tungsten rods being visible from above the putter head.

7. A putter head comprising:

a front body having a front surface and a rear surface, the front body having a width measured from a toe end to a heel end;

a sole extending rearwardly from the front surface; and

a weight body including

an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and

a rear weight spaced from the front body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight;

wherein the

central weight includes at least one elongated, high-density element that is visible from above the putter head.

8. A putter head as defined in claim 7, wherein the central weight comprises two tungsten rods that extend through the rear weight.

9. A putter head comprising:

a front body having a front surface and a rear surface, the front body having a width measured from a toe end to a heel end;

a sole extending rearwardly from the front surface; and

a weight body including

an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and

a a rear weight spaced from the front body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight;

wherein the central weight includes at least two elongated, high-density elements that are visible between the front body and the rear weight from above the putter head and the rear weight includes a high-density element positioned about a centerline of the putter head.

10. A putter head as defined in claim 9, wherein the at least two high-density elements extend through the rear weight and are visible at a rear end of the putter head.

11. A putter head as defined in claim 9, wherein the putter head is formed of a material having a density less than 10 g/cc and the at least two high-density elements are formed of a material having a density greater than 11 g/cc.

12. A putter head as defined in claim 11, further comprising an alignment mark on a top of the putter head extending from the front body to the rear weight.

13. A putter head as defined in claim 11, wherein the front body includes a face plate that defined at least a portion of the front surface.

14. A putter head as defined in claim 13, wherein the face plate comprises a metal material.