Golf club head

• US 20050130764A1
• Filed: 02/03/2005
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Frame, Nick
• Granted Patent: US 7,278,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/340
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0445 Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a putter head that has a plurality of deflectable beams or projections for striking a golf ball. Upon impact with the ball, the beams deflect and rebound to impart topspin on the ball, thereby resulting in forward rotation of the ball shortly after impact. In certain embodiments, the striking surface of the putter is comprised of a plurality of generally parallel, vertically spaced, deflectable beams extending horizontally across a front surface of the putter. Each beam extends downwardly from a fixed end to a free end that can contact the ball. In one specific implementation, the beams can be formed directly in the front surface of the putter head. In another implementation, the beams are formed in an insert that is mounted to the front surface of the putter head.

Claims

1. A putter-type golf club head comprising:

a front surface defining a plurality of generally parallel, vertically spaced, deflectable beams extending horizontally across the front surface;

wherein the beams are configured such that when a golf ball impacts the beams, the beams deflect to impart topspin on the golf ball.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein each beam defines a substantially flat end surface for striking the ball.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein each beam has a frequency of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to about 300 kHz.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein each beam has a frequency of oscillation in the range of about 8 kHz to about 150 kHz.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein each beam has a frequency of oscillation in the range of about 12 kHz to about 95 kHz.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein each beam extends downwardly from a respective fixed end to a respective free end that can contact the ball.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the beams extend downwardly from respective fixed ends at an acute angle toward a bottom portion of the club head, wherein the acute angle is defined between the beam and a vertical axis relative to a ground plane when the club head is at address position.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 6 to 76 degrees.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 26 to 56 degrees.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 36 to 46 degrees.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein each beam has generally parallel, opposed upper and lower surfaces.

12. A putter-type golf club head comprising:

a base disposed in a front portion of the club head; and

a plurality of vertically spaced projections directly coupled to the base, each projection projecting forwardly and downwardly from the base at an acute angle toward a bottom portion of the club head, wherein the acute angle is defined between each projection and a vertical axis relative to a ground plane when the club head is at address position.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein each projection has an end surface, and wherein the end surfaces of the plurality of projections collectively define a substantially planar striking face configured to strike a golf ball.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein each of the end surfaces is substantially flat.

15. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the golf club head has a substantially planar front surface and the projections extend horizontally across at least a portion of a width of the front surface.

16. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein each projection has a frequency of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to about 300 kHz.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein each projection has a frequency of oscillation in the range of about 8 kHz to about 150 kHz.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein each projection has a frequency of oscillation in the range of about 12 kHz to about 95 kHz.

19. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 6 to 76 degrees.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 26 to 56 degrees.

21. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 36 to 46 degrees.

22. The golf club head of claim 15, where each projection has a substantially constant beam thickness.

23. A putter-type golf club head comprising:

a main body having a front surface defining a recess and a peripheral surface portion at least partially surrounding the recess;

an insert disposed within the recess, the insert having a base;

a plurality of vertically spaced beams directly coupled to the base and projecting forwardly and downwardly from the base at an angle in the range of about 36 to 46 degrees toward a bottom portion of the club head, wherein the angle is defined between a top beam surface and a vertical axis relative to a ground plane when the club head is at address position;

wherein each beam has a substantially flat end surface and the end surfaces of the plurality of beams collectively define a substantially planar striking face configured to strike a golf ball;

wherein the beams define a plurality of vertically spaced gaps between adjacent beams, each gap having a gap width of about 0.3 mm, and further comprising a compliant filler material at least partially filling the gaps;

wherein each beam comprises an upper surface and a lower surface defining a substantially constant beam thickness of about 0.7 mm, and the collective upper and lower surfaces are substantially parallel;

wherein the beams extend horizontally across at least a portion of the width of a front surface of the golf club head; and

wherein each beam has a frequency of oscillation in the range of about 12 kHz to about 95 kHz.

24. A method for putting a golf ball with a head of a golf putter, the head comprising a plurality of beams extending horizontally across the head, the method comprising striking the head against the ball to cause at least some of the beams to deflect downwardly and rearwardly, and then recoil upwardly and outwardly to impart topspin on the ball.