Golf putter

• US 20080102980A1
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph K. Richard
• Original Assignee: Joseph K. Richard
• Inventors: Richard, Joseph K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,485,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/330
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/007 Putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence

Abstract

A head on a golf putter is configured to create overspin on a putted golf ball. An exemplary embodiment employs a body with a ball-striking face including a first curved segment with a first radius of curvature and a second curved segment with a second radius of curvature. The first and second curved segments define a curved surface extending from a bottom surface of the body. The first segment is positioned proximate to the bottom surface and the second segment is positioned intermediate the bottom surface and an opposing top surface of the body. The first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature. The face may have a third curved segment positioned intermediate the second segment and the top surface, with a third radius of curvature greater than the first radius of curvature. The position of the center of mass of the head also promotes overspin.

Claims

1. A golf putter head, comprising:

a body with a ball-striking face including a first curved segment with a first radius of curvature and a second curved segment with a second radius of curvature, the first and second curved segments defining a curved surface extending from a bottom surface of the body, the first segment being positioned proximate to the bottom surface, the second segment being positioned intermediate the bottom surface and an opposing top surface of the body, and the first radius of curvature being greater than the second radius of curvature,

wherein the ball-striking face further comprises a third curved segment with a third radius of curvature, the first, second, and third curved segments defining a curved surface extending from the bottom surface of the body to the top surface of the body, the third segment being positioned intermediate the second segment and the top surface, and the third radius of curvature being greater than the first radius of curvature.

2. The golf putter head according to claim 1, wherein the first radius of curvature is between 2 inches and 6 inches, and the second radius of curvature is less than 2 inches.

4. The golf putter head according to claim 1, wherein the first radius of curvature is between 2 inches and 6 inches, the second radius of curvature is less than 2 inches, and the third radius of curvature is greater than 6 inches.

5. The golf putter head according to claim 1, wherein the first curved segment and the second curved segment form a first intermediate boundary, and the second curved segment and third curved segment form a second intermediate boundary.

6. The golf putter head according to claim 5, wherein the first intermediate boundary is positioned about 1.1 to 1.2 inches from the bottom surface of the body, and the second intermediate boundary is positioned about 0.75 to 0.85 inches from the bottom surface.

7. The golf putter head according to claim 1, wherein the ball-striking face and the bottom surface form an angle greater than 90 degrees.

3. (canceled)

8. A golf putter head, comprising:

a ball-striking face having at least three curved segments defining a curved surface from a top surface of the putter head to an opposing bottom surface of the putter head, the curved segments having different radii of curvature; and

a rear portion extending from the ball-striking face to a rear end of the putter head opposite the ball-striking face, the rear portion having greater mass closer to the rear end of the putter head than the ball-striking face,

wherein the third segment is positioned intermediate the second segment and the top surface, and the third radius of curvature is greater than the first radius of curvature.

9. The golf putter head according to claim 8, wherein one of the at least three curved segments protrudes in relation to the other of the at least three curved segments to form a contact area.

10. The golf putter head according to claim 8, wherein the center of mass for the putter head is closer to the rear end than the ball-striking surface.

11. The golf putter head according to claim 8, wherein the rear portion has greater mass closer to the top surface than the bottom surface.

12. The golf putter head according to claim 11, wherein the center of mass for the putter head is closer to the rear end than the ball-striking surface and closer to the top surface than the bottom surface.

13. The golf putter head according to claim 8, wherein the ball-striking face has a width greater than the rear end.

14. The golf putter head according to claim 13, wherein the rear portion tapers from the ball-striking face to a smaller dimension at the rear end.

15. The golf putter head according to claim 14, wherein the rear portion comprises two shoulders extending from the ball-striking face and forming two sides of the rear portion.

16. The golf putter head according to claim 8, wherein the ball-striking face and the rear portion are symmetric about a plane passing through a top centerline of the top surface and a front centerline of the ball-striking face.

17. The golf putter head according to claim 8, wherein the body has a mass between about 360 grams and 425 grams.

18. The golf putter head according to claim 8, wherein the rear portion comprises a hosel cavity receiving a hosel at the top surface, the hosel cavity extending into the rear portion proximate to the ball striking surface.

19. The golf putter head according to claim 18, wherein the hosel is inserted into the hosel cavity according to one of two orientations corresponding to attachment of a putter shaft for right-handed use and left-handed use, respectively.

20. The golf putter head according to claim 19, wherein the hosel and the hosel cavity are correspondingly oblong.

21. The golf putter head according to claim 18, wherein the hosel comprises a shaft cavity for receiving a putter shaft, the shaft cavity intersecting a plane passing through a contact area on the ball-striking face.

22. The golf putter head according to claim 8, further comprising an alignment marking on the top surface of the body.

23. A golf putter head, comprising:

a shell of a first material having a shell cavity; and

a filler of a second material positioned in the shell cavity,

wherein the shell has a ball-striking face having at least three curved segments defining a curved surface from a top surface of the head to an opposing bottom surface of the head, the curved segments having different radii of curvature,

wherein the third segment is positioned intermediate the second segment and the top surface, and the third radius of curvature is greater than the first radius of curvature.

24. The golf putter head according to claim 23, wherein one of the at least three curved segments protrudes in relation to the other of the at least three curved segments to form a contact area.

25. The golf putter head according to claim 23, wherein the second material has a lower density than the first material.

26. The golf putter head according to claim 23, wherein the shell has an opening to the shell cavity at the bottom surface of the head.

27. The golf putter head according to claim 26, wherein the filler forms substantially the entire bottom surface of the head.

28. The golf putter head according to claim 23, further comprising an outer cover of a third material forming at least a portion of an outer surface of the head.

29. The golf putter head according to claim 23, wherein the shell comprises an end body extending from the ball-striking face and forming a rear end opposite the ball-striking face.

30. The golf putter head according to claim 29, wherein the shell further comprises a shoulder on each side of the end body, and the shoulders define a tapered shape for the head from the ball-striking face to a smaller dimension at the rear end.

31. The golf putter head according to claim 30, wherein the ball-striking face, the end body, and the shoulders define the shape of the shell cavity.

32. The golf putter head according to claim 31, wherein a wall of the shell is thickest proximate to the rear end.

33. The golf putter head according to claim 32, wherein the wall is thickest proximate to the rear end and the top surface.

37. The golf putter head according to claim 23, wherein the putter head has a mass between about 360 grams and 425 grams.

38. The golf putter head according to claim 31, wherein the shell cavity has a volume that is greater proximate to the ball-striking face than the rear end.

39. The golf putter head according to claim 31, wherein the shell further comprises a hosel cavity receiving a hosel proximate to the ball striking face, the hosel cavity extending into the shell from the top surface and further defining the shell cavity.

40. The golf putter head according to claim 39, wherein the hosel cavity is symmetric about a centerline of the top surface passing through the ball-striking face.

41. The golf putter head according to claim 39, wherein the hosel is inserted into the hosel cavity according to one of two orientations corresponding to attachment of a shaft for right-handed use and left-handed use, respectively.

42. The golf putter according to claim 41, wherein the hosel and hosel cavity are colTespondingly oblong.

43. The golf putter head according to claim 39, wherein the hosel comprises a shaft cavity for receiving a putter shaft, the shell cavity intersecting a plane passing through a contact area on the ball-striking face.

44. The golf putter according to claim 23, further comprising an alignment marking on the top surface.

45. The golf putter head according to claim 23, wherein the first material comprises one of zinc, aluminum, titanium, and steel.

46. The golf putter head according to claim 23, wherein the second material comprises a plastic.

47. The golf putter head according to claim 28, wherein the third material comprises a plastic.

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)