Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball Striking Face
First Claim
1. A putter head, comprising:
- a putter head body having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe end and a heel end, wherein a rim member extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the front portion of the putter head body to define a recess in the front portion of the putter head body, wherein the recess extends to at least a portion of a bottom surface of the putter head body; and
a ball striking surface insert received in the recess and forming at least a portion of a ball striking surface of the putter head, the ball striking surface insert including;
a first member having a plurality of openings extending therethrough, anda polymer material engaged with the first member, the polymer material at least partially filling the openings of the first member to form a portion of the ball striking surface,wherein the polymer material is exposed at the bottom surface of the putter head between the first member and the putter head body.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an insert forming a ball striking face and engaged with the putter body. Portions of the insert may be formed of a metal material, while portions of the insert may be formed of a polymer material. The insert may include a base portion having grooves or openings formed therein. This base may be joined with another material (such as a polymer backing material) to form the insert, wherein the backing material at least partially fills the grooves or openings. In some arrangements, the backing material of the insert may be visible at the top and/or bottom surfaces of the putter structures. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A putter head, comprising:
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a putter head body having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe end and a heel end, wherein a rim member extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the front portion of the putter head body to define a recess in the front portion of the putter head body, wherein the recess extends to at least a portion of a bottom surface of the putter head body; and a ball striking surface insert received in the recess and forming at least a portion of a ball striking surface of the putter head, the ball striking surface insert including; a first member having a plurality of openings extending therethrough, and a polymer material engaged with the first member, the polymer material at least partially filling the openings of the first member to form a portion of the ball striking surface, wherein the polymer material is exposed at the bottom surface of the putter head between the first member and the putter head body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 32, 33)
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18. A putter head, comprising:
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a putter head body having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe end and a heel end, wherein a rim member extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the front portion of the putter head body to define a recess in the front portion of the putter head body, wherein the recess extends to at least a portion of a top surface of the putter head body; and a ball striking surface insert received in the recess and forming at least a portion of a ball striking surface of the putter head, the ball striking surface insert including; a first member having a plurality of openings extending therethrough, and a polymer material engaged with the first member, the polymer material at least partially filling the openings of the first member to form a portion of the ball striking surface, wherein the polymer material is exposed at the top surface of the putter head between the first member and the putter head body. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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34. A method of forming a putter head, comprising:
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providing a putter head body having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe end and a heel end, wherein a rim member extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the front portion of the putter head body to define a recess in the front portion of the putter head body, and wherein the recess extends to at least a portion of a bottom surface of the putter head body; and engaging a ball striking surface insert in the recess formed in the front portion of the putter head body, wherein the ball striking surface insert forms at least a portion of a ball striking surface of the putter head, wherein the ball striking surface insert includes; a first member having a plurality of openings extending therethrough, and a polymer material engaged with the first member, the polymer material at least partially filling the openings of the first member to form a portion of the ball striking surface, and wherein the polymer material is exposed at the bottom surface of the putter head between the first member and the putter head body. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A method of forming a putter head, comprising:
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providing a putter head body having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe end and a heel end, wherein a rim member extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the front portion of the putter head body to define a recess in the front portion of the putter head body, and wherein the recess extends to at least a portion of a top surface of the putter head body; and engaging a ball striking surface insert in the recess formed in the front portion of the putter head body, wherein the ball striking surface insert forms at least a portion of a ball striking surface of the putter head, wherein the ball striking surface insert includes; a first member having a plurality of openings extending therethrough, and a polymer material engaged with the first member, the polymer material at least partially filling the openings of the first member to form a portion of the ball striking surface, and wherein the polymer material is exposed at the top surface of the putter head between the first member and the putter head body. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A putter head, comprising:
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a putter head body having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe end and a heel end, wherein a rim member extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the front portion of the putter head body to define a recess in the front portion of the putter head body, wherein the recess extends to at least a portion of a bottom surface of the putter head body; a polymer material at least partially filling the recess; and a first member partially covering the polymer material, wherein the first member forms a portion of a ball striking surface of the putter head, and wherein the first member includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough, wherein the polymer material at least partially fills the openings of the first member and forms a portion of the ball striking surface, and wherein the polymer material is exposed at the bottom surface of the putter head between the first member and the putter head body. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A putter head, comprising:
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a putter head body having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe end and a heel end, wherein a rim member extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the front portion of the putter head body to define a recess in the front portion of the putter head body, wherein the recess extends to at least a portion of a top surface of the putter head body; a polymer material at least partially filling the recess; and a first member partially covering the polymer material, wherein the first member forms a portion of a ball striking surface of the putter head, and wherein the first member includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough, wherein the polymer material at least partially fills the openings of the first member and forms a portion of the ball striking surface, and wherein the polymer material is exposed at the top surface of the putter head between the first member and the putter head body. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification