Putter Heads and Putters

• US 20120184393A1
• Filed: 03/12/2012
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: FRANKLIN, David N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,900,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/340
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0429 the face insert comprising two or more layers of material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0445 Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

Putter heads include one or more of a main putter body portion which may including a ball striking face member, a first arm, a second arm, a central member which aligns with the heel-to-toe center of the ball striking face. The central member may include a center portion through which a center line of the putter heads extends and a rear portion. The first arm and the second arm may be symmetrical with respect to the center line of the putter head. The first arm may be configured to be angled towards the center line of the putter head such that the first arm defines a first line which, when extended, is tangent to a portion of an outside diameter of a golf ball when the golf ball is positioned in front of the ball striking member with the center of the golf ball aligned with the center line of the putter head.

Claims

1. A putter head, comprising:

a main putter body portion including;

a ball striking face member;

a first arm;

a second arm;

a central member which aligns with a heel-to-toe center of the ball striking face and includes;

a center portion which aligns with the heel-to-toe center of the ball striking face and through which a center line of the putter head extends; and

a rear portion; and

a recessed portion,

wherein each of the first arm and the second arm are configured to extend rearwardly from the ball striking face member, are symmetrical with respect to the center line of the putter head,

wherein the first arm is configured to be angled towards the center line of the putter head such that the first arm defines a first line which, when extended, is tangent to a portion of an outside diameter of a golf ball when the golf ball is positioned in front of the ball striking member with the center of the golf ball aligned with the center line of the putter head,

wherein the second arm is configured to be angled towards the center line of the putter head such that the second arm defines a second line which, when extended, is tangent to a portion of an outside diameter of the golf ball when the golf ball is positioned in front of the ball striking member with the center of the golf ball aligned with the center line of the putter head.

2. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the first line and the second line are symmetrical with respect to the center line of the putter head.

3. A putter head according to claim 2, wherein at least a first opening and a second opening are defined in the main body of the putter head, wherein a first inner edge of the first arm is at least in part defined by the first opening, and the first inner edge of the first arm defines the first line which, when extended, is tangent to a portion of an outside diameter of the golf ball,

wherein a first inner edge of the second arm is at least in part defined by the second opening, and the first inner edge of the second arm defines the second line which, when extended, is tangent to a portion of an outside diameter of the golf ball.

4. A putter head according to claim 3, wherein the first arm is curved or bent such that the first arm defines a front portion and a rear portion which are angled differently from each other with respect to the center line of the putter head, wherein the front portion of the first arm includes the inner edge which defines the first line,

wherein the second arm is curved or bent such that the second arm defines a front portion and a rear portion which are angled differently from each other with respect to the center line of the putter head, wherein the front portion of the second arm includes the inner edge which defines the second line.

5. A putter head according to claim 4, the front portion and the rear portion of the first arm are angled relative to each other such that they define a first angle in the range of 120°

-130°

which faces the center line of the putter head,

the front portion and the rear portion of the second arm are angled relative to each other such that they define a second angle in the range of 120°

-130°

which faces the center line of the putter head,

wherein the first angle and the second angle are symmetrical to each other relative to the center line of the putter head.

6. A putter head according to claim 5, wherein a second inner edge of the first arm is at least in part defined by the first opening, and the second inner edge of the first arm defines a third line,

wherein a second inner edge of the second arm is at least in part defined by the second opening, and the second inner edge of the second arm defines a fourth line,

wherein the third line and the fourth line are symmetrical to each other relative to the center line of the putter head, and when extended, the third and fourth line converge at a point in space behind the putter head that is aligned with a rearward extension of center line of the putter head.

7. A putter head according to claim 6, wherein a first edge of the center potion of the central member is defined by a boundary between the center portion and the recessed portion and the first edge of the center potion defines a fifth line which, when extended, is tangent to a portion of an outside diameter of the golf ball,

wherein a second edge of the center potion of the central member is defined by a boundary between the center portion and the recessed portion and the second edge of the center potion defines a sixth line which, when extended, is tangent to a portion of an outside diameter of the golf ball,

wherein the fifth line and the sixth line are symmetrical to each other relative to the center line of the putter head.

8. A putter head according to claim 7, wherein, when extended, the fifth and sixth line converge at the point in space behind the putter head wherein the third line and the fourth line converge and which is aligned with a rearward extension of the center line of the putter head.

9. A putter head according to claim 8, further comprising:

a tail portion which extends from the rear portion of the putter head away from the ball striking face member and which is centered on the center line of the putter head,

wherein the tail portion is tapered such that the width of the tail portion, when viewed from above, becomes narrower as the tail portion extends from the rear of the putter head,

wherein the tail portion may be configured such that the tapered outside edges of the tail portion are aligned with the fifth and sixth line.

10. A putter head according to claim 8, wherein a first edge of the first opening is defined by the boundary between the first hole and the recessed portion, and the first edge of the first opening defines a seventh line;

and

a first edge of the second opening is defined by the boundary between the second hole and the recessed portion, and the first edge of the second hole defines an eighth line,

wherein the seventh line and the eighth line are symmetrical to each other relative to the center line of the putter head, and when extended, the seventh and eighth line converge at a point in space behind the putter head wherein the third line, the fourth line, the fifth line, and the sixth line converge and which is aligned with a rearward extension of center line of the putter head.

11. A putter head according to claim 10, wherein the rear portion of the central member include a first outer side and a second outer side which are symmetrical to each other with regard to the center line of the putter head and define, at least in part, opposite outer surfaces of the putter head,

wherein the first outer side of the rear portion defines a ninth line and the second outer side of the rear portion defines a tenth line,

wherein the ninth line and the tenth line are symmetrical to each other relative to the center line of the putter head, and when extended, the ninth and the tenth line converge at a point in space behind the putter head wherein the third line, the fourth line, the fifth line, the sixth line, the seventh line and the eighth line converge and which is aligned with a rearward extension of the center line of the putter head.

12. A putter head according to claim 10, wherein the rear portion of the first arm includes an outer side which defines, at least in part, an outer surface of the putter head, wherein the rear portion of the second arm includes an outer side which defines, at least in part, an outer surface of the putter head,

wherein the outer surface of the rear portion of the first arm is provided at a different angle relative to the first outer side of the rear portion of the central member with respect to the center line of the putter head,

wherein the outer surface of the rear portion of the second arm is provided at a different angle than to the second outer side of the rear portion of the central member with respect to the center line of the putter head.

13. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the first line extends linearly throughout the first arm along a linear center line of the first arm and the second line extends linearly throughout the second arm along a linear center line of the second arm, wherein the first line and the second line are symmetrical with respect to the center line of the putter head.

14. A putter head according to claim 13, the ball striking face member includes a first flared or tapered portion and a second flared or tapered portion, which each extend rewardly from a face of the ball striking face member and which each define at least a portion of opposite outer sides of the putter head,

wherein the each of the first and second flared or tapered portions of the ball striking face member are configured to extend inwardly towards the central member of the putter head such as to taper the width of the putter head when viewed from above,

wherein each of the first and second flared or tapered portions of the ball striking face member are symmetrical to each other relative to the center line of the putter head.

15. A putter head according to claim 14, wherein the first flared or tapered portion of the ball striking face member is configured to meet with the first arm, and the first flared or tapered portion of the ball striking face member and the first arm are angled relative to each other such that they define a first angle in the range of 140°

-150°

which faces away from the center line of the putter head,

wherein the second flared or tapered portion of the ball striking face member is configured to meet with the second arm and the second flared or tapered portion of the ball striking face member and the second arm are angled relative to each other such that they define a second angle in the range of 140°

-150°

which faces away from the center line of the putter head,

wherein the first angle and the second angle are symmetrical to each other relative to the center line of the putter head.

16. A putter head according to claim 15, wherein the first flared or tapered portion of the ball striking face member, which defines at least a portion of the outer side of putter head, defines a third line,

wherein the second flared or tapered portion of the ball striking face member, which defines at least a portion of the outer side of the putter head, defines a fourth line,

wherein the third line and the fourth line are symmetrical to each other relative to the center line of the putter head, and when extended, the third and fourth line converge at a point in space behind the putter head and is aligned with a rearward extension of the center line of the putter head.

17. A putter head according to claim 16, wherein a first edge of the center potion of the central member is defined by a boundary between the center portion and recessed portion and the first edge of the center potion defines a fifth line which, when extended, is tangent to a portion of an outside diameter of the golf ball,

wherein a second edge of the center potion of the central member is defined by a boundary between the center portion and recessed portion and the second edge of the center potion defines a sixth line which, when extended, is tangent to a portion of an outside diameter of the golf ball,

wherein the fifth line and the sixth line are symmetrical to each other relative to the center line of the putter head.

18. A putter head according to claim 17, further comprising:

a tail portion which extends from the rear portion of the putter head away from the ball striking face member and which is centered on the center line of the putter head,

wherein the tail portion is tapered such that the width of the tail portion when viewed from above becomes narrower as the tail portion extends from the rear of the putter head,

wherein the tail portion may be configured such that the tapered outside edges of the tail portion are aligned with the third and fourth line.

19. A putter head according to claim 18, wherein a first edge of the first opening is defined by a boundary between the first opening and the recessed portion, and the first edge of the first opening defines a seventh line,

wherein a first edge of the second opening is defined by a boundary between the second opening and the recessed portion and the first edge of the second opening defines an eighth line,

wherein the seventh line and the eighth line are symmetrical to each other relative to the center line of the putter head, and when extended, the seventh and the eighth line converge at a point in space behind the putter head wherein the third line and the fourth line, converge and is aligned with a rearward extension of the center line of the putter head.

20. A putter head according to claim 19, wherein the rear portion of the central member include a first outer side and a second outer side which are symmetrical to each other with regard to the center line of the putter head and define, at least in part, opposite outer surfaces of the putter head,

wherein the first outer side of the rear portion defines a ninth line and the second outer side of the rear portion defines a tenth line,

wherein the ninth line and the tenth line are symmetrical to each other relative to the center line of the putter head, and when extended, the ninth and tenth line converge at a point in space behind the putter head wherein the third line, the fourth line, the seventh line and the eighth line converge and that is aligned with a rearward extension of the center line of the putter head.

21. A putter head according to claim 20, wherein the rear portion of the first arm includes an outer side which defines, at least in part, an outer surface of the putter head, wherein the rear portion of the second arm includes an outer side which defines, at least in part, an outer surface of the putter head,

wherein the outer surface of the rear portion of the first arm is provided at the same angle as the first outer side of the rear portion of the central member with respect to the center line of the putter head, such that the outer surface of the rear portion of the first arm and the first outer side of the rear portion together define the ninth line,

wherein the outer surface of the rear portion of the second arm is provided at the same angle as the second outer side of the rear portion of the central member with respect to the center line of the putter head, such that the outer surface of rear portion of the second arm and the second outer side of the rear portion together define the tenth line.

22. A putter, comprising:

(a) a putter head including;

a main putter body portion including;

a ball striking face member;

a first arm;

a second arm;

a central member which aligns with a heel-to-toe center of the ball striking face and includes;

a center portion which aligns with the heel-to-toe center of the ball striking face and through which a center line of the putter head extends; and

a rear portion; and

a recessed portion,

wherein each of the first arm and the second arm are configured to extend rearwardly from the ball striking face member, are symmetrical with respect to the center line of the putter head,

wherein the first arm is configured to be angled towards the center line of the putter head such that the first arm defines a first line which, when extended, is tangent to a portion of an outside diameter of a golf ball when the golf ball is positioned in front of the ball striking member with the center of the golf ball aligned with the center line of the putter head,

wherein the second arm is configured to be angled towards the center line of the putter head such that the second arm defines a second line which, when extended, is tangent to a portion of an outside diameter of the golf ball when the golf ball is positioned in front of the ball striking member with the center of the golf ball aligned with the center line of the putter head; and

(b) a shaft engaged with the putter head.

23. A putter head comprising:

a putter body defining a ball striking face member and a center line, the putter body further having a first structure defining a first pair of lines that, when extended to a position in front of the ball striking face member, the lines are generally tangent to respective opposite portions of an outside diameter of the golf ball when the golf ball is positioned in front of the ball striking face member with the center of the golf ball aligned with the center line of the putter head, the putter body further having a second structure defining a second pair of lines that, when extended, converge to a point in space behind the putter head that is aligned with the center line of the putter head.