Insert for golf club putter head

• US 5,718,644 A
• Filed: 01/22/1996
• Issued: 02/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matt Donofrio
• Original Assignee: Matt Donofrio
• Inventors: Donofrio, Matt
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Steven B.
• Application Number:
  US08/589,836
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/325, 473/327, 473/328, 473/330, 473/340, 473/342, 473/345, 473/350
• US Class Current: 473/340
• 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 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence

Abstract

An insert member for a golf putter, with one face of the insert being adapted to fittingly engage the putting face of a head of the golf putter by means of adhesive, mechanical fasteners, or other fastening means, including by frictional fit, when the insert is fitted within a cutout on the face of the putter. The other face of the insert, which is thereby situated in a putting position for engagement with a golf ball, comprises a regular, elongated curved surface such as an arc section of a cylinder. The elongated curved surface is longitudinally positioned in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the putter head and is preferably of a dimension and position for putting engagement with a golf ball below the equator of the ball. If desired, for whatever purpose, such as for generating top-spin or minimized spin, the vertical position of the curved surface, may be adjusted on the face of the putter head, particularly with an adhesive fitting on a flat putter head face surface. The insert is comprised of titanium, titanium alloy, anodized aluminum, or high strength plastic, which enhances trueness of contact with a golf ball being putted.

Claims

1. A golf putter head with an insert member, the insert member being comprised of titanium or titanium alloy and having two faces, wherein a first face of the insert member is adapted to fittingly engage the putting face of a head of the golf putter, whereby the other face of the insert member is thereby situated in a putting position for engagement with a golf ball, and with said other face of the insert member comprising a regular elongated curved surface adapted to be longitudinally positioned in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the putter head, with said curved surface adapted to be of a dimension and position on the putter head for putting engagement with a golf ball below the equator of the ball.

2. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the curved surface comprises an arc section of a cylinder.

3. The insert member of claim 1, wherein the insert consists essentially of titanium.

4. The golf putter head of claim 3, wherein the insert is adhered to the putting face of the golf putter by any one of adhesive means and mechanical fastener means.

5. The golf putter head of claim 3, wherein the putting face of the golf putter comprises a cutout section and wherein the insert member comprises a base section as the first face, which base section is adapted to be closely fitted into the cutout section.

6. The golf putter head of claim 5 wherein the base section is adhered to the putting face within the cutout section.

7. The golf putter head of claim 3, wherein the putting face of the golf putter is curved and the first face is correspondingly fittingly curved.

8. A golf putter, having a putting member integrated with a putting head thereof, said putting member being comprised of titanium or titanium alloy and having an exposed putting face situated in a putting position for engagement with a golf ball, and comprising a regular elongated curved surface longitudinally positioned in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the putter head, with said curved surface adapted to be of a dimension and position on the putter head for putting engagement with a golf ball below the equator of the ball.

9. A golf putter head with an insert member, the insert member being comprised of titanium or titanium alloy and having two faces, wherein a first face of the insert member is adapted to fittingly engage the putting face of a head of the golf putter, whereby the other face of the insert member is thereby situated in a putting position for engagement with a golf ball, and with said other face of the insert member comprising a regular elongated curved surface adapted to be longitudinally positioned in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the putter head wherein the curved surface defines an arc section adapted to be of a dimension and position on the putter head for putting engagement with a golf ball below the equator of the ball.