Putter sole plate insert system

• US 6,422,950 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Whitlam International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Whitlam International Incorporated
• Inventors: Whitlam, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US09/659,473
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/340, 473/341, 473/313, 473/251, 473/349, 473/350, 473/334, 473/335, 473/336, 473/337, 473/338, 473/339, 473/305, 473/246, 473/248
• US Class Current: 473/313
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/021 the shaft axis being forwardly offset relative to the striking face of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• 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 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/065 for putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits

Abstract

A golf putter having a replaceable sole insert for varying putter head weight distribution along the length of the face. The putter has relatively thin face and sole central regions, with much thicker and heavier heel and toe regions. The central region of the sole is cut out. The cut out area has two opposite parallel recessed edges extending away from the back of the putter towards the face. An insert is configure to fit in the cut out area, with edges of the insert engaging the recessed edges to retain the insert in place. The sole may be flat or radiused, and the insert may have a lower surface corresponding to the sole. A neck connects the putter head to a shaft receiving hosel. The hosel has an outer end that is cut at an angle corresponding to the upper surface of the putter.

Claims

1. An improved golf putter head which comprises:

a face for striking a golf ball;

a sole for positioning adjacent to a golf green surface;

a back surface;

a heel region and a toe region;

a top surface lying substantially parallel to said sole;

an elongated neck fixed to and extending from said top surface and including a hosel with said hosel fixed at an angle to said sole and positioned forward of said face;

said hosel having an opening for receiving a putter shaft;

said head having a thickness between said face and back surfaces that varies in the heel and toe regions from a maximum at the sole to a minimum at the top surface, and a thickness in a central region of less than 20% of the thickness in the heel and toe regions;

said sole having a thickness in said central region of less than about 20% of the thicknesses in said heel and toe regions;

said sole having a cut out region extending from said back surface toward said face;

said cut out region having parallel recessed edges; and

an insert configured to fill at least some of said cut out region and having edges configured to slide into said recessed edges.

2. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the density of said insert material differs from the density of said club head material.

3. The putter according to claim 1 wherein said overall putter head weight with said insert is from about 275 to 400 grams and said insert weight is from about 5 to 150 grams.

4. The putter according to claim 1 wherein said insert has a width of from about 0.25 to 2 inches, a thickness of from about 0.0625 and 0.5 inch and a length of from about 0.5 to 3 inches.

5. The putter according to claim 1 wherein said head is formed from stainless steel and said insert is formed from aluminum.

6. The putter according to claim 1 wherein said neck has at least one recess parallel to said elongation.

7. The putter according to claim 1 wherein said heel and toe regions have thicknesses at least about 1 inch, from face to back surface.

8. The putter according to claim 1 wherein said heel and toe regions have thicknesses at least about 1.5 inch, from sole to top surface.

9. An improved golf putter head which comprises:

a face for striking a golf ball;

a sole for positioning adjacent to a golf green surface;

a back surface;

a heel region and a toe region;

a top surface lying substantially parallel to said sole;

an elongated neck fixed to and extending from said top surface and including a hosel with said hosel fixed at an angle to said sole and positioned forward of said face;

said neck having at least one recess parallel to said elongation;

said hosel having an opening for receiving a putter shaft;

said head having a thickness between said face and back surfaces that varies in the heel and toe regions from a maximum at the sole to a minimum at the top surface, and a thickness in a central region of less than 20% of the thickness in the heel and toe regions;

said sole having a thickness in said central region of from about 0.0625 and 0.5 inch and a thickness in said heel and toe regions of at least three times the thickness of said central region;

said sole having a cut out region extending from said back surface toward said face;

said cut out region having parallel recessed edges extending from said back surface; and

an insert configured to fill at least some of said cut out region and having edges configured to slide into said recessed edges.

10. The putter according to claim 9 wherein the density of said insert material differs from the density of said club head material.

11. The putter according to claim 9 wherein said overall putter head weight with said insert is from about 275 to 400 grams and said insert weight is from about 5 to 150 grams.

12. The putter according to claim 9 wherein said insert is formed from materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, plastics including acetyl, epoxy and acrylic resins, copper, graphite, steel, depleted uranium, tungsten, brass, titanium, wood, rubber, fiber filled plastics, foamed plastics and mixtures and combinations thereof.

13. The putter according to claim 9 wherein said head is formed from stainless steel and said insert is formed from aluminum.