Putter with a consistent putting face

• US 6,488,594 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2000
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Master Grip, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Master Grip, Inc.
• Inventors: Myrhum, Mark C., Card, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VARMA, SNEH K
• Application Number:
  US09/574,177
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 473/329, 473/340, 473/342, 473/341, 473/336, 473/338, 473/332
• US Class Current: 473/340
• 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 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence

Abstract

A club head for a golf putter includes a bottom surface, a toe, a heel opposite the toe and a ball striking side on one side of the club head. The ball striking side extends between the toe and the heel and has a center disposed between the heel and the toe. A face insert is carried by a portion of the club head and defines at least part of a ball striking surface on the ball striking side of the club head. The face insert is adapted to absorb energy near the center of the ball striking side so as to produce a coefficient of restitution that is substantially similar and consistent over a majority of the ball striking surface. The face insert deadens the ball striking side at or near the center of the club head so that the distance of putts, whether struck near the center or whether mis-hit and struck closer to the heel or toe, are substantially the same.

Claims

1. A club head for a golf putter, the club head comprising:

a bottom surface;

a toe;

a heel opposite the toe;

a ball striking side extending between the heel and the toe and having a center disposed between the heel and the toe; and

a unitary face insert carried by a portion of the club head and defining at least part of a ball striking surface on the ball striking side of the club head, the face insert being a softer material than the club head and varying in energy absorption over its ball-striking surface to thereby absorb more energy near the center to produce a substantially consistent coefficient of restitution over a majority of the ball striking surface,

wherein the face insert further comprises;

a face section having a toe end, a heel end, a back surface facing the ball striking side, and a front surface opposite the back surface;

an energy absorbing section disposed near the center and extending from the back surface of the face section; and

wherein a toe thickness of the face section from the toe end to near the center and a heel thickness of the face section from near the center to the heel end each become gradually thicker approaching the center.

2. The club head according to claim 1, wherein a toe thickness of the face section from the toe end to near the center is greater than or equivalent to a heel thickness of the face section from near the center to the heel end.

3. The club head according to claim 1, wherein the face section has a size and shape that matches a size and shape of the ball striking side of the club head so that the front surface of the face section defines the entire ball striking surface.

4. The club head according to claim 1, further comprising:

a bore near the center of the ball striking side of the club head and extending through the club head, and wherein a portion of the energy absorbing section of the face insert is received in the bore.