Putter head with visual alignment indicator

• US 6,743,112 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Nelson, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/259,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20030119600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/340, 473/341, 473/244, 473/245, 473/246, 473/247, 473/248, 473/349, 473/350, 473/313, 473/314, 473/288, 473/251, 473/219, 473/242, 473/332, 473/334, 473/335
• US Class Current: 473/251
• 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 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• 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 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf putter head having a visual alignment aid includes a face member and a back body both of which may be selected from a plurality of differently configured face members and back bodies. The face member has a front surface, a top ledge, a rear surface, and a visual alignment aid comprising a rear edge parallel to the front surface. The rear edge is defined by the intersection of the rear surface and the top ledge. The back body comprises a flange portion that extends rearwardly and has an upper surface that is displaced below the top ledge. The face member and back body are selected from materials having contrasting colors so that the rear edge of the face member is contrasted against the background of the back body.

Claims

1. A golf putter head comprising:

a face member having a heel end, a toe end, a front surface arranged for striking a golf ball, a rear surface, a top ledge extending between said heel and toe ends and disposed between said front and rear surfaces, and an upper edge defined by an intersection of said top ledge and said rear surface, said upper edge being substantially parallel to said front surface; and

a back body composed of a material having a different density than said face member, said back body mounted by way of at least one fastener to the rear surface of said face member, said back body comprising a flange member extending rearwardly from said rear surface of said face member, said flange member having an upper surface displaced downwardly from said top ledge, said upper surface of said flange member being finished in a color that contrasts with the color of said top ledge, whereby said upper surface provides a contrasting background for providing enhanced viewing of said upper edge.

2. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein:

said face member further comprises a hosel extending upwardly from the top ledge thereof for receiving one end of a golf shaft.

3. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein:

said face member is composed of a relatively lighter colored material as compared with said back body and said back body is composed of a relatively darker colored material as compared with said face member.

4. The golf putter head of claim 3, wherein:

said face member is composed of metal and said back body is composed of a polymer.

5. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein:

said face member is composed of a relatively darker colored material as compared with said back body and said back body is composed of a relatively lighter colored material as compared with said face member.

6. The golf putter head of claim 1, further comprising:

a sight line formed in said upper surface of said back body, said sight line extending rearwardly from said rear surface substantially perpendicular to said rear edge.

7. A golf putter head comprising:

a face member having a heel end, a toe end, a front surface arranged for striking a golf ball, a rear surface substantially parallel to said front surface, and a top ledge extending between said heel and toe ends and disposed between said front and rear surfaces; and

a back body composed of a material having a different density than said face member, said back body mounted by way of at least one fastener to the rear surface of said face member, said back body comprising a flange member extending rearwardly from said rear surface of said face member, said flange member having an upper surface displaced downwardly from said top ledge, said upper surface of said flange member being finished in a color that contrasts with the color of said top ledge, whereby said tipper surface provides a contrasting background for providing enhanced viewing of a rearward edge of said top ledge.

8. The golf putter head of claim 7, wherein:

said face member further comprises a hosel extending upwardly from the lop ledge thereof for receiving one end of a golf shaft.

9. The golf putter head of claim 7, wherein:

said face member further comprises a hosel extending upwardly from the top ledge thereof for receiving one end of a golf shalt.

10. The golf putter head of claim 9, wherein:

said face member is composed of metal and said back body is composed of a polymer.

11. The golf putter head of claim 10, wherein:

said back body is composed of a polymer filled with tungsten powder.

12. The golf putter head of claim 7, wherein:

said face member is composed of a relatively darker colored material as compared with said back body and said back body is composed of a relatively lighter colored material as compared with said face member.

13. The golf putter head of claim 7, further comprising:

a sight line formed in said upper surface of said back body, said sight line extending rearwardly from said rear surface substantially perpendicular to said rear edge.