Putter head

• US 6,905,420 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Cleveland, Roger, Rollinson, Augustin W., Byrne, Wayne H., Tang, Larry G., Williams, Luke R., Helmstetter, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/711,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20050014575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 473251-256, 473324-350, 473/242, 473/249, D21736-746, D21/759
• US Class Current: 473/242
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• 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 53/0433 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 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00

Abstract

A putter (100) having a club head (20) having a central aperture (32) with a rearward center of gravity is disclosed herein. The club head (20) has a body (22) that is preferably composed of stainless steel. The body (22) has a face portion (24), a crown portion (26), a sole portion (28) and an aft-mass portion (30). The face portion (24), the crown portion (26), the sole portion (28) and the aft-mass portion (30) define the central aperture (32). The crown portion (26) extends rearward from the face portion (24) over the aft-mass portion (30). The central aperture (32) separates the crown portion (26) from the sole portion (28) and the face portion (24) from the aft-mass portion (30). The crown portion (26) has an alignment means (40) thereon for aiming a golf ball during putting. The putter has novel inertial properties.

Claims

1. A putter comprising:

a club head comprising

a face portion,

a sole portion extending rearward from the face portion,

an aft mass portion rearward from the face portion a distance of between 2.5 inches to 4.5 inches,

a crown portion extending rearward from the face portion, the crown portion having a central elongated section extending over the aft mass portion; and

a shaft connected to the club head;

wherein the putter has a swing static imbalance, Sy, greater than 500 grams-centimeter, the swing static imbalance defined as the product of the putter mass and the-offset distance of the center of gravity of the club head behind the golfer'"'"'s hands along the target direction.

2. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the putter has a torsion swing inertia, Ixz, that has an absolute value greater than 10,000 grams-centimeter square, wherein the torsion swing inertia is defined as the product of inertia of the angular acceleration about the shaft axis and the angular acceleration about the swing axis.

3. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the putter has a center of gravity located at least 1.5 centimeters rearward from a shaft axis of the putter.

4. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the club head has at least 70 percent of its mass located in a center section.

5. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the face portion has a recess with an insert disposed therein.

6. The putter according to claim 1 further comprising a grip attached to the shaft.

7. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the club head further comprises a cylindrical rod extending upward from an external surface of the crown portion for engagement with the shaft.

8. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the putter has a club length ranging from 46 inches to 50 inches.

9. The putter according to claim 8 wherein the putter has a mass ranging from 730 grams to 775 grams.

10. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the putter has a club length ranging from 41 inches to 45 inches.

11. The putter according to claim 10 wherein the putter has a mass ranging from 665 grams to 700 grams.

12. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the crown portion further comprises alignment means.

13. The putter according to claim 12 wherein the alignment means further comprises a plurality of circular inserts.

14. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the club head is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium alloy, titanium, stainless steel, carbon steel and bronze.

15. A putter comprising:

a club head comprising

a face portion,

a sole portion extending rearward from the face portion,

an aft mass portion rearward from the face portion a distance of between 2.5 inches to 4.5 inches,

a crown portion extending rearward from the face portion, the crown portion having a central elongated section extending over the aft mass portion; and

a shaft connected to the club head;

wherein the putter has a torsion swing inertia, Ixz, that has an absolute value greater than 10,000 grams-centimeter square, wherein the torsion swing inertia is defined as the product of inertia of the angular acceleration about the shaft axis and the angular acceleration about the swing axis.

16. The putter according to claim 15 wherein the putter has a center of gravity located at least 1.5 centimeters rearward from a shaft axis of the putter.

17. The putter according to claim 15 wherein the club head has at least 70 percent of its mass located in a center section.

18. The putter according to claim 15 wherein the face portion has a recess with an insert disposed therein.

19. The putter according to claim 15 further comprising a grip attached to the shaft.

20. The putter according to claim 15 wherein the club head further comprises a cylindrical rod extending upward from an external surface of the crown portion for engagement with the shaft.

21. The putter according to claim 15 wherein the putter has a club length ranging from 46 inches to 50 inches.

22. The putter according to claim 21 wherein the putter has a mass ranging from 730 grams to 775 grams.

23. The putter according to claim 15 wherein the putter has a club length ranging from 41 inches to 45 inches.

24. The putter according to claim 23 wherein the putter has a mass ranging from 665 grams to 700 grams.

25. The putter according to claim 15 wherein the crown portion further comprises alignment means.

26. The putter according to claim 25 wherein the alignment means further comprises a plurality of circular inserts.

27. The putter according to claim 15 wherein the club head is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium alloy, titanium, stainless steel, carbon steel and bronze.

28. A putter comprising:

a club head comprising

a face portion,

a sole portion extending rearward from the face portion,

an aft mass portion rearward from the face portion a distance of between 2.5 inches to 4.5 inches,

a crown portion extending rearward from the face portion, the crown portion having a central elongated section extending over the aft mass portion; and

a shaft connected to the club head;

wherein the club head has at least 70 percent of its mass located in a center section.

29. The putter according to claim 28 wherein the putter has a center of gravity located at least 1.5 centimeters rearward from a shaft axis of the putter.

30. The putter according to claim 28 wherein the face portion has a recess with an insert disposed therein.

31. The putter according to claim 28 further comprising a grip attached to the shaft.

32. The putter according to claim 28 wherein the club head further comprises a cylindrical rod extending upward from an external surface of the crown portion for engagement with the shaft.

33. The putter according to claim 28 wherein the putter has a club length ranging from 46 inches to 50 inches.

34. The putter according to claim 33 wherein the putter has a mass ranging from 730 grams to 775 grams.

35. The putter according to claim 28 wherein the putter has a club length ranging from 41 inches to 45 inches.

36. The putter according to claim 35 wherein the putter has a mass ranging from 665 grams to 700 grams.

37. The putter according to claim 28 wherein the crown portion further comprises alignment means.

38. The putter according to claim 37 wherein the alignment means further comprises a plurality of circular inserts.

39. The putter according to claim 28 wherein the club head is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium alloy, titanium, stainless steel, carbon steel and bronze.

40. The putter according to claim 30 wherein the insert is composed of a polyurethane material.