Golf club head

• US 6,929,564 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Olsavsky, Thomas, Gray, Steven D., Toulon, Sean, Morgulis, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US10/338,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20040132542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 473/340, 473/349, 473/324, 473/342, 473/341
• US Class Current: 473/340
• 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 53/0416 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A putter-type golf club head is provided having enhanced moment of inertia and alignment characteristics. The putter head includes a front body and a weight body. The weight body includes a central weight section extending rearwardly from the front body a prescribed distance to a rear weight section. The putter head is configured such that the rear weight section has a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight section. Thus, both the longitudinal and lateral moments of inertia are improved to offer greater forgiveness and increased accuracy during putts. The central weight section may include at least one and more preferably two elongated, high-density elements that are visible on a top surface of the sole between the front body and the rear weight section. The visibility of the elongated elements, with optional parallel markings on a top surface of the golf club head, also act as alignment aids to the golfer.

Claims

1. A putter-type golf club head comprising:

a front body defining a front surface and an opposing rear surface, the front body having a width measured from a toe end to a heel end;

a central weight section projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body;

a rear weight section spaced from the front body such that the central weight section extends therebetween, the rear weight section having a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight section; and

a sole extending from the front body to the rear weight section, wherein the sole is directly coupled to the central weight section;

wherein the rear weight section is spaced apart from the front body by at least 2.5 cm.

2. The putter-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the front body is comprised of a material having a density of less than 10 g/cm³.

3. The putter-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein a maximum height of the rear weight section is less than maximum height of the front body.

5. The putter-type golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a central weight section extending from a mid-portion of the rear surface to the rear weight section, wherein the central weight section is generally perpendicular to the front surface.

6. The putter-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the front body is comprised of an aluminum alloy, a steel alloy, a titanium alloy, or combinations thereof.

7. The putter-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the front body is comprised of a material having a density of less than 10 g/cm³.

8. The putter-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first and second elongated rods are comprised of tungsten.

9. The putter-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first and second elongated rods are comprised of a material having a density greater than about 11 g/cm³.

10. The putter-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the front body has a front body width measured from the toe end to the heel end, and wherein a maximum width of the rear weight section is less than the front body width.

11. The putter-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein a maximum width of the rear weight section is greater than a maximum width of the central weight section.

12. The putter-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the rear weight section is disposed at least 2.5 cm away from the front body.

4. A putter-type golf club head comprising:

a front body having a front surface adapted to strike a golf ball, a rear surface opposing the front surface, a toe end, and a heel end;

a rear weight section coupled to the front body;

a sole extending from the front body to the rear weight section;

a first elongated rod extending axially from the rear surface of the front body to the rear weight section, wherein a junction of the first elongated rod and the rear surface is disposed between a centerline of the golf club head and the toe end; and

a second elongated rod extending axially from the rear surface of the front body to the rear weight section, wherein a junction of the second elongated rod and the rear surface is disposed between the centerline of the golf club head and the heel end.

13. The putter-type golf club head of claim 4, wherein a maximum height of the rear weight is less than a maximum height of the front body weight.

14. The putter-type golf club head of claim 4, further comprising a centerline indicia extending across a top portion of the golf club head.

15. The putter-type golf club head of claim 4, wherein portions of the first and second elongated rods disposed between the front body and the rear weight section are visible from above the golf club head.

16. The putter-type golf club head of claim 4, wherein the axis of the first elongated rod and the axis of the second elongated rod are each generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body.

17. The putter-type golf club head of claim 4, wherein the sole is directly coupled to the central weight section.

18. The putter-type golf club head of claim 4, wherein a maximum height of the rear weight is greater than a maximum height of the sole.

19. A putter-type golf club head comprising:

a front body having a front surface adapted to strike a golf ball, a rear surface opposing the front surface, a toe end, a heel end, and a front body width measured from the toe end to the heel end;

a central weight section directly coupled to the rear surface of the front body and extending rearwardly therefrom along a centerline of the golf club head, wherein the central weight section is generally perpendicular to the front surface;

a rear weight section directly coupled to the central weight section and extending rearwardly therefrom;

a sole extending between the front body and the rear weight section and directly coupled to the central weight section;

a first elongated rod extending axially from the rear surface of the front body to the rear weight section, wherein the axis of the first elongated rod is generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and wherein a junction of the first elongated rod and the rear surface is disposed between the centerline of the golf club head and the toe end; and

a second elongated rod extending axially from the rear surface of the front body to the rear weight section, wherein the axis of the second elongated rod is generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and wherein a junction of the second elongated rod and the rear surface is disposed between the centerline of the golf club head and the heel end;

wherein a maximum width of the rear weight section is less than the front body width, the maximum width of the rear weight section is greater than a maximum width of the central weight section, the rear weight section is disposed at least 2.5 cm away from the front body, and portions of the first and second elongated rods are visible from above the putter head.

20. The putter-type golf club head of claim 19, wherein the front body is comprised of an aluminum alloy, a steel alloy, a titanium alloy, or combinations thereof.

21. The putter-type golf club head of claim 19, wherein the first and second elongated rods are comprised of tungsten.

22. The putter-type golf club head of claim 19, further comprising a centerline indicia across a top portion of the golf club head.

23. A putter-type golf club head comprising:

a first body having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball, a rear surface opposing the front surface, a toe end, and a heel end;

a second body coupled to the first body and extending rearwardly therefrom, the second body having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface forming a portion of a sole, the top surface having a centerline indicia extending at least a portion of the length of the second body along a centerline of the golf club head, wherein the centerline is generally perpendicular to a ball striking portion of the front surface;

a first elongated rod extending rearwardly from the rear surface of the first body such that at least a portion of the length of the first elongated rod is visible from above the golf club head, wherein a junction of the first elongated rod and the rear surface is disposed between the centerline indicia and the toe end; and

a second elongated rod extending rearwardly from the rear surface of the first body such that at least a portion of the length of the second elongated rod is visible from above the golf club head, wherein a junction of the second elongated rod and the rear surface is disposed between the centerline indicia and the heel end;

wherein the first and second elongated rods are symmetrically disposed about the centerline indicia such that the first and second elongated rods and the centerline indicia together serve as alignment aids.

24. The putter-type golf club head of claim 23, wherein the front body is comprised of an aluminum alloy, a steel alloy, a titanium alloy, or combinations thereof.

25. The putter-type golf club head of claim 23, wherein the first and second elongated rods are comprised of a material having a density greater than about 11 g/cm³.

26. The putter-type golf club head of claim 23, wherein the second body extends rearwardly beyond the first and second elongated rods.

27. The putter-type golf club head of claim 23, wherein the first and second elongated rods each have of a length of at least 2.5 cm.