Putter head

• US 6,974,394 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2004
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Rollinson, Augustin W., Tang, Larry G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US10/710,557
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/335
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• 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 club head (20) has a body (22) that is preferably composed of a material having a density ranging from ranging from 2.0 g/cm³ to 3.0 g/cm³. The body (22) has a plurality of mass ports (50, 52 and 54) and a plurality of mass members (56, 58, and 60), each of which is located in a respective mass port. The body (22) further includes a heel aperture (34) and a toe aperture (36).

Claims

1. A putter-type club head comprising:

a body comprising a front section, an aft section, a heel section, a toe section and a central section, the body having a heel aperture defined by the heel section, central section, front section and aft section, the body having a toe aperture defined by the toe section, central section, front section and aft section, a face wall of the front section having a first mass port and a second mass port, a sole wall of the central section having a third mass port;

a first mass member disposed in the first mass port;

a second mass member disposed in the second mass port;

a third mass member disposed in the third mass port; and

a crown plate placed within a recess within the central section of the body;

wherein the putter-type club head has a moment of inertia about the Iyy axis through the center of gravity of the club head of at least 500 g-cm².

2. The putter-type club head according to claim 1 wherein the crown plate comprises an alignment indicia.

3. The putter-type club head according to claim 1 wherein each of the first mass member, the second mass member and the third mass member is composed of a material with a density greater than the density of the material of the body.

4. The putter-type club head according to claim 1 wherein each of the first mass member, the second mass member and the third mass member is composed of a material having a density ranging from 6.0 g/cm³ to 20.0 g/cm³.

5. The putter-type club head according to claim 4 wherein each of the first mass member, the second mass member and the third mass member is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of brass, stainless steel, tungsten, silver, gold, nickel, nickel based alloys, iron based alloys, tin, copper and platinum.

6. The putter-type club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of a material having a density ranging from 0.90 g/cm³ to 6.0 g/cm³.

7. The putter-type club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, magnesium alloy, titanium and titanium alloy.

8. A putter-type club head comprising;

a body comprising a front section, an aft section, a heel section, a toe section and a central section, the body having a heel aperture defined by the heel section, central section, front section and aft section, the body having a toe aperture defined by the toe section, central section, front section and aft section, a face wall of the front section having a first mass port and a second mass port, a sole wall of the central section having a third mass port;

a first mass member disposed in the first mass port;

a second mass member disposed in the second mass port;

a third mass member disposed in the third mass port;

wherein the putter-type club head has a moment of inertia about the Iyy axis through the center of gravity of the club head of at least 500 g-cm²;

wherein the sole wall of the central section has a slot proximate to the front section.

9. A putter-type club head comprising:

a body comprising a front section, an aft section, a heel section, a toe section and a central section, the body having a heel aperture defined by the heel section, central section, front section and aft section, the body having a toe aperture defined by the toe section, central section, front section and aft section, a face wall of the front section having a first mass port and a second mass port, the central section having a third mass port and a fourth mass port, the body has a mass ranging from 200 grams to 1000 grams;

a first mass member threadingly engaged in the first mass port;

a second mass member threadingly engaged in the second mass port;

a third mass member threadingly engaged in the third mass port;

a fourth mass member threadingly engage in the fourth mass port; and

a crown plate disposed on the central section, the crown plate composed of a non-metallic material.