Putter head

• US 7,048,646 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2004
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Kubota, Makoto, Yamanaka, Yasuyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/851,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20050049078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/349, 473/340, 473/341, 473/332, 473334-339
• US Class Current: 473/332
• 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 53/0433 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A putter head includes a first half member, a second half member, and an insert. The first half body includes a first metal, and has a face surface on a front face. The second half body includes a second metal, which is higher in specific gravity than the first metal, and is attached to the forward half body. The insert is disposed inside the first half body to be along the face surface and includes one selected from a group consisting of a synthetic resin and a rubber.

Claims

1. A putter head comprising:

a first half body including a first metal, and having a face surface on a front face;

a second half body including a second metal, which is higher in specific gravity than the first metal, and attached to the forward half body; and

an insert, which is disposed inside the first half body to be along the face surface and includes one selected from a group consisting of a synthetic resin and a rubber,

wherein the first half body defines a recess on a rear face thereof, the insert is disposed in the recess and the second half body presses the insert;

wherein the first half body extends in a toe-heel direction of the putter head;

wherein the second half body includes a first member, having substantially a semi-circular arc shape, continuing from a toe side of the first half body to a heel side of the first half body and disposed on a rearward portion of the first half body and a second member protruding from a center of the rearward portion of the first half body in the toe-heel direction;

wherein one end of the second member continues to the first member, the first member and the second member are integrated with each other;

wherein a lid member is disposed at the other end of the second member and has a dimension so that the lid member is fitted to the recess; and

wherein the first half body and the second half body are connected with each other so that the lid member presses the insert.

2. The putter head according to claim 1, wherein:

the first half body has specific gravity in a range of from 2 to 5; and

the second half body has specific gravity in a range from 7 to 15.

3. The putter head according to claim 1, wherein the insert includes thermoplastic elastomer.

4. A putter head comprising:

a first half body including a first metal, and having a face surface on a front face;

a second half body including a second metal, which is higher in specific gravity than the first metal, and attached to the forward half body; and

an insert, which is disposed inside the first half body to be along the face surface and includes one selected from a group consisting of a synthetic resin and a rubber,

wherein the first half body defines a recess on a rear face thereof, the insert is disposed in the recess and the second half body presses the insert;

wherein the first half body extends in a toe-heel direction of the putter head;

wherein the second half body includes a first member continuing from a toe side of the first half body to a heel side of the first half body and disposed on a rearward portion of the first half body; and

a second member protruding from a center of the rearward portion of the first half body in the toe-heel direction;

wherein one end of the second member continues to the first member, the first member and the second member are integrated with each other;

wherein a lid member is disposed at the other end of the second member and has a dimension so that the lid member is fitted to the recess;

wherein the first half body and the second half body are connected with each other so that the lid member presses the insert;

wherein the recess includes an entrance portion, which retreats from the rear face of the first half body;

an innermost portion, which is formed behind the entrance portion and has smaller space than the entrance portion; and

a step surface, which is formed between the entrance portion and the innermost portion and is in parallel to the face surface;

wherein the insert is disposed in the innermost portion; and

wherein the lid member is in contact with the step surface.

5. The putter head according to claim 4, wherein:

the first half body has specific gravity in a range of from 2 to 5 ; and

the second half body has specific gravity in a range from 7 to 15.

6. The putter head according to claim 4, wherein the insert includes thermoplastic elastomer.