Golf putter head with a visual alignment aid and an increased moment of inertia

• US 7,052,411 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, David D., Solheim, John A., Haines, Derek W., Solheim, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/142,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20050221912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473249-256, D21736-746, D21/759
• US Class Current: 473/251
• 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

Abstract

A golf putter head includes a face member with a front surface arranged for impacting a golf ball. A first arm extends substantially rearwardly from a heel end of the face member, a second arm extends substantially rearwardly from a toe end of the face member, and a central member extends rearwardly from the face member intermediate the heel and toe ends thereof. The central member is connected to and extends rearwardly from a back surface of the face member. The central member includes a pair of wing portions connecting the central member to the first and second arms rearwardly of the face member. An end portion of the central member extends rearwardly of the wing portions.

Claims

1. A golf putter head comprising:

a face member having a heel end, a toe end, and a front surface arranged for impacting a golf ball;

a first arm extending substantially rearwardly from the heel end of said face member;

a second arm extending substantially rearwardly from the toe end of said face member;

a central member extending rearwardly from said face member intermediate the heel and toe ends thereof, said central member including first and second wings connected to said first and second arms, respectively, rearwardly of said face member;

said central member and said first arm defining a first opening therebetween adjacent the heel end of said face member;

said central member and said second arm defining a second opening therebetween adjacent the toe end of said face member;

said first and second arms each having an outer generally convex edge; and

said first and second wings each having an outer generally concave edge.

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

the outer generally convex edge of said first arm merges with the outer generally concave edge of said first wing and forms a first outwardly projecting portion located rearwardly of the heel end of said face member; and

the outer generally convex edge of said second arm merges with the outer generally concave edge of said second wing and forms a second outwardly projecting portion located rearwardly of the toe end of said face member.

3. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein said first and second arms each have an inner generally concave edge.

4. The golf putter head of claim 3, wherein the inner generally concave edges of said first and second arms define portions of said first and second openings.

5. The golf putter head of claim 4, wherein said central member has first and second generally straight edges that define other portions of said first and second openings.

6. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein said central member includes a substantially U-shaped wall at one end thereof that merges with a back surface of said face member.

7. The golf putter head of claim 6, wherein said central member has a thickened portion at the other end thereof opposite said U-shaped wall.

8. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein said first and second arms have top surfaces that slope downwardly as said first and second arms extend away from said face member.

9. The golf putter head of claim 1, further comprising a face plate disposed in the front surface of said face member.

10. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein said first and second openings define first and second open spaces, respectively, that are not closed off.

11. The golf putter head of claim 1, further comprising a hosel disposed adjacent the heel end of said face member for receiving a shaft.

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

a first step separating said first arm and said first wing; and

a second step separating said second arm and said second wing.

13. A golf putter head comprising:

a face member having a heel end, a toe end, and a front surface arranged for impacting a golf ball;

a first arm extending substantially rearwardly from the heel end of said face member;

a second arm extending substantially rearwardly from the toe end of said face member;

a central member extending rearwardly from said face member intermediate the heel and toe ends thereof, said central member including first and second wings connected to said first and second arms, respectively, rearwardly of said face member;

said central member and said first arm defining a first opening therebetween adjacent the heel end of said face member;

said central member and said second arm defining a second opening therebetween adjacent the toe end of said face member;

said first and second arms each having an outer generally convex edge and an inner generally concave edge;

said first and second wings each having an outer generally concave edge;

the outer generally convex edge of said first arm merging with the outer generally concave edge of said first wing and forming a first outwardly projecting portion located rearwardly of the heel end of said face member;

the outer generally convex edge of said second arm merging with the outer generally concave edge of said second wing and forming a second outwardly projecting portion located rearwardly of the toe end of said face member; and

the inner generally concave edges of said first and second arms defining portions of said first and second openings.

14. A golf putter head comprising:

a face member having a heel end, a toe end, and a front surface arranged for impacting a golf ball;

a first arm extending substantially rearwardly from the heel end of said face member;

a second arm extending substantially rearwardly from the toe end of said face member;

said first and second arms having top surfaces that slope downwardly as said first and second arms extend away from said face member

a central member extending rearwardly from said face member intermediate the heel and toe ends thereof, said central member including first and second wings connected to said first and second arms, respectively, rearwardly of said face member;

said central member and said first arm defining a first opening therebetween adjacent the heel end of said face member;

said central member and said second arm defining a second opening therebetween adjacent the toe end of said face member;

said first and second arms each having an outer generally convex edge;

said first and second wings each having an outer generally concave edge;

a face plate disposed in the front surface of said face member; and

a hosel disposed adjacent the heel end of said face member for receiving a shaft.

15. The golf putter head of claim 14, wherein said first and second arms each have an inner generally concave edge.

16. The golf putter head of claim 15, wherein said central member includes a substantially U-shaped wall at one end thereof that merges with a back surface of said face member.

17. The golf putter head of claim 16, wherein said central member has a thickened portion at the other end thereof opposite said U-shaped wall.

18. The golf putter head of claim 17, wherein said first and second openings define first and second open spaces, respectively, that are not closed off.

19. The golf putter head of claim 18, wherein the inner generally concave edges of said first and second arms define portions of said first and second openings.

20. The golf putter head of claim 19, further comprising:

a first step separating said first arm and said first wing; and

a second step separating said second arm and said second wing.