Golf putter having varied striking surface

• US 7,056,227 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald G. Giraldi
• Original Assignee: Gerald G. Giraldi
• Inventors: Giraldi, Gerald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldarola, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, THANH P
• Application Number:
  US09/844,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: 473/349, 473/329, 473/330, 473/324, 473/335, 473/342, 473/347
• US Class Current: 473/342
• 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 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A golf putter having a uniquely configured striking surface is claimed. The putter has a striking surface that is twisted between the toe of the putter and the heel of the putter. The loft angle associated with the striking surface of the putter varies from a positive loft angle near the heel to a negative loft angle near the toe. The striking surface of the putter has a midline. The striking surface is twisted about the mid-line. The plane of the twisted striking surface is also slightly curved to eliminate any concave curvatures created by the twist. A non-metallic insert is added to the striking surface. The non-metallic insert has thickness that varies as a function of its position along the mid-line.

Claims

1. A putter head assembly, comprising:

a putter body having a toe end, a heel end and a face surface that extends from said heel end toward said toe end, wherein said face surface has a loft angle configuration that continuously varies from a positive loft angle to a negative loft angle as said face surface extends from said heel end toward said toe end;

a non-metallic insert disposed in at least a portion of said face surface, wherein said non-metallic insert conforms to the loft angle configuration of said face surface.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said face surface has a mid-line that extends along the center of said face surface between said heel end and said toe end.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said mid-line of said face surface follows a curve having a radius of curvature between 54 inches and 90 inches.

4. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said non-metallic insert has a varying thickness along said mid-line and varies as a function of position along said mid-line.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said positive loft angle is ten degrees.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said non-metallic insert has a front surface and an opposite rear surface wherein said front surface conforms to said loft angle configuration.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein said rear surface has a plurality of sections and each of said sections has its own radius of curvature.

8. A putter, comprising:

a shaft having a first end and a second end;

a handle grip coupled to said first end of said shaft;

a putter head coupled to said second end of said shaft, said putter head including a face surface having a toe end and a heel end, said face surface being symmetrically disposed around an imaginary mid-line that extends from said toe end to said heel end, wherein said face has a loft angle configuration that continuously varies between said toe end and said heel end;

a non-metallic insert disposed in at least a portion of said face surface, wherein said non-metallic insert conforms to the loft angle configuration of said face surface.

9. The putter according to claim 8, wherein said mid-line follows a curve having a radius of curvature between 54 inches and 90 inches.

10. The putter according to claim 8, wherein said non-metallic insert has a front surface and an opposite rear surface, wherein said front surface conforms to said loft angle configuration.

11. The putter according to claim 10, wherein said rear surface has a plurality of sections and each of said sections has its own radius of curvature.

12. The putter according to claim 8, wherein said non-metallic insert has a thickness that varies along said mid-line as a function of position on said mid-line.