Golf club

• US 7,166,036 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2005
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Cleveland, Roger, Rollinson, Augustin W., Byrne, Wayne H., Tang, Larry G., Helmstetter, Richard, Williams, Luke R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/150,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20050245323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 473251-256, 473324-350, 473/242, 473/249, D21736-746, D21/759
• US Class Current: 473/242
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/021 the shaft axis being forwardly offset relative to the striking face of the head
• 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 53/0433 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

Abstract

A putter (100) having a club head (20) having a central aperture (32) with a rearward center of gravity is disclosed herein. The club head (20) has a body (22) that is preferably composed of stainless steel. The body (22) has a face portion (24), a crown portion (26), a sole portion (28) and an aft-mass portion (30). The face portion (24), the crown portion (26), the sole portion (28) and the aft-mass portion (30) define the central aperture (32). The crown portion (26) extends rearward from the face portion (24) over the aft-mass portion (30). The central aperture (32) separates the crown portion (26) from the sole portion (28) and the face portion (24) from the aft-mass portion (30). The crown portion (26) has an alignment means (40) thereon for aiming a golf ball during putting. The putter has novel inertial properties.

Claims

1. A putter comprising:

a club head comprising

a face portion,

a sole portion extending rearward from the face portion,

an aft mass portion rearward from the face portion a distance of between 2.5 inches to 4.5 inches,

a crown portion extending rearward from the face portion, the crown portion having a central elongated section extending over the aft mass portion; and

a shaft connected to the club head, the shaft composed of an aluminum material;

wherein the putter has a swing static imbalance, Sy, greater than 500 grams-centimeter, the swing static imbalance defined as the product of the putter mass and the offset distance of the center of gravity of the club head behind the golfer'"'"'s hands along the target direction.

2. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the putter has a torsion swing inertia, Ixz, that has an absolute value greater than 10,000 grams-centimeter square, wherein the torsion swing inertia is defined as the product of inertia of the angular acceleration about the shaft axis and the angular acceleration about the swing axis.

3. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the putter has a center of gravity located at least 1.5 centimeters rearward from a shaft axis of the putter.

4. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the club head has at least 70 percent of its mass located in a center section.

5. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the shaft has an integrated grip portion with a textured coating thereon.

6. The putter according to claim 1 further comprising a grip attached to the shaft.

7. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the club head further comprises a cylindrical rod extending upward from an external surface of the crown portion for engagement with the shaft.

8. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the putter has a club length ranging from 46 inches to 50 inches.

9. The putter according to claim 8 wherein the putter has a mass ranging from 730 grams to 775 grams.

10. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the putter has a club length ranging from 41 inches to 45 inches.

11. The putter according to claim 10 wherein the putter has a mass ranging from 665 grams to 700 grams.

12. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the crown portion further comprises alignment means.

13. The putter according to claim 12 wherein the alignment means further comprises a plurality of circular inserts.

14. The putter according to claim 1 wherein the club head is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium alloy, titanium, stainless steel, carbon steel and bronze.

15. A putter comprising:

a club head comprising

a face portion,

a sole portion extending rearward from the face portion,

an aft mass portion rearward from the face portion a distance of between 2.5 inches to 4.5 inches,

a crown portion extending rearward from the face portion, the crown portion having a central elongated section extending over the aft mass portion; and

a shaft connected to the club head, the shaft composed of a light-weight material having a density less than 7.0 grams per cubic centimeter;

wherein the putter has a torsion swing inertia, Ixz, that has an absolute value greater than 10,000 grams-centimeter square, wherein the torsion swing inertia is defined as the product of inertia of the angular acceleration about the shaft axis and the angular acceleration about the swing axis.

16. The putter according to claim 15 wherein the putter has a center of gravity located at least 1.5 centimeters rearward from a shaft axis of the putter.

17. The putter according to claim 15 wherein the club head has at least 70 percent of its mass located in a center section.

18. The putter according to claim 15 wherein the shaft has an integrated grip portion with a textured coating thereon.

19. The putter according to claim 15 further comprising a grip attached to the shaft.

20. A putter comprising:

a club head comprising

a face portion,

a sole portion extending rearward from the face portion,

an aft mass portion rearward from the face portion a distance of between 2.5 inches to 4.5 inches,

a crown portion extending rearward from the face portion, the crown portion having a central elongated section extending over the aft mass portion; and

a shaft connected to the club head, the shaft having an integrated grip portion with a textured coating thereon, the shaft composed of a light weight material having a density less than 7.00 grams per cubic centimeter;

wherein the club head has at least 70 percent of its mass located in a center section.