Golf club head

• US 7,465,240 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2007
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Frame, Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/893,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20080045352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/329
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0445 Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a putter head that has a plurality of deflectable beams or projections for striking a golf ball. Upon impact with the ball, the beams deflect and rebound to impart topspin on the ball, thereby resulting in forward rotation of the ball shortly after impact. In certain embodiments, the striking surface of the putter is comprised of a plurality of generally parallel, vertically spaced, deflectable beams extending horizontally across a front surface of the putter. Each beam extends downwardly from a fixed end to a free end that can contact the ball. In one specific implementation, the beams can be formed directly in the front surface of the putter head. In another implementation, the beams are formed in an insert that is mounted to the front surface of the putter head.

Claims

1. A putter-type golf club head comprising:

a front surface defining a plurality of generally parallel, vertically spaced, deflectable beams each having a generally parallel opposed upper surface and lower surface and extending horizontally across the front surface; and

wherein the beams have a substantially constant beam thickness measured between the upper surface and the lower surface;

wherein the beams define fixed first ends connected to a common base and second ends distal from the base that define a striking face for contacting a ball;

wherein the beams extend downwardly from respective fixed ends at an acute angle toward a bottom portion of the club head, wherein the acute angle is defined between the beams and a vertical axis relative to a ground plane when the club head is at address position; and

wherein the beams are configured such that when a golf ball impacts the beams, the beams deflect to impart topspin on the golf ball.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second end of each beam defines a substantially flat end surface for striking the ball.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein each beam has a frequency of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to about 300 kHz.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein each beam has a frequency of oscillation in the range of about 8 kHz to about 150 kHz.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein each beam has a frequency of oscillation in the range of about 12 kHz to about 95 kHz.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 6 to 76 degrees.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 26 to 56 degrees.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 36 to 46 degrees.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein each beam extends horizontally across the front surface from a first end portion adjacent a heel of the club head to a second end portion adjacent a toe of the club head, wherein one or more of the beams have first and second end portions that are fixed relative to the base.

10. A putter-type golf club head comprising:

a base disposed in a front portion of the club head; and

a plurality of vertically spaced projections integral to and cantilevered from the base, each projection having a substantially parallel top surface and bottom surface and projecting forwardly and downwardly from the base at an acute angle toward a bottom portion of the club head, wherein the acute angle is defined between each projection and a vertical axis relative to a ground plane when the club head is at address position.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein each projection has an end surface, and wherein the end surfaces of the plurality of projections collectively define a substantially planar striking face configured to strike a golf ball.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein each of the end surfaces is substantially flat.

13. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the golf club head has a substantially planar front surface and the projections extend horizontally across at least a portion of a width of the front surface.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein each projection has a substantially constant beam thickness.

15. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein each projection has a frequency of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to about 300 kHz.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein each projection has a frequency of oscillation in the range of about 8 kHz to about 150 kHz.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein each projection has a frequency of oscillation in the range of about 12 kHz to about 95 kHz.

18. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 6 to 76 degrees.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 26 to 56 degrees.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 36 to 46 degrees.

21. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein each projection has a first end portion adjacent a toe of the club head and a second end portion adjacent a heel of the club head, wherein the first and second end portions of one or more of the projections are fixed relative to the base.

22. The golf club head of claim 21, wherein the first and second end portions of each projection are fixed relative to a peripheral portion of the base, the peripheral portion completely surrounding the projections.

23. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the base comprises an insert that is disposed in a recess formed in the front portion of the club head.

24. A method for putting a golf ball with a head of a golf putter, the head comprising a plurality of beams extending horizontally across the head, the beams having a substantially constant thickness and being cantilevered from the head and having distal ends that define a striking face for contacting the ball, the method comprising striking the striking face against the ball to cause at least some of the beams to deflect downwardly and rearwardly, and then recoil upwardly and outwardly to impart topspin on the ball.