Golf putter

• US 7,625,299 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Fujimoto, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Blau; Stephen L.
• Application Number:
  US12/230,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20090111605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 473/340, 473/342, 473/349
• US Class Current: 473/340
• 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 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• 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

Abstract

A real loft angle of a putter (2) is one to four degrees. In a reference section (D1), an intersection point of a line which passes through a center of gravity (g1) of a head and is perpendicular to a horizontal plane (H1) and a sole surface (18) is represented by (T1), a line passing through the point (T1) and a leading edge point (Le) is represented by (S1), a point which is present on the sole surface (18) and is provided apart from the line (S1) toward a lowermost side is represented by (T2), a line which passes through the point (T2) and is parallel with the line (S1) is represented by (S2), a distance between the point (T2) and the line (S1) is represented by (K1), a line passing through the point (T2) and the point (Le) is represented by (S3), a distance in the front-rear direction between the point (T2) and the point (Le) is represented by (L), and a distance in the front-rear direction between the point (T1) and the point (Le) is represented by (M). An angle (θ1) formed by the line (S3) and the horizontal plane (H1) is equal to or greater than two degrees and is equal to or smaller than ten degrees. (K1/M) is greater than zero and is equal to or smaller than 0.10. (L/P) is equal to or greater than 0.10 and is equal to or smaller than 0.50. A lower portion (22) positioned below the line (S1) is present between the point (T1) and the point (Le).

Claims

1. A golf putter comprising a head, a shaft and a grip,

wherein a real loft angle is equal to or greater than one degree and is equal to or smaller than four degrees,

a length P (mm) in the front-rear direction of the head is equal to or greater than 30 mm and is equal to or smaller than 100 mm,

a state in which the head is stationarily mounted by itself on a horizontal plane H1 is set to be a reference state, a plane which passes through a center of gravity of the head, is perpendicular to the horizontal plane H1 and includes a line in the front-rear direction is set to be a reference plane in the head brought into the reference state, and a section of the head in the reference state along the reference plane is set to be a reference section, and

when an intersection point of a line which passes through the center of gravity of the head and is perpendicular to the horizontal plane H1 and a sole surface is represented by T1, a line passing through the point T1 and a leading edge point is represented by S1, a point which is present on the sole surface and is provided apart from the line S1 toward a lowermost side is represented by T2, a line which passes through the point T2 and is parallel with the line S1 is represented by S2, a distance between the point T2 and the line S1 is represented by K1 (mm), a line passing through the point T2 and the leading edge point is represented by S3, a distance in the front-rear direction between the point T2 and the leading edge point is represented by L (mm), and a distance in the front-rear direction between the point T1 and the leading edge point is represented by M (mm) in the reference section, an angle θ

1 formed by the line S3 and the horizontal plane H1 is equal to or greater than two degrees and is equal to or smaller than ten degrees, (K1/M) is greater than zero and is equal to or smaller than 0.10, (L/P) is equal to or greater than 0.10 and is equal to or smaller than 0.50, and a lower portion is positioned below the line S1 between the point T1 and the leading edge point.

2. The golf putter according to claim 1, wherein a height N of the center of gravity of the head is equal to or greater than 20 mm.

3. The golf putter according to claim 2, wherein the sole surface has a plane portion including the point T1, and

when a rearmost point of the plane portion is represented by T3 and a distance in the front-rear direction between the point T1 and the point T3 is presented by Q (mm) in the reference section,

(Q/P) is equal to or greater than 0.1.

4. The golf putter according to claim 1, wherein the sole surface has a plane portion including the point T1, and

when a rearmost point of the plane portion is represented by T3 and a distance in the front-rear direction between the point T1 and the point T3 is presented by Q (mm) in the reference section,

(Q/P) is equal to or greater than 0.1.