Golf putter head

• US 7,648,425 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Nunez, Robert, Miraflor, Jose, Wahl, Bret H., Ines, Marni
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/640,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20080146369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473251-256, 473287-292, D21736-746
• US Class Current: 473/334
• 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 53/0441 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 high inertia golf putter head is generally wedge-shaped, with the leading face being less wide than the trailing face. Cavities and weights are provided to optimize the moment of inertia.

Claims

1. A golf putter head comprising:

a generally wedge shaped unitary body defining a leading portion for striking a golf ball and a trailing portion, the leading portion having a first width in a heel-to-toe dimension of the head, the trailing portion having a second width in the heel-to-toe dimension that is greater than the first width, the trailing portion including a trailing edge extending substantially completely across the second width, the trailing edge being straight or gently convex wherein the body defines a toe wall that connects a toe edge of the leading portion with a toe edge of the trailing portion and a heel wall that connects a heel edge of the leading portion with a heel edge of the trailing portion with the leading portion, the trailing portion, the toe wall, and the heel wall defining a generally wedge shape with tangents to the walls converging at a point in front of the leading portion, the leading portion defines a leading face circumscribing a pocket, a strike insert being disposed in the pocket and flush with the leading face for striking a golf ball, wherein the body defines a centerline extending between the leading and trailing portions, the trailing portion defining a trailing end, a respective weight being disposed in the trailing portion on each side of the centerline and being recessed from the trailing end, wherein the body defines a closed generally wedge-shaped central portion, a top plate joining the walls adjacent the leading face and trailing end and spaced from the walls by respective cavities intermediate the leading face and trailing end, each cavity extending completely through the body in a top-to-sole dimension.

2. The putter head of claim 1, comprising a boss on the top plate and a weight movably engaged with the boss for adjustment of the weight in the top-to-sole dimension by a golfer, the body being formed with an open sole removably covered by a sole plate for gaining access to the weight.

3. The putter head of claim 1, wherein each cavity has upper walls tapering inwardly from a top of the body toward a sole and lower walls tapering inwardly from the sole toward the top.

4. A putter head, comprising:

a body defining a periphery having a long trailing edge and a short leading edge above a leading surface, no structure extending laterally past the leading edge in the plane of the leading edge; and

an insert engaged with the body and flush with the leading surface, the leading surface circumscribes a pocket, the insert being disposed in the pocket and flush with the leading face for striking a golf ball, wherein the body is generally wedge-shaped and defines a leading portion terminating in the leading surface a trailing portion bounded by the trailing edge, the leading portion having a first width in a heel-to-toe dimension of the head, the trailing portion having a second width in the heel-to-toe dimension that is greater than the first width, the trailing edge extending substantially completely across the second width, the trailing edge being straight or gently convex, the body defines a toe wall that connects a toe edge of the leading portion with a toe edge of the trailing portion and a heel wall that connects a heel edge of the leading portion with a heel edge of the trailing portion with the leading portion, the trailing portion, the toe wall, and the heel wall defining a generally wedge shape with tangents to the walls converging at a point in front of the leading portion, wherein the body defines a centerline extending between the leading and trailing portions, the trailing portion defining a trailing end, a respective weight being disposed in the trailing portion on each side of the centerline and being recessed from the trailing end, wherein the body defines a closed generally wedge-shaped central portion, a top plate joining the walls adjacent the leading surface and trailing end and spaced from the walls by respective cavities intermediate the leading surface and trailing end, each cavity extending completely through the body in a top-to-sole dimension.

5. The puffer head of claim 4, wherein each cavity has upper walls tapering inwardly from a top of the body toward a sole and lower walls tapering inwardly from the sole toward the top.

6. A putter head, comprising:

a body defining a periphery having a long trailing edge and a short leading edge above a leading surface, no structure extending laterally past the leading edge in the plane of the leading edge; and

an insert engaged with the body and flush with the leading surface, the leading surface circumscribes a pocket, the insert being disposed in the pocket and flush with the leading face for striking a golf ball, wherein the body is generally wedge-shaped and defines a leading portion terminating in the leading surface a trailing portion bounded by the trailing edge, the leading portion having a first width in a heel-to-toe dimension of the head, the trailing portion having a second width in the heel-to-toe dimension that is greater than the first width, the trailing edge extending substantially completely across the second width, the trailing edge being straight or gently convex, the body defines a toe wall that connects a toe edge of the leading portion with a toe edge of the trailing portion and a heel wall that connects a heel edge of the leading portion with a heel edge of the trailing portion with the leading portion, the trailing portion, the toe wall, and the heel wall defining a generally wedge shape with tangents to the walls converging at a point in front of the leading portion, wherein the body defines a centerline extending between the leading and trailing portions, the trailing portion defining a trailing end, a respective weight being disposed in the trailing portion on each side of the centerline and being recessed from the trailing end;

a boss on a top plate and a weight movably engaged with the boss for adjustment of the weight in the top-to-sole dimension by a golfer, the body being formed with an open sole removably covered by a sole plate for gaining access to the weight.

7. A putter head formed with a leading surface and a trailing end that is larger in area than the leading surface, the trailing end being slightly convex, the leading surface being flat and being at least partially defined by an insert, wherein the head includes a unitary generally wedge-shaped body defining a leading portion terminating in the leading surface a trailing portion terminating in the trailing end, the leading portion having a first width in a heel-to-toe dimension of the head, the trailing portion having a second width in the heel-to-toe dimension that is greater than the first width, the trailing end extending substantially completely across the second width, wherein the body defines a toe wall that connects a toe edge of the leading portion with a toe edge of the trailing portion and a heel wall that connects a heel edge of the leading portion with a heel edge of the trailing portion with the leading portion, the trailing portion, the toe wall, and the heel wall defining a wedge shape with tangents to the walls converging at a point in front of the leading portion, wherein the body defines a centerline extending between the leading and trailing portions, a respective weight being disposed in the trailing portion on each side of the centerline and being recessed from the trailing end, wherein the body defines a closed generally wedge-shaped central portion, a top plate joining the walls adjacent the leading surface and trailing end and spaced from the walls by respective cavities intermediate the leading surface and trailing end, each cavity extending completely through the in a top-to-sole dimension.