Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face
First Claim
1. A putter head, comprising:
- a putter body including a ball striking face, a top, and a bottom, wherein an exposed ball striking surface at a central portion of the ball striking face between the top and the bottom includes polymeric material and metal material, and wherein a top-to-bottom cross section of the exposed ball striking surface at the central portion of the ball striking face has a structure that includes alternating polymeric material and metal material and a plurality of grooves including;
(a) a first groove defining a first recess in the exposed ball striking surface, wherein, in the cross section, a first edge of the first groove constitutes metal material and a second edge of the first groove opposite the first edge constitutes polymeric material;
(b) a second groove defining a second recess in the exposed ball striking surface closer to the top than the first groove, wherein, in the cross section, a first edge of the second groove constitutes metal material and a second edge of the second groove opposite the first edge constitutes polymeric material; and
(c) a third groove defining a third recess in the exposed ball striking surface closer to the top than the second groove, wherein, in the cross section, a first edge of the third groove constitutes metal material and a second edge of the third groove opposite the first edge constitutes polymeric material.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A putter head, comprising:
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a putter body including a ball striking face, a top, and a bottom, wherein an exposed ball striking surface at a central portion of the ball striking face between the top and the bottom includes polymeric material and metal material, and wherein a top-to-bottom cross section of the exposed ball striking surface at the central portion of the ball striking face has a structure that includes alternating polymeric material and metal material and a plurality of grooves including; (a) a first groove defining a first recess in the exposed ball striking surface, wherein, in the cross section, a first edge of the first groove constitutes metal material and a second edge of the first groove opposite the first edge constitutes polymeric material; (b) a second groove defining a second recess in the exposed ball striking surface closer to the top than the first groove, wherein, in the cross section, a first edge of the second groove constitutes metal material and a second edge of the second groove opposite the first edge constitutes polymeric material; and (c) a third groove defining a third recess in the exposed ball striking surface closer to the top than the second groove, wherein, in the cross section, a first edge of the third groove constitutes metal material and a second edge of the third groove opposite the first edge constitutes polymeric material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A putter, comprising:
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a putter body including a ball striking face, a top, and a bottom, wherein an exposed ball striking surface at a central portion of the ball striking face between the top and the bottom includes polymeric material and metal material, and wherein a top-to-bottom cross section of the exposed ball striking surface at the central portion of the ball striking face has a structure that includes alternating polymeric material and metal material and a plurality of grooves including; (a) a first groove defining a first recess in the exposed ball striking surface, wherein, in the cross section, a first edge of the first groove constitutes metal material and a second edge of the first groove opposite the first edge constitutes polymeric material, (b) a second groove defining a second recess in the exposed ball striking surface closer to the top than the first groove, wherein, in the cross section, a first edge of the second groove constitutes metal material and a second edge of the second groove opposite the first edge constitutes polymeric material, and (c) a third groove defining a third recess in the exposed ball striking surface closer to the top than the second groove, wherein, in the cross section, a first edge of the third groove constitutes metal material and a second edge of the third groove opposite the first edge constitutes polymeric material; and a shaft member engaged with the putter body. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification