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 a first strip of polymeric material, with metal material provided adjacent and above the first strip of polymeric material and adjacent and below the first strip of polymeric material,wherein the exposed ball striking surface includes a first groove defined therein that extends across the central portion of the ball striking face, wherein a first edge of the first groove is defined by the metal material above the first strip of polymeric material and a second edge of the first groove opposite the first edge is defined by the first strip of polymeric material, andwherein the exposed ball striking surface includes a second groove defined therein that extends across the central portion of the ball striking face, wherein a first edge of the second groove is defined by the metal material below the first strip of polymeric material and a second edge of the second groove opposite the first edge is defined by the first strip of 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 a first strip of polymeric material, with metal material provided adjacent and above the first strip of polymeric material and adjacent and below the first strip of polymeric material, wherein the exposed ball striking surface includes a first groove defined therein that extends across the central portion of the ball striking face, wherein a first edge of the first groove is defined by the metal material above the first strip of polymeric material and a second edge of the first groove opposite the first edge is defined by the first strip of polymeric material, and wherein the exposed ball striking surface includes a second groove defined therein that extends across the central portion of the ball striking face, wherein a first edge of the second groove is defined by the metal material below the first strip of polymeric material and a second edge of the second groove opposite the first edge is defined by the first strip of polymeric material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A putter, comprising:
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a putter head including 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 a first strip of polymeric material, with metal material provided adjacent and above the first strip of polymeric material and adjacent and below the first strip of polymeric material, wherein; (a) the exposed ball striking surface includes a first groove defined therein that extends across the central portion of the ball striking face, wherein a first edge of the first groove is defined by the metal material above the first strip of polymeric material and a second edge of the first groove opposite the first edge is defined by the first strip of polymeric material, and (b) the exposed ball striking surface includes a second groove defined therein that extends across the central portion of the ball striking face, wherein a first edge of the second groove is defined by the metal material below the first strip of polymeric material and a second edge of the second groove opposite the first edge is defined by the first strip of polymeric material; and a shaft engaged with the putter head. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification