Putters with enhanced alignment visualization

• US 8,246,481 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Stites, John Thomas, Reichow, Alan W., Oldknow, Andrew G. V., Miller, Sean, Franklin, David N.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US11/777,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20090017933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 473219-356, D21733-753, D21/759
• US Class Current: 473/254
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/007 Putters
• 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: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

Putters and putter heads better camouflage the main body of the head and/or highlight the alignment aid. The top surface of the head (when viewed from a ball address orientation) may be finished in a non-reflective, matte finish, optionally, in a dark color and/or in a color or colors selected so as to blend into or match the color of a golf green. At least some portion of the shaft member may be colored and finished in this same manner. These features help in visualization of the alignment aid (which also may be designed to help in alignment). If desired, the club head and/or shaft color and finish may be customized based on the greens at a specific golf course, greens in a specific geographical region, greens of a specific grass type, greens at a specific time of year or under specific conditions, etc.

Claims

1. A putter head, comprising:

a club head body having a ball striking face, a top surface when viewed from a ball address orientation, a ridge extending along the club head body from the ball striking face to a rear center area of the club head body, and two central areas located along the ridge defined by two open holes through the club head body, wherein a majority of the top surface has a non-reflective, matte finish, and wherein the color or colors of the matte finish are selected so as to substantially blend into or substantially match a color of a grass on a golf green; and

an alignment aid provided on or integrally formed as part of the top surface, wherein a first portion of the alignment aid includes a first generally right-triangular half and a second generally right-triangular half separate from the first generally right-triangular half, wherein the first right-triangular half and the second right-triangular half are located on the ridge, and wherein the alignment aid is formed in one or more contrasting colors and covers less than a majority of the top surface of the club head body.

2. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the club head body includes a ball striking face portion and a main body portion extending from the ball striking face portion and away from the ball striking face.

3. A putter head according to claim 2, wherein the first portion of the alignment aid is located on or integrally formed as part of the main body portion.

4. A putter head according to claim 3, wherein the alignment aid includes a second portion located on or integrally formed as part of the ball striking face portion.

5. A putter head according to claim 4, wherein the second portion of the alignment aid includes a line or an elongated substantially polygon shaped element extending along the ball striking face portion.

6. A putter head according to claim 4, wherein the first generally right-triangular half of the alignment aid includes a first flat side proximate to and extending substantially parallel to the ball striking face and a first single apex area located toward a center rearmost portion of the main body portion, and wherein the second generally right-triangular half of the alignment aid includes a second flat side proximate to and extending to the ball striking face and a second apex area located toward the center rearmost portion of the main body.

7. A putter head according to claim 2, wherein the alignment aid includes a second portion located on or integrally formed as part of the ball striking face portion.

8. A putter head according to claim 7, wherein the second portion of the alignment aid includes a line or an elongated substantially polygon shaped element extending along the ball striking face portion.

9. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the club head body includes no structural sharp corners visible from the ball address orientation.

10. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the club head body includes no abrupt surface elevation changes visible from the ball address orientation.

11. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the club head body includes smoothly rounded structural corners and smoothly transitioned surface elevation changes.

12. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the top surface has coloring consisting essentially of:

(a) the non-reflective, matte finish and (b) the alignment aid formed in the one or more highly contrasting colors.

13. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein at least 90% of the top surface coloring includes:

(a) the non-reflective, matte finish and (b) the alignment aid formed in the one or more highly contrasting colors.

14. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein at least 95% of the top surface coloring includes:

(a) the non-reflective, matte finish colors and (b) the alignment aid formed in the one or more highly contrasting colors.

15. A putter head comprising:

a club head body having a ball striking face, a top surface when viewed from a ball address orientation, a ridge extending along the club head body from the ball striking face to a rear center area of the club head body, and two central areas located along the ridge defined by two open holes through the club head body, wherein a majority of the top surface has a non-reflective, matte finish, and wherein the color or colors of the matte finish are selected so as to substantially blend into or substantially match a color of a grass on a golf green, the top surface of the club head body having a ball striking face portion and a main body portion extending from the ball striking face portion and away from the ball striking face; and

an alignment aid provided on or integrally formed as part of the main body portion, wherein a first portion of the alignment aid includes a first generally right-triangular half and a second generally right-triangular half separate from the first generally right-triangular half, wherein the first right-triangular half and the second right-triangular half are located on the ridge, wherein the first generally right-triangular half of the alignment aid includes a first flat side proximate to and extending substantially parallel to the ball striking face and a first single apex area located toward a center rearmost portion of the main body portion, and wherein the second generally right-triangular half of the alignment aid includes a second flat side proximate to and extending to the ball striking face and a second apex area located toward the center rearmost portion of the main body,

wherein a second portion of the alignment aid includes a line or an elongated substantially polygon shaped element extending along the ball striking face portion substantially parallel to the first and second flat sides of the first portion of the alignment aid and the second portion of the alignment aid is located on or integrally formed as part of the ball striking face portion, and

wherein the alignment aid is formed in one or more contrasting colors and covers less than a majority of the top surface of the club head body.

16. A putter head, comprising:

a club head body having a ball striking face and a top surface when viewed from a ball address orientation, a ridge extending along the club head body from the ball striking face to a rear center area of the club head body, and two central areas located along the ridge defined by two open holes through the club head body, wherein a majority of the top surface has a non-reflective, matte finish, and wherein the color or colors of the matte finish are selected so as to substantially blend into or substantially match a color of a grass on a golf green; and

a first alignment aid provided on or integrally formed as part of the top surface, wherein the first alignment aid is generally triangular shaped and includes two generally right-triangular halves with an intermediate portion extending along a length of the first alignment aid from the ball striking face to a rear center area, wherein the intermediate portion separates the two right-triangular halves, wherein the two generally right-triangular halves are located on the ridge, wherein the first alignment aid is formed in one or more contrasting colors and covers less than a majority of the top surface of the club head body, and wherein the intermediate portion matches the color or colors and finish of the majority of the top surface.

17. A putter head according to claim 16, wherein the first alignment aid is located on the ridge.

18. A putter head according to claim 17, wherein each of the two separate generally right triangular halves of the first alignment aid includes a flat side proximate to and extending substantially parallel to the ball striking face and a single apex area located toward a center rearmost portion of the club head body.

19. A putter head according to claim 18, further including a second alignment aid provided on or integrally formed as part of the top surface, and located on or integrally formed as part of the ball striking face, wherein the second alignment aid is formed in one or more highly contrasting colors and covers less than a majority of the top surface of the club head body.

20. A putter head according to claim 19, wherein the second alignment aid includes a line or an elongated substantially polygon shaped element extending along the ball striking face.

21. A putter head according to claim 19, wherein the second alignment aid includes a line or an elongated substantially polygon shaped element extending along the ball striking face substantially parallel to the flat sides of the first alignment aid.