Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face
First Claim
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1. A putter head, comprising:
- a putter head body having a front face;
a recess formed in the front face; and
a ball striking surface insert configured to be received in the recess, the ball striking surface insert forming at least a portion of an exposed ball striking surface of the putter head, the exposed ball striking surface including 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, wherein a first edge of the first groove is defined by the metal material and a second edge of the first groove opposite the first edge is defined by the first strip of polymeric material, andwherein a plurality of microgrooves are defined in the metal material of the exposed ball striking surface of the ball striking surface insert adjacent the first groove.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an insert forming a ball striking face and engaged with the putter body. Portions of the insert may be formed of a metal material, while portions of the insert may be formed of a polymer material. The insert may include a base portion having grooves formed therein. This base may be joined with another material to form the insert. In some arrangements, the insert may be a two-sided, reversible construction and may have different performance characteristics associated with each side of the insert. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.
108 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A putter head, comprising:
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a putter head body having a front face; a recess formed in the front face; and a ball striking surface insert configured to be received in the recess, the ball striking surface insert forming at least a portion of an exposed ball striking surface of the putter head, the exposed ball striking surface including 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, wherein a first edge of the first groove is defined by the metal material and a second edge of the first groove opposite the first edge is defined by the first strip of polymeric material, and wherein a plurality of microgrooves are defined in the metal material of the exposed ball striking surface of the ball striking surface insert adjacent the first groove. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A putter head, comprising:
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a putter body having a front face; a recess formed in the front face; and a ball striking surface insert configured to be received in the recess and forming at least a portion of an exposed ball striking surface of the putter head, the ball striking surface insert including; a front portion formed of a first polymeric material and having a first elongated opening formed therein, and a backing portion engaged with the front portion, the backing portion being formed of a second polymeric material having a different hardness from the first polymeric material, and wherein the backing portion extends into the first elongated opening and forms a first strip of the second polymeric material exposed at the exposed ball striking surface, wherein the exposed ball striking surface includes a first groove defined therein, wherein a first edge of the first groove is defined by the first polymeric material and a second edge of the first groove opposite the first edge is defined by the second polymeric material exposed through the first elongated opening, and wherein a plurality of microgrooves are defined in the front portion of the ball striking surface insert adjacent the first groove. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A putter head, comprising:
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a putter head body having a front face; a recess formed in the front face of the putter head body; and a ball striking surface insert configured to be received in the recess formed in the front face of the putter head body and forming at least a portion of a ball striking surface of the putter head, the ball striking surface insert including; a front plate portion formed of a metal material and having a plurality of grooves formed in the metal material; a backing plate portion engaged with the front plate portion, the backing plate portion being formed of a polymer material, the polymer material extending into the grooves and forming at least a portion of the ball striking surface of the putter head, wherein a plurality of scorelines are defined in the ball striking surface of the putter head, wherein at least one of the scorelines has a first edge that constitutes the metal material and a second edge opposite the first edge that constitutes the polymer material, and wherein microgrooves are formed in the front plate portion between adjacent grooves of the plurality of grooves. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification