Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face

• US 8,641,549 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Stites, John T., Franklin, David N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US13/657,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20130102409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• US Class Current: 473/251
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49993 Filling of opening

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.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body made of a material having a first hardness characteristic, the body defining a ball striking face and a bottom surface generally adjacent the ball striking face, the body defining an access opening in the bottom surface, the access opening extending in a heel-to-toe direction of the body, wherein the body defines a heel-to-toe length and the access opening extends a length in a range of 25%-75% of the heel-to-toe length of the body, the body further defining a cavity within the body and in communication with the access opening, wherein the cavity is spaced rearward from the ball striking face a distance in the range of 0.25 inch to 2 inches; and

a polymeric member positioned in the cavity, the polymeric member being exposed at the access opening, the polymeric material having a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first characteristic, wherein the feel characteristics of the club head are influenced.

2. The club head of claim 1 wherein the cavity has an end positioned within the body.

3. The club head of claim 1 wherein the access opening extends at least 50% of the heel-to-toe length of the body.

4. The club head of claim 1 wherein the cavity is spaced rearward from the ball striking face a distance in the range of 0.25 inch to 0.5 inch.

5. The club head of claim 1 wherein the body defines an external surface remote from the bottom surface, the external surface having a second access opening therein, the second access opening being in communication with the cavity wherein the polymeric member is exposed at the second access opening.

6. The club head of claim 1 wherein the body defines a height and the cavity extends into the body approximately 50% of the height of the body.

7. The club head of claim 1 wherein the cavity is generally parallel to the ball striking face.

8. The club head of claim 1 wherein the cavity has a width and the access opening has a width that generally coincides with the width of the cavity.

9. The club head of claim 1 wherein the access opening has a width in the range of 0.03 inch to 0.5 inch.

10. The club head of claim 1 wherein the access opening has a width in the range of 0.1 inch to 0.3 inch.

11. The club head of claim 1 wherein the bottom surface defines a width and wherein the access opening is positioned within the width of the bottom surface.

12. The club head of claim 1 wherein the polymeric member is one of a thermoplastic polymeric material, a thermosetting polymeric material, a polyurethane material, a vinyl material, a nylon material, a polyether material and a polybutylene terephthalate material.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a body defining a ball striking face and a bottom surface generally adjacent the ball striking face, the body defining an access opening in the bottom surface, the access opening extending in a heel-to-toe direction of the body, the body further defining a cavity within the body, the cavity positioned in spaced relation to the ball striking face in a range of approximately 0.25 inch to 0.5 inch, and wherein the access opening is in communication with the cavity and the access opening is generally in alignment with the cavity; and

a polymeric member positioned in the cavity, the polymeric member being exposed at the access opening.

14. The club head of claim 13 wherein the body defines a heel-to-toe length and the access opening extends a length in a range of 5%-95% of the heel-to-toe length of the body.

15. The club head of claim 13 wherein the body defines a heel-to-toe length and the access opening extends a length in a range of 15%-85% of the heel-to-toe length of the body.

16. The club head of claim 13 wherein the body defines a heel-to-toe length and the access opening extends a length in a range of 25%-75% of the heel-to-toe length of the body.

17. The club head of claim 13 wherein the body defines a heel-to-toe length and the access opening extends a length of at least 50% of the heel-to-toe length of the body.

18. The club head of claim 13 wherein the body defines a heel-to-length and the access opening extends a length of at least 75% of the heel-to-toe length of the body.

19. The club head of claim 13 wherein the body defines an external surface remote from the bottom surface, the external surface having a second access opening therein, the second access opening being in communication with the cavity wherein the polymeric member is exposed at the second access opening.

20. The club head of claim 13 wherein the body defines a height and the cavity extends into the body approximately 50% of the height of the body.

21. The club head of claim 13 wherein the cavity has a width and the access opening has a width that generally coincides with the width of the cavity.

22. The club head of claim 13 wherein the bottom surface defines a width and wherein the access opening is positioned within the width of the bottom surface.

23. The club head of claim 13 wherein the polymeric member is one of a thermoplastic polymeric material, a thermosetting polymeric material, a polyurethane material, a vinyl material, a nylon material, a polyether material and a polybutylene terephthalate material.

24. A golf club head comprising:

a body defining a ball striking face and a bottom surface generally adjacent the ball striking face, the body defining a heel-to-toe length, the body defining an access opening in the bottom surface, the access opening extending in a heel-to-toe direction of at least 50% of the heel-to-toe length of the body, the body further defining a cavity within the body, the cavity positioned in spaced relation to the ball striking face in a range of approximately 0.25 inch to 1 inch, and wherein the access opening is in communication with the cavity and the access opening is generally in alignment with the cavity; and

a polymeric member positioned in the cavity, the polymeric member being exposed at the access opening.