Putters with variable face thickness and adjustability features

• US 9,694,260 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2015
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Dacey, Kevin P., DeMille, Brandon D., Rollinson, Augustin W., Kim, Wee Joung, Abbott, Craig E., Rice, Bradley C., Aguilar, Esteban
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US14/828,101
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 473331, 473334-341, 473330, D21750-751
• 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 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0445 Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits

Abstract

A putter head having variable face thickness or multiple materials and adjustable weighting features is disclosed herein. The variable face thickness may comprise a plurality of geometric shapes on the striking face surface with spacing between them that decreases in a top to bottom direction, or the face may include a plurality of angled carbon rods. The putter also includes an adjustable weight cartridge that can pivot in a toe-heel direction.

Claims

1. A putter head comprising:

a body comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a heel side, a toe side, and a hosel;

a face component comprising a striking surface and a variable thickness pattern; and

at least one adjustable weight feature affixed to the body,

wherein the variable thickness pattern comprises a plurality of circles disposed on the striking surface,

wherein spacing between each pair of adjacent circles of the plurality of circles at a location on the striking surface proximate the top portion is greater than spacing between each pair of adjacent circles of the plurality of circles at a location on the striking surface proximate the bottom portion, wherein a distance between the plurality of circles on the striking surface gradually decreases in a direction from proximate the top portion to proximate the bottom portion and

wherein each of the plurality of circles is an indentation extending into the striking surface.

2. A putter head comprising:

a body comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a heel side, a toe side, and a hosel;

a face component comprising a striking surface and a variable thickness pattern; and

at least one adjustable weight feature,

wherein the bottom portion extends rearwards away from the striking surface,

wherein the bottom portion comprises a plurality of through holes,

wherein the variable thickness pattern comprises a plurality of geometric shapes disposed on the striking surface,

wherein spacing between each pair of adjacent geometric shapes of the plurality of geometric shapes at a location on the striking surface proximate the top portion is greater than spacing between each pair of adjacent geometric shapes of the plurality of geometric shapes at a location on the striking surface proximate the bottom portion wherein a distance between the plurality of geometric shapes on the striking surface gradually decreases in a direction from proximate the top portion to proximate the bottom portion,

wherein the at least one adjustable weight feature comprises a plurality of weight screws, and

wherein each of the plurality of weight screws is sized to at least partially fit within at least one of the plurality of through holes.

3. The putter of claim 2, wherein the plurality of through holes comprises at least ten through holes.

4. The putter of claim 2, wherein the bottom portion is at least partially composed of a metal material, and wherein the through holes are evenly spaced from one another across the bottom portion.