Putter

• US 20040063516A1
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Cameron, Don T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,004,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/340
• 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 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• 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 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/065 for putters
• 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

Abstract

A golf putter head adapted for attachment to a club shaft is provided with a face member having a strike face and a cylindrical back cavity, and a body member configured to fit and rotate within the back cavity is disclosed. Selective rotation of the body member within the back cavity sets a loft of the putter head. The weighting of the putter is adjusted by securing a weight member to the body member. A golf putter head having an increased moments of inertia is also disclosed. The putter head includes a face member, a body member, and a weight member. Placement of the weight member is such that the moments of inertia are increased and the putter head is stable.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a face member having a strike face and a rear surface opposite said strike face;

a body member having a first end and a second end, said body member being coupled at said first end to said face member rear surface; and

a weight member coupled to said body member second end.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

said weight member has a first weight;

the club head has a second weight; and

said first weight is at least 25% of said second weight.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said first weight is at least 50% of said second weight.

4. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said first weight is at least 75% of said second weight.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said weight member has a weight within a range of approximately 100 g to approximately 200 g.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein said weight is within a range of approximately 125 g to approximately 175 g.

7. The club head of claim 1, wherein:

said face member is elongate;

said body member is elongate; and

said weight member is arcuate.

8. The club head of claim 7, wherein ends of said weight member are curved toward said face member.

9. The club head of claim 8, wherein said ends of said weight member are positioned a distance from 0 inch to approximately 1.5 inches from said strike face.

10. The club head of claim 8, wherein said ends of said weight member are positioned a distance from 0 inch to approximately 1 inch from said strike face.

11. The club head of claim 8, wherein said ends of said weight member contact said rear surface.

12. The club head of claim 1, further comprising a shaft mount.

13. The club head of claim 12, wherein said shaft mount is offset from said face member.

14. The club head of claim 12, wherein said body member comprises said shaft mount.

15. The club head of claim 14, wherein said shaft mount is an integral part of said body member.

16. The club head of claim 12, further comprising a shaft coupled to said shaft mount.

17. The club head of claim 16, wherein said shaft is bent to give a straight, no offset appearance at address.

18. The club head of claim 1, wherein said body member is coupled to said face member in a substantially perpendicular fashion.

19. The club head of claim 1, wherein the club head is a putter head.

20. The club head of claim 1, wherein said face member and said body member are coupled such that said face member is lower than said body member.

21. The club head of claim 1, wherein the club head is stable when placed on a substantially flat surface.

22. The club head of claim 1, wherein:

said face member comprises aluminum;

said body member comprises aluminum; and

said weight member comprises steel.

23. A golf club head, comprising:

a face member having a strike face and a rear surface opposite said strike face;

a body member having a first end and a second end, said body member being coupled at said first end to said face member rear surface; and

a weight member coupled to said body member second end;

wherein;

the club head includes a center of gravity; and

the club head has a moment of inertia as measured about a vertical axis passing through said center of gravity that is greater than 550 kg·

mm².

24. The golf club head of claim 23, wherein said moment of inertia is within a range of approximately of 600 kg·

mm² to 800 kg·

mm².

25. The golf club head of claim 24, wherein said moment of inertia is within a range of 700 kg·

mm² to 750 kg·

mm².

26. The golf club head of claim 23, wherein said center of gravity is located a distance of approximately 1.5 inches to approximately 2 inches from said strike face.

27. The golf club head of claim 26, wherein said center of gravity is located a distance of approximately 1.7 inches from said strike face.

28. The golf club head of claim 23, wherein the club head is a putter head.

29. A golf club head, comprising:

a face member having a strike face and a rear surface opposite said strike face;

a body member having a first end and a second end, said body member being coupled at said first end to said face member rear surface; and

a weight member coupled to said body member second end;

wherein;

said body member includes a longitudinal axis; and

the club head has a moment of inertia as measured about said longitudinal axis that is greater than approximately 200 kg·

mm².

30. The golf club head of claim 29, wherein said moment of inertia is within a range of approximately 200 kg·

mm² to approximately 400 kg·

mm².

31. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein said moment of inertia is within a range of approximately 250 kg·

mm² to approximately 300 kg·

mm².

32. The golf club head of claim 29, wherein the club head includes a center of gravity and said longitudinal axis passes through said center of gravity.

33. The golf club head of claim 29, wherein said longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to said face member.

34. The golf club head of claim 29, wherein:

the club head includes a center of gravity; and

the club head has a moment of inertia as measured about a vertical axis passing through said center of gravity within a range of approximately of 600 kg·

mm² to 800 kg·

mm².

35. The golf club head of claim 29, wherein the club head is a putter head.

36. A golf club head, comprising:

a face member having a strike face and a rear surface opposite said strike face;

a body member having a first end and a second end, said body member being coupled at said first end to said face member rear surface; and

a weight member coupled to said body member second end;

wherein;

said body member includes a shaft mount; and

the club head has a moment of inertia as measured about a vertical axis passing through said shaft mount that is greater than approximately 550 kg·

mm².

37. The golf club head of claim 36, wherein said moment of inertia is within a range of approximately 600 kg·

mm² to approximately 900 kg·

mm².

38. The golf club head of claim 37, wherein said moment of inertia is within a range of approximately 800 kg·

mm² to approximately 850 kg·

mm².

39. The club head of claim 36, wherein said shaft mount is an integral part of said body member.

40. The club head of claim 36, wherein said shaft mount is positioned a distance of approximately 1.5 inches to approximately 2 inches from said strike face.

41. The club head of claim 40, wherein said shaft mount is positioned a distance of approximately 1.7 inches from said strike face.

42. The club head of claim 36, further comprising a shaft coupled to said shaft mount.

43. The club head of claim 42, wherein said shaft is bent to give a straight, no offset appearance at address.

44. The golf club head of claim 36, wherein the club head is a putter head.

45. A golf club head, comprising:

a face member having a strike face and a rear surface opposite said strike face;

a body member having a first end and a second end, said body member being coupled at said first end to said face member rear surface; and

a weight member coupled to said body member second end;

wherein the club head includes a center of gravity, said center of gravity being located a distance of approximately 1 inch to approximately 4 inches from said strike face.

46. The golf club head of claim 45, wherein said center of gravity is located a distance of approximately 1.5 inches to approximately 2 inches from said strike face.

47. The golf club head of claim 46, wherein said center of gravity is located a distance of approximately 1.7 inches from said strike face.

48. The golf club head of claim 45, wherein:

the club head has a length having a midpoint; and

said center of gravity is between said midpoint and said weight member.

49. The golf club head of claim 48, wherein said center of gravity is located a distance of approximately 50% of said length to approximately 75% of said length behind said strike face.

50. The golf club head of claim 48, further comprising a shaft mount positioned between said midpoint and said strike face.

51. The golf club head of claim 50, wherein said shaft mount is positioned a distance of approximately 25% of said length to approximately 50% of said length behind said strike face.

52. The golf club head of claim 50, wherein:

the club head has a weight; and

approximately 50% of said weight to approximately 75% of said weight is located on a weight member side of said shaft mount.

53. The club head of claim 50, further comprising a shaft coupled to said shaft mount.

54. The club head of claim 53, wherein said shaft is bent to give a straight, no offset appearance at address.

55. The golf club head of claim 45, wherein the club head is a putter head.

56. A golf club head, comprising:

a face member having a strike face and a rear surface opposite said strike face, said strike face having a loft angle within a range of approximately 0°

to approximately 10°

;

a body member having a first end and a second end, said body member being coupled at said first end to said face member rear surface;

a weight member coupled to said body member second end; and

a shaft mount;

wherein the club head includes a center of gravity located a distance of approximately 1 inch to approximately 4 inches from said strike face.

57. The golf club head of claim 56, wherein said center of gravity is located a distance of approximately 1.5 inch to approximately 2 inches from said strike face.

58. The golf club head of claim 56, wherein said center of gravity is located a distance of approximately 1.7 inches from said strike face.

59. The golf club head of claim 56, further comprising a shaft coupled to said shaft mount, said shaft having a length of approximately 35 inches or more.

60. The golf club head of claim 59, wherein said length is approximately 37 inches.

61. The golf club head of claim 59, wherein said length is approximately 53 inches.

62. The club head of claim 59, wherein said shaft is bent to give a straight, no offset appearance at address.

63. The golf club head of claim 56, wherein said loft angle is approximately 4°

or less.

64. The golf club head of claim 56, wherein said loft angle is approximately 3.5°

or less.

65. The golf club head of claim 56, wherein said loft angle is approximately 3°

or less.

66. The golf club head of claim 56, wherein said loft angle is a dynamic loft angle.

67. The golf club head of claim 56, wherein:

the club head has a length; and

said shaft mount is positioned a distance of approximately 25% of said length to approximately 50% of said length behind said strike face.

68. The golf club head of claim 56, wherein, wherein said shaft mount is offset from said face member.

69. The golf club head of claim 56, wherein, wherein said body member comprises said shaft mount.

70. The golf club head of claim 69, wherein, wherein said shaft mount is an integral part of said body.