Putter Heads and Putters Including Polymeric Material as Part of the Ball Striking Face

• US 20090286620A1
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Franklin, David N., Stites, John T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,717,801 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 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• 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 53/0445 Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

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 putter head, comprising:

a putter body including a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic, wherein a cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and wherein a plurality of independent and separated openings are defined in the ball striking face member, the independent and separated openings extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member so as to open into the cavity; and

a polymeric material provided to at least partially fill the plurality of openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic, and wherein 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 head.

2. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric material completely fills the plurality of openings and the cavity.

3. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the ball striking surface has a plurality of grooves defined therein.

4. A putter head according to claim 3, wherein the grooves are defined in the material making up the ball striking face member.

5. A putter head according to claim 4, wherein the grooves extend into only a portion of an exposed surface of the material making up the ball striking face member between adjacent openings in the ball striking face member.

6. A putter head according to claim 3, wherein the grooves are defined in the polymeric material.

7. A putter head according to claim 6, wherein the grooves extend into only a portion of an exposed surface of the polymeric material provided in an opening in the ball striking face member.

8. A putter head according to claim 3, wherein the grooves are defined in the material making up the ball striking face member and in the polymeric material.

9. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings are arranged in a parallel manner such that the material of the ball striking face member extends between two adjacent openings.

10. A putter head according to claim 9, wherein the ball striking face member includes at least four openings arranged in a parallel manner.

11. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings are arranged in a manner such that the material of the ball striking face member extends between two adjacent openings.

12. A putter head according to claim 11, wherein the ball striking surface has a plurality of grooves defined therein.

13. A putter head according to claim 12, wherein the grooves are defined in the material making up the ball striking face member and in the polymeric material.

14. A putter head according to claim 12, wherein the grooves are defined in and at adjacent portions of the material making up the ball striking face and in the polymeric material.

15. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the cavity extends to and opens at an exterior surface of the putter body.

16. A putter head according to claim 15, wherein the cavity opens at a bottom surface of the putter body.

17. A putter head according to claim 15, wherein the cavity opens at a top surface of the putter body.

18. A putter head according to claim 17, wherein the polymeric material is exposed at the top surface of the putter body and forms at least a portion of an alignment aid for the putter head.

19. A putter head according to claim 15, wherein the cavity opens at a rear surface of the putter body.

20. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein, among the plurality of independent and separated openings, two adjacent openings are separated by a distance ranging from 0.03 to 0.5 inches.

21. A putter head according to claim 20, wherein the material of the ball striking face extends between and separates the two adjacent openings.

22. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein, among the plurality of independent and separated openings, two adjacent openings are separated by a distance ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 inches.

23. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein, among the plurality of independent and separated openings, each opening is separated from any adjacent opening by a distance ranging from 0.03 to 0.5 inches.

24. A putter head according to claim 23, wherein the openings are separated from adjacent openings by a constant distance when moving from a first end of an opening to a second end of the opening.

25. A putter head according to claim 23, wherein all adjacent openings in the ball striking face member are separated from one another by a constant distance.

26. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the openings are formed as slots that extend along the ball striking face member.

27. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the openings are formed as a plurality of parallel slots that extend along the ball striking surface.

28. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of independent and separated openings extend rearward from the ball striking surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ball striking surface.

29. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of independent and separated openings extend rearward from the ball striking surface at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the ball striking surface.

30. A putter head according to claim 29, wherein the non-perpendicular angle is within a range of 10°

to 80°

.

31. A putter head according to claim 29, wherein the non-perpendicular angle is within a range of 30°

to 60°

.

32. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of openings form a logo or a design element on the ball striking surface.

33. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of openings form one or more alphanumeric characters on the ball striking surface.

34. A putter, comprising:

a putter body including a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic, wherein a cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and wherein a plurality of independent and separated openings are defined in the ball striking face member, the independent and separated openings extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member so as to open into the cavity;

a polymeric material provided to at least partially fill the plurality of openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic, and wherein 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 head; and

a shaft member extending from the putter body.

35. A putter according to claim 34, wherein the ball striking surface has a plurality of grooves defined therein.

36. A putter according to claim 35, wherein the grooves are defined in the material making up the ball striking face member.

37. A putter according to claim 36, wherein the grooves extend into only a portion of an exposed surface of the material making up the ball striking face member between adjacent openings in the ball striking face member.

38. A putter according to claim 35, wherein the grooves are defined in the polymeric material.

39. A putter according to claim 38, wherein the grooves extend into only a portion of an exposed surface of the polymeric material provided in an opening in the ball striking face member.

40. A putter according to claim 35, wherein the grooves are defined in the material making up the ball striking face member and in the polymeric material.

41. A putter according to claim 34, wherein the plurality of openings are arranged in a manner such that the material of the ball striking face member extends between two adjacent openings.

42. A putter according to claim 34, wherein the cavity extends to and opens at an exterior surface of the putter body.

43. A putter according to claim 34, wherein the openings are formed as slots that extend along the ball striking face member.

44. A putter according to claim 34, wherein at least some of the plurality of independent and separated openings extend rearward from the ball striking surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ball striking surface.

45. A putter according to claim 34, wherein at least some of the plurality of independent and separated openings extend rearward from the ball striking surface at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the ball striking surface.

46. A putter according to claim 34, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of openings form a logo or a design element on the ball striking surface.

47. A putter according to claim 34, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of openings form one or more alphanumeric characters on the ball striking surface.

48. A method of forming a putting device, comprising:

providing a putter body including a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic, wherein a cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and wherein a plurality of independent and separated openings are defined in the ball striking face member, the independent and separated openings extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member so as to open into the cavity; and

placing a polymeric material in the putter body to at least partially fill the plurality of openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic, and wherein the polymeric material is inserted such that 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 head.

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein the providing includes machining the cavity in the putter body.

50. A method according to claim 48, wherein the providing includes machining the plurality of independent and separated openings in the ball striking face member.

51. A method according to claim 48, wherein the placing includes introducing a liquid into the putter body.

52. A method according to claim 51, wherein the liquid is introduced through a port defined in the putter body that provides access to the cavity.

53. A method according to claim 51, wherein the placing further includes converting the introduced liquid to a solid state.

54. A method according to claim 48, further comprising:

attaching a shaft member to the putter body.

55. A method according to claim 48, further comprising:

providing a plurality of grooves in the ball striking surface.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein at least some of the grooves are provided in the material of the ball striking face member.

57. A method according to claim 55, wherein at least some of the grooves are formed in the polymeric material.

58. A method according to claim 55, wherein at least some of the grooves are formed in adjacent portions of the material of the ball striking face member and the polymeric material.

59. A method according to claim 55, wherein a first continuous groove is formed such that a first part of the first continuous groove is provided in the material of the ball striking face member and a second part of the first continuous groove is provided in the polymeric material.