Golf putter having insert construction with controller compression

• US 6,001,030 A
• Filed: 05/27/1998
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William Delaney
• Original Assignee: William Delaney
• Inventors: Delaney, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US09/085,541
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/329, 473/332, 473/342, 473/340, 473/341
• US Class Current: 473/329
• 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 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0462 characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

This invention relates to a golf club head capable of controlling compression of a face plate during ball striking at various club head speeds. Club head designs further result in an increased sweet spot for more consistent ball contact during off center mishits.

Claims

1. A head construction for a golf putter club which comprises;

a putter head having a cavity extending from a surface for contacting a golf ball into said putter head, said cavity having a back surface remote from said surface for contacting a golf ball,

an exposed face plate positioned within said cavity, said face plate having a hardness at least as hard as a golf ball,

a flexible layer positioned within said cavity wherein said flexible layer is formed of discrete compressible pieces having a differing cross section through its thickness

said flexible layer being in contact with said face plate, and

said flexible layer having a hardness which is softer than said face plate, and

said face plate being movable with said cavity.

4. The golf club of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said face plate has a Shore A hardness of at least about 100.

5. The golf club of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said face plate is exposed on a top surface of said putter head.

6. The golf club of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said face plate is exposed on a bottom surface of said putter head.

7. The golf club of claim 5 wherein said face plate has a Shore A hardness of at least about 100.

8. The golf club of claim 6 wherein said face plate has a Shore A hardness of at least about 100.

9. The golf head of claim 1 wherein said flexible layer has a hardness gradient through its thickness.

10. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said discrete pieces are positioned within a composition having a Shore A durometer hardness less than about 40.

11. The golf head of claim 1 wherein said discrete compressible pieces have a triangular cross section.

2. The golf head construction of claim I wherein said flexible layer is formed of at least two layers having differing hardness.

3. The golf head construction of claim 2 wherein said flexible layer is formed of two layers.