U.S. patent application number 11/150552 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-13 for golf club head.
This patent application is currently assigned to Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to Gray, Steven D., Morgulis, Mark A., Olsavsky, Thomas, Toulon, Sean.
Application Number | 20050227783 11/150552 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32681510 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050227783 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Olsavsky, Thomas ; et
al. |
October 13, 2005 |
Golf club head
Abstract
A putter-type golf club head is provided having enhanced moment
of inertia and alignment characteristics. The putter head includes
a front body and a weight body. The weight body includes a central
weight section extending rearwardly from the front body a
prescribed distance to a rear weight section. The putter head is
configured such that the rear weight section has a width less than
the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central
weight section. Thus, both the longitudinal and lateral moments of
inertia are improved to offer greater forgiveness and increased
accuracy during putts. The central weight section may include at
least one and more preferably two elongated, high-density elements
that are visible on a top surface of the sole between the front
body and the rear weight section. The visibility of the elongated
elements, with optional parallel markings on a top surface of the
golf club head, also act as alignment aids to the golfer.
Inventors: |
Olsavsky, Thomas;
(Encinitas, CA) ; Toulon, Sean; (Vista, CA)
; Morgulis, Mark A.; (San Diego, CA) ; Gray,
Steven D.; (Poway, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHEPPARD, MULLIN, RICHTER & HAMPTON LLP
333 SOUTH HOPE STREET
48TH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90071-1448
US
|
Assignee: |
Taylor Made Golf Company,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
32681510 |
Appl. No.: |
11/150552 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11150552 |
Jun 9, 2005 |
|
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10338808 |
Jan 8, 2003 |
|
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6929564 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0441 20200801;
A63B 53/0416 20200801; A63B 60/02 20151001; A63B 53/0487 20130101;
A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B 2053/0491 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/340 |
International
Class: |
A63B 053/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A putter-type golf club head comprising: a front body defining a
front surface and an opposing rear surface, the front body having a
width measured from a toe end to a heel end; and a weight body
including an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a
mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular
to the front surface of the front body, and a rear weight spaced
from the front body such that the central weight extends
therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of
the front body and greater than a width of the central weight;
wherein the rear weight is spaced from the front body by at least
2.5 cm.
2. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the front body
includes a face plate that defined at least a portion of the front
surface.
3. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the weight
body includes two tungsten rods extending rearwardly from the front
body throughout the length of the weight body, the tungsten rods
being visible from above the putter head.
4. A putter-type golf club head comprising: a front body having a
front surface and a rear surface, the front body having a width
measured from a toe end to a heel end and a height measured from a
bottom to a top of the front surface; and a weight body including
an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a
mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular
to the front surface of the front body, and a rear weight spaced
from the front body such that the central weight extends
therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of
the front body and greater than a width of the central weight and
having a height greater than the height of the sole and less than
the height of the front body.
5. The golf club head as defined in claim 4, wherein the front body
includes a face plate that defined at least a portion of the front
surface.
6. The golf club head as defined in claim 4, wherein the weight
body includes two tungsten rods extending rearwardly from the front
body throughout the length of the weight body, the tungsten rods
being visible from above the putter head.
7. A putter-type golf club head comprising: a front body having a
front surface and a rear surface, the front body having a width
measured from a toe end to a heel end; a sole extending rearwardly
from the front surface; and a weight body including an elongated
central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the
front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front
surface of the front body, and a rear weight spaced from the front
body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear
weight having a width less than the width of the front body and
greater than a width of the central weight; wherein the central
weight includes at least one elongated, high-density element that
is visible from above the putter head.
8. The golf club head as defined in claim 7, wherein the central
weight comprises two tungsten rods that extend through the rear
weight.
9. A putter-type golf club head comprising: a front body having a
front surface and a rear surface, the front body having a width
measured from a toe end to a heel end; a sole extending rearwardly
from the front surface; and a weight body including an elongated
central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the
front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front
surface of the front body, and a rear weight spaced from the front
body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear
weight having a width less than the width of the front body and
greater than a width of the central weight; wherein the central
weight includes at least two elongated, high-density elements that
are visible between the front body and the rear weight from above
the putter head and the rear weight includes a high-density element
positioned about a centerline of the putter head.
10. The golf club head as defined in claim 9, wherein the at least
two high-density elements extend through the rear weight and are
visible at a rear end of the putter head.
11. The golf club head as defined in claim 9, wherein the putter
head is formed of a material having a density less than 10 g/cc and
the at least two high-density elements are formed of a material
having a density greater than 11 g/cc.
12. The golf club head as defined in claim 11, further comprising
an alignment mark on a top of the putter head extending from the
front body to the rear weight.
13. The golf club head as defined in claim 11, wherein the front
body includes a face plate that defined at least a portion of the
front surface.
14. The golf club head as defined in claim 13, wherein the face
plate comprises a metal material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/338,808, filed Jan. 8, 2003, which is herein incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a golf club head
and, more particularly, to a putter head.
[0003] Putting is an important aspect of the game of golf. During a
typical round of golf, a putter is the club most often used. To
putt effectively, a golfer must predict a path of travel from the
golf ball's stationary position to the cup. Then, using the putter,
the golfer must strike the ball with the appropriate force and
alignment to cause the ball to roll along the predicted path.
[0004] Misalignment of the putter with respect to the ball during
impact, i.e., off-center hits, is a chief source of error in
putting. Upon impact with the ball in an off-center hit, the putter
undergoes angular acceleration, both longitudinally (i.e., about a
heel-to-toe axis) and laterally (i.e., about a front-to-rear axis).
This causes the ball to deviate from the predicted path. A club
head's moment of inertia is a measure of the club's ability to
resist angular acceleration about a particular axis. Although
attempts have been made to counteract angular acceleration from
off-center hits, they have been deficient in some respects. For
example, prior approaches have not properly accounted for angular
acceleration about both longitudinal and lateral axes.
[0005] It should, therefore, be appreciated that there exists a
need for a putter having enhanced moment of inertia characteristics
for improved off-center hit accuracy. The present invention
fulfills this need and others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A putter head is provided having enhanced moment of inertia
and alignment characteristics. The putter head includes a front
body and a weight body. The weight body has a central weight
section extending rearwardly from the front body a prescribed
distance to a rear weight section. The putter head is configured
such that the rear weight section has a width less than the width
of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight
section. Thus, the putter head has relatively high longitudinal and
lateral moments of inertia to offer greater forgiveness and
increased accuracy during putts, even for off-center hits.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the central weight section
includes at least one and more preferably two elongated,
high-density elements, such as, tungsten rods, that are visible on
a top surface of the sole between the front body and the rear
weight section, and the rear weight section includes a rear weight
element having a high density. The visibility of the elongated
elements, with optional parallel marking(s) on the top surface,
also act as alignment aids to the golfer.
[0008] In a detailed aspect of a preferred embodiment, the front
body includes a face plate that defines at least a portion of the
front surface.
[0009] In another detailed aspect of a preferred embodiment, the
rear weight section has a height greater than the height of the
sole and less than the height of the front body.
[0010] For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages
achieved over the prior art, certain advantages of the invention
have been described herein above. Of course, it is to be understood
that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in
accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus,
for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves
or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein
without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or
suggested herein.
[0011] All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope
of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of
the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled
in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention
not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s)
disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described,
by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in
which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded view of a putter head in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention, depicting a body,
a face plate and a weight assembly.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the putter head of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the putter head of FIG.
1.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the putter head of FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the putter head of
FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the putter head of FIG.
1.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a second preferred embodiment
of a putter head in accordance with the invention.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the putter head of FIG.
7.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of the putter head of FIG.
7.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a third preferred embodiment
of a putter head in accordance with the invention.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the putter head of
FIG. 10.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a rear elevational view of the putter head of
FIG. 10.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a fourth preferred embodiment
of a putter head in accordance with the invention.
[0026] FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the putter head of
FIG. 13.
[0027] FIG. 15 is a rear elevational view of the putter head of
FIG. 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] With reference now to the illustrative drawings, and
particularly FIG. 1, there is shown a putter head 10 that includes
a front body 14 and a weight body 16 extending rearwardly
therefrom. The front body 14 includes a face plate 20, and the
weight body 16 includes a weight assembly 22 disposed therein. The
weight assembly 22 includes two elongated weight members 24 and a
rear weight element 26, and is generally aligned along a centerline
of the putter head 10. The centerline of the putter head may be
indicated by a reference indicia 28. The elongated weight members
24 may extend rearwardly from a rear surface of the front body
throughout the length of the weight body. The putter head 10
resists twisting on off-center hits, both longitudinally (i.e.,
about a heel-to-toe axis) and laterally (i.e., about a
front-to-rear axis), resulting in predictable and accurate putts.
Also, the elongated weight members 24 are visible from above the
putter head, to serve as alignment aids to the golfer.
[0029] With reference now to FIG. 2, the front body 14 is elongated
and oriented generally perpendicular to the centerline of the
putter head 10. In this embodiment, the front body 14 includes the
face plate 20 and a forward section 30, and the weight body 16
includes a central weight section 32 and rear weight section 34.
The central weight section 32 projects rearwardly from a
mid-portion of the front body 14 and is oriented generally
perpendicular to a front surface of the front body 14. The rear
weight section 34 is spaced from the front body 14 by at least 2.5
cm, with the central weight section 32 extending between the front
body 14 and the rear weight section 34. The front body 14 has a
width (W.sub.f) measured from a toe end,36 to a heel end 38 of the
putter head 10, and the rear weight section 34 has a width
(W.sub.r) less than the width of the front body 14 and greater than
a width (W.sub.c) of the central weight section 32. Beneficially,
the configuration of the weight body 16 aids in providing the
putter head 10 with high moments of inertia to resist twisting at
impact. In one embodiment, the elongated weight members 24 may
extend through the rear weight section 34 such that portions of the
elongated weight members 24 are visible at a rear end of the putter
head 10.
[0030] With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the putter head 10
includes a body piece 18 that defines a sole 40 and a cavity for
receiving the rear weight element 26 located in the rear weight
section 34. The sole 40 extends rearwardly from the front surface
of the front body 14. The rear weight section 34 is generally
aligned along the centerline of the putter head 10. The sole 40
pitches upwardly along the rear weight section 34 such that the
rear weight element 26 is positioned a height (h) from the lowest
portion of the sole 40 along a centerline of the putter head 10.
The front body has a height measured from a bottom to a top of the
front surface. The rear weight section has a height greater than
the height of the sole and less than the height of the front body.
In this embodiment, the sole 40 extends between the front body 14
and the rear weight section 34. This sole configuration provides a
consistent backdrop for the alignment aids (e.g., reference indicia
28, elongated weight members 24) atop the putter head 10, thereby
facilitating proper alignment with the golf ball.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the face plate 20 is disposed
within a recess defined in the forward section 30 and defines at
least a portion of a front surface of the front body 14. The face
plate 20 is preferably formed from an aluminum alloy, but may also
be a non-metal such as Pebax.RTM. or other material. The forward
section 30 preferably is formed of 303 or 304 stainless steel
alloys or 1020 carbon steel. Alternatively, the putter head 10 may
be formed of other steel alloys, aluminum alloys or titanium
alloys, as well as any combination of metals and non-metals, as
desired. Elongated weight members 24 maybe be formed from a high
density material, such as tungsten. Preferably, the forward section
30 has a density less than 10 g/cc, and the weight assembly 22 has
a density greater than 11 g/cc.
[0032] FIGS. 7-9 depict a second preferred embodiment of a putter
head 10' in accordance with the invention. This putter head 10' has
a front body 14' and a weight body 16'. Front body 14' has a
two-piece configuration, i.e., a body piece 18' and a face plate
20'. Weight body 16' includes a rear weight section 34' and a
central weight section. Notably, the sole 40' does not extend
between the front body 14' and the rear weight section 34' of the
weight body 16', and the weight body 16' has a generally consistent
density throughout.
[0033] FIGS. 10-12 depict a third preferred embodiment of a putter
head 10" in accordance with the invention. This putter head 10"
includes a body piece 18" that defines a sole 40" configured to
extend between a front body 14" and a rear weight section 34" of a
weight body 16". A face plate 20" is disposed within a recess
defined in the front body 14". Putter head 10" also includes an
elongated weight member 24" disposed along the centerline of the
putter head 10" such that a portion of the elongated weight member
24" is visible from above the putter head 10". Elongated weight
member 24" maybe be formed from a high density material, such as
tungsten.
[0034] FIGS. 13-15 depict a fourth embodiment of a putter head 10'"
in accordance with the invention. This putter head 10'" includes a
body piece 18'" that defines a sole 40'" configured to extend
between a front body and a rear weight section of a weight body. A
face plate 20'" is disposed within a recess defined in the front
body. Putter head 10'" also includes an elongated weight member
24'" disposed along the centerline of the putter head 10'" and
enclosed within the weight body such that the elongated weight
member 24'" is not visible from above the putter head 10'".
Elongated weight member 24'" maybe be formed from a high density
material, such as tungsten.
[0035] It should be appreciated from the foregoing that the present
invention provides a putter head having enhanced inertia and
alignment characteristics. The putter head includes a front body
and a weight body. The weight body has a central weight extending
rearwardly from the front body a prescribed distance to a rear
weight. The putter head is configured such that the rear weight has
a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a
width of the central weight. Thus, the putter head has relatively
high longitudinal and lateral moments of inertia to offer greater
forgiveness and increased accuracy during putts, even for
off-center hits.
[0036] Although the invention has been disclosed in detail with
reference only to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that additional putter heads can be made
without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
invention is defined only by the claims set forth below.
* * * * *