U.S. patent application number 10/946284 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-23 for golf putter with lead glass head.
Invention is credited to John W. Crossley.
Application Number | 20060063607 10/946284 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36074760 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060063607 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Crossley; John W. |
March 23, 2006 |
Golf putter with lead glass head
Abstract
An improved golf putter is disclosed that is constructed having
a head made from a lead glass material containing at least 24% lead
oxide in its formulation. The lead glass material formulation is
heated to a full melting point of about 2500.degree. F. and
maintained at such temperature to remove impurities and bubbles
before being reduced to a working temperature range of
1500.degree.-2000.degree. F. While in the working range, the lead
glass material is press molded into the desired shape of the putter
head or otherwise formed into billets that are milled or machined
using conventional glass cutting techniques. Upon formation of the
desired shape, the body of the putter head is annealed to remove
stress in the lead glass material and thereafter the exterior of
the putter head is treated to mechanically strengthen the surface
area and prevent chipping of the putter head. The resulting lead
glass putter head exhibits a density between about 3.0 to 5.0
grams/cm.sup.3 and a Young's modulus between about 50 to 70 GPa
that cause the putter head to impart high energy transfer to the
ball upon impact with minimal vibration of the head for greater
feel of the impact and consistency in putting. The lead glass
putter head may be formed into a variety of configurations each
adapted to affix to a conventional putter shaft.
Inventors: |
Crossley; John W.; (Upper
Black Eddy, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Armand M. Vozzo, Jr., Esquire
19 Short Road
Doylestown
PA
18901
US
|
Family ID: |
36074760 |
Appl. No.: |
10/946284 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0437 20200801;
A63B 2209/00 20130101; C03C 3/102 20130101; A63B 47/02 20130101;
A63B 53/0433 20200801; A63B 60/50 20151001; A63B 53/0487
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/340 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04 |
Claims
1. A golf putter device comprising: a shaft; and a putter head
adapted for attachment to said shaft, said putter head being
constructed in a predetermined form from a lead glass material
containing at least 24% lead oxide in composition so that said
putter head exhibits a density in the range of about 3.0 to 5.0
grams/cm.sup.3 and a Young's modulus in the range of about 50 to 70
GPa.
2. A golf putter device according to claim 1, wherein the
composition of the lead glass material contains lead oxide in the
range of 24 to 45%.
3. A golf putter device according to claim 2, wherein the
composition of the lead glass material contains minor amounts of
barium.
4. A golf putter device according to claim 1, wherein the
predetermined form of said putter head is constructed having a
substantially semi-circular body with a central cavity formed
therethrough and sized to engage a golf ball.
5. A golf putter device according to claim 4, wherein the
predetermined form of said putter head is molded.
6. A golf putter head comprising: a body constructed in a
predetermined form having a ball-striking surface, said body being
composed of a lead glass material containing at least 24% lead
oxide and produced having a density in the range of 3.0 to 5.0
grams/cm.sup.3 and a Young's modulus between about 50 to 70
GPa.
7. A golf putter head according to claim 6, wherein the composition
of the lead glass material contains lead oxide in the range of 24
to 45%.
8. A golf putter head according to claim 7, wherein the composition
of the lead glass material contains minor amounts of barium.
9. A golf putter head according to claim 6, wherein the
predetermined form of said putter head body is constructed having a
substantially semi-circular profile with a central cavity formed
through said body and sized to engage a golf ball.
10. A golf putter head according to claim 9, wherein the
predetermined form of said putter head body is press-molded.
11. In the construction of a putter head intended for striking a
golf ball, the improvement comprising: forming the putter head into
a body of a predetermined shape from a lead glass material
containing at least 24% lead oxide in composition; annealing the
body of the putter head to remove stresses created in the lead
glass material during forming; and treating the exterior of the
annealed body to strengthen the surface areas of the putter head
and resist the chipping thereof.
12. The improved putter head construction according to claim 11,
wherein the putter head body exhibits a density in the range of
about 3.0 to 5.0 grams/cm.sup.3 and a Young's modulus in the range
of about 50 to 70 GPa.
13. The improved putter head construction according to claim 12,
wherein the lead glass material used in forming the putter head
body contains lead oxide in the range of 24 to 45% in
composition.
14. The improved putter head construction according to claim 11,
wherein said step of forming the putter head body comprises: mixing
the lead glass material; heating the lead glass material to the
full melting point temperature thereof; maintaining the full
melting point temperature for sufficient time to remove impurities
and bubbles from the lead glass material; reducing the temperature
of the lead glass material into the working range thereof; and
press-molding the lead glass material into the predetermined
shape.
15. The improved putter head construction according to claim 14,
wherein after reducing the temperature of the lead glass material
into the working range, said step of forming the putter head body
further comprises: producing billets of the lead glass material;
and machining the billets into the predetermined shape of the
putter head body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to golf club
construction and more particularly to an improved golf putter
having a ball-striking head formed from a lead glass material that
produces high energy transfer to the ball with reduced vibration of
the head upon impact for greater feel and consistency in
putting.
[0002] In the game of golf, there is perhaps no more important
aspect than putting, the golfing stroke designed to cause a golf
ball to roll on the surface of the green into or near the hole.
Because of the significant effect that putting has on a golfer's
score, much time and technology has been applied to improving the
golfer's ability to propel the ball in the intended direction and
over the entire distance to the hole using the golf club commonly
called the putter. A significant focus of the technology applied to
improve putting performance has been directed at the putter itself
and particularly the construction of its ball-striking head affixed
at the base end of an elongated shaft that is typically held with
both hands of the golfer upon a grip at the opposite end of the
shaft. Numerous putter heads have been designed and developed in a
variety of shapes and constructions to enhance putting performance
by increasing the "feel" that the golfer senses in his or her hands
at the moment of impact between the golf ball and the putter head.
The characteristic "feel" of the putter or tactile sensation
transmitted from the striking face of the putter head along and
through the shaft to the hands of the golfer on the grip is
generally considered to be the most important factor in providing
consistent and reliable distance control in putting. Somewhat like
a feedback response at the moment of impact with the ball, the
"feel" of the putter head together with its visual appearance are
often the most commonly cited bases for improved putting control
and accuracy.
[0003] In pursuit of optimal "feel" in the putting stroke, putter
heads have been constructed of various materials and formed in a
wide variety of configurations. Most common materials used in the
fabrication of putter heads have included metals of aluminum,
steel, brass and most recently titanium, and non-metals such as
wood, ceramics, graphite, plastic and other elastomers. Composite
materials have also been employed and joined together in putter
construction to achieve desired physical characteristics of mass
weight distribution, moment of inertia and resiliency, particularly
with respect to the striking face of the putter head. Glass has
been identified as an optimal putter material because of its
appearance, formability and resiliency and while some putter head
designs have been successfully developed in forms made in whole or
in part from glass materials, they have not been found entirely
satisfactory in providing a strong and durable putter with the
degree of "feel" that is necessary to enhance putting performance.
These prior art glass putter heads have been made predominately
from soda-lime glass and/or borasilicate glass and are found to be
relatively low in their characteristic mass and somewhat high in
the elasticity of their striking surface to achieve optimal "feel"
desired by golfers in effecting the putting stroke. Because of the
generally positive physical characteristics otherwise exhibited by
glass as a putter head material, it is therefore important to
devise a new and unique putter head construction made from a glass
material that affords significant improvement in performance and
"feel" over the prior art putter head designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, it is a general purpose and object of the
present invention to provide a novel golf putter construction that
improves the putting ability of a golfer.
[0005] A more particular object of the present invention is to
provide an improved golf putter constructed having a novel
ball-striking head capable of providing the golfer with an
increased "feel" upon striking the ball that enhances the golfer's
control of ball travel.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved putter head construction made of a glass material that
imparts maximum energy transfer to the golf ball at impact with
minimal vibration affecting the putter head to produce a greater
"feel" response or tactile sensation in the hands of the
golfer.
[0007] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved glass putter head that is attractive in its appearance
and easily formed in a variety of configurations that can visually
aid the golfer in striking the golf ball in the desired direction
of travel.
[0008] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide a glass putter head that is strong and durable through
extended golfing use, economical to manufacture, and easily adapted
to a variety of shaft connections.
[0009] Briefly, these and other objects of the present invention
are accomplished by an improved golf putter constructed having a
head made from a lead glass material containing at least 24% lead
oxide in its formulation. The lead glass material formulation is
heated to a full melting point of about 2500.degree. F. and
maintained at such temperature to remove impurities and bubbles
before being reduced to a working temperature range of
1500.degree.-2000.degree. F. While in the working range, the lead
glass material is press molded into the desired shape of the putter
head or otherwise formed into billets that are milled or machined
using conventional glass cutting techniques. Upon formation of the
desired shape, the body of the putter head is annealed to remove
stress in the lead glass material and thereafter the exterior of
the putter head is treated to mechanically strengthen the surface
area and prevent chipping of the putter head. The resulting lead
glass putter head exhibits a density between about 3.0 to 5.0
grams/cm.sup.3 and a Young's modulus between about 50 to 70 GPa
that cause the putter head to impart high energy transfer to the
ball upon impact with minimal vibration of the head for greater
feel of the impact and consistency in putting. The lead glass
putter head may be formed into a variety of configurations each
adapted to affix to a conventional putter shaft.
[0010] For a better understanding of these and other aspects of the
present invention, reference should be made to the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which like reference numerals and character designate
like parts throughout the figures thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
present invention, references in the detailed description set forth
below shall be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf putter having a
putter head made in accordance with the present invention with the
body of the putter head being constructed in a preferred form for
right-handed golfer usage;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a top elevational view of the putter head of the
present invention shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lower portion of a
second golf putter with its putter head constructed according to
the present invention in an alternate form preferred for
right-handed golfer usage;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of the putter head
construction shown in FIG. 3;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view in part of a third golf putter
with a putter head constructed in accordance with the present
invention in a form useable by both right-handed and left-handed
golfers; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is a top elevational view of the putter head
construction shown in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The following is a detailed description of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention and the best presently
contemplated mode of its production and practice. This description
is further made for the purpose of illustrating the general
principles of the invention but should not be taken in a limiting
sense, the scope of the invention being best determined by
reference to appended claims.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1, a golf putter, generally designated
10, is shown including a shaft member 12 fitted with a grip 13
attached along the upper length of the shaft and a putter head 16,
constructed in accordance with the present invention, affixed to
the bottom end of the shaft member. The shaft member 12 is a
conventional member that is generally cylindrical through its
length, but may be tapered slightly and bent at one or more angles
along the bottom portion of the shaft to accommodate a proper shaft
attachment to the putter head 16 with any offset or dimensional
spacing desired between the principal shaft angle and the front
face 18 of the putter head. The shaft member 12 is made of any
suitable material, such as stainless steel or graphite, and is
formed in differing lengths designed to place the attached putter
head 16 in proper position to strike the golf ball. The grip 13,
secured along the shaft member 12 by conventional means, is
typically made of a soft and pliable material suitable for
handling, such as leather or rubber, that may be contoured and
textured on its surface to allow comfortable placement of the hands
of the golfer.
[0020] Referring now to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, the body
16 of putter head 14 preferred in the present construction is a
modified mallet-head style having a substantially semi-circular
profile best seen in the plan view of FIG. 2. Made of a lead glass
material described below in greater detail, the body 16 of putter
head 14 is integrally formed having a front face 18 diametrically
disposed at its forward edge for striking the golf ball. Front face
18 is substantially flat across its ball-striking surface from the
end nearest to the attachment of shaft 12, commonly called the
"heel" of the putter head 14, to the opposite end from the shaft
and its attachment, commonly referred to as the "toe" of the putter
head. The length of the front face 18 of putter head 14 from heel
to toe is the equivalent diameter of body 16, typically being
between about 3-5 inches. The height of the front face 18 is the
equivalent thickness of the body 16 of putter head 14 and is
typically less than 11/2 inches or the approximate diameter of the
standard-sized golf ball. The front face 18 of putter head 14 is
formed to be substantially square to the remaining body 16 with
little or no incline built into the face to promote proper roll and
reduce skidding of the golf ball upon impact.
[0021] A central cavity 20 having a generally cylindrical shape is
formed to extend internally through the body 16 of putter head 14
in a direction substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom
surface of the body. The central cavity 20 narrows slightly in its
diameter from a maximum circular opening made at the surfaces on
both the top and bottom of the body 16 and maintains a slightly
reduced diameter through the middle thickness of the body. The
surface openings of the central cavity 20 are slightly larger than
the standard diameter of the golf ball while the reduced diameter
of the cavity in the middle of the body 16 is slightly less than
standard golf ball diameter. This configuration and sizing of the
central cavity 20 thus permits the body 16 of putter head 14 to
engage and hold the golf ball within the cavity upon insertion of
the ball from either the top or bottom of the body and particularly
allows the golfer to pick-up and retrieve a golf ball from the
ground on or around the green surface after putting.
[0022] A small circular socket 22 typically drilled into the top
surface of the body 16 of putter head 14 is sized and shaped to
receive and fit closely the bottom end of shaft member 12 for
securing attachment to the putter head. Socket 22 is located near
to the heel of putter head 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is
formed to a depth within body 16 that allows a sufficient length of
the shaft member 12 to be inserted and secured within the socket.
The interior of socket 22 and the exterior of the bottom end of
shaft member 12 may be similarly treated and applied with a
suitable glue or cement formulation that firmly bonds the lead
glass material of putter head 14 to the shaft member in order to
produce a fixed and substantially permanent attachment between the
shaft and putter head.
[0023] It should be noted and understood that adjustment of the
size, depth and angle of incline of the socket 22 may be made to
accommodate any type of shaft member 12 and will be instrumental in
establishing a proper position of the body 16 of putter head 14
relative to the shaft that permits placement of the putter head
squarely behind the golf ball and substantially flat to the green
surface when the putter 10 is held in address position by the
golfer. It should be further understood that the location of the
socket opening 22 may be adjusted upon the body 16 of putter head
14 to suit the particular configurations of the shaft member 12 and
the physical requirements of the golfer, and particularly may be
moved from the heel position shown on the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and
2 to the opposite side and thus allow conversion of the putter head
14 for use by left-handed golfers.
[0024] Alternate configurations of the lead glass putter head
construction according to the present invention are shown in FIGS.
3 and 4 and FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively. In FIGS. 3 and 4, a lead
glass putter head 30 is shown with its body 32 having a rounded
T-shaped profile that is formed with a pair of circular shaped
recesses 34 and 35 provided in a symmetrical fashion, one on each
side of the otherwise semi-circular body to the rear of front face
36. In this alternate configuration of putter head 30, the front
face 36 of body 32 is similarly square to the profile of the body
and substantially flat along its forwardly facing surface as in the
case of the front face 18 of putter head 14. Unlike the body 16 of
putter head 14, however, on the top surface of body 32 between the
recesses 34 and 35, a circular socket 38 is centrally located to
engage and secure shaft member 12 therein for either right-handed
or left-handed use by the golfer.
[0025] In FIGS. 5 and 6, a further alternate lead glass putter head
40 is shown having a form of blade-type body 42 with respective
front and back faces 44 and 46 that are each square to the main
body and flat across their respective surfaces so that either face
can be used to strike the golf ball. In this alternate version of
the present putter head invention, a circular socket 48 for
attaching shaft member 12 is provided and positioned, like that of
the socket 22 on putter head 14, at a location on the top of body
42 near to the "heel" of putter head 40. The socket opening 48 can
also be formed in the middle of the body 42, like that of socket
38, to allow a center shaft attachment to putter head 40, as may be
desired by the golfer.
[0026] The main aspect of the present invention is the integral
construction of the putter head, in those of the described forms or
other selected configurations, from a lead glass material
containing at least 24% lead oxide in its composition. Such a lead
glass material, sometimes referred to as "lead crystal", is most
often used in making decorative glass objects due to its high
refractive index that promotes sparkling and a relatively soft
surface that facilitates its decoration by grinding, cutting or
engraving. For just those characteristics that make lead glass
ideal for decoration, as well as its further brittle character,
lead glass has not heretofore been effectively used and processed
in the construction of putter heads.
[0027] The lead glass material preferred for use in the present
putter head construction is a formulation containing at least 24%
lead oxide (PbO) or the equivalent amount of PbO combined with and
another heavy-metal oxide, such as that of antimony or barium. A
first working formulation of the lead glass material found
effective in the present invention is as follows: [0028] 65%
de-ionized silica sand; [0029] 24% PbO; and [0030] 11% soda ash.
The present formulation of the lead glass material is thoroughly
mixed and then heated to a full melting point of approximately
2500.degree. F. After maintaining the melting point temperature for
a sufficient time to remove impurities and bubbles, the formulation
is reduced to a working temperature range of
1500.degree.-2000.degree. F. While in this working temperature
range, the present formulation of lead glass material is
press-molded directly into the intended shape of the putter head or
alternatively, made into billets that are then milled or machined
into the desired putter head shape preferably using computer-aided
(CAD/CAM) water jet or diamond glass cutting technologies.
[0031] In its completed form, whether produced by press-molding or
from a machined billet, the resultant putter head of the present
invention undergoes an annealing cycle to remove the stresses
created in the lead glass. This process of annealing requires the
hot glass material to cool uniformly through the softened glass
stage of the material, down to the solid state to allow the glass
molecules to align in an orderly fashion. A typical annealing cycle
for the lead glass putter head constructed according to the present
invention includes the following steps in sequence: lowering the
temperature of the putter head to an upper annealing level of 940
to 970.degree. F., this step being permitted to occur rapidly in
the case of the press-molded form; gradually reducing the
temperature level at the controlled rate of 50.degree. F. per hour
to the designated annealing temperature of 900.degree. F.;
maintaining the designated annealing temperature of 900.degree. F.
for a period of one hour; reducing the temperature level, again at
the controlled rate of 50.degree. F., to the designated strain
point temperature of 850.degree. F.; and lowering the temperature
of the putter head to an ambient level at a more rapid rate of 100
to 150.degree. F. per hour.
[0032] After annealing is completed, the lead glass body of the
putter head is further processed and submitted to one or more
surface treatments intended to strengthen the surface areas of the
body and its lead glass material so as to resist chipping of the
putter head construction upon impact. Conventional surface
treatment methods including fire polishing or thermal toughening
and chemical toughening using a standard ion exchange procedure
such as a salt bath of SiO.sub.2 or KNO.sub.3 at 420.degree. F. may
each be employed or combined to provide the putter head body with a
mechanically strengthened lead glass surface with a depth of up to
100 microns.
[0033] The resulting putter head construction exhibits an excellent
combination of physical characteristics, particularly a relatively
high density and relative low Young's modulus (E), which together
have been determined to contribute to the optimal performance of
the present putter head in producing high energy transfer to the
golf ball upon impact with reduced vibration of the head for
greater feel and consistency in putting. Young's modulus, also
referred to as elastic modulus, is an important material parameter
that indicates the ratio of stress to strain of the material under
an applied force and is thus measured in units of pressure called
Pascals (Pa). The value of the Young's modulus serves as an
indication of the elasticity or stiffness characteristic of a
material. A higher Young's modulus indicates a more stiff material
and a lower E value, more elasticity. For comparative analysis,
metals, such as low alloy and stainless steels, have E values near
200 GPa, while glasses, such as soda-lime glass (E=69 GPa) and
silica glass (E=94 GPa) have much lower Young modulus values. It
should be noted that the vibration experienced by a material
structure upon impact is directly proportional to its Young's
modulus value, and further in this regard, a dampening of the
vibration experienced by a putter head upon impact with a golf ball
is an important factor in increasing the golfer's felt response to
the putt.
[0034] In the resulting putter head made from the first working
formulation of lead glass material described above, a density of
3.33 grams/cm.sup.3 was measured along with a Young's modulus
determined to be 55 giga-Pascals (GPa). These characteristic
features of relatively high density and low elastic modulus in the
lead glass material of the present putter head construction combine
to contribute to an improved striking performance and increased
"feel" demonstrated with the present putter head and are deemed
instrumental in increasing the felt response upon impact while
producing effective energy transfer to the golf ball for improved
putting control. It should be understood that the addition of a
substantial amount of lead in the form of PbO to a soda lime or
borosilicate glass is found to yield a higher density glass
material with lower elastic modulus. It should be noted, however,
that the resultant effect of these combined features in the lead
glass material used in the present putter head construction to
increase "feel" and ball-striking control in putting is substantial
and unexpected in view of prior art and reported technology.
[0035] Additional formulations of the lead glass material examined
for the present putter head construction contain increased levels
of PbO in the range of 25 to 45% of the composition with minor
amounts of barium, less than 2% of the material composition,
further added. The resultant effects of these additional
formulations were to further increase the density up to about 4.00
grams/cm.sup.3 and vary the Young's modulus between 50 and 70 GPa.
Except for evidence of increased brittleness in the higher ranges
of PbO, a condition relieved by the surface strengthening treatment
described above, the additional formulations of the lead glass
material indicate substantially the same resultant performance in
the present putter head construction, producing high energy
transfer to the ball with reduced vibration of the head upon impact
for greater feel and consistency in putting.
[0036] Therefore, it is apparent that the described invention
generally provides an improved golf putter construction that
enhances the putting ability of a golfer by increasing the "feel"
or immediate feedback experienced by the golfer at the moment of
striking the golf ball. More particularly, the present invention
provides an improved putter head construction made of a lead glass
material that is capable of imparting maximum energy transfer to
the golf ball at impact with minimal vibration affecting the
striking surface of the putter head to cause a more immediate
"feel" or tactile sensation to be experienced by the golfer that
enhance his or her ability to control the ball travel when putting.
The described putter head made of lead glass material is further
attractive in its appearance and can be easily formed in a variety
of configurations that can visually aid the golfer in striking the
ball in the desired direction of travel. In addition, the present
putter head of lead glass material is strong and durable through
extended use, economical to manufacture and easily adapted to
different shaft connections.
[0037] Obviously, other embodiments and modifications of the
present invention will readily come to those or ordinary skill in
the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the
foregoing description and drawings. Alternate embodiments of
different shapes and sizes, as well as substitution of known
materials or those materials which may be developed at a future
time to perform the same function as the present described
embodiment are therefore considered to be part of the present
invention. For instance, dye coloring material may be added to the
formulations of the lead glass material to provide color shades to
the putter head while maintaining its transparent appearance.
Accordingly, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the particular embodiment described, but rather is intended to
cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present
invention as expressed in the appended claims.
* * * * *