U.S. patent application number 10/976527 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-04 for peripheral-weighted putter head.
This patent application is currently assigned to Zeppelin Golf Company. Invention is credited to Karl Andrew Borg, Karl Stanley Borg, Paul David Warren.
Application Number | 20060094533 10/976527 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36262775 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060094533 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Warren; Paul David ; et
al. |
May 4, 2006 |
Peripheral-weighted putter head
Abstract
A golf putter head having a toe and a heel. The putter head has
a face defining a ball-striking portion and lateral portions
extending from the ball-striking portion toward the toe and the
heel. There is a rear section spaced from the face, and a
connecting section extending from the ball-striking portion of the
face to the rear section. A pair of elongated weights, one weight
coupled at one end to each of the lateral portions of the face at
locations equidistant from the ball-striking portion, and each
weight also coupled at its other end to the rear section,
accomplish balanced peripheral weighting. The weights are
preferably replaceable.
Inventors: |
Warren; Paul David;
(Lunenburg, MA) ; Borg; Karl Stanley; (Sudbury,
MA) ; Borg; Karl Andrew; (Sudbury, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Brian M. Dingman, Esq.;Mirick O'Connell
1700 West Park Drive
Westborough
MA
01581-3941
US
|
Assignee: |
Zeppelin Golf Company
|
Family ID: |
36262775 |
Appl. No.: |
10/976527 |
Filed: |
October 29, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60515876 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/337 ;
473/340; 473/341 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0487 20130101;
A63B 53/065 20130101; A63B 53/0441 20200801; A63B 60/02 20151001;
A63B 2053/0491 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/337 ;
473/340; 473/341 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04; A63B 53/06 20060101 A63B053/06 |
Claims
1. A golf putter head having a toe and a heel, comprising: a face
defining a ball-striking portion and lateral portions extending
from the ball-striking portion toward the toe and the heel; a rear
section spaced from the face; a connecting section extending from
the ball-striking portion of the face to the rear section; and a
pair of elongated weights, one weight coupled at one end to each of
the lateral portions of the face at locations equidistant from the
ball-striking portion, and each weight also coupled at its other
end to the rear section, to accomplish balanced peripheral
weighting.
2. The golf club putter head of claim 1, wherein the weights are
removably coupled to both the face and the rear section, to allow
their replacement.
3. The golf club putter head of claim 2, wherein the removable
coupling is accomplished with threaded connecting members.
4. The golf club putter head of claim 1, wherein the face, the rear
section and the connecting section are unitary.
5. The golf club putter head of claim 4, wherein the lateral width
of the face and of the rear section are about the same.
6. The golf club putter head of claim 5, wherein the connecting
section has a lateral width that is about the same as the
ball-striking portion.
7. The golf club putter head of claim 6, wherein the ball-striking
portion is substantially circular.
8. The golf club putter head of claim 7, wherein the connecting
section is substantially cylindrical along at least a part of its
length.
9. The golf club putter head of claim 8, wherein the connecting
section defines an elongated slot along its top.
10. The golf club putter head of claim 9, wherein the slot extends
through the thickness of the connecting section, to divide the
connecting section into two part cylinders.
11. The golf club putter head of claim 10, wherein the rear section
comprises two distinct portions, one integral with each part
cylinder.
12. The golf club putter head of claim 11, wherein the two distinct
portions of the rear section lie essentially at right angles to the
slot.
13. The golf club putter head of claim 8, wherein the connecting
section is flattened at its lower circumferential region.
14. The golf club putter head of claim 8, wherein the lateral
portions of the face are not as high as the cylinder, to define
narrowed wings extending from the ball-striking portion.
15. The golf club putter head of claim 14, wherein the lower edges
of the wings rise up along their length toward the heel and
toe.
16. The golf club putter head of claim 14, wherein the weights are
connected near the tips of the wings.
17. The golf club putter head of claim 16, wherein the weights have
a substantially circular cross-section.
18. The golf club putter head of claim 17, wherein the
substantially circular cross-section extends along at least much of
the length of the weights.
19. The golf club putter head of claim 18, wherein the
substantially circular cross-section extends along effectively the
entire length of the weights.
20. The golf club putter head of claim 18, wherein the diameter of
the weights varies along their length.
21. The golf club putter head of claim 20, wherein the diameter of
the weights is largest near their center.
22. The golf club putter head of claim 21, wherein the diameter of
the weights tapers from the largest point toward the front that is
coupled to the face.
23. The golf club putter head of claim 22, wherein the diameter of
the weights tapers from the largest point toward the back that is
coupled to the rear section.
24. The golf club putter head of claim 23, wherein the taper of the
weights toward the front is greater than it is toward the back.
25. The golf club putter head of claim 1, further comprising a
hosel for accepting a club shaft.
26. The golf club putter head of claim 25, wherein the hosel is in
the connecting section.
27. A golf putter head having a toe and a heel, comprising: a face
defining a substantially circular ball-striking portion, and
narrowed lateral portions extending from the ball-striking portion
toward the toe and the heel; a rear section spaced from and
essentially parallel to the face; a connecting section extending
from the ball-striking portion of the face to the rear section;
wherein the face, rear section and the connecting section are
unitary; and a pair of removable elongated weights, one weight
removably coupled at one end to each of the lateral portions of the
face at locations equidistant from the ball-striking portion, and
each weight also removably coupled at its other end to the rear
section, to accomplish balanced peripheral weighting.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Provisional application
Ser. No. 60/515,876, filed on Oct. 30, 2003.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a golf putter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is known that peripheral-weighted putters can assist with
maintaining proper alignment of the putter through the swing and
contact with the ball. However, many of these putter designs have a
substantial bottom face area that can easily touch the ground
during the swing, either by improper downward motion of the putter
head, or a slight transverse rocking of the head. Another drawback
is that the substantial area greatly increases the drag of the
putter when the head moves through longer grass on the fringe of
the green.
[0004] Yet another disadvantage of many of these putters is that
the overall weight and the weight distribution relative to the face
are fixed. Such putters with adjustable weight designs typically
have one or more cavities that can accept weights placed therein.
However, the club head material that creates the cavity itself adds
weight. Also, since the cavities are fixed in size, the weights
must have a particular diameter. Both of these factors inherently
limit the weight range achievable with such putters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a
peripheral-weighted putter head that can be tilted transversely
without contacting the putting surface.
[0006] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a
peripheral-weighted putter head in which the peripheral-weighting
is adjustable over a wide range.
[0007] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a
peripheral-weighted putter head with reduced drag as the head is
moved through grass.
[0008] This invention features a putter head that allows a golfer
to draw a "direct line" mental image from the putter-head to the
target without the need to create a perpendicular line from the
face, as the player would from a traditional blade or mallet style
putter. The main body is in a cylindrical shape to allow accurate
and precise ball striking. This cylindrical main body shape is
divided down the middle by a gap, or space from top to bottom that
starts directly behind the face and separates the body into two
halves thereafter. This separation or division provides equalized
balancing on off center ball strikes, as well as to facilitate
alignment of the head and ball with the target or intended line.
The main body is parallel with the axis to the intended target
line, which also aids with target alignment. The invention also
encourages the user to concentrate on the center of the putter face
since that is the largest contact area of the face and is smaller
than the diameter of the golf ball.
[0009] The putter head also has counterbalance weights on each
side, directly behind the heal and the toe of the face that run
transversely to the back of the putter head and parallel to the
intended target line. These weights prevent twisting of the putter
head if contact with the ball is made off center on the putter face
as well as providing most of the putter head weight. The side
weights are interchangeable which allows for heavier or lighter
putter head weight. The putter also allows the golfer to putt from
the second cut or heavy fringe due to the unique face and body
designed to flow though the higher grass without substantial
drag.
[0010] This invention features a golf putter head having a toe and
a heel. The putter head has a face defining a ball-striking portion
and lateral portions extending from the ball-striking portion
toward the toe and the heel. There is a rear section spaced from
the face, and a connecting section extending from the ball-striking
portion of the face to the rear section. A pair of elongated
weights, one weight coupled at one end to each of the lateral
portions of the face at locations equidistant from the
ball-striking portion, and each weight also coupled at its other
end to the rear section, accomplish balanced peripheral weighting.
The weights are preferably replaceable.
[0011] The weights are preferably removably coupled to both the
face and the rear section, to allow their replacement. The
removable coupling is preferably accomplished with threaded
connecting members. The face, the rear section and the connecting
section are preferably unitary. The lateral width of the face and
of the rear section are preferably about the same, and the
connecting section preferably has a lateral width that is about the
same as the ball-striking portion. The ball-striking portion is
preferably substantially circular, in which case the connecting
section is preferably substantially cylindrical along at least a
part of its length.
[0012] The connecting section may define an elongated slot along
its top, and the slot may extend through the thickness of the
connecting section, to divide the connecting section into two part
cylinders. The rear section may comprise two distinct portions, one
integral with each part cylinder. The two distinct portions of the
rear section may lie essentially at right angles to the slot. The
connecting section may be flattened at its lower circumferential
region, and the lateral portions of the face may not be as high as
the cylinder, to define narrowed wings extending from the
ball-striking portion. The lower edges of the wings may rise up
along their length toward the heel and toe, in which case the
weights are connected near the tips of the wings.
[0013] The weights may have a substantially circular cross-section.
The substantially circular cross-section preferably extends along
at least much of the length of the weights, or even along
effectively the entire length of the weights. The diameter of the
weights may vary along their length. The diameter of the weights is
preferably largest near their center, and tapers from the largest
point toward the front that is coupled to the face and toward the
back that is coupled to the rear section. The taper of the weights
toward the front is in one embodiment greater than it is toward the
back.
[0014] The golf club putter head further comprises a hosel for
accepting a club shaft. Preferably, the hosel is in the connecting
section.
[0015] Also featured is a golf putter head having a toe and a heel,
comprising a face defining a substantially circular ball-striking
portion, and narrowed lateral portions extending from the
ball-striking portion toward the toe and the heel, a rear section
spaced from and essentially parallel to the face, and a connecting
section extending from the ball-striking portion of the face to the
rear section, wherein the face, rear section and the connecting
section are unitary. There is also a pair of removable elongated
weights, one weight removably coupled at one end to each of the
lateral portions of the face at locations equidistant from the
ball-striking portion, and each weight also removably coupled at
its other end to the rear section, to accomplish balanced
peripheral weighting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those
skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred
embodiments, and the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0017] FIGS. 1-6 are top, front, bottom, left side, rear and
perspective views, respectively, of the preferred embodiment of the
peripheral-weighted putter head of the invention; and
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative preferred
embodiment of the peripheral-weighted putter head of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a top view of putter head 8 constructed in
accordance with the invention. Face 13 is connected to rear section
44 by central section 42. In this embodiment, these three are
unitary, made from cast aluminum. Cylindrical central sections 11
and 12 have a part cylindrical shape lengthwise that runs
transversely from the face 13 to rear sections 20 and 21, and run
on a parallel axis to the ball travel line. Sections 11 and 12 are
only joined together at face 13. Each of part cylindrical shaped
sections 11 and 12 extend out at the rear to form rear section 44
that is at a right angle to central section 42, thus parallel to
face 13, and taper to rear section extensions 20 and 21. These
extensions provide means of attaching peripheral weights 14 and 15.
Weights 14 and 15 are of metal (e.g., stainless steel or brass) and
are affixed to extensions 20 and 21 as well as to face 13 at points
16, 17, 18, and 19, preferably with machine screws or similar
mechanical or threaded members that pass through the rear section
and the weights and are received in the face. Slot 22 is open space
that divides body sections 11 and 12. Top tapers 9 and 10 of
central sections 11 and 12 respectively are cut back or tapered to
the back. Hosel 23 is shown on section 12 for a right-handed
golfer. Hosel 23 would be located in section 11 for left-handed
golfers.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a front view of putter head 8 and depicts the face
13 shown by the solid line as well as the cylindrical shape of
central section 42, and the essentially circular shape of
ball-striking portion 30 of face 13. Weights 14 and 15 are depicted
by the outer solid lines (as well as their ends as the inner dotted
lines). Slot 22 is seen behind the face 13 outlined by the dotted
essentially "A" shaped line which transversely carries straight to
the back of the putter head. Although slot 22, when present in the
invention, can be of any shape, the "A" shape was chosen because
this reduces mass behind the ball strike area, which improves
performance by creating more "feel" (less mass behind the strike
point increases feel), allows for a greater perimeter weight ratio,
aids in gliding through higher grass, and helps the putter head to
track straight. The diameter of ball-striking portion 30 is
preferably less than the diameter of a regulation golf ball. Shown
as well is the flat cut 26 on the bottom of central section 42 that
runs transversely from the front to back, which helps to prevent
the head from striking the ground during a stroke.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of putter head 8, and clearly shows
slot 22 starting behind the face 13 and continuing transversely
thereafter through the rest of the putter head parallel to bottom
cut 26. The mounting points 16, 17, 18, and 19 are illustrated from
this view, as well as the bottom tapers 24 and 25 which cut into
body cylindrical shapes 11 and 12 and taper to rear extensions 20
and 21.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a side view of putter head 8. Mounting point 16 is
a tapped blind hole in the back of face 13 and toward the outer
edge of the face. Behind side weight 15 is hosel 23 affixed to body
section 12 as to accommodate a shaft (not shown). Tapers 10 and 24
cut into body section 12 to meet at extension 21 shown behind
mounting point 17.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a rear view of putter head 8. This rear view shows
the "A" shaped separation or slot 22 dividing the part-cylindrical
shaped central section portions 11 and 12. Surface 26 is the flat
bottom which runs on the bottom from the face 13 and on either side
of space 22 and in parallel to the axis of the intended target
line, until meeting tapers 24 and 25, which come together at
extensions 20 and 21.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view from slightly above the front
corner to show an overall transparent 3-D image of the putter head
8 in accordance with the invention. This perspective allows one to
see all components with the solid line representing the surface
from this view angle and the dotted lines on the back or under side
together forming the putter head. It is easy to see the gap 22 that
cuts through from top to bottom starting behind the face 13.
[0025] FIG. 7 shows a slightly different embodiment, in which rear
section 44a is slightly shorter, so that its ends butt up against
the rear section of the weights, to which they are attached by
mechanical fasteners. TABLE-US-00001 DRAWING REFERENCE NUMBERS 8
putter head 9 top taper of central section to rear 10 top taper of
central section to rear 11 cylindrical central section portion 12
cylindrical central section portion 13 face 14 replaceable weight
15 replaceable weight 16 mounting point for weight 17 mounting
point for weight 18 mounting point for weight 19 mounting point for
weight 20 rear section extension 21 rear section extension 22 slot
23 hosel 24 bottom taper of central section to rear 25 bottom taper
of central section to rear 26 bottom 30 ball-striking portion of
face 32 face lateral extending portion 34 face lateral extending
portion 38 threaded connecting member 40 threaded connecting member
42 central section 44 rear section
[0026] Although specific features of the invention are shown in
some drawings and not others, this is for convenience only as some
feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in
accordance with the invention.
[0027] Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and
are within the following claims.
* * * * *