U.S. patent application number 11/108939 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-19 for stabilized putter head.
Invention is credited to Chris D. Chiodo, David J. Chiodo.
Application Number | 20060234810 11/108939 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37109214 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060234810 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chiodo; Chris D. ; et
al. |
October 19, 2006 |
Stabilized putter head
Abstract
A putter head is constructed with a lightweight front blade
member and a heavier rear weighted member having discrete
concentrations of mass at its heel, toe and rear central portions.
The rear weighted member is somewhat arch-shaped so as to define a
hollow cavity or chamber when coupled to the front blade member.
The putter head is stabilized during putting by the mass
concentrations and the hollow cavity produces a large sweet spot
along the front blade member.
Inventors: |
Chiodo; Chris D.; (Warren,
MI) ; Chiodo; David J.; (Fraser, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lawrence J. Shurupoff
16651 Topanga Lane
Delray Beach
FL
33484
US
|
Family ID: |
37109214 |
Appl. No.: |
11/108939 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0416 20200801;
A63B 2053/0491 20130101; A63B 53/0487 20130101; A63B 53/0441
20200801; A63B 60/02 20151001; A63B 60/52 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/340 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04 |
Claims
1. A golf putter head, comprising: a front blade member; and a rear
weighted member coupled to said front blade member and defining a
hollow chamber between said front blade member and said rear
weighted member.
2. The putter head of claim 1, wherein said front blade member
comprises a first material having a first specific gravity and said
rear weighted member comprises a second material having a second
specific gravity greater than said first specific gravity.
3. The putter head of claim 1, wherein said rear weighted member is
heavier than said front blade member.
4. The putter head of claim 1, wherein said rear weighted member
comprises a heel portion and a toe portion, and a first
concentrated weighted mass provided on said heel portion and a
second concentrated weighted mass provided on said toe portion.
5. The putter head of claim 4, wherein said rear weighted member
further comprises a central portion located between said heel and
toe portions, and a third concentrated weighted mass provided on
said central portion.
6. The putter head of claim 5, wherein said central portion is
spaced further rearwardly from said front blade portion than said
heel and toe portions.
7. A golf putter head, comprising: a front blade member defining an
open groove; and a rear weighted member fixed within said open
groove.
8. The putter head of claim 7, wherein said front blade member
comprises a front wall, a top wall extending rearwardly from said
front wall, and a bottom wall extending rearwardly from said front
wall.
9. The putter head of claim 7, wherein said rear weighted member
has a density greater than the density of the front blade
member.
10. The putter head of claim 7, wherein said front blade member and
said rear weighted member define an internal chamber within said
putter head.
11. The putter head of claim 10, wherein said internal chamber
extends longitudinally over at least 50% of said front blade
member.
12. The putter head of claim 7, wherein said front blade member
comprises a bottom wall having a heel portion, a toe portion and a
central portion, and wherein said heel portion tapers upwardly from
said central portion and said toe portion tapers upwardly from said
central portion.
13. The putter head of claim 7, wherein said rear weighted member
comprises a bottom wall having a central portion, a heel portion
and a toe portion, and wherein said heel and toe portions each
taper upwardly from said central portion.
14. The putter head of claim 7, wherein said rear weighted member
is formed as an arch.
15. The putter head of claim 14, wherein said arch comprises a heel
portion, a toe portion and a central portion joining the heel and
toe portions, and wherein each of said heel, toe and central
portions comprises a concentrated weighted mass.
16. The putter head of claim 7, further comprising a sight provided
on said front blade member, said sight having a width about equal
to the diameter of a golf ball.
17. A golf putter club, comprising: a club shaft having a handle;
and a putter head coupled to the club shaft and comprising a
lightweight front blade member and a rear weighted member coupled
to said front blade member, said front blade member having a
density less than the density of said rear weighted member.
18. The club of claim 17, wherein said front blade member weighs
less than said rear weighted member.
19. The club of claim 17, wherein said front blade member and said
rear weighted member define an internal chamber.
20. The club of claim 17, wherein said front blade member comprises
a front wall and a top wall and wherein said rear weighted member
is disposed between said front wall and said top wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates in general to golf putters and
in particular to a hollow multi-component putter head having mass
concentrations in its heel, toe and lower rear extremities.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Developments
[0004] Golf putters are currently available in numerous shapes,
sizes and weights. Although conventional putters perform
adequately, there is an ongoing need to provide a putter which is
resistant to movement away from its desired stroke path. That is,
it is desirable to increase the moment of inertia of the putter
head so that the distributed mass of the putter head acts to
stabilize the movement of the putter head over its intended stroke
path.
[0005] One way to increase the moment of inertia of a putter head
is to concentrate the mass of the putter head around its periphery.
While this approach is feasible in theory, it is difficult to
achieve maximum desired moments of inertia in a putter head using
conventional manufacturing techniques. Moreover, the resulting
putter head design must also meet the limitations set by the PGA
rules.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has been developed to meet the needs
noted above by providing a putter head with a hollow central
portion bordered by mass concentrations located adjacent the heel,
toe and rear portions of the putter head. In order to facilitate
the manufacture and fabrication of the putter head, a multi-part
construction has been developed in accordance with the
invention.
[0007] In one embodiment of the invention, a relatively lightweight
front blade member is formed with a pocket or channel for receiving
a rear weighted member. The front and rear components may be joined
with a tongue and groove or plug and socket type connection, and
fixed in position with a simple adhesive bond or weld. A large
central hollow portion is defined between the front blade member
and rear weighted member so as to concentrate the mass of the
putter head around its heel, toe and central rearward peripheral
portions.
[0008] This selected concentration of mass in these three portions
of the putter head maximize the moments of inertia of the putter
head with respect to its intended stroke path in horizontal
directions both parallel and perpendicular to the stroke path as
well as in a vertical plane through the stroke path. This mass
distribution and resultant moments of inertia tend to stabilize the
putter head along these three directions or axes as it travels
along its stroke path.
[0009] The selected mass concentrations along with a double tapered
bottom surface enable the moving putter head to resist minor
external forces such as caused by contact with grass, leaves, twigs
and the like, as well as unintended movements from a golfer's
stroke or grip. Moreover, the mass distribution of the putter head
resists twisting of the putter club shaft. This is most desirable
insofar as twisting can cause unwanted deviations from the intended
path of the golf ball.
[0010] By forming the putter head with a large hollow interior, the
putter head may have a large upper surface area facing a golfer
during putting, as well as a large bottom surface area facing the
surface of the putting green during putting. The large upper
surface area assists a golfer's view of the putter head and thereby
assists in the proper alignment or aim of the putter head with
respect to the golf ball. The large central lower surface area
provides accurate orientation, alignment and smooth sliding
guidance of the putter head over the surface of the putting
green.
[0011] A further refinement of the invention includes the placement
of a large heavy mass of material not only at an extreme rearward
position of the putter head, but also at a relatively low position
closest to the surface of a putting green. This provides increased
stability to the putter head during a putting stroke by increasing
the moment of inertia of the putter head with respect to the stroke
path of the putter head during putting.
[0012] Moreover, by centering a large weighted mass on the putter
head at a lower or bottom portion of the putter head, the resulting
putter club incorporating the putter head provides a comfortable,
secure and stable feel to a golfer during putting. The large
rearward mass of the putter head located behind the golf ball
establishes a stable feel during putting as the rearward weight
acts like a pendulum to maintain the putter in a desired vertical
plane.
[0013] In order to reduce the possibility of snagging the putter
head on a putting surface due to unintended heel-to-toe tipping of
the putter head, the bottom surface of the putter head tapers
upwardly and outwardly from a flat central bottom portion towards
the respective heel and toe portions of the putter head. These
tapered portions provide some degree of clearance or tolerance
between the bottom of the putter head and the putting surface and
thereby prevent unintended scraping or snagging of the putter head
due to heel-to-toe tipping during a putting stroke.
[0014] As the putter head may be fabricated from separate
components, different materials may be used for the front face or
blade component and for the rear weighted component. The front face
or blade may be fabricated, for example, from a lightweight
material such as alloys of aluminum, titanium and magnesium. Even
carbon composite fiber material may be used. The rear weighted body
may be fabricated, for example, from a denser or heavier material
having a specific gravity greater than that of the front blade,
such as stainless steel or tungsten carbide.
[0015] The design of the putter head is readily mass produced using
conventional machining and fabrication techniques to achieve a
reduction in central mass through a hollow multi-part construction.
This construction provides selective weighting around the perimeter
of the putter head, increased moments of inertia along desired
axes, a small blade component, heel-to-toe weighting and a large
sighting area. By fabricating the front blade component as a
thin-walled lightweight component and the rear weighted component
as a much heavier and massive component, rearward weighting of the
putter head can be maximized in order to greatly increase the
stability of the putter head during putting.
[0016] By distributing the mass of a heavy rear-weighted member in
a rearwardly-extending horizontal arch, and by defining a large
internal cavity between the arch and a lightweight front blade
member, the resulting putter head is provided with an exceptionally
large sweet spot. That is, a large area of the front blade on
opposite sides of its geometric center can be used to strike a golf
ball and still drive the ball over its intended path. Stated
another way, off center contact between the golf ball and the
putter head will still result in an accurate put.
[0017] It has been found that the extent of this sweet spot is
coextensive with the length of the internal cavity along the back
surface of the front blade member. In some designs, this can extend
over more than half the length of the putter blade or putter
face.
[0018] The aforementioned objects, features and advantages of the
invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity, and
will, in part, become apparent from the following more detailed
description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, which form an integral part thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] In the drawings:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a top right front perspective view of a putter
head; constructed in accordance with the invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a bottom rear perspective view of the front blade
member of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a bottom rear perspective view of an alternate
embodiment of the front blade member of FIG. 1, showing the removal
of the mounting posts;
[0023] FIG. 4 is an exploded top right rear perspective view of a
putter head constructed in accordance with the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a bottom front perspective view of the rear
weighted member of FIG. 4;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a view in section taken along line 6-6 of FIG.
1;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a top rear perspective view of FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternate
embodiment of the invention;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a bottom front perspective view of the rear
weighted member of FIG. 8;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a top front perspective view of the rear weighted
member of FIG. 8;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a view in section taken through section line
11-11 FIG. 8;
[0031] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a golf putter club
constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 13 is a bottom rear perspective view of an alternate
embodiment of the invention;
[0033] FIG. 14 is a top right front perspective view of the rear
weighted member of FIG. 13;
[0034] FIG. 15 is a bottom rear perspective view of the front blade
member of FIG. 13;
[0035] FIG. 16 is a top rear perspective view of an alternate
embodiment of the invention;
[0036] FIG. 17 is a top front exploded perspective view of the
front blade member and rear weighted member of FIG. 16;
[0037] FIG. 18 is an alternate embodiment of the rear weighted
member of FIGS. 16 and 17;
[0038] FIG. 19 is a top right front perspective view of an
alternate embodiment of the invention;
[0039] FIG. 20 is a top right rear perspective view of the front
blade member of FIG. 19; and
[0040] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the rear weighted member of
FIG. 19.
[0041] In the various views of the drawings, like reference
numerals designate like or similar parts.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0042] The present invention will now be described in conjunction
with the drawings, beginning with FIGS. 1 and 2 which show a golf
putter head 10 constructed in accordance with the invention. The
putter head 10 includes a relatively lightweight thin-walled front
blade member 12 and a heavier and more massive rear weighted member
14. The front blade member 12 has a planar front face 16 formed on
a thin vertical front wall 17 which may be aligned vertically when
the putter head 10 is placed on a flat horizontal putting surface,
or taper or slant upwardly and rearwardly at a small angle, such as
1.5 degrees when placed on a flat horizontal putting surface.
[0043] Blade member 12 further includes an upper roof or top wall
portion 18 and a lower floor or bottom wall portion 20 (FIG. 2),
each extending rearwardly from the front wall 17. Top portion 18
includes a central portion 22, a distal or toe portion 24 and a
proximal or heel portion 26. A mounting post 28 is provided on the
heel portion 26 for mounting the putter head 10 to the shaft of a
golf putter club.
[0044] An alignment or sight guide 30 is centered on the upper face
31 of the central portion 22 of top portion 18. Although the sight
guide 30 may take virtually any desired form, in this embodiment,
sight guide 30 takes the form of a generally planar U-shaped thin
plastic insert or tab mounted in a shallow recessed pocket 32
formed in the center of the upper face 31 of the central portion
22. An alignment spot or sight 34 is provided in the central front
portion of the sight guide 30 adjacent to the front face 16.
[0045] In one embodiment, the width of the sight guide 30 at the
front face 16 is approximately equal to the width or diameter of a
regulation golf ball. This provides for proper alignment and
centering of the putter head 10 with a golf ball. The width and
location of the sight guide 30 helps to ensure that the ball is
struck midway between the head and toe portion of the putter head,
substantially in the center of the front face 16, and directly
below and symmetrically with respect to the alignment spot 34.
[0046] As further seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the toe portion 24 is
bounded along its front edge by front face 16. The inverted
L-shaped free end face 36 (FIG. 2) of toe portion 24 has an upper
leg which extends rearwardly and substantially perpendicularly from
the front face 16 to meet the rear toe face 38 of toe portion 24.
Rear toe face 38 extends or tapers rearwardly from free end 36
toward the central portion 22. A radius portion 40 extends
rearwardly from the rear toe face 38 to the upper rear central face
42 of the central portion 22.
[0047] Rear central face 42 extends substantially parallel to the
front face 16 and defines a rearwardly extending guide or flange. A
radius portion 44 extends forwardly from rear central face 42 to
the rear heel face 46 of heel portion 26. Rear heel face 46 extends
or tapers forwardly, away from the central portion 22 to the
inverted L-shaped inner heel end face 48 of heel portion 26. Inner
heel end face 48 is aligned substantially parallel to opposite free
end face 36 and substantially perpendicularly to the front face
16.
[0048] It can now be appreciated that the upper portion 18 includes
and is defined by a pair of opposed, generally trapezoidal shaped
wings located symmetrically on opposite sides of a generally
rectangular body. That is, the heel and toe portions 26, 24 are
generally trapezoidal in shape and the central portion 22 is
substantially rectangular or square in shape.
[0049] As seen in FIG. 2, the front wall 17 of front blade member
12 has a generally planar rear face 50 which extends substantially
parallel to the front face 16. A rectangular central recess 52 is
formed in the center portion of the rear face 50 to reduce the mass
of the putter head adjacent the central portion of the front blade
member 12. Recess 52 is centered between the outer toe end face 36
and inner heel end face 48.
[0050] An inner or heel mounting and positioning post 54 is
provided on the rear face 50 on the heel portion 26. An outer or
toe mounting and positioning post 56 is provided on the rear face
50 on the toe portion 24. Posts 54 and 56 may be formed as
cylindrical tubular members extending substantially perpendicularly
rearwardly from rear face 50. Each post 54, 56 may be formed with
threaded bores 58, 60. The posts 54 and 56 are disposed
symmetrically on rear face 50, each at equal respective spacings
from end faces 48 and 36 and from the central recess 52.
[0051] As further seen in FIG. 2, the lower or bottom portion 20 of
blade member 12 includes a generally rectangular central portion
62, a generally trapezoidal distal or toe portion 64 and a
generally proximal or heel portion 66. A stepped bore 68 is formed
through the central portion 62 for receiving an optional filler
material and a fastener or plug 65. A filler or adhesive such as a
flowable plastic, epoxy, rubber or silicone may be introduced
through bore 68 to bond and add strength to the assembled putter
head 10. The rectangular central portion 62 on the bottom portion
20 is substantially equal in top and bottom plan profile to the
central portion 22 of the top portion 18 and includes a rear
central face 63 (FIG. 7) aligned in the same vertical plane as rear
central face 42 on the upper central portion 22.
[0052] As further seen in FIG. 2, the bottom portion 20 of blade
member 12 is centered beneath the top portion 18, but is not as
long from heel to toe as the top portion 18. That is, while the
central portion 62 of the bottom portion 20 is the same size as the
central portion 22 of the top portion 20, (except for its vertical
thickness or height, which is less than that of the central portion
22 as seen in FIG. 6) the distal or toe portion 64 and the proximal
or heel portion 66 of the bottom portion 20 are shorter in length
from heel to toe than the corresponding heel and toe portions 26,
24 in the top portion 18.
[0053] While the top surface 70 (FIG. 1) of the upper or top
portion 18 is substantially planar over its entire extent, the
bottom surface of the bottom portion 20 is defined by three
separate planar surfaces or regions, 72, 74 and 76. Planar central
region 72 is substantially rectangular or square in plan shape and
is coextensive with the central portion 62 of the bottom portion
20. Region 72 is substantially parallel with top surface 70 and is
adapted to be placed flat against a flat putting surface.
[0054] Planar heel region 74 is substantially trapezoidal in plan
shape and has the same profile in plan as that portion of the top
heel portion 26 which extends over it. Planar heel region 74 of
heel portion 66 slants or tapers upwardly from the central portion
62 toward heel end face 48, and terminates in a chisel-shaped edge
80.
[0055] Planar toe region 76 is also substantially trapezoidal in
shape and has the same profile in plan view as that portion of the
top toe portion 24 which extends over it. Planar toe region 76 of
toe portion 64 slants or tapers upwardly from the central portion
62 toward the free end toe face 36, and terminates in a
chisel-shaped edge 82.
[0056] A longitudinal or horizontally-extending open groove or
channel 84 is defined between the inner or lower planar horizontal
surface 86 (FIG. 2) of the top portion 18 and the inner or upper
planar horizontal surface 88 (FIG. 3) of the bottom portion 20.
Channel 84 has a substantially rectangular or U-shaped cross
section defined by rear face 50 and surfaces 86 and 88 which extend
perpendicularly rearwardly from rear face 50. As seen in FIGS. 1,
4, 6 and 7, the rear weighted member 14 is dimensioned to nest
closely and securely within the walls or faces 50, 86 and 88 of
channel 84.
[0057] The exploded view of FIG. 4 shows rear weighted member 14
formed as an arch or bow-shaped component. Rear weighted member 14
includes a proximal or heel portion 90, a distal or toe portion 92
and a central or bridge portion 94 joining the heel and toe
portions 90, 92.
[0058] The rear weighted member 14 includes a planar top wall 96
and a segmented bottom wall 98 (FIG. 5) which has a central portion
parallel with the top wall 96. A vertical rear wall 100 extends
perpendicularly between the top and bottom walls 96, 98. As seen in
FIGS. 6 and 7, rear wall 100 is dimensioned to be flush or coplanar
with the central rear walls 42, 63 of the front blade member
12.
[0059] As further seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, heel portion 90 of the
rear weighted member 14 is formed as a weighted mass concentration
adjacent, along and below the heel portion 26 of the top portion 18
of blade member 12. Toe portion 92 is similarly formed as a
weighted mass concentration along and below or underneath the toe
portion 24 of the top portion 18 of blade member 12. The central or
bridge portion 94 is also formed as a weighted mass concentration
midway between the heel and toe portions 90, 92.
[0060] The center of gravity or center of mass of heel portion 90
is located closer to the front face 16 of blade member 12 than the
center of gravity or center of mass of the central or bridge
portion 94, since the bridge portion 94 is, by design, spaced apart
from and located rearwardly of heel portion 90. Moreover, the
center of gravity or center of mass of heel portion 90 is located
lower than or closer to a putting surface than the center of
gravity of the central or bridge portion 94. This is achieved by
forming a relatively large recess or step 102 (FIG. 4) in the upper
rear surface of heel portion 90.
[0061] Recess 102 extends from inner heel face 104 toward the toe
portion 92 up to the inner vertical face 106 of the central or
bridge portion 94. The recess or step 102 defines a
rearwardly-extending horizontal ledge or step surface 108, further
bounded by a rear vertical face 110 on the upper rear surface of
the heel portion 90.
[0062] As seen in FIG. 4, recess 112 is similarly formed in the
upper surface of the toe portion 92. Recess 112 is a mirror image
of recess 102 and is symmetrically located on the opposite or toe
end of the central or bridge portion 94. The center of gravity or
center of mass of the toe portion 92 is located closer to the front
face 16 of blade member 12 than the center of gravity or center of
mass of the central or bridge portion 92. Again, this is because
the bridge portion 92 is, by design, located rearwardly of toe
portion 92.
[0063] The center of gravity or center of mass of the toe portion
92 is located lower or closer to a putting surface than the center
of gravity or center of mass of the central or bridge portion 94
due to the presence of recess 112. Recess 112 extends from the
outer end face 114 of toe portion 92 inwardly toward the heel
portion 90, up to the outer vertical end face 116 of the central or
bridge portion 94. A horizontally-extending ledge or step surface
118 and a vertically extending rear face 120 on the upper rear
surface of the toe portion 92 are further defined by recess
112.
[0064] As seen in FIG. 5, the rear weighted member 14 has a flat
vertical mounting face 122 formed on the front surface of heel
portion 90 and flat vertical mounting face 124 formed on the front
surface of toe portion 92. Bores 126 are formed in each mounting
face 122, 124 for respectively receiving the posts 54, 56 on the
rear face 50 of the front blade member 12.
[0065] The insertion of posts 54, 56 into bores 126 accurately
aligns and positions the rear weighted member 14 on and within the
front blade member 12. An adhesive may be used to bond or anchor
the members 12 and 14 together as an integral assembly.
Alternatively, or in addition to adhesives, other fastening
techniques can be used, such as threaded fasteners or welding. In
the absence of the posts 54, 56 and bores 126, a jig or fixture can
be used to hold the front and rear components 12, 14 together as
they are adhesively bonded or welded together.
[0066] As can be further seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear weighted
member 14 defines a central, generally D-shaped recess 128
extending centrally between the heel and toe portions 90, 92.
Recess 128 is bounded by an arch-shaped vertical wall formed by
curved leg portions 132, 134 and an interconnecting planar end wall
136. The leg portions 132, 134 and end wall 136 extend vertically
between the continuous planar horizontal upper or top wall 96 and
the segmented planar horizontal lower or bottom wall 98.
[0067] As seen in FIG. 5, bottom wall 98 includes a central
horizontal planar surface portion 142 that extends across the full
extent of the central or bridge portion 94 and partially across the
heel and toe portions 90, 92 at surfaces 144, 146. An upwardly
tapered planar wall segment 148 of bottom wall 98 begins to rise
upwardly toward the outer end face 114 of toe portion 92 from
surface 146. Similarly, an upwardly tapered planar wall segment 150
of bottom wall 98 begins to rise upwardly from surface 144 toward
inner heel face 104.
[0068] The central horizontal surface 142 of bottom wall 98 is
coextensive with the horizontal surface 88 (FIG. 3) of the bottom
portion 20 of the front blade member 12. The inner boundary line
152 (FIG. 5) of wall segment 148 is aligned over the edge 82 (FIGS.
2 and 3) of toe portion 64 of the bottom portion 20 of the front
blade member 12 and the inner boundary line 154 of wall segment 150
is aligned over the edge 80 of heel portion 66 of bottom portion 20
of the front blade member 12.
[0069] The incline or taper of portions 64 and 66 are the same as
those of wall segments 148 and 150 so that a continuous upwardly
sloping smooth planar surface extends from portions 64 and 66 on
bottom portion 20 across and over boundary lines 152, 154 of the
rear weighted member 14. As noted above, these continuous tapered
surfaces reduce the possibility of snagging the surface of the
putting green 56 during putting.
[0070] As can be seen from FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a large hollow
internal cavity 160 (FIG. 6) is defined between the front and rear
members 12, 14 directly behind the rear wall or face 50 of the
front wall 17. It has been found that the length of cavity 160,
from heel to toe, defines an exceptionally large and forgiving
sweet spot on the front face 16 of blade member 12. In the example
shown, the length of the sweet spot is defined by the clearance or
distance between the mounting faces 122, 124 on the rear weighted
member 14. This is over 50% of the length of the front face 16, as
shown, and can be easily designed to extend up to 90% or more, by
reducing the footprint of the mounting faces 122, 124 on the front
blade member 12 so as to increase the distance between the mounting
faces 122, 124.
[0071] An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS.
8, 9, 10 and 11 wherein the front blade member 12 is provided with
a thin rear vertical wall 166. Wall 166 interconnects the top
central portion 22 and lower central portion 62 of the front blade
member 12 so as to define a closed channel or sleeve 168. In this
design, the posts 54 and 56 are removed to allow the rear weighted
member 14 to be inserted into the channel 168 with a transverse
sliding fit.
[0072] As seen in FIG. 11, the central or bridge portion 94 fits
snugly against the inner surface of wall 166 and the heel and toe
portions 90, 92 abut the rear face 50 of the front blade member 12.
In this construction, adhesives and/or welding are used to join the
front blade member 12 to the rear weighted member 14.
[0073] A golf putter club 170 fitted with a putter head 10
constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 12.
Club 170 includes a shaft 172 having the putter head 10 connected
in a known fashion to its lower end 174. A grip or handle 176 is
provided on the upper end 178 of club 170 in a known fashion. In
FIG. 12, the club 170 is shown in a typical orientation with the
putter head 10 placed on a flat horizontal surface.
[0074] Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 13, 14
and 15 wherein the bottom wall 20 (FIG. 2) on the front blade
member has been removed and replaced with a bottom wall 180 on the
rear weighted member 14. Bottom wall 180 has a lower or exterior
contoured or segmented surface which includes a central horizontal
planar portion 182 and a pair of upwardly and outwardly tapering
bottom wall heel 184 and toe 186 portions.
[0075] It can be seen that the bottom exterior surface profile of
the putter head 10 of FIG. 13 is substantially the same as that
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, by replacing the relatively
lightweight bottom wall 20 of FIG. 2, with a heavier bottom wall
180, the center of gravity of the putter head 10 can be lowered to
achieve additional stroke stability.
[0076] By adding weight to the lower rearward portion of putter
head 10 through the addition of bottom wall 180, the transverse,
front-to-rear or width of the putter head as measured along its
intended stroke path can be reduced as compared to the embodiment
of FIG. 1, yet still perform equivalently. This results in a more
compact design which more closely resembles traditional putter
heads, yet fully benefits from the advantages of the invention.
[0077] As seen in FIG. 15, the top wall 18 and rear wall 50 of the
front blade member 12 form a pocket or groove 182 for receiving and
positioning the rear weighted member 14 therein. This functions
similarly to the pocket, groove or channel 84 shown in FIG. 3.
[0078] Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 16, 17
and 18 wherein the lightweight front blade member 12 is formed with
a bulbous projection in the shape of a semicylindrical hump 190.
Hump 190 is centrally located on the top surface of putter head 10
and has a front profile which substantially matches or corresponds
to the upper profile of a regulation golf ball 192 when the putter
head 10 and ball 192 are placed on a flat surface or flat
"lie".
[0079] That is, the radius of hump 190 is about equal to the radius
of a regulation golf ball, and the apex or height of the top of the
hump 190 above the ground or above the bottom central surface of
the front blade member is about equal to the diameter of golf ball
190. Other shapes such as rectangular, oval or polygonal shapes can
be used to define hump 190, as long as the height and width of the
hump match that of ball 192 on a flat lie. This allows the hump to
serve as an alignment guide and sight for properly aligning the
putter head 10 with golf ball 192.
[0080] Hump 190 may be formed as a thin-walled hollow hump, or as a
solid hump. Forming hump 190 as a solid member facilitates the
attachment of the lower end 174 of club shaft 172 to the putter
head 10 with a close fit. In this case a bore hole 194 can be bored
or otherwise formed in hump 190 to receive club shaft end 174 with
a close fit. Adhesives may be used to bond the shaft to the putter
head. This simplifies both manufacture and assembly of the putter
head, insofar as mounting post 28 (FIG. 1) can be eliminated.
[0081] A transversely extending insert or strip 196 can be attached
to the apex on top of hump 190 to serve as an alignment strip or
sight 34, similar to spot 34 shown in FIG. 1. Strip 196 can be
bonded in a groove formed in hump 190, applied as a gummed label
strip, or simply painted or stenciled in position. A pair of
transverse grooves 195 may be formed at the heel and toe
extremities of hump 190 to delineate the boundaries of hump 190 and
to clearly visually separate the hump from the rest of the putter
head. In this manner, hump 190 further serves as a sight and
alignment guide 30 (FIG. 1).
[0082] Sighting and alignment of the putter head 10 with a golf
ball can be further enhanced by providing an extended sight guide
197 (FIG. 16) on the front face 16 on the front blade member 12.
Sight guide 197 can take the form of a highly visible textured
surface such as can be formed by a series of grooves 199 extending
over the front face 12, over a length approximately equal to the
diameter of a golf ball. In this manner, a golfer can easily align
and center the ball with respect to the sight guide 197. The sight
guide 197 can be aligned centrally with the internal cavity 160 so
as to align the center of the "sweet spot" extending along the
internal cavity 160 with the golf ball.
[0083] As seen in FIGS. 16 and 17 the heel portion 26 of the top
wall 18 of the front blade member 12 has been truncated and the
roof 198 of the heel portion 90 of the rear weighted member 14 has
been enlarged to form a portion of the top surface of the putter
head 10 at the heel of the putter head. This allows for an extra
concentration of mass at the heel of the putter head, as is
desirable for some designs.
[0084] As further seen in FIGS. 16 and 17, threaded fasteners 200
are inserted through bores 126 through the rear weighted member 14
and threaded in threaded bores 58, 60 (FIG. 2) in posts 54, 56 on
the front blade member 12. This not only securely holds the front
blade member 12 and rear weighted member 14 securely together, it
also allows for replacement or interchange of various different
sized, shaped and weighted rear blade members, as well as rear
weighted members with different mass concentrations. This allows
the putter head to be optimized to suit the preferences of
different golfers.
[0085] The rear weighted member 14 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is
formed with a relatively narrow and lighter central bridge portion
94, as compared to, for example, that shown in FIG. 14. This is
because the weight of a large solid hump 190 can supplement the
weight of the bridge portion 94, and thereby provide approximately
the same desired mass concentrations at the heel, toe and central
portions of the putter head 10.
[0086] If desired, the weight of the central bridge portion 94 of
the rear weighted member shown in FIG. 16 can be further reduced as
shown in FIG. 18 by forming a recess 202 in the planar end wall
136. This allows for the addition of even more mass to hump 190, if
desired.
[0087] Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 19, 20
and 21 wherein the rear weighted member 14 has a rearwardly
elongated central bridge portion 94. In this example, bridge
portion 94 is formed as a yoke or bridge having a pair of parallel
legs 210 interconnected by a cross bar 212.
[0088] Legs 210 are secured within pockets or recesses 214 (FIG.
20) defined between the top and bottom wall portions 18, 20 of the
front blade member 12, and the end edges of rear vertical wall 166,
in addition to having heel and toe portions 90, 92 bonded or
otherwise secured to the front blade member 12, as described above.
This construction forms an open loop 216 (FIG. 19) bounded by the
end wall 166, legs 210 and cross bar 212.
[0089] This design also provides an extreme rearward mass
concentration along and adjacent to cross bar 212 resulting in an
extremely stable putter stroke. A very large internal cavity 160
(Fib. 20) is formed between the front blade member 12 and the rear
weighted member 14. As seen in FIG. 21, the elongated legs 210,
cross bar 212 and heel and toe mass concentrations are arranged in
a form resembling a yoke or a Greek letter omega.
[0090] There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of
the invention presently contemplated. However, it is to be
understood that various changes and modifications may be made
thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.
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