U.S. patent application number 11/215512 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-01 for golf putter head.
This patent application is currently assigned to Karsten Manufacturing Corporation. Invention is credited to Michael J. Nelson, Richard R. Sanchez.
Application Number | 20070049402 11/215512 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37805040 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070049402 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sanchez; Richard R. ; et
al. |
March 1, 2007 |
Golf putter head
Abstract
The present invention provides golf club heads exhibiting a
relatively high moment of inertia. In certain embodiments, the
present invention relates to golf putter heads comprising an
aluminum inner core, which is capable of absorbing vibration, and
an outer shell formed of another material, which is more dense and
comprises less volume than the aluminum inner core. The material
forming the outer shell may be polyurethane or nylon containing
metallic powder.
Inventors: |
Sanchez; Richard R.;
(Phoenix, AZ) ; Nelson; Michael J.; (Campbell,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
2201 WEST DESERT COVE
PHOENIX
AZ
85029
US
|
Assignee: |
Karsten Manufacturing
Corporation
Phoenix
AZ
|
Family ID: |
37805040 |
Appl. No.: |
11/215512 |
Filed: |
August 30, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 60/54 20151001;
A63B 53/0487 20130101; A63B 53/0416 20200801; A63B 53/0441
20200801; A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B 2053/0491 20130101; A63B
53/0462 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/340 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/00 20060101
A63B053/00 |
Claims
1. A golf club head comprising: an inner core formed of a first
material for absorbing vibration; and an outer shell at least
partially surrounding said inner core, said outer shell being
formed of a second material which is more dense than said first
material, said outer shell having less volume than said inner
core.
2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said first material is
aluminum.
3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said second material is
polyurethane or nylon containing metallic powder.
4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein said metallic powder is
selected from a group of metallic powders consisting of tungsten
powder, copper powder and steel powder.
5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said outer shell
surrounds a majority of said inner core.
6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a majority of said inner
core is partially concealed within said outer shell.
7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said inner core is
partially exposed along one of a top and a bottom of the golf club
head.
8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein said inner core is
exposed along the top of the golf club head.
9. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein said inner core is
exposed along the bottom of the golf club head.
10. A golf putter head comprising: an inner core formed of
lightweight material for absorbing vibration; an outer shell formed
of heavyweight material that is molded around said inner core so
that said inner core is at least partially concealed within said
outer shell, the heavyweight material being more dense than the
lightweight material; and said outer shell having less volume than
said inner core.
11. The golf putter head of claim 10, wherein said lightweight
material is aluminum.
12. The golf putter head of claim 10, wherein said heavyweight
material is polyurethane or nylon containing metallic powder.
13. The golf putter head of claim 12, wherein said metallic powder
is selected from a group of metallic powders consisting of tungsten
powder, copper powder and steel powder.
14. The golf putter head of claim 10, wherein said inner core is
partially exposed along one of a top and a bottom of the golf club
head.
15. The golf putter head of claim 14, wherein said inner core is
exposed along the top of the golf club head.
16. The golf putter head of claim 14, wherein said inner core is
exposed along the bottom of the golf club head.
17. A method of making a golf club head comprising: providing an
inner core formed of a first material; providing an outer shell
formed of a second material which is more dense than said first
material; and forming said outer shell so that it at least
partially surrounds said inner core and has less volume than said
inner core.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first material is a
lightweight material and wherein said second material is a
heavyweight material.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said lightweight material is
aluminum and wherein said heavyweight material is polyurethane or
nylon containing metallic powder.
20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein said metallic powder is
selected from a group of metallic powders consisting of tungsten
powder, copper powder and steel powder.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to golf clubs and,
in particular, to golf putter heads.
[0002] Many golfers prefer to use putter heads which exhibit high
moments of inertia. It has been found that such putter heads resist
unwanted twisting movement during a putting stroke. Mallet putters
have gained in popularity over the past several years, as many
believe that mallet putters are easier to control. More
particularly, many find that the relatively large size and weight
of mallet putters are easier to swing over a desired path while
minimizing such unwanted twisting movement about the vertical axis
of such putter heads.
[0003] While some believe that the overall shape, size, and weight
of mallet putters have, generally, provided golfers with putter
heads that prevent unwanted twisting movement, there is still a
need for improved mallet putter heads (and putter heads generally)
which exhibit properties that discourage such twisting
movement.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 3,387,844 to Shippee discloses a golf putter
head having a hollow percussion chamber mounted in a recess forming
a drum-like device with a resilient face for contacting golf balls.
The club head may be formed of metal, and the percussion chamber
may be formed of plastic or wood.
[0005] A golf putter head disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,122 to
Florian has a core structure containing a lightweight wooden block
disposed between a pair of metal castings. The core structure is
contained within a plastic shell, and a plastic insert is attached
to one side of the shell to form a face for striking a golf
ball.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,249 to Beery discloses a golf putter
head including a front face with a vibratory cover plate mounted on
the front face covering a recess formed in the front face. The
vibratory cover plate is preferably formed of flexible and
resilient material such as plastic so that it cooperates with the
recess to provide a resonating chamber in the putter head.
[0007] A putter head disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,526 to
Huggins et al. has a block of resilient material pressed into a
cavity defined by back, side and end walls of the putter head. The
block has a striking surface, and it may be removed from the putter
head to permit other blocks of different resiliency to be
substituted therefor.
[0008] A putter head disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,792 to Straza
et al. is provided with a face insert formed of a honeycomb
cellular structure that has individual cells filled by resilient
material such as epoxy resin. Outer exposed ends of the resilient
material form a striking face.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,778 to Douglass discloses a golf putter
head having a rigid body and a resilient laminated face insert
formed of inner and outer layers of resilient material. The inner
layer of the face insert has a hardness which is less than that of
the outer layer of the face insert. Preferably, the outer layer has
a hardness which is equal to or greater than the hardness of a golf
ball.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,332 to Fisher discloses a putter head
with an elastomeric pad insert that is formulated to affect a
reproducible direct linear relationship between the rebound factor
of the pad insert and the distance from the putter head to an
intended target.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,281 to Anderson discloses a golf putter
head including a lower plate-like member made of heavyweight
material, such as bronze or steel, and an upper shell-like member
made of lightweight material, such as wood, aluminum, or plastic. A
heel weight and a toe weight are mounted on the lower plate-like
member adjacent to its heel and toe-ends, respectively.
[0012] A putter head disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,997 to
Schmidt et al. has a face plate insert formed of an elastomer, a
synthetic resin or glass. The insert includes a medial portion that
has a greater height than its opposite end portions.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,935 to Nelson discloses a golf putter
head comprising a low density insert disposed in a cavity formed in
a body. The insert has a front face arranged for impacting a golf
ball. The volume of the insert is greater than the volume of the
body, while the weight of the insert is less than the weight of the
body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention provides a golf club head including an
inner core formed of a first or lightweight material for absorbing
vibration and an outer shell at least partially surrounding the
inner core. The outer shell is formed of a second or heavyweight
material which is more dense than the first material, and the outer
shell has less volume than the inner core. Preferably, the first
material forming the inner core is aluminum and the second material
forming the outer shell is polyurethane or nylon containing
metallic powder. In a preferred embodiment, the metallic powder is
selected from a group of metallic powders consisting of tungsten
powder, copper powder and steel powder.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a golf putter head according to
one embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is top view of the golf putter head shown in FIG.
1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a back view of the golf putter head shown in FIG.
1;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a front view of the golf putter head shown in FIG.
1;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a toe-end view of the golf putter head shown in
FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a heel-end view of the golf putter head shown in
FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the golf putter
head shown in FIG. 1; and
[0022] FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a golf putter
head according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a golf putter head according to the
present invention includes a heel end 10, a toe end 12, a bottom
14, a top 24, a back 16, and a front face 26. In the preferred
embodiment, a shaft 38 is received in a bore 40 formed in the body
heel end 10. In other embodiments, the bore 40 may be replaced by a
hosel (not shown) which receives the shaft 38. The top 24 may
include grooves or other markings 42 for use in aligning or aiming
the putter head.
[0024] According to the present invention, the golf putter head
includes an inner core 18 and an outer shell 20. The inner core 18
comprises a first material, preferably a lightweight or a low
specific gravity material such as aluminum, that is capable of
absorbing vibration that results upon striking a golf ball on the
front face 26 of the putter head. The outer shell 20 is formed of a
second material. Preferably, the second material is a heavyweight
or a high specific gravity material in relation to the first
material used to form the inner core 18. Accordingly, those skilled
in the art will appreciate that the second material comprising the
outer shell 20 will further exhibit a greater density in relation
to the first material comprising the inner core 18.
[0025] The heavyweight material used to form the outer shell 20 is
well known to those skilled in the art and, for example, may
comprise polyurethane or nylon containing metallic powder. As
already mentioned, this heavyweight material comprising the outer
shell 20 preferably exhibits a higher specific gravity (or density)
than the lightweight material comprising the inner core 18.
Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a multitude
of lightweight materials can be used to form the inner core 18 such
as aluminum, elastomers, plastics, or any other material exhibiting
the characteristics described herein.
[0026] In the preferred embodiment, the outer shell 20 comprises
less volume than the inner core 18. The particular geometry that is
employed to form the inner core 18 and outer shell 20 will vary
depending on the attributes that are desired. For example, the
inner core 18 may exhibit circular, oval, square, rectangular, or
irregular geometries within the outer shell 20. The particular
geometry used in a putter head according the present invention will
depend on the desired distribution of mass within the putter head
(as well as the desired total mass of the putter head).
[0027] The volume of outer shell 20 near the toe and heel ends 10,
12 of the putter heads (and corresponding volume of inner core
material between such ends 10, 12) may be modified to achieve a
desired moment of inertia. Also, the volume of outer shell 20 near
the front face 26 and back 16 of the putter head (and corresponding
inner core material between the putter head front face 26 and back
16) may also be adjusted to impart desired properties in the putter
head. The specific geometries of the inner core 18 and outer shell
20 (in addition to the materials used to form them) are preferably
configured to achieve a high moment of inertia which prevents
unwanted twisting movement about the vertical axis 44 of the putter
head.
[0028] In the preferred embodiment, the outer shell 20 is formed
around the inner core 18 by injection molding so that the outer
shell 20 at least partially surrounds the inner core 18 thereby
partially concealing the inner core 18 within the outer shell 20.
Injection molding is well known to those skilled in the art of golf
club manufacturing and design.
[0029] The front surface 22 of the inner core 18 may be exposed and
arranged for impacting a golf ball on the front face 26 of the
putter head or, alternatively, it may be concealed within the front
wall 28 of the outer shell 20. FIGS. 7 and 8 show putter heads
wherein the front surface 22 of the inner core 22 is not exposed
for impacting a golf ball but, rather, resides behind the front
wall 28 of the outer shell 20. The inner core 18 may be contiguous
with the top 24 or the bottom 26 of the putter head or it may
reside entirely within with the outer shell 20. In a preferred
embodiment, the bottom surface 30 of the inner core 18 is
substantially contiguous with the bottom 14 of the putter head. In
this embodiment, the bottom surface 30 of the inner core 18 is
exposed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. In another embodiment, the top
surface 32 of the inner core 18 is substantially contiguous with
the top portion 24 of the putter head so that the top portion 32 of
the inner core 18 is exposed as shown in FIG. 8.
[0030] While the putter head of the present invention may exhibit
any of a plurality of geometries, configurations, designs, and mass
distributions, putter head end portions 34 and 36 located adjacent
the heel and toe ends 10 and 12, which are shown in FIG. 1,
preferably, weigh more in the aggregate than the center portion 46
of the putter head. For example, depending on the material used to
form the outer shell 20 and the inner core 18 (and the volume and
geometry of the inner core 18 relative to the outer shell 20), it
may be desirable that such end portions 34 and 36, in the
aggregate, weigh more than the center portion 46 by a defined
ratio.
[0031] More specifically, for example, if the end portions 34 and
36 each comprised a defined portion of the putter head, such as 25%
of its length along the Y-axis shown in FIG. 2, such areas (in the
aggregate) may comprise 1.25-1.50.times., 1.50.times.-1.75.times.,
1.75.times.-2.00.times., or greater than 2.00.times. the weight of
the center portion 46. The foregoing weight distribution
characteristics provide the putter head with a relatively high
moment of inertia and natural resistance to unwanted twisting
movement about its vertical axis 44 when moving in a direction
along the X-axis.
* * * * *