U.S. patent application number 11/550936 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-24 for golf club putter heads and golf putters including same.
Invention is credited to Angela O. Fox.
Application Number | 20080096682 11/550936 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39318616 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080096682 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fox; Angela O. |
April 24, 2008 |
GOLF CLUB PUTTER HEADS AND GOLF PUTTERS INCLUDING SAME
Abstract
Golf putter heads, gold putting kits, and golf putters including
same are described. One putter head comprises a body having a
putting face, a toe, a heel, a sole, and a crown, the sole and
crown extending away from the face to an aft-mass, the body further
having at least one substantially vertical wall extending from the
crown to the sole and, with an internal surface of each of the face
and the aft-mass, defining at least a port cavity and a starboard
cavity. The port cavity opens to the port side of the body and the
starboard cavity opens to the starboard side. The crown has an
aiming feature on a top external surface thereof. The port and
starboard cavities are non-ball-striking features, allowing golfers
to pick up a pin flag stick, or another golf club, without
stooping, a great benefit to golfers with bad backs and elderly
golfers.
Inventors: |
Fox; Angela O.; (The
Woodlands, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JEFFREY L. WENDT;THE WENDT FIRM, P.C.
34 DRIFTOAK CIRCLE
THE WOODLANDS
TX
77381
US
|
Family ID: |
39318616 |
Appl. No.: |
11/550936 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/251 ;
473/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2209/00 20130101;
A63B 53/0441 20200801; A63B 60/50 20151001; A63B 53/0487 20130101;
A63B 53/0416 20200801; A63B 53/0425 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/251 ;
473/340 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/06 20060101
A63B053/06; A63B 53/00 20060101 A63B053/00 |
Claims
1. A golf putter head comprising a body having a putting face, a
toe, a heel, a sole, and a crown, the sole and crown each extending
away from the putting face to an aft-mass, the body further having
at least one substantially vertical wall extending from an internal
surface of the crown to an internal surface of the sole and, with
an internal surface of each of the face and the aft-mass, defining
at least a port cavity and a starboard cavity, the port cavity
opening to a port side of the body and the starboard cavity opening
to a starboard side of the body; the crown having an aiming feature
on a top external surface thereof.
2. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the port cavity and
starboard cavity have substantially equal volumes.
3. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the body, when viewed
in plan view, has a shape selected from substantially mallet-shaped
and substantially triangular.
4. The golf putter head of claim 3, wherein the body is
substantially mallet-shaped, and the internal surface of the sole
comprises a port portion and a starboard portion exposed by the
crown portion curving inward toward a center of the body.
5. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the at least one
substantially vertical wall is a single wall centrally located in
the body and extending substantially perpendicular to the putting
face, the substantially vertical wall connecting with the face at a
midpoint of the face, as indicated by the aiming feature.
6. The golf putter head of claim 5, wherein the substantially
vertical wall has a constant thickness.
7. The golf putter head of claim 5, wherein the substantially
vertical wall has non-constant thickness.
8. The golf putter head of claim 1 wherein the substantially
vertical wall joins with the internal surface of the face in more
than one joint.
9. The golf putter head of claim 1 wherein the face of the body has
a recessed portion in which is placed an insert material.
10. The golf putter head of claim 9 wherein the body and the insert
each comprise metal, which may be the same or different.
11. The golf putter head of claim 9 wherein the insert material is
selected from natural and synthetic polymeric materials.
12. A golf putting kit comprising: (a) a putter head attached to a
shaft, the putter head comprising a body having a putting face, a
toe, a heel, a sole, and a crown, the sole and crown each extending
away from the putting face to an aft-mass, the body further having
at least one substantially vertical wall extending from an internal
surface of the crown to an internal surface of the sole and, with
an internal surface of each of the face and the aft-mass, defining
at least a port cavity and a starboard cavity, the port cavity
opening to a port side of the body and the starboard cavity opening
to a starboard side of the body; the crown having an aiming feature
on a top external surface thereof, wherein the putter head face
comprises a metal to which a magnetic material may adhere to; (b)
one or more putter face materials adapted to be adhered to the
putter head face by magnetic force.
13. The golf putting kit of claim 12 comprising a pouch or bag and
carried by the golfer in which are placed putter face materials not
being used.
14. The golf putting kit of claim 12 comprising an article worn by
the golfer and which may allow the putter face materials to be
removably attached thereto by magnetic force.
15. The golf putting kit of claim 12 wherein each putter face
material comprises indicia according to physical properties of the
face material for ease of selection.
16. The golf putting kit of claim 12 wherein the face material has
same shape as that of the putter face.
17. The golf putting kit of claim 12 wherein the face material has
a shape smaller than the putter face.
18. A golf putter club comprising a putter head attached to a
gripped shaft, the putter head comprising a body having a putting
face, a toe, a heel, a sole, and a crown, the sole and crown each
extending away from the putting face to an aft-mass, the body
further having at least one substantially vertical wall extending
from an internal surface of the crown to an internal surface of the
sole and, with an internal surface of each of the face and the
aft-mass, defining at least a port cavity and a starboard cavity,
the post cavity opening to a port side of the body and the
starboard cavity opening to a starboard side of the body, the crown
having an aiming feature on a top external surface thereof.
19. The golf putter club of claim 18 wherein the putter head face
comprises a metal to which a magnetic material may adhere to.
20. The golf putter club of claim 18 wherein the face of the body
has a recessed portion in which is placed an insert material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
golf, and more specifically to apparatus for putting.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] There are many varieties of golf putters and golf putter
heads. The following U.S. Patents are representative of the stare
of the art: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,059,971; 6,478,690; 6,471,600;
6,960,149; 6,988,955; 7,052,411; 6,878,072; 6,966,845; 5,685,784;
6,896,625; 6,796,911; 6,929,559; 7,048,639; 4,141,556; 4,712,798,
as are the following published U.S. patent applications:
2005/0075185; 2006/0148585; 2006/0148584; 2006/0068935. There have
also been issued design patents, such as Des. 246,329.
[0005] Despite these advances in the art, it would be advantageous
and an advance in the golf putter head and golf putter art to
provide a combination of putting accuracy features, such as weight,
balance, and aiming ability of the putter head and putter, with
other functional features, such as the ability to pick up flag
sticks and other golf clubs frequently brought onto the putting
green using the putter head and putter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the present invention, golf putter heads
and golf putter clubs including same are described that reduce or
overcome limitations of previously known golf putter heads and golf
putter clubs. The putter heads and putters including same combine
at least one ball-striking feature with at least one
non-ball-striking functional feature. As used herein the term
"ball-striking feature" means a feature that helps a golfer in his
or her putting technique and/or accuracy in making putts (whether
actually playing on a golf course or merely practicing putting, for
example on carpet into a cup). An example might be an aiming or
alignment feature on a top surface of the putter head. On the other
hand, the term "non-ball-striking function feature" means the
putter head has at least one feature that has noting to do with
putting per se, but helps the golfer do something else, for example
retrieve a flag stick, or another golf club laying on the green. An
example of this might be a cavity in the putter head.
[0007] A first aspect of the invention are golf putter heads, one
embodiment comprising a body having a putting face, a toe, a heel,
a sole, and a crown, the sole and crown each extending away from
the purring face to an aft-mass, the body further having at least
one substantially vertical wall extending from an internal surface
of the crown to an internal surface of the sole and, with internal
surface of each of the face and the aft-mass, defining at least a
port cavity and a starboard cavity (which may or may not have
substantially equal volumes), the port cavity open to the port side
of the body and the starboard cavity open to the starboard side of
the body; the crown having an aiming feature on a top external
surface thereof. The port and starboard cavities are
non-ball-striking features, and allow the golfer to pick up a pin
flag stick, or another golf club, without stooping, a great benefit
to golfers with bad backs and elderly golfers.
[0008] Putter heads in accordance with the invention include those
wherein the body, when viewed from the top (plan view) is
substantially mallet-shaped, and those wherein the body is
substantially triangular. In certain embodiments, a port portion
and a starboard portion of the sole internal surface may be exposed
by the crown portion curving inward toward the center of the body,
however this is not required in all embodiments. In certain
embodiments, the at least one substantially vertical wall is a
single wall centrally located in the body and extending
perpendicular to the putting face. In these embodiments, a forward
end of the substantially vertical wall provides support to the
putting face and may define a "sweet spot" for the golfer, as may
be indicated by the aiming feature. The substantially vertical wall
need not be constant in thickness, buy may, for example, start
thick near its joint with the sole internal surface and gradually
become thinner as it approaches a joint with the internal surface
of the crown. In other embodiments, the opposite may be true. In
yet other embodiments the substantially vertical wall may be
thickest near both joints and thinnest in a mid-section of the
wall. In certain embodiments, the substantially vertical wall may
join with the internal surface of the face in one joint, or in more
than one joint, as it may with the aft-mass portion.
[0009] In certain embodiments, the face of the body may have a
recessed portion in which is placed an insert material. The body
and the insert of the putter heads of the invention may each
comprise metal, which may be the same or different. The insert
material may also be selected from a variety of natural and
synthetic polymeric materials, such as natural and synthetic
elastomers. Thermoplastic elastomers may be used as insert
materials. In certain other embodiments, the putter head face
comprises a metal to which a magnetic material may adhere to. In
these embodiments, which may be termed putter kit embodiments, the
golfer may select a putter face material conductive to the
conditions, adhere the chosen putter face material to the putter
metal face by magnetic force, and either leave that surface on for
the next putt, or remove the selected putter face material. There
may be two or more putter face materials in the putter kit, which
may be kept in a pouch or bag and carried by the golfer.
Alternatively, the golfer may wish to carry the putter face
materials on his or her hat, or another article worn by the golfer,
such as a waist belt, or arm band, to which the magnetic putter
face material adhere for safe keeping when not in use. The putter
face materials may be color-coded and/or numbered according to
their physical properties (hardness, elasticity, etc.) for ease of
selection. In addition, they may or may not have the same shape as
that of the putter face; for example, some golfers will want a
small circle, so as not to change the weight and balance of the
putter substantially; other golfers may want a putter face material
as large as the putter head face itself, to maximize the ball
striking surface.
[0010] A second aspect of the invention are golf putters including
one of the inventive putter heads and/or kits.
[0011] The various aspects of the invention will become more
apparent upon review of the brief description of the drawings, the
detailed description of the invention, and the claims that
follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The manner in which the objectives of the invention and
other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the
following description and attached drawings in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mallet-shaped putter-head
in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation view of the embodiment
of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view, partially in phantom, of
the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along section line 4-4 of
FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded perspective view, partially
in phantom, of an alternative to the embodiment of FIG. 1,
illustrating one possible kit of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a substantially
triangular-shaped putter head in accordance with the invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a schematic bottom view of the embodiment of FIG.
6;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a schematic front view, partially in phantom, of
the embodiment of FIG. 6; and
[0021] FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic side elevation and
cross-sectional views, respectively, of the embodiment of FIG.
6.
[0022] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings are
highly schematic, not necessarily to scale, and illustrate only
typical embodiments of this invention, and are therefore not to be
considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to
other equally effective embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] In the following description, numerous details are set forth
to provide an understanding of the present invention. However, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present
invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous
variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be
possible.
[0024] Referring now to the drawing figures, which admittedly are
highly schematic and not to scale, and wherein the same reference
numerals are used throughout except where noted, FIG. 1 illustrates
is a perspective view of a mallet-shaped putter-head 1 in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Putter head 1
includes body 2 having a putting face 4, a heel 6, a toe 8, a crown
10, and a sole 12, the sole 12 and crown 10 each extending away
from putting face 4 to an aft-mass 14. Crown 10 includes an aiming
feature 16 on or a part of a top external surface thereof. Aiming
feature 16 in this embodiment has a diamond shape, having a forward
apex pointed toward a center 18 of putting face 4, however the
invention is not limited to this particular aiming feature. Sole 12
includes, in this embodiment, dual identical exposed surfaces 15a
and 15b (the latter not illustrated), wherein exposed surface 15a
is on the starboard side and exposed surface 15b is on the port
side, port and starboard being defined relative to direction of
travel of the putter head in the ball striking motion. Putter head
1 includes, in this embodiment, a recessed portion 20, which is
filled with striking surface material (not illustrated) to form the
putting face 4. The striking surface material may be metal or
natural or synthetic polymer, as discussed in more detail herein.
The striking surface material lies flush with the balance of the
putter face. A putter shaft 22 is illustrated in phantom.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation view of embodiment 1 of
FIG. 1, illustrating that body 2 further has at least one
substantially vertical wall 24 extending from an internal surface
of crown 10 to an internal surface of sole 12 and, with an internal
surface of each of face 4 and aft-mass 14, defining at least a
starboard cavity 26 and a port cavity 28 of substantially equal
volumes. Only port cavity 28 is illustrated in FIG. 2, whereas both
cavities 26 and 28 are illustrated in FIG. 4, a cross-sectional
view along section line 4-4 of FIG. 2. Port cavity 26 opens to the
port side of body 2, and starboard cavity 28 opens to the starboard
side of body 2. The port and starboard cavities are
non-ball-striking features, and allow the golfer to pick up a pin
flag stick, or another golf club, without stooping, a great benefit
to golfers with bad backs and elderly golfers. Another feature of
this embodiment is an angled take-away surface 23, which aids the
player in the backswing in avoiding stubbing the putter.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view, partially in phantom, of
the embodiment of FIG. 1, illustrating one possible position of
substantially vertical wall 24, in position directly behind central
portion 18 of face 4. This position, which is not necessary, is
desirable for supporting face 4 during a ball strike, and provides
a degree of balance to the putter head. Other variations include
having dual or triple vertical walls 24, or having a single
vertical wall but having branches contacting the internal surface
of face 4. Aside from strengthening the face portion, wall 24 also
prevents a flag stick or golf club from going all the way through
the putter head, which may cause the player to fall if the player
is not standing in a balanced position.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded perspective view, partially
in phantom, of an alternative to embodiment 1 of FIG. 1,
illustrating one possible kit of the invention. Illustrated is
embodiment 100, generally having the same features as embodiment 1
of FIGS. 1-4. Embodiment 100, however, includes a simple flat face
4, to which are adhered (screwed, held by magnets, or the like) any
one of a number of putter face covers 32a, 32b, and 32c. For
example, face covers 32a and 32b are identical in shape and cover
the entire face 4 of putter head 100, although this is not a
required feature. Face covers 32a and 32b may each comprise a
flexible magnetic material, formulated to have different hardness
and/or elasticity, according to the putter "feel" desired by the
user. A kit of the invention would include the putter head body 2
attached or attachable to a shaft 22, and one or more exchangeable
face covers 32. Alternatively, a single face cover 32 may be more
or less permanently secured to face 4, is the user seldom desires
to change the face cover material. In this case the face cover may
be adhered by screws of glue. The user may still change the face
cover between rounds. Face cover 32c is a smaller version, and may
be user to denote a sweet spot on the putter face. In addition, it
may be desirable to layer two or more face covers 32 onto face 4.
For example, face cover 32a is mounted on face 4, and then face
cover 32c mounted onto face cover 32a. The face covers may be
numbered, or have different colors, or both, according to their
properties.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a substantially
triangular-shaped putter head embodiment 200 in accordance with the
invention. The primary difference between embodiment 200 and
embodiments 1 and 100 is the plan view shape, as viewed in FIG. 6.
Another difference is the lack of exposed internal surfaces (15a in
FIG. 1, 13 in FIG. 5) of sole member 12. One advantage of
embodiment 200 may be that the diamond aiming feature 16 has an
apex 17 that points in the same direction as the terminal point 19
of the aft-mass portion 14. FIG. 7 is a schematic bottom view of
the embodiment of FIG. 6, illustrating an optional advertising,
trade name or trademark feature 30. FIG. 8 is a schematic front
view, partially in phantom, of the embodiment of FIG. 6,
illustrating an insert 20 and a centrally positioned, substantially
vertical wall portion 24, which is also illustrated in FIGS. 9A and
9B, which are schematic side elevation and cross-sectional views,
respectively, of the embodiment of FIG. 6.
[0029] The body of the inventive putter heads, or portions thereof,
may comprise metals such as aluminum, titanium, stainless steel,
and various metal alloys, and in some embodiments hard, durable
plastic materials. Fillers such as carbon fibers, graphite, and the
like may be present. The aiming feature may comprise the same
material of the body which it is formulated integral with the
crown, as may the advertising/trade name feature on the sole. This
integration may take place during manufacture of the putter heads.
In embodiments when these features are not integrated into the
body, they may be added on later, such as by use of an adhesive. In
these latter embodiments the aiming feature may simply comprise an
adhesive label, or decal.
[0030] The body of the inventive putter heads may be manufactured
using any number of known methods which are not part of the
invention. These methods may include one or more of molding,
casting, pressing (such as compression molding of thermosetting
resins), machining, grinding, polishing, and the like.
[0031] The polymeric insert and face covers may comprise natural or
synthetic polymeric materials. When a polymeric insert is used,
since it is not likely to be changed during the lifetime of the
putter head, its physical properties may be selected to be average
values within a range of possible values. The hardness of a
polymeric insert and face covers may range from about 20 to about
100 (Shore A), while the tensile strength may range from about 500
psi to about 10,000 psi. In kit embodiments of the invention, when
two or more face cover materials are present in the kit, face
covers may comprise one having a high hardness and high tensile
strength, one having low hardness and low tensile strength, and a
third face cover somewhere within these ranges. The different
properties may be indicated by numbers, colors, letters, logos or
some other indicia or combination of indicia.
[0032] Polymeric materials useful in the invention may be selected
from natural and synthetic polymers, blends of natural and
synthetic polymers, and layered versions of polymers, wherein
individual layers may be the same or different in composition and
thickness. The term "polymeric material" includes composite
polymeric materials, such as, but not limited to, polymeric
materials having fillers, plasticizers, and fibers therein. The
polymeric substrate may comprise one or more thermoplastic
polymers, one or more thermoset and/or thermally cured polymers,
one or more elastomers, composite materials, and combinations
thereof.
[0033] One class of useful polymeric materials are the elastomers.
"Elastomer" as used herein is a generic term for substances
emulating natural rubber in that they stretch under tension, have a
high tensile strength, retract rapidly, and substantially recover
their original dimensions. The term includes natural and man-made
elastomers, and the elastomer may be a thermoplastic elastomer or a
non-thermoplastic elastomer. The term includes blends (physical
mixtures) of elastomers, as well as copolymers, terpolymers, and
multi-polymers. Useful elastomers may also include one or more
additives, fillers, plasticizers, and the like. Examples include
ethylene-propylene-diene polymer (EPDM), various nitrile rubbers
which are copolymers of butadiene and acrylonitrile such as Buna-N
(also known as standard nitrile and NBR). By varying the
acrylonitrile content, elastomers with improved oil/fuel swell or
with improved low-temperature performance can be achieved.
Specialty versions of carboxylated high-acrylonitrile butadiene
copolymers (XNBR) provide improved abrasion resistance, and
hydrogenated versions of these copolymers (HNBR) provide improve
chemical and ozone resistance elastomers. Carboxylated HNBR is also
known. Other useful rubbers include polyvinylchloride-nitrile
butadiene (PVC-NBR) blends, chlorinated polyethylene (CM),
chlorinated sulfonate polyethylene (CSM), aliphatic polyesters with
chlorinated side chains such as epichlorohydrin homopolymer (CO),
epichlorohydrin copolymer (ECO), and epichlorohydrin terpolymer
(GECO), polyacrylate rubbers such as ethylene-acrylate copolymer
(ACM), ethylene-acrylate terpolymers (AEM), EPR, elastomers of
ethylene and propylene, sometimes with a third monomer, such as
ethylene-propylene copolymer (EPM), ethylene vinyl acetate
copolymers (EVM), fluorocarbon polymers (FKM), copolymers of
poly(vinylidene fluoride) and hexafluoropropylene (VF2/HFP),
terpolymers of poly(vinylidene fluoride), hexafluoropropylene, and
tetrafluoroethylene (VF2/HFP/TFE), terpolymers of poly(vinylidene
fluoride), polyvinyl methyl ether and tetrafluoroethylene
(VF2/PVME/TFE), terpolymers of poly(vinylidene fluoride),
hexafluoropropylene, and tetrafluoroethylene (VF2/HPF/TFE),
terpolymers of poly(vinylidene fluoride), tetrafluoroethylene, and
propylene (VF2/TFE/P), perfluoroelastomers such as
tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroelastomers (FFKM), highly fluorinated
elastomers (FEPM), butadiene rubber (BR), polychloroprene rubber
(CR), polyisoprene rubber (IR), polynorbornenes, polysulfide
rubbers (OT and EOT), polyurethanes (AU) and (EU), silicone rubbers
(MQ), vinyl silicone rubbers (VMQ), fluoromethyl silicone rubber
(FMQ), fluorovinyl silicone rubbers (FVMQ), phenylmethyl silicone
rubbers (PMQ), styrene-butadiene rubbers (SBR), copolymers of
isobutylene and isoprene known as butyl rubbers (IIR), brominated
copolymers of isobutylene and isoprene (BIIR) and chlorinated
copolymers of isobutylene and isoprene (CIIR).
[0034] Suitable examples of useable fluoroelastomers are copolymers
of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene and terpolymers of
vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene.
The fluoroelastomers suitable for use in the disclosed invention
are elastomers that comprise one or more vinylidene fluoride units
(VF.sub.2 or VdF), one or more hexafluoropropylene units (HFP), one
or more tetrafluoroethylene units (TFE), one or more
chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) nits, and/or one or more
perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) units (PAVE) such as perfluoro(methyl
vinyl ether)(PMVE), perfluoro(ethyl vinyl ether)(PEVE), and
perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether)(PPVE). These elastomers can be
homopolymers or copolymers. Particularly suitable are
fluoroelastomers containing vinylidene fluoride units,
hexafluoropropylene units, and, optionally, tetrafluoroethylene
units and fluoroelastomers containing vinylidene fluoride units,
perfluoroalkyl perfluorovinyl ether units, and tetrafluoroethylene
units, such as the vinylidene fluoride type fluoroelastomer known
under the trade designation Aflas.RTM., available from Asahi Glass
Co., Ltd. Especially suitable are copolymers of vinylidene fluoride
and hexafluoropropylene units. One suitable commercially available
fluoroelastomer is that known under the trade designation
Technoflon FOR HS.RTM. sold by Ausimont USA. This material contains
Bisphenol AF, manufactured by Halocarbon Products Corp. Another
commercially available fluoroelastomer is known under the trade
designation Viton.RTM. AL 200, by DuPont Dow, which is a terpolymer
of VF.sub.2, HFP, and TFE monomers containing 67% fluorine. Another
suitable commercially available fluoroelastomer is Viton.RTM. AL
300, by DuPont Dow. A blend of the terpolymers known under the
trade designations Viton.RTM. AL 300 and Viton.RTM. AL 600 can also
be used (e.g., one-third AL-600 and two-thirds AL-300).
[0035] Thermoplastic elastomers are generally the reaction product
of a low equivalent molecular weight polyfunctional monomer and a
high equivalent molecular weight polyfunctional monomer, wherein
the low equivalent weight polyfunctional monomer is capable, on
polymerization, of forming a hard segment (and, in conjunction with
other hard segments, crystalline hard regions or domains) and the
high equivalent weight polyfunctional monomer is capable, on
polymerization, of producing soft, flexible chains connecting the
hard regions or domains. Commercially available thermoplastic
elastomers include segmented polyester thermoplastic elastomers,
segmented polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers, segmented
polyamide thermoplastic elastomers, blends of thermoplastic
elastomers and thermoplastic polymers, and ionomeric thermoplastic
elastomers. "Segmented thermoplastic elastomer", as used herein,
refers to the sub-class of thermoplastic elastomers which are based
on polymers which are the reaction product of a high equivalent
weight polyfunctional monomer and low equivalent weight
polyfunctional monomer.
[0036] "Ionomeric thermoplastic elastomers" refers to a sub-class
of thermoplastic elastomers based on ionic polymers (ionomers).
Ionomeric thermoplastic elastomers are composed of two or more
flexible polymeric chains bound together at a plurality of
positions by ionic associations or clusters. The ionomers are
typically prepared by copolymerization of a functionalized monomer
with an olefinic unsaturated monomer, or direct functionalization
of a preformed polymer. Carboxyl-functionalized ionomers are
obtained by direct copolymerization of acrylic or methacrylic acid
with ethylene, styrene and similar comonomers by free-radical
copolymerization. The resulting copolymer is generally available as
the free acid, which can be neutralized to the degree desired with
metal hydroxides, metal acetates, and similar salts.
[0037] Another useful class of polymeric materials are
thermoplastic materials. A thermoplastic material is defined as a
polymeric material (preferably, an organic polymeric material) that
softens and melts when exposed to elevated temperatures and
generally returns to its original condition, i.e., its original
physical state, when cooled to ambient temperatures. During the
manufacturing process of a putter head face cover or insert, the
thermoplastic material may be heated above its softening
temperature, and preferably above its melting temperature, to cause
it to flow and form the desired shape of the face cover or insert.
After the desired shape is formed, the thermoplastic substrate is
cooled and solidified. In this way, thermoplastic materials
(including thermoplastic elastomers) can be molded into various
shapes and sizes.
[0038] Thermoplastic materials may be preferred over other types of
polymeric materials at least because the product has advantageous
properties, and the manufacturing process may be more efficient.
For example, a face cover or insert formed from a thermoplastic
material is generally less brittle and less hygroscopic than an
element formed from a thermosetting material. Furthermore, as
compared to a process that would use a thermosetting resin, a
process that uses a thermoplastic material may require fewer
processing steps, fewer organic solvents, and fewer materials,
e.g., catalysts. Also, with a thermoplastic material, standard
molding techniques such as injection molding can be used. This can
reduce the amount of materials wasted in construction.
[0039] Examples of thermoplastic materials suitable for face covers
and face inserts in putter heads of the invention include
polycarbonates, polyetherimides, polyesters, polysulfones,
polystyrenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene block copolymers,
acetal polymers, polyamides, or combinations thereof. Of this list,
polyamides and polyesters may provide better performance. Polyamide
materials are useful at least because they are inherently tough and
are relatively inexpensive. Polyamide resin materials may be
characterized by having an amide group, i.e., --C(O)NH--. Various
types of polyamide resin materials, i.e., nylons, can be used, such
as nylon 6/6 or nylon 6. Examples of commercially available nylon
resins useable in the present invention include those known under
the trade designations "Vydyne" from Solutia, St. Louis, Mo.;
"Zytel" and "Minlon" both from DuPont, Wilmington, Del.; "Trogamid
T" from Degussa Corporation, Parsippany, N.J.; "Capron" from BASF,
Florham Park, N.J.; "Nydur" from Mobay, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.; and
"Ultramid" from BASF Corp., Parsippany, N.J. Mineral-filled
thermoplastic materials can be used, such as the mineral-filled
nylon 6 resin "Minlon", from DuPont.
[0040] Thermoset (thermally cured) polymers may be used to form the
putter head body or one or more components thereof. Thermoset
molding compositions known in the art are generally thermosetting
resins containing inorganic fillers and/or fibers. Upon heating,
thermoset monomers initially exhibit viscosities low enough to
allow for melt processing and molding of an article from the filled
monomer composition. Upon further heating, the thermosetting
monomers react and cure to form hard resins with high stiffness.
Thermoset polymeric substrates useful in the invention may be
manufactured by any method known in the art. These methods include,
but are not limited to, reaction injection molding, resin transfer
molding, and other processes wherein dry fiber reinforcement plys
(preforms) are loaded in a mold cavity whose surfaces define the
ultimate configuration of the article to be fabricated, whereupon a
flowable rein is injected, or vacuumed, under pressure into the
mold cavity (mold plenum) thereby to produce the article, or to
saturate/wet the fiber reinforcement preforms, where provided.
After the resinated preforms are cured in the mold plenum, the
finished article is removed from the mold. As one non-limiting
example of a useable thermosettable polymer precursor composition,
U.S. Pat. No. 6,878,782 discloses a curable composition including a
functionalized poly(arylene ether); an alkenyl aromatic monomer;
and acryloyl monomer; and a polymeric additive having a glass
transition temperature less than or equal to 100.degree. C., and
Young's modulus less than or equal to 1000 megapascals at
25.degree. C. The polymeric additive is soluble in the combined
functionalized poly(arylene ether), alkenyl aromatic monomer, and
acryloyl monomer at a temperature less than or equal to 50.degree.
C. The composition exhibits low shrinkage on curing and improved
surface smoothness.
[0041] Dimensions of the putter heads of the invention may vary,
but in general the distance from the face to the aft-most part of
the aft-mass portion may range from about 75 to about 120 mm; the
width, measured at the widest points, may range from about 80 to
about 120 mm; and the height of the putter heads (at their highest
point) may range from about 20 to about 50 mm. The face insert,
when used, may have an area ranging from about 10% to about 90% of
the area of the putter head face. The depth of the insert may range
from about 1 mm to about 10 mm, measured from the putter face to
the largest depth measurement of the recess in which the insert is
positioned. The depth need not be the same across the whole insert.
For example, the middle portion may be deeper, near the spot where
the golfer intends to strike the golf ball, near where the aiming
feature points to. The insert may be flush with the balance of the
putter face, but this is not strictly required, and may, in certain
embodiments, actually protrude a short distance away from the face,
or form a concave region. The putter face may have some or no loft;
if lofted, the loft may range from just over 0.degree. to about
10.degree.; in most putters the left of the face may range from
about 3.degree. to about 10.degree..
[0042] Although only a few exemplary embodiments and features of
this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled
in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are
possible tin the exemplary embodiments without materially departing
from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention.
Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included
within the scope of this invention as defined in the following
claims. In the claims, no clauses are intended to be in the
means-plus-function format allowed by 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 112
paragraph 6 unless "means for" is explicitly recited together with
an associated function. "Means for" clauses are intended to cover
the structures described herein as performing the recited function
and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent
structures.
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