U.S. patent application number 13/182834 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-09 for golf club.
Invention is credited to Mark COHEN, Robert FARNAN.
Application Number | 20120034990 13/182834 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45556537 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120034990 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
COHEN; Mark ; et
al. |
February 9, 2012 |
GOLF CLUB
Abstract
A golf putter has a head and a shaft affixed to the head, the
head having a front face for striking a ball and a rear face and is
constructed and designed to assist the golfer in aligning the
putter for propelling the ball to be putted in the desired
direction. The head comprises a central section with a front face,
the central section extending from proximate the head's front face
towards the head's rear face and tapering rearward outwardly in
width in plan, and a pair of side sections flanking sides of the
central section, the side sections each having a front face
adjacent the front face of the central section and being of a
tapering configuration along the sides of the central section. The
central sections and the side sections are oppositely transparent
or opaque, allowing them to be visually distinguished from each
other and providing visual cues for aligning the putter.
Inventors: |
COHEN; Mark; (Palisades,
NY) ; FARNAN; Robert; (Rivervale, NJ) |
Family ID: |
45556537 |
Appl. No.: |
13/182834 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61370216 |
Aug 3, 2010 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/250 ;
473/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0416 20200801;
A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B 53/007 20130101; A63B 53/0487 20130101;
A63B 60/02 20151001; A63B 53/042 20200801; A63B 53/0433 20200801;
A63B 53/0441 20200801; A63B 2053/0491 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/250 ;
473/340 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04; A63B 69/36 20060101 A63B069/36 |
Claims
1. A golf putter, comprising a head and a shaft affixed to the
head, the head having a front face for striking a ball and a rear
face, the head comprising a central section with a front face, the
central section extending from proximate the head's front face
towards the head's rear face and tapering rearward outwardly in
width in plan, and a pair of side sections flanking sides of the
central section, the side sections each having a front face
adjacent the front face of the central section, the side sections
being of a tapering configuration along the sides of the central
section, the central section being opaque or transparent, and when
opaque the side sections are transparent and when transparent the
side sections are opaque.
2. The putter of claim 1 wherein the front faces of the central
section and the side sections together form the front face of the
head.
3. The putter of claim 1 wherein the central section is opaque.
4. The putter of claim 1, wherein the shaft is affixed to the
central section.
5. The putter of claim 2, wherein the width of the front face of
the central section is between 1/16 inch and approximately 1.6
inches.
6. The putter of claim 2 wherein the central section extends from
the front face of the head to the rear face of the head, the
central section rear face being at least twice the width of the
central section front face.
7. The putter of claim 5, wherein the central section is chosen
from metal, polymers, glass and composites.
8. The putter of claim 5, wherein the central section is a polymer,
glass or composite, the central section further including a
metallic insert at a forward end forming the front face of the
central section, the insert having a thickness of at least 1/16
inch.
9. The putter of claim 8 wherein the metal insert comprises no more
than 25 percent of a total mass of the central section.
10. The putter of claim 3 wherein the side sections are chosen from
the group consisting of glass and polymers.
11. The putter of claim 1 wherein a bottom face of each side
section tapers upward towards a corresponding side of the head.
12. The putter of claim 1 wherein the central section has a bottom
surface with a forward portion extending horizontally and side
portions tapering upward towards an adjacent side of the head.
13. The putter of claim 1 further comprising a metallic layer
extending across the front faces of the central section and the
side sections, a front face of the layer forming the front face of
the head.
14. The putter of claim 13 wherein the metallic layer has a
thickness of at least 1/16 inch.
15. A golf putter, comprising a head and a shaft affixed to the
head, the head having means for facilitating aiming and directing a
golf ball in a desired direction when struck by a front face of the
head, said means comprising a tapering in plan central section
bounded by a pair of side sections, front faces of the central and
side sections together forming the putter front face, the central
section being opaque or transparent, and when opaque the side
sections are transparent and when transparent the side sections
being opaque.
13-15. (canceled)
16. The putter of claim 15, wherein the front faces of the side
sections extend completely across a width of the head, the central
section being transparent with a forward end thereof being
positioned rearwardly of the side section front faces.
17. The putter of claim 16, further comprising a metallic layer
extending across the front faces of the side sections, a front face
of the layer forming the front face of the head.
18. The putter of claim 17 wherein the shaft is mounted to one of
the side sections.
19. The putter of claim 18 wherein a main axis of the shaft
intersects with a lateral centerline of the head at a bottom
surface of the head.
20. The putter of claim 17, wherein the metallic layer includes a
portion of a density different from the density of a remainder of
the insert.
21. The putter of claim 20 wherein the portion forms a part of the
front face of the layer.
Description
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of provisional
application Ser. No. 61/370,216 filed Aug. 3, 2010, and relates to
a golf club construction and in particular to a new and improved
construction for a putter and putter head.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Putting is the ultimate step in achieving the goals of a
round of golf--directing the golf ball to fall into the cup hole.
Putting requires extreme accuracy, as the target cup is 4.25 inches
in diameter, and a typical golf ball is on the order of 1.68 inches
in diameter. The average golfer often finds it difficult to
position the putter properly to send the ball on a desired path to
the cup. Many aids have been developed to assist the golfer in
aligning the putter and assisting the golfer in directing the ball
in the intended direction.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,251 discloses a novelty putter having a
funnel-like attachment through which the ball is stroked, the
funnel tending to redirect a mis-stroked ball back along a desired
path.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,669 discloses a putter head has
counterweights embedded in a transparent body. The counterweights
are spaced to define a space between them that is intended to serve
as an alignment guide, allowing the golfer to observe a target
below the club and control the swing with respect to the
target.
[0005] U.S. Published Pat. Appln. 2009/0118035 discloses a putter
with alignment means mounted to the rear of the putter head. An
alignment element can be adjusted to provide a target line to the
cup, allowing the golfer to more easily swing the putter along that
line to direct the ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is a putter head construction for
assisting the golfer in aligning a putt without resort to
attachments or devices that substantially alter the performance or
operation of the putter, while providing the putter head with a
heft and contact feel that is substantially the same as that of a
conventional putter. The head has central and flanking sections of
visually contrasting portions, preferably of opaque and transparent
constructions, which together form an arrow wedge configuration as
seen from the perspective of the golfer using the putter. The
central section tapers forward to the front face of the head and
the intended central striking portion of the striking face of the
putter, the tapered configuration providing alignment assistance
for a putt. The central section is flanked by a the pair of
visually contrasting portions, each of which has a front face
portion that forms an lateral outer portion of the striking face of
the club. The flanking portions further delineate the alignment
function of the central section, while providing additional
striking portions for the ball in the event the golfer fails to
properly align the putt and strike the ball squarely with the
central section as intended.
[0007] The construction provides a putter with the feel and heft of
a more traditional putter, while providing substantial assistance
to the golfer in aligning a putt. The construction assists the
golfer in initially aligning the putter (static alignment) as well
as assisting the golfer in maintaining the desired orientation
through the swing (dynamic alignment).
[0008] Further, the construction removes distractions associated
with conventional putter designs by providing a single, central
element or zone in the golfer's focus for the ball striking
location. The back to front taper of the central portion provides
an arrow-like aiming device, assisting the golfer to align the
putter to have the ball travel along the desired path. The clear
outer portions allow the green to be seen through them, minimizing
the visual effect of the outer head portions and forcing the golfer
to more completely focus on the central portion of the head, its
tapering construction further channeling the golfer's focus to
improve the accuracy of the putter's alignment along the desired
path of the ball.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] A fuller understanding of the present invention will be
obtained upon consideration of the following detailed description
of a preferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiment thereof,
reviewed in association with the annexed drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a putter head of the present
invention shown in conjunction with a golf ball aligned for putting
thereby;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the putter head;
[0012] FIG. 3A is a top plan view of the putter head with the ball
aligned for striking;
[0013] FIG. 3B is a side elevation view of the putter as positioned
in FIG. 3A;
[0014] FIG. 3C is a front elevation view thereof;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of
the invention; and
[0016] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic front elevation view of the
embodiment of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] As depicted in the figures, and initially with reference to
FIG. 1, putter head 10 has central section 12, which in a preferred
embodiment is opaque, to which upwardly-extending putter shaft 14
is affixed in a conventional manner. Alternatively, however, a
hosel or socket may be incorporated into the head to provide a
means for connecting the shaft to the head. A hosel can facilitate
the positioning of the shaft at a chosen orientation with respect
to the head. The upper end of the shaft (not shown) includes a
conventional grip portion for the golfer's hands. The central
section 12 may be formed entirely of metal, or may be a composite
material chosen with density and rigidity considerations
appropriate for use in a golf club head. When a composite material
is used for the central section 12 the front face 16 of the central
section is preferably the front of a metallic spacer or insert 28,
as shown in phantom in FIG. 1. The spacer or insert may be of any
desired front-to-back thickness, but preferably is greater than
1/16 inch, and preferably forms no more than 25 percent of the
volume of the central section. The forward face 16 of the central
section defines the central portion of the putter's front face 24,
lies directly forward of the shaft 14, and defines the intended
contact portion between the putter and golf ball 18.
[0018] Flanking central section 12 are transparent side portions
20, which are advantageously fabricated of an appropriate tough
material, such as glass or a polymer such as an acrylic or
polycarbonate. The forward faces 22 of the side portions define
corresponding lateral portions of the putter front face, flanking
the central section's forward face 16, and provide additional ball
contact areas for the putter front face. The bottom faces 38 of the
side portions may be at an acute angle A to the horizontal, on the
order of about 15 degrees, as may be seen in FIG. 3C, to provide a
measure of additional clearance between the faces and the ground.
As an alternative to the spacer 28 lying only at the front of the
central section, it may extend completely across the putter's front
face, as further indicated in FIG. 1, whereby the spacer's front
face forms the entirety of the putter's front face. In such a
configuration the spacer may advantageously be mounted to the head
after the central section and side portions are joined
together.
[0019] While is a preferred embodiment the central section 12 is
opaque and the side portions 20 are transparent, the putter head
may have a reversed construction, wherein the central section 12 is
transparent and the side portions opaque. In such an embodiment use
of the metallic front face insert or spacer 28 for at least the
central section is preferred to provide an appropriate contact
surface for the ball.
[0020] As seen in FIG. 2, the head may also be provided with one or
more areas 30 to accommodate weights to vary both the overall mass
of the head as well as its balance. The areas may be located as may
be appropriate with consideration of the materials used for the
head and overall head geometry, and may be of any form known in the
art to allow varying mass to be added. The areas may be, for
example, in the form cavities into which weights are snap-fit, or
threaded bores into which complementary-threaded inserts of varying
mass may be inserted. Particularly when the head has a construction
in which the central section is transparent, the inclusion of
mass-adjustments means can be beneficial to place a greater
proportion of the head's overall weight in the central section.
[0021] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3A, the putter head 10 is
preferably rectangular in plan, with a width of the front face 24
of the head preferably on the order of the width of a regulation
green cup--about 4.25 inches. The ratio of the width of the entire
front face 24 to the width of the front face 16 of the central
section 12 should be at least 2:1, with the face 16 centrally
located. When an insert 28 is employed for the central section,
however, the insert's width can exceed that preferred limitation,
extending partially into the adjacent side portions 20. The minimum
width of the front face of the central section is preferably 1/16
inch to provide a sufficient ball-striking area, with a maximum
width preferably corresponding to the minimum diameter of a
regulation golf ball--between 1.62 and 1.68 inches.
[0022] The central section tapers evenly outwardly from the head's
front face 24 to its rear face 26. The minimum taper is such that
the width of the central section at the rear face 26 is at least
twice the width of the central section's front face 16. The maximum
width of the central section at the head's rear face is the full
width of the head.
[0023] With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3A-C, central section
12 may be formed in plan view as a trapezoid, with its front face
16 constituting the smaller base of the trapezoid and its rear,
larger base forming at least the central portion of the rear face
26 of the head. The plan view shape focuses the golfer's view
towards the ball, and assists the golfer in aligning the putter
head to putt the ball along the desired line of travel. The side
portions 20 may likewise be formed in plan essentially as right
angle triangles or trapezoids, depending on the percentage of the
head's rear face 26 occupied by the central section 12, with the
side portions' smaller bases 32 (if present) flanking the rear base
of the central section and forming the rear corner portions of the
putter and their larger bases comprising forward faces 22. The
transparency of the side portions further emphasizes the guide
nature of the central section. While the side portions are
preferably trapezoidal or triangular, they may have other shapes in
plan, so long as they serve to maintain emphasis of the tapered
central portion and provide the lateral coplanar forward faces 22.
Overall, the putter head is preferably rectangular in plan, greater
in front-to-back depth than in width, with a flat upper surface,
although a blade-like construction, in which the width is greater
than the depth, is also within the invention's contemplation. With
the central section transparent and the side portions opaque the
guide nature of the construction is preserved, but tinting of the
central section may be desired to assist the golfer in properly
directing his focus to the center section and the desired travel
path for the ball.
[0024] The bottom surface of the putter head may be contoured, as
best seen in FIGS. 2, 3B and 3C. Central section 12 has a
horizontally extending bottom face portion 34 extending
approximately one-half the front-to-back depth of the head, and is
flanked by generally quadrilateral faces 36 extending the depth of
the head. As may be seen with reference to FIG. 3C, the faces 36,
along with the bottom faces 38 of the side portions 20, are upward
sloping towards the sides of the head at the angle A. The central
section 12 has an additional trapezoidal face portion 44 abutting
the rear of the bottom face portion 34 and lies between the rear
portions of the angled faces 36. It may have a slight
rearward-directed upward angle on the order of 2-3 degrees with
respect to the horizontal (see FIG. 3B).
[0025] As stated above, the transparent side portions 20 have
bottom faces 38 that are at the angle A to the horizontal and are
coplanar with the adjacent central portion faces 36. The lower
front edge of the central section 12 and the adjacent portions of
the side portions 20 may be beveled at 42.
[0026] FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment in which central section 12A is
transparent and the side portions are opaque and are merged
together into a unitary component 20A. The forward edge of
component 20A extends entirely across the width of the head, and
thus central section 12A in top plan is in the shape of a triangle,
with its tip or vertex 46 located rearwardly of the merged side
portions. At the tip or vertex 46 the thickness of opaque component
20A may be from 0.015 to 0.500 inches. The tip or vertex 46 itself
may have a radius of curvature of 0.015 to 0.500 inches to
accommodate the milling or tooling used to form the mating opaque
component. Spacer 28 is affixed to the forward face of component
20A and forms the entirety of the putter's front face.
[0027] The rearward extent of the opaque component 20A is such that
it defines the rear corners of the head, with the back face portion
widths 44 of the opaque component preferably being in the range of
0.015 to 0.500 inches.
[0028] With such a construction the shaft, mounted to portion 14A,
is preferably mounted by means of a hosel 48, such that the main
axis of the shaft, as seen in FIG. 5, extends to intersect the
front-to-back centerline of the head at the bottom of the head.
Other hosel orientations can allow, for example, for the main shaft
axis to intersect the centerline at the vertical midpoint of the
head.
[0029] When an insert or spacer 28 or 28A is employed, it can
provide means for adjusting the weight or balance of the putter. As
depicted in FIG. 4, the rear face of the insert may be milled or
otherwise formed to provide a recess 50 that can either be left
hollow or filled with a material of a density different from that
of the insert body to change the overall mass distribution of the
head and thus its feel and balance. Suitable fills may include
polymers and polymer blends, as well as metallic compositions. The
recess is preferably no more than half the head's width and no more
than three-quarters of its height. It typically will be centered
laterally, but need not be centered vertically in the insert.
[0030] The spacer's recess may further include portions that extend
entirely through the spacer, forming a pattern of openings through
the spacer's front face, such as a series of horizontal slots or
circular bores. The fill of the recess in such openings thus forms
portions of the front face and may allow for varying the nature of
the contact between the front face and the ball when struck. The
front surface of the fill may lie in the same plane as the
remainder of the front face, or its surface may be textured or
contoured to form projections, recesses or dimples as may be
desired.
[0031] The head may be dimensioned as required to comply with
organization or local rules respecting the size of club heads. A
typical set of dimensions for the head may be, for example, a depth
of 37/8 inch in depth, a width of 31/2 inch in width, and a height
of 3/4 inch, with the front face 16 of the central section being 1
inch wide. The central section and side portions may be bonded
together by means as known in the art, such as by epoxy adhesive or
mechanical fasteners. While the side portions are preferably
transparent, they may be tinted. Further, while the head in plan is
preferably rectangular, it may take other shapes, such as
trapezoidal, with either a larger or smaller base forming the front
striking surface of the putter, once again so long as emphasis of
the tapered central portion is maintained and lateral coplanar
forward faces are provided.
* * * * *