Putter With Adjustable Top Plate

Abstract

An adjustable golf club putter head is disclosed herein. The putter head includes a removable top plate that can be swapped with a different top plate with a different material composition and alignment pattern to affect the cosmetics of the putter head and also adjust the putter head's mass properties.

Claims

1. A putter comprising: a body comprising a face portion, a top shelf, and a sole portion; and a top plate comprising at least one alignment feature disposed on an upper surface and a snap feature extending from a lower surface, wherein the snap feature is sized to removably grip at least a portion of the top shelf.

2. The putter of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical fastener, wherein the snap feature comprises a through-opening, wherein the top shelf comprises a threaded bore, wherein the threaded bore aligns with the through opening when the snap feature is engaged with the top shelf, and wherein at least a portion of the mechanical fastener is sized to extend through the through-opening and engage with the threaded bore to removably secure the top plate to the top shelf.

3. The putter of claim 1, wherein the alignment feature comprises at least two circles.

4. The putter of claim 1, wherein the alignment feature comprises at least one line extending perpendicular to the face portion.

5. The putter of claim 1, wherein the sole portion extends rearwards from a lower edge of the face portion, and wherein the top shelf extends rearwards from an upper edge of the face portion.

6. The putter of claim 1, wherein the body is composed of a metal material selected from the group of steel, tungsten alloy, and titanium alloy.

7. The putter of claim 1, wherein the top plate is composed of a non-metal material.

8. The putter of claim 7, wherein the non-metal material is selected from the group consisting of plastic and composite.

9. A kit comprising: a putter body comprising a face portion, a top shelf, and a sole portion; a first top plate comprising a first alignment feature disposed on a first upper surface and a first snap feature extending from a second lower surface; and a second top late comprising a second alignment feature disposed on a second upper surface and a second snap feature extending from a second lower surface, wherein each of the first snap feature and the second snap feature is sized to removably grip at least a portion of the top shelf, wherein the sole portion extends rearwards from a lower edge of the face portion, wherein the top shelf extends rearwards from an upper edge of the face portion, and wherein the first alignment feature is different from the second alignment feature.

10. The kit of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first alignment feature and the second alignment feature comprises a circle having a diameter approximately equivalent to that of a golf ball.

11. The kit of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first alignment feature and the second alignment feature comprises at least one line extending perpendicular to the face portion.

12. The kit of claim 9, wherein the first top plate is composed of a first material, and wherein the second top plate is composed of a second material that differs from the first material.

13. The kit of claim 9, wherein the body is composed of a metal material selected from the group of steel, tungsten alloy, and titanium alloy.

14. The kit of claim 13, wherein each of the first top plate and the second top plate is composed of a non-metal material.

15. The kit of claim 14, wherein the non-metal material is selected from the group consisting of plastic and composite.

16. The kit of claim 9, further comprising a mechanical fastener, wherein each of the first snap feature and the second snap feature comprises a through-opening, wherein the top shelf comprises a threaded bore, wherein the threaded bore aligns with a through-opening when the one of the first snap feature and the second snap feature is engaged with the top shelf, and wherein at least a portion of the mechanical fastener is sized to extend through the through-opening and engage with the threaded bore to removably secure one of the first top plate and the second top plate to the top shelf.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the top plate shown in FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

[0023] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 taken along lines 10-10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-7. In this embodiment, a putter-type club head 10 comprises a body 15 having a front portion 20 with a striking face 25 and a sole 30 extending rearwards from a lower edge 22 of the front portion 20, such that the body 15 has an L-shaped structure. The body 15 also includes a top shelf 40 extending rearwards from an upper edge 23 of the front portion. The body 15 preferably is composed of a metal material such as steel, tungsten, or titanium, and its L-shaped structure positions the center of gravity at a low, forward position on the head 10.

[0025] The head 10 also includes a removable top plate 50 comprising one or more alignment features 52 disposed on an upper surface 51 and a snap feature 54 extending from a central region 55 of the lower surface 53 of the top plate 50. The snap feature 54 is sized to firmly grip the top shelf 40 via friction, but preferably is loose enough to allow the top plate 50 to be removed by hand. The alignment feature 52 of the preferred embodiment comprises several lines extending perpendicular to the striking face 25. The top plate 50 preferably is composed of a non-metal material, such as a polymer or composite, but can be formed of a metal material if a user wishes to raise the center of gravity location or otherwise adjust the mass properties of the putter head 10.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIGS. 8-10, the alignment feature 52 may comprise a pair of circles having the approximate diameter of a golf ball. Also in this embodiment, the top plate 50 is further secured to the top shelf 40 via a mechanical fastener 60 such as a bolt or screw that extends through the snap feature 54 via a through-opening 56 and engages with a threaded opening 42 extending into the top shelf 40.

[0027] In another embodiment, the putter head 10 may be sold as a kit to consumers, with a single body 15 and multiple top plates 50 having different shapes, colors, alignment features 52, and/or material compositions to allow a consumer to customize the putter head 10 for optimal performance.

[0028] The embodiments disclosed herein may include any of the features of the golf club heads disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,244,191 and 8,480,504, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

[0029] From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.