PUTTER WITH IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION AND ALIGNMENT

Abstract

A putter having a hosel block located on a back surface of a front portion of the putter. The hosel block can be dimensioned and positioned to locate a shaft axis at various locations in a front-to-back direction and in a heel-to-toc direction.

Claims

1. A putter comprising: a heel side; a toe side opposite said heel side; a front portion; a rear portion opposite said front portion; wherein said front portion includes a striking face and a back surface opposite said striking face, said back surface facing said rear portion, wherein a hosel block is coupled to said back surface of said front portion.

2. The putter of claim 1, wherein said hosel block includes a shaft connection portion configured to couple said putter to a shaft having a shaft axis.

3. The putter of claim 2, wherein said hosel block has a front surface that contacts said back surface of said front portion, wherein said shaft axis is located a distance D1 from said front surface of said hosel block measured in a direction perpendicular to said front surface of said hosel block.

4. The putter of claim 3, wherein a center of gravity of said putter is located at a CG depth measured perpendicular to said striking face and rearward from said striking face, and wherein said CG depth is between 0.20 inches and 1.75 inches.

5. The putter of claim 4, wherein said shaft axis is located at a shaft axis depth measured perpendicular to said striking face and rearward from said striking face, and wherein said hosel block has a distance D1 which positions said shaft axis depth at said CG depth.

6. The putter of claim 5, wherein said shaft axis goes through said center of gravity.

7. The putter of claim 6, wherein said shaft axis is toeward of said center of gravity.

8. The putter of claim 7, wherein said shaft axis is heelward of said center of gravity.

9. The putter of claim 5, further comprising at least one weight member on a bottom portion of said putter.

10. The putter of claim 2, wherein said shaft connection portion has a protruding member configured to fit within said shaft.

11. A putter comprising: a heel side; a toe side opposite said heel side; a front portion; a rear portion opposite said front portion; a striking face located on said front portion; and a hosel block having a shaft connection portion configured to couple said putter to a shaft having a shaft axis, wherein said shaft axis is located at a shaft axis depth measured perpendicular to said striking face and rearward from said striking face, wherein a center of gravity of said putter is located at a CG depth measured perpendicular to said striking face and rearward from said striking face, and wherein said shaft axis depth is equal to said CG depth.

12. The putter of claim 11, wherein said shaft axis goes through said center of gravity.

13. The putter of claim 11, wherein said shaft axis is toeward of said center of gravity.

14. The putter of claim 11, wherein said shaft axis is heelward of said center of gravity.

15. The putter of claim 11, wherein said CG depth is between 0.20 inches and 1.75 inches.

16. The putter of claim 11, wherein said front portion includes a back surface opposite said striking face, said back surface facing said rear portion, wherein said hosel block is coupled to said back surface of said front portion.

17. The putter of claim 16, wherein said hosel block has a front surface that contacts said back surface of said front portion.

18. The putter of claim 17, wherein said front portion includes a face insert on said striking face, and wherein said face insert is secured within a front pocket of said front portion.

19. The putter of claim 18, wherein said hosel block further comprises a protruding member extending forward from said front surface of said hosel block in a direction perpendicular to said front surface of said hosel block.

20. The putter of claim 19, wherein said front portion includes a recess formed between said back surface of said front portion and said front pocket, and wherein said protruding member is secured within said recess.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters reference like elements, and wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of a putter of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 shows an exploded top perspective view of the putter of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 3 shows an exploded bottom perspective view of the putter of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the putter of FIG. 1; and

[0016] FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the putter of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 6 shows a top perspective view of a putter of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 7 shows a top view of the putter of FIG. 6;

[0019] FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of the putter of FIG. 6;

[0020] FIG. 9 shows an exploded top perspective view of the putter of FIG. 6;

[0021] FIG. 10 shows a bottom view of a first body member of the putter of FIG. 6;

[0022] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a hosel block of the putter of FIG. 6;

[0023] FIG. 12 shows a top perspective view of a putter of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 13 shows a front view of the putter of FIG. 12;

[0025] FIG. 14 shows a bottom view of the putter of FIG. 12;

[0026] FIG. 15 shows a top view of the putter of FIG. 12;

[0027] FIG. 16 shows a heel side view of a hosel block of the putter of FIG. 12;

[0028] FIG. 17 shows front view of the putter of FIG. 12 with the face insert removed; and

[0029] FIG. 18 shows a heel side view of an alternative hosel block of the putter of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the present invention is directed to a putter 100. The putter 100 includes a first body member 110, a second body member 120, and a third body member 130. Constructing the putter 100 with the first body member 110, the second body member 120, and the third body member 130, as described in greater detail below, allows for greater weight distribution in the putter 100 for improved sound, feel, and forgiveness and creates a contrast between body members which improves a golfer's ability to align the putter 100 towards an intended target. The first body member 110 includes a striking face 114 for impacting the golf ball during the putting stroke. The first body member 110 in this embodiment includes a hosel 112 that is coupled to a shaft and grip as is well known in the art. The first body member 110 includes a rear portion 116 extending rearward from the striking face 114 having an upper surface 117 that can be seen by the golfer in the address position. The rear portion 116 may include a cavity 115 to allow weight to be distributed to other areas of the putter 100.

[0031] The first body member 110 also includes at least one sightline 118 on the upper surface 117 of the rear portion 116 that extends rearwardly from the striking face 114. The at least one sightline 118 may extend from the striking face 114 to a rearmost edge 119 of the first body member 110 to provide a maximum length for the at least one sightline 118 and further aid the golfer in proper alignment of the putter 100. The at least one sightline 118 may be formed as a groove, a protrusion, or a painted line on the upper surface 117. The at least one sightline 118 may be in the shape of an arrow to assist the golfer in aligning the putter 100 towards the target. In a preferred embodiment, the first body member 110 is one color such as grey or black and the at least one sightline 118 is a different, contrasting color. For example, if first body member 110 is black, the at least one sightline 118 may be red, white, silver or other bright color. If the first body member 110 is grey, the at least one sightline 118 may be red, white, black or other contrasting color. In a preferred embodiment, a golfer may select a color of the at least one sightline 118 in order to personalize the putter 100. The first body member 110 is made of a first material having a first density. In the most preferred embodiment, the first body member 110 is formed of steel and has a density of about 7 g/cc to 8 g/cc.

[0032] The putter 100 includes the second body member 120 that is coupled to the first body member 110 via fasteners 122. The second body member 120 is located below the first body member 110 and rearward of the striking face 114 in the address position. The second body member 120 includes a first weight port 124a located on a toe side of a face center plane that passes through a face center of the striking face 114 and is perpendicular to the ground plane at the address position. The second body member 120 also includes a second weight port 124b located on a heel side of the face center plane. Fasteners 122 may be inserted through apertures 123 located in the first weight port 124a and the second weight port 124b to couple the second body member 120 to the first body member 110. The putter 100 includes weight members 105 which may be removably inserted into the first weight port 124a and the second weight port 124b. Preferably, the weight members 105 are formed of steel or tungsten. The weight members 105 may each be formed to weigh between 10 grams and 50 grams. The weight members 105 may be located equidistant from the face center plane to increase the moment of inertia of the putter 100. The weight members 105 may be threaded and act as covers to protect the fasteners 122 from corrosion and wear as well as unwanted disassembly of the second body member 120 from the first body member 110. The second body member 120 may include a central groove 126 that receives the rear portion 116 of the first body member 110 when assembled. The central groove 126 acts as a locating feature to assist in proper alignment of the first body member 110 with the second body member 120 during assembly. The central groove 126 may include at least one aperture 123 that receives at least one of the fasteners 122 to couple the second body member 120 to the first body member 110.

[0033] The second body member 120 includes sightlines 128 located on either side of the central groove 126 on a top surface of the second body member 120 such that the sightlines 128 are visible to the golfer in the address position. The sightlines 128 may be formed as grooves, protrusions, or painted lines on the second body member 120. In a preferred embodiment, the second body member 120 is one color such as grey or black and the sightlines 128 are a different, contrasting color. For example, if second body member 120 is black, the sightlines 128 may be red, white, silver or other bright color. If the second body member 120 is grey, the sightlines 128 may be red, white, black or other contrasting color. In a preferred embodiment, a golfer may select a color of the sightlines 128 in order to personalize the putter 100. The sightlines 128 are parallel to each other and are positioned to extend perpendicular to the striking face 114. Preferably, the sightlines 128 are spaced apart by greater than 1.0 inch. In another preferred embodiment, the sightlines 128 are spaced apart by about 1.6 inches to correspond to the width of a golf ball. The sightlines 128 are preferably equally spaced about the face center plane. The sightlines 128 may be located a distance greater than 0.1 inches below the upper surface 117 of the first body member 110 in a direction perpendicular to the ground plane at the address position. The second body member 120 is preferably made of a color different than the color of the first body member 110. The contrasting colors of the first body member 110 and the second body member 120 provides greater visual alignment of the putter 100. The second body member 120 is made of a second material having a second density which is less than the density of the first material of the first body member 110. In the most preferred embodiment, the second body member 120 is formed of aluminum having a density of about 2.5 g/cc to 3 g/cc.

[0034] The putter 100 also includes the third body member 130 that is coupled to the second body member 120 via fasteners 132. The third body member 130 may include at least one aperture 133 which receives at least one projection 129 located on a bottom surface of the second body member 120 when assembled. The at least one aperture 133 acts as a locating feature to assist in proper alignment of the second body member 120 with the third body member 130 during assembly. The at least one aperture 133 also allows weight to be distributed to other areas of the putter 100 for improved sound, feel, and forgiveness. The third body member 130 includes a first projection 134a located on a toe side of the face center plane and a second projection 134b located on a heel side of the face center plane. The first projection 134a and the second projection 134b distribute weight in toeward and heelward directions to increase the moment of inertia and forgiveness of the putter 100. The first projection 134a and the second projection 134b are visible to the golfer at the address position to further provide contrast for improved visual alignment. The third body member 130 may include a central portion 136 which acts as a cover to protect at least one of the fasteners 122 from corrosion and wear as well as unwanted disassembly of the second body member 120 from the first body member 110. The third body member 130 may be positioned rearward of the first weight port 124a and the second weight port 124b of the second body member 120. The third body member 130 is preferably made of a color different than the color of the second body member 120. The third body member 130 is preferably made of the same color as the first body member 110. The contrasting colors between the first body member 110 and the second body member 120 and the contrasting colors between the second body member 120 and the third body member 130 provides greater visibility when aligning the putter 100. The third body member 130 is made of a third material having a third density. In the most preferred embodiment, the third body member 130 is formed of steel and has a density of about 7 g/cc to 8 g/cc. The multiple body member construction described above provides more targeted weight distribution in the putter 100 for more forgiveness and improved sound and feel while also providing a greater degree of contrasting depths and colors to enhance the visual alignment of the putter 100 towards a target. Features described above also aid in proper assembly and protection of components from wear and unwanted disassembly.

[0035] FIGS. 6-11 show a putter 200 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The putter 200 includes a first body member 210 and a second body member 220. Constructing the putter 200 with the first body member 210 and the second body member 220 as described in greater detail below, allows for adjustable weighting of the putter 200 and adjustable positioning of a shaft 208 on the putter 200. The first body member 210 includes a striking face 214 for impacting the golf ball during the putting stroke. The first body member 210 in this embodiment includes an aperture 209 configured to receive the shaft 208. The first body member 210 includes a rear portion 216 extending rearward from the striking face 214 having an upper surface 217 that can be seen by the golfer in the address position. The rear portion 216 may include a first cavity 215 being elongated in a front-to-back direction and facing the second body member 220. The second body member 220 may include a second cavity 225 being elongated in the front-to-back direction and facing the first cavity 215 of the first body member 210 such that the first cavity 215 and the second cavity 225 combine to form a void in the putter 200. The second body member 220 includes weight members 205 positioned on a bottom portion of the second body member 220.

[0036] The putter 200 further includes a hosel block 230 positioned within the first cavity 215 and the second cavity 225. The hosel block 230 includes a hosel bore 232 configured to receive the shaft 208. The hosel block 230 may be positioned at various locations within the first cavity 215 and the second cavity 225 in the front-to-back direction. Once the position of the hosel block 230 is selected, the aperture 209 is formed in the first body member 210 so that the shaft 208 may pass through the aperture 209 and be received within the hosel bore 232 of the hosel block 230. The putter 200 includes a center of gravity CG located at a CG depth measured as a distance perpendicular to and rearward from the striking face 214. The putter 200 has a CG depth from the striking face 214 between 0.20 inches and 1.75 inches. The shaft 208 is positioned such that a shaft axis 211 of the shaft 208 includes a shaft axis depth measured as a distance perpendicular to and rearward from the striking face 214. The shaft axis depth has a value equal to the CG depth in order to make the putter 200 more balanced and stable through the putting stroke. Additionally, the shaft axis 211 may pass through the center of gravity CG.

[0037] A critical aspect of the present invention is the ability to customize the weight of the putter 200, the CG depth of the putter 200, and the location of the shaft axis 211 relative to the CG of the putter 200. The weight of the putter 200 may be manipulated by varying the masses of the weight members 205 and the hosel block 230 to achieve a putter weight ranging from 300 g to 550 g. The CG depth of the putter 200 may be manipulated by varying the masses of the weight members 205 and the hosel block 230 relative to each other and overall to shift the CG forward or rearward. Additionally, the CG depth may be manipulated by varying the location of the hosel block 230 along the front-to-back direction within the first cavity 215 and the second cavity 225. The location of the shaft axis 211 relative to the CG of the putter 200 may be manipulated by varying the location of the hosel block 230 along the front-to-back direction within the first cavity 215 and the second cavity 225 and correspondingly varying the location of the aperture 209 along the front-to-back direction on the first body member 210.

[0038] The putter 200 may be formed by determining a desired putter weight and CG location then selecting corresponding masses for the weight members 205 and the hosel block 230 and selecting the front-to-back location of the hosel block 230 within the first cavity 215 and the second cavity 225. The hosel block 230 is secured to the first body member 210 and/or the second body member 220 within the first cavity 215 and the second cavity 225. The aperture 209 is formed in the first body member 210 at a location corresponding with the hosel bore 232 in the hosel block 230. The aperture 209 and the hosel bore 232 may be formed concurrently to ensure proper alignment. The shaft 208 is inserted through the aperture 209 and secured within the hosel bore 232 of the hosel block 230.

[0039] FIGS. 12-18 show a putter 300 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The putter 300 includes a heel side 302, a toe side 304 opposite the heel side 302, a front portion 313, and a rear portion 316 opposite the front portion 313. The front portion 313 includes a striking face 314 for impacting the golf ball during the putting stroke and a back surface 318 facing the rear portion 316. A hosel block 330 is coupled to the back surface 318 of the front portion 313. The hosel block 330 includes a shaft connection portion 331 configured to couple the putter 300 to a shaft (not shown) having a shaft axis 332. In one embodiment, the shaft connection portion 331 is a protruding member configured to fit within the shaft and may include threads to improve adhesive bonding with the shaft. The threads also improve bendability of the protruding member by reducing the minor diameter of the protruding member. Bendability is critical for making customized loft angle and/or lie angle adjustments. The putter 300 also includes weight members 305 which may be removably coupled to the putter 300.

[0040] The hosel block 330 has a front surface 333 which contacts to the back surface 318 of the front portion 313. The shaft connection portion 331 positions the shaft axis 332 a distance D1 measured perpendicular to and rearward from the front surface 333 of the hosel block 330. The distance D1 of the hosel block 330 may be altered in order to position the shaft axis 332 at various locations in the front-to-back direction. The shaft axis 332 of the shaft is located at a shaft axis depth measured as a distance perpendicular to and rearward from the striking face 314. Selecting the distance D1 of the hosel block 330 therefore directly affects the shaft axis depth. The putter 300 includes a center of gravity CG located at a CG depth measured as a distance perpendicular to and rearward from the striking face 314. The putter 300 has a CG depth from the striking face 314 between 0.20 inches and 1.75 inches. The shaft axis depth has a value equal to the CG depth in order to make the putter 300 more balanced and stable through the putting stroke. Additionally, the shaft axis 332 may pass through the center of gravity CG.

[0041] A critical aspect of the present invention is the ability to customize the weight of the putter 300, the CG depth of the putter 300, and the location of the shaft axis 332 relative to the CG of the putter 300. The weight of the putter 300 may be manipulated by varying the masses of the weight members 305 and the hosel block 330 to achieve a putter weight ranging from 300 g to 550 g. The CG depth of the putter 300 may be manipulated by varying the masses of the weight members 305 and the hosel block 330 relative to each other and overall to shift the CG forward or rearward. The location of the shaft axis 332 relative to the CG of the putter 300 may be manipulated by varying the distance D1 between the front surface 333 of the hosel block 330 and the shaft axis 332. The position of the hosel block 330 may also vary in the heel-to-toe direction along the back surface 318 of the front portion 313 to place the shaft axis 332 heelward of the CG or toward of the CG to achieve different balance and toc-flow characteristics.

[0042] The putter 300 may be formed by determining a desired putter weight and CG location then selecting corresponding masses for the weight members 305 and the hosel block 330. The distance D1 between the front surface 333 of the hosel block 330 and the shaft axis 332 is selected such that the shaft axis depth is aligned with the CG depth. The hosel block 330 is then secured to the back surface 318 of the front portion 313.

[0043] In one embodiment, the front portion 313 includes a face insert 321 on the striking face 314. The face insert 321 is secured within a front pocket 312 of the front portion 313. The front portion 313 includes a recess 323 formed between the back surface 318 of the front portion 313 and the front pocket 312. The hosel block 330 includes a protruding member 334 extending forward in a direction perpendicular to the front surface 333 of the hosel block 330 by a distance D2. The protruding member 334 is secured within the recess 323, and the distance D2 of the protruding member 334 corresponds with a depth of the recess 323.

[0044] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, while certain advantages of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

[0045] Other than in the operating examples, or unless otherwise expressly specified, all of the numerical ranges, amounts, values, and percentages may be read as if prefaced by the word about even though the term about may not expressly appear with the value, amount, or range. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following description and claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

[0046] Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in any specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. Furthermore, when numerical ranges of varying scope are set forth herein, it is contemplated that any combination of these values inclusive of the recited values may be used.