PUTTER CLUB HEAD WITH PROFILED FACE INSERT

Abstract

A golf club putter includes a head having an insert including face and base portions that interface with each other and are made of materials with dissimilar moduli of elasticity. The face portion can be a polymer and the base portion can be a metal. The face portion has a front facing surface that strikes the golf ball and an opposing rear surface with a smooth curved or stepped angled profile. The base portion has a front surface that interfaces with the rear surface of the face portion and is curved or stepped similar to the face portion. The front-to-back dimension of the face portion is thinnest at the center of the club head, and its thickness progressively increases as the curve of the rear surface of the face portion moves away from the club head center towards the heel and toe of the club head.

Claims

1. A head of a putter-type golf club, comprising: an insert located within the club head, the insert having a face portion and a base portion, the face portion being comprised of a material having a first modulus of elasticity value, the base portion being comprised of a material having a second modulus of elasticity value, the first modulus of elasticity value being different than the second modulus of elasticity value; wherein the face portion has a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, the face portion also having a front facing surface and an opposing rear surface; wherein the base portion has a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, the base portion also having a front surface and an opposing rear surface; wherein the rear surface of the face portion is attached to the front surface of the rear portion; wherein the rear surface of the face portion is curved in an amount along a length of the face portion between a toe portion of the club head and a heel portion of the club head such that a thickness from the top surface of the face portion to the bottom surface of the face portion is at a smallest value at a center location between the toe portion and the heel portion of the club head; and wherein the amount of the curvature along the length of the face portion between the toe portion of the clubhead and the heel portion of the club head is such that the thickness from the top surface of the face portion to the bottom surface of the face portion is at an increasing larger value from the center location and out towards each of the toe portion and the heel portion of the club head.

2. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the front surface of the base portion has a curvature that equals the curvature of the rear surface of the face portion.

3. The putter head of claim 2, wherein the curvature of the rear surface of the face portion and the curvature of the front surface of the base portion are smooth.

4. The putter head of claim 2, wherein the curvature of the rear surface of the face portion and the curvature of the front surface of the base portion are stepped.

5. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the rear surface of the face portion is further curved between the top surface of the face portion and the bottom surface of the face portion, and wherein the front surface of the base portion is further curved between the top surface of the base portion and the bottom surface of the base portion.

6. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the material comprising the face portion is a polymer.

7. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the material comprising the base portion is a metal.

8. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the first modulus of elasticity value is less than the second modulus of elasticity value.

9. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the material comprising the face portion has a modulus of elasticity of less than 5.0 gigapascals, and wherein the material comprising the base portion has a modulus of elasticity of approximately 200.0 gigapascals.

10. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the material comprising the face portion is from the group including: (1) Polyethersulfone (“PES”); (2) high-heat Polycarbonate (“PC”); (3) low-friction Acetal (“POM”); (4) Polyphenylene Ether (“PPE”); (5) impact-modified PPE; (6) flame-retardant PPE; (7) Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (“ABS”); (8) impact-modified Polymethylmethacrylate/Acrylic (“PMMA”); (9) Polypropylene (“PP”); (10) flame-retardant ABS; (11) Polybutylene Terephthalate (“PBT”); (12) flame-retardant Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate/Polycarbonate Blend (“ASA/PC”); (13) Polysulfone (“PSU”); (14) Polyimide (“PI”); (15) Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (“EVOH”); (16) Styrene Maleic Anhydride (“SMA”); (17) Styrene Methyl Methacrylate (“SMMA”); (18) flame-retardant ABS/PC; and (19) Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (“CPVC”).

11. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the material comprising the base portion is from the group including: (1) 303 stainless steel; (2) nickel; (3) steel; and (4) stainless steel.

12. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the rear surface of the face portion includes a first alignment guide, wherein the front surface of the rear portion includes a second alignment guide, and wherein the first and second alignment guides are configured to be attached to each other when the rear surface of the face portion is attached to the front surface of the rear portion.

13. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the rear surface of the face portion is attached to the front surface of the rear portion by an adhesive.

14. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the rear surface of the base portion is attached to the club head by a screw or an adhesive.

15. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the center location between the toe portion and the heel portion of the club head corresponds to the center of gravity of the club head.

16. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the club head further includes one or more weights configured to affect the moment of inertia of the club head when the putter is striking a golf ball.

17. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the front facing surface of the face portion is configured to strike a golf ball, and wherein the front facing surface of the face portion is angled upwards towards the top portion of the face portion.

18. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the face portion and the base portion are manufactured by a method from the group including machining, injection molding, casting, and pouring.

19. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the putter head is one of a blade type putter head, a mallet type putter head, or a high moment of inertia type of putter head.

20. The putter head of claim 1, wherein the putter type of golf club further comprises a shaft connected with the head, and a grip connected with the shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The subject matter, which is regarded as the disclosure herein of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of this specification. The forgoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a putter type of golf club having a shaft, a grip, and a head containing an insert, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the putter head of FIG. 1, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a front view of the putter head of FIG. 2, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a top cross-sectional view of the putter head of FIG. 2 taken along lines A - A of FIG. 3, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the putter head of FIG. 2 taken along lines B -B of FIG. 3, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a face portion and a base portion of an insert within the putter head of FIG. 2, the face portion and the base portion shown separated from one another, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 7 is a front view of the face portion of the insert of FIG. 6, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 8 is a top cross-sectional view of the face portion and the base portion of the insert of FIG. 6 taken along lines A - A of FIG. 7, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 9 is a side view of the face portion and the base portion of the insert of FIG. 6, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 10 is a perspective rear view of the face portion of the insert of FIG. 6, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 11 is a perspective front view of an alternative embodiment of putter head having a pocket, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; and

[0025] FIG. 12 is a perspective rear view of an alternative embodiment of a face insert disposed within the pocket of FIG. 11, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] It should be understood that throughout this patent application and specifically in the written description that follows and in the accompanying drawing figures, various directional and orientational terms such as horizontal, vertical, diagonal, up, down, upward, downward, in, out, inwards, outwards, forward, backward, front, rear, back, top, bottom, upper, lower, left, right, center, middle, and other similar directional and orientational terms as they are used herein refer to the golf club putter and the putter head of the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention as that putter and the head is oriented when typically in use or being held by someone. All these terms are used in this written description and in the drawings for convenience only and as an aid to better understanding the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. These terms are not intended to be limiting in the claims or to imply that the golf club putter or the putter head must be used or positioned in any particular or specific direction or orientation to satisfy the clams.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, there illustrated is a perspective view of a putter type of golf club 100 having a head 104, a shaft 108, and a grip 112. As exemplary embodiments of the present invention are located primarily in the putter head 104, the shaft 108 and the grip 112 form no part of the broadest scope of the present invention. As such, the shaft 108 and grip 112 may comprise conventional shapes and materials. Also, the putter head 104 may comprise any type of known putter head such as, for example and without limitation, a blade type, a mallet type, or a high moment of inertia (“MOI”) type which itself may be a blade type or mallet type. The putter head 104 of exemplary embodiments of the present invention may also comprise future putter head designs. The material comprising the putter head 104 may be aluminum or other suitable metal, alloy, composite, or other types of materials.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the putter head 104 illustrated comprises a mallet type of putter head. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the putter head 104 includes an insert 116 located within or inside a forward or front portion of the putter head 104. The insert 116 comprises two separate components: a face portion 120 and a base portion 124, which are attached or bonded to one another typically by an adhesive (e.g., an aircraft or aerospace epoxy adhesive such as the Scotch-Weld® EC-2216 B/A commercially available from 3M®). The face portion 120 has a front facing surface 128 at the front of the putter head 104 which is normally used to strike the golf ball.

[0029] The putter head 104 also includes a top surface 132 and an opposing bottom surface 136. The top surface 132 may have formed therein a hole 140 into which a lower hosel portion of the shaft 108 of the putter 100 is inserted and fixed in place using e.g., an adhesive. However, it should be understood that the shaft 108 may connect with the putter head 104 at any location on or within the head 104, as is known in the art. The location where the shaft 108 connects with the putter head 104 forms no part of the broadest scope of the present invention. Further, the portion of the putter head 104 farthest from the person using the putter 100 is typically referred to as the toe portion 144, while the portion of the head 104 closest to the person using the putter 100 is typically referred to as the heel portion 148. The toe portion 144 and the heel portion 148 thus define a horizontal lengthwise distance across the front facing surface 128 of the face portion 120.

[0030] The mallet type putter head 104 also includes a back portion having a pair of holes 156, 160 into which weights (not shown) may be disposed. The weights may comprise a suitable material such as tungsten used to provide a desired weighting for the putter head 104. Such weighting is known to be used, for example, to increase the moment of inertia of the putter head 104 to thereby increase the resistance of the putter head 104 to any twisting or torquing of the head 104 when the person using the putter 100 strikes the ball at other than the COG of the head 104 (i.e., at the toe portion 144 or the heel portion 148). Nevertheless, it is to be understood that such putter head weighting forms no part of the broadest scope of the present invention.

[0031] Also, while the top surface 132 of the putter head 104 may be straight, the bottom surface or “sole” 136 of the head 104 may be angled or radiused upwards slightly (e.g., 5 degrees). This angling may begin at or near the COG and proceed outward towards both the toe portion 144 and the heel portion 148, as is known in the art to improve the ball striking performance of the putter head 104. However, the bottom surface 136 of the putter head 104 may be straight similarly to the top surface 132.

[0032] FIGS. 4 and 5 also illustrate the rear portion 152 of the putter head 104 having an insert mounting screw 164 placed within a hole in the rear portion 152 and threaded into the back portion 124 of the insert 116. The screw 164 may be used to attach the insert 116 to the putter head 104. However, other means for attaching the insert 116 to the putter head 104 may be utilized such as, e.g., an adhesive.

[0033] One or more physical alignment features 168 may be formed in the putter head 104 and the back portion 124 of the insert 116 to assist with the proper placement and location of the insert 116 within the head 104 during assembly of the putter head 104. These features 168 may include depressions and/or protrusions appropriately formed. The rear portion 152 of the putter head may also include a visual alignment aid 172 (e.g., a straight line) which is typically used to assist the person using the putter 100 to properly line up the putter head 104 with the golf ball to thereby establish a target direction for the ball towards the cup.

[0034] As best seen in FIG. 4, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the face portion 120 of the insert 116 has a varying thickness as viewed from front to back (i.e., from the facing surface 128 towards the back portion 152) and extending along a length of the head 104 between the toe and heel portions 144, 148 of the head 104. More specifically, the face portion 116 has its relatively thinnest portion at its approximate center when viewed as such in FIG. 4, which may correspond, but not necessarily, to the approximate COG of the putter head 104. The location of the COG of the putter head 104 depends on various physical characteristics of the head 104 such as its shape and weight. Also, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the thickness of the face portion 116 increases outwards from the COG in each direction towards the toe portion 144 and towards the heel portion 148.

[0035] Although not marked as such in the figures, oftentimes the COG of the putter club head 104 is marked with a visual indicator so that the golfer knows where the COG is to assist the golfer in striking the golf ball. Alternatively, the center of the face portion 120, and not necessarily the COG of the clubhead 104, may have a visual indicator (not shown) to assist the golfer in striking the golf ball.

[0036] In a similar manner, the base portion 124 of the insert 116 has its thickest portion at its center and the thickness of the base portion 124 decreases outwards in each direction towards the toe portion 144 and towards the heel portion 148. This is so that the thickness profile of the base portion 124 inversely matches the thickness profile of the face portion 120. As such, the insert 116 has a resulting generally rectangular overall shape when viewed in FIG. 4.

[0037] Additional details of the face portion 120 and the base portion 124 of the insert 116 are described and illustrated in more detail hereinafter and with reference to FIGS. 6 - 10. As described hereinabove and in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the thickness of the face portion 120 varies in a specific manner and is thinnest at its center and is progressively thicker outwards in each direction towards the toe and heel portions 144, 148 of the putter head 104.

[0038] Also, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the face portion 120 and the base portion 124 preferably comprise or are made of dissimilar materials, with each of the materials having a modulus of elasticity (i.e., an amount of elastic deformation) that differs relatively significantly from one another. More specifically, the face portion 120 comprises a material that is relatively much more elastic or less stiff than that of the base portion 124. This allows for a relatively large amount of elastic potential energy to be stored (and a correspondingly resulting large amount of kinetic energy to be released) when the putter head 104 strikes the golf ball. The striking of the golf ball by the putter head 104 is normally a purely elastic collision, due to the nature of the materials comprising the putter head 104 and the golf ball. As such, the insert 116 may be considered a composite.

[0039] The use of such dissimilar modulus of elasticity materials for the face portion 120 and the base portion 124 of the insert 116 within the putter head 104, together with the varying thickness profile of the face portion 120 of the insert 116, creates a putter head 104 that results in approximate equal velocity of the golf ball, and approximate equal distance of travel of the golf ball, regardless of where on the face 128 of the club head 104 the golf ball is hit.

[0040] In exemplary embodiments, the face portion 120 comprises a polymer while the base portion 124 comprises a metal, the polymer inherently having a relatively much lower modulus of elasticity than that of the metal, thereby making the face portion 120 much more elastic than the base portion 124. Polymers typically have a modulus of elasticity of approximately less than 5.0 GPa (gigapascals), while metals typically have a modulus of elasticity of approximately 200 GPa for steel. Also, the modulus of elasticity for polymers is typically in a range of value, whereas for metals the modulus of elasticity usually does not vary in a range. Thus, for purposes of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the material comprising the face portion 120 may have a modulus of elasticity of less than 5.0 GPa, while the material comprising the base portion 124 may have a modulus of elasticity of approximately 200.0 GPa.

[0041] Suitable polymers for the face portion 120 may include for example and without limitation: (1) Polyethersulfone (“PES”) having an average value of GPa of 2.55; (2) high-heat Polycarbonate (“PC”, average GPa = 2.35); (3) low-friction Acetal (“POM”, average GPA = 2.4); (4) Polyphenylene Ether (“PPE”, average GPa = 2.45); (5) impact-modified PPE (average GPa = 2.45); (6) flame-retardant PPE (average GPa = 2.45); (7) Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (“ABS”, average GPa = 2.495); (8) impact-modified Polymethylmethacrylate/Acrylic (“PMMA”, average GPa = 2.5); (9) Polypropylene (“PP”, average GPa = 2.5); (10) flame-retardant ABS (average GPa = 2.5); (11) Polybutylene Terephthalate (“PBT”, average GPa = 2.5); (12) flame-retardant Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate/Polycarbonate Blend (“ASA/PC”, average GPa = 2.5); (13) Polysulfone (“PSU”, average GPa = 2.6); (14) Polyimide (“PI”, average GPa = 2.65); (15) Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (“EVOH”, average GPa = 2.7); (16) Styrene Maleic Anhydride (“SMA”, average GPa = 2.7); (17) Styrene Methyl Methacrylate (“SMMA”, average GPa = 2.75); (18) flame-retardant ABS/PC (average GPa = 2.8); and (19) Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (“CPVC”, average GPa = 2.85).

[0042] Suitable metals for the base portion 124 may include for example and without limitation: (1) 303 stainless steel (193 GPa); (2) nickel (210 GPa); 93) steel (200 GPa); and (4) stainless steel (196 GPa).

[0043] However, it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the face portion 120 does not necessarily need to comprise a polymer for the broadest scope of the present invention. Instead, the face portion 120 may comprise other suitable materials, depending in part upon the value of their modulus of elasticity, to achieve the desired consistent golf ball speed or velocity results regardless of the exact location on the face portion 120 the golf ball is struck.

[0044] In a similar manner, the base portion 124 does not necessarily need to comprise a metal or a metal alloy for the broadest scope of the present invention. Instead, the base portion 124 may comprise other suitable materials, depending upon their modulus of elasticity and their performance characteristics when interfacing with the material of the face portion 120.

[0045] To elaborate further, the materials comprising the face portion 120 and the base portion 124 may be chosen based on their engineered behavior such as, for example, their mass and density characteristics, and their stored elastic potential energy characteristics. It is known that the amount of stored elastic potential energy differs between thinner and thicker geometries of the materials chosen for the face and base portions 120, 124, along with the amount of stress loading in the toe portion 144 and in the heel portion 148 of the head putter 104.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 6 - 10, the face portion 120 has a rear surface 176 which attaches to a front surface 180 of the base portion 124. As mentioned hereinabove, these surfaces 176, 180 may be bonded together using an adhesive, such as the aforementioned adhesive commercially available from 3M®. In addition, to aid in the proper alignment or placement of the face portion 120 with respect to the base portion 124 during the bonding process, an alignment feature 184 may be provided on the rear surface 176 of the face portion 120. A similar alignment feature 188 may be provided on the front surface 180 of the base portion 124. These alignment features 184, 188 may comprise a corresponding protrusion and mating depression, or similar alignment aids, formed in the surfaces 176, 180. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 - 10, the approximate shape of the alignment features 184, 188 is a square with rounded corners. However, the shape of these features 184, 188 can be any suitable shape. It is to be understood that the alignment features 184, 188 and their shapes form no part of the broadest scope of the present invention.

[0047] Although not shown, the facing surface 128 of the face portion 120 may have one or more grooves formed therein as is known to improve the accuracy of the putter head 104 when striking the golf ball. The grooves may comprise various shapes, sizes, and/or patterns, such as, e.g., straight or curved lines, or geometric or honeycomb patterns. It is to be understood that the grooves form no part of the broadest scope of the present invention.

[0048] In addition, it can be seen in FIG. 8 that the front facing surface 128 of the face portion 120 may be angled upward slightly (e.g., 2 degrees of “loft”) as is known in the art to improve the ball striking capability of the putter head 104. Also, similar to the angled bottom surface or sole 136 of the putter head 104 described hereinabove and illustrated in FIG. 3, a bottom surface of both the face portion 120 and the base portion 124 may be angled upward slightly at, e.g., 5 degrees. Further, as best seen in FIG. 8, the rear surface 176 of the face portion 120 may be angled upward slightly. As a consequence, the front surface 180 of the base portion 124 may be angled downward slightly in an equal amount.

[0049] As best seen in FIGS. 6 - 10, the rear surface 176 of the face portion 120 and the front surface 180 of the base portion 124 each has a radiused profile that is curved, arc-shaped or conical about the center point of the face portion 120 and the base portion 124, respectively. Also, the curvature of each surface 176, 180 is relatively smooth and continuous. This is to facilitate the varying value of the modulus of elasticity of the face portion 120. However, the curvature of each surface 176, 180 may not be entirely smooth, and instead may be stepped, as described hereinafter and illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0050] Also, in an exemplary embodiment, the radius of the conical curvature of the surface 176 about its center is approximately 22 degrees. As such, the radius of the conical curvature of the surface 180 about its center is approximately 158 degrees. However, these amounts of curvature are purely exemplary. It should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other amounts of curvature may be used.

[0051] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, there illustrated is an alternative embodiment of a head 192 of a putter 100. In this embodiment, the head 192 comprises a body 196 having a recess or pocket 200 formed therein. The pocket 200 has a front facing surface 204 which, in this embodiment, has a plurality of discrete steps 208 formed therein. The front facing surface 204 has a desired radius of curvature or profile formed therein, similar to the smooth continuous curvature or profile of the front surface 180 of the base portion 124 described hereinabove and illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8. The front facing surface 204 and the plurality of steps 208 may be formed directly into the pocket 200. In the alternative, a base insert having the steps 208 formed on a front face thereof may be disposed within the pocket 200.

[0052] FIG. 12 illustrates a front insert 212 having a rear surface 216 with a plurality of steps 220 formed therein. In this alternative embodiment, the front insert 212 is placed into the pocket 200 of the putter head 192 and secured therein with, e.g., an adhesive. As such, the front insert 212 is constrained laterally within the pocket 200. The amount of curvature of the rear surface 216 of the front insert 212 may equal or approximate the amount of curvature of front facing surface 204 of the pocket 200.

[0053] Similar to the embodiments of FIGS. 2-10 described hereinabove, the front facing surface 204 of the pocket 200 and the rear surface 216 of the front insert 212 may both extend horizontally lengthwise to a desired extent across the putter head 192 between a toe portion and a heel portion. The extension length of the front facing surface 204 of the pocket 200 and the rear surface 216 of the front insert 212 may depend on the desired performance characteristics of the putter head 192 and may also depend on other features and characteristics of the putter head (e.g., type of putter head, weight of putter head).

[0054] The face portion 120 of the insert 116 and the base portion 124 of the insert 116 may be manufactured in a variety of ways, including machining, injection molding, casting, pouring, and other methods now known or hereafter developed.

[0055] The terminology used herein is for the sole purpose of only describing particular exemplary embodiments of the invention and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, components, integers, steps, operations, and/or groups thereof.

[0056] While the invention is provided in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that these exemplary embodiments may include only some of the described exemplary aspects. Accordingly, the invention it not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description but is only to be limited by the scope of the appended claims.