Golf club head

Abstract

A putter-type golf club head is provided having enhanced moment of inertia and alignment characteristics. The putter head includes a front body and a weight body. The weight body includes a central weight section extending rearwardly from the front body a prescribed distance to a rear weight section. The putter head is configured such that the rear weight section has a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight section. Thus, both the longitudinal and lateral moments of inertia are improved to offer greater forgiveness and increased accuracy during putts. The central weight section may include at least one and more preferably two elongated, high-density elements that are visible on a top surface of the sole between the front body and the rear weight section. The visibility of the elongated elements, with optional parallel markings on a top surface of the golf club head, also act as alignment aids to the golfer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/338,808, filed Jan. 8, 2003, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a golf club head and, more particularly, to a putter head.

Putting is an important aspect of the game of golf. During a typical round of golf, a putter is the club most often used. To putt effectively, a golfer must predict a path of travel from the golf ball's stationary position to the cup. Then, using the putter, the golfer must strike the ball with the appropriate force and alignment to cause the ball to roll along the predicted path.

Misalignment of the putter with respect to the ball during impact, i.e., off-center hits, is a chief source of error in putting. Upon impact with the ball in an off-center hit, the putter undergoes angular acceleration, both longitudinally (i.e., about a heel-to-toe axis) and laterally (i.e., about a front-to-rear axis). This causes the ball to deviate from the predicted path. A club head's moment of inertia is a measure of the club's ability to resist angular acceleration about a particular axis. Although attempts have been made to counteract angular acceleration from off-center hits, they have been deficient in some respects. For example, prior approaches have not properly accounted for angular acceleration about both longitudinal and lateral axes.

It should, therefore, be appreciated that there exists a need for a putter having enhanced moment of inertia characteristics for improved off-center hit accuracy. The present invention fulfills this need and others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A putter head is provided having enhanced moment of inertia and alignment characteristics. The putter head includes a front body and a weight body. The weight body has a central weight section extending rearwardly from the front body a prescribed distance to a rear weight section. The putter head is configured such that the rear weight section has a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight section. Thus, the putter head has relatively high longitudinal and lateral moments of inertia to offer greater forgiveness and increased accuracy during putts, even for off-center hits.

In a preferred embodiment, the central weight section includes at least one and more preferably two elongated, high-density elements, such as, tungsten rods, that are visible on a top surface of the sole between the front body and the rear weight section, and the rear weight section includes a rear weight element having a high density. The visibility of the elongated elements, with optional parallel marking(s) on the top surface, also act as alignment aids to the golfer.

In a detailed aspect of a preferred embodiment, the front body includes a face plate that defines at least a portion of the front surface.

In another detailed aspect of a preferred embodiment, the rear weight section has a height greater than the height of the sole and less than the height of the front body.

For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain advantages of the invention have been described herein above. Of course, 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.

All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded view of a putter head in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, depicting a body, a face plate and a weight assembly.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the putter head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the putter head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a second preferred embodiment of a putter head in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a third preferred embodiment of a putter head in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a rear elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a fourth preferred embodiment of a putter head in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a rear elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the illustrative drawings, and particularly FIG. 1, there is shown a putter head 10 that includes a front body 14 and a weight body 16 extending rearwardly therefrom. The front body 14 includes a face plate 20, and the weight body 16 includes a weight assembly 22 disposed therein. The weight assembly 22 includes two elongated weight members 24 and a rear weight element 26, and is generally aligned along a centerline of the putter head 10. The centerline of the putter head may be indicated by a reference indicia 28. The elongated weight members 24 may extend rearwardly from a rear surface of the front body throughout the length of the weight body. The putter head 10 resists twisting on off-center hits, both longitudinally (i.e., about a heel-to-toe axis) and laterally (i.e., about a front-to-rear axis), resulting in predictable and accurate putts. Also, the elongated weight members 24 are visible from above the putter head, to serve as alignment aids to the golfer.

With reference now to FIG. 2, the front body 14 is elongated and oriented generally perpendicular to the centerline of the putter head 10. In this embodiment, the front body 14 includes the face plate 20 and a forward section 30, and the weight body 16 includes a central weight section 32 and rear weight section 34. The central weight section 32 projects rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body 14 and is oriented generally perpendicular to a front surface of the front body 14. The rear weight section 34 is spaced from the front body 14 by at least 2.5 cm, with the central weight section 32 extending between the front body 14 and the rear weight section 34. The front body 14 has a width (W_f) measured from a toe end,36 to a heel end 38 of the putter head 10, and the rear weight section 34 has a width (W_r) less than the width of the front body 14 and greater than a width (W_c) of the central weight section 32. Beneficially, the configuration of the weight body 16 aids in providing the putter head 10 with high moments of inertia to resist twisting at impact. In one embodiment, the elongated weight members 24 may extend through the rear weight section 34 such that portions of the elongated weight members 24 are visible at a rear end of the putter head 10.

With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the putter head 10 includes a body piece 18 that defines a sole 40 and a cavity for receiving the rear weight element 26 located in the rear weight section 34. The sole 40 extends rearwardly from the front surface of the front body 14. The rear weight section 34 is generally aligned along the centerline of the putter head 10. The sole 40 pitches upwardly along the rear weight section 34 such that the rear weight element 26 is positioned a height (h) from the lowest portion of the sole 40 along a centerline of the putter head 10. The front body has a height measured from a bottom to a top of the front surface. The rear weight section has a height greater than the height of the sole and less than the height of the front body. In this embodiment, the sole 40 extends between the front body 14 and the rear weight section 34. This sole configuration provides a consistent backdrop for the alignment aids (e.g., reference indicia 28, elongated weight members 24) atop the putter head 10, thereby facilitating proper alignment with the golf ball.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the face plate 20 is disposed within a recess defined in the forward section 30 and defines at least a portion of a front surface of the front body 14. The face plate 20 is preferably formed from an aluminum alloy, but may also be a non-metal such as Pebax® or other material. The forward section 30 preferably is formed of 303 or 304 stainless steel alloys or 1020 carbon steel. Alternatively, the putter head 10 may be formed of other steel alloys, aluminum alloys or titanium alloys, as well as any combination of metals and non-metals, as desired. Elongated weight members 24 maybe be formed from a high density material, such as tungsten. Preferably, the forward section 30 has a density less than 10 g/cc, and the weight assembly 22 has a density greater than 11 g/cc.

FIGS. 7-9 depict a second preferred embodiment of a putter head 10′ in accordance with the invention. This putter head 10′ has a front body 14′ and a weight body 16′. Front body 14′ has a two-piece configuration, i.e., a body piece 18′ and a face plate 20′. Weight body 16′ includes a rear weight section 34′ and a central weight section. Notably, the sole 40′ does not extend between the front body 14′ and the rear weight section 34′ of the weight body 16′, and the weight body 16′ has a generally consistent density throughout.

FIGS. 10-12 depict a third preferred embodiment of a putter head 10″ in accordance with the invention. This putter head 10″ includes a body piece 18″ that defines a sole 40″ configured to extend between a front body 14″ and a rear weight section 34″ of a weight body 16″. A face plate 20″ is disposed within a recess defined in the front body 14″. Putter head 10″ also includes an elongated weight member 24″ disposed along the centerline of the putter head 10″ such that a portion of the elongated weight member 24″ is visible from above the putter head 10″. Elongated weight member 24″ maybe be formed from a high density material, such as tungsten.

FIGS. 13-15 depict a fourth embodiment of a putter head 10′″ in accordance with the invention. This putter head 10′″ includes a body piece 18′″ that defines a sole 40′″ configured to extend between a front body and a rear weight section of a weight body. A face plate 20′″ is disposed within a recess defined in the front body. Putter head 10′″ also includes an elongated weight member 24′″ disposed along the centerline of the putter head 10′″ and enclosed within the weight body such that the elongated weight member 24′″ is not visible from above the putter head 10′″. Elongated weight member 24′″ maybe be formed from a high density material, such as tungsten.

It should be appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention provides a putter head having enhanced inertia and alignment characteristics. The putter head includes a front body and a weight body. The weight body has a central weight extending rearwardly from the front body a prescribed distance to a rear weight. The putter head is configured such that the rear weight has a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight. Thus, the putter head has relatively high longitudinal and lateral moments of inertia to offer greater forgiveness and increased accuracy during putts, even for off-center hits.

Although the invention has been disclosed in detail with reference only to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional putter heads can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined only by the claims set forth below.

Claims

1. A putter-type golf club head comprising:

a front body defining a front surface and an opposing rear surface, the front body having a width measured from a toe end to a heel end; and

a weight body including an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and a rear weight spaced from the front body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight; wherein the rear weight is spaced from the front body by at least 2.5 cm.

2. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the front body includes a face plate that defined at least a portion of the front surface.

3. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the weight body includes two tungsten rods extending rearwardly from the front body throughout the length of the weight body, the tungsten rods being visible from above the putter head.

4. A putter-type golf club head comprising:

a front body having a front surface and a rear surface, the front body having a width measured from a toe end to a heel end and a height measured from a bottom to a top of the front surface; and

a weight body including an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and a rear weight spaced from the front body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight and having a height greater than the height of the sole and less than the height of the front body.

5. The golf club head as defined in claim 4, wherein the front body includes a face plate that defined at least a portion of the front surface.

6. The golf club head as defined in claim 4, wherein the weight body includes two tungsten rods extending rearwardly from the front body throughout the length of the weight body, the tungsten rods being visible from above the putter head.

7. A putter-type golf club head comprising:

a front body having a front surface and a rear surface, the front body having a width measured from a toe end to a heel end;

a sole extending rearwardly from the front surface; and

a weight body including an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and a rear weight spaced from the front body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight; wherein the central weight includes at least one elongated, high-density element that is visible from above the putter head.

8. The golf club head as defined in claim 7, wherein the central weight comprises two tungsten rods that extend through the rear weight.

9. A putter-type golf club head comprising:

a front body having a front surface and a rear surface, the front body having a width measured from a toe end to a heel end;

a sole extending rearwardly from the front surface; and

a weight body including an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and a rear weight spaced from the front body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight; wherein the central weight includes at least two elongated, high-density elements that are visible between the front body and the rear weight from above the putter head and the rear weight includes a high-density element positioned about a centerline of the putter head.

10. The golf club head as defined in claim 9, wherein the at least two high-density elements extend through the rear weight and are visible at a rear end of the putter head.

11. The golf club head as defined in claim 9, wherein the putter head is formed of a material having a density less than 10 g/cc and the at least two high-density elements are formed of a material having a density greater than 11 g/cc.

12. The golf club head as defined in claim 11, further comprising an alignment mark on a top of the putter head extending from the front body to the rear weight.

13. The golf club head as defined in claim 11, wherein the front body includes a face plate that defined at least a portion of the front surface.

14. The golf club head as defined in claim 13, wherein the face plate comprises a metal material.