Used For Putting Patents (Class 473/251)
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Patent number: 8128505Abstract: A putter head including a fore body and an aft body. The fore body includes a planar front strike face, heel and toe side walls, a rear wall, a top surface and a generally planar sole. The top surface includes a sight line. The sight line extends along a first plane that is perpendicular to the strike face and to the sole, and is substantially evenly spaced from the heel and toe side walls. The aft body is coupled to the fore body and includes a rear main portion and an overhang. The rear main portion is engaged to the rear wall of the fore body, and has a central region positioned between first and second end regions. The overhang forwardly extends from the central region. The overhang includes an elongate slot extending along the first plane, and is positioned over at least a portion of the sight line.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2010Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Wilson Sporting GoodsInventors: Andrew K. Tryner, Douglas J. Thiel, Robert T. Thurman, Jon C. Pergande
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Publication number: 20120052975Abstract: The front and back striking surfaces are identical mirror images of each other. If the front surface for (right handed putter) is ?2 degrees negative loft the back surface is ?2 degrees negative loft. If the front surface for a left handed putter has a ?4 degrees negative loft the back surface of the putter has ?4 degrees negative loft. Looking at the heel from the back lengthwise you would see a āVā shaped head. The center of gravity is above the center of height of the putter resulting in forward force striking above the equator or center of the golf bal due to the negative loft of the putter face resulting in immediate roll of the golf ball. The center of gravity can be raised by drilling holes lengthwise along the putter head and leaving the holes empty or adding weight.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Inventor: Richard Thomas Vlosich
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Publication number: 20120040771Abstract: A golf club putter having an alignment pattern is disclosed herein, The alignment pattern has first and second long lines that approach each other as they extend from an aft region of the putter to a front region of the putter and, when the putter is properly aligned with a golf ball, create an optical illusion of convergence of said lines at or near a center of the golf ball without actually intersecting.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: THOMAS R. HILTON, AUGUSTIN W. ROLLINSON
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Patent number: 8109838Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with a three-dimensional alignment member and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2009Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: John A. Solheim, Leslie J. Bryant
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Patent number: 8105176Abstract: A head for a golf club, such as a putter, having a bottom surface, a heel end, a toe end and a striking face. The striking face has a planar primary portion and a secondary portion each extending from one of the two ends and meeting at an intermediate point. Each point along the striking face has a normal direction extending normally outwardly from the striking face relative to a plane tangential to the striking face at that point. The normal direction to each point on the secondary portion is directed away from the toe end. Striking a ball off of the secondary portion imparts an additional angle to the trajectory of the ball to compensate for the tendency of right-handed golfers to let the club head drift or angle when attempting left-to-right breaking putts.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2010Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Inventor: John Andrew Upenieks
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Patent number: 8100779Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with a three-dimensional alignment member and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2009Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: John A. Solheim, Richard R. Sanchez, John Souza
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Patent number: 8096893Abstract: A golf club including a club head with a ball striking face lying in a plane and a shaft connected to the club head. The golf club is formed with an elongated handle, having a cross-sectional configuration with a first length in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said ball striking face and a second length in a direction parallel to the plane of said ball striking face. Alignment indicia in the form of intersecting lines is provided on a top surface of the handle to assist the golfer to properly align the golf club in order to execute a proper golf stroke toward an intended target.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2004Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Inventor: Richard D. Ferris
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Publication number: 20120010012Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for protecting the top of a putter club head. The surface is protected by a piece of adhesive backed tape that is positioned entirely on the surface of the top with a straight front edge positioned parallel and behind the club head top line.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2010Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventor: Craig T. Piepho
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Patent number: 8083605Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2010Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
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Patent number: 8075416Abstract: A golf club head with a body and a pivotable alignment aide non-removably housed on a top surface of the body is provided. The pivotable alignment aide is pivotable relative to the top surface and about an axis of rotation transverse to the top surface. The pivotable alignment aide may be coupled to the remainder of the golf club head through a resistive connection and may be shifted to assist a golfer in squaring the face of the golf club face to a perceived eye line and resulting in the golfer being able to better square the golf club head with the eye line at a point of contact. The golf club head may be a golf club head for a putter.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2010Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
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Publication number: 20110300960Abstract: A putter training system includes a putter with putter head, an attachment secured adjacent the putter head, and a grid having sidewalls and a grid bottom. The putter head includes a bottom, a top and a face, where the top has at least one putter alignment line appearing thereon. The grid sidewalls are spaced apart by a distance larger than a length of the putter head. The grid bottom includes at least one grid alignment line cooperable with the at least one putter alignment line to facilitate alignment perception during a putting stroke. Additionally, the attachment is cooperable with the grid bottom to facilitate alignment feedback during the putting stroke.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Inventor: Norman Douglas Bittner
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Patent number: 8066581Abstract: Embodiments of a putter-type golf club head with an increased moment of inertia about the X axis (MOIxx) and an increased moment of inertia about the Z axis (MOIzz) are disclosed. Generally, the MOIzz is increased by designing the putter such that the center of gravity (CG) of the putter head is located at or behind the geometric center of the putter head. Additionally, the mass of the putter head is concentrated at the outer edges of the putter head. To accomplish this, the ratio of the width of the front of the putter head to the width of the rear of the putter head is no greater than 0.55:1. The MOIxx is further increased by locating the CG relatively close to the bottom of the putter head.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2008Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Marni D. Ines, Bret H. Wahl
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Patent number: 8062146Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2010Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
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Patent number: 8052541Abstract: A golf club that positions a golfer to establish a desired viewpoint of a golf ball when preparing to strike the golf ball with the golf club. The golf club includes an elongated shaft, a grip provided adjacent to a proximate end of the shaft that the golfer grips to hold the golf club while striking the golf ball during a golf swing, and a club head coupled adjacent to a distal end of the shaft and including a face exposed at a surface of the head for contacting the golf ball during the golf swing. A visual indicator is provided to the club head, wherein the visual indicator is observable by the golfer to indicate that the golfer is positioned in at least one of a predetermined longitudinal direction relative to the club head and a predetermined lateral direction relative to the club head to afford the golfer the desired viewpoint of the golf ball before striking the golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2011Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Inventor: Stephen T. Ross
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Patent number: 8025586Abstract: A golf club includes a golf club head including a golf club head including a head body and a pair of balance adjustment portions formed in the head body, a plurality of weights detachably retained in each balance adjustment portion so that a three-dimensional gravity center position of the golf club head is adjusted, the weights serving as balancers and differing from each other in density and mass, and an IC chip accommodating portion which is formed in the head body or one of the balance adjustment portions to house an IC chip which stores information on a three-dimensional gravity center position of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2009Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Aneeging Golf Ltd.Inventor: Seiichiro Teramoto
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Patent number: 8021247Abstract: The invention relates to a device for a golf club providing an excellent orientation of the club head in the target direction. The disclosed golf club comprises a head having a striking surface, a grip having a butt end, and a shaft connecting the head at its upper end, and the grip at its lower end; wherein the butt end comprises an aiming notch oriented perpendicular to the plane of zero loft of the striking surface, and wherein the head comprises stabilizing profiles on its lower face.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2009Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Inventor: Louis Philippe Brolly
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Publication number: 20110224014Abstract: A putter head including a fore body and an aft body. The fore body includes a planar front strike face, heel and toe side walls, a rear wall, a top surface and a generally planar sole. The top surface includes a sight line. The sight line extends along a first plane that is perpendicular to the strike face and to the sole, and is substantially evenly spaced from the heel and toe side walls. The aft body is coupled to the fore body and includes a rear main portion and an overhang. The rear main portion is engaged to the rear wall of the fore body, and has a central region positioned between first and second end regions. The overhang forwardly extends from the central region. The overhang includes an elongate slot extending along the first plane, and is positioned over at least a portion of the sight line.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO.Inventors: ANDREW K. TRYNER, DOUGLAS J. THIEL, ROBERT T. THURMAN, JON C. PERGANDE
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Patent number: 8012035Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John Thomas Stites
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Patent number: 7993211Abstract: A golf club having a shaft and an elongated head projecting at a lie angle relative to the shaft, the head having the shape of a regular polygon in a cross section at right angles to the central axis of the head, with each face being formed of a material that provides a different ball rebound factor, the head section being rotatable about the central axis so that any one of the faces may be presented for use with the club.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2010Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Inventor: Illir Bardha
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Publication number: 20110190070Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head includes a first body member and a second body member. The first body member includes a strike face and a top portion. The second body member is coupled to the first body member and extends away from the first body member in a direction opposite the strike face. At least a top portion of the second body member is camouflaged. A preferred method of camouflage is color differentiation, wherein the second body member is darker than the first body member. Specific color values and club head geometries are also disclosed and claimed. The club head may include a body member and a weight member such as a bar that extends rearward from the body member. A cover may be included to camouflage the weight member. A separate core member and high visibility sight lines may also be provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: COBRA GOLF INC.Inventors: Thomas C. Morris, Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 7976400Abstract: A putter head is positioned to be even with the ball when the shaft is at the vertical plane of the ball. The lie of the shaft can be adjusted relative to the head between limits. An insert in the club head secures the tip of the crook of the shaft. A worm gear permits infinite adjustment of lie within a range. The insert can be of different weights to weight the club for various conditions.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2011Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Inventor: Earl T. Pottorff
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Patent number: 7959520Abstract: A golf putter includes a pair of aiming arms at each end of the putter head having opposite and inward facing arcuate surfaces corresponding to the outline of a golf hole. The aiming arms may be removed manually or may be made to pivot. In the latter, each arm is pivotally connected at opposing ends of the putter head and adapted to pivot about an axis between a forward aiming position and a second position away from the forward aiming position. Control of the rotation of the aiming arms may be by a lever operable from the putter shaft, or by a spring actuated by pushing downward on the putter shaft.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2009Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: True Putt Enterprises, LLCInventors: Michael Campadore, Alan N. O'Kain
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Patent number: 7959519Abstract: A golf club head having an insert forming a window through the golf club head is described. The golf club head has upper and lower surfaces. The golf club head includes a body with a heel, a toe, a front portion with a striking face, and a back portion. The front portion of the body forms a striking face. The body includes an aperture extending from the upper surface to the lower surface and extending from the front portion to an inside portion of the back portion. An insert is secured within the aperture. An indicia within the insert is visible from the upper and lower surfaces of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Clear Golf, LLCInventors: Donovan Zielke, Roger Twibell
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Patent number: 7955180Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved golf club with line markings on the head of the putter that facilitate a precise and accurate motion of the club. One of these markings, the aiming line, runs parallel to the club face across the top of the club and is intended to assist the golfer in aiming and placement of the club head. The other markings, the guide lines, run perpendicular to the club face across the top of the club and are intended to guide the path of the subsequent motion of the club to hit a golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Inventor: Norman Douglas Bittner
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Publication number: 20110092306Abstract: Golf putters comprising features that assist in locating a directly overhead view of the putter heads include sight aligning marks, sight aligning notch, rods and plates are disclosed. Putter heads with interchangeable mirror, weight and sighting attachments designed for quick release and replacement are described with interconnected attachment mounting faces. The combination of threaded aperture, apertures in the attachments and screws requiring the use of tools releasably interconnect the mirror attachment, sighting attachment or weight attachment to the putter head. Openings or contours are described that assist the golfer in estimating the distance between the golfer and a hole or cup on the green. Methods of customizing, calibrating or indicating in golf putters to individual golfers are also disclosed, including the use of weights to alter the weight distribution of in the putter head.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2009Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Michael Lee, Mark Kenworthy
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Publication number: 20110092304Abstract: A putter training system includes a putter with putter head, an attachment secured adjacent the putter head, and a grid having sidewalls and a grid bottom. The putter head includes a bottom, a top and a face, where the top has at least one putter alignment line appearing thereon. The grid sidewalls are spaced apart by a distance larger than a length of the putter head. The grid bottom includes at least one grid alignment line cooperable with the at least one putter alignment line to facilitate alignment perception during a putting stroke. Additionally, the attachment is cooperable with the grid bottom to facilitate alignment feedback during the putting stroke.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventor: Norman Douglas Bittner
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Patent number: 7927226Abstract: A putter head is provided which has a striking surface and is adapted to mount to a shaft of a putter. The putter head has an alignment apparatus which includes a sighting device and a flat surface. The sighting device has an upright element and a base element which is symmetrically positioned around a bottom of the upright element. When viewed from above, centering the base element around the upright element every time positions a golfer's eyes and head in the same position every time. The flat surface is centered under the upright element. The flat surface whereby positioning the flat surface on a surface positions the putter head in the same relationship with the surface every time.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Inventor: Howard A. Twitty
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Patent number: 7922596Abstract: A putter and golf ball deformity measuring apparatus is described. A putter head comprises a front portion, a rear portion, a bottom portion defining an oblong through hole, and a containment area above the oblong through hole sized and shaped to surround at least a portion of a golf ball without gripping the golf ball, the containment area defined between the front portion and the rear portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Stanley Andrew Brothers LLCInventors: Essay Anne Vanderbilt, Gerolin Jordan
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Patent number: 7922597Abstract: A golf putter generally has a nearly flat sole surface, multiple or decorative sight lines used to align the putter with the target, or target line. This new design has an extremely rounded sole surface from heel to toe and from the ball striking face to the rear of the putter head. This works extremely well when putting through taller fringe grasses off the green. The well rounded heel and toe and leading angular surface contribute to stabilizing the orientation of the ball striking face when putting from extremely sloped side hill lies in the taller fringe grasses. It has a single brightly colored sight line from the ball striking face to the rear of the putter head to eliminate a majority of visual clutter. This focuses the golfers eyes completely on the sight line, target line, and center of the golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Inventor: Valentine George Feret
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Patent number: 7905794Abstract: A golf club that positions a golfer to establish a desired viewpoint of a golf ball when preparing to strike the golf ball with the golf club. The golf club includes an elongated shaft, a grip provided adjacent to a proximate end of the shaft that the golfer grips to hold the golf club while striking the golf ball during a golf swing, and a club head coupled adjacent to a distal end of the shaft and including a face exposed at a surface of the head for contacting the golf ball during the golf swing. A visual indicator is provided to the club head, wherein the visual indicator is observable by the golfer to indicate that the golfer is positioned in at least one of a predetermined longitudinal direction relative to the club head and a predetermined lateral direction relative to the club head to afford the golfer the desired viewpoint of the golf ball before striking the golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Inventor: Stephen T. Ross
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Patent number: 7905793Abstract: A golf club comprising: a shaft; a head affixed to a distal end of the shaft and having a ball striking face, the head comprising spaced apart lower and upper portions which have respectively: lower and upper primary alignment guides extending substantially perpendicular to the ball striking face, the lower primary alignment guide provided by at least one lower slot portion in the lower portion and the upper primary alignment guide provided by at least one upper slot portion in the upper portion; and lower and upper secondary alignment guides extending substantially parallel to the ball striking face, the lower secondary alignment guide provided by at least one further lower slot portion in the lower portion and the upper secondary alignment guide provided by at least one further upper slot portion in the upper portion, the primary and secondary alignment guides being positioned relative to one another so that a golfer's eyes are correctly aligned relative to the golf club head when the primary and secondaryType: GrantFiled: October 1, 2009Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Australian Putter Co Pty LtdInventor: Kevin O'Neill
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Patent number: 7905792Abstract: A golf club head with a body and a pivotable alignment aide non-removably housed on a top surface of the body is provided. The pivotable alignment aide is pivotable relative to the top surface and about an axis of rotation transverse to the top surface. The pivotable alignment aide may be coupled to the remainder of the golf club head through a resistive connection and may be shifted to assist a golfer in squaring the face of the golf club face to a perceived eye line and resulting in the golfer being able to better square the golf club head with the eye line at a point of contact. The golf club head may be a golf club head for a putter.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2009Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
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Patent number: 7887430Abstract: A golf putter with sighting apparatus which comprises an elongated shaft. A grip is on an upper end of the elongated shaft. The grip is to be grasped by hands of a golfer. A head is transversely positioned on a lower end of the elongated shaft. The head has a face to strike a golf ball. A support assembly is provided. A mirror has a frame carried on the support assembly. A mechanism is for securing the support assembly onto the elongated shaft above the head. The mirror will be inclined to sight a golf cup on a green spaced from the head, so that the golfer can aim the golf ball into the golf cup on the green.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2010Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Inventor: Horace Henley, Jr.
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Patent number: 7867104Abstract: Ball striking devices, such as golf club heads (including putter heads), have a high moment of inertia about their center, to help prevent twisting and mis-hits, particularly when the ball striking device hits the ball at a somewhat off-center position. The ball striking head of the ball striking device may be structured and/or weighted (optionally with separately attachable weight elements) to have a moment of inertia about a center of the ball striking surface of at least 10,000 g-cm2, and in some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 11,000 g-cm2, or even at least 12,000 g-cm2. In some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 20,000 g-cm2, or even at least 25,000 g-cm2 or at least 28,000 g-cm2.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2010Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
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Patent number: 7862443Abstract: A golf putter with a novel offset and shaft-attachment design is disclosed and claimed. The club includes a head having a strike surface, a sole, and a top line. A tube is coupled to the head, a coupling member is coupled to the distal end of the tube, and a shaft is also coupled to the coupling member. The coupling member connects the tube and the shaft such that they are relatively offset. The longitudinal axes of the tube and the shaft may be substantially parallel, or the coupling member may be adjustable such that the longitudinal axes are not parallel. An alignment indicia is provided on the club head. The tube is coupled to the head at an angle such that it blocks the indicia from a user's view at address when the head is aligned properly. If the club head is not properly aligned, the golfer will be able to see the indicia and therefore know to adjust the club head before putting. Thus, putter disclosed and claimed herein provides both offset and a putting alignment aide.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2006Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventor: Don T. Cameron
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Patent number: 7850538Abstract: A dual purpose putting and chipping golf club has a golf club head with a golf ball impact face vertically split into a pair of angularly divergent impact surfaces; a vertical putting surface and an obtusely angled chipping surface which face in the same horizontal direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Inventor: Heung-Sub Yoon
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Publication number: 20100304878Abstract: Putters and putter heads better camouflage the main body of the head and/or highlight the alignment aid. The top surface of the head (when viewed from a ball address orientation) may be finished in a non-reflective, matte finish, optionally, in a dark color and/or in a color or colors selected so as to blend into or match the color of a golf green. At least some portion of the shaft member may be colored and finished in this same manner. These features help in visualization of the alignment aid (which also may be designed to help in alignment). If desired, the club head and/or shaft color and finish may be customized based on the greens at a specific golf course, greens in a specific geographical region, greens of a specific grass type, greens at a specific time of year or under specific conditions, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Alan W. Reichow, John Thomas Stites, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Sean Miller, David N. Franklin
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Patent number: 7837576Abstract: The two-faced golf putter includes a putter head having a putting face and a chipping face disposed on at least one side of the putter head, an angled toe, an angled heel and a bottom sole. Both the angled toe and heel include a respective setup guide to assist the user in properly positioning over the putter. A sight alignment groove is formed on the top of the putter head to help aim the ball. An elongated shaft extends upwardly from a centered bore in the top surface of the putter head, which improves balance and feel to the putter. The top portion of the shaft includes an elongated handle to accommodate a wide range of user grip sizes and techniques. To further assist accurate setup placement of the putter head, an alignment dot is disposed behind the shaft on top of the putter head. The bottom sole includes at least one upwardly extending sloping side to permit angling of the putter for chipping.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Inventor: David L Paige
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Patent number: 7833108Abstract: The invention concerns a training head (20) for a golf training putter (14) and a method of using this training putter (14) to improve ones putting skill for side-swing type putting motion. The training head (20) may include two opposed hitting faces (28, 30), with each hitting face (28, 30) defining a portion of a cylinder about a vertical axis. This cylindrical surface is oriented so the face (28, 30) will strike a golf ball (24) perpendicular to the direction one desires the ball (24) to travel if hit at the central location of this surface (28, 30), but will deflect the ball (24) in a different direction if a location other than the central location of the face (28, 30) strikes the ball (24). This training putter (14) may have symmetrical hitting faces (28, 30) so that left-handed and right-handed golfers can use it.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2006Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Inventor: Peter Kim Hosowich
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Patent number: 7824275Abstract: A golfing aid 11 having two levelling sensors 32, 33 mounted on a D shaped sensor body 31 and a mounting means having three adjustable connectors 41, 51, 61 for adjusting the orientation of the D shaped sensor body 31 and an indication output in the form of spirit level bubbles 32, 33 for providing an indication of the sensed level orientation. A system of interactive adjustable connectors linked together to provide such variability that allows connection to any one of left and right handed clubs with different shaft diameters, different angle of putter shaft to putter head and different length shafts and different length putter heads to allow for substantially aligned overlying of the D shaped sensor body 31 over the putter head 23 while substantially aligning the golfing aid front face 34 correctly with the putter head front face 24.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Indevcom Pty Ltd.Inventor: Marino Sussich
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Patent number: 7815515Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf putter having an alignment means for aligning a golfer's line of sight directly over a golf ball and in line with a desired target. The putter head comprises a striking face and a rearwardly extending body portion. The body portion includes an upper section having an alignment bar protruding away from and perpendicular to the striking face and a lower section having an alignment slot extending away from and perpendicular to the striking face. The alignment bar and slot are centrally positioned and spaced apart from each other such that (i) the slot becomes obscured by the alignment bar when the golfer's line of sight is directly over the striking face and the golf ball at their point of contact, and (ii) the alignment bar and slot are in line with the desired target when the striking face strikes the golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2009Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Inventor: William Hunt
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Patent number: 7811178Abstract: A golf club head has a face, a hosel, and a hollow body. The body includes an outer peripheral region, when viewed from above, and center portions on the upper surface and sole, respectively. The outer peripheral region has a weight-per-unit of surface area which is greater than the weight-per-unit of surface area of the center portions. The weight differential may be accomplished by molding ports into the hollow body around the periphery, which contain weight plugs. Alternately or in addition, a vertically oriented port may extend through the center portions to reduce weight.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Prince Sports, Inc.Inventor: Stephen J. Davis
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Patent number: 7806778Abstract: The invention relates to a putter head for a golf putter and to a golf putter that includes the putter head and a putter shaft secured to the putter head. The putter head includes a first head part, that defines the striking face of the putter, and a second head part that is located operatively rearwardly of the first head part and that is displaceable on guide rods with respect to the first head part along a line extending substantially perpendicularly to the striking face defined by the first head part. Securing screws displaceable within the second head part can engage the respective guide rods for securing the location of the head parts with respect to one another. A shaft securing formation is associated with the first head part and permits securing of a putter shaft to the putter head in different angular configurations with respect thereto.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2005Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Inventor: John Clement Elmer
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Patent number: 7806779Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2009Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
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Patent number: 7789767Abstract: Analysis of a golfer's putting stroke towards a target-hole (2) is derived by an analyzer (12;50) from sensor-signals representative of initial ball-speed and direction, using accumulated sets of historical putting-data, each set of historical data including initial putted ball-speed and direction and the resultant ball-speed and direction in approach to the target-hole (2), together with representation of whether the putt was successful. Initial ball-speed and direction is sensed by opto-electronic sensors (45) responding to back-reflection of infrared beams (13) from retro-reflectors (22-26) on the putted ball (1;20;52), or, is using retro-reflectors (71-73; 77,75) on the putter (3;51;70;74). Resultant ball-speed and direction in approach to the target-hole (2), and whether the putt is successful, is sensed by a monitor (7) from infrared beams (8-10).Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2006Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Inventor: Norman Matheson Lindsay
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Patent number: 7789764Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for a golf club and training device. The golf club may be approved for on the course play by the United States Golf Association (USGA). An embodiment of a training device for a golf club includes a handle having a grip where the handle is coupled to a golf club head. The head has an internal alignment device and may include a contact plate, a top plate and a bottom plate. The top plate has a first upper surface including a top alignment marking and the bottom plate has a second upper surface including a bottom alignment marking. The top plate may include an attachment aperture for attaching an external alignment device. The external alignment device may include a laser, an alignment guide, a weight, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2008Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: TW Golf LLCInventors: Todd Wilson, David Rocheleau
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Publication number: 20100222153Abstract: A golf putter head is provided that includes an upper plate and a base plate. The base plate further includes a striking surface. The mass of the putter head is distributed such that the mass of the upper plate is greater than the mass of the base plate, thereby positioning the center of gravity of the putter head above a centerline of said striking surface and an equator of a golf ball when the golf ball is positioned proximate to the striking surface of the golf putter head.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Inventor: Douglas Ames Treadwell
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Patent number: 7771285Abstract: A golf club head having a body and a strike face for striking a golf ball. The strike face is arranged at the front of the body, and a projection projecting forwardly of the body at one side of the strike face. In use, the projection extends in the same direction as a strike direction of the strike face. The golf club head further comprises an alignment marking which extends along an upper surface of the projection.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2006Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Inventor: Warren J. Porter
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Patent number: 7766762Abstract: The putter according to the invention comprises a putter head having a forward-facing striking surface, a heel, a toe, a top surface and a rear alignment section. The rear alignment section comprises one or more elongated indicator bars of uniform width that project backwards and that are arranged perpendicularly to the striking surface at a first upper level. Arranged at a second, lower level is a corresponding number of elongated warning strips of a contrasting color, each warning strip having approximately the same width as, and being arranged in vertical alignment with, its corresponding elongated indicator bar.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Inventor: Bernt Stellander
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Patent number: 7766759Abstract: A putting training device comprising a putter module which is selectively attachable and detachable to a putter and a target module. The putter module includes at least one indicia viewable when a users head is substantially vertically above the module. The putter module further includes a signaling element and the target module including a receiving element, and an indicating element. In use, the putter is directed towards the target module. A golf ball is struck in the direction of the target module and the indicating element alerts the user of impact condition.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Solid Golf LLCInventors: Richard Daniel Henwood, William Henwood