Putter Patents (Class 473/340)
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Publication number: 20120115628Abstract: A golf putter (1) having, relative to its cross-sectional area in the horizontal plane (in use), a relatively small ground-contacting area; (2) wherein the putter head is made of different materials, wherein one material is relatively dense and constitutes the core of the head, including the ball-contacting face, and another material is relatively less dense and constitutes the periphery of the head; (3) whose base is at an angle to the ground when the putter is held upright, whereby lying the base on the ground provides increased loft on the face of the putter; and/or (4) having, on its top side, extending normal to its face, an area of contrasting appearance defining an arrow in the line of the putt.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2011Publication date: May 10, 2012Inventor: Derek Christopher WOODS
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Publication number: 20120100928Abstract: Improved performance putter systems and apparatus relating to improving golf putters resulting in an increased accuracy and consistency during golf putting. Additionally, such performance putter systems comprise specifications and manufacturing within Official professional golf-club putter-head specifications.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2011Publication date: April 26, 2012Inventor: Rollin Thomas Hartley
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Publication number: 20120094782Abstract: Golf club heads include white diffusing top surfaces to aid in club head alignment. Wood type club heads also include a dark diffusing club face so that a crown/face border is emphasized. Scorelines in wood type clubs can be provided with an intermediate contrast surface, and can be displaced from club face center to accommodate player perception when confronted with a white diffusing crown. Putter heads can include dark diffusing alignment lines, and iron-type club heads can include white diffusing surfaces at a sole portion of a club face, at a top line, or a top portion of a club face.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Inventors: Todd P. Beach, David Anderson, Bill Price, Kevin Harper, Benoit Vincent, Bret H. Wahl
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Publication number: 20120088599Abstract: This invention provides a putter head comprising a head body and a face insert mounted on a face surface of the head body. A notched portion is provided in a rear surface of the face insert to extend upward from a lower end portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2011Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTDInventors: Tadahiro NARITA, Wataru BAN
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Publication number: 20120083353Abstract: Putter heads and putters include one or more of: (a) a main putter body portion including a first arm and a second arm; (b) a first polymeric and/or damping element engaged with the first arm; and (c) a second polymeric and/or damping element engaged with the second arm. The putter heads further may include polymeric material within the putter head structure and exposed at a central ball striking portion of the ball striking face, e.g., in elongated openings provided in the ball striking face. Grooves may be provided in the material of the ball striking face and/or in the exposed polymeric material to affect the ball launch. The putter heads may have various additional features or structures, e.g., relating to weighting features, alignment aid features, putter head constructions or parts, polymeric material exposure features, groove features, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: David N. Franklin, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Jason P. Martin, Carl A. Jonsson
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Publication number: 20120077615Abstract: A golf putter providing a mount of the hosel to the club head and a shaft engagement to the hosel adjacent to the heel end of the club head. The mount provides the sole engagement of the hosel to the head as a gap is formed by a pathway formed through the body of the head which is larger than the circumference of the hosel in its communication therethrough. The engagement provides better touch to the user and feedback on striking a ball while concurrently removing the shaft from the user's line of sight to the ball and club face and reduces the twist or torque at impact with a golf ball, thereby increasing the moment of inertia. An arc-shaped section of said hosel is employable to further balance the club on the hosel and with the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Inventor: Jacob H. Schmidt
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Publication number: 20120064992Abstract: Putter heads and putters include one or more of: (a) a main putter body portion including a first arm and a second arm; (b) a first polymeric and/or damping element engaged with the first arm; and (c) a second polymeric and/or damping element engaged with the second arm. The putter heads further may include polymeric material within the putter head structure and exposed at a central ball striking portion of the ball striking face, e.g., in elongated openings provided in the ball striking face. Grooves may be provided in the material of the ball striking face and/or in the exposed polymeric material to affect the ball launch. The putter heads may have various additional features or structures, e.g., relating to weighting features, alignment aid features, putter head constructions or parts, polymeric material exposure features, groove features, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2010Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventor: David N. Franklin
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Publication number: 20120064988Abstract: A golf putter head a putter head body. The letterhead body has a putter base, a putter top, a putter striking face, and a putter rear wall. A hosel connection is mounted on the putter head. An opening is sized to receive a standard regulation golf ball and a rim formed at the entrance of the opening. An inside surface of an opening wall provides a tee hole having a substantially horizontal direction and is sized to receive a standard tee. The tee hole communicates with the opening. The tee hole is positioned to allow ejecting of a golf ball within the opening, when the tee is pressed into the tee hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2010Publication date: March 15, 2012Inventor: Andreas Raab
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Publication number: 20120058837Abstract: An improved design for a golf putter has a putter head with a back surface formed in an elliptical shape elongated along a transverse axis normal to a swing plane for the putter, enclosing a hollow interior and having a circumferential rim forming an elliptical frame for the putter head. A head striking surface is formed with a sheet of taut, resilient material secured to the elliptical frame providing a trampoline-like drumhead effect when it makes contact with a golf ball that tends to return the ball's rolling trajectory to the target line of the swing axis even if contact is made off-center. The putter body is an elongated tubular body oriented in the direction of the swing axis, so that the peripheral weight of the putter is aligned along the swing axis and creates a pendulum plumb-bob effect of weight moving under gravity aligned in the swing direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2010Publication date: March 8, 2012Inventor: William A. Riddle
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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: 20120034990Abstract: A golf putter has a head and a shaft affixed to the head, the head having a front face for striking a ball and a rear face and is constructed and designed to assist the golfer in aligning the putter for propelling the ball to be putted in the desired direction. The head comprises a central section with a front face, the central section extending from proximate the head's front face towards the head's rear face and tapering rearward outwardly in width in plan, and a pair of side sections flanking sides of the central section, the side sections each having a front face adjacent the front face of the central section and being of a tapering configuration along the sides of the central section. The central sections and the side sections are oppositely transparent or opaque, allowing them to be visually distinguished from each other and providing visual cues for aligning the putter.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Inventors: Mark COHEN, Robert FARNAN
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Publication number: 20120034998Abstract: A golf club head having a striking wall having a front surface, and a rear surface, a top surface, and a sole portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface, the sole portion having a forward end, a rearward end, an upper surface and a lower surface. The intersection of the upper surface and the rear surface defines an interior sole line. The intersection of the upper surface and the rearward end defines a trailing edge. A region on the upper surface includes variation of the height of the trailing edge or exterior sole line relative to the height of the interior sole.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Jesse D. Sukman
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Patent number: 8109841Abstract: A putter face includes microscopic protrusions which have stiffness higher than that of a golf ball and which are smaller than intervals between dimples of the golf ball, each of the microscopic protrusions having an end having a protrusion front edge surface formed in a planar shape, a periphery of the protrusion front edge surface including linear portions facing each other and curve portions facing each other, the linear portions extending in a horizontal direction of a face plane of the putter face or striking the golf ball, the periphery of the protrusion front edge surface forming a racetrack shape (i) which is defined by a pair of the linear portions facing each other and a pair of the curve portions facing each other and (ii) which has a shorter diameter of not less than 0.1 mm but not more than 0.2 mm.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2010Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: M-System Co., Ltd.Inventor: Saburo Miyamichi
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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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Publication number: 20120028732Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an adjustable ball striking face insert forming at least a portion of the ball striking face and contained within the putter body. The insert may have a plurality of sides, each of the sides having different performance characteristics to permit customization of the putter. In some examples, the adjustable ball striking face insert may be rotatably mounted within the putter head. Additionally or alternatively, the insert may be removably mounted within the putter head. In some arrangements, the insert may be finely adjustable to alter the loft angle of the putter head.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Hatton, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Jeremy N. Snyder, Donald S. Rahrig
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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: 8096039Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Christopher B. Best, Thomas C. Morris
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Publication number: 20120010018Abstract: Embodiments of face plates for golf club heads are disclosed herein. Other examples, and related methods are also disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: David D. Jones, Les J. Bryant, Xiaojian Chen
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Publication number: 20110319188Abstract: A putter head has a head main body and a face insert mounted on a face surface of the head main body. The face insert has a slit which is cut in from an end face on a sole or top side of the face insert toward an opposite side thereof. In one embodiment, the slit is cut in from an end face on the sole side of the face insert toward the top side thereof. The slit may be extended obliquely such that the top side of the slit is located forward of the face insert. In another embodiment, the slit is cut in from the side face on the top side of the face insert toward the sole side thereof. The slit may be extended obliquely such that the sole side of the slit is located rearward of the putter head. Any slit may be extended from the side face on a toe side of the face insert to the side face on a heel side thereof. The face inserts may contain viscoelastic material loaded in the slit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Tadahiro NARITA, Wataru BAN
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Publication number: 20110319189Abstract: A putter head includes a head main body having a depressed portion and a face insert disposed within the depressed portion so that the face insert is mounted in a face surface of the head main body. The face insert includes at least one low hardness portion and at least one high hardness portion. The face insert has a boundary face between the at least one low hardness portion and the at least one high hardness portion which is inclined relative to a back-to-forth direction of the putter head. The boundary face may decline toward the rear or may rise toward the rear. The face insert may comprise a plurality of the low hardness portions and a plurality of the high hardness portions so that the low and high hardness portions are arranged vertically in multiple layers. The sectional shapes taken perpendicularly to the back-to-forth direction of the high hardness portion and the low hardness portion may be substantially of a right triangle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Tadahiro NARITA, Wataru BAN
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Patent number: 8083611Abstract: A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may include a body comprising a front surface having an opening therein for receiving a primary insert. One or more secondary inserts may be disposed in the primary insert and may include a leading surface, a trailing surface, and at least one intermediate surface. The leading surface may be physically exposed to the elements, the trailing surface may be exposed to the eye, and the at least one intermediate surface may be physically exposed to the elements and/or visually exposed.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Jimmy H. Kuan, Michael D. Sandoval, Adam K. Sheldon, Michael J. Wallans
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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: 8075419Abstract: A golf club head having a striking wall having a front surface, and a rear surface, a top surface, and a sole portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface, the sole portion having a forward end, a rearward end, an upper surface and a lower surface. The intersection of the upper surface and the rear surface defines an interior sole line. The intersection of the upper surface and the rearward end defines a trailing edge. A region on the upper surface includes variation of the height of the trailing edge or exterior sole line relative to the height of the interior sole.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2011Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Jesse D. Sukman
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Publication number: 20110294598Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a golf putter and methods of using the same. More specifically, embodiments relate to an improved golf putter, designed to allow a golfer to utilize the putter in a novel manner, yielding enhanced results. In one embodiment, a golf putter comprises a club head having a face thereon, the face designed to impact a golf ball; a shaft, connected on a first end to the club head; a golf grip, positioned on a second end of the shaft, the golf grip having a first gripping section positioned beneath a second gripping section; wherein the first gripping section of the golf grip comprises an first ergonomic cross-section, for being gripped by a control hand of a golfer; and wherein the second gripping section of the golf grip comprises a second ergonomic cross-section, for being gripped by a stabilizing hand of the golfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2010Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventor: JAMES FUREY
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Patent number: 8066587Abstract: A putter head includes substantially parallel plural grooves formed on a face thereof, wherein a ratio W/S of a groove width W (mm) and a space width S (mm) between the grooves is from 0.5 to 2.0.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Atsuo Tateno, Tatsuya Ishikawa, Wataru Ban, Fumiaki Sato
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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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Publication number: 20110287858Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming golf club head using metal injection molding and the resulting golf club head. The method of the invention allows for a lower volume of powdered metal than current metal injection molding processes thereby decreasing overall production cost.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventors: Robert D. Hirsch, Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 8062148Abstract: A golf putter head comprises a putter head, operable to be attached at or near an end of a putter shaft. The putter head includes an attachment interface for attachment to the putter shaft, the attachment interface defining a shaft axis with which the shaft is aligned when attached to the putter head. A front face is suitable to strike a golf ball and a rear face is oriented opposite the front face. The rear face includes a spine support, coupled to or formed integrally therewith, the spine support having a substantially continuous curvature. The spine support gradually decreases in depth, relative to the front face, across the rear face in directions orthogonal to the putter shaft axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2010Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Inventor: Stephen W. Farkas
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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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Publication number: 20110281666Abstract: A golf putter head made of granite attached to a golf club shaft. The golf putter head may have a smooth polished front putter surface. The golf putter head may have center slot which is cut into the granite. The golf putter head may have a front, a rear, a right, and a left, wherein the golf putter head is tapered from the front to the rear, from the center to the left; and from the center to the right. The golf putter head may be made of single granite stone. The golf putter head may have a bore cut into the granite into which the shaft is inserted. The front putting surface may be formed by applying ultra fine sand paper in the range of 1000 to 1500 using the United States CAMI (Coated Abrasive Manufacturers Institute) grit designations. The method may further include cutting a slot into the golf putter head, wherein the slot is substantially perpendicular to the smooth front putting surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Inventor: Charles A. Hair
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Patent number: 8057323Abstract: A weight adjusting structure of a golf club head comprises a 360-degree rotatable rotary table installed in a body of a golf club head, wherein the rotary table is combined with an incomplete annular weight block at a peripheral portion on an arbitrary side thereof, so that the rotary table and the weight block form a rotary table assembly whose weight orientation can be adjusted. The weighted rotary table assembly installed in the body of the golf club head can be used to adjust a distribution of different weights around 360 degrees, whereby a preferred location of the club head's gravity center can be set according to a golfer's swing posture and a location of the club head's gravity center the golfer is used to.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventors: Ming-Ching Liang, Tien-Ken Liang, Scott A. Rice, Thomas C. Morris, Peter L. Soracco
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Publication number: 20110275453Abstract: Golf club heads include: (a) a body member constructed, at least in part, from cellular structure material; (b) a ball striking face engaged or integrally formed with the body member; and/or (c) a shaft member engaged with the body member. Weight savings realized through the use of lightweight cellular structure materials allows additional weight to be placed at other desired locations in the club head structure. By adjusting and selectively placing weight in the club head structure, the club head's moment of inertia, center of gravity, and/or stability characteristics may be favorably affected and/or the resulting ball flight may be influenced and/or customized to a specific individual golfer, to provide a more controlled, consistent, and/or straight ball flight.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, David N. Franklin, Abhishek Gupta, David S. Lee, 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: 8047929Abstract: A golf club having a bent hosel. The hosel is approximately five inches long and the bend is approximately centered on the hosel. The hosel is connected to the golf club base to angle toward the golfer. At its middle, or approximately two and one half inches above the golf club base, the hosel is bent away from the golfer to a nearly vertical angle. The shaft of the golf club is connected to the upper portion of the bent hosel causing the shaft to continue at the nearly vertical angle. The novel angling of the hosel and shaft allow an average golfer to consistently hit straighter shots beginning with a putter, but including golf irons and golf woods.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2010Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Inventor: Andrew J. Berokoff
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Publication number: 20110244980Abstract: A putter for putting during a game of golf comprising: a shaft; and a putter head connected to the shaft, where the height of the putter head equals the diameter of a golf ball. The putter head may include either a mallet shape or a cavity back.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2010Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventor: RANDALL BELCHER
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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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Publication number: 20110230275Abstract: A fitting or coaching device (100) for use in fitting golf clubs or assisting golf trainers, the device having a head (102) with a striking face (120) and a shaft (131) slideably mounted to the head (102). The slideable mounting of the shaft (131) enables adjustment of its position to vary its offset distance from the striking face (120). The device (100) preferably includes an offset scale (141d). In preferred embodiments, the slideable mounting is in the form of a screw adjustment or a rack and pinion arrangement. In a less preferred embodiment, the slideable mounting is provided by an engaging portion (140) slideably receivable within a guide (141b) and securable thereto by a fastener or clamp (145), wherein the engaging portion (140) has a complementary shape to the guide (141b). In preferred embodiments, the position of the shaft (131) is movable between a first position behind the striking face (120) and a second position is in front of the striking face (120).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Inventor: David Raymond Hicks
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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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Patent number: 8021243Abstract: A putter club head is provided with an elongate cavity communicating to the exterior through a rectangular opening in the striking face thereof spaced above the club head lower surface so that the portion of the club head between the cavity opening and the lower surface forms a lower shielding structure to deflect any plant growth in the path of a putting stroke. A conforming cylindrical roller is then mounted for rotation within the cavity to provide a ball striking surface on its periphery generally elevated above the bottom surface to a height corresponding to the elevation of the contact periphery of a golf ball resting thereon. In this manner little or no spin is imparted to the ball when struck by the roller since the lower club surface shields the roller from any moments imparted by the growth covering the green.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2010Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Inventor: James S. Burrell
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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: 8016693Abstract: A golf club having a shaft, a grip, and a head provides improved balance and feel. The shaft has a shaft distal end, a shaft axis defining a vertical plane, and a forward bend section proximate the shaft distal end. The head is secured to the shaft distal end and includes a striking face, a trailing edge, a club head center of gravity, a heel section having a heel section center of gravity, and a toe section having a toe section center of gravity. The heel section center of gravity is forward of the striking face and the club head center of gravity is further from the trailing edge than the striking face. The forward bend section of the shaft projects from the vertical plane at an attachment angle such that the shaft distal end is forward of the heel section center of gravity.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2010Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Axis1, LLCInventor: Luis Pedraza
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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: 8007370Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming golf club head using metal injection molding and the resulting golf club head. The method of the invention allows for a lower volume of powdered metal than current metal injection molding processes thereby decreasing overall production cost.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2009Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Cobra Golf, Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Hirsch, Peter L. Soracco
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Patent number: 7993217Abstract: A golf putter with a having a curved body and a high toe design is disclosed and claimed. The putter head includes a face member, which has a heel and a toe, and a body member. The body member is connected to and extends rearward from the face member. At least a portion of the body member is curved toward the heel of the club head. The face member preferably is angled such that the toe has a greater height than the heel. The body member may be similarly angled. The body member extends through the face member and forms at least a portion of a striking face of the club head. The body member may define a hole therethrough, exposing a portion of the face member underneath, which may be used as a club head alignment aid. A variety of body members may interchangeably be connected to a single face member.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2007Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventor: Don T. Cameron
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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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Patent number: 7993213Abstract: A golf club including a club head having an upright golf ball striking face and an elongated upright cavity formed into an upper surface of the club head and being positioned in close proximity to the striking face. A separate hosel sized for close fitting insertion into the cavity has a height greater than the depth of the cavity so that the hosel extends above the cavity after mechanical securement of the hosel within the cavity for viewing prominence and interchangeability. The hosel also has a diagonally upwardly extending hole for receiving and lockably supporting a distal lower end of the club shaft, the axis of the hole selectively oriented at an acute angle rearwardly with respect to a bottom surface of the club head to establish a lie angle of the golf club.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2010Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Inventor: Roger A. D'Eath
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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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Publication number: 20110165959Abstract: A putter comprising a grip having an anatomically correct shape to promote proper grasping of the putter, a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the grip is attached to the first end of the shaft, a hosel attached to the second end of the shaft, a head attached to the hosel, the head having a striking face, and an alignment feature of the putter adapted to ensure correct assembly of the head onto the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Inventor: Lon KLEIN