Putter Patents (Class 473/340)
  • Publication number: 20120115628
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: Derek Christopher WOODS
  • Publication number: 20120100928
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Rollin Thomas Hartley
  • Publication number: 20120094782
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, David Anderson, Bill Price, Kevin Harper, Benoit Vincent, Bret H. Wahl
  • Publication number: 20120088599
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Tadahiro NARITA, Wataru BAN
  • Publication number: 20120083353
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Jason P. Martin, Carl A. Jonsson
  • Publication number: 20120077615
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventor: Jacob H. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20120064992
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: David N. Franklin
  • Publication number: 20120064988
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Andreas Raab
  • Publication number: 20120058837
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventor: William A. Riddle
  • Patent number: 8128505
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods
    Inventors: Andrew K. Tryner, Douglas J. Thiel, Robert T. Thurman, Jon C. Pergande
  • Publication number: 20120052975
    Abstract: 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 ā€œVā€ 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: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Richard Thomas Vlosich
  • Publication number: 20120034990
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Mark COHEN, Robert FARNAN
  • Publication number: 20120034998
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Jesse D. Sukman
  • Patent number: 8109841
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: M-System Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Saburo Miyamichi
  • Patent number: 8109838
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Solheim, Leslie J. Bryant
  • Publication number: 20120028732
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Hatton, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Jeremy N. Snyder, Donald S. Rahrig
  • Patent number: 8105176
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: John Andrew Upenieks
  • Patent number: 8100779
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Solheim, Richard R. Sanchez, John Souza
  • Patent number: 8096039
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Christopher B. Best, Thomas C. Morris
  • Publication number: 20120010018
    Abstract: Embodiments of face plates for golf club heads are disclosed herein. Other examples, and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Jones, Les J. Bryant, Xiaojian Chen
  • Publication number: 20110319188
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadahiro NARITA, Wataru BAN
  • Publication number: 20110319189
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadahiro NARITA, Wataru BAN
  • Patent number: 8083611
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Jimmy H. Kuan, Michael D. Sandoval, Adam K. Sheldon, Michael J. Wallans
  • Patent number: 8083605
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 8075419
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Jesse D. Sukman
  • Publication number: 20110294598
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: JAMES FUREY
  • Patent number: 8066587
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Tateno, Tatsuya Ishikawa, Wataru Ban, Fumiaki Sato
  • Patent number: 8066581
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Marni D. Ines, Bret H. Wahl
  • Publication number: 20110287858
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Robert D. Hirsch, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 8062148
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Stephen W. Farkas
  • Patent number: 8062146
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
  • Publication number: 20110281666
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Charles A. Hair
  • Patent number: 8057323
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Ming-Ching Liang, Tien-Ken Liang, Scott A. Rice, Thomas C. Morris, Peter L. Soracco
  • Publication number: 20110275453
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, David N. Franklin, Abhishek Gupta, David S. Lee, John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 8052541
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventor: Stephen T. Ross
  • Patent number: 8047929
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: Andrew J. Berokoff
  • Publication number: 20110244980
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: RANDALL BELCHER
  • Patent number: 8025586
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Aneeging Golf Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichiro Teramoto
  • Publication number: 20110230275
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventor: David Raymond Hicks
  • Patent number: 8021247
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventor: Louis Philippe Brolly
  • Patent number: 8021243
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventor: James S. Burrell
  • Publication number: 20110224014
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO.
    Inventors: ANDREW K. TRYNER, DOUGLAS J. THIEL, ROBERT T. THURMAN, JON C. PERGANDE
  • Patent number: 8016693
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Axis1, LLC
    Inventor: Luis Pedraza
  • Patent number: 8012035
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John Thomas Stites
  • Patent number: 8007370
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Cobra Golf, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Hirsch, Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 7993217
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Don T. Cameron
  • Patent number: 7993211
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: Illir Bardha
  • Patent number: 7993213
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: Roger A. D'Eath
  • Patent number: 7976400
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventor: Earl T. Pottorff
  • Publication number: 20110165959
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventor: Lon KLEIN