Putter Patents (Class 473/340)
  • Publication number: 20110165962
    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 extends between the heel end and the toe end, adjacent the bottom surface and extending substantially upward therefrom. The striking face has a substantially 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 to let the club head drift or angle when attempting left-to-right breaking putts. Striking the ball off of the primary portion does not impart any additional angle to the trajectory of the ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventor: John Andrew Upenieks
  • Publication number: 20110152002
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of manufacturing a golf club head by processing a head base body having a face base surface which becomes a face surface by finishing. The head base body includes a main body portion having the face base surface, and projecting portions which project from the main body portion. The method includes a finishing step of performing the finishing while the head base body is fixed in position by supporting the projecting portions, and a separation step of separating the projecting portions after the finishing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru BAN, Katsutoshi Kasuya
  • Patent number: 7963858
    Abstract: A golf putter having an improved club head construction comprising a tapered toe and heel, and cut-out portions to distribute weight towards the toe and heal of the club to preventing twisting and to prevent club head interaction with the ground during stroke. In an aspect, the club head further includes alignment indicator lines on an upward facing mounting surface and a alignment indicator line along a shaft connection portion that extends forwardly of the striking face of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventor: Don Sanderson
  • Publication number: 20110143859
    Abstract: The putter face of the present invention includes a plurality of 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 plurality of 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 a plurality of linear portions facing each other and a plurality of curve portion facing each other, the plurality of linear portions extending in a horizontal direction of a face plane of the putter face which horizontal direction the face plane is supposed to have at the time of 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: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: M-SYSTEM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Saburo Miyamichi
  • Patent number: 7959519
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Clear Golf, LLC
    Inventors: Donovan Zielke, Roger Twibell
  • Patent number: 7955180
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: Norman Douglas Bittner
  • Publication number: 20110130214
    Abstract: A designing method of the present invention includes the steps of: measuring a golf swing to obtain a measured result; obtaining a swing model provided with a link model and joint torque data based on the measured result, the link model having at least two links; performing simulation for swing the golf club using the swing model; and obtaining head information in a specific situation during a swing based on a result of the simulation. In the designing method, a plurality of specifications of the golf club and/or the plurality of swing models are used to obtain the plurality of head information, and stability is evaluated using a difference between the head information. In the designing method, it was found that a great lateral moment of inertia of a head and a small depth of a center of gravity of the head contribute to the stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicants: A SCHOOL CORPORATION KANSAI UNIVERSITY, SRI SPORTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Takuzo IWATSUBO, Hiroshi HASEGAWA, Masahide ONUKI
  • Publication number: 20110124430
    Abstract: A golf putter, comprising: a head assembly which includes a putting head which has a striking face, and at least one alignment beam generator unit which includes an alignment beam generator for generating an alignment beam; and a shaft assembly which comprises a shaft which is connected to the head assembly and a grip unit by which a user grips the fitting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: David Raymond Hicks
  • Publication number: 20110124434
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a putter head for a golf putter club, having a striking face (4), front body portion (2) and rear body portion (3) wherein the putter head has a central concave recess (8, 9) in the top and bottom surfaces of the front body portion (2) and rear body portion (3), the bottom surfaces (30) of the front body portion (2) and rear of the trailing edge body portion (3) has a ridged step (31) along the top surface, parallel with the top surface of the leading edge body portion (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Robin Daly
  • Patent number: 7942758
    Abstract: A golf putter (2) includes a head (4), a grip (6) and a shaft (8). The head (4) has a head body (h1) formed of a metal and a face member (f1) formed by an elastic material. A front surface (Ff) of the face member (f1) constitutes at least a part of a face surface (10). A siping (s1) is provided on a back surface (Bf) of the face member (f1). The siping (s1) is not provided on the front surface (Ff) of the face member (f1). It is preferable that the siping (s1) should be extended with bending. It is preferable that a ratio (Ds/Tf) of a depth (Ds) of the siping (s1) to a thickness (Tf) of the face member (f1) should be equal to or higher than 0.2 and should be equal to or lower than 0.8. It is preferable that a width (Ws) of the siping (s1) should be equal to or smaller than 1.0 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110111884
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David N. FRANKLIN, John T. STITES, Gary G. TAVARES
  • Publication number: 20110092306
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Lee, Mark Kenworthy
  • Patent number: 7922602
    Abstract: A golf putter head having a vertically curved putter face with multiple horizontal contact facets. The face has a vertical radius of curvature that is at least 2 inches and no more than 3.5 inches. The face includes a plurality of horizontal contact facets that are vertically curved to match the vertical radius of curvature. The contact facets, along with the radius of curvature, ensure that no more than two of the horizontal contact facets contact the golf ball when struck by the putter head at a speed of less than 15 miles per hour. The putter produces a horizontal linear contact, or impact, geometry that compensates for misdirection of the path of the putter head throughout the stroke of the putter head. At least one of the horizontal contact facets is located at an elevation above the center of curvature and at least one is located below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventor: Lanny L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7922597
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventor: Valentine George Feret
  • Patent number: 7922603
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having a first arm and a second arm extending outwardly therefrom. A bar has a first end connected to a free end of the first arm and a second end connected to a free end of the second arm. A weighted member is positioned along the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Donald S. Rahrig, Philip J. Hatton, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
  • Patent number: 7922596
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Stanley Andrew Brothers LLC
    Inventors: Essay Anne Vanderbilt, Gerolin Jordan
  • Publication number: 20110081983
    Abstract: A “THREE IN ONE—HBC(HAND, BELLY, CHEST) PUTTER” is comprised of three putters that can be assembled from the individual parts in the putter package. A combination putter can be used in any of the three forms, hand, belly or chest for the next round of practice or golf. After each round of golf the golfer may change the configuration to any of the other putter forms for the next round of practice or golf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventor: Lyle Dean Johnson
  • Patent number: 7918745
    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: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Cobra Golf, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Morris, Peter L. Soracco
  • Publication number: 20110070971
    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: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
  • Publication number: 20110065523
    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: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventor: LUIS PEDRAZA
  • Publication number: 20110065525
    Abstract: Golf putters having centrally aligned hosels are disclosed herein. According to an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter, a golf putter includes a head defining a surface for striking a golf ball. The putter also includes an elongated shaft having an axis spaced forwardly a predetermined distance from a plane containing the striking surface. Further, the putter includes a hosel connected to an end of the shaft. The hosel is connected to a portion of the head substantially aligned with a center of the golf ball when the head lies in striking position with respect to the golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventor: J. Keith Johnson
  • Patent number: 7905794
    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: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventor: Stephen T. Ross
  • Patent number: 7901298
    Abstract: A golf club head having a striking wall, a front surface, 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 exterior sole line. The upper surface comprises a sink portion having substantial variation in heel-to-toe contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Jesse D. Sukman
  • Publication number: 20110039635
    Abstract: An improved golf putter that consistently imparts topspin to a golf ball that is struck therewith for increasing the tendency of the ball to leave the putter in a predictable manner along an intended path and at an intended rate of speed. Unlike conventional, flat-faced putters, the inventive putter has a forward-projecting, rounded striking edge for delivering an upwardly-directed strike to a golf ball regardless of whether the golfer strikes the ball early or late during his or her putting stroke. Additionally, the round striking edge of the putter reduces the amount surface-to-surface contact between the putter and a golf ball relative to traditional putters, thereby mitigating the undesirable effects of flawed, laterally off-center putting strokes that would otherwise cause a struck ball to travel offline immediately after impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventor: Don Robert Poling
  • Publication number: 20110039633
    Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an insert forming a ball striking face and engaged with the putter body. Portions of the insert may be formed of a metal material, while portions of the insert may be formed of a polymer material. The insert may include a base portion having grooves formed therein. This base may be joined with another material to form the insert. In some arrangements, the insert may be a two-sided, reversible construction and may have different performance characteristics associated with each side of the insert. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig
  • Patent number: 7887432
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs, golf club heads and removable golf club weights are generally described herein. According to certain embodiments, an example golf club head comprises a face for striking a golf ball, a backside portion, a sole portion, and one or more removable weights. According to such embodiments, the example golf club head may further comprise a vibration damping composition disposed between the removable weights and the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Jones, Richard R. Sanchez, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
  • Publication number: 20110034267
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a combination putter and chipper golf club. The golf club is constructed such that opposite side surfaces of the club head can be used, respectively, as a putter and a chipper, and the club head is easily switched between a putter and a chipper when the golf club is used, and the club head is prevented from shaking when putting or chipping. The golf club has a shaft and a head. A putter face and a chipper face are provided, respectively, on opposite side surfaces of the head. A coupling frame is provided between the shaft and the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventor: Joo-Hyung LEE
  • Publication number: 20110034268
    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: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
  • Publication number: 20110021288
    Abstract: An improved golf putter has a striking bar extending perpendicularly from the putter face to terminate at a striking surface spaced forwardly from the putter face a distance. The striking bar extends continuously from a location proximate to one putter face side edge across the putter face to a location proximate the other side edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Saunders
  • Publication number: 20110014994
    Abstract: A golf putter head includes a head body, and a face plate unit disposed on the head body and having one surface to serve as a putting face. The face plate unit has a plurality of faces surrounding an axis thereof and is rotatably coupled to the head body so that the face plate unit is rotatable about the axis to make one of the faces of the face plate unit serve as the putting face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: O-TA PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yi-Ping Chuang
  • Patent number: 7867104
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Publication number: 20100331105
    Abstract: A putter having a shaft and a lightweight club head, with a low center of gravity. The club head has the shape of a U seen from above having two side portions forming the legs and a central portion connecting the side portions defining a ball striking surface. The club head has a weight of 140 to 230 grams, such as 160 to 220 grams, for example about 200 grams. The center of gravity is positioned a distance above the lowest point of the club head, 2 to 12 mm, preferably 3 to 8 mm, for example about 4 mm. The shaft is attached to the club head with an angle (?) in a direction forward along the target line as seen from the club head and upwards. Angle (?) is 2° to 10°, preferably 3° to 8°, for example 4° or 5°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Hakan Kronogard, Bengt Frejd
  • Publication number: 20100331099
    Abstract: A golf putter having an improved club head construction comprising a tapered toe and heel, and cut-out portions to distribute weight towards the toe and heal of the club to preventing twisting and to prevent club head interaction with the ground during stroke. In an aspect, the club head further includes alignment indicator lines on an upward facing mounting surface and a alignment indicator line along a shaft connection portion that extends forwardly of the striking face of the club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: Don Sanderson
  • Publication number: 20100331104
    Abstract: Disclosed is a putter head and a putter having the putter head comprising a putter head body having a putter shaft connector and least one horizontal bore extending therethrough and a locatable adjacent to the putter head body. The impact adjustment body has at least one bore alignable with the bore in the putter head body. The putter head further comprises a putter face plate locatable adjacent to the impact adjustment body such that the impact adjustment body is disposed between the putter face plate and the putter head body and at least one weighted fastener sized to extend through the bores in the putter head body and the impact adjustment body so as to secure the putter face plate to the putter head body. Also disclosed is a kit for constructing an adjustable putter head including a plurality of interchangeable impact adjustment bodies and weighted fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: Allesandro Marco Renna
  • Patent number: 7857710
    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: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: AXIS1, LLC
    Inventor: Luis Pedraza
  • Publication number: 20100323807
    Abstract: Provided are a head and a putter, including the head, which are aimed to increase putting accuracy. The head includes a face portion including a heel end and a toe end; a crown portion extended from the face portion in a rear direction of a top surface of the face portion; a sole portion extended from the face portion in a rear direction of a bottom surface of the face portion; and a first alignment portion formed at the crown portion so as to indicate a direction to a golfer, wherein an extension line of a surface of the face portion makes an acute angle with an extension line of the first alignment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: ILJU RHA
  • Publication number: 20100323813
    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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
  • Patent number: 7854665
    Abstract: A golf club head designed to act under impact load as a bridge comprising a face; an inertial support system; a rear structure; and a force transfer system, under impact load the force transfer system, in cooperation with the inertial support system, elongating the rear structure and controlling the bending of the face, the pattern of bending of the face being a substantially bridge-like pattern of bending or a substantially modified bridge-like pattern of bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Dewhurst Solution, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Dewhurst, Michael C. Apostal
  • Patent number: 7850538
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventor: Heung-Sub Yoon
  • Publication number: 20100311519
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a golf ball striking face having a patterned striking surface covering the striking face. The patterned striking surface includes a plurality of generally pyramidal shapes extending outwardly a height H and at an angle ? from the face. The pyramidal shapes have a top surface, which is separated from the top surfaces of neighboring pyramidal shapes by a width W.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Douglas Ames Treadwell
  • Publication number: 20100304879
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Norman Douglas Bittner
  • Publication number: 20100304878
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Reichow, John Thomas Stites, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Sean Miller, David N. Franklin
  • Publication number: 20100298064
    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: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventor: James S. Burrell
  • Patent number: 7837576
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: David L Paige
  • Patent number: 7833108
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Peter Kim Hosowich
  • Patent number: 7828675
    Abstract: A putter-type club head (20) having a main body (25) and a removable aft member (30) is disclosed herein. The putter-type club head (20) has a main body (25) that is preferably composed of an aluminum alloy. The removable aft member (30) is preferably composed of stainless steel and preferably has a fang-like shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Thomas R. Hilton
  • Patent number: 7824278
    Abstract: In order to solve a problem of a shift of a rebounding direction due to a contact of a golf ball and a ball contact surface of a putter face, while attaining an initial velocity, a striking touch, and a sense of distance, each of which are compared favorably to a metal face, a putter face is arranged including hexagonal posts (4) each made of material having a higher rigidity than a ball (7), the hexagonal posts (4) having a contact surface (41) which has contact with the ball (7), and impact-absorbing rings (5) made of material having a lower rigidity than that of the hexagonal posts (4), so as to elastically support the hexagonal posts (4) in a normal direction of the contact surfaces (41), wherein the plurality of hexagonal posts (4) are juxtaposed in an in-plane direction of the contact surfaces (41) and the contact surfaces (41) constitute a single surface when the ball (7) is not in contact with the contact surfaces (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: M-System Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Saburo Miyamichi
  • Publication number: 20100267465
    Abstract: Real Computer Game Builder, a process for creating computer games using actual movies of actual players performing appropriate actions with actual pictures of appropriate playing surfaces or settings. For example with golf games, the new part of this invention is using actual pictures of golf courses and actual films of golf clubs being swung to make the appropriate shot (not computer animated terrain and players).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Barry W. Ceminchuk
  • Patent number: 7815515
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: William Hunt
  • Patent number: 7815520
    Abstract: A putter head comprising a body having an open, frame-like structure having an improved mass distribution for optimizing the moment of inertia and placement of the center of gravity. The body includes a front portion, a rear portion, toe and heel portions extending between and interconnecting respective ends of the front and rear portions, and a central portion interconnecting the front and rear portions along the longitudinal axis of the body. A first main opening of the body is bounded by the toe portion, the central portion, and part of the front portion. A second main opening of the body is bounded by the heel portion, the central portion, and part of the front portion. The heel and toe portions desirably are formed with respective elongated openings extending substantially the entire lengths of the heel and toe portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Frame, Maresala Milo, Jose Miraflor, Marni Ines