Putter Patents (Class 473/340)
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Publication number: 20110165962Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Inventor: John Andrew Upenieks
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Publication number: 20110152002Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Wataru BAN, Katsutoshi Kasuya
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Patent number: 7963858Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 29, 2009Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Inventor: Don Sanderson
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Publication number: 20110143859Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: M-SYSTEM CO., LTD.Inventor: Saburo Miyamichi
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Patent number: 7959519Abstract: A golf club head having an insert forming a window through the golf club head is described. The golf club head has upper and lower surfaces. The golf club head includes a body with a heel, a toe, a front portion with a striking face, and a back portion. The front portion of the body forms a striking face. The body includes an aperture extending from the upper surface to the lower surface and extending from the front portion to an inside portion of the back portion. An insert is secured within the aperture. An indicia within the insert is visible from the upper and lower surfaces of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Clear Golf, LLCInventors: Donovan Zielke, Roger Twibell
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Patent number: 7955180Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved golf club with line markings on the head of the putter that facilitate a precise and accurate motion of the club. One of these markings, the aiming line, runs parallel to the club face across the top of the club and is intended to assist the golfer in aiming and placement of the club head. The other markings, the guide lines, run perpendicular to the club face across the top of the club and are intended to guide the path of the subsequent motion of the club to hit a golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Inventor: Norman Douglas Bittner
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Publication number: 20110130214Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2010Publication date: June 2, 2011Applicants: A SCHOOL CORPORATION KANSAI UNIVERSITY, SRI SPORTS LIMITEDInventors: Takuzo IWATSUBO, Hiroshi HASEGAWA, Masahide ONUKI
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Publication number: 20110124430Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2009Publication date: May 26, 2011Inventor: David Raymond Hicks
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Publication number: 20110124434Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2008Publication date: May 26, 2011Inventor: Robin Daly
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Patent number: 7942758Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 6, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Takashi Nakamura
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Publication number: 20110111884Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2011Publication date: May 12, 2011Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: David N. FRANKLIN, John T. STITES, Gary G. TAVARES
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Publication number: 20110092306Abstract: Golf putters comprising features that assist in locating a directly overhead view of the putter heads include sight aligning marks, sight aligning notch, rods and plates are disclosed. Putter heads with interchangeable mirror, weight and sighting attachments designed for quick release and replacement are described with interconnected attachment mounting faces. The combination of threaded aperture, apertures in the attachments and screws requiring the use of tools releasably interconnect the mirror attachment, sighting attachment or weight attachment to the putter head. Openings or contours are described that assist the golfer in estimating the distance between the golfer and a hole or cup on the green. Methods of customizing, calibrating or indicating in golf putters to individual golfers are also disclosed, including the use of weights to alter the weight distribution of in the putter head.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2009Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Michael Lee, Mark Kenworthy
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Patent number: 7922602Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 6, 2010Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Inventor: Lanny L. Johnson
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Patent number: 7922597Abstract: A golf putter generally has a nearly flat sole surface, multiple or decorative sight lines used to align the putter with the target, or target line. This new design has an extremely rounded sole surface from heel to toe and from the ball striking face to the rear of the putter head. This works extremely well when putting through taller fringe grasses off the green. The well rounded heel and toe and leading angular surface contribute to stabilizing the orientation of the ball striking face when putting from extremely sloped side hill lies in the taller fringe grasses. It has a single brightly colored sight line from the ball striking face to the rear of the putter head to eliminate a majority of visual clutter. This focuses the golfers eyes completely on the sight line, target line, and center of the golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Inventor: Valentine George Feret
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Patent number: 7922603Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 20, 2009Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Robert Boyd, Donald S. Rahrig, Philip J. Hatton, Andrew G. V. Oldknow
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Patent number: 7922596Abstract: A putter and golf ball deformity measuring apparatus is described. A putter head comprises a front portion, a rear portion, a bottom portion defining an oblong through hole, and a containment area above the oblong through hole sized and shaped to surround at least a portion of a golf ball without gripping the golf ball, the containment area defined between the front portion and the rear portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Stanley Andrew Brothers LLCInventors: Essay Anne Vanderbilt, Gerolin Jordan
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Publication number: 20110081983Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Inventor: Lyle Dean Johnson
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Patent number: 7918745Abstract: 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: February 27, 2007Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Cobra Golf, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Morris, Peter L. Soracco
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Publication number: 20110070971Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
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Publication number: 20110065523Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Inventor: LUIS PEDRAZA
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Publication number: 20110065525Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2009Publication date: March 17, 2011Inventor: J. Keith Johnson
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Patent number: 7905794Abstract: A golf club that positions a golfer to establish a desired viewpoint of a golf ball when preparing to strike the golf ball with the golf club. The golf club includes an elongated shaft, a grip provided adjacent to a proximate end of the shaft that the golfer grips to hold the golf club while striking the golf ball during a golf swing, and a club head coupled adjacent to a distal end of the shaft and including a face exposed at a surface of the head for contacting the golf ball during the golf swing. A visual indicator is provided to the club head, wherein the visual indicator is observable by the golfer to indicate that the golfer is positioned in at least one of a predetermined longitudinal direction relative to the club head and a predetermined lateral direction relative to the club head to afford the golfer the desired viewpoint of the golf ball before striking the golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Inventor: Stephen T. Ross
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Patent number: 7901298Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Jesse D. Sukman
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Publication number: 20110039635Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Inventor: Don Robert Poling
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Publication number: 20110039633Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig
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Patent number: 7887432Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 11, 2010Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: David D. Jones, Richard R. Sanchez, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
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Publication number: 20110034267Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2010Publication date: February 10, 2011Inventor: Joo-Hyung LEE
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Publication number: 20110034268Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2010Publication date: February 10, 2011Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
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Publication number: 20110021288Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2009Publication date: January 27, 2011Inventor: Timothy Scott Saunders
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Publication number: 20110014994Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2009Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: O-TA PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventor: Yi-Ping Chuang
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Patent number: 7867104Abstract: Ball striking devices, such as golf club heads (including putter heads), have a high moment of inertia about their center, to help prevent twisting and mis-hits, particularly when the ball striking device hits the ball at a somewhat off-center position. The ball striking head of the ball striking device may be structured and/or weighted (optionally with separately attachable weight elements) to have a moment of inertia about a center of the ball striking surface of at least 10,000 g-cm2, and in some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 11,000 g-cm2, or even at least 12,000 g-cm2. In some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 20,000 g-cm2, or even at least 25,000 g-cm2 or at least 28,000 g-cm2.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2010Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
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Publication number: 20100331105Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2008Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventors: Hakan Kronogard, Bengt Frejd
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Publication number: 20100331099Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventor: Don Sanderson
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Publication number: 20100331104Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventor: Allesandro Marco Renna
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Patent number: 7857710Abstract: 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: October 14, 2008Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: AXIS1, LLCInventor: Luis Pedraza
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Publication number: 20100323807Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2009Publication date: December 23, 2010Inventor: ILJU RHA
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Publication number: 20100323813Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
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Patent number: 7854665Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 7, 2005Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Dewhurst Solution, LLCInventors: Peter Dewhurst, Michael C. Apostal
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Patent number: 7850538Abstract: A dual purpose putting and chipping golf club has a golf club head with a golf ball impact face vertically split into a pair of angularly divergent impact surfaces; a vertical putting surface and an obtusely angled chipping surface which face in the same horizontal direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Inventor: Heung-Sub Yoon
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Publication number: 20100311519Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2009Publication date: December 9, 2010Inventor: Douglas Ames Treadwell
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Publication number: 20100304879Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2009Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventor: Norman Douglas Bittner
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Publication number: 20100304878Abstract: Putters and putter heads better camouflage the main body of the head and/or highlight the alignment aid. The top surface of the head (when viewed from a ball address orientation) may be finished in a non-reflective, matte finish, optionally, in a dark color and/or in a color or colors selected so as to blend into or match the color of a golf green. At least some portion of the shaft member may be colored and finished in this same manner. These features help in visualization of the alignment aid (which also may be designed to help in alignment). If desired, the club head and/or shaft color and finish may be customized based on the greens at a specific golf course, greens in a specific geographical region, greens of a specific grass type, greens at a specific time of year or under specific conditions, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Alan W. Reichow, John Thomas Stites, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Sean Miller, David N. Franklin
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Publication number: 20100298064Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Inventor: James S. Burrell
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Patent number: 7837576Abstract: The two-faced golf putter includes a putter head having a putting face and a chipping face disposed on at least one side of the putter head, an angled toe, an angled heel and a bottom sole. Both the angled toe and heel include a respective setup guide to assist the user in properly positioning over the putter. A sight alignment groove is formed on the top of the putter head to help aim the ball. An elongated shaft extends upwardly from a centered bore in the top surface of the putter head, which improves balance and feel to the putter. The top portion of the shaft includes an elongated handle to accommodate a wide range of user grip sizes and techniques. To further assist accurate setup placement of the putter head, an alignment dot is disposed behind the shaft on top of the putter head. The bottom sole includes at least one upwardly extending sloping side to permit angling of the putter for chipping.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Inventor: David L Paige
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Patent number: 7833108Abstract: The invention concerns a training head (20) for a golf training putter (14) and a method of using this training putter (14) to improve ones putting skill for side-swing type putting motion. The training head (20) may include two opposed hitting faces (28, 30), with each hitting face (28, 30) defining a portion of a cylinder about a vertical axis. This cylindrical surface is oriented so the face (28, 30) will strike a golf ball (24) perpendicular to the direction one desires the ball (24) to travel if hit at the central location of this surface (28, 30), but will deflect the ball (24) in a different direction if a location other than the central location of the face (28, 30) strikes the ball (24). This training putter (14) may have symmetrical hitting faces (28, 30) so that left-handed and right-handed golfers can use it.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2006Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Inventor: Peter Kim Hosowich
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Patent number: 7828675Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 17, 2008Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: Thomas R. Hilton
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Patent number: 7824278Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 17, 2008Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: M-System Co., Ltd.Inventor: Saburo Miyamichi
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Publication number: 20100267465Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2009Publication date: October 21, 2010Inventor: Barry W. Ceminchuk
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Patent number: 7815515Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf putter having an alignment means for aligning a golfer's line of sight directly over a golf ball and in line with a desired target. The putter head comprises a striking face and a rearwardly extending body portion. The body portion includes an upper section having an alignment bar protruding away from and perpendicular to the striking face and a lower section having an alignment slot extending away from and perpendicular to the striking face. The alignment bar and slot are centrally positioned and spaced apart from each other such that (i) the slot becomes obscured by the alignment bar when the golfer's line of sight is directly over the striking face and the golf ball at their point of contact, and (ii) the alignment bar and slot are in line with the desired target when the striking face strikes the golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2009Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Inventor: William Hunt
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Patent number: 7815520Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 23, 2008Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Nick Frame, Maresala Milo, Jose Miraflor, Marni Ines