Putter Patents (Class 473/340)
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Publication number: 20100261546Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel golf putter having a novel head, which is made up of a strike plate, a body, and at least one connecting element. The connecting element is positioned with a spacing element so that the strike plate does not make direct contact with the body when the putter is used to strike a golf ball. As such, during the striking of the golf ball with the strike plate of the novel putter, kinetic energy is transferred from the strike plate to the body via the connecting element and the spacing element, and the energy is transferred in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the face of the strike plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Inventor: Harry E. Nicodem
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Patent number: 7811178Abstract: A golf club head has a face, a hosel, and a hollow body. The body includes an outer peripheral region, when viewed from above, and center portions on the upper surface and sole, respectively. The outer peripheral region has a weight-per-unit of surface area which is greater than the weight-per-unit of surface area of the center portions. The weight differential may be accomplished by molding ports into the hollow body around the periphery, which contain weight plugs. Alternately or in addition, a vertically oriented port may extend through the center portions to reduce weight.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Prince Sports, Inc.Inventor: Stephen J. Davis
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Patent number: 7806779Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2009Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
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Patent number: 7803066Abstract: A golf club head has a front wall member and a rear wall member joined by a pair of arms that extend rearward from the from the heel and toe ends of the front wall member. An arcuate wall formed in the rear wall member provides an alignment aid. The club may have a protrusion extending above the top rail. The protrusion may have an arcuate surface that corresponds to the arcuate wall formed in the rear member to enhance alignment of the golf club head. The club head may include a transverse alignment aid to assist the user with proper eye position and lie of the club head when addressing the golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2008Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: John A. Solheim, Richard R. Sanchez, John C. Souza
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Patent number: 7803060Abstract: 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 that forms a lower shielding structure to deflect any growth in the course of a putting stroke. A conforming tubular segment is then mounted for rotation within the cavity to expose a portion of its peripheral surface beyond the plane of the striking face generally elevated above the bottom surface to a height corresponding to the elevation of the contact periphery of a golf ball resting thereon. In this manner little or no spin is imparted to the ball when struck by the roller since the lower club surface shields the roller from any moments imparted by the growth covering the green.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2008Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Inventor: James S. Burrell
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Patent number: 7798919Abstract: A putter head wherein a depth of a center of gravity, ZGR, is a value greater than half of a head width W, namely, ZGR?W/2, and that a moment of inertia, IY, about the center of gravity is such that IY?4000 g·cm2.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2006Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventor: Makoto Kubota
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Publication number: 20100234127Abstract: 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 or openings formed therein. This base may be joined with another material (such as a polymer backing material) to form the insert, wherein the backing material at least partially fills the grooves or openings. In some arrangements, the backing material of the insert may be visible at the top and/or bottom surfaces of the putter structures. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, John T. Stites, N. Franklin David, Donald S. Rahrig
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Publication number: 20100234132Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming golf club head using metal injection molding and the resulting golf club head. The method of the invention allows for a lower volume of powdered metal than current metal injection molding processes thereby decreasing overall production cost.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2009Publication date: September 16, 2010Inventors: Robert D. Hirsch, Peter L. Soracco
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Publication number: 20100227702Abstract: 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: May 14, 2010Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
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Publication number: 20100227704Abstract: In some embodiments, a golf club head can include: (a) a face member; and (b) a rear section coupled to the face member. The rear section can include an edge. The edge can be substantially circular in shape. A diameter of the edge can be equal to a diameter of a regulation golf hole. Other embodiments are disclosed in this application.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2009Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: JOHN C. SOUZA, JAKE P. FIFE
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Patent number: 7789772Abstract: 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 includes variation in heel-to-toe contour in at least one of: height of the trailing edge or exterior sole line relative to height of the interior sole line; height of the interior sole line relative to height of the outer periphery of the head; height of the trailing edge or exterior sole line relative to height of the outer periphery of the head; and concavity in forward-to-rear contour.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2009Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Roger Cleveland Golf Company, Inc.Inventor: Jesse D. Sukman
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Publication number: 20100222153Abstract: A golf putter head is provided that includes an upper plate and a base plate. The base plate further includes a striking surface. The mass of the putter head is distributed such that the mass of the upper plate is greater than the mass of the base plate, thereby positioning the center of gravity of the putter head above a centerline of said striking surface and an equator of a golf ball when the golf ball is positioned proximate to the striking surface of the golf putter head.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Inventor: Douglas Ames Treadwell
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Publication number: 20100210372Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2009Publication date: August 19, 2010Inventor: Valentine George Feret
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Patent number: 7771285Abstract: A golf club head having a body and a strike face for striking a golf ball. The strike face is arranged at the front of the body, and a projection projecting forwardly of the body at one side of the strike face. In use, the projection extends in the same direction as a strike direction of the strike face. The golf club head further comprises an alignment marking which extends along an upper surface of the projection.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2006Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Inventor: Warren J. Porter
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Publication number: 20100197427Abstract: A golf putter has a head provided with spaced, upper and lower leading edges and a toe and heel presenting a club face for striking a golf ball. The face extends linearly substantially from the toe to the heel, and extends between the upper and lower edges of the head along an arc having a radius of approximately eighteen inches to provide consistent and predictable ball rolling characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Inventor: Patrick Lorin Wempe
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Patent number: 7762908Abstract: Golf club heads having an Al2O3 material impact surface are described. All or a portion of the head may be made of an Al2O3 material, or the Al2O3 material may be in the form of a sheet or insert and applied to a golf club face. Embodiments of this disclosure have an enhanced coefficient of restitution value in the context of collision with a golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2007Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Inventor: Russell W. Perkins
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Publication number: 20100184527Abstract: A golf club head is provided having a club body having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, and a heel portion. The club head also having a central portion connected with the front portion. A frame is connected with the central portion configured to provide a lightweight crown portion being located above an offset plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2010Publication date: July 22, 2010Inventors: Paul M. Demkowski, Bret H. Wahl, Sean Toulon, Marni D. Ines, Robert Nunez, Bill Price, Jose Miraflor
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Publication number: 20100184531Abstract: A structure of a putter head for golf improves straightforwardness of a hit golf ball direction and disperses an instantaneous shock impact between the golf ball and the putter head, to thereby improve a hitting sense, and minimize air resistance to thus enable a player to perform a stable golf playing operation. The golf putter head structure includes a number of throughholes which penetrate the front portion and the rear portion of the putter head, respectively; and a number of protrusions which are inserted into and contact the dimples of the golf ball when a player hits a golf ball by the putter head.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2009Publication date: July 22, 2010Inventor: Sung Dar HWANG
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Publication number: 20100173720Abstract: A putter includes a handle (2), a putter head (1) with a striking surface, and two alignment indicia (6) symmetrically arranged relative to a vertical plane (20) which is perpendicular to the striking surface and passes through a striking line. Wherein the visible part of the alignment indicia (6) are symmetrical to the vertical plane (20) when being viewed in the vertical plane (20), while not symmetrical to the vertical plane (20) when being viewed in a plane offsetting from the vertical plane (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2008Publication date: July 8, 2010Inventor: Dae Wook Kim
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Patent number: 7749098Abstract: 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: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Inventor: Lanny L. Johnson
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Publication number: 20100167836Abstract: A putter head has the performance and characteristics of a putter, such as appearance, center of gravity, moment of inertia, ease of finding a putting line, and ease of setting, and can be adjusted by easily changing the shape of putter head by the golfer himself or herself, and a putter head set is also provided. A putter head includes a body member having a face surface for hitting a ball, and a back member detachably installed to the body member. The back member is detachably installed to the body member with one screw only.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2009Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Daisuke Horii, Takaharu Takechi
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Publication number: 20100167831Abstract: A putter-type golf club comprising an alignment system and a club head assembly. The putter-type club head has a body that is preferably composed of aluminum, with a rear weight disc and small inserts composed of a material denser than the material used for the remainder of the club head (excluding inserts in the “wings” on the club head and/or neck of the club). The body has an alignment channel that is approximately the same width as a standard golf ball, and which runs from the face to the rear of the club head. In a preferred embodiment this alignment channel is black or dark in colour with a white or light-coloured border. The putter-type club has a neck that is inserted laterally through the side of the club head, such that it runs parallel to the face of the club head and for substantially the length of the face.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2010Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: SERAPH SPORTS LIMITEDInventors: Ashley Smith, Simon Chan
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Publication number: 20100167835Abstract: 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: March 9, 2010Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
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Patent number: 7744485Abstract: 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: April 10, 2008Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: David D. Jones, Richard R. Sanchez, Bradley D. Schweigert, Michael R. Nicolette
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Patent number: 7740545Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2006Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventor: Don T. Cameron
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Patent number: 7731600Abstract: A generally cylindrical shaft has upper and lower ends and a handle at the upper end. A putter head has a forward face plate and a rear, a sole plate below and a weight plate above, a toe and a heel. The weight plate and the sole plate each have an upper and lower surface. The lower end of the shaft is coupled to the upper surface of the weight plate adjacent to the heel. An alignment assembly includes an upper line on the upper surface of the weight plate and a lower line on the upper surface of the sole plate parallel with and spaced from the toe and the heel. The upper line is located above and parallel with the lower line. The lower line extends rearwardly a greater distance than the upper line.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2009Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Inventor: Richard W. Diesterheft
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Patent number: 7722477Abstract: A force dampening and redirection system for use with a golf driver or fairway club head including an elongated handle terminating in a three-dimensional shaped driver or fairway head exhibiting a substantially smooth ball striking face. A vibration dampening and absorbing component, such as an elongated spring, extends within a hollow three dimensional interior associated with the club head. Upon impacting a golf ball offset from a center line associated with the striking face, an off-center striking force is more readily transferred to the spring, both to counteract twisting of the putter head and to reduce vibration of the club face at the ball contact zone, thereby increasing an effective surface area of the striking face creating a perpendicular travel direction of the ball relative to the golf club striking face.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Inventor: Joseph Consiglio
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Patent number: 7722478Abstract: A golf club head, in particular a golf putter head, with a striking face, which is provided on the front side of a striking part, for a golf ball, and with a device, which is fastened to the rear side of the striking part, for receiving interchangeable weights. The device has two elements which mutually intersect preferably without any contact and to the one free end sections of which weights can be fitted. As a result, a shifting of the center of gravity and distribution of the weight of the head are possible in a particularly variable manner.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Inventor: Josef Ebner
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Patent number: 7722476Abstract: A golf club with a shaft and an asymmetrical head, wherein said head has a gravitational center which is further from a trailing edge than said striking face and is disposed on a vertical plane which includes said grip axis.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2008Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Axis1, LLCInventors: Luis Pedraza, Bryan R. Hotaling
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Patent number: 7717806Abstract: A putter head wherein a depth of a center of gravity, ZGR, is a value greater than half of a head width W, namely, ZGR?W/2, and that a moment of inertia, IY, about the center of gravity is such that IY?4000 g·cm2.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2009Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventor: Makoto Kubota
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Patent number: 7717801Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites
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Publication number: 20100113184Abstract: 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 and a trailing surface. The trailing surface may be physically exposed to the elements and the leading surface may be physically exposed and/or visually exposed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: ROGER CLEVELAND GOLF CO., INC.Inventors: Jimmy H. KUAN, Michael D. SANDOVAL, Adam K. SHELDON
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Publication number: 20100113182Abstract: 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 5, 2010Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
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Publication number: 20100105500Abstract: A golf club head (such as a putter head), has a face that includes a ball-contacting region. The ball-contacting region has an inset containing an elastically deformable material and at least one rigid element disposed within the elastically deformable material. When a golf ball is struck, the elastically deformable material compresses and the rigid element imparts overspin to the ball that causes it to roll more accurately.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: John T. Stites, David N. Franklin
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Patent number: 7695375Abstract: A front of the club head consists of a round opening that accepts a corresponding round member on the end of the shaft. The face of the club inside the round opening on the club head as well as the face of the shaft member that opposes the face of the club inside the round opening on the club head includes half-spherical divots. Opposing divots are positioned in-line when the shaft is at an allowable angle. A ball bearing inserts into the in-line divots prior to sliding the shaft member into the club head opening to prevent movement when tightened. Inside the club head round opening is a smaller round opening that extends through the back of the club head. The round member on the end of the shaft has an attached threaded post that inserts into the smaller round opening on the club head.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2008Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Inventors: Gregory Andrew Kaczmarz, Bruce M Kisell, Johanna P Lalman, Tracy R Young, Mike J. Bartmanovich
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Patent number: 7695376Abstract: Technology that allows the angle of the shaft of a golf club to adjust in small increments. The front of the club head consists of a round opening that accepts a corresponding thin round member which can be rotated to a number of positions. The round opening also accepts a corresponding round member on the end of the shaft. This round member slides into the round opening in the front of the club head after the thin round member is seated firmly. A protrusion on the round shaft member will insert into one of the many divots on the opposing face of the thin round member, resulting in an allowable shaft angle.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2008Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Inventors: Gregory Andrew Kaczmarz, Bruce M Kisell, Johanna P Lalman, Tracy R Young, Mike J. Bartmanovich
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Publication number: 20100087269Abstract: 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: November 4, 2009Publication date: April 8, 2010Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Jeremy N. Snyder, David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Donald S. Rahrig
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Patent number: 7691004Abstract: An improved golf putter incorporating a weight management system that allows for adjustment of a golf club head weighting by incorporating an adjustable weight system wherein weights may be removed and replaced quickly and easily without requiring a specialized tool is disclosed. Weights received within weight ports formed in the heel and toe portions of the putter are maintained securely affixed within the club head body by plugs adapted for snap fit engagement with the club head. Unlike other putter weight adjustment systems disclosed in the art, the present invention does not require use of a special tool, such as a wrench, to remove and replace the weights. While the preferred golf club embodiment disclosed is a putter, the present invention contemplates incorporating any of the features and/or advancements disclosed herein into any golf club.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2008Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventor: Robert Lueders
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Publication number: 20100075775Abstract: This utility model refers to a golf putter that, contrary to a head with a straight and plain face, has a circular, plain, vertical, smooth and graded face. With a common putter, a player aligns himself with the line of putt. However, with the use of a circular and plain face, a player aligns himself with the hole. The putter's head indicates the line of putt. This being, a player's stroke is always perpendicular to the ball's axis and in direction of the line of putt's angle. With a circular and plain face, the head is positioned and, thus, the angle is no longer 0°. Rather, it takes on a specific degree reflecting the chosen line of putt. The angle only changes through repositioning the putter. This utility model is applicable in the manufacturing of Putters.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2007Publication date: March 25, 2010Inventor: José Manuel Silvestre Monteiro
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Patent number: 7677987Abstract: 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 has a mallet shape.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2008Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: Thomas R. Hilton
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Publication number: 20100062870Abstract: A golf club is provided having alignment markings that assist a golfer in finding a desired setup position before addressing the ball. In one embodiment, a golf club according to the present invention includes a shaft having a substantially tubular shape, a club head having an upper surface, a lower surface, a toe end, a heel end, and a striking face disposed therebetween, and a hosel that couples the upper surface of the club head to the shaft. One or more alignment markings are disposed on the upper surface of the club head between the hosel and the heel end in a direction substantially parallel to the striking face. A proper setup is attained by a golfer when the shaft is seen by the golfer as substantially parallel to at least one of the alignment markings.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2009Publication date: March 11, 2010Applicant: Premium Gold Brands, LLCInventors: Jason Pouliot, Andre Shmoldas
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Patent number: 7674186Abstract: A golf putter has a putter head with an actively compliant beam which is parallel to the face of the putter. The beam connects to a shaft along its length and is separated from the head except for its ends. The force of impact between the face of the putter and the ball on the putter face sweet spot causes a stress to develop in the beam, resulting in a deflection in the beam proportional to the force of the impact, while maintaining the putter face orientation with respect to the putting line. Impacts which miss the sweet spot will cause the putter face to skew to an angle with respect to the putting line, also introducing a proportional flexure of the beam, depending on the distance between the sweet spot and the point of impact.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Inventors: David M. Bitko, Sheldon S. Bitko, Robert A. Coon, John Piotrowski
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Patent number: 7670232Abstract: 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: May 16, 2008Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: David N. Franklin, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
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Publication number: 20100048320Abstract: 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 that forms a lower shielding structure to deflect any growth in the course of a putting stroke. A conforming tubular segment is then mounted for rotation within the cavity to expose a portion of its peripheral surface beyond the plane of the striking face 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: August 25, 2008Publication date: February 25, 2010Inventor: James S. Burrell
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Publication number: 20100035703Abstract: A putter head prevents a ball from sliding over a green while maintaining golfers' preferred hitting feel and roll of the ball. A face insert fitted in a face of the putter head has an outer layer which serves as a ball-hitting surface and an inner layer which is located on an inner side of a head body. A smash factor of a second polymer material forming the inner layer is greater than a smash factor of a first polymer material forming the outer layer. Two types of groove, grooves of a first groove group and grooves of a second groove group are formed in an external surface of the outer layer. The grooves of the first groove group may be 0.25 to 1.6 mm wide and 0.05 to 0.5 mm deep and the grooves of the second groove group may be 0.075 to 0.5 mm wide and 0.025 to 0.1 mm deep.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2009Publication date: February 11, 2010Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Tatsuya ISHIKAWA, Wataru Ban, Fumiaki Sato
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Publication number: 20100022320Abstract: A golf club comprising: a shaft; a head affixed to a distal end of the shaft and having a ball striking face, the head comprising spaced apart lower and upper portions which have respectively: lower and upper primary alignment guides extending substantially perpendicular to the ball striking face, the lower primary alignment guide provided by at least one lower slot portion in the lower portion and the upper primary alignment guide provided by at least one upper slot portion in the upper portion; and lower and upper secondary alignment guides extending substantially parallel to the ball striking face, the lower secondary alignment guide provided by at least one further lower slot portion in the lower portion and the upper secondary alignment guide provided by at least one further upper slot portion in the upper portion, the primary and secondary alignment guides being positioned relative to one another so that a golfer's eyes are correctly aligned relative to the golf club head when the primary and secondaryType: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2009Publication date: January 28, 2010Inventor: Kevin O'Neill
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Patent number: 7651409Abstract: This patent discloses a golf club putter to improve a golf putt swing through feedback. The golf club putter may include a shaft, a shaft insert attached to the shaft, and a head attached to the shaft insert. The head may have a body attached to the shaft insert, a shell having a clubface that may be configured to impact a golf ball, and shell fasteners that may be connected between the body and the shell to permit the shell to rotate relative to the body from an initial position. The shell may return to the initial position automatically.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2007Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Inventor: Kelly J. Mier
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Patent number: 7648425Abstract: A high inertia golf putter head is generally wedge-shaped, with the leading face being less wide than the trailing face. Cavities and weights are provided to optimize the moment of inertia.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Bret H. Wahl, Marni Ines, Robert Nunez, Jose Miraflor
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Publication number: 20100009781Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2008Publication date: January 14, 2010Inventors: Essay Anne Vanderbilt, Gerolin Jordan
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Patent number: 7645199Abstract: A golf putter head adapted for attachment to a club shaft is provided with a face member having a strike face and a cylindrical back cavity, and a body member configured to fit and rotate within the back cavity is disclosed. Selective rotation of the body member within the back cavity sets a loft of the putter head. The weighting of the putter is adjusted by securing a weight member to the body member. A golf putter head having an increased moments of inertia is also disclosed. The putter head includes a face member, a body member, and a weight member. Placement of the weight member is such that the moments of inertia are increased and the putter head is stable.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2005Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventor: Don T. Cameron