US20040110574A1 - Reflective perimeter-weighted golf putter head - Google Patents

Abstract

A reflective perimeter-weighted golf putter head that includes a striking surface and a reflective surface extending above the striking surface. The reflective surface reflects an image of a golf ball to a user when the golf ball is positioned adjacent the striking surface. The golf putter head further includes a rear surface positioned opposite the striking surface and the reflective surface. The rear surface has at least one cavity therein so as to define a weighted perimeter portion on the rear surface. The weighted perimeter portion extends at least partially above the striking surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates generally to golf equipment and more particularly to golf putter heads.[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Golf enthusiasts and equipment manufacturers have continually sought to improve golf clubs, including putters, for many years. These efforts have included the addition of structures to improve the play of the clubs and structures designed as teaching aids to assist in instruction and use of particular clubs. For example, elements have been developed to assist in teaching effective putting technique.[0002]
• In an effort at least in part to assist golfers with the difficulties of putting a golf ball, improved golf club heads have been provided as described, for example, in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/958,400, filed Oct. 9, 2001. Although the golf clubs heads disclosed in such application have been successful for their intended purposes, the inventor has recognized that it would be desirable to provide a reflective perimeter-weighted golf putter head.[0003]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention is directed to a reflective perimeter-weighted golf putter head. The golf putter head generally includes a striking surface and a reflective surface extending above the striking surface. The reflective surface reflects an image of a golf ball to a user when the golf ball is positioned adjacent the striking surface. The golf putter head further includes a rear surface positioned opposite the striking surface and the reflective surface. The rear surface has at least one cavity therein so as to define a weighted perimeter portion on the rear surface. The weighted perimeter portion extends at least partially above the striking surface.[0004]
• Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating at least one exemplary embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.[0005]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:[0006]
• FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a golf putter head according to one embodiment of the present invention;[0007]
• FIG. 2 is a front view of the golf putter head shown in FIG. 1;[0008]
• FIG. 3 is a rear view of the golf putter head shown in FIG. 1;[0009]
• FIG. 4 is a side view of the golf putter head shown in FIG. 1;[0010]
• FIG. 5 is a top view of the golf puffer head shown in FIG. 1;[0011]
• FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the golf putter head shown in FIG. 1;[0012]
• FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a golf putter head according to another embodiment of the present invention;[0013]
• FIG. 8 is a front view of the golf putter head shown in FIG. 7;[0014]
• FIG. 9 is a rear view of the golf putter head shown in FIG. 7;[0015]
• FIG. 10 is a side view of the golf putter head shown in FIG. 7;[0016]
• FIG. 11 is a top view of the golf putter head shown in FIG. 7; and[0017]
• FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the golf putter head shown in FIG. 7.[0018]
• Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding features throughout the drawings.[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
• Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a golf putter head, generally indicated by[0020]reference number10, according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. Thegolf putter head10 includes astriking surface12 and areflective surface14 which extends above thestriking surface12. Thereflective surface14 reflects an image of agolf ball15 to a user when thestriking surface12 is positioned adjacent thegolf ball15 on aputting surface17. As described in detail below, thereflective surface14 can be used by a golfer to statically and dynamically align theputter head10 with thegolf ball15. The term “golf ball” as used herein shall be construed to include golf balls approved by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and golf balls approved by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.
• The[0021]golf putter head10 further includes arear surface16 positioned opposite (i.e., on a backside of) thestriking surface12 and thereflective surface14, as best shown in FIG. 3. Therear surface16 includes a weightedperimeter portion18 which extends above thestriking surface12, shown in phantom in FIG. 3.
• The weighted[0022]perimeter portion18 increases the effective contact area of thestriking surface12 with thegolf ball15. In other words, theweighted perimeter18 extends or increases the “sweet spot” of thestriking surface12. Accordingly, the weightedperimeter18 thus allows theputter head10 to be more forgiving and more effective at delivering a truer hit to thegolf ball15 when the point of contact between thegolf ball15 and thestriking surface12 does not coincide with the location of the center of mass of theputter head10.
• In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the[0023]weighted perimeter portion18 extends along bothsides19 and21 of thegolf ball15 when thestriking surface12 is positioned adjacent thegolf ball15 on theputting surface17. The weightedperimeter portion18 also extends substantially from aheel portion20 to atoe portion22 above thestriking surface12. That is, the weightedperimeter18 may extend above and substantially around anupper hemisphere23 of thegolf ball15 when thestriking surface12 is positioned adjacent thegolf ball15 sitting on theputting surface17.
• The weighted[0024]perimeter portion18 is designed along with other putter head features (e.g., thestriking surface12 and the reflective surface14) to position the center ofgravity29 for theputter head10 as desired horizontally and vertically. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, theweighted perimeter portion18 extends not only above the center ofgravity25 of thegolf ball17 but above thetop edge27 of thegolf ball15 as well when thegolf ball15 andputter head10 are resting on theputting surface17.
• As best shown in FIG. 4, the center of[0025]gravity29 of theputter head10 is located not only above a center ofgravity25 of thegolf ball15 but above thetop edge27 of thegolf ball15 as well when thegolf ball15 andputter head10 are both positioned on theputting surface17. Positioning the putter head center ofgravity29 above the golf ball center ofgravity25 enables theputter head10 to impart a downward force vector to thegolf ball15. This, in turn, allows theputter head10 to more readily impart topspin and rolling to thegolf ball15 instead of causing the ball to skip and/or slide as is the case for putter heads which have a center of gravity lower than a center of gravity of a golf ball.
• In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the golf ball center of[0026]gravity25 is disposed 0.84 inches (2.13 centimeters) above theputting surface17, whereas the golfball top edge27 is disposed 1.68 inches (4.27 centimeters) above theputting surface17. Still referring to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, the center ofgravity29 of theputter head10 is shown disposed 1.80 inches (4.57 centimeters) above theputting surface17 when theputter head10 is resting on theputting surface17.
• With further reference to FIG. 3, the[0027]rear surface16 has at least one cavity orrecessed portion24 therein. A portion of thecavity24 extends above thestriking surface12 so as to define the weightedperimeter portion18 on therear surface16. Stated differently, therecessed portion24 defines at least one non-recessedportion26, which constitutes the weightedperimeter portion18 of therear surface16. In one embodiment, thecavity24 is centered between theheel portion20 and thetoe portion22 of thegolf putter head10.
• In FIG. 3, the[0028]rear surface16 is shown having threecavities24,28, and30. It should be noted, however, that therear surface16 may be provided with any number of cavities, and these cavities can be shaped and positioned as necessary to locate the center of gravity of theputter head10 and provide theputter head10 with a weighted distribution as desired.
• In addition, any of a wide range of geometric shapes may be used for the[0029]cavities24,28, and30. By way of example only, thecavity24 is substantially diamond-shaped, and thecavities28 and30 are substantially triangularly shaped.
• In one embodiment, the[0030]golf putter head10 has a monolithic construction and is thus integrally formed as a single component. Alternatively, the golf putter head may comprise separate components that are secured to one another, for example, by welding and/or other suitable fastening methods. Theputter head10 may also be fastened to a shaft32 (shown in phantom) via ashaft hole34.
• During use, the[0031]reflective surface14 of theputter head10 may be used as follows. At address, the golfer places thestriking surface12 of theputter head10 adjacent thegolf ball15 on the puttingsurface17 and statically aligns thegolf ball15 with the reflected image of thegolf ball15 on the intended putting path. Once statically aligned, the golfer brings theputter head10 back on the backswing of the putting stroke. During the backswing, the reflected image of thegolf ball15 visually travels up thereflective surface14. Ideally, the golfer keeps the moving image of the ball centered on theputter head10 during the entirety of the putting stroke. To assist the golfer with this feat, thegolf putter head10 is preferably provided with one ormore guide lines42 and44, as shown in FIG. 5. By keeping the moving reflected image of the ball centered along thecenter guide line42 positioned between the guide lines44, the golfer is able to keep the stroke along the intended putting line.
• Referring now to FIGS. 7 through 12, there is shown a[0032]golf putter head110 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Like the previously describedembodiment10, thegolf putter head110 includes astriking surface112, areflective surface114 which extends above thestriking surface112, and a rear surface116 positioned opposite thestriking surface112 and thereflective surface114. The rear surface116 includes a weighted perimeter portion118 which extends above thestriking surface112. Thereflective surface114 may be used for aligning theputter head110 with agolf115 on a puttingsurface117 in a manner similar to that previously described for thereflective surface14 of theputter head10.
• As shown in FIG. 9, the[0033]golf putter head110 also includesweights140 attached to the rear surface116. Theweights140 may have a density that is either higher, lower, or the same as the density of the rear surface116 depending on the weight distribution that is desired for theputter head110. Theweights140 may be removably attached to the rear surface116. If removable, theweights140 can be added and/or removed as desired even after theputter head110 is manufactured. Theweights140 may also be positioned within a cavity (e.g.,124,128,130) defined in the rear surface116. In the preferred embodiment, thegolf putter head110 includes twoweights140 each of which is positioned within the diamond-shapedcavity124.
• The weighted perimeter portion[0034]118 andweights140 distribute a substantial portion of the weight of theputter head110 higher and wider than thegolf ball115 so as to better distribute the impact force between thestriking surface112 and thegolf ball115. This, in turn, increases the golfer's opportunity at achieving a straighter and truer putt of thegolf ball115 with theputter head110.
• The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. Thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.[0035]

Claims (23)

What is claimed:

1. A golf putter head comprising a striking surface, a reflective surface extending above the striking surface for reflecting an image of a golf ball to a user when the golf ball is positioned adjacent the striking surface, and a rear surface positioned opposite the striking surface and the reflective surface, the rear surface having at least one cavity therein so as to define a weighted perimeter portion on the rear surface, the weighted perimeter portion extending at least partially above the striking surface.

2. The golf putter head ofclaim 1 wherein the golf putter head includes a heel portion and a toe portion, and wherein the weighted perimeter portion extends from the heel portion to the toe portion above the striking surface.

3. The golf putter head ofclaim 1 wherein the rear surface has a plurality of cavities extending therein.

4. The golf putter head ofclaim 1 wherein the cavity is centered between a heel portion and a toe portion of the golf putter head.

5. The golf putter head ofclaim 1 wherein the cavity is diamond-shaped.

6. The golf putter head ofclaim 1 further comprising at least one weight attached to the rear surface.

7. The golf putter head ofclaim 6 wherein the weight has a different density than the rear surface.

8. The golf putter head ofclaim 7 wherein the weight has a higher density than the rear surface.

9. The golf putter head ofclaim 7 wherein the weight has a lower density than the rear surface.

10. The golf putter head ofclaim 6 wherein the weight is positioned within the cavity.

11. The golf putter head ofclaim 6 wherein the weight is removably attached to the rear surface.

12. The golf putter head ofclaim 1 wherein the golf putter head has a monolithic construction.

13. The golf putter head ofclaim 1 wherein at least a portion of the cavity extends above the striking surface.

14. A golf putter head comprising a striking surface, a reflective surface extending above the striking surface for reflecting an image of a golf ball to a user when the golf ball is positioned adjacent the striking surface, and a rear surface positioned opposite the striking surface and the reflective surface, the rear surface having at least one recessed portion defining at least one non-recessed portion, the non-recessed portion constituting a weighted perimeter portion of the rear surface, the weighted perimeter portion extending at least partially above the striking surface.

15. The golf putter head ofclaim 14 wherein the weighted perimeter portion extends along at least one side of the golf ball when the golf ball is positioned adjacent the striking surface.

16. The golf putter head ofclaim 15 wherein the weighted perimeter portion extends above a center of the golf ball when the golf ball is positioned adjacent the striking surface.

17. The golf putter head ofclaim 16 wherein the weighted perimeter portion extends above a top edge of the golf ball when the golf ball is positioned adjacent the striking surface.

18. The golf putter head ofclaim 17 wherein the weighted perimeter portion extends above and around an upper hemisphere of the golf ball when the golf ball is positioned adjacent the striking surface.

19. The golf putter head ofclaim 18 wherein the golf club head includes a heel portion and a toe portion, and the weighted perimeter portion extends from the heel portion to the toe portion above the striking surface.

20. The golf putter head ofclaim 14 wherein the recessed portion is diamond-shaped.

21. The golf putter head ofclaim 14 wherein the recessed portion is centered between a heel portion and a toe portion of the golf club head.

22. The golf putter head ofclaim 14 further comprising a weight attached to the rear surface.

22. A golf putter head comprising a striking surface, a reflective surface, and a rear surface, the rear surface including a weighted perimeter portion which extends at least partially above the striking surface.

Images