Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~338~
.~
,... ..
;:'.`-";,', .',',.
~` `, ,~,
GOLF PlJTTER WITH DISHED BOTTOM SURFACES
~,`,,, ~,,
BACKGROUND OF T~IE INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of ` ~ `"';~
~' Serial No. 08/029,553 filed March 11, 1993, which is a ~,',~,~,',.
continuation of Serial No. 07/819,379 filed January 15,
1992, now U.S. Patent 5,240,252 issued August 31, 1993, ,'~
which is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. ,,' ',''`'
07/791,322 filed November 14, 1991, now U.S. Patent `'~
5,180,166 issued January 19, 1993, which is a ,' ~'~' '`
continuation of Serial No. 07/595,963 filed October 16,
1990, now U.S. Patent 5,067,715 issued November 26, ~' ',,"'`',
1991; and also a continuation-in-part of Serial No.
07/819,940 filed January 13, 1992; and a continuation- ~',,`;
in-part of Serial No. 29/006,184 filed March 19, 1993; ,',~
and a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 29/016,772
filed January 6, 1994. -`'' `
There is need to reduce drag forces at bottom ,,~
walls of putter heads, especially when putters are used `,`':~i,:,~"',"'
to stroke golf heads in turf adjacent or very near golf
~~ 20 green,s. There is also need to reduce putter bottom , ,~
wall drag on golf greens, should the putter engage the ,~ '' ''~'
green during,stroking. Also, there is need to
centralize such drag to locations rearwardly of the ;`,,~` i''``
golf ball being stroked. `"`,~',,'` ''
~"; '.''.''.``.'''`'''
SUNMARY OF THE INVENTION ~ . `
It is a major object of the invention to provide ;
structure overcoming the above problems and
. ,. ., ~.. ..
~, ~
! 2133814
disadvantages. Basically, the improved putter head of
the invention is characterized by a ball striking front
wall, a bottom wall, and spaced toe and heel walls, the
bottom wall characterized as having two shallow
recesses, one recess closer to the heel portion, and
the other recess closer to the toe portion, the
recesses being everywhere spaced rearwardly from the
front wall, the one recess having an arcuate peripheral
edge generally convex toward the toe portion.
Such recesses typically have downward facing
surfaces with shallow upwardly dished ~onfiguration.
The downward facing surfaces are concave in front-to-
rear directions; and the downward facing surfaces are
also concave in directions between the heel and toe.
Another object is to provide a putter bottom wall `
structure that will aid in "lifting of" a golf ball
having a bad lie, adjacent a green, during stroking.
Another object is to provide such a putter head ;
wherein the bottom wall has a locally flattened,
rearwardly divergent surface that extend~ at a
rearwardly and upwardly extending angle, beyond
rearward extent of a medial ridge, and between rearward -
extents of the recesses. That flattened surface may
merge with peripheries of the dished recesses, as will
appear, and at cusps located equidistantly from the
putter front ace, whereby lift force balance is
achieved.
A further object is to provide the putter bottom
wall to be in part defined by a sole plate ha~ing a
peripheral edge rigidly connected to the bounding edge
of an opening defined by the bottom wall, rearwardly of
the front wall, whereby the sole plate closes the
opening, the medial ridge and recesses also being in
part defined by the sole plate. In this regard, the `
- ' :
-- ' 2 1 3 3 8 1 4
4 '~
sole plate typically defines major extents of the
shallow recesses. A head body shell may also define a ~ ~
rigidizing bottom wall corner plate section integral ;~ ~ -
with shaft supporting tube structure, the sole plate -; -
also connected to that corner plate section, the corner
plate section also forming a portion of the one shallow
recess closest to the head heel portion. :
Another object is to provide a putter head bottom ;~
wall which controls engaged turf relative movement , ~,
(during a golf swing) so as to create upward force or
forces acting on the head in a manner resulting in
reduced drag as the head is swung.
Another object is to provide a putter head haviny ~ -
a bottom wall having a medial ridge, and forming two
dished, similar shallow recesses, one recess between : `:
the ridge and putter heel portion and the other recess, ~ ; `
between the ridge and putter toe portion, such recesses` ~
located rearwardly of the putter front wall, one recess` ;
having an arcuate peripheral edge portion generally ''
convex toward said heel portion and the other recess :
having an arcuate peripheral edge portion generally "~
convex toward said toe portion. Each recess may have a
downwardly facing surface further characterized in ~ ~-
that: ;
i) a vertical plane bisecting the recess in a
toe to heel direction intersects the recess ` -~
surface along a downwardly concave line, and
ii) a vertical plane bisecting the recess in a
front to rear direction relative to the head
intersects the recess surface along a
downwardly concave line. ; ;
Also, the two concave recesses of each head
typically have similar configuration with respect to a ~ `
vertical plane that bisects said ridge in a front to ;
~,
: .' ~''~:''
: .. ' ;,
~ 2133~14
~',
rear direction relative to the head. Further each
recess may have a downwardly facing surface further
characterized in that,
i) the rearwardmost extent of said downwardly
facing surface is inclined forwardly and
upwardly relative to the head forward swing
path as the head bottom wall engages the
turf,
ii) whereby lift force is created in response to
engagement of that rearwardmost extent of
said surface with the turf as the head is
swung forwardly along said path, such lift
force acting to urge the head bottom wall and
the head in an upward direction.
Yet another object is to provide a putter bottom
wall having a rearwardly divergent surface (which may
be locally flattened) that extends at a rearwardly and -
upwardly extending angle, beyond rearward extent of
said ridge, and between rearward extents of said
recesses, for reducing drag as the head is swung
forwardly in an arc, adjacent the turf. In this -
regard, guided engagement with the turf and upward
force exertion are enhanced by a configuration wherein
the rearwardly divergent surface and the two recesses
have edges which, when viewed from the rear of the
head, are upwardly convex. Also, there may be provided
a substantially continuous, hollow, metallic tube
extending within the shell of the heel portion and form ~ -
proximate the shell top wall to proximate the shell
bottom wall, that tube having a bore to receive a club
shaft, the bore aligned with the one shallow recess.
These and other objects and advantages of the
invention, as well as the details of an illustrative
embodiment, will be more fully understood from the
:'. ;i
,'. '', , ',";'; . `, . ."`'-;` ',',.' '
~ -``! 213 3 81~
:~"..~ :,`....
~- .. .
following specification and drawings, in which: `;
DRAWING D~iSCRIPTION : , ~
Fig. 1 i9 a front face view of the putter head; `~ ;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the Fig. 1 head; ,~
Fig. 3 is a toe end view of the Fig. 1 head;
Fig. 4 is a heel end view of the Fig. 1 head; ~ ~`
Fig. 5 is a bottom plane view of the Fig. 1 head;
Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the Fig. 1 head; - -
Fig. 7 is a section in elevation on lines 7-7 of
Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 is a section in elevation on lines 8-8 of
Fig. 5;
Fig. 9 is a section in elevation on lines 9-9 of i;` `" "
Fig. 7; and
Fig. 10 is a section taken in elevation on lines
10-10 of Fig. 7.
: . . . ~:
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings, a putter 10, in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, is shown. It includes a shaft 12 bi-
directionally curved to form a knee 12a, and having a
lower portion which is attached to putter head 14. The
head 14 is in the configuration of a "wood" club,
although it is made of metal. As shown in Figs. 7-10, i~
the body of the head comprises a hollow metal she].l 16, ;
which may be;filled with a pla~tic foam filling 18,
preferably polyurethane.
The shell 16 is preferably made of stainless
steel, and it ~ay be fabricated by the "lost wax" ;~
casting method that is well-known in the art. The
shell 16 may be formed in two pieces: a main upper
portion 20, and a sole plate 22 that is peripherally ;
', '''' ':~ ''
'''~' ' ".::,'
``- 2133~
.,
welded to the main portion 20, and as will be referred
to.
The main shell portion 20 has a top surface 24, a
rear surface 26, and a ball-striking surface or face 28
opposit~ the rear surface 26. The face 28 is angled
with respect to the vertical with a specified"pitch"
that is determined by the amount of loft desired. The
end portion of the head 14 proximate the shaft 12 is
commonly termed the "heel" 30, while the end portion
opposite the heel 30 is termed the "toe" 32. As shown
in Fig. 2, the head body is typically convexly curved
from the heel 30 to the toe 32, at the rear side of the
head. The main shell portion 20 has a bottom corner
portion 34 (shown in Fig. 5) that is cast integrally
with the front wall 28a and with the heel wall 30a, and
flush with the sole plate 22, and that forms a bottom
surface or sole in combination with the sole plate 22
when the two shell portions are welded together.
Referring now to Fig. 7, the shell 16 is provided -
with a substantially continuous hollow tube 36 that --
extends from an upper opening 38 in the top surface 24
to a lower opening 40 in the bottom surfa`ce or sole ~;
through the bottom corner portion 34 of the main shell
portion 20. The tube 36 side wall is interrupted by an -~
internal orifice 42 that opens into the interior of the `
shell. The orifice 42 provides an entrance for the
introduction of the foam material 18 into the shell
interior during the manufacturing process.
The tube 36 is dimensioned to receive the lower -~
part of the shaft 12 with a snug fit. The upper ;~
opening 38 is provided with a radiused lip 43, as shown
in Fig. 7, to minimize the possibility of stress
fractures in the shaft due to impact against the edge
of the opening. A portion of the interior wall of the
`' .'',''...'.',,'~,,'..,
" ``` 2 1 3 ~
..
:" .`' :', ., ' .: .
8 ;~
tube 36, extending downwardly from the upper opening
38, may be provided with striations, preferably in the
form of internal threads, or a series of concentric ~
steps, to provide a "glue lock" for better bonding of ; the shaft in the tube.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the -
lip 43 is at the end of a slight rise at the heel end
of the head, the height of the rise being less than, or
approximately equal to, the height of a horizontal
plane 200 defined by the highest point of the club head
top surface 24.
The shaft 12 is a hollow tube made of any suitable :~
material. Steel is th~ most common material, but
titanium and graphite-boron may also be used. If the ; ``
shaft is of steel, the exterior of the shaft may be
chrome-plated to minimize corrosion. The lower part of -
the shaft may be fitted with a plug 46 to prevent the
entry of moisture into the interior of the shaft. The `
plug 46 may be of any suitable resilient material, such
as Nylon, epoxy, polyurethane, or Delrin. The plug 46
may be retained in the shaft by an annular crimp in the
shaft wall. The crimp also serves as a glue lock. A "`
locator ring 50, preferably of glass fiber-reinforced
nylon, is adhesively bonded to the shaft at a distance
above the bottom end of the shaft approximately equal
to the length of the tube 36. .
The shaft 12 may be attached to the head 14 by a
suitable epoxy adhesive, the steps or threads in the ! ~ '`. ~ ' ' ` ', ~'
tube 36 and a crimp in the shaft providing "glue
locks", as mentioned above, for better adhesive
bonding. (Any plating on the lower part of the shaft
is first buffed off.) During assembly, the lower part
of the shaft is inserted into the tube 36 until the
locator ring 50 abuts against the radiused lip 43 at
'' ':~ `. :`
'": ~';
-~` 2133~1~
the upper tube opening 38. The bottom end of the shaft
12 then extends slightly beyond the lower tube opening
40. The shaft bottom end is then cut and ground so as
to be flush with the sole of the head, as shown in
Figs. 4 and 5.
The structure described above allows the shaft to
be attached to the head without a neck or hosel. As a
result, substantially all of the mass of the head is
"effective mass" that contributes to the transfer of
energy from the player to the ball. By increasing the
effective mass of the club head, there is a more
ef~ective transfer of energy to the ball from the ~ -
player, yielding increased putting distance without an
increase in effort on the part of the player. This can
be important for large greens and also where the ball
lies in grassy turf near a green edge, where the putter
is used to stroke the ball.
Moreover, without an external hosel, the lower
part of the shaft may extend all the way through the
head, with the bottom end of the shaft terminating -
flush with the sole. Thus, by eliminating the external `;
hosel, the shaft both enters, and may exit the head, i~
within the area defined between the top and bottom of ` ``
the ace of the putter head, which area is sometimes
called the "ball control zone". By bringing the lower `~;
end of the shaft within the control zone, and extending ~ ~`
the shaft deeply into the head shell, for example
hrough to the sole of the head, the tactile sense of
the location of the putter face, or "head feel~', is
maximized, yielding increased control of the shot, `
greater ability of the skilled player to "work" the
ball, and a more solid feel of impact with the ball ~` `
regardless of where on the face the ball is struck
The increase in effective mass of the head, plus the `
''','`.'''','',.'`'`' '''',''~',',''`','~
''~'`' .. '.'''' '.''".'''
i ` 2 1 3 3 ~
. ::
' ' ' '' :'
rigid support for the lower end of the shaft, provided
by the internal tube 36 in which the lower end of the
shaft is received, further contribute to this
improvement in "head feel". -
Furthermore, a number of advantages in the
manufacturing process can be achieved by eliminating ~; -
the hosel. For example, the mass that would have been
takPn up by the hosel can be redistributed to a part of ~
the head where it can contribute to the effective mass ~i
of the head without increasing the total head mass. - -
Optimally, this mass can be added by increasing the
overall size of the putter head. -
Still another advantage of eliminating the hosel
i9 that there is a more even cooling of the putter head ~ i
15 in the mold. Where there is an upward hosel, by -~
comparison, the hosel and the rest of the head shell
may cool at unequal rates, thereby resulting in a ;
slight warping that can produce a lack of uniformity in
loft, lie, and face angle from club head to club head. -
A golf putter, in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the invention, includes the sole
configuration shown in the drawings.
As shown in the drawings, the bottom wall is
characterized as forming a medial ridge 60, and as
forming two shallow recesses, one recess between the
ridge and the heel portion, and the other recess -
between the ridge and the toe portion, the recesses ;
everywhere spaced rearwardly from the front wall, the `~
one recess having an arcuate peripheral edge generally ~ ;
convex toward the heel portion, and the other recess
having an arcuate peripheral edge generally convex !~
toward the toe portion. Examples of such shallow,
upwardly dished recesses are seen at 162 between the
ridge 60 and the toe 32, and at 164 between the ridge
~-~ 2~338~
and heel 30.
Recess 162 curved periphery, extends in a looping
edge path, indicated at 162a, 162b, 162c, and 162d, and -
recess 164 also extends in a looping edge path
i.ndicated at 164a, 164b, 164c, and 164 , both paths
located on the bottom wal]., as shown. The maximum
depth of each recess below a plane containing its
peripheral looping edge path is less than 1/4 inch, and
preferably between 1/16 inch and 3/16 inch. These
depth~ are sufficient to avoid direct frictional
contact of recess dished inner surface 162! and 164'
with the ground during a club stroke, ground contact,
if any, being confined to the lowermost extent of the
central ridge 60. Also, the upward bi-directional
concavity of the bottom wall extents 162' and 164'
forming the recesses adds to bottom wall strength, and ;
stiffness, for transmitting loading transmitted to and
from the front wall 28 during ball stroking. The ~ /
bottom wall thickness may then be minimized and metal
"redistributed" to enable provision of a larger sized `~
head. `
Note also the provision of a bottom wall ; " `~
rearwardly divergent surface that extends at a
rearwardly and upwardly extending angle, beyond
rearward extent of the ridge, and between rearward
extents of the recesses.
Specifically, there is a trailing surface 56,
which is~a relieved, upwardly angled, somewhat
flattened portion extending upwardly from a curved edge ` `~
56a and between the edge and the center of the sole and
a trailing edge 58 at the juncture between the rear
surface 26 of the club head and the sole plate 22. The `~
lowermost curved part 56a of the surface 56 is
contiguous with the rearward end of ridge 60 that
`-- 2133~14 `;
., "," ' . ",
12 ;
extends forward toward and diverges at 60a and 60b to
merge laterally with the bottom U-shaped edge of the -
face 28 of the club head.
The trailing surface 56 preferably extends at an
Angle A of approximately 18 with respect to the -~
horizontal. The angle A may be varied by plus or minus - ~ ~
up to 5 degrees, depending on the type of club and the - i-
preference of the player. The trailing surface 56
minimizes the club head's closing, or "hooding", when
the ball is stroked "fat", while reducing the overall
drag of the head if the head engages the turf.
Further, in regard to the described combination of
bottom wall contours, the ridge downward curvature
rearwardly of the front face, and between the dished ~
recesses 162 and 164 enables the sole to penetrate the -
turf, resisting and repelling the turf against the
dished out zones 162 and :L64 to limit penetration in
proportion to or accordance with the unique shape of ~;` -
the sole as a unit, in a unique way, the front face
having a downward U-shape forward of the recesses and ;
ridge, as is clear from Fig. 1. Note the ridge
diverging forwardly toward the U-shaped front face.
Accordingly, a golf ball having a "bad lie~ next ``
to a green can be approached in a confident way, to
"dig" the ball out by means of a club stroke
characterized in that the club head sole planes over
the turf, considering the turf as fluid. For a golf
ball having a more conventional lie, no "digging out"
is required, and an improved downward sole shape
"footprint" i9 produced on the turf, as will be
referred to.
Referring to Figs. 2, 5 and 7, internal hosel tube
36 extends downwardly into the hollow interior of the
heel portion of the head, and is adapted to receive a ~
. ' ',.
~` 2133~1~
13
shaft 12. Thus, the weight of the hosel is
concentrated more directly behind, or close to, the
rear side of front wall 28, near the heel, to
contribute to the ball-striking mass of the front wall.
Also, the hosel tube cylindrical wall reinforces the
~unction of the front wall, bottom wall, and heel wall.
See also rigidizing hosel webbing or filleting 34 which
forms the corner plate section of the bottom wall 22.
Corner section also forms a portion of the dished
portion of the bottom wall recess 164. When the sole
plate is attached to the shell, a weld may be formed
along edges 99a, and 1003. See Fig. 5.
A further important aspect of the invention ~ ;
concerns the provision of a golf putter head having a ; ,
metal shell defining top, bottom, front, rear, toe, and
heel walls, and wherein~
a) the bottom wall has upwardly dished wall
extent,
b) said upwardly dished wall extent defining -~
downward facing ~urface means inclined forwardly and ,`
upwardly relative to the head swing path as the bottom
wall engages the turf, so that the turf moving
relatively rearwardly engages said inclined surface
means for creating lift force acting to urge the bottom ; ~
wall and the head in an upward direction, whereby drag ` -
is reduced and more kinetic energy is available for
tran~fer to the ball. ;
l Further, and as described, the bottom wall also
has a downward facing medial ridge 60 which extends
generally forwardly, said dished wall extent preferably
including two dished extents 162 and 164, respectively,
located at opposite sides of said ridge, each of said
two dished extents defining a portion of said inclined -
surface means (at the rears of said dished extents 162
'" ` "'"'~""``'
2 1 ~ 3 8 ~
.
14
and 164) whereby upward lift forces are developed at
opposite sides of said ridge, for torsionally balanced
upward lift imparted to the head.
Finally, the turf controlling head bottom wall can
be formed or cast integrally with the remainder of the
head, if desired, i.e., it need not be separately
formed and later welded to a rim defined by a
separately cast head. Such forming may be by a casting
or molding process employing metallic or non-metallic
material.
The bottom wall and/or the rest of the head can be
made of materials other than metal.
As used herein, the word "turf" shall be
understood to mean grass, weeds, sand, mud, and other ~;-
mat~rial engageable and displaceable by the bottom wall
of the head. `
Each recess 162' and 164' as referred to has a
downward facing surface and is further characterized in
that, ;
i) a vertical plane bisecting the recess in
a toe to heel direction intersects the
recess surface along a downwardly
concave line (see Fig. 7), and
ii) a vertical plane bisecting each recess
in a front to rear direction relative to :
the head intersects the recess surface ~-
along a downwardly concave line (see
Figs. 9 and 10). Further and as shown, -
the two recesses of each head have ;
similar configuration (see Fig. 5) with
respect to a vertical plane (the plane ~:
of Fig. 8) that bisects said ridge in a ~;-
front to rear direction relative to the
head.
:;:; ''~
'~''
- ~ ` 2133~14 ~:
. . -
. `:.. ~, .
:: ' . ' :, . :: . ':
' '' ' ~", '; ~',, ' "'~ '
;~
It will also be seen that each recess has a ~ ~
downward facing surface, and is further characterized ;
in that~
i) the rearwardmost extents 162_' and 164
of said downwardly facing surfaces are
inclined forwardly and upwardly relative ~ ;
to the head forward swing path as the
head bottom wall engages the turf,
ii) whereby balanced lift forces are created
in response to engagement of said
rearwardmost extents of said surfaces '- ` ~
with the turf as the head is s ung `
forwardly along said path, said lift :`
forces acting to urge said head bottom `
wall and the head in an upward ~ -
direction. ~ ~-
. .. .. .~.: ~::
The medial ridge 60 increases in width at 60a and
60b toward the front wall and between forward extents ~ ~c~
of the two recesses 162 and 164. Beyond rearward ` "`~
extent of the ridge, the bottom wall has a rearwardly .
divergent surface 56 that extends rearwardly and i
upwardly, that surface for example being flattened, and `
that surface merging with the recesses at cusps that
are 3ubstantially equidistant form the head front wall,
contributing to balanced lift force creation.
Referring to Fig. 6, the recesses 162 and 164 have
edges 162e and 164e which, when viewed from the rear of
the head, are~upwardly convex. The rearward edge 56a
of flattened bevelled surface 56 is also upwardly ``
convex in Fig. 6, and located approximately mid-way
between edges 162e and 164e. Such convex edges extend
in an arcuate row, as seen in Fig. 6, and define a V-
shape. Upward lift force vectors appear at 190 and !`, .. '",'`~`""
191, and result from engagement of the inclined rear `~
'.~ 0'.. ,~.
'' :`~ '
:.: .. ;: ~ .
``: ~` `
-:~` 21338~
... ,. ~, ....
16
portions of the inclined rear portions of the dished
recess surfaces with the turf, as referred to above. ;
Note that the vectors are angled upwardly and toward
one another.
Referring again to Fig. 5, the head is further
characterized by the following:
i) the dished recesses 162 and 164 are
located in substantially mirror imaged ~ -
position with respect to a forwardly
extending, vertical plane (the plane of
Fig. 8) bisecting the ridge 60;
ii) the convergent rearward terminus of
dished recess rearwardmost extent 162d~
is intersected by a cusp 210 defined by
surface ox bevel 56; and the convergent
rearward terminus of dished recess
rearwardmost extent 164_' is intersected
by a cusp 211 also defined by bevel 56.
These cusps are further defined by
inter~ection of the bevel with head
rounded outer bottom surface 213 and
intersection of the bevel with the ridge
rearwardmost and rearwardmost divergent
extents, as shown. The cusps 210 and
211 are substantially equidistant from ;~
the head Eront ace 28, whereby the
bevel is centered between the
rearwardmost extents 162_~ and 164d' of
the recesses,
iii) the cusps 210 and 211 are located at -
substantially equal distances from the
bisecting plane of Fig. 8; that plane
also intersects the rearwardmost extent ;
263 of the head. N~te the ridge 60 is ~
,~
:; `` 2 1 3 3 8 1 ~
: ,, .; .. ...
17 . :~
divergent, forwardly. .
The above features contribute to the balanced lift
force creation discussed above. -,
.:.. ~:...., ~ ........
',~;, ,~
',~, . '''' '' `''.~.'
