Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face

IS 2 368 313 Τ3

DESCRIPTION

Golf clubs and golf club heads that include polymeric material as part of the ball striking face

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to golf clubs and golf club heads (known as and hereinafter as putters and putters). Putter heads and putters in accordance with at least some examples of this invention can be constructed to include a relatively soft polymeric material as at least a portion of the ball striking face.

BACKGROUND

Golf is enjoyed by a wide variety of players - players of different genders and players of radically different ages and skill levels. Golf is unique in the sporting world because such diverse groups of players can play together in golf events, even in direct competition with each other (for example, using handicap scoring, different teeing grounds, in team formats, etc. ), and still enjoy the golf outing or competition. These factors, along with the increased availability of golf programming on television (for example, golf tournaments, golf news, golf history, and / or other golf programming) and the rise of well-known golf superstars, at least in part, they have increased the popularity of golf in recent years both in the United States and throughout the world. The number of people participating in the game and the number of golf courses have increased steadily in recent years.

Golfers of all skill levels seek to improve their performance, lower their golf scores, and reach that next “level” of performance. Manufacturers of all types of golf equipment have responded to these demands, and recently, the industry has witnessed dramatic changes and improvements in golf equipment. For example, a wide range of different golf ball models are now available, with some balls designed to complement specific swing speeds and / or other player characteristics or preferences, for example, with some balls designed to fly further and / or straighter, some designed to provide higher or flatter trajectories, some designed to provide more spin, control, and / or feel (particularly around greens), etc. There are also a large number of swing aids and / or teaching aids on the market that promise to help lower one's golf scores.

Being the only instruments that put golf balls in motion during play, golf clubs have also been the subject of much research and technological advancement in recent years. For example, in recent years the market has seen improvements in putter designs, golf club head designs, shafts, and grips. In addition, other technological advances have been made in an effort to better match the various elements and / or characteristics of the golf club and / or the characteristics of a golf ball to the characteristics or characteristics of the swing of a particular user (for example, stick adjustment technology, ball launch angle measurement technology, ball effect level characteristics, etc.).

Golfers tend to be sensitive to the "touch" of a golf club, particularly with regard to putters. The "feel" of a golf club comprises the combination of various component parts of the club and various features associated with the club that produce the sensory sensations experienced by the player when swinging and / or hitting the ball. The “feel” of the club is a very personal characteristic because a club that has a good “feel” for one user may have totally undesirable “feel” characteristics for another. Club weight, weight distribution, aerodynamics, swing speed, and the like can all affect the "feel" of the club when swinging and hitting a ball. "Touch" has also been found to be related to the visual appearance of the club and the sound produced when the clubhead hits a ball to set the ball in motion.

Although technological improvements have been made to golf club designs, due to the very personal nature of the putter stroke and the "feel" aspects of hitting a golf ball with the putter, there is no single putter structure that is the most suitable for all players. New putter structures that change the look and feel of the club are welcomed by at least some players. US2007 / 0243949 shows a putter with openings with a second material but lacks a cavity behind the ball hitting face and GB-5 A-2388792 shows a putter with an internal cavity that can be filled with a second material .

SUMMARY

The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention to provide a

ES 2 368 313 Τ3 basic understanding of this invention. The present invention relates to a putter head as defined in claim 1.

Aspects of this invention relate to putters and putter heads including: (a) a putter body (made of one or more independent pieces or parts) that includes a ball striking face member made of a material having a first characteristic of hardness, in which a cavity is defined in the body of putter behind the ball striking face member, and wherein a plurality of separate and independent openings is defined in the ball striking face member, the separate and spaced openings extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member to open within the cavity; (b) a polymeric material provided to at least partially fill the plurality of openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic, and wherein the member of ball striking face and exposed polymeric material in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter head; (c) a shaft member (or other handle) engaged with the putter body; and / or (d) a handle member engaged with the rod member (or other handle member). The polymeric material can completely fill the plurality of openings and the cavity.

The polymeric material will generally lighten the clubhead structure, thus allowing a club designer to provide weight at other positions in the clubhead structure (for example, to increase the moment of inertia characteristics of the clubhead). clubhead, to control the position of the center of gravity, etc.). In addition, the presence of the polymeric material on the ball hitting surface (and in contact with the ball during a hole shot) will influence the spin of the ball, as well as the sound and "feel" characteristics of the putter (e.g. For example, due to vibration damping effects of the polymeric material).

If desired, the ball striking surface of putter structures according to at least some examples of this invention may include a plurality of grooves defined therein (also referred to as "score lines"). The score lines or grooves can help to control and produce the desired launch angles and / or spin levels of a golf ball during a hole shot. The grooves may be defined in the material constituting the ball striking face member (for example, between adjacent openings in the ball striking face member), in the polymeric material, or both in the material constituting the member. ball hitting face as in polymeric material. If desired, a single contiguous groove may be partially provided in the polymeric material and partially provided in the material of the ball striking face member immediately adjacent to the polymeric material.

Additional aspects of this invention also relate to methods of making putters and putter heads, for example, of the various types described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention and certain advantages thereof may be gained by referring to the following detailed description in consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like features, and in which:

Figs. 1A and 1B illustrate an exemplary putter structure in accordance with this invention;

Figs. 2A through 2D illustrate additional features of a polymer filled putter head in accordance with examples of this invention;

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate alternative features of score lines or grooves that may be included in putter structures in accordance with at least some examples of this invention;

Figs. 5-9 illustrate alternative features of the openings, cavities, and hole arrangements that may be included in putter structures in accordance with at least some examples of this invention;

Figs. 10 to 12B illustrate various examples of the openings and arrangements of polymeric material in the ball striking surface of a putter structure in accordance with this invention;

Figs. 13-15 illustrate various example putter head constructions that may include polymer-filled openings in the ball striking face and cavities in accordance with examples of this invention; and Fig. 16 provides illustrative aid in explaining various exemplary methods of making putter heads in accordance with this invention.

IS 2 368 313 Τ3

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various example putter heads and other aspects of this invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this document, and in which various example structures, systems, are shown by way of illustration and steps in which aspects of the invention can be carried out. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, structures, example devices, systems and steps can be used and structural and functional modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, while the terms "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "side," and the like may be used in this specification to describe various features and exemplary elements of the invention, these terms are used herein. document for convenience, eg, based on the example orientations shown in the figures and / or the orientations during typical use. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three-dimensional orientation of structures to fall within the scope of this invention.

At least some exemplary aspects of this invention relate to putters and putter heads, as well as methods of making such structures. Following is a general description of aspects of the invention followed by a more detailed description of specific examples of the invention.

A. General Description of Putters, Putter Heads, and Procedures According to Aspects of the Invention

In general, aspects of the invention relate to putters and putter heads. Such golf clubs, according to at least some examples of the invention, may include: (a) a putter body (made of one or more independent pieces or parts) that includes a ball striking face member made of a material having a first characteristic of hardness, in which a cavity is defined in the body putter behind the ball striking face member, and wherein a plurality of separate and independent openings are defined in the ball striking face member, the separate and spaced openings extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member to open within the cavity; (b) a polymeric material provided to at least partially fill the plurality of openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic, and wherein the member of ball striking face and exposed polymeric material in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter head; (c) a shaft member (or other handle) engaged with the putter body; and / or (d) a handle member engaged with the rod member (or other handle member). If desired, the polymeric material can completely fill the plurality of openings and the cavity.

If desired, the ball striking surface of putter structures according to at least some examples of this invention may include a plurality of grooves defined therein (also referred to as "score lines"). The grooves may be defined in the material constituting the ball striking face member (for example, between adjacent openings in the ball striking face member), in the polymeric material, or both in the material constituting the member. ball hitting face as in polymeric material. If desired, a single contiguous groove may be partially provided in the polymeric material and partially provided in the material of the ball striking face member immediately adjacent to the polymeric material.

The plurality of openings in the ball striking face member can be arranged and oriented in a wide variety of ways without departing from this invention. For example, the openings may extend parallel or substantially parallel across the ball striking surface (eg, such that the material of the ball striking face member extends between two adjacent openings). The openings can be formed as one or more elongated notches. As further examples, at least some of the openings may form a design, a logo, and / or alphanumeric characters on the ball striking surface. Furthermore, any number of openings may be provided in any desired arrangement on the ball striking surface without departing from this invention.

The openings can be sized and arranged in a variety of different ways without departing from this invention. For example, in some putter head products in accordance with this invention, two adjacent openings may be separated by a distance between 0.076 and 1.27 cm (0.03 to 0.5 inches) and in some examples by a 0.254 to 0.762 cm (0.1 to 0.3 inch) distance. This separation distance corresponds to the material dimensions of the ball striking face member between adjacent openings. This separation distance can be constant or it can vary along the length of the apertures. Also, this separation distance may be constant or it may vary between adjacent openings present in the ball striking face member. Likewise, the openings themselves may have a

ES 2 368 313 Τ3 diversity of dimensions without departing from this invention. For example, the openings may extend entirely through the ball striking surface or partially through the ball striking surface (e.g., through 10 to 80% of the ball striking surface, and 25 to 75% across the ball striking surface in some examples). The openings may have a height dimension (in the up-down direction of the putter head) of any desired value, for example, between 0.076 and 1.27 cm (0.03 to 0.5 inches) and in some example structures 0.254 to 0.762 cm (0.1 to 0.3 inch).

If desired, the cavity defined in the putter body may extend into and open into a hole located in an outer surface of the putter body (e.g., to allow introduction of the polymeric material into the cavity and / or into the openings during manufacture). This cavity access hole may be located, for example, on a lower surface of the putter body, on an upper surface of the putter body, and / or on a rear surface of the putter body. More than one cavity access hole may be provided in a putter head structure without departing from this invention. If desired, when exposed on the upper surface of the putter body, the polymeric material (or a covering member provided in the cavity access hole) may form at least a part of an alignment aid for the putter head. putter. The access hole may be shaped to provide additional alignment aid functions.

The openings may extend rearwardly from the ball striking surface of the putter body (toward the socket) in any desired manner without departing from this invention. For example, at least some of the plurality of separate and spaced apart openings in a putter body may extend rearwardly from the ball striking surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ball striking surface. In other example structures, at least some of the plurality of separate and independent openings may extend rearwardly from the ball striking surface at a non-perpendicular angle to the ball striking surface, for example, at an angle of 10 ° to 80 °, and in some example structures, at any angle between 30 ° and 60 °. The openings may also extend backward in a curved or other non-linear or irregular manner.

Additional aspects of this invention relate to methods of making putter devices (such as putters and putter heads of the types described above). Such procedures may include, for example: (a) providing a putter body (e.g., manufacturing it, sourcing it from a third party, etc.) that includes a ball striking face member made of a material having a first characteristic of hardness, in which a cavity in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and in which a plurality of separate and independent openings are defined in the ball striking face member, the separate and spaced openings extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member to open within the cavity; (b) putting a polymeric material in the putter body to at least partially fill the plurality of openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic, and wherein the polymeric material is inserted such that the ball striking face member and the exposed polymeric material in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter head; (c) connecting a shaft member to the putter body; and / or (d) connecting a handle member to the rod member. Putter devices can have any of the various features described above.

Specific examples of the invention are described in more detail below. The reader should understand that these specific examples are set forth merely to illustrate examples of the invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

B. Specific examples of the invention

The various figures in this application illustrate examples of putters, components thereof, and procedures in accordance with examples of this invention. When the same reference number appears in more than one drawing, that reference number is used consistently in this specification and the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts throughout.

Figs. 1A and 1B illustrate an example putter structure 100 in accordance with this invention. The putter 100 includes a putter head 102 having a ball striking face 104, an upper portion 106, a lower portion 108, and a shaft member 110 engaged with the putter head 102. The upper portion 106 of the head The putter 102 may include an alignment aid 112 having any shape, structure, etc. desired. The putter head 102 can be made of any desired material without departing from this invention, including, for example, metals, metal alloys, and the like, including materials that are known and conventionally used in the art. Likewise, the rod member 110 may be made of any desired material without departing from this invention, including, for example, metals, metal alloys, composites, and the like, including materials that are known and conventionally used in the art.

IS 2 368 313 Τ3

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the ball striking face 104 of the putter head 102 includes at least two different surface features. A portion 104a of the putter head 102 is made of the base material for the ball hitting face, such as the materials described above for the putter head 102 or other conventional materials used for the ball hitting faces of putters. Another part 104b of the putter head 102 is made of a polymeric material. The polymeric material will generally be softer and lighter compared to the material of the rest of the ball striking face 104, including the portions 104a. As illustrated in Fig. 1A, in this example structure, the two portions 104a and 104b of the ball striking face 104 extend across the ball striking surface of the putter head 102 alternately, such that a plurality of strips Parallels of polymeric material 104b are separated by a plurality of strips of ball hitting face material 104a. Examples of putter head construction that include this alternate material structure will be described in more detail below.

One potential advantage of providing a polymeric material within a putter head relates to the potential for weight savings. By removing some of the metallic material from the putter head body, this material can be replaced by a lighter weight polymeric material. This weight saving allows the club designer to put additional weight in other areas of the putter head structure, such as towards the rear corners of the putter head structure. Such features can allow the club designer to control and design a club that has superior moment of inertia (torsional strength) and desired center of gravity position characteristics. Furthermore, by including this relatively soft polymeric material 104b as part of the ball hitting face (so that the polymeric material 104b also directly contacts the ball during a hole shot), the ball hitting characteristics of the ball can be altered and controlled. putter head, which affects the sound, bounce, and other “feel” characteristics of the putter head (for example, damping vibrations and altering the sound of a ball hit). The polymeric material 104b can also influence the effect of the ball when the ball is released from the face of the putter.

Figs. 2A through 2D illustrate additional details of a putter head structure 200 in accordance with at least some examples of this invention. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along a center line of a putter head 200 (between the heel of the putter head and the direction of the tip), for example, as the putter head 102 illustrated in Figs. 1A and 1B. As shown in Fig. 2a, as Fig. 1A above, the ball hitting face 204 of the putter head 200 includes two distinct parts 204a and 204b, specifically, a part 204a made up of the material that forms the main part of the ball hitting face 204 and a part 204b made of a polymeric material as described above. The openings (eg, notches) 206 defined in the ball striking surface 204 of the putter head 200 are filled with the polymeric material portion 204b. Apertures 206 may be formed in the ball hitting face 204 of the putter head 200 in any desired manner without departing from this invention, including, for example, forming the ball hitting face 204 to include such openings 206 (e.g. for example, during molding, casting, forging, or other production process), machining such openings 206 into a solid block of putter head material, etc. Any desired number of openings 206 may be provided in a ball hitting face 204 without departing from this invention.

Apertures 206 open at their rear ends into an open cavity structure 208 defined in putter head structure 200. This cavity structure 208 may be formed in the putter head 200 in any desired manner without departing from this invention, including, for example, forming the putter head 200 to include such cavity 208 (eg, during molding, the casting, forging, or other production process), by machining such a cavity 208 into a solid block of putter head material, etc. Although a single cavity 208 is illustrated in Fig. 2A and all openings 206 open within this single recess 208, if desired, multiple recesses 208 may be provided in a putter head structure 200, and the openings 206 may open within any one or more available recesses without departing from this invention. In this illustrated example structure, cavity 208 includes an access port member 208a provided in bottom surface 210 of putter head structure 200.

FIG. 2B illustrates an enlarged portion of the putter head structure 200 shown in FIG. 2A (the surrounded portion 212 of FIG. 2A). As shown, the ball striking surface 204 includes both the metallic (or other) material 204a of the ball striking surface of the putter head 200 and the exposed polymeric material 204b present in the openings 206 defined in the surface. ball hitting 204. The openings 206 (and hence the height of the exposed polymeric material 204b in the up-down direction on the surface of the ball striking face 204) can be made to any desired size without departing from this invention. For example, these openings 206 (and thus the height of the exposed polymeric material 204b) can be between 0.076 and 1.27 cm (0.03 to 0.5 inches), and in some examples, about 0.254 to 0.762 cm (0.1 to 0.3 inches). Also, the height of the metallic (or other) material 204a between adjacent openings 206 (and thus between adjacent portions 204b of polymeric material) can be made to any size.

ES 2 368 313 3 desired without departing from this invention. For example, the height of these portions 204a may be between 0.076 cm and 1.27 cm (0.03 to 0.5 inches), and in some examples, from about 0.254 to 0.762 cm (0.1 to 0.3 inches). The heights of the parts 204a may be less than, equal to or greater than the heights of the parts 204b in a given putter head structure. Furthermore, portions 204a and 204b can be of a constant size or of different sizes in a given putter head structure without departing from this invention. The heights of these portions 204a and 204b can also change along the length of the individual portions 204a and 204b (eg, in a heel-to-toe direction of the ball striking face of the putter). A wide variety of potential combinations of sizes of the various parts 204a and 204b are possible.

The cavity 208 can be located in any desired position and in any desired orientation in the putter head structure 200 without departing from this invention (and, therefore, the openings 206 can extend into the putter head structure 200 any desired distance without departing from this invention). For example, at least some portions of the cavity 208 may be oriented approximately 0.64 to 5.08 cm (0.25 to 2 inches), rearward from the ball striking surface, and in some examples, approximately 0. , 64 to 2.54 cm (0.25 to 1 inch) back. Also, although the illustrated cavity 208 is generally parallel to the ball hitting face 204, this is not a requirement. Instead, cavity 208 can be any desired size, shape, and orientation relative to ball hitting face 204 without departing from this invention. As some more specific examples, pocket 208 may extend in an up and down direction of between 50 and 95% of the total height of the putter head at the position of pocket 208; cavity 208 may extend rearward a distance of 0.64 to 15.24 cm (0.25 to 6 inches), and in some examples, 1.27 to 10.16 cm (0.5 to 4 inches) or even 1.27 to 7.62 cm (0.5 to 3 inches); and the socket 208 as well as its hole 208a may extend in a heel-to-toe direction comprised between 5 and 95% of the total longitudinal heel-to-toe dimension of the putter head at the position of the socket 208 (and in some examples 15 to 85% or even 25 to 75% of the total heel-to-toe dimension at pocket position 208).

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the ball hitting surface 204 can be smooth (eg, portions 204a and 204b can smoothly transition from one part to the next in the alternate part structure). The ball striking surface 204 may be flat, or it may include some roll or bulge feature, and / or it may have some desired head-to-loft (the degree of clubface lean) characteristic. This flat and / or smooth surface 204 is not a requirement. On the contrary, as illustrated in Figs. 2C and 2D, the ball striking surface 204 may include grooves or score lines 210 formed therein. In these illustrated example structures, the score lines 210 are formed in an area of ​​the ball striking surface 204 that spans the junctions between the metal portion 204a and the polymeric portion 204b of the ball striking surface 204 such that score lines 210 are cut into each of these materials 204a and 204b. The score lines 210 may be formed integrally in the portions 204a and 204b when the various parts of the ball striking face 204 are formed (eg, during molding, casting, forging, or other forming procedure), and / or they can be formed at a later time (eg, after the polymeric material is introduced into the putter head structure and hardened, eg, by a cutting or machining process). Fig. 2C illustrates an exemplary putter face structure in which score lines 210 are formed at the junctions of the bottom of a polymeric portion 204b and the top of an adjacent metal portion 204a. If desired, this structure could be turned over so that the score lines 210 are formed at the junctions of the upper part of a polymeric part 204b and the lower part of the adjacent metal part 204a. Fig. 2D, on the other hand, illustrates another example putter face structure in which the score lines 210 are formed: (a) at the junctions of the lower part of a polymeric part 204b and the upper part of the metal part 204a adjacent and (b) at the junctions of the upper part of a polymeric part 204b and the lower part of the adjacent metal part 204a. In other words, in the structure of Fig. 2C, at least some of the metal parts 204a and polymeric parts 204b have a single groove defined therein, while in the structure of Fig. 2D, at least some of the metal parts 204a and polymeric parts 204b have two slots defined therein (a slot in its upper part and a slot in its lower part).

Providing score lines (for example, like score lines 210) can affect the way the ball leaves the putter head during the course of a shot for the hole. For example, scratch lines 210 can affect the pitching angle and / or the spin of the ball when the ball leaves the putter face during a shot for a hole. As a more specific effect, in at least some cases, the score lines 210 and the polymeric material 204b will adhere somewhat to the ball and produce a superior effect on the ball when it is thrown into the hole, which tends to get the ball rolling. ball earlier and more accurately (for example, and eliminates some anticipated bounce during a shot for the hole).

The hatch lines 210 can be of any desired height without departing from this invention. For example, if desired, hatch lines 210 may extend up to 10% of the height of portion 204a and / or 204b within the

ES 2 368 313 Τ3 which are provided, and in some examples, up to 25% or even up to 50% or 75% of this height. The score lines 210 may extend into the portions 204a and / or 204b (in the front-to-back or depth direction) a distance of about 0.25 to 2 times the height of the score line, and in some examples, 0.5 to 1.5 times the height of the score line. The various score lines 210 of a putter face 204 may have the same or different sizes and / or shapes, and each joint and / or each part 204a and / or 204b in a given putter structure does not have to include a score line. 210 associate.

The hatch lines 210 may have other constructions without departing from this invention. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the score lines 210 may be formed only in the material that constitutes the polymeric portion 204b of the ball striking face structure 204. Alternatively, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the score lines 210 may be formed solely in the material that constitutes the metal (or other base material) portion 204a of the ball hitting face structure 204. As a further example, if desired, the score lines hatching 210 of the types illustrated in Figs. 2 C. 2D, 3 and / or 4 can be combined into a single putter head structure without departing from this invention. Also, if desired, in the structures of Figs. 3 and 4, grooves may be provided in both the upper and lower parts of the polymeric parts 204b (Fig. 3) or the metal parts 204a (Fig. 4), without departing from this invention.

Figs. 5-9 illustrate additional potential features of putter head structures in accordance with at least some examples of this invention. For example, FIG. 2A illustrates apertures 206 extending rearward from ball striking face 204 in a direction generally perpendicular to ball striking face 204. This is not a requirement. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the apertures 206 may extend rearwardly from the ball striking face 204 at a non-perpendicular angle (angle α) relative to the ball striking face. This angle a can be between 10 and 80, and in some putter structures, between 30 and 60 °. Of course, the openings 206 in a given putter head structure do not have to extend back in parallel (in other words, the rearward extension angle of the various openings 206 can vary in a single putter head structure without depart from this invention).

Other variations of the putter head structure are possible without departing from this invention. For example, the hole 208a in the cavity 208 does not have to be on the bottom surface of the putter head, as shown in FIG. 2A. Instead, as shown in Fig. 6, the hole 208a may be provided in the upper surface of the putter head. Thus, if desired (and as will be described in more detail later in conjunction with Fig. 15), the visible polymeric material (or other material) present in the hole 208a may provide at least a portion of an alignment aid for the putter head. Although the polymeric material within the cavity 208 may be exposed in the hole 208a (and any of the holes described above), if desired, the hole 208a can be closed by a cover member so that the polymeric material does not is directly exposed to the outside environment at hole 208a.

As another potential alternative structure, if desired, more than one hole 208a may be provided with access to cavity 208. For example, Fig. 7 illustrates a putter head structure in which both the upper and lower surfaces of the head Putters include an orifice member 208a with direct access to cavity 208. Either or both of these holes 208a can be used when filling cavity 208 and openings 206 with polymeric material (as will be described in more detail below in conjunction with Fig. 16).

Fig. 8 illustrates yet another example hole configuration for a putter frame that may be used in accordance with at least some examples of this invention. As shown in Fig. 8, in this putter head structure the hole 208a is provided in a surface of the rear face of the putter structure. Such a position of the hole 208a may be desirable, for example, when the putter body is made of a relatively heavy material (such as a relatively heavy metal material) and / or removal of a relatively large amount of this material is desired to lighten the pressure. putter head structure as a whole (i.e. the greater distance between cavity 208 and hole 208a will require the removal of a greater amount of metallic material to bring hole 208a into direct fluid communication with cavity 208. Of course, more than one hole 208a may be provided on the rear surface (or other surface) of the putter frame, if desired. The hole 208a can have the same dimensions as a cross section of the cavity 208 to which it leads (for example, the same width and height, the same diameter, the same shape, etc.) or these dimensions and shapes can be different a few other.

Although all the previous examples illustrated a putter structure with a main body part and the polymeric material inserted therein, the invention is not limited to this configuration. Instead, the main putter body can be constructed of multiple parts without departing from this invention. Fig. 9 illustrates an example putter head structure 900 in which the putter head includes a ball striking face portion 902 that is coupled with a main body portion 904. Any desired manner of engaging the ball face portion may be used. hitting ball 902 with main body portion 904 without departing from this invention.

IS 2 368 313 Τ3

For example, these parts 902 and 904 can be attached by mechanical connectors (for example, threaded connectors, rivets, etc.), by fusion techniques (for example, welding, brazing, soldering, etc.), by glues or adhesives, by combinations of these ways, and / or in other ways. Other numbers and combinations of parts may be provided in the putter head structure as a whole without departing from this invention.

Fig. 9 illustrates additional potential features of putter heads in accordance with this invention. In this example structure 900, no external hole 208a is present with access to cavity 208. Instead, in this example structure 900, cavity 208 is defined on a surface 906 of main body portion 904 to which The striking face portion 902 is connected (the striking face portion 902 includes the apertures 206 defined therein). The openings 206 and cavity 208 can be filled with polymeric material through one or more of the openings 206 located in the ball hitting face 204. As additional alternatives, if desired, the cavity 208 can be defined in the rear surface. of striking face portion 902, or cavity 208 may be partially defined in each of portions 902 and 904. As a further potential alternative, if desired, cavity 208 can be omitted (and the various openings 206 can be filled with the polymeric material separately). A single putter head structure can also include any combination of these features, without departing from this invention.

The openings in the ball striking face through which the polymeric material is exposed can also have a wide variety of configurations without departing from this invention. Figs. 1A and 2A illustrate the openings (and thus the exposed polymeric material) as a plurality of continuous, elongated notches that extend over the majority of the ball hitting face. This is not a requirement.

For example, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the ball hitting face can include multiple sets of separate apertures filled with polymeric material. These sets of apertures may be aligned with each other or may deviate from each other as we move across the ball hitting face. The sets of openings can extend to a common cavity in the body member, to different cavities, or to no common cavity, if desired. Although not illustrated in Fig. 10, if desired, the exposed surfaces of the separate aperture sets may be oriented at different angles to each other and / or may extend rearward at different angles to each other. As yet another example, if desired, the openings within an array do not have to be parallel to each other.

The openings (and thus the exposed polymeric material on the ball striking surface) are not limited to narrow, elongated notches, as illustrated in the previous examples. Instead, if desired, all or some part of the openings can be of a different shape, for example, to produce a stylized design, pattern, alphanumeric information, or other information about the ball hitting face, such as a logo, manufacturer's name, brand, or trademark information, as illustrated in Fig. 11. This trait can also be used to personalize the putter head, for example to include a personal name (such as the putter owner's name), a team name, or any other desired information, or to provide an end user ( such as the buyer of the club or someone else) the ability to design your own putter face.

Fig. 12A illustrates yet another pattern of apertures (and thus another pattern of polymeric material exposed on the surface of the ball striking face). In this example construction, the ball striking face includes the apertures and polymeric material arranged in an arcuate or curved pattern across the ball striking surface. In this structure (as well as the other exposed polymeric material / aperture structures described above), grooves or scratch lines may be included in the polymeric material, in the material between the polymeric material, or both, for example, as described above. in conjunction with Figs. 2C, 2D, 3 and

4.

Fig. 12B illustrates another pattern of apertures (and thus another pattern of polymeric material exposed on the surface of the ball striking face). In this exemplary construction, the ball striking face includes the apertures and polymeric material arranged in linear segments acro ss the ball striking surface. In the center of the putter face, a series of generally horizontal line segments 1202 is provided (when the putter is oriented in a ball-steering position, as shown in Fig. 12B), and in at least some of These horizontal segments 1202 are provided downwardly extending, linear, inclined end segments 1204 that extend contiguously with the horizontal segments 1202. Any desired angle or may be provided between the linear, inclined end segments 1204 and the horizontal segments 1202 without departing from this invention. In some more mirrored examples, be between 10 and 80 °, and in some structures, between 20 and 70 ° or even between 30 and 60 °, and the various angles una within a single putter head may be the same or different without depart from this invention. In addition, if desired, one or more individual inclined segments 1206 independent of the horizontal segments may be provided, for example, at the upper edges of the array of polymeric segments as a whole.

ES 2 368 313 Τ3 (running parallel to or substantially parallel to inclined segments 1204 associated with a horizontal segment). As other alternatives, if desired, the inclined segments 1204 and / or 1206 can be parallel or non-parallel, they can extend up or down, they can differ in number from those illustrated, they can be discontinuous (somewhat separated) from their horizontal segment 1202 associated (if any), they can all extend down to a common base line of the putter structure (for example, to a common horizontal line), they can all extend downward to different horizontal positions, etc. In this illustrated structure (as well as the other exposed polymeric material / aperture structures described above), grooves or score lines may be included in the polymeric material, in the material between the polymeric material, or both, for example, as described above in conjunction with Figs. 2C, 2D, 3 and 4. Sloped segments 1204 and / or 1206 (as well as any grooves or score lines associated with them) can help keep the ball on the desired line when struck off-center of the putter face.

The overall pattern of the exposed polymeric material on the putter face can extend and encompass any desired amount across the putter face in the heel-to-toe direction, such as 25 to 100% of the heel-to-toe direction of the face. , 30 to 90% of the direction of heel to toe of the face, or even 40 to 80% of the direction of heel to toe of the face. In some example structures in accordance with this invention, the general pattern of polymeric material exposed on the putter face may extend across at least the central 25% of the face in the heel-to-toe direction, and in some examples, The polymeric material will extend through at least the center 40% of the face or through at least the center 50% of the face in the heel-to-toe direction.

Aspects of this invention can be accomplished with any desired putter head construction without departing from this invention. Figs. 1A through 12B illustrate aspects of the invention included in various mallet-type golf putter head structures. As illustrated in Fig. 13, aspects of this invention can also be accomplished with paddle-type putter heads. Fig. 14 illustrates aspects of this invention carried out in a large, high moment of inertia putter head construction.

Fig. 15 illustrates aspects of this invention carried out in yet another putter head construction 1500. In this example structure 1500, the hole providing access to the cavity defined in the putter body is provided in the upper surface 1504 of the ball striking face 1506 of the putter head. In this structure 1500, the exposed polymeric material 1502 on the top surface 1504 of the putter head 1500 forms a part of the alignment aid for the putter head 1500. This exposed upper surface hole 1504 may extend any desired distance along the top of the putter head, for example, 25 to 100% of the total heel-to-toe width of the putter head at the position. of the hole, and in some examples, 50 to 95% and even 50 to 85% of the total width from heel to toe at the position of the hole. As noted above, however, instead of directly exposing the polymeric material 1502, the hole may be closed by a cover member to prevent direct exposure of the polymeric material 1502. The exposed polymeric material and / or the cover member can made to any desired color without departing from this invention.

The invention is not limited to use in the various putter constructions shown. Rather, aspects of this invention can be used in the construction of any desired putter construction, including general putter styles and constructions that are known and used in the art.

Fig. 16 generally illustrates one way of making a putter head construction in accordance with examples of this invention. The procedure begins with a general putter body 1600 (or putter ball striking face member) within which a cavity 1608 has been provided and within which a plurality of openings 1606 have been provided in the striking surface of ball 1604. The cavity 1608 and openings 1606 may be provided in the putter body structure 1600 in any desired manner without departing from the invention, such as by machining, molding or casting, by forging, etc. Liquid polymeric material (or a precursor thereof) 1610 is introduced into cavity 1608 through hole 1608a. Liquid polymeric material 1610 flows from cavity 1608 to fill openings 1608 and the channels extending rearward therefrom. If desired, prior to inserting the polymeric material 1610, the putter body 1600 (or at least some parts thereof) can be fitted within a mold or other suitable structure to hold the liquid polymer in place. Polymeric material 1610 can be introduced by pouring, injection molding processes (eg, under pressure), or the like. Once introduced, if necessary, the 1610 polymeric material can be exposed to conditions that allow it to harden, such as cold temperatures; at elevated temperatures; pressure; to ultraviolet, infrared or other radiation; etc. The final putter body 1650 (including the cured polymeric material 1610 thereof), can be reprocessed in any desired manner, for example, by painting, anodizing, or other finishing processes; cutting score lines or grooves in the face of the putter head (eg, as described above); adding a rod and / or grip member to the clubhead; etc.

IS 2 368 313 Τ3

Any desired polymeric material can be used without departing from this invention, including thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric materials, synthetic rubber-type polymeric materials, etc., such as polyurethanes, vinyls (eg, ethylene-vinyl acetates, etc.), nylons, polyethers, polybutylene terephthalates, etc.

Putters and putter heads may have any desired construction, material, dimension, loft angle, lie angle, color, design, and the like, without departing from the invention, including conventional constructions, materials, dimensions, loft angles. , lie angles, colors, patterns, and the like, as known and used in the art.

CONCLUSION

Of course, many modifications of putter and putter head structures and / or procedures can be used to make these structures without departing from the invention. For example, with respect to aiming structures, grips, indicia or marks, other indicia or marks, different types of putter heads, different curvatures and / or shaft shapes, different shapes of rod connecting members, and / or other structural elements without departing from the invention. With respect to processes, additional production steps can be added, various described steps can be omitted, steps can be changed and / or reordered, and the like, without departing from the invention. Therefore, while the invention has been described with respect to specific examples that include presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and combinations of the structures and procedures described above. Thus, the scope of the invention should be broadly interpreted as set forth in the appended claims.