CA2146717A1

CA2146717A1 - Golf putter

Info

Publication number: CA2146717A1
Application number: CA 2146717
Authority: CA
Inventors: Walter Krancevic
Original assignee: CHAMELEON GOLF TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
Current assignee: CHAMELEON GOLF TECHNOLOGIES Ltd
Priority date: 1995-04-10
Filing date: 1995-04-10
Publication date: 1996-10-11
Also published as: AU5328896A; WO1996032165A1

Abstract

A head for a golf club has a heel end adapted to receive a golf club shaft, a toe end remote from the foot end, and between the heel and the toe end a forwardly directed face adapted to provide a striking surface for striking a golf ball and a reverse surface opposite the face of the club. A tapped bore is provided in the club head, extending between the face and the reverse surface, in the central part of the face. A plug of selected weight, density and hardness is screwed into the bore, whereby the forward facing surface of the plug defines a portion of the face of the club head.

Description

~ 21~717 The present invention relates to the field of golf clubs.
In particular, the present invention provides novel golf clubs, including putters, irons and drivers, with weights insertable to the heads of same to vary the balance, density and hardness of the striking f ace of the club .

It is generally known in golf club design to provide user-variable weighting. In British Patent No. 19~,815 (MacDonald), a hollow putter head is disclosed, into which one or more flat weight plates may be stacked and bolted in place. The hardness and density of the striking face of the club are not affected in any way in the MacDonald putter.

In (~iln~ n Patent No . 1, 294, 683, Fukumochi et al describes a golf putter that is susceptible of variable weighting, but again, with,out altering the hardness or density of the striking face of the club.

It is also known to provide weights that screw into the rear (non striking) face of a golf club at the heel and toe of same, to provide customi 2ed balance, without affecting the density or hardness of the striking surface of the golf club.

An object of the present invention is to provide a golf club that has a weighting system that permits a user to vary, according to individual requirements, the weight of the club 21467~7 head. A further object of the present invention is to provide such a weighting system which, in addition to permitting individualized balance, also provides individualized striking face hardness and density. In this regard, it will be appreciated that a golf stroke, ~ p~ci~lly a putting stroke, must be on the proper lille, and it must be with the proper force and follow through. Heretofore, weighting systems for putters have concentrated almost exclusively on balance, and therefore, have been designed to assist a golfer with a stroke that follows the correct line. Once a correct balance is reached for a golfer's swing, the weighting system has accomplished its function, and the golfer must achieve, with practice, the correct force of swing and amount of follow through for the weighting arrangement selected. This approach, common in the prior art, recognizes that persons exhibit idiosyncratic stroke lines that can be helped by a change of balance. It does not recognize individualistic patterns of force of swing, or extent of follow through. However, the present invention does.
In a broad aspect of the present invention relates to a head for a golf club, having a heel end adapted to receive a golf club shaft, a toe end remote from the foot end, and between the heel and the toe end a forwardly directed face adapted to provide a striking surface for striking a golf ball, and a reverse surface, opposite the face of the club;

214~717 characterized in that a tapped bore is provided in said club head, extending between said face and said reverse surface, in the central part of said f`ace, and a plug of selected weight, density and hardness is screwed into said bore, whereby the forward facing surface of said plug defines a portion of 6aid f ace of the club head .
In drawings that illustrate the present invention by way of example:
Figure 1 is a perspective view partially exploded and cut away of a golf putter head embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a golf driver embodying the present invention; an(l Figure 3 is a perspective view, partially exploded, of a golf iron embodying the p]^esent invention.
Referring now to Figures 1, the putter ~ of the present invention is illustrated. A putter head 1 that may be made of bronze, brass, stael, or any other desired material, is provided with heel 3 and toe 2 areas that may be weighted to provide a putter head ~Jith good balance and which will not tend to twist when being swung. The heel area 3 has a hosel 5 and shaft (not illustrated) extending therefrom. The sole 4 of the putter of the present invention is f lat, to provide a smooth ground contacting surface. The front, ball contacting, face g of the putter is also flat, and is generally ` 214~71~
perpendicular to the sole. If desired, the front face of the putter may be slightly angled several~degrees to provide a 61ight loft or a slight reverse loft. In such a case, the tapered bore in the putter head that is provided for the screw-in insertion of plug 8 (as will be explained in detail below) will be perpendicular to the front face 10 of the putter, so that the f ront f ace 9 of the plug 8 wi l l be f lush with the front face 10 of the putter.
As can be seen from Figures 1, the putter head is provided with a screw-in plug 8, wllich screws into a bore formed in an enlarged ridge 7 along the lateral (front to rear) axis of the club head. The bore extends entirely through the club head and terminates, at the front of the club head, in a recessed lip 13 against which a corr~ç:p~-nfl;ng flange 14 on the plug 8 seats in the bore, when the plug is screwed fully in place. It will be understood, then, that a plug 8 will be screwed into the bore from the front face thereof. The plug is tightened into place by placing an appropriate tool, such as a hex key wrench 6, in the receptacle 12 provided on the rear face of the plug, and turning the plug until it is firmly seated in the club, with the flange 14 firmly against the flange seat or lip 13.
With the plug firmly in place, the front face 9 of the plug 8 will be coplanar with the front face 10 of the club head. It will be understood that receptacle 12 may be machined directly into the rearmost end of p~lug 8; but will preferably be formed 214ff7~
in a modular unit that mc~y be permanently inserted into any plug, regardless of the material from which it is fabricated.
The modular unit will include means to graspingly engage a suitable bore centred in the plug, and means engageable with a turning tool such as a screwdriver, allen keyl or the like.
The turning tool is inserted through the rear face of the club, and engages the unit 12 in the rear of the plugl so that turning the turning tool draws the plug 8 into the face of the club .
The plug 8 may be o~ any desired lengthl or fabricated from any desired material so that by selecting a plug with a desired density and resiliency a golfer will be able to choose a custom feel to the club. Thenl by selecting a plug with a desired lengthl the player is able to choose a custom balance to the head of the club.
Since the plugs may be made from Yirtually any material capable of being machined or mouldedl the range of customized balance and club feel available to a golfer i8 practically unlimited. If I for instancel a golfer chooses a fairly long/
lead plugl a club head that is fairly heavyl with a substantially dead feel upon impactl is obtained. Such a club may be selected by a player having a tendency to overswing when puttingl since the heavier club head will not be subject to excessive backswingl or erratic follow through. A very light `~ . ` 2146717 and resilient plug, such a.s an oak plugl will be more suitable for a player requiring additional follow through. The following table briefly summarizes a sampling of different plugs f or putters, including sub jective comments thereon . It will be understood that because of the many variables in different person's golfing styles, the comment in the "characteristics" column may be inappropriate for any given person .
TABLE: I
Ms~ ria ~ h:~ract~ri~tics Lead 2.5 cm 80g `dead' feel to club 1.25 cm 40g head, shortens follow through Steel 2 . 5 100g makes a brass club 1. 25 50g slightly more lively, neutral on a steel club Brass 2 . 5 100g neutral on a brass 1.25 50g club, slightly deadens a steel club Copper 2.5 lL0g slight flf~i~flF~n;n 1. 25 55g effect Aluminum 2 . 5 35g liveliest metal 1.25 17.5g PVC 2 . 5 25g hard face gives club a plastic 1.25 12.5g light touch, a lively ball nylon 2.5 25g very light, touch but 1. 25 12 . 5g soft face deadens ef f ect oak 2 . 5 lOg very resilient touch 1 . 25 5g Note: certain portiolls of plugs may be hollowed.

Referring to Figure 2, a driver utilizinq the interchangeable plug system of the present invention is illustrated. A driver ut; l; ~; ng this system is also preferably provided with an ad justable counterweight that can be moved -by rotation in a threaded bore - by a turning tool. The counterweight is preferably made from a heavy material such as steel, and is a snug fit in the bore, to prevent accidental rotation. ~IJV. I of the counterweight to an appropriate location between the heel and the toe of the club can, moreover, be effected to correct for hook or slice in a swing.
Referring lastly to Figure 3, an iron embodying the present invention is illustrated. Because of the th;nn~s~ of an iron a player cannot choose any desired length of plug, but must utilize a shorter plug of a desired material. In other respects, and characteristics, the construction use of the plug of the present invention is not different, though, and similar numerals are utilized to indicate the parts of the invention illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
It is to be understood that the description above, and the examples illustrated are not meant to be limiting. It is expected that ~ S other means of carrying out the present invention will be obvious to one skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A head for a golf club, having a heel end adapted to receive a golf club shaft, a toe end remote from the foot end, and between the heel and the toe end a forwardly directed face adapted to provide a striking surface for striking a golf ball, and a reverse surface, opposite the face of the club:
characterized in that a tapped bore is provided in said club head, extending between said face and said reverse surface, in the central part of said face, and a plug of selected weight, density and hardness is screwed into said bore, whereby the forward facing surface of said plug defines a portion of said face of the club head.

2. A head for a golf club as described in claim 1, further characterized in that the tapped portion of said bore adjacent said face is recessed therefrom by a circumferential ledge there about, there being a corresponding flange on said plug.

3. A head for a golf club as described in claim 2, further characterized in that said tapped bore, and plug are located on said face at the intended point of impact of said face with a golf ball.

4. A head for a golf club as described in claim 3, further characterized in that said bore extends at a right angle to said face.

5. A head for a golf club as described in claim 4, further characterized in that said plug in its reverse surface, is provided with means to engage a turning tool.

6. A head for a golf club as described in claim 5, further characterized in that said means to engage a turning tool comprises a slot, aperture, socket or groove formed in the reverse surface of said plug.

7. A head for a golf club as described in claim 5, further characterized in that said means to engage a turning tool comprises an insert fixable in a receptacle in the reverse surface of a said plug, and provided with a slot, aperture, socket or groove formed in the rearwardly facing surface of said insert.

8. A head for a golf club as described in any one of claims 1-7, further characterized in that said plug is fabricated from a material selected from the group including ferrous metals and alloys, non-ferrous metals and alloys, including copper, brass, bronze, lead, silver, light metals and alloys including aluminum, magnesium and titanium, plastics including polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, nylon, carbon fibre and resin compounds, wood including hardwoods and softwoods.