US20050049077A1

US20050049077A1 - Gable shaped dual faced golf putter head

Info

Publication number: US20050049077A1
Application number: US10/651,961
Authority: US
Inventors: Gary Lister
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-09-02
Filing date: 2003-09-02
Publication date: 2005-03-03

Abstract

A putter head having first and second triangular striking faces disposed on opposite sides of the putter head. The striking faces are substantially identical to one another. A hole extends through the putter head from an area proximate each apex of the first striking face to the corresponding apex of the second striking face such that the center of mass of the putter head is concentrated proximate an axis through the first and second striking faces.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to putter heads of golf clubs, and more specifically to a putter head designed to impart a forward roll on a golf ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Putting plays an important role in a successful round of golf. Since only two putts per hole are allocated to the par rating of any golf hole, it is critical that a golfer be as accurate as possible with a putter.
Various types of putter heads have been designed in an effort to obtain improvements in accuracy. Accuracy of a golf putt is largely dependent on the type of roll imparted to the golf ball by the putter head. For a golf ball to stay on line, the best possible roll is a forward one that is initiated by contact with the putter head. Conventional putters do not impart this type of roll as the “sweet spot” of the putter head is well below the center of the golf ball. This positioning of the “sweet spot” imparts backspin to the ball on the initial few inches of the putt causing it to skitter and travel off-line. The “sweet spot” is located at a point on the striking face of the putter head on an axis running through the center of mass perpendicular to the striking faces of the putter head. It is an object of the invention to provide a putter head, which causes the ball to roll without backspin resulting in more accurate putts.
It is well known that the accuracy of a golf putt is also dependent on a consistent swing. When putting, a consistent swing is largely dependent on the putter head remaining on-line with the target and the middle of the golf ball during a swing. It is a further object of the invention to provide a putter head, which is designed to assist a golfer in keeping the putter head on-line with the target and the center of the ball during a swing.
Putters with a convex or concave bottom may rock, making it difficult to align the putter head with a golf ball and the intended target. It is an object of the invention to provide a putter head that is easy to align with a golf ball and the intended target.
Further, most conventional putters are designed for either left- or right-handed players. It is an object of the present invention to provide a putter that may be used by either left- or right-handed players.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a putter head comprising a body with first and second triangular striking faces disposed parallel to each other on opposite sides of the body of the putter head. The first and second striking faces are perpendicular to a side surface of the body. A hole extends through the body of the putter head, from each apex of the first striking face to the corresponding apex of the second striking face, such that the center of mass of the putter head is proximate an axis through the first and second striking faces. The “sweet spot” is located at a point on the striking face of the putter head on an axis running through the center of mass perpendicular to the striking faces of the putter head.
Preferably, the axis through the center of mass lies along the geometric center of the first and second striking faces.
Preferably, the striking faces are in the shape of an isosceles triangle. Each apex of the first and second striking faces may be rounded.
Advantageously, the center of mass of the putter head is located above the base of the putter head a distance slightly less than a radius of a golf ball such that when the putter head is raised off a golf ball-supporting surface, the center of mass is at a same height as a center of the golf ball. This in turn causes the golf ball to roll smoothly off of the face when struck and roll forwardly on impact resulting in a more accurate putt as the golf ball travels on-line towards the intended target.
Preferably, the body of the putter head is symmetrical about a plane extending through the center of the putter head parallel to the striking faces.
Preferably, the body of the putter head has a constant cross section.
Advantageously, the body of the putter head has a flat bottom allowing a user to easily align the putter head to the ball and intended target.
The holes through the body of the putter head may be covered at the surface of the first and second striking faces to conform to the rules of golf.
The top apex of the body of the putter head may have a sighting line to assist a user to align the putter head to the golf ball and target. The body of the putter head may also include a first line and a second line located at equal distances from the top apex of the putter head, which are used to assist a user in centering the golf ball such that the sweet spot of the putter head strikes the center of a golf ball.
Advantageously, the shaft of the putter head is located halfway between said first and second striking faces, such that a right- or left-handed user may use the putter.
The body of the putter head may be composed of aluminum or other material such as stainless steel.
The body of the putter head may also include a hole extending from the first striking face to the second face through the center of mass of the putter head. This hole may be filed with copper, brass or tungsten.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of example, of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the putter head; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a golf ball.

DETAILED DESCRITPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a putter head 10 having a triangular shaped body 11 with two triangular striking faces 12 located on opposite sides of the body 11 is shown. The faces 12 are perpendicular to edges 15 and 27 of the body 11. The body 11 has a constant cross section and is symmetrical. The faces 12 have holes 14 near each apex that run the length (i.e. face to face) of the body 11 of the putter head 10. The crossed lines mark the “sweet spot” 16 on each face 12, which is located at the surface of each face 12 and is on an axis running through the center of mass of the body 11 of the putter head 10 perpendicular to each face 12. The triangular shaped body 11 and location of the holes 14 cause the center of mass to be concentrated about the axis.
The “sweet spots” 16 are positioned above base 29 of body 11 a distance slightly less than a radius of a golf ball 24 (refer to FIG. 2) such that when the putter head 10 is raised off a golf ball supporting surface, the center of mass of the body 11 is at a same height as the center 26 of a golf ball 24. Therefore, when a user aligns the putter head 10 to the golf ball 24, the golf ball 24 is struck at the center 26 by the “sweet spot” 16 causing a forward rolling action to the golf ball 24. This type of roll causes the golf ball 24 to run smoothly off the face 12 of the putter head 10 and to start on-line.
The striking faces of many putter heads known in the art comprise a few degrees of loft, (normally 1 to 3 degrees) which provides some lift, and unfortunately often backspin, to the golf ball when struck. To compensate for the loft, many golfers apply a forward press on their putter. The faces 12 of the putter head 10 of the present invention may similarly be lofted, however, in the preferred embodiment described herein the faces 12 have no loft. We have found that unlofted faces 12 more effectively impart a forward roll to the golf ball when struck, resulting in more accurate puts.
Advantageously, as a result of the overall symmetry of the shape of the body 11, and the size and location of the holes 14, the putter head 10 is balanced with the center of mass focused on and between the “sweet spots” 16, which assists a golfer in keeping the putter head 10 on-line with the target and the midline 25 of a golf ball 24 during a swing.
The body 11 of the putter head 10 includes three lines for centering the ball on the faces 12; a sighting line 18 on the top apex running perpendicular to the two faces 12 and two centering lines 20 running in a similar manner on opposite sides of the sighting line 18. The distance between the two centering lines 20 allows for a golf ball to be centered between them such that the midline 25 of the golf ball 24 (see FIG. 2) is in-line with the sighting line 18. The three lines aid the user in aligning the “sweet spot” 16 of the putter head 10 with the center 26 of a golf ball 24 (see FIG. 2), as well as in aligning the putter head 10 and golf ball 24 to the intended target.
The flat bottom of the body of the putter head 10 allows it to sit completely flat on the ground while lining up the putter head 10 and golf ball 24 to the hole. Advantageously, the flat bottom allows the putter head 10, to sit in the same position every time providing a consistent position for aligning the putter head 10 and golf ball 24 to the target.
The shaft placement hole 22 is located halfway between the two faces 12 and halfway from the sighting line 18 and edge 15 of he body 11 of the putter head 10. As the putter head 10 has two aces 12 it may be used by either right- or left-handed players.
Preferably, the body 11 of the putter head 10 is composed of a solid piece of aluminum, as the hardness of this material is suited to putters. Alternatively, stainless steel may be used for the body 11 of the putter head 10. Advantageously, the weight of putter head 10 may by varied depending on the size of the holes 14. The putter head 10 may be constructed using a computer driven milling machine, making for a high degree of accuracy during production.
Alternatively, the body 11 of the putter head 10 may have a hole that runs the length (i.e. face to face) of the axis between the “sweet spots” 16. This hole may be filled with a material heavier than aluminum such as copper, brass, or tungsten, thereby further concentrating the center of mass at the “sweet spots” 16. The provision of a hole that runs the length (i.e. face to face) of the “sweet spots” 16 provides an additional method of focusing the center of mass of the body 11 of the putter head 10.
The faces 12 have rounded apexes. The longest side of each face 12 is the base 29. The two equal sides 31 of faces 12 extend from the base 29 up to the sighting line 18.
In an alternative embodiment, the length of the edges 15 and 27 may be shortened and the length of base 29 lengthened to create a blade-shaped putter.
Preferably, the putter head 10 is completely symmetrical, however, edges 15 and 27 may be slightly shorter than the width of base 29. Further, plugs made of a material such as plastic, may be inserted in each end of the holes 14.
Accordingly, while this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments, which fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A putter head comprising:

(a) a body having a constant triangular cross section with first and second striking faces disposed parallel to each other on opposite sides of said body and perpendicular to a side surface of said body;

(b) a plurality of unfilled holes extending through said body, each of said holes extending from an area proximate a periphery of said first striking face to a corresponding area of said second striking face such that a center of mass of said body is concentrated proximate an axis through said first and second striking faces, said axis perpendicular to said first and second striking faces.

2. The putter head according to claim 1, wherein said axis lies along a geometric center of said first and second striking faces.

3. The putter head according to claim 1, wherein said center of mass is located above a base of said body a distance slightly less than a radius of a golf ball such that when said putter head is raised off a golf ball supporting surface, said center of mass is at a same height as a center of said golf ball.

4. The putter head according to claim 1, wherein said body is symmetrical about a plane extending through said center of mass of said body parallel to said first and second striking faces.

5. The putter head according to claim 1, wherein said body has a flat bottom.

6. The putter head according to claim 1, wherein said body has a sighting line operative to assist a user to align a golf ball to a target.

7. The putter head according to claim 6, wherein a first line and a second line are located on either side of and at equal distances from said sighting line and are operative to assist a user in centering a golf ball such that said center of mass of said body strikes a center of said golf ball when in use.

8. The putter head according to claim 1, wherein a shaft is located half-way between said first and second striking faces.

9. The putter head according to claim 1, wherein said body is composed of aluminum.

10. The putter head according to claim 1, further comprising a central hole from said first striking face to said second striking face through said center of mass.

11. The putter head according to claim 10, wherein said central hole is filled with one of: copper, brass and tungsten.

12. The putter head according to claim 1, wherein openings of said holes are covered at the surface of said first striking face and said second striking face.

13. The putter head according to claim 1, wherein a “sweet spot” is located on each of said first and second striking faces on said axis perpendicular to said first and second striking faces.

14. A putter head comprising:

(a) a body with first and second triangular striking faces disposed parallel to each other on opposite sides of said body and perpendicular to a side surface of said body;

(b) a plurality of holes, each hole extending through said body through an area proximate an apex of said first triangular striking face to an area proximate a corresponding apex of said second triangular striking face such that a center of mass of said body is concentrated about an axis through said first and second triangular striking faces, said axis perpendicular to said first and second striking faces.

15. The putter head according to claim 14, wherein said axis is along a geometric center of said first and second triangular striking faces.

16. The putter head according to claim 14, wherein said center of mass is located above a base of said body a distance slightly less than a radius of a golf ball such that when said putter head is raised off a golf ball supporting surface, said center of mass is at a same height as a center of said golf ball.

17. The putter head according to claim 14, wherein said body is symmetrical about a plane extending through said center of mass of said body parallel to said first and second triangular striking faces.

18. The putter head according to claim 14, wherein said body has a constant cross section.

19. The putter head according to claim 14, wherein said first and second triangular striking faces have a shape of an isosceles triangle.

20. The putter head according to claim 14, wherein said body has a flat bottom.

21. The putter head according to claim 14, wherein each apex of said first and second triangular striking faces is rounded.

22. The putter head according to claim 14, wherein a top apex of said body has a sighting line operative to assist a user to align a golf ball to a target.

23. The putter head according to claim 14, wherein a first line and a second line are located on either side of and at equal distances from a top apex of said body, said first and second lines operative to assist a user in centering a golf ball such that said center of mass of said body strikes a center of said golf ball when in use.

24. The putter head according to claim 14, wherein a shaft is located half-way between said first and second triangular striking faces.

25. The putter head according to claim 14, wherein said body is composed of aluminum.

26. The putter head according to claim 14, further comprising a central hole from said first triangular striking face to said second triangular striking face through said center of mass.

27. The putter head according to claim 26, wherein said hole is filled with one of: copper, brass and tungsten.

28. The putter head according to claim 14, wherein openings of said holes are covered at the surface of said first triangular striking face and said second triangular striking face.

29. The putter head according to claim 14, wherein a “sweet spot” is located on each of said first and second triangular striking faces on said axis perpendicular to said first and second triangular striking faces.