Putter with replaceable face insert

A golf club head, preferably a putter head, comprising a replaceable face insert is disclosed herein. The golf club head comprises a body with face cavity and a secondary cavity in communication with, and disposed behind, the face cavity, and at least one opening extending through a top or sole portion into the secondary cavity. The replaceable face insert comprises a striking portion and a support structure extending from a rear surface of the striking portion. The support structure is received within the secondary cavity and the striking portion is received within the face cavity, and then a rod or bolt is inserted through the opening and through the support structure to reversibly secure the face insert to the body. A linear bearing may be disposed within the support structure to receive the rod or bolt.

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf club head, particularly a putter, with a structure for receiving a replaceable face insert.

Description of the Related Art

Putters typically include face inserts that are permanently bonded within a frontal recess. It is difficult to remove a face insert once it is bonded into the putter head, and doing so risks causing to the face insert itself and the rest of the putter body. There a need, therefore, for a putter with a putter face replacement system that allows a golfer to change the type of face insert without causing damage to the putter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is a golf club head, and particularly a putter, comprising a structure designed to receive and retain a replaceable face insert.

Another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a body comprising a front surface, a top portion extending from an upper edge of the front surface, a sole portion extending from a lower edge of the front surface, a first cavity extending into the front surface, a second cavity disposed behind, and in communication with, the first cavity, a sole opening extending through the sole portion and in communication with the second cavity, and a threaded bore extending into an inner surface of the top portion, a face insert comprising a striking portion comprising a striking surface and a rear surface opposite the striking surface, and at least one support ring extending from the rear surface, and a mechanical fastener comprising a head portion, an extension portion, and a threaded portion, wherein the sole opening is encircled by a flange portion, wherein the threaded bore is in communication with the second cavity and is vertically aligned with the sole opening, wherein the striking portion is sized to fit within the first cavity so that the striking surface is approximately flush with a portion of the front surface, wherein the at least one support ring is sized to fit within the second cavity, and wherein when the threaded portion of the mechanical fastener engages the threaded bore, the extension portion of the mechanical fastener extends through the support ring and the head portion abuts the flange portion to reversibly fix the face insert to the body.

In some embodiments, the at least one support ring may comprise an upper support ring and a lower support ring, and the upper support ring may be vertically aligned with the lower support ring. In a further embodiment, the golf club head may comprise a bearing, which may be disposed between the upper support ring and the lower support ring, and the extension portion may extend through the bearing. In some embodiments, the bearing may comprise an aluminum alloy and a coating material. In other embodiments, the bearing may be composed of an anodized aluminum alloy at least partially coated with Frelon®. In some embodiments, the golf club head may further comprise a washer, wherein the washer is disposed between the upper support ring and the top portion of the body.

In other embodiments, the golf club head may further comprise a sealing gasket extending around a periphery of the striking portion. In still other embodiments, tightening the mechanical fastener within the golf club head puts the fastener in tension between the top portion and the sole portion. In other embodiments, the golf club head may be a putter head. In another embodiment, neither the upper nor the lower support ring may be flush with a periphery edge of the striking portion. In yet another embodiment, the bearing may be retained between the upper and lower support ring via friction locking. In some embodiments, the threaded bore may be encircled by a boss extending from the top portion, and wherein the threaded bore and boss are integrally formed with the top portion. In other embodiments, the golf club head may further comprise a rear wall enclosing a rear side of the second cavity, or at least one weight port in the sole portion.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a putter head comprising a metal body comprising a front surface, a top portion extending from an upper edge of the front surface, a sole portion extending from a lower edge of the front surface, a face cavity extending into the front surface, a heel-side cavity disposed behind, and in communication with, the face cavity, a toe-side cavity disposed behind, and in communication with, the face cavity, a heel-side sole opening extending through the sole portion and in communication with the heel-side cavity, a toe-side sole opening extending through the sole portion and in communication with the toe-side cavity, a heel-side threaded bore extending into an inner surface of the top portion, and a toe-side threaded bore extending into an inner surface of the top portion, a face insert comprising a striking portion comprising a striking surface and a rear surface opposite the striking surface, upper and lower heel-side support rings extending from the rear surface, and upper and lower toe-side support rings extending from the rear surface, first and second mechanical fasteners, each comprising a head portion, an extension portion, and a threaded portion, wherein the heel-side opening is at least partially encircled by a heel-side flange portion, wherein the toe-side opening is at least partially encircled by a toe-side flange portion, wherein the heel-side threaded bore is in communication with the heel-side cavity and is vertically aligned with the heel-side sole opening, wherein the toe-side threaded bore is in communication with the toe-side cavity and is vertically aligned with the toe-side sole opening, wherein the threaded portion of the first mechanical fastener engages the heel side threaded bore, the extension portion of the first mechanical fastener extends through the heel side upper and lower support rings within the heel-side cavity, and the head portion of the first mechanical fastener abuts the heel-side flange portion, and wherein the threaded portion of the second mechanical fastener engages the toe side threaded bore, the extension portion of the second mechanical fastener extends through the toe side upper and lower support rings within the toe-side cavity, and the head portion of the second mechanical fastener abuts the toe-side flange portion.

In some embodiments, the body may further comprise a heel-side boss extending from the top portion and at least partially encircling the heel-side threaded bore and a toe-side boss extending from the top portion and at least partially encircling the toe-side boss. In still other embodiments, the body may further comprise a rear wall enclosing at least one of the heel-side and toe-side cavities. In another embodiment, none of the upper and lower support rings are flush with a periphery edge of the striking portion. In a further embodiment, the putter head may further comprise a sealing gasket extending around a periphery of the striking portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a golf club head, and particularly a putter head, with a replaceable face insert.

In a first embodiment, shown inFIGS. 1-7, the putter head10has a body20with a heel side21proximate a hosel22, a toe side23, a front surface24, a top portion30extending rearward from an upper edge25of the front surface24, a sole portion40extending rearward from a lower edge26of the front surface24, and a rear end27. A face cavity50extends into the front surface24and communicates with a heel-side cavity52and a toe-side cavity54, each of which is disposed behind the face cavity50along a front-to-back x-axis extending perpendicular to the front surface24. As shown in the Figures, each of the heel- and toe-side cavities52,54has a rear opening facing the rear end27of the body20, but in an alternative embodiment (an example of which is shown inFIGS. 13-17), a rear wall55may enclose the back side of each of these cavities52,54.

The top portion30has a recessed central area35sized to receive the front portion of a cover piece200. A heel-side top opening32extends through the top portion30and communicates with the heel-side cavity52, and a toe-side top opening34extends through the top portion and communicates with the toe-side cavity54. The sole portion40has a heel-side depression42extending into an interior sole surface45and aligned with the heel-side top opening32along a vertical z-axis extending perpendicular to the x-axis, and a toe-side depression44extending into the interior sole surface45and aligned with the toe-side top opening34along the vertical z-axis.

The body20engages a face insert100having a striking portion110with a striking surface112, a rear surface114opposite the striking surface, and a periphery edge116extending approximately perpendicular to, and connecting, the striking and rear surfaces112,114. A sealing gasket120is affixed to the periphery edge116to ensure that there are no frontal gaps in the putter head10when the face insert100is affixed to the body20. The sealing gasket120preferably does not make contact with any portion of the striking surface112.

Cylindrical heel- and toe-side support structures130,140extend from the rear surface114of the striking portion110, each having an elongated through-bore135,145extending along the z-axis from upper edges132,142to lower edges134,144of the support structure130,140. The upper edges132,142and lower edges134,144are preferably flush with the periphery edge116of the striking portion110, so that the cylindrical support structures130,140extend along the entire vertical height H of the striking portion110, but in alternative embodiments, the cylindrical support structures130,140may not extend along the entire vertical height H. Each elongated through-bore135,145includes a linear sleeve bearing150,155, which is trapped within the elongated-through bore135,145between snap rings160,162,164,166that at least partially disposed within circular grooves131,133,141,143that are in communication with the elongated through-bores135,145.

The heel-side support structure130is sized to fit within the heel-side cavity52, and the toe-side support structure140is sized to fit within the toe-side cavity. When these support structures130,140are fully disposed within their respective cavities52,54, the striking portion110is seated within the face cavity50so that the striking surface112is approximately flush with the front surface24of the body and the sealing gasket120creates a seal between the face insert100and the body20. Fully engaging the face insert100with the body20also causes the elongated through-bore135in the heel-side support structure130to align with the heel-side top opening32and the heel-side depression42, and the elongated through-bore145in the toe-side support structure140to align with the toe-side top opening34and the toe-side depression44.

Once the face insert100is disposed within the cavities50,52,54of the body20as described above, retaining rods170,180are used to secure the face insert100to the body20. The first retaining rod170is inserted into the heel-side elongated through-bore135through the heel-side top opening32so that it extends through the bore152in the linear bearing150and a lower end172abuts the heel-side depression42. The second retaining rod180is inserted into the toe-side elongated through-bore145through the toe-side top opening34so that it extends through the bore157in the linear bearing155and a lower end182abuts the toe-side depression44. The linear bearings150,155help to snugly retain the retaining rods170,180within their respective elongated through-bores135,145. Each retaining rod170,180has tapered upper and lower ends174,184,182, which helps to center the retaining rods170,180, within their respective, elongated through-bores135,145, and to engage the depressions42,44in the sole portion40.

When the retaining rods170,180are fully engaged with the face insert100and the body20, the cover piece200is attached to the body20to reversibly fix the retaining rods170,180in place. The cover piece200comprises an external surface205with alignment markings210and an internal surface220with a pair of bosses222,224, one extending from a frontal heel side of the cover piece200, and the other extending from a frontal toe side of the cover piece200. The heel side boss222receives the tapered upper end174of the first retaining rod170, and the toe side boss224receives the tapered upper end184of the second retaining rod180. The cover piece200preferably is then reversibly affixed to the body20with snap features, temporary adhesive material, and/or mechanical fasteners such as bolts or screws (as shown inFIGS. 8-12); doing so places pressure on the retaining rods170,180and holds them, and the face insert100, in place within the body20. The front portion215of the cover piece200, which is received by the recessed central area35of the top portion30, preferably is thinner than the rear portion217of the body so that the putter head10has a flush upper surface15.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 8-12. This putter head10has most of the same features as the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1-7, but instead of retaining rods170,180, the putter head10of the preferred embodiment includes a pair of elongated bolts70,80, also referred to as mechanical fasteners, which are inserted into the body20via the sole portion40instead of the top portion30. Each bolt70,80has a head portion72,82, an elongated extension portion74,84, and a threaded tip portion76,86, while the sole portion40comprises a heel-side sole opening46surrounded by a heel-side flange portion47and a toe-side sole opening48surrounded by a toe-side flange portion49.

The cover piece200in this embodiment includes heel- and toe-side threaded internal bores230,235, each of which is supported by a raised boss240,245extending from the external surface205of the cover piece200. When the cover piece200is properly disposed on the body20, the heel-side threaded internal bore230vertically aligns with the heel-side opening46, and the toe-side threaded internal bore235vertically aligns with the toe-side opening48. The cover piece200in this embodiment also includes first and second through-bores250,255at a middle section214, through which smaller bolts90,92are inserted to engage threaded bores94,96located in a middle region43of the sole portion40. In this way, the cover piece200can be reversibly affixed to the body20.

As shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, when each of the cover piece200and the face insert100is fully engaged with the body20, the bolt70is attached to the body20by threading the elongated extension portion74through the heel-side sole opening46, through the elongated through bore135, and through the bore152in the linear bearing150, until the threaded tip portion76engages the heel-side threaded internal bore230and the head portion72abuts an external surface of the heel-side flange portion47. The other bolt80is attached to the body in the same way, threading the elongated extension portion84through the toe-side sole opening48, through the elongated through-bore145, and through the bore157in the linear bearing155, until the threaded tip portion86engages the toe-side threaded internal bore235and the head portion82abuts an external surface of the toe-side flange portion49. Tightening the bolts70,80puts them in tension between the cover piece200and the sole portion40.

In a third, preferred embodiment, shown inFIGS. 13-17, the putter head has many of the same features as the second embodiment, except that, instead of a removable cover piece200, the putter head10comprises a one piece body20with heel- and toe-side threaded internal bores230,235(which extend entirely through the top portion30) and supporting bosses240,245that are integrally formed with the top portion30of the body20. In this construction, there is no need for separate cover piece200to cap off any openings in the top portion30, thereby reducing the cost of making the product and the complexity of assembling it.

Furthermore, in this preferred embodiment, the face insert100does not include elongated support structures130,140, but instead includes heel- and toe-side upper and lower support rings136,138,146,148, which serve to reduce the overall weight of the face insert100compared with the first and second embodiments. Each linear bearing150,155in this embodiment fits between an upper and lower pair of support rings136,138,146,148, and preferably is retained between them via snapping or friction locking. Washers122,124are disposed between the body20and each of the upper support rings136,146when this embodiment is fully assembled so as to reduce or eliminate vibrations within the assembly. The support rings136,138,146,148preferably are not flush with the periphery edge116of the striking portion110so as to leave space available for the washers122,124.

The present invention is useful to a golfer because they can select a preferred putter body20and a preferred face insert100separately from one another. As shown inFIGS. 1-7, the face insert100of that embodiment includes striking face technology described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,577,484, 9,265,996, 8,915,798, 8,696,492, or 8,684,860, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 8-12, the face insert100includes White Hot striking face technology, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,302, 6,273,831, or 6,273,832, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

Some alternative striking surface112options are shown inFIGS. 18-21. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 18 and 19, the striking surface112comprises a recessed area300with a plurality of bulbous bristles302extending perpendicular from the recessed base304, such that the top edges303of the bristles are flush with the rest of the striking surface112. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 20 and 21, the striking surface112comprises a recessed area300filled with an insert310made up of rows of hollow, rectangular tubes312elongated along the heel-to-toe y axis, each of which can move upon impact with a golf ball independently of other tubes312. In still other embodiments, the face insert100may comprise the technology disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,776,051, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

Each piece of the putter head10preferably is composed of a high strength material, such as titanium alloy or stainless steel, though the linear bearings150,155preferably are composed of an anodized aluminum alloy with a Frelon® liner coating. Alternatively, portions of the putter head10, such as the hosel22or the cover piece200, can be formed of a lighter weight material such as aluminum ally, carbon composite, or plastic to reduce the overall weight of the putter head10and ensure a low center of gravity. The gasket120and washers122,124preferably are composed of a polymeric material for damping purposes. The material composition of the different parts of the putter head10can, however, be adjusted as desired by the golfer to change the center of gravity location. The putter head10may also comprise weight ports60,65, as shown inFIGS. 13-17, to allow for further adjustability of the center of gravity location.