Patent Publication Number: US-2023143221-A1

Title: Putter club head with profiled face insert

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 63/276,998, filed Nov. 8, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter disclosed herein relates in general to golf clubs, and more specifically to a putter type of golf club having a head portion that includes an insert comprising face and base portions made of dissimilar materials and which interface together at curved profiled surfaces to thereby provide for consistent golf ball distance traveled regardless of where on the putter club face the golf ball is hit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When using a putter type of golf club while playing golf, it is known for the golfer to attempt to strike the golf ball with the front face of the putter club head at the approximate center of gravity (“COG”) of the club head. Oftentimes the COG of the putter club head is marked with a visual indicator so that the golfer knows where the COG is. This is to impart the desired amount of velocity to the ball in an attempt to get the ball to travel a desired distance and into the cup. However, oftentimes the ball is contacted or struck by the putter face unintentionally at other than or away from the COG or “sweet spot” of the club face (i.e., “off center” on the heel or toe portions of the club face). As such, a considerable lessening or drop off in the velocity of the golf ball occurs. This can occur, for example, when the golfer places the ball too close or too far from his/her body. This may also occur due to a curved arc instead of a straight back swing/takeaway and/or forward follow through swing, or from some other swing irregularity. Such an off-center hit has the negative effect of usually causing the golf ball to travel at a less than desired velocity and, thus, the ball does not travel the necessary distance for the ball to reach the cup. It may also cause the golf ball to travel in other than a desired direction towards the cup as the club head may undesirably turn or be torqued by the force of the golf ball being hit by the club head at a point away from the COG and at the heel or toe portions of the club head. The typical result is that the golfer fails to get the ball in to the cup as intended. 
     There are many known attempts to mitigate or solve the problem of decreased golf ball velocity or “speed drop-off” due to off-center hits and, thus, to enhance shot distance performance. These prior art attempts include, for example, use of inserts in the putter head, and variations in the texture of the surface of the putter face as well as variations in putter face material composition, thickness, and in the sizes of grooves formed in the putter face. Yet, it is known that relatively minor manufacturing variations in machining and/or quality control (which typically occur in the manufacturing process) may negate the benefits of groove variations and other ball distance performance features utilized in golf club putters. 
     Therefore, what is needed is an improved design of the head portion of a golf club putter and an associated improved golf club putter head manufacturing method, which together better solve the problem of decreased velocity of a golf ball when the ball undergoes an off-center hit by the putter head, thereby providing for consistent velocity and consistent resulting distance traveled of the golf ball regardless of where on the face of the putter head the ball is hit. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a golf club putter head that improves ball striking distance performance by advantageously utilizing the principles of stored elastic potential energy along the entire length of the face of the putter head between the toe and heel of the putter head to thereby compensate or correct for off-center hits of the golf ball. 
     Another object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a golf club putter head that provides for approximate equal velocity and, thus, equal distance of travel of the golf ball, by utilizing increased amounts of elasticity within the putter head starting with a minimum value of elasticity at the center of the head and increasing elasticity values along the entire length of the face of the putter head out towards the toe and heel of the putter head. 
     Still another object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a golf club putter head that provides for approximate equal velocity and, thus, equal distance of travel of the golf ball regardless of where on the face of the club head the golf ball is hit, thereby providing for more consistent results when putting the golf ball. 
     Yet another object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a novel improved head design for all current and known types of putter heads, including blade and mallet type putters and high moment of inertia (“MOI”) putters, along with those putter types and putter head types to be designed and developed in the future. 
     Another object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a golf club putter head that enhances the feel and sound to a user when the head strikes the ball. 
     Still another object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a golf club putter head that provides for approximate equal distance of travel of the golf ball regardless of the existence of other performance features and characteristics included in the putter head, including weighting, types of materials utilized, and high MOI features. 
     According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a golf club putter head includes an insert located within the head, the insert comprising a face portion and a base portion that interface with each other and are made of dissimilar materials, each of the materials having a modulus of elasticity that differs relatively significantly from one another, the insert thus being considered a composite. The face portion preferably comprises a polymer and the base portion preferably comprises a metal, the polymer having a relatively much lower modulus of elasticity than that of the metal. The face portion is thus relatively much more elastic that the base portion. The face portion has a front facing surface which is used to strike the golf ball and an opposing rear surface with a relatively smooth radiused arc-shaped curved profile or a stepped angled profile. The base portion has a front surface that interfaces with the rear surface of the face portion. The front surface or the base portion is curved in a relatively smooth radiused profile or is angled in a stepped profile in a similar manner and amount as the rear surface of the face portion, to thereby facilitate the physical interfacing or attachment of the face portion to the base portion. The curve or angle of the rear surface of the face portion and that of the corresponding interfacing front surface of the base portion is such that the front-to-back dimension of the face portion is at its thinnest or least amount at the approximate COG of the club head, and the thickness progressively increases as the curve or angle of the rear surface of the face portion moves away from the COG in each direction towards the heel and toe of the club head. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter, which is regarded as the disclosure herein of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of this specification. The forgoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a putter type of golf club having a shaft, a grip, and a head containing an insert, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the putter head of  FIG.  1   , according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a front view of the putter head of  FIG.  2   , according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG.  4    is a top cross-sectional view of the putter head of  FIG.  2    taken along lines A - A of  FIG.  3   , according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG.  5    is a side cross-sectional view of the putter head of  FIG.  2    taken along lines B -B of  FIG.  3   , according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of a face portion and a base portion of an insert within the putter head of  FIG.  2   , the face portion and the base portion shown separated from one another, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG.  7    is a front view of the face portion of the insert of  FIG.  6   , according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG.  8    is a top cross-sectional view of the face portion and the base portion of the insert of  FIG.  6    taken along lines A - A of  FIG.  7   , according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG.  9    is a side view of the face portion and the base portion of the insert of  FIG.  6   , according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective rear view of the face portion of the insert of  FIG.  6   , according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective front view of an alternative embodiment of putter head having a pocket, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  12    is a perspective rear view of an alternative embodiment of a face insert disposed within the pocket of  FIG.  11   , according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It should be understood that throughout this patent application and specifically in the written description that follows and in the accompanying drawing figures, various directional and orientational terms such as horizontal, vertical, diagonal, up, down, upward, downward, in, out, inwards, outwards, forward, backward, front, rear, back, top, bottom, upper, lower, left, right, center, middle, and other similar directional and orientational terms as they are used herein refer to the golf club putter and the putter head of the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention as that putter and the head is oriented when typically in use or being held by someone. All these terms are used in this written description and in the drawings for convenience only and as an aid to better understanding the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. These terms are not intended to be limiting in the claims or to imply that the golf club putter or the putter head must be used or positioned in any particular or specific direction or orientation to satisfy the clams. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , there illustrated is a perspective view of a putter type of golf club  100  having a head  104 , a shaft  108 , and a grip  112 . As exemplary embodiments of the present invention are located primarily in the putter head  104 , the shaft  108  and the grip  112  form no part of the broadest scope of the present invention. As such, the shaft  108  and grip  112  may comprise conventional shapes and materials. Also, the putter head  104  may comprise any type of known putter head such as, for example and without limitation, a blade type, a mallet type, or a high moment of inertia (“MOI”) type which itself may be a blade type or mallet type. The putter head  104  of exemplary embodiments of the present invention may also comprise future putter head designs. The material comprising the putter head  104  may be aluminum or other suitable metal, alloy, composite, or other types of materials. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2 - 5   , the putter head  104  illustrated comprises a mallet type of putter head. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the putter head  104  includes an insert  116  located within or inside a forward or front portion of the putter head  104 . The insert  116  comprises two separate components: a face portion  120  and a base portion  124 , which are attached or bonded to one another typically by an adhesive (e.g., an aircraft or aerospace epoxy adhesive such as the Scotch-Weld® EC-2216 B/A commercially available from 3M®). The face portion  120  has a front facing surface  128  at the front of the putter head  104  which is normally used to strike the golf ball. 
     The putter head  104  also includes a top surface  132  and an opposing bottom surface  136 . The top surface  132  may have formed therein a hole  140  into which a lower hosel portion of the shaft  108  of the putter  100  is inserted and fixed in place using e.g., an adhesive. However, it should be understood that the shaft  108  may connect with the putter head  104  at any location on or within the head  104 , as is known in the art. The location where the shaft  108  connects with the putter head  104  forms no part of the broadest scope of the present invention. Further, the portion of the putter head  104  farthest from the person using the putter  100  is typically referred to as the toe portion  144 , while the portion of the head  104  closest to the person using the putter  100  is typically referred to as the heel portion  148 . The toe portion  144  and the heel portion  148  thus define a horizontal lengthwise distance across the front facing surface  128  of the face portion  120 . 
     The mallet type putter head  104  also includes a back portion having a pair of holes  156 ,  160  into which weights (not shown) may be disposed. The weights may comprise a suitable material such as tungsten used to provide a desired weighting for the putter head  104 . Such weighting is known to be used, for example, to increase the moment of inertia of the putter head  104  to thereby increase the resistance of the putter head  104  to any twisting or torquing of the head  104  when the person using the putter  100  strikes the ball at other than the COG of the head  104  (i.e., at the toe portion  144  or the heel portion  148 ). Nevertheless, it is to be understood that such putter head weighting forms no part of the broadest scope of the present invention. 
     Also, while the top surface  132  of the putter head  104  may be straight, the bottom surface or “sole”  136  of the head  104  may be angled or radiused upwards slightly (e.g., 5 degrees). This angling may begin at or near the COG and proceed outward towards both the toe portion  144  and the heel portion  148 , as is known in the art to improve the ball striking performance of the putter head  104 . However, the bottom surface  136  of the putter head  104  may be straight similarly to the top surface  132 . 
       FIGS.  4  and  5    also illustrate the rear portion  152  of the putter head  104  having an insert mounting screw  164  placed within a hole in the rear portion  152  and threaded into the back portion  124  of the insert  116 . The screw  164  may be used to attach the insert  116  to the putter head  104 . However, other means for attaching the insert  116  to the putter head  104  may be utilized such as, e.g., an adhesive. 
     One or more physical alignment features  168  may be formed in the putter head  104  and the back portion  124  of the insert  116  to assist with the proper placement and location of the insert  116  within the head  104  during assembly of the putter head  104 . These features  168  may include depressions and/or protrusions appropriately formed. The rear portion  152  of the putter head may also include a visual alignment aid  172  (e.g., a straight line) which is typically used to assist the person using the putter  100  to properly line up the putter head  104  with the golf ball to thereby establish a target direction for the ball towards the cup. 
     As best seen in  FIG.  4   , according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the face portion  120  of the insert  116  has a varying thickness as viewed from front to back (i.e., from the facing surface  128  towards the back portion  152 ) and extending along a length of the head  104  between the toe and heel portions  144 ,  148  of the head  104 . More specifically, the face portion  116  has its relatively thinnest portion at its approximate center when viewed as such in  FIG.  4   , which may correspond, but not necessarily, to the approximate COG of the putter head  104 . The location of the COG of the putter head  104  depends on various physical characteristics of the head  104  such as its shape and weight. Also, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the thickness of the face portion  116  increases outwards from the COG in each direction towards the toe portion  144  and towards the heel portion  148 . 
     Although not marked as such in the figures, oftentimes the COG of the putter club head  104  is marked with a visual indicator so that the golfer knows where the COG is to assist the golfer in striking the golf ball. Alternatively, the center of the face portion  120 , and not necessarily the COG of the clubhead  104 , may have a visual indicator (not shown) to assist the golfer in striking the golf ball. 
     In a similar manner, the base portion  124  of the insert  116  has its thickest portion at its center and the thickness of the base portion  124  decreases outwards in each direction towards the toe portion  144  and towards the heel portion  148 . This is so that the thickness profile of the base portion  124  inversely matches the thickness profile of the face portion  120 . As such, the insert  116  has a resulting generally rectangular overall shape when viewed in  FIG.  4   . 
     Additional details of the face portion  120  and the base portion  124  of the insert  116  are described and illustrated in more detail hereinafter and with reference to  FIGS.  6  -  10   . As described hereinabove and in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the thickness of the face portion  120  varies in a specific manner and is thinnest at its center and is progressively thicker outwards in each direction towards the toe and heel portions  144 ,  148  of the putter head  104 . 
     Also, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the face portion  120  and the base portion  124  preferably comprise or are made of dissimilar materials, with each of the materials having a modulus of elasticity (i.e., an amount of elastic deformation) that differs relatively significantly from one another. More specifically, the face portion  120  comprises a material that is relatively much more elastic or less stiff than that of the base portion  124 . This allows for a relatively large amount of elastic potential energy to be stored (and a correspondingly resulting large amount of kinetic energy to be released) when the putter head  104  strikes the golf ball. The striking of the golf ball by the putter head  104  is normally a purely elastic collision, due to the nature of the materials comprising the putter head  104  and the golf ball. As such, the insert  116  may be considered a composite. 
     The use of such dissimilar modulus of elasticity materials for the face portion  120  and the base portion  124  of the insert  116  within the putter head  104 , together with the varying thickness profile of the face portion  120  of the insert  116 , creates a putter head  104  that results in approximate equal velocity of the golf ball, and approximate equal distance of travel of the golf ball, regardless of where on the face  128  of the club head  104  the golf ball is hit. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the face portion  120  comprises a polymer while the base portion  124  comprises a metal, the polymer inherently having a relatively much lower modulus of elasticity than that of the metal, thereby making the face portion  120  much more elastic than the base portion  124 . Polymers typically have a modulus of elasticity of approximately less than 5.0 GPa (gigapascals), while metals typically have a modulus of elasticity of approximately 200 GPa for steel. Also, the modulus of elasticity for polymers is typically in a range of value, whereas for metals the modulus of elasticity usually does not vary in a range. Thus, for purposes of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the material comprising the face portion  120  may have a modulus of elasticity of less than 5.0 GPa, while the material comprising the base portion  124  may have a modulus of elasticity of approximately 200.0 GPa. 
     Suitable polymers for the face portion  120  may include for example and without limitation: (1) Polyethersulfone (“PES”) having an average value of GPa of 2.55; (2) high-heat Polycarbonate (“PC”, average GPa = 2.35); (3) low-friction Acetal (“POM”, average GPA = 2.4); (4) Polyphenylene Ether (“PPE”, average GPa = 2.45); (5) impact-modified PPE (average GPa = 2.45); (6) flame-retardant PPE (average GPa = 2.45); (7) Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (“ABS”, average GPa = 2.495); (8) impact-modified Polymethylmethacrylate/Acrylic (“PMMA”, average GPa = 2.5); (9) Polypropylene (“PP”, average GPa = 2.5); (10) flame-retardant ABS (average GPa = 2.5); (11) Polybutylene Terephthalate (“PBT”, average GPa = 2.5); (12) flame-retardant Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate/Polycarbonate Blend (“ASA/PC”, average GPa = 2.5); (13) Polysulfone (“PSU”, average GPa = 2.6); (14) Polyimide (“PI”, average GPa = 2.65); (15) Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (“EVOH”, average GPa = 2.7); (16) Styrene Maleic Anhydride (“SMA”, average GPa = 2.7); (17) Styrene Methyl Methacrylate (“SMMA”, average GPa = 2.75); (18) flame-retardant ABS/PC (average GPa = 2.8); and (19) Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (“CPVC”, average GPa = 2.85). 
     Suitable metals for the base portion  124  may include for example and without limitation: (1) 303 stainless steel (193 GPa); (2) nickel (210 GPa); 93) steel (200 GPa); and (4) stainless steel (196 GPa). 
     However, it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the face portion  120  does not necessarily need to comprise a polymer for the broadest scope of the present invention. Instead, the face portion  120  may comprise other suitable materials, depending in part upon the value of their modulus of elasticity, to achieve the desired consistent golf ball speed or velocity results regardless of the exact location on the face portion  120  the golf ball is struck. 
     In a similar manner, the base portion  124  does not necessarily need to comprise a metal or a metal alloy for the broadest scope of the present invention. Instead, the base portion  124  may comprise other suitable materials, depending upon their modulus of elasticity and their performance characteristics when interfacing with the material of the face portion  120 . 
     To elaborate further, the materials comprising the face portion  120  and the base portion  124  may be chosen based on their engineered behavior such as, for example, their mass and density characteristics, and their stored elastic potential energy characteristics. It is known that the amount of stored elastic potential energy differs between thinner and thicker geometries of the materials chosen for the face and base portions  120 ,  124 , along with the amount of stress loading in the toe portion  144  and in the heel portion  148  of the head putter  104 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6  -  10   , the face portion  120  has a rear surface  176  which attaches to a front surface  180  of the base portion  124 . As mentioned hereinabove, these surfaces  176 ,  180  may be bonded together using an adhesive, such as the aforementioned adhesive commercially available from 3M®. In addition, to aid in the proper alignment or placement of the face portion  120  with respect to the base portion  124  during the bonding process, an alignment feature  184  may be provided on the rear surface  176  of the face portion  120 . A similar alignment feature  188  may be provided on the front surface  180  of the base portion  124 . These alignment features  184 ,  188  may comprise a corresponding protrusion and mating depression, or similar alignment aids, formed in the surfaces  176 ,  180 . As illustrated in  FIGS.  6  -  10   , the approximate shape of the alignment features  184 ,  188  is a square with rounded corners. However, the shape of these features  184 ,  188  can be any suitable shape. It is to be understood that the alignment features  184 ,  188  and their shapes form no part of the broadest scope of the present invention. 
     Although not shown, the facing surface  128  of the face portion  120  may have one or more grooves formed therein as is known to improve the accuracy of the putter head  104  when striking the golf ball. The grooves may comprise various shapes, sizes, and/or patterns, such as, e.g., straight or curved lines, or geometric or honeycomb patterns. It is to be understood that the grooves form no part of the broadest scope of the present invention. 
     In addition, it can be seen in  FIG.  8    that the front facing surface  128  of the face portion  120  may be angled upward slightly (e.g., 2 degrees of “loft”) as is known in the art to improve the ball striking capability of the putter head  104 . Also, similar to the angled bottom surface or sole  136  of the putter head  104  described hereinabove and illustrated in  FIG.  3   , a bottom surface of both the face portion  120  and the base portion  124  may be angled upward slightly at, e.g., 5 degrees. Further, as best seen in  FIG.  8   , the rear surface  176  of the face portion  120  may be angled upward slightly. As a consequence, the front surface  180  of the base portion  124  may be angled downward slightly in an equal amount. 
     As best seen in  FIGS.  6  -  10   , the rear surface  176  of the face portion  120  and the front surface  180  of the base portion  124  each has a radiused profile that is curved, arc-shaped or conical about the center point of the face portion  120  and the base portion  124 , respectively. Also, the curvature of each surface  176 ,  180  is relatively smooth and continuous. This is to facilitate the varying value of the modulus of elasticity of the face portion  120 . However, the curvature of each surface  176 ,  180  may not be entirely smooth, and instead may be stepped, as described hereinafter and illustrated in  FIGS.  11  and  12   . 
     Also, in an exemplary embodiment, the radius of the conical curvature of the surface  176  about its center is approximately 22 degrees. As such, the radius of the conical curvature of the surface  180  about its center is approximately 158 degrees. However, these amounts of curvature are purely exemplary. It should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other amounts of curvature may be used. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  11  and  12   , there illustrated is an alternative embodiment of a head  192  of a putter  100 . In this embodiment, the head  192  comprises a body  196  having a recess or pocket  200  formed therein. The pocket  200  has a front facing surface  204  which, in this embodiment, has a plurality of discrete steps  208  formed therein. The front facing surface  204  has a desired radius of curvature or profile formed therein, similar to the smooth continuous curvature or profile of the front surface  180  of the base portion  124  described hereinabove and illustrated in  FIGS.  6  and  8   . The front facing surface  204  and the plurality of steps  208  may be formed directly into the pocket  200 . In the alternative, a base insert having the steps  208  formed on a front face thereof may be disposed within the pocket  200 . 
       FIG.  12    illustrates a front insert  212  having a rear surface  216  with a plurality of steps  220  formed therein. In this alternative embodiment, the front insert  212  is placed into the pocket  200  of the putter head  192  and secured therein with, e.g., an adhesive. As such, the front insert  212  is constrained laterally within the pocket  200 . The amount of curvature of the rear surface  216  of the front insert  212  may equal or approximate the amount of curvature of front facing surface  204  of the pocket  200 . 
     Similar to the embodiments of  FIGS.  2 - 10    described hereinabove, the front facing surface  204  of the pocket  200  and the rear surface  216  of the front insert  212  may both extend horizontally lengthwise to a desired extent across the putter head  192  between a toe portion and a heel portion. The extension length of the front facing surface  204  of the pocket  200  and the rear surface  216  of the front insert  212  may depend on the desired performance characteristics of the putter head  192  and may also depend on other features and characteristics of the putter head (e.g., type of putter head, weight of putter head). 
     The face portion  120  of the insert  116  and the base portion  124  of the insert  116  may be manufactured in a variety of ways, including machining, injection molding, casting, pouring, and other methods now known or hereafter developed. 
     The terminology used herein is for the sole purpose of only describing particular exemplary embodiments of the invention and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, components, integers, steps, operations, and/or groups thereof. 
     While the invention is provided in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that these exemplary embodiments may include only some of the described exemplary aspects. Accordingly, the invention it not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description but is only to be limited by the scope of the appended claims.