Abstract:
A putter head includes a semi-circular shaped main body and a plurality of inserted into cavities formed in the upper surface of the main body. The distribution of weight provided by positioning of the weighted inserts in the cavities optimizes the moment of inertia of the putter head to minimize twisting about the vertical axis defined by the putter shaft. A golf putter including the putter head and a shaft is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application For Patent Ser. No. 61/334,749 filed on May 14, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present application relates to a putter head and putter including the putter head that is used for striking a golf ball. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The sport of golf is played on a playing area referred to as a golf course. The golf course includes a number of sequentially numbered holes. Each of the holes of the golf course has an initial ball striking location, referred to as the “tee” or “tee-box”, a putting green containing a hole, and an area extending between the tee-box and putting green, referred to as the “fairway”. The “rough” are areas that flank the fairways on each hole of the golf course. The “fringe” is an additional area that surrounds the putting green. 
         [0004]    While playing a round of golf, players strike a golf ball with a golf club to advance the ball from an initial ball striking location to one of several numbered putting holes. During normal a round of golf, a player usually plays 18 sequentially numbered holes that are laid out on the golf course. The object of the game of golf, on each hole, is to advance the golf ball from the initial ball striking location into the hole in the fewest number of strokes. 
         [0005]    A player usually carries several different golf clubs during a round of golf. Each golf club is identified as a wood, iron, or putter according to its ball-striking portion. A wood is generally used to strike the golf ball from the initial ball striking location (ie, the tee-box), or to strike a golf ball to advance it a long distance. Irons are generally used after the initial shot on each hole to advance the golf ball closer to the putting green. A putter is used to strike a ball from a location on the putting green into the hole. In the case of a putter, the ball-striking portion includes a structure to strike the ball such that the ball should move along an intended path along the putting green surface and remain on the green surface throughout its entire travel into the putting hole. Putting is one of the most difficult and unforgiving aspects of golf. Players spend a significant portion of their practice time in perfecting their putting to reduce the number of putts needed during the round of golf to get the golf ball into the hole on each hole. 
         [0006]    The accuracy of a putting swing depends on several factors, including where the strike face impacts the ball, the location of the center of gravity of the putter head, and the rotational moment of inertia about a vertical axis extending through the center of gravity of the putter head. Moment of inertia affects the club&#39;s ability to resist twisting from an off-center hit when the ball does not impact the sweet spot of the putter head. The greater the moment of inertia, the less likely the club will twist in the player&#39;s hand and cause a misdirected shot. Redistributing mass away from the striking face toward the rear of a putter head tends to increase the moment of inertia about the impact location. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Disclosed is a golf putter head comprising a main body comprising a face portion having a toe portion and a heel portion, a top portion, and a sole portion, wherein said top portion comprises a partition defining a plurality of cavities in the top portion; and at least one weight removably fastened within each of said cavities. 
         [0008]    Also disclosed is a golf putter comprising a putter head comprising a main body comprising a face portion having a toe portion and a heel portion, a top portion, and a sole portion, wherein said top portion comprises a partition defining a plurality of cavities in the top portion, and at least one weight removably fastened within each of said cavities; and a shaft extending upwardly from said putter head. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the golf putter. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the golf putter. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of the golf putter. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the golf putter. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of an illustrative embodiment of the golf putter. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of an illustrative embodiment of the golf putter. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of the golf putter. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a top exploded perspective side view of an illustrative embodiment of the golf putter. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a bottom exploded perspective side view of an illustrative embodiment of the golf putter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Disclosed is a golf putter head and a golf putter that is used for putting a golf ball during the game of golf. The golf putter includes the golf putter head and a shaft extending upwardly from the golf putter head. 
         [0019]    The golf putter head broadly comprises a body having a leading portion for striking a golf ball and a trailing portion. The main body of the putter head comprises a face portion having a toe portion and a heel portion, a top portion, and a sole portion. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the main body of the putter head comprises a generally semi-circular shaped body with the leading portion of the putter being wider than the trailing portion of the putter. 
         [0020]    The top portion of the main body of the putter head comprises a partition that defines a plurality of cavities that are located on the top portion. Each of the cavities defined by the partition are adapted to receive a weighted insert. At least one weight is inserted and removably fastened within each of the cavities of the main body of the putter head. 
         [0021]    The sole portion of the main body of the putter head is convexly shaped between the toe portion and the heel portion of the face portion. The rear portion of the sole projects upwardly to prevent catching or snagging of the turf of the putter green during the putting stroke. 
         [0022]    The sole portion also comprises a plurality of apertures or holes that are adapted for receiving a fastener for fastening the weighted inserts to the main body of the putter head. The apertures formed in the sole portion of the main body extend entirely through the sole portion such that a fastener may be passed through each aperture. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the apertures formed in the sole portion of the putter head may be internally threaded to accommodate a fastener having a mating threaded portion. 
         [0023]    The weighted inserts also comprise at least one aperture that is adapted for receiving a portion of a fastener for fastening the weighted inserts to the tope surface of the main body of the putter head. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the apertures formed in the weighted inserts only extend partially through the thickness of the weight. The apertures formed in the weighted inserted maybe internally threaded to accept an externally threaded fastener, such as a threaded bolt. The weighted inserts may be fastened to the top surface of the main body of the putter head by threading an externally threaded fastener through the internally threaded apertures of the sole portion of the main body of the putter head and into the internally threaded apertures of the weighted inserts. 
         [0024]    The main body of the putter head comprises a partition that defines a plurality of cavities located on the top surface of the main body. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the main body of the putter head comprises a branched partition that extends upwardly from the top portion of the main body and extends rearwardly from the rear wall of the face portion of the main body. According to further illustrative embodiments, the branched partition comprises a substantially Y-shaped partition. The substantially Y-shaped partition includes a plurality of legs extending outwardly from a central region. The substantially Y-shaped partition defines three cavities located on top portion of the main body. It should be noted that the substantially Y-shaped partition is merely one example of the shape of the partition and the partition may be provided in any number of shapes and may define any number of cavities located on the top surface of the main body. 
         [0025]    According to certain embodiments, the partition is provided with a height that is greater than the height of the weighted inserts. 
         [0026]    The main body and weights of the putter head may be manufactured from metals, metal alloys, composition materials and combinations of these materials. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the main body of the putter head is manufactured from a metal. According to certain embodiments, the weighted inserts are manufactured from a metal alloy. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the main body of the putter head is manufactured from a metal and the weighted inserts are manufactured from a metal alloy. The weighted insert may be made of a material having a density that is greater than the density of the main body of the putter head. The weighted inserts may be made of brass. Alternatively and without limitation, the weighted inserts may be made of steel, tungsten, silver, gold, nickel, nickel based alloys, tin, copper, aluminum and platinum. By way of exemplification, but not in limitation, the main body of the putter head is manufactured from aluminum and the weighted inserts are manufactured from brass. 
         [0027]    Prior art putters weigh in the range of about 6 to about ounces. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the putter head weighs at least 10 ounces. According to further embodiments, the putter head weighs at least 15 ounces. According to alternative embodiments, the putter head weighs at least 20 ounces. 
         [0028]    The putter head and putter will now be described in greater detail with reference to the FIGURES. It should be noted that the putter head and putter are not intended to be limited to the illustrative embodiments shown in the FIGURES. 
         [0029]    In connection with FIGURES, terms of direction/dimension are relative to the orientation the putter head has when viewed by a golfer looking down on the putter head while bringing the head through a golf ball as intended. Thus, a “heel” part of the putter head is located closer to the golfer during the swing than a “toe” portion of the putter head; a “sole” portion of the putter head faces the ground during the swing and an opposed “top” portion is what is seen by the golfer. The “leading” portion of the putter head leads a “trailing” portion through the ball during the ball striking (forward) part of the putting stroke. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the putter  10  in greater detail. Putter head  20  comprises a main body  30 . Main body  30  includes ball striking portion  22  for making striking contact with a golf ball. The ball striking portion  22  includes toe portion  24 , heel portion  26 , top edge,  28 , bottom edge  30 , face portion  32  and rear face portion  34 . A shaft  40  is engaged with the putter head main body  20  by means of a shaft-receiving aperture  42 . The shaft  40  extends upwardly at an angle from the top surface of the putter head main body  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the bottom edge  30  of the ball striking portion  22  of the putter head main body  20  is convexly shaped between toe  24  and heel  26 . 
         [0031]    Extending rearwardly from the bottom edge  30  of rear face portion  32  of putter face  22  of putter head  20  includes a partition  24  that that creates a plurality of cavities  26  disposed on the top surface of the putter head  20 . Putter  10  includes putter head  20  and shaft  30  extending upwardly from the top surface of putter head  20 . 
         [0032]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , main body  20  includes a partition  50  that extends upwardly from the top surface  34  of the main body  20  of the putter head  10 . According to the illustrative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the partition  50  comprises a branched partition that having a plurality of leg portions  52 ,  54 ,  56 . The branched partition  50  divides the main body  20  into a plurality of separate cavities  53 ,  55 ,  57 . Weighted inserts  60 ,  62 ,  64  are configured to be inserted into the cavities  53 ,  55 ,  57  defined by the partition  50 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the putter head  10 .  FIG. 4  shows weighted insert  64  positioned within cavity  57  of the top surface  32  of main body  20  of putter head  10 . Insert  64  has a height that is less than the ball striking portion  22  and legs  52 ,  54 ,  56  of partition  50  of the main body  20  of the putter head  10 . Insert  64  is bordered by the real facing wall  34  of the striking portion  22  and legs  52 ,  56  of the branched partition  50 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows a rear view of the putter head  10 .  FIG. 5  shows weighted inserts  60 ,  62 ,  64  positioned within cavities  53 ,  55 ,  57  of the top surface  32  of main body  20  of putter head  10 . Insert  60  has a height that is less than the ball striking portion  22  and is bordered by legs  52 ,  54  of partition  50  of the main body  20  of the putter head  10 . Insert  62  is bordered by legs  54 ,  56  of the branched partition  50 . Insert  64  is bordered by rear wall  34  and legs  52 ,  56  of the branched partition  50 . Still referring to  FIG. 5 , sole portion  70  of main body  20  of putter head  10  extends upwardly and rearwardly in relation to the bottom edge  30  of the ball striking portion  22  of the main body  20 . Apertures  72 ,  74 ,  76  for receiving threaded fasteners are shown in the sole portion  70  of the main body  20 . Portions of inserts  60 ,  64  are shown engaged in cavities  53 ,  57 , respectively. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are top and bottom exploded perspective views of the golf putter. Each of the cavities  53 ,  55 ,  57  defined in the top surface  32  of the putter head main body  20  include apertures  72 ,  74 ,  76  for receiving fasteners  82 ,  84 ,  86  to fastening the independent weights  60 ,  62 ,  64  to the main body  20 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , each of the independent weighted inserts  60 ,  62 ,  64  includes an aperture  92 ,  94 ,  96  extending partially through the thickness of the inserts. In the illustrative embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , the apertures  92 ,  94 ,  96  located in the weighted inserts are threaded for receiving threaded fasteners  82 ,  84 ,  86 . According to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the threaded fasteners  82 ,  84 ,  86  are threaded through apertures  72 ,  74 ,  76  that communicate from the sole portion of the main body  20  to the top surface  32  of the main body  20 . The fasteners are then threaded into the threaded apertures  92 ,  94 ,  96  of the weighted inserts  60 ,  62 ,  64  to fasten the weighted inserts  60 ,  62 ,  64  to the top surface  32  of the main body  20 .  FIG. 8  also illustrates the shaft-receiving aperture  42  located in the main body  20  of the putter head. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the main body  20  of putter head  10 . Sole portion of the main body  20  of putter  10  includes a plurality of apertures  72 ,  74 ,  76  for receiving a fastener for fastening the weighted inserts to the main body  20 . The sole portion of main body  20  includes a rear region  91  that extends upwardly from the bottom of the putter head to form an arcuate sole portion. Regions  93 ,  95  on each side of region  91  are curved upwardly toward the peripheral sides of the main body  20  of the putter head  10  to form a convex surface. 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  shows a cross section of the putter head  10  taken along line  8 - 8 .  FIG. 7  shows weighted insert  64  positioned within cavity  57  of the top surface  32  of main body  20  of putter head  10 . Insert  64  is fastened against the top surface  32  of the main body  20  of putter head  10  by threaded fastener  86  that is threaded through aperture  76  of sole portion of the main body  20  of the putter head  10  and into aperture  96  of insert  64 . Insert  64  has a height that is less than the ball striking portion  22  of the main body  20  of the putter head  10  and is therefore confined by the real facing wall  34  of the striking portion  22  and diverging legs  52 ,  56  of the branched partition  50 . 
         [0038]    While the putter head and putter have been described in connection with various illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiments for performing the same function disclosed herein without deviating therefrom. The embodiments described above are not necessarily in the alternative, as various embodiments may be combined to provide the desired characteristics. Therefore, the putter head and putter should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.