WO1996032165A1

WO1996032165A1 - Golf putter

Info

Publication number: WO1996032165A1
Application number: PCT/CA1996/000224
Authority: WO
Inventors: Walter J. Krancevic
Original assignee: Chameleon Golf Technologies Ltd.
Priority date: 1995-04-10
Filing date: 1996-04-10
Publication date: 1996-10-17
Also published as: CA2146717A1; AU5328896A

Abstract

A head (1) for a golf club has a heel end (3) adapted to receive a golf club shaft, a toe end (2) remote from the heel end (3), and between the heel (3) and the toe end (2) a forwardly directed face (10) adapted to provide a striking surface for striking a golf ball and a reverse surface opposite the face (10) of the club. A tapped bore is provided in the club head, extending between the face (10) and the reverse surface, in the central part of the face (10). A plug (8) of selected weight, density and hardness is screwed into the bore, whereby the forward ending surface (9) of the plug (8) defines a portion of the face (10) of the club head.

Description

GOLF PUTTER 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 face of the club.

It is generally known in golf club design to provide user-variable weighting. In British Patent No. 197,815 to 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 v/ay in the MacDonald putter. Canadian Patent No. 1,294,683 to Fukumochi et al. describes a golf putter that is susceptible of variable weighting, but again, without 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 customized balance, without affecting the density or hardness of the striking surface of the golf club.

It is desirable 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 head. It is also desirable 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, especially a putting stroke, must be on the proper line, 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. 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 heel 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 boye 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.

In the drawings that illustrate the present invention by way of example: Figure 1 is a perspective view partially exploded and cut way of a golf putter head embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a golf driver embodying the present invention; and Figure 3 is a perspective view, partially exploded, of a golf iron embodying the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, the putter embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. A putter head 1 that may be made of bronze, brass, steel or any other desired material is provided with heel 3 and toe 2 areas that may be weighted to provide a putter head with 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 flat, to provide a smooth ground contacting surface. The front, ball contacting, face 9 of the putter is also flat and is generally perpendicular to the sole. If desired, the front face of the putter may be slightly angled several degrees to provide a slight loft or a slight reverse loft. In such a case, the tapered bore in the putter head that is provided for the screw-in insert of plug 8

(as will be explained in detail below) will be perpendicular to the front face 10 of the putter, so that the front face 9 of the plug 8 will be flush with the front face 10 of the putter. As can be seen from Figure 1, the putter head is provided with a screw-in plug 8, which 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 corresponding 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 plug 8, but will preferably be formed in a modular unit that may 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, alien key 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 plug, so that turning the turning tool draws the plug 8 into the face of the club. The plug 8 may be of any desired length, 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. Then, by selecting a plug with a desired length, the player is able to choose a custom balance to the head of the club.

Since the plugs may be made from virtually any material capable of being machined or moulded, the range of customized balance and club feel available to a golfer is practically unlimited. If, for instance, a golfer chooses a fairly long, lead plug, a club head that is fairly heavy, with a substantially dead feel upon impact, is obtained. Such a club may be selected by a player having a tendency to overswing when putting, since the heavier club head will not be subject to excessive backswing or erratic follow through. A very light and resilient plug, such as an oak plug, will be more suitable for a player requiring additional follow through. The following table briefly summarizes a sampling of different plugs for putters, including subjective comments thereon. It will be understood that because of the many variations in different person's golfing styles, the comment in the "characteristic" column may be inappropriate for any given person. TABLE 1

MATERIAL LENGTH HEIGHT CHARACTERISTICS

Lead 2.5 cm 80 g "dead" feel to 1.25 cm 40 g club head, shortens follow through

Steel 2.5 lOOg makes a brass 1.25 50g club slightly more lively, neutral on a steel club

Brass 2.5 lOOg neutral on a 1.25 50g brass club, slightly deadens a steel club

Copper 2.5 llOg slight deadening 1.25 55g effect

Aluminum 2.5 35g liveliest metal 1.25 17.5g

PVC Plastic 2.5 25g hard face gives 1.25 12.5g club a light touch, a lively ball

Nylon 2.5 25g very light, touch

1.25 12.5g but soft face deadens effect

Oak 2.5 lOg very resilient 1.25 5g touch

NOTE: Certain portions of plugs may be hollowed. Referring to Figure 2, a driver utilizing the interchangeable plug system of the present invention is illustrated. A driver utilizing this system is also preferably provided with an adjustable 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. Movement 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 thinness 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 numerous 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

I CLAIM:

1. A head for a golf club, having a heel end (3) adapted to receive a golf club shaft, a toe end (2) remote from the heel end (3) , and between the heel and the toe end a forwardly directed face (10) adapted to provide a striking surface for striking a golf ball, and a reverse surface, opposite the face (10) of the club, characterized in that a tapped bore is provided in said club head, extending between said face (10) and said reverse surface, in the central part of said face (10) , and a plug (8) of selected weight, density and hardness is screwed into said bore, whereby the forward facing surface of said plug (8) defines a portion of said face (10) 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 (13) thereabout, there being a corresponding flange (14) on said plug (8) .

3. A head for a golf club as described in claim 2 further characterized in that said tapped bore and plug (8) are located on said face (10) at the intended point of impact of said face (10) 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 (10) .

5. A head for a golf club as described in claim 4 further characterized in that said plug (8) in its reverse surface is provided with means (12) to engage a turning tool.

6. A head for a golf club as described in claim 5 further characterized in that said means (12) to engage a turning tool comprises a slot, aperture, socket or groove formed in the reverse surface of said plug (8) .

7. A head for a golf club as described in claim 5 further characterized in that said means (12) to engage a turning tool comprises an insert fixable in a receptacle in the reverse surface of said plug (8) 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 to 7 further characterized in that said plug (8) is fabricated from a material selected from a 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, and wood including hardwoods and softwoods.