Putter head assembly

Details Putter head assembly Putter head assembly

1999-02-04

2001-04-17

Passaniti, Sebastiano (Department: 3711)

Games using tangible projectile

Golf

Club or club support

C473S340000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06217459

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional putters include a shaft having a handle at the upper end and putter head assembly at the lower end. The putter head assembly includes a putter head, which typically terminates in a generally vertical putter head face which contacts the ball, and a connecting section called a hosel. The hossel connects the putter head with the lower end of the shaft. Some putter head assemblies do not include the hosel, but rather the bottom or lower end of the shaft is attached directly to the putter head itself.
The desire for a putter which may help improve a golfer's game has generated a great number of innovative putter designs. Regardless of how many new putter designs are developed, they all seem to fall short in some category.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a putter head assembly which combines shape and material selection to provide a putter head which upon contacting the ball provides the golfer with both a metallic feel plus a softness not available with solid metal putter heads.
The putter head assembly includes a generally S-shaped hosel having first and second ends. The putter head extends from the second end of the hosel. The hossel and putter head are made as a one-piece unit from a polymer material, typically a thermosetting resin. A golf ball-striking faceplate is mounted to the putter head. These features combine to create a desirable feel to the golfer upon contact with the ball.
The polymer material is preferably a thermosetting resin material which permits a certain amount of flexing and give and thus, together with the shape of the hosel, provides the softness of feel upon contact with the ball as is desired. The faceplate is preferably a metal faceplate to provide the desirable metallic feel on initial ball contact. A skid plate is preferably mounted to the lower surface of the putter head both to provide abrasion resistance and to help provide the desired pendulum type action during the putting stroke. While the faceplate and skid plate may be connected, there is preferably a gap, filled with the polymer material, between them over a substantial portion of the lower leading edge of the putter head. The provision of the gap between the faceplate and the skid plate allows the faceplate to be bridged from heel to toe. This separation allows the faceplate's striking zone (sweet spot) to be free of metal support to enhance the softer feel on contact.
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


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