Mini-Face Putter with Non-Horizontal Grooves

Abstract

A golf putter head with a front edge is used for striking a golf ball in an essentially linear contact area horizontal to the ground when putting and an opposed back edge. A length is defined between a toe edge which extends from the front edge to the back edge of the blade and an opposed heel edge, and a thickness is defined between a top side bordered by the edges and an opposed bottom side. The golf putter includes a non-horizontal groove on the front edge at least adjacent to a ball contact portion of the head defined by a non-horizontal projection corresponding to the non-horizontal groove.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 672,185, filed Sep. 26, 2003 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 173,066 filed on Jul. 1, 2005 and is a Divisional Application of the Parent Application filed Apr. 21, 2006 with a Ser. No. 11 / 408,830.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] (1) Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention relates generally to golf equipment, and more particularly to golf putter heads. Specifically, the present invention relates to a putter head having a grooved striking face. [0005] (2) Description of the Related Art [0006] The traditional putter has a vertical blade with a flat surface and a vertical height usually one inch (25 mm) or greater. Subsequent traditional putters have a similar geometry on the face allowing for flat, convex, but not concave faces. The contact surface is o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024] The present invention provides a golf putter head with a front edge used for striking a golf ball in an essentially linear contact area horizontal to the ground when puttig and an opposed back edge, a length defined between a toe edge extending from the front edge to the back edge of the blade and an opposed heel edge, and a thickness defined between a top side bordered by the edges and an opposed bottom side, the improvement which comprises one or more projections on the curved front edge at least adjacent to a ball contact portion of the head, wherein the front edge is curved vertically such that the front edge usually strikes the golf ball on a small contact area upon no more than two of the projections with typical putting force.

[0025] In some embodiments the front edge is curved vertically with a radius of curvature less than a radius of the golf ball. In further embodiments the front edge has three or more projections. In further embodiments the one or more projections are parallel and extend along the length of the front edge from toe edge to heel edge, so as to be horizontal to the ground when putting. The front edge used for striking a golf ball may be provided as an interchangeable face. In still further embodiments the one or more projections have a width of 0.06 inches and are separated by 0.07 inches. In still further embodiments the putter face has a radius of 0.5 to 0.8.0 inches. In still further embodiments the projections have a 0.06 inch width and have a 0.06 inch space between the ridges. In still further embodiments the thickness of the front edge of the putter head is less than about 0.25 inch (6.4 mm). In still further embodiments the thickness of the putter head varies from the front edge to the back edge. In still further bodiments the projections are parallel to one another and are horizontally oriented. In still further embo...

Problems solved by technology

More recently, in a written ‘statement of principles’ published jointly by the R.&A. and the U.S.G.A., it was acknowledged that, “History has proved that it is impossible to foresee the developments in golf equipment which advancing technology will deliver.” However, both the R.& A. and the U.S.G.A. remain vigilant when considering the equipment rules.

The thin-plate head portion can have protrusion constructed of a very light-weight material on the bottom surface or top and bottom surfaces of the thin-plate head portion, but does not provide grooves or provide for variable weighting of the putter.

Lindsay does not disclose a golf putter head having a rolled face vertically with a radius less than that of a golf ball.

In addition, the combination of the vertical radius face and the grooves further decrease the surface area of the impact geometry between the ball and the face.

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