Golf putter with lead glass head

Abstract

An improved golf putter is disclosed that is constructed having a head made from a lead glass material containing at least 24% lead oxide in its formulation. The lead glass material formulation is heated to a full melting point of about 2500° F. and maintained at such temperature to remove impurities and bubbles before being reduced to a working temperature range of 1500°-2000° F. While in the working range, the lead glass material is press molded into the desired shape of the putter head or otherwise formed into billets that are milled or machined using conventional glass cutting techniques. Upon formation of the desired shape, the body of the putter head is annealed to remove stress in the lead glass material and thereafter the exterior of the putter head is treated to mechanically strengthen the surface area and prevent chipping of the putter head. The resulting lead glass putter head exhibits a density between about 3.0 to 5.0 grams / cm3 and a Young's modulus between about 50 to 70 GPa that cause the putter head to impart high energy transfer to the ball upon impact with minimal vibration of the head for greater feel of the impact and consistency in putting. The lead glass putter head may be formed into a variety of configurations each adapted to affix to a conventional putter shaft.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention generally relates to golf club construction and more particularly to an improved golf putter having a ball-striking head formed from a lead glass material that produces high energy transfer to the ball with reduced vibration of the head upon impact for greater feel and consistency in putting. [0002] In the game of golf, there is perhaps no more important aspect than putting, the golfing stroke designed to cause a golf ball to roll on the surface of the green into or near the hole. Because of the significant effect that putting has on a golfer's score, much time and technology has been applied to improving the golfer's ability to propel the ball in the intended direction and over the entire distance to the hole using the golf club commonly called the putter. A significant focus of the technology applied to improve putting performance has been directed at the putter itself and particularly the construction of its ball-striking h...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] Accordingly, it is a general purpose and object of the present invention to provide a novel golf putter construction that improves the putting ability of a golfer.

[0005] A more particular object of the present invention is to provide an improved golf putter constructed having a novel ball-striking head capable of providing the golfer with an increased “feel” upon striking the ball that enhances the golfer's control of ball travel.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved putter head construction made of a glass material that imparts maximum energy transfer to the golf ball at impact with minimal vibration affecting the putter head to produce a greater “feel” response or tactile sensation in the hands of the golfer.

[0007] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved glass putter head that is attractive in its appearance and easily formed in a variety of configurations that can visually aid the golfer in striking the golf ball in the desired direction of travel.

[0008] A still further object of the present invention is to provide a glass putter head that is strong and durable through extended golfing use, economical to manufacture, and easily adapted to a variety of shaft connections.

[0009] Briefly, these and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by an improved golf putter constructed having a head made from a lead glass material containing at least 24% lead oxide in its formulation. The lead glass material formulation is heated to a full melting point of about 2500° F. and maintained at such temperature to remove impurities and bubbles before being reduced to a working temperature range of 1500°-2000° F. While in the working range, the lead glass material is press molded into the desired shape of the putter head or otherwise formed into billets that are milled or machined using conventional glass cutting techniques. Upon formation of the desired shape, the body of the putter head is annealed to remove stress in the lead glass material and thereafter the exterior of the putter head is treated to mechanically strengthen the surface area and prevent chipping of the putter head. The resulting lead glass putter head exhibits a density between about 3.0 to 5.0 grams / cm3 and a Young's modulus between about 50 to 70 GPa that cause the putter head to impart high energy transfer to the ball upon impact with minimal vibration of the head for greater feel of the impact and consistency in putting. The lead glass putter head may be formed into a variety of configurations each adapted to affix to a conventional putter shaft.

Problems solved by technology

Glass has been identified as an optimal putter material because of its appearance, formability and resiliency and while some putter head designs have been successfully developed in forms made in whole or in part from glass materials, they have not been found entirely satisfactory in providing a strong and durable putter with the degree of “feel” that is necessary to enhance putting performance.

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