IP Library Granted Patent US 8,550,931
Granted Patent B1
US 8,550,931 · App. 13/944,021 · Granted Oct 8, 2013

Golf club head with alignment markings

Inventors: Thomas R. Hilton (Cardiff, CA); Augustin W. Rollinson (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,550,931
App. No.
13/944,021
Granted
Oct 8, 2013
Kind
B1
Abstract

A golf club putter having an alignment pattern is disclosed herein. The alignment pattern has first and second long lines that approach each other as they extend from an aft region of the putter to a front region of the putter and, when the putter is properly aligned with a golf ball, create an optical illusion of convergence of said lines at or near a center of the golf ball without actually intersecting.

Claims (45)

1. An alignment pattern for a top surface of a putter head comprising:

a first long line; and

a second long line,

wherein the first and second long lines extend from a rear portion of the top surface of the putter to a location proximate a face of the putter,

wherein the first and second long lines converge without intersecting as they approach the face,

wherein the first and second long lines create an optical illusion of continuity past the face and into a golf ball when the golf ball is properly aligned with the putter head substantially adjacent to the face,

wherein the first and second long lines appear to intersect at a center of the golf ball when the golf ball is properly aligned with the putter head substantially adjacent to the face,

wherein the alignment pattern has a maximum width of between 1 and 2 inches, and

wherein the golf ball has a diameter of approximately 1.680 inches.

2. The alignment pattern of claim 1 , wherein the first and second long lines terminate at the face at a distance of less than an inch from each other.

3. The alignment pattern of claim 1 , wherein the alignment pattern has a minimum width of between 0.25 and 1.00 inch.

4. The alignment pattern of claim 1 , further comprising a median stripe disposed between the first and second long lines, wherein the median stripe extends from a rear-most location of the top surface to the location proximate the face.

5. An alignment pattern for a top surface of a putter head comprising:

a first long line;

a second long line; and

a median stripe disposed between the first and second long lines,

wherein the first and second long lines extend from a rear portion of the top surface of the putter to a location proximate a face of the putter,

wherein the median stripe extends from a rear-most location of the top surface to the location proximate the face,

wherein the first and second long lines converge without intersecting as they approach the face,

wherein the first and second long lines create an optical illusion of continuity past the face and into a golf ball when the golf ball is properly aligned with the putter head substantially adjacent to the face,

wherein the first and second long lines appear to intersect at a center of the golf ball when the golf ball is properly aligned with the putter head substantially adjacent to the face,

wherein the alignment pattern has a maximum width of between 1 and 2 inches, and

wherein the median stripe has a length that is smaller than the lengths of each of the first and second long line.

6. The alignment pattern of claim 5 , further comprising first and second short lines, wherein the first short line intersects the first long line and the median stripe, and wherein the second short line intersects the second long line and the median stripe.

7. The alignment pattern of claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second long lines and the first and second short lines has the same width.

8. The alignment pattern of claim 7 , wherein the median stripe has a width that is greater than the widths of the each of the first and second long lines and the first and second short lines.

9. The alignment pattern of claim 5 , wherein the median stripe has a width that is greater than the widths of each of the first long line and the second long line.

10. A putter head comprising a top surface, a face, and a rear end,

wherein the putter head has a mass of 250 to 500 grams,

wherein the top surface has a front region proximate the face and an aft region proximate the rear end,

wherein the top surface comprises an alignment feature having a first long line and a second long line,

wherein the first and second long lines originate at the aft region at a distance of between 1 and 2 inches from each other,

wherein the first long line and second long line extend from the aft region to the front region,

wherein the first long line and second long line converge without intersecting,

wherein the first and second long lines create an optical illusion of continuity past the face and into a golf ball when the golf ball is properly aligned with the putter head substantially adjacent to the face,

wherein the first and second long lines appear to intersect at a center of the golf ball when the golf ball is properly aligned with the putter head substantially adjacent to the face, and

wherein the golf ball has a diameter of approximately 1.680 inches.

11. The putter head of claim 10 , wherein the first and second long lines terminate at the front region at a distance of less than an inch from each other.

12. The putter head of claim 10 , wherein the alignment feature has a maximum width of between 1.25 and 1.75 inches and a minimum width of between 0.30 inch and 0.40 inch.

13. The putter head of claim 10 , wherein the putter head has an Izz of 3750 g-cm 2 to 4200 g-cm 2 .

14. The putter head of claim 10 , wherein the putter head comprises stainless steel.

15. The putter head of claim 10 , wherein the putter head is cast from stainless steel.

16. The putter head of claim 1 , wherein the face comprises a face insert.

17. The putter head of claim 16 , wherein the face insert is composed of a thermosetting polyurethane.

18. The putter head of claim 10 , wherein the putter head is a blade-type putter head.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 063665/0176 Recorded Jun 1, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY (F/K/A TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP.); TRAVISMATHEW, LLC; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; WORLD GOLF TOUR, LLC
Reel/Frame 075834/0150 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2023
From: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TOPGOLF INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC; WORLD GOLF TOUR, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063692/0009 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2023
From: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP. (FORMERLY CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY); OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TOPGOLF INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC; WORLD GOLF TOUR, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063665/0176 →
RELEASE (REEL 048172 / FRAME 0001) Recorded Mar 17, 2023
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP. (F/K/A CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY); OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 063622/0187 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF SALES COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF BALL OPERATIONS, INC.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERACTIVE, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERNATIONAL SALES COMPANY; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 048110/0352 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 4, 2019
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 048172/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2018
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF SALES COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF BALL OPERATIONS, INC.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERACTIVE, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERNATIONAL SALES COMPANY
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 045350/0741 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2013
From: HILTON, THOMAS R.; ROLLINSON, AUGUSTIN W.
To: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
Reel/Frame 030814/0798 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 13860867 · Apr 11, 2013
Continuation 13270451 · Oct 11, 2011
Continuation In Part 29362886 · Jun 1, 2010
Continuation In Part 29367280 · Aug 5, 2010
Continuation In Part 29377322 · Oct 20, 2010
Provisional Application 61391938 · Oct 11, 2010