IP Library Granted Patent US 9,844,716
Granted Patent B2
US 9,844,716 · App. 15/607,969 · Granted Dec 19, 2017

Putter with adjustable alignment features

Inventor: Philip G. Foster (Vista, CA)
Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
A63B69/3685A63B53/0487A63B53/065A63B53/007A63B2053/0433A63B2053/0441A63B2053/0491A63B2071/0694
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,844,716
App. No.
15/607,969
Granted
Dec 19, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An adjustable golf club putter head is disclosed herein. The putter head includes a removable alignment feature that can be swapped with a different alignment feature to change the alignment pattern, and a removable divider piece that contrasts with the alignment feature and can be swapped with different divider pieces to affect the cosmetics of the putter head and also adjust the putter head's mass properties.

Claims (31)

1. A putter comprising:

a body comprising a face portion having a face upper surface, a sole portion having a sole upper surface and a sole lower surface, a first protrusion extending from the sole upper surface, and a through-bore extending through the first protrusion from the sole lower surface to an upper surface of the first protrusion; and

an alignment piece comprising a planar alignment feature and a second protrusion extending perpendicular to the planar alignment feature,

wherein the second protrusion comprises a structure having a threaded bore, and

wherein the second protrusion is received within the through-bore.

2. The putter of claim 1 , wherein the structure is disposed within a hollow portion of the second protrusion, and wherein the structure is supported by a plurality of struts.

3. The putter of claim 1 , wherein the planar alignment feature comprises at least two circles.

4. The putter of claim 3 , wherein the planar alignment feature comprises a line bisecting each of the two circles.

5. The putter of claim 3 , wherein the planar alignment feature comprises a pair of converging lines, each of which extends across the two circles.

6. The putter of claim 3 , wherein the face upper surface comprises a recess sized to receive a portion of one of the two circles.

7. The putter of claim 6 , wherein the recess has a depth that is equivalent to a thickness of the planar alignment feature.

8. The putter of claim 3 , wherein each of the at least two circles has the same approximate size as a golf ball.

9. The putter of claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion extends from a central area of the sole upper surface.

10. The putter of claim 1 , further comprising a screw comprising a head and a threaded portion, wherein the second protrusion comprises a threaded bore, and wherein the threaded portion extends through the through-bore and engages the threaded bore of the second protrusion to removably fix the alignment piece to the body.

11. The putter of claim 1 , wherein the through-bore comprises a smooth interior surface.

12. The putter of claim 1 , wherein the sole portion extends rearwards from a lower edge of the face portion, and wherein the body has an L shape.

13. The putter of claim 1 , wherein the alignment piece is composed of a first material selected from the group consisting of composite, plastic, and aluminum, and wherein the body is composed of a second material selected from the group consisting of steel, tungsten, and titanium.

14. A putter comprising:

a metal body comprising a face portion having a face upper surface, a sole portion having a sole upper surface and a sole lower surface, a first protrusion extending from the sole upper surface, and a through-bore extending through the first protrusion from an opening in the sole lower surface to an opening at an upper surface of the first protrusion;

a non-metal alignment piece comprising a planar alignment feature and a second protrusion extending perpendicular to the planar alignment feature; and

a screw comprising a head and a threaded portion,

wherein the planar alignment feature comprises at least one circle having the same approximate size as a golf ball,

wherein the face upper surface comprises a recess sized to receive a portion of the at least one circle,

wherein the recess has a depth that is equivalent to a thickness of the planar alignment feature,

wherein the second protrusion comprises a threaded bore,

wherein the second protrusion is received within the through-bore, and

wherein the threaded portion extends through the through-bore and engages the threaded bore of the second protrusion to removably fix the alignment piece to the body.

15. The putter of claim 14 , wherein the alignment piece is composed of a first material selected from the group consisting of composite, plastic, and aluminum, and wherein the body is composed of a second material selected from the group consisting of steel, tungsten, and titanium.

16. The putter of claim 14 , wherein the through-bore comprises a smooth interior surface.

17. The putter of claim 14 , wherein the sole portion extends rearwards from a lower edge of the face portion, and wherein the body has an L shape.

18. The putter of claim 14 , wherein the first protrusion extends from a central area of the sole upper surface.

Assignments (7)
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 May 30, 2017
From: FOSTER, PHILIP G.
To: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
Reel/Frame 042528/0331 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15210133 · Jul 14, 2016
Continuation 14702478 · May 1, 2015
Provisional Application 61988729 · May 5, 2014
Related Publication 20170259152A1 · Sep 14, 2017