METHOD OF FABRICATING A PUTTER CAPABLE OF PRODUCING AIRBORNE OVERSPIN

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims benefit under 35 U. S. C. §119 of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 60/526,888, entitled Method Of Fabricating A Putter Capable Of Producing Airborne Overspin, which was filed on December 4,2003.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates generally to fabricating golfing devices, and more particularly to fabricating a putter having weight distribution ratios operable to provide airborne over spin of a golf ball during use.

BACKGROUND Advancements in golf equipment have been driven by several factors including ease of use, manufacturability, and value. As new materials are discovered and introduced, such materials typically proliferate across different pieces of golf equipment. For example, titanium has been introduced due to its durability and tinsel strength relative to its overall weight. For example, titanium has a high strength-to- weight ratio and is able to withstand fatigue resulting in greater consistency and prolonged use. Titanium has been used in drivers, irons, and even golf balls and allows for an increased overall surface of club heads while maintaining a weight ratio sufficient to produce an oversized sweet spot for ease of use. This counteracts miss hits and provides for more accurate results. For example, some drivers include titanium heads with enlarged sweet spots to create a springboard or trampoline effect.

Users take advantage of an oversized sweet spot to compensate for swing deficiencies. However, titanium and titanium processes are expensive and result in high prices for titanium based products. As such, what is needed are advancements in traditional manufacturing processes and materials to produce state-of-the art performance in golf equipment while minimizing cost overall of new products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with teachings of the invention, a method of fabricating a putter capable of producing airborne over spin is provided. According to one aspect of the invention, a process for fabricating a putter is provided. The process includes providing a substrate of material and forming the substrate into a putter head having a greater than 1: 1 weight distribution ratio across a predetermined latitude of the putter head.

According to another aspect of the invention a method for providing over spin of a golf ball is disclosed. The method includes positioning a putter head of a putter in close proximity to a golf ball wherein the putter head includes a greater than a 1: 1 weight distribution ratio across a predetermined latitude of the putter head. The method further includes striking the golf ball with a putter face of the putter head to traject the golf ball into the air and produce an over spin of the golf ball.

According to a further aspect of the invention a process for fabricating a putter is provided. The process includes providing a brass substrate and forming the substrate using a CNC machining process to such that the putter head has a greater than a 1 : 1 weight distribution ratio across a predetermined latitude of the putter head.

The process further includes forming the substrate using the CNC machining process to include a heel region and toe region, each region including approximately the same weighting. The process includes drilling a shaft cavity based on a first angle to provide positive loft, a second angle to provide a lie angle and forming a substantially straight hole with at least two angles positioned tangentially to the centerline of the putter head and located in closer proximity to the toe resulting in an greater downward force of the heel relative to the toe to provide a toe up orientation of the toe region and coupling a putter shaft to the shaft cavity.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a putter fabricated by a process that include forming a putter head to include a greater than 1 : 1 weight distribution across a latitude of the putter head is provided. The putter includes a putter head

formed from a substrate having a greater than a 1: 1 weight distribution across a latitude and a shaft coupled to a shaft cavity of the putter head and formed at a location adjacent to a centerline of the putter head. The putter head includes a heel region and a toe region having a combined weight that is greater than a center region of a putter head. For example, in one form the putter head includes a heel region and a toe region having approximately the same weighting that combine for a weighting that is greater than the center region of the putter head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages, features and characteristics of the invention, as well as methods, operation and functions of related elements of structure, and the combinations of parts and economies of manufacture, will become apparent upon consideration of the following description and claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of the specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures, and wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of a putter head having distributed weighting operable to produce airborne over spin of a golf ball according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for fabricating a putter including distributed weighting and operable to produce airborne over spin of a golf ball according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 illustrates a top perspective view of a putter including distributed weighting and fabricated to produce airborne over spin of a golf ball according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 illustrates a rear perspective view of a putter including distributed weighting and fabricated to produce airborne over spin of a golf ball according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 illustrates a side perspective view of a putter including distributed weighting and fabricated to produce airborne over spin of a golf ball according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of using a putter fabricated to produce airborne over spin of a golf ball according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The invention provides a process for fabricating a putter capable of producing airborne over spin of a golf ball. In one form, a process for fabricating a putter includes providing a substrate of one or more materials and forming the substrate into a putter head having at least a greater than 1 : 1 weight distribution ratio above a predetermined latitude of the putter head. The fabrication process includes forming the substrate into a putter head including a predetermined latitude defining an upper portion and a lower portion with the upper portion having greater than fifty percent (50%) of the total weight of the putter head. For example, at least 50% of the total weight of the putter is provided in the upper half of the putter head. One embodiment includes providing 30% of the total weight of the provided as a part of the apex of the putter head. One example of an apex includes the upper fourth of the putter heads face in combination with the top surface of the putter head. As such, at least 50% of the putters weight is located above a predetermined latitude. The process further includes forming the putter to include a heel region and a toe region having substantially the same weighting having a combined weighting that is greater than a center region or'sweet spot'of the putter head. Additionally, the putter head includes a putter face having a positive loft. As such, during use of the putter, the putter head produces an airborne trajectory of the golf ball with over spin while substantially minimizing or eliminating side spin that may effect the overall desired path of a golf ball.

In a particularized form, a process for fabricating a putter includes providing a brass substrate and forming a putter head from the brass substrate using a CNC machining process. The putter head includes a greater than a 1: 1 weight distribution ratio across a predetermined latitude of the putter head. The process further includes forming the putter head from the substrate using the CNC machining process to include a heel region and toe region, each region including approximately the same weighting and a combined weighting that is greater than the center region. A shaft cavity is formed based on a first angle to provide positive loft, a second angle to provide a lie angle and a substantially straight hole with at least two angles positioned tangentially to the centerline of the putter head and located in closer proximity to the toe. As a result, a greater downward force of the heel relative to the toe to provide a toe up orientation of the toe region is provided. The process further includes

providing a positive loft for the putter head to ensure a proper set-up of the putter during use. A putter shaft is coupled to the shaft cavity and ensures the putter head maintains a slight positive loft. The shaft cavity is formed at a location offset from the geometric center of the putter head and away from the heel of the putter to ensure a toe up orientation of the putter is maintained during use. In this manner, a putter head that includes greater than a 1: 1 weight distribution across a predetermined latitude of the putter head and a predetermined amount of loft (i. e. 0.25 degrees, 0.9 degrees, 1.5 degrees, 5.0 degrees, etc. ) an airborne over spin of a golf ball may be provided during use. For example, in one embodiment at least two degrees of positive loft may be desired to ensure an airborne over spin of a golf ball. Other amounts of loft may also be considered.

Figure 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of a putter head having distributed weighting operable to produce airborne over spin of a golf ball according to one embodiment of the invention. A putter head 100 includes a length 101 and height 102 with a predetermined latitude 106 positioned at approximately one-half of height 102 and is provided to illustrate a upper region 102a and a lower region 102b that extend along length 101 of putter head 100. Center region 105 is located between heel region 104 and toe region 103 and provides a contact region or sweet spot and shaft mounting location for a putter shaft (not expressly shown).

In one embodiment, putter head 100 may be formed from a single type of material or from various combinations of materials and/or alloys to produce a desired weighting formula or distribution. For example, if a brass material or substrate is used, upper region 102a may be formed to include at least two times more material than lower region 102b to thereby providing a greater than 1: 1 weight distribution ratio across latitude 106. In one embodiment, a 3: 1 weight distribution ratio may be accomplished using a brass material by providing seventy-five percent of the overall weight in upper region 102a while maintaining twenty-five percent of the overall weight of putter head 100 in lower region 102b. However, variations of weighting, weighting formulas, and/or weight distributions techniques may be employed using various materials, material composites, alloys, inserts, etc. and may be provided in various combinations to ensure a weight distribution of greater than 1: 1 is achieved.

In one embodiment, heel region 104 and toe region 103 having a 1: 1 weight

distribution ratio while providing a greater than 1: 1 weight distribution ratio across predetermined latitude 106. For example, the overall weight of heel region 104 is formed to include the same weight as toe region 103 thereby providing a counter balancing effect about center region 105. Center region 105 may also include increased weight relative to heel region 104 and toe region 103. As such, a reduction or elimination in undesired vibration and torque coming up the shaft, etc. may be realized during use.

The width of each region may be varied relative to the materials (i. e. composites, alloys, inserts, etc. ) used to form center region 105, toe region 103 and heel region 104 and a predetermined weighting formula. For example, a heavier type of material may be used at heel region 104 and toe region 103 while a lighter material such as an insert (not expressly shown) may be provided as part of center region 105.

An insert may include a plastic material, metal material, composite material, etc. and may be positioned along the face of putter head 100 (not expressly shown) as a part of the contact surface or putter face of putter head 100. Other examples of insert materials may include elastic materials such as polymers and the like having elastic properties of rubber and operable to produce a'soft feel'relative to a metal material such as brass. Putter head 100 is formed to include heel region 104, toe region 103 and center region 105 with a weighting formula including a 1: 1 weighting distribution ratio between heel region 104 and toe region 103 and a greater than 1: 1 weighting distribution between both the heel region 104 and toe region 103 and the center region 105.

In one embodiment, weight distribution between heel region 104 and toe region 103 may be altered such that a 1: 1 weight distribution ratio is not maintained.

For example, heel region 104 may include additional weighting relative to toe region 103 to create a"toe up"effect of putter head 100. Similarly, putter head 100 may include a shaft position (not expressly shown) positioned along center region 105 to produce a"toe up"effect. For example, as a shaft is positioned along center region 105 and at an angle relative to a top surface of putter head 100, a desired"toe up" effect may be achieved. In other embodiments, combinations of moving the shaft along center region 105, altering the shaft cavity angle, and altering the weight distribution between heel region 104 and toe region 103 may be employed to produce

a desired"toe up"effect.

In another embodiment, center region 105 includes an enlarged area (i. e. three- fourths of an inch or more) to provide an increased'sweet spot'. Additionally, toe region 103 and heel region 104 may be provided with increased weight relative to center region 105 resulting in improved manageability of counter lever forces of putter head 100 during use. Increasing center region 105 may result in an overall increase in the length of putter head 100 however other embodiments may include providing an enlarged center region 105 without varying the overall length of putter head 100. For example, one or more combinations of materials may be used to provide toe region 103 and heel region 104 with increased weighting relative to center region 105 while ensuring an enlarged'sweet spot'is realized.

Figure 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for fabricating a putter including distributed weighting and operable to produce airborne over spin of a golf ball according to one embodiment of the invention. The process begins generally at step 200. At step 201, the type of material (s) to be used to form a putter head is determined. For example, materials or combinations of materials may be used to form a putter head. Some materials may include materials such as Brass, Acrilic, Delrin, Magnesium, Aluminum, Aluminum 6061, Titanium, Zinc, Stainless Steel, Stainless Steel (300 Series), Copper, Silver, Lead, Carbide, Tungsten, Gold, or other materials as desired. Alloys and composites may also be used and includes combining of two or more metals or materials to optimize properties. Inserts may also be used to provide weighting at select regions of the putter head, enhance feel through placing the insert along the strike zone of a putter face, provide a specific balance for the putter, etc.

Upon determining the type of material (s) to be used for the putter head, a weighting distribution formula for the putter head is determined 202 for the selected material (s). For example, weight distribution between the upper and lower portions of the putter head should be greater than 1 : 1 while a weight distribution between the heel and toe of the putter should be approximately equal. These ratios should be maintained based on the types of materials to be used to form the putter head. In one embodiment, the putter head may be formed in a square shape along a side profile of

the putter to ensure balance is maintained however other shapes may also be considered.

Upon determining the type of material (s) and an associated weight distribution formula, the overall shape of the putter head is determined 203. One of several different designs (e. g. left handed, right handed, custom, etc. ) may be selected. For example, a Computer Automated Design (CAD) model for the putter head is provided based on the materials to be used. For example, the putter head may be formed to include a heel region and a toe region having substantially the same weighting and a combined weighting that is greater than a center region or'sweet spot'of the putter head. The overall shape of the putter head is determined based on these desired parameters and the materials using a CAD model and a graphical representation is provided in a digital format for use with a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) automated manufacturing tool to form the putter head 204. For example, CNC is a type of machining where the material cutting and the associated tool paths are controlled by a computer for precision. The computer is pre-programmed by an operator using a"definition"of how the putter head will ultimately look. In the case of a specific putter head and material (s), the"definition"includes a CAD model of the putter head. The CNC technique is advantageous in that it reduces the risk of human error during machining, allowing tighter tolerances and more consistent machining.

Other embodiments for forming the overall shape of the putter head may also be employed. Such techniques know in the art include casting and forging fabrication processes to form a putter head. As such, CNC processing is provided to illustrate on example of a cost-effective alternative to fabricating putter heads.

Upon forming the putter head, the putter head may be measured to ensure that the proper weight distribution ratios have has been achieved 205 and the putter head is reprocessed 206 if necessary. Upon successfully forming a putter head, a shaft type is determined 207 for fixing to the putter head. For example, various lengths and types of shafts may be used and may be provided for different height golfers. Other shaft characteristics may also include using coupling elements, inserts, holders, shaft housings, left handed mountings, right handed mountings, shaft diameters, etc. In one embodiment, a straight shaft may be coupled to the putter head without the use of an offset mount although other embodiments may include using curved shafts, angled

hoseled shafts, and/or curved shaft mounts, angled hoseled shaft mounts or various combinations to offset the putter head if needed. Upon determining a shaft type, parameters for the shaft type and any additional characteristics are determined 208.

Such parameters may include an offset location for a shaft relative to a center-line of the putter head to achieve a desired"toe up"position, a shaft angle and position relative to the top surface of the putter and overall length of the shaft, the loft of the putter relative to the contact surface of the putter head, and a shaft cavity depth and diameter based on the type of shaft and/or coupling mechanism. A shaft cavity is then fabricated 209 through drilling the top portion of the putter head. For example, one or more angles may be considered when drilling the shaft cavity such as drilling the shaft cavity to ensure that a loft angle of two degrees is maintained while providing a lie angle of at least seventy-two degrees. Both angles may be accounted for when drilling the shaft cavity. Additionally, the shaft cavity may be offset from a centerline of the putter head (i. e. 1/8h inch, 1/4th inch, etc. ) to ensure a toe up orientation of the putter head is maintained. Upon drilling the shaft cavity, the shaft and associated mounting hardware (if applicable) are coupled to the putter head 210 using an adhesive such as a high-temperature epoxy bonding material. The fabrication process then proceeds to step 211 and markings are provided to indicate an alignment mark, "sweet spot", or center of percussion (CP) of the putter head. Other indicia (such as branding names, patent pending or numbers, trademarks, etc. ) may also be provided.

In one embodiment, the CP is located directly under the putter shaft and as such, alignment markings are provided along the top of the putter head near the base of the shaft to indicate an optimal location for the CP. However, in other embodiments alignment markings may be varied from a geometric center, a center of gravity, a center of percussion, etc. as desired to indicate an optimal striking location.

Upon adding the alignment markings, a putter grip is then coupled or fixed to the shaft 212 relative to the markings and putter face. For example, some putter grips include a flat surface along the front portion of the grip and a rounded surface along a rear portion of the grip. As such, a user may square the putter face using the putter grip during use. The putter grip may be coupled to the putter shaft using an adhesive and/or traditional tape wrapping technique. For example, an adhesive tape may be wrapped around a putter shaft and a solvent may be used to activate the adhesive tape.

With the solvent present, the putter grip may be slid onto the shaft and aligned to the

alignment mark (s) and putter face. Upon fixing the putter grip to the putter shaft, the adhesive is allowed to cure and the process ends 213.

Figure 3 illustrates a top perspective view of a putter including distributed weighting and fabricated to produce airborne over spin of a golf ball according to one embodiment of the invention. Putter 300 includes a putter head 304 with a heel region 301 and a toe region 302 having substantially similar weight. In one embodiment, putter head 304 may weigh between nine and thirteen ounces with eleven and one half ounces being optimal. The overall length of putter head 304 may be between five and seven inches (e. g. 5 to 7.0 inches) in length, between eight-tenths and one and one tenths inches (e. g. 0.8 and 1.1 inches) in height, and between nine tenths and one and one tenths inches (e. g. 0.9 and 1.1 inches) in width. However, other embodiments may include varying the length, height, width or other dimensions or sub-dimensions of putter head 304 as needed. Cavities 308 and 309 may be varied in size for desired weight ratios and a center region 307 may also be varied in size and in one embodiment may have a width of approximately three fourths of one inch. In one embodiment, center region 307 may be viewed as a'sweet spot'for putter head 304 and provides for increased accuracy through providing an enlarged region relative to conventional putters. A shaft 303 is coupled to putter head 304 along a center of percussion 306 displaced from geometric center 305 or a center-line closer to the face for lateral balance and at two specific angle (not expressly shown) relative to the top surface of putter head 304. Putter 300 reduces undesired rotational movements of a golf ball during use through providing equal counter weighting at heel region 301 and toe region 302. Additionally, shaft 303 is provided at a location away from centerline 305 to provide a'toe up'effect of putter 300 during use. In other embodiments, shaft 303 may be positioned along putter head 304 based on various weighting configurations of heel region 301 and toe region 302. For example, shaft 303 may be moved toward heel region 301 as additional weight is added to toe region 302 or removed from heel region 302. As such, a'toe up'effect is maintained accordingly.

In one embodiment, center region 307 may include weighting to reduce vibrations that may occur along shaft 303 during use of putter 300. For example, center region 307 may include a weighting relative to an average weight of one or more conventional golf balls. Weighting may be provided relative to centerline 305

and shaft 303 and located directly behind a contact region of center region 307. Other embodiments may include providing other types of materials having different weightings, densities, elasticity's, etc. such that vibrations that may occur during use are reduced.

Figure 4 illustrates a rear perspective view of a putter including distributed weighting and fabricated to produce airborne over spin of a golf ball according to one embodiment of the invention. Putter 400 includes a toe region 401 and a heel region 402 of a putter head 410. Shaft 404 is coupled to putter head 410 at angle 403 that may range from sixty-six degrees to seventy-eight degrees relative as measured from a top surface of putter head 410 and is positioned at an angle based on the overall length of shaft 404 (not expressly shown), weighting of heel region 402, toe region 401, and a desired toe up effect. Shaft 404 is further offset to a center of percussion 407 offset from center-line 406. For illustrative purposes, a latitude 405 is graphically illustrated and extends along the length of putter head 410. Cavities 408 and 409 allow for a reduction of weight along a lower region of putter head 410. For example, cavities 408 and 409 are provided to ensure a 1: 1 weight distribution ratio is maintained between toe region 401 and heel region 402 while ensuring a greater than 1: 1 weight distribution is provided across latitude 405.

Figure 5 illustrates a side perspective view of a putter including distributed weighting and fabricated to produce airborne over spin of a golf ball according to one embodiment of the invention. A side view of a putter 500 includes a putter head 501 coupled to a shaft 502 at a loft angle 503 such that putter 500 is lofted when putter face 508 contacts a golf ball (not expressly shown). For example, loft angle 503 may provide a positive loft between putter face 508 and shaft 503. As such, loft angle 503 may be formed through drilling a positive loft angle (not expressly shown) via angle 503 relative to putter face 508.

For illustrative purposes, putter 500 further includes a latitude line 504 used to define a midpoint between upper portion 506 and lower portion 507 of putter head 501. However, in other embodiments latitude line 504 may be located at a higher or lower position along the height of putter head 501 depending on the types and amounts of materials used to provide putter 500. A greater than 1: 1 weight

distribution ratio is provided between upper region 506 and lower region 507 through altering the amount of material for each region. However, other embodiments may include using various types of metals, inserts, composites, alloys, densities, etc. to achieve a weighting distribution ratio of greater than 1: 1. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, a 3: 1 weight distribution ratio is illustrated based on a brass material and having a loft angle 503 of approximately two degrees. Although other degrees of positive loft may also be considered such that an airborne trajectory and over spin of a golf ball may be generated during use. Additionally, lower region 507 may includes a putter sole (not expressly shown) sized to provide less than one square inch of the bottom of putter head 501 contacting a surface and reducing the overall weight of lower region 507.

In one embodiment, putter face 508 may include a leading edge 509 and rear portion 511 having a trailing edge 510 with a curvature operable to reduce drag of putter 500 if contacted with a putting surface (not expressly shown). For example, a leading edge 509 and trailing edge 510 may include one or more a radii of curvature or angle that range between 1/16h and 3/8h of an inch.

In another embodiment, lower region 507 may include a runner or furrow extending along a sole of putter 500 (not expressly shown). For example, a runner may be formed through providing a cavity or channel as a portion of lower region 507 or putter sole (not expressly shown) and may extend away from putter face at an angle such as approximately forty-five degrees. For example, some golf associations may require a specific angle (such as United States Golf Association Rule 4. a. IV) for a runner to extend from a putter face. As such, runners may be provided along the sole of lower region 507 at a specific angle and may be positioned about a sweet spot of putter 500 to enhance weight distribution of putter 500 about an upper region 506 and a lower region 507.

Figure 6 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of using a putter fabricated to produce airborne over spin of a golf ball according to one embodiment of the invention. The method begins generally at step 600. At step 601, a user determines a target line for putting a golf ball to a golf hole. For example, the user determines the amount of break a golf ball must realize during the putt and may assess several

variables such as the speed of the green, one or more breaks between the ball and the golf hole, if the ball will be traveling down hill, up hill, or traversing a hill, wind speed, temperature, and if the green is wet, dry, the cut of the green, the grain of the green, etc. Other factors may also be considered. Upon determining a target line, the user aligns the putter's center of percussion alignment marking with the target line 602 and initiates a back swing of the putter without the use of a forward press 603.

For example, traditional putting techniques include providing a forward press to reduce loft and improve accuracy. However, the putter disclosed does not require the use of a forward press as a part of putting stroke. The method then proceeds to step 604 where the putter contacts the golf ball without user induced loft. For example, some golfers putt a golf ball by contacting the golf ball with the putter on an 'upswing'in an attempt to provide over spin for the golf ball. At step 604, the method allows for a user to'not manipulate the putter in an attempt to produce over spin and utilizes the features of the airborne putter by striking the ball at the bottom of a swing arc to benefit from the positive loft and over spin accuracy. In another embodiment, a user may attempt to produce a'pinched over spin'of a golf ball. The putter used in the method of Figure 6 teaches away form'pinched over spin'putting methods through providing a putter capable of producing an airborne over spin of a golf ball.

As a result, a golf ball has a specific trajectory and over spin in response to the putter contacting the golf ball while reducing the distance or amount of time a golf ball is in the air. For example, one embodiment of the putter may include a putter head having a 3: 1 weight distribution between the top portion and the bottom portion of the putter. A golf ball may then be projected at a specific angle relative to the putting surface. Proper weight distribution and loft of the putter enables a controlled over spin of a golf ball minimizing undesired counter spinning of a golf ball and promoting earlier rolling of a golf ball upon engaging or contacting the putting surface.

Note that although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail herein, along with certain variants thereof, many other varied embodiments that incorporate the teachings of the invention may be easily constructed by those skilled in the art. Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to

problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element (s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. Accordingly, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention.