# US 10,864,415 B2 · Putter-type golf club head with alignment feature

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- Number: US 10,864,415 B2
- Document ID: US10864415B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/152,829
- Filed: 2018-10-05
- Published: 2019-01-31
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2014-12-31
- Assignees: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
- Applicants: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
- Inventors: Adam K Sheldon; Mika Becktor
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864415B2

## CPC

- A63B 53/0487: {for putters (A63B53/065 takes precedence)}
- A63B 53/0408: {characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness}
- A63B 53/0441: {with visual indicators for aligning the golf club}
- A63B 2071/0694: {Visual indication, e.g. Indicia}
- A63B 2225/09: Adjustable dimensions
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

A putter-type golf club head that, when oriented in a reference position, includes a blade portion comprising a striking face, a top line, and a sole, the striking face including a face center. A rear portion of the club head is in communication with, and rearward of, the blade portion. An alignment element of the club head is rearward of, and recessed toward the sole from, the top line, and the alignment element defines a virtual center line segment oriented in a substantially front-to-rear direction at a height equal to about 21.3 mm to about 21.4 mm. The center line segment is not spaced more than 10 mm from a virtual vertical plane passing through the face center and extending generally perpendicular to the striking face, and a width of the club head is no less than 3.0 in.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A putter-type golf club head that, when oriented in a reference position, comprises:
a face portion having a striking face with a face center;
a sole portion extending rearwardly from the face portion;
a heel portion;
a toe portion opposite the heel portion; and
an alignment element extending rearwardly from the face portion, the alignment element comprising:
opposite sidewalls that extend parallel to each other;
a rear wall substantially perpendicular to the opposite sidewalls and having a length in a heel-to-toe direction greater than a height of the rear wall; and
a top surface comprising a sightline that defines a center line segment not spaced more than 10 mm from a virtual vertical plane passing through the face center and extending generally perpendicular to the striking face, the center line segment having a substantially constant height between 21.3 mm and 21.4 mm from a bottommost point of the sole.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the center line segment is not spaced more than 5 mm from the virtual vertical plane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the center line segment is substantially coincident with the virtual vertical plane.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a width of the golf club head is no less than 3.0 inches.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a length of the alignment element is no greater than a width of the golf club head.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the center line segment is located above the face center.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a height of the golf club head is greater than 21.35 mm.

### Claim 8

A putter-type golf club head that, when oriented in a reference position, comprises:
a face portion having a striking face with a face center;
a sole portion extending rearwardly from the face portion;
a heel portion;
a toe portion opposite the heel portion; and
an alignment projection having
a substantially rectangular top surface,
opposing parallel sidewalls, and
a rear wall substantially perpendicular to the opposing sidewalls and having a length in a heel-to-toe direction greater than a height of the rear wall;
wherein the alignment projection:
is disposed between the heel portion and the toe portion;
is in communication with the face portion; and
extends rearwardly from the face portion, the alignment projection's top surface comprising a sightline that defines a center line segment spaced not more than 10 mm from a virtual vertical plane passing through the face center and extending generally perpendicular to the striking face, the sightline having a substantially constant height between 21.3 mm and 21.4 mm from a bottommost point of the sole.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the center line segment is spaced not more than 5 mm from the virtual vertical plane.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the center line segment is substantially coincident with the virtual vertical plane.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The golf club head of claim 8, wherein a width of the golf club head is no less than 3.0 inches.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The golf club head of claim 8, wherein a length of the alignment projection is no greater than a width of the golf club head.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the center line segment is located above the face center.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The golf club head of claim 8, wherein a height of the golf club head is greater than 21.35 mm.