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/cm 3 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.

1 . A golf putter device comprising: 
 a shaft; and    a putter head adapted for attachment to said shaft, said putter head being constructed in a predetermined form from a lead glass material containing at least 24% lead oxide in composition so that said putter head exhibits a density in the range of about 3.0 to 5.0 grams/cm 3  and a Young's modulus in the range of about 50 to 70 GPa.    
   
   
       2 . A golf putter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition of the lead glass material contains lead oxide in the range of 24 to 45%.  
   
   
       3 . A golf putter device according to  claim 2 , wherein the composition of the lead glass material contains minor amounts of barium.  
   
   
       4 . A golf putter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined form of said putter head is constructed having a substantially semi-circular body with a central cavity formed therethrough and sized to engage a golf ball.  
   
   
       5 . A golf putter device according to  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined form of said putter head is molded.  
   
   
       6 . A golf putter head comprising: 
 a body constructed in a predetermined form having a ball-striking surface, said body being composed of a lead glass material containing at least 24% lead oxide and produced having a density in the range of 3.0 to 5.0 grams/cm 3  and a Young's modulus between about 50 to 70 GPa.    
   
   
       7 . A golf putter head according to  claim 6 , wherein the composition of the lead glass material contains lead oxide in the range of 24 to 45%.  
   
   
       8 . A golf putter head according to  claim 7 , wherein the composition of the lead glass material contains minor amounts of barium.  
   
   
       9 . A golf putter head according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined form of said putter head body is constructed having a substantially semi-circular profile with a central cavity formed through said body and sized to engage a golf ball.  
   
   
       10 . A golf putter head according to  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined form of said putter head body is press-molded.  
   
   
       11 . In the construction of a putter head intended for striking a golf ball, the improvement comprising: 
 forming the putter head into a body of a predetermined shape from a lead glass material containing at least 24% lead oxide in composition;    annealing the body of the putter head to remove stresses created in the lead glass material during forming; and    treating the exterior of the annealed body to strengthen the surface areas of the putter head and resist the chipping thereof.    
   
   
       12 . The improved putter head construction according to  claim 11 , wherein the putter head body exhibits a density in the range of about 3.0 to 5.0 grams/cm 3  and a Young's modulus in the range of about 50 to 70 GPa.  
   
   
       13 . The improved putter head construction according to  claim 12 , wherein the lead glass material used in forming the putter head body contains lead oxide in the range of 24 to 45% in composition.  
   
   
       14 . The improved putter head construction according to  claim 11 , wherein said step of forming the putter head body comprises: 
 mixing the lead glass material;    heating the lead glass material to the full melting point temperature thereof;    maintaining the full melting point temperature for sufficient time to remove impurities and bubbles from the lead glass material;    reducing the temperature of the lead glass material into the working range thereof; and    press-molding the lead glass material into the predetermined shape.    
   
   
       15 . The improved putter head construction according to  claim 14 , wherein after reducing the temperature of the lead glass material into the working range, said step of forming the putter head body further comprises: 
 producing billets of the lead glass material; and    machining the billets into the predetermined shape of the putter head body.