Forged multi-component putter

Abstract

Multi-component putters have forged, low-density crown components and more dense sole components. The two components comprise complementary geometries that allow for adhering the two components to create a putter head. The crown component and sole component are created to have a split plane and split plane angle, which allows for the sole component to be mostly or entirely hidden by the crown component when viewed at address.

1 . A putter-type golf club head, comprising:
 a sole component formed of a sole component material having a sole component material density, the sole component including:
 a sole bottom surface defining at least a portion of a sole of the putter-type golf club head; 
 a sole top surface; 
 a sole projection from a top plan view, the sole projection having a sole projection border that defined a sole projection area; and 
   a crown component formed of a crown component material different from the sole component material and having a crown component material density less than the sole component material density, the crown component including:
 a crown bottom surface coupled to the sole top surface; 
 a crown top surface defining at least a portion of a crown of the putter-type golf club head; 
 a crown projection from the top plan view, the crown projection having a crown projection border that defines a crown projection area; 
   wherein:
 the crown projection area encompasses at least 95% of the sole projection area, such that no more than 5% of the sole component is visible from the top plan view; 
 the crown component material comprises a crown component forged material including at least 98% aluminum; and 
 the sole component comprises at least 70% of a total weight of the putter-type golf club head. 
   
     
     
         2 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the crown component further comprises an anodized layer forming the crown top surface. 
     
     
         3 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein the anodized layer comprises a first color. 
     
     
         4 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 3 , wherein the anodized layer further comprises a second color different than the first color. 
     
     
         5 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein the second color forms a second color pattern arranged as an alignment feature. 
     
     
         6 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the crown component forged material has a porosity of less than 2.9%. 
     
     
         7 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a putter head height extending from a ground plane to a top point of a top rail in a direction perpendicular to the ground plane;   a putter head maximum perimeter associated with a maximum projected perimeter area from the top plan view; and   a split plane parallel to the ground plane and coincident with the putter head maximum perimeter, wherein the split plane is at least 60% of the putter head height above the ground plane.   
     
     
         8 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the sole component and the crown component define an overall putter side surface that includes:
 a side surface lower region below the split plane and extending inwardly from the putter head maximum perimeter at a lower region draft angle; and   a side surface upper region above the split plane and extending inwardly from the putter head maximum perimeter at an upper region draft angle.   
     
     
         9 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 8 , wherein each of the lower region draft angle and the upper region draft angle is 7 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the crown component and the sole component comprise at least one aperture. 
     
     
         11 . A putter-type golf club head comprising:
 a body comprising;
 a strike face; 
 a sole component made of a first material contributing at least 85% of a total body weight;
 the sole component further comprising:
 a sole extending rearward from a bottom of the strike face and having a sole lower surface and a sole top surface; 
 a top rail extending rearward from a top of the strike face and including a lip projecting over the sole top surface; 
 a rear wall joining the sole top surface to the lip of the top rail and defining a rear wall cavity open to a rear of the club; and 
 
 
   a crown component made of a second material, coupled to the sole component, the crown component comprising;
 a crown component front wall disposed in the rear wall cavity of the body; 
 a crown component rear extension overlaying the sole top surface of the body; 
 wherein the lip of the top rail extends over an entirety of the crown component front wall; 
 wherein the first material is denser than the second material; and 
 wherein the second material is at least 98% pure aluminum. 
   
     
     
         12 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein the lip defines a lip rear edge located rearward of the crown component front wall and extends from a top end of the body to a heel end of the body. 
     
     
         13 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the lip rear edge is linear. 
     
     
         14 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein the sole comprises a sole recess. 
     
     
         15 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein the sole recess is configured to receive a sole badge. 
     
     
         16 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein the crown component further comprises an anodized layer forming a crown top surface. 
     
     
         17 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 16 , wherein the anodized layer comprises a first color. 
     
     
         18 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 17 , wherein the anodized layer further comprises a second color different than the first color. 
     
     
         19 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein the second material forming the crown has a porosity of less than 2.9%. 
     
     
         20 . The putter-type golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein the strike face comprises a strike face insert.